Federation Commander

Rear-firing ISC plasma ships can only fire one torpedo per turn in offensive mode (two for the BB). The rules use the word 'launch'; however, I presume these offensive 'launches' can be bolted too?

Yes, that is correct. The intent is that only one Pl-F per turn can be used "offensive" in some manner, whether launched in seeking mode or fired as a bolt.

Can they be bolted at "defensively"?

If you want to take the chance of missing a drone or Shuttle -- have at it --

As that is all they be used against defensively ---

I'd think that you couldn't bolt a torpedo during defensive fire, since it's a direct fire mode of the weapon. I'm just envisioning people wanting to use fusions, disruptors, photons, etc somewhere down the line if this turns out to be the case.

Terry bolted his PL-F at an impacted drone in his last pbem game. It kept a 12 point warhead from going through his non-existant #4 shield (at fleet scale). It was probably a good (read as game winning) move as if left his relatively unscathed CA facing a nearly destroyed NCA.

Why would you ever bolt a Pl-F in defensive fire? You are allowed to launch it defensively, and it is an auto-kill. Bolting it is a 1-4 to hit. Please tell me what I am missing here ...

mjwest wrote:Why would you ever bolt a Pl-F in defensive fire? You are allowed to launch it defensively, and it is an auto-kill. Bolting it is a 1-4 to hit. Please tell me what I am missing here ...

Hmmm... that does sound strange... wait, checking game FC0001 Sit Reps...

Yep, he launched the Pl-F at the drone. I erred...

mjwest wrote:Why would you ever bolt a Pl-F in defensive fire? You are allowed to launch it defensively, and it is an auto-kill. Bolting it is a 1-4 to hit. Please tell me what I am missing here ...

This was what I thought. I resisted replying because I figured I was forgetting something huge....apparently I wasn't .

Uh... well when and if Gunboats ae introduced, it might be useful if the target is out of Pl-F range. Maybe...

pinecone wrote:Uh... well when and if Gunboats ae introduced, it might be useful if the target is out of Pl-F range. Maybe...

Moot point. I was talking about impacted targets. Gunboats (and fighters) don't "impact". I have no problem with bolting at very high speed targets that are not auto-hits for a seeking Pl-F. But an impacted seeking weapon (include, BTW, suicide shuttles) are auto-hit auto-kills for Pl-F in defensive fire.

It's just a good thing they can't carronade. That'd make the 'defensive' F's just too potent, limitations and all.

Should the ISC light battleship show up in this game, would it get the same one-per-side exception as the regular BB, or would it go down to one per turn?

Also, do torps fired "defensively" auto-kill Shriek missiles?

Nerroth wrote:Should the ISC light battleship show up in this game, would it get the same one-per-side exception as the regular BB, or would it go down to one per turn?

Should the ISC light battleship show up in Federation Commander, a decision on its launch rate will be made at that time. Until then, it is pure speculation.

Also, do torps fired "defensively" auto-kill Shriek missiles?

Pl-F torpedoes fired defensively do 20 points of damage. If 20 points of damage will kill a Shriek missile, then yes. If 20 points of damage will not kill a Shriek missile, then no. Do note that there is nothing preventing you from firing more than one defensive Pl-F at the same target if one won't do the trick.

mjwest wrote: Should the ISC light battleship show up in Federation Commander, a decision on its launch rate will be made at that time. Until then, it is pure speculation.

I'll keep an eye out for it, then.

Pl-F torpedoes fired defensively do 20 points of damage. If 20 points of damage will kill a Shriek missile, then yes. If 20 points of damage will not kill a Shriek missile, then no. Do note that there is nothing preventing you from firing more than one defensive Pl-F at the same target if one won't do the trick.

According to the Shriek missile info in CL41:

...take twelve damage points to destroy...

So, looks like; thanks.