Nova Cannon limitations

[lastspartacus]

Admiral, you're a pretty rational guy.  Gotta say thats the weirdest logic I've seen you type out

[Admiral_d_Artagnan]

Then always be prepared to see NC fleets because the inaccuracy will always push people to bring in more NCs to offset said inaccuracy.

But if they're more powerful, wouldn't we see people take more of them because they're powerful?

You make them more powerful, then you institute the limits. 1 in 500 or 1 in 750. At least now you have a reliable weapon but not have easy access to it. I think it's the better route.

Admiral, you're a pretty rational guy.  Gotta say thats the weirdest logic I've seen you type out

What's weird about it? The NC as it is right now has been nerfed so bad that the only way to really make it be felt in the game is to bring them en masse. Otherwise, it's a waste of points if you bring it in singles or doubles. It's why I would not want limits on it.

Now make it more accurate so that it will really be a threat. Then I would agree to putting in the limits which the HA is proposing.

[lastspartacus]

Its good in multiples, yes.  That wouldn't change regardless of the scatter range.  Saying making something worse encourages more of something doesnt make sense to me.  Its good in multiples like everything in the game.  It is not useless.  A single nova can reduce a ships range by -5, strip shields off of multiple escorts, and be a terror to ordnance.  It lets you reach into the opponent's deployment zone and potentially do alot of damage.
The deployment zone.  If you think its worthless, then I really can't argue with you.

[horizon]

Well I can, since I agree with Adm.A.

[lastspartacus]

You guys have the wonderful guts to have multiple points stated at you and respond proudly with 'Nuhuh!'.  I admire that

[horizon]

A single nova can reduce a ships range by -5, strip shields off of multiple escorts, and be a terror to ordnance.

If a single Nova Cannon could do that all with one shot I agree on a limit.

Strip shields off multiple escorts? Think about your escort placement.

Your large bases are hit easier in smaller bands? That is below 60cm/45cm, so within shooting range of your large base vessels for certain. Use that shooting. NC cannot be shot on BFI.

[lastspartacus]

Well see, I was the one on BFI, because novas were busy crippling my ships, so the return fire was paltry to the prow armor.

If you get those escorts spaced wider than you can fit a nova cannon between them, good job.  But then they arent supporting each other for turrets, at least.  And the other 2 points are quite valid.

[BaronIveagh]

A single nova can reduce a ships range by -5, strip shields off of multiple escorts, and be a terror to ordnance.

If a single Nova Cannon could do that all with one shot I agree on a limit.

Strip shields off multiple escorts? Think about your escort placement.

Your large bases are hit easier in smaller bands? That is below 60cm/45cm, so within shooting range of your large base vessels for certain. Use that shooting. NC cannot be shot on BFI.

Unless it has lances out to 60cm, you're unlikely to lose a ship on it's first round of shooting, particularly against most IN cruisers 6+ front armor.  Unless your facing down a Desolator, take the shot, you'll do much more damage to them then you can lose to a loss from failing to BFI against a non-lance BB.  And with the blast markers, most BBs will be spending some time in NC country.

A cruiser loss is a shame.  A battleship loss can be crippling.

[horizon]

Escorts can be spaced 15cm. Massed turrets isn't needed at long ranges.

NC at my battleships! Good! They have 4 shields which protect against NC. So NC needs to roll HIT or have a low scatter (above 60cm 3d6, count your non-direct hits) and then a 5 or 6 to do 1 point of damage.
Ha!

[RCgothic]

You guys have the wonderful guts to have multiple points stated at you and respond proudly with 'Nuhuh!'.  I admire that

Actually, I've posted two battle reports and a series of very good advice for dealing with Nova Cannons. No limits, no changes.

[BaronIveagh]

Escorts can be spaced 15cm. Massed turrets isn't needed at long ranges.

NC at my battleships! Good! They have 4 shields which protect against NC. So NC needs to roll HIT or have a low scatter (above 60cm 3d6, count your non-direct hits) and then a 5 or 6 to do 1 point of damage.
Ha!

Um, Horizon, I looked it up, just to be sure, because you know me and these new fangled rules, but I'm not sure where you get that need to roll a five or six from since it does d6 hits armor or no.  

And I'm fairly sure that 8 nova cannons in the lowest band will still score enough hits to kill the BB, unless you're rolling some really impressive brace for impacts.  And at speed 5 for IN, you're probably going to get hit again. Chaos at 15, maybe, maybe not.  

[horizon]

Shields protect vs Nova Cannon. Since version 1999. Never changed.

8 NC in lowest band able to fire = bad attack plan.

[lastspartacus]

Why?

[horizon]

Doh, if you allow the IN to do that you forgot to do something.

[RCgothic]

8 Nova Cannon firing at a BB, 3.33 target the escort screen instead, 3.11 direct hits accounting for scatter, 1.556 partial hits, 12.4 hits total. 4 absorbed by shields, braced, 4.22 hits past shields and saves.

Note that 45cm is also well within torpedo range, with the torpedos able to be fired all but unavoidably into the path of the battleship. 48 torps, the equivalent of 8 Nova Cannons, would do 6 hits past shields and bracing, not including damage to other ships caught in the path.

Also, 8 Nova Cannons would only be found in a fleet of 2000pts, in which you could have two battleships squadroned together and taking perhaps 2 hits each without even having to brace.