CT LBB Combat Errata from Mayday

[DonM]

Almost all rules in Mayday have a parallel rule in Book 2 combat...

However, I discovered during the "CT Lost Rules" project that between the 1978 and 1983 printings of Mayday, one rule was changed: Shifting Fire.

Shifting Fire (1978): Each firing ship must allocate its fire to a specific target before any ship has actually fired. Such allocation may be changed (shifted) if the target is destroyed before any weapons on the attacking ship have fired, but such a shift is subject to a DM of –6 in addition to all other applicable DMs.

Shifting Fire (1983): Ships which have more than one laser are allowed a DM of +1 for each laser (after the first) when firing at a target. If this DM is not used, and the target originally fired at is destroyed (in any manner) during the laser fire phase, the remaining lasers may fire at another target.

Now, the 1978 Mayday rule reflects the standard rule for Book 2 combats in both the 1977 and 1981 editions. But, the 1983 rule is very interesting.

Before I get an official word, I thought I'd ask for opinions on the impact of the change...

 

[Supplement Four]

IIRC, range was managed differently too, from Book 2. Wasn't it -1 DM per hex in Mayday?

 

[DonM]

Right, but that didn't change between the editions.

If you look at Book 2 '81, the Shifting Fire rule is identical to the Mayday '78 rule (p. 29):

Shifting Fire: Each firing ship must allocate its fire to a specific target before any ship has actually fired. Such allocation may be changed (shifted) if the target is destroyed before any weapons on the attacking ship have fired, but such a shift is subject to a DM of –6 in addition to all other applicable DMs.

So I'm wondering IF this is a Lost Rule, or an intended errata; however, before I go ask Marc, I wanted to get a feel from the numerous Book 2 Combat users as to if this was a viable change. This would replace the paragraph on page 29 with the following:

Shifting Fire: Ships which have more than one laser are allowed a DM of +1 for each laser (after the first) when firing at a target. If this DM is not used, and the target originally fired at is destroyed (in any manner) during the laser fire phase, the remaining lasers may fire at another target.

 

[Supplement Four]

I use Book 2 Combat, but it's been a while. I always liked the rule.

It's in Starter Traveller, as well, is it not?

 

[Gruffty]

The following rule for shifting fire is in Starter Traveller:

Shifting Fire: Each firing ship must allocate its fire to a specific target before any ship has actually fired. Such allocation may be changed (shifted) if the target is destroyed before any weapons on the attacking ship have fired, but such a shift is subject to a DM of -6 in addition to all other applicable DMs.

Shifting Fire: Once a target is designated, a ship which shifts fire to another target in the same turn is subject to a DM of -6 to hit for the remainder of the turn.

 

[sabredog]

That's how I remember it. And it's a good reason for players to invest in, and pay attention more to what computer they have and the programs they need. Multi-Target, good gunners, good pilots and avoidance progs....

The problem with the newer rule is that I don't see why multiple lasers - as opposed to unfired multiple turrets should be the determining factor. Now IMTU I have all the lasers in a single turret fire on one roll, and they then all hit the same location, but this rule implies that each laser rolls separately to hit and for location. I know the location house rule I have isn't canon, but even so, if each laser in a turret can fire independantely as described in the original rule, then why can't each laser ordinarily fire on a different ship?

It doesn't work for me, it should be one turret - one target...and if there are any turrets that haven't fired then those turrets can shift fire.

I don't like the newer ed. rule for select fire. I prefer the original that adds or subtracts on the location roll to shift more to the opposite ends of the location hit tables.

Anyway, just some thoughts.

 

[DonM]

In a discussion on the ct-starships list, it was brought up that the open ended DM can get real messy with bigger ships, and I opined that perhaps the change was playtested only with smaller ships (like the ones explicitly defined in Mayday), so the change really doesn't work as intended.

So, I think we'll leave it as is, and be done with it.

And the discussion point is why I brought it to the members of this forum

Thanks!