BFG FAQ 2010 General Rules Questions

[Plaxor]

I was actually very surprised that they didn't go with a larger marker to represent torps, like a str6 one.

[BaronIveagh]

nate, this is purely and utterly impractical gameplay wise and game breaking for torpedo heavy races like the IN:

A torpedo salvo (regardless of strength) is now
represented with a Strength 3, (2.5cm) marker with
one or more D6 indicating the actual salvo strength.

I can never accept this as a valid rule in BFG or even a well thought out one as noted by my pictures of the rule in effect.

+1

And I just agreed with both Vaaish AND Horizon... so...

[lastspartacus]

Is it purely because of d6 clutter?  Wasn't there a caveat for splitting salvos if the strength was high enough?

[Vaaish]

LS it's impractical because of the number of d6 you either have to stack behind a marker which takes up more space than the marker itself or the hilarity of stacking all those dice on the marker. Plus, it reduces torpedoes to shotgun only because a single marker doesn't have the capability for area denial. That begs the question, if one torpedo marker can represent any amount of torpedo strength, why not the same with fighters and bombers? Why don't they just put out a single marker with d6 representing how many are there to keep things consistent? On top of all that, it makes it more useful to fire torpedoes from individual ships rather than as a large salvo because you get to put more markers down.

[lastspartacus]

I think it makes perfect sense to do the same to ordnance. Actually, I have been playing that way, and it works very well.
It makes fluff sense, but I understand what you mean about lowering area denial, though I have still seen it used as such to effect.
Just spitballing for solutions: stacking another marker on top of the first to represent double, or, 'when a squadron launches torpedos, treat it as the same wave'.

Honestly though, I find an 18cm long band of torps, with full strength on whatever it hits, being far more ridiculous than the current build.
May be weaker at times, but its definitly an improvement.  Though I have only playtested it in about 5 games, I support it so far.

[fracas]

I favor stacking with torpedoes and attack crafts
I favor using the epic base for attack crafts with the numbers of models mounted representing it's strength

[Vaaish]

Well the simplest method to reduce the size of torpedo spread to a reasonable level and still make the dice system work is to have 1d6 per marker. In fact, that's what the change was put forward as by the HA originally. It was a surprise change in the faq that has it with one marker no matter the strength.

A s3 marker means that torpedo spreads are half the size before the rule went into effect making a fairly common s12 salvo 5 cm across rather than 10 or so. It would be very difficult to reach 18cm across one marker for every s6 torpedoes.

[Don Gusto]

This question came up on another board and after checking for quotable rules I'm not sure anymore if I've got it right:

When is the last chance for a ship traversing an asteroid field to go on BFI?
 1 before the LD check?
 2 before the d6 damage are rolled?

When is the last chance for ships ramming/being rammed to go on BFI?
 1 before the LD check for the ramming?
 2 before damage rolls against armor?

When is the last chance to go on BFI against a ship explosion?
 1 before the roll on the Catastrophic Damage table?
 2 before the 3d6 range of the explosion is rolled?
 3 before the resulting lance shots are rolled?

So far I've played 1,2,2 but after thinking on it now I'd go with 1,1,2.
From FAQ2010 (and 2007 as well) I get the impression however that it should be 2,2,3.
 

[lastspartacus]

Do ships test seperately or in squadrons for things like ramming and asteroids?

[Sigoroth]

This question came up on another board and after checking for quotable rules I'm not sure anymore if I've got it right:

When is the last chance for a ship traversing an asteroid field to go on BFI?
 1 before the LD check?
 2 before the d6 damage are rolled?

When is the last chance for ships ramming/being rammed to go on BFI?
 1 before the LD check for the ramming?
 2 before damage rolls against armor?

When is the last chance to go on BFI against a ship explosion?
 1 before the roll on the Catastrophic Damage table?
 2 before the 3d6 range of the explosion is rolled?
 3 before the resulting lance shots are rolled?

So far I've played 1,2,2 but after thinking on it now I'd go with 1,1,2.
From FAQ2010 (and 2007 as well) I get the impression however that it should be 2,2,3.
 

2, 2, 3.

Do ships test seperately or in squadrons for things like ramming and asteroids?

Capital ships test individually, escorts test as a squadron.

[horizon]

Like Sig said. We played it always like that.

[lastspartacus]

 Also, the squadron rules as far as shooting at them go are overcomplicated.  Trying to figure out exactly what happens when 2 cruisers targeting an escort squadron, one out of range of half the ships, the escorts with blast markers on some, some abeam, some facing...it all just gets very confusing.

I propose rather than hits 'carrying' just because something is in a squadron, firepower instead be split before firing, with no leadership check for targeting something in the same squadron.

[horizon]

You cannot pick out targets in a squadron. Only the dice can do that (eg 4+ and 5+ armour in a squadron).

It is almost impossible to describe these situations and what happens when and if.

[lastspartacus]

I know, and I think thats silly.  I had a situation in a small campaign game where an escort carrier was hiding in the center of some normal transports, and i couldnt shoot at it because 'Oh, we're together'.

That rule, and the 'carry over fire' rule dont make much sense to me.

[horizon]

I know, and I think thats silly. I had a situation in a small campaign game where an escort carrier was hiding in the center of some normal transports, and i couldnt shoot at it because 'Oh, we're together'.

You answered your own opinion:

Well, I don't think the kroozers are accurate in size anyway. Alot of the escorts arent, we know. It is after all a blown up representation of whats on the stem, so its not canonical, I'd think.

The distances are so great it is impossible to pick something. The escort carrier must be part of the tranport squadron though! Otherwise it is a seperate identity.