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Bonus for unengaged ships


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#1 pyruse

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Posted 21 February 2013 - 12:13 PM

One of the optional rules gives a bonus to unengaged ships.
I can't help feeling this is the wrong way round - surely ships which took any hits last move should have a penalty?
Otherwise you are just making it easier for everyone to hit early in the battle.

#2 Cpt M

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Posted 21 February 2013 - 05:53 PM

One of the optional rules gives a bonus to unengaged ships.
I can't help feeling this is the wrong way round - surely ships which took any hits last move should have a penalty?
Otherwise you are just making it easier for everyone to hit early in the battle.

The reason behind this is that unengaged ships did not have to alter course to 'chase salvoes' (which is built into the CRTs). Consequently, the fire control solution is uneffected by the firing ship's minor course changes (all it is doing is sailing straight at a constant speed).

#3 pyruse

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Posted 22 February 2013 - 04:46 AM

Fair enough - but then the bonus should only apply if the ship does sail straight at a constant speed; any changes of course or speed would spoil things.

#4 Cpt M

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Posted 22 February 2013 - 04:34 PM

Fair enough - but then the bonus should only apply if the ship does sail straight at a constant speed; any changes of course or speed would spoil things.

The fire control systems of the period were quite capable of accounting for smaller and smooth (and I emphasis smooth) course changes. For larger changes in course (over 4 points of change), you do have to adjust your firing up one row since these larger changes did have some impact on the fire control solution (historically, ships would check fire while making such course changes).

This is not, however, the same as 'chasing salvoes'. Here a ship makes quick, sharp course adjustments with the intent of throwing off the enemy fire control solution. These are more difficult for the ship's own fire control system to account for, however, since they're not smooth and constant. The CRTs already assumes that a ship is making these quick course adjustments (the assumption is you're under some kind of fire or threat of); the optional rule allows for increased accurancy as it assumes a ship is NOT having to take such quick course changes (ie,is not 'chasing salvoes'). I suggest you review the detailed side bars regarding fire control; these go into more (and better) detail on the issues regarding fire control.




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