Hi,
where to start?
Ah yeah: staying at long range with Murder is not an option. Using the prow lances @ 60cm is closing with enemy, thus cannot stay at range. Thus it comes within 45cm. This is medium range.
You do know the broadsides are 45cm on the lance murder?
![Wink ;)](http://www.specialist-arms.com/forum/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
The Carnage can always be abeam and stay at 60cm, lend its 10wb to the long range lances of Desolator, Styx, Dev's, etc.
Also: your averages are vs abeam targets. Since the Murder is closing in a duel (since it needs to, the Carnage doesn't) with the Carnage, the Carnage gets more dice.
Carnage above 30cm:
-- vs closing : 8 dice wb
-- vs moving away : 6 dice wb
-- vs abeam : 3 dice wb
Murder above 30cm:
-- vs closing : 2 dice wb + 2 l
-- vs moving away : 1 dice wb + 2 l
-- vs abeam : 1 dice wb + 2 l
Under 30cm the differences goes up high.
And above 45cm the Carnage vs Murder = 10wb vs 2 l
It seems you isolate the single point the lance murder could be better (vs abeam) but forget the multiple benefits of the Carnage.
Look the murder will go prow on to use its lances. At 45cm range it'll go broadside (either way lance or regular Murder, same doctrine).
The Carnage will go abeam at once at the 60cm abeam band. And have 10wb's all the time.
Since only few enemy fleets have ranges +45cm the enemy will be closing. A win point for the Carnage! If the enemy gets to 45cm. The Carnage gets more effective (+6wb) and still fire at prows. Yay.
So: Murder NEEDS to close. The Carnage does NOT NEED to close. Carnage will wait to see enemy closing.
A ship that closes is more vulnerable. A ship abeam less.
What would happen in a 1:1 duel?