Starfighter Proton Torpedo Barrages

[Kytross]

In the X-Wing books one pilot can send his targetting data to another pilot or the entire squadron to do a barrage attack against a capital ship. The only circumstance in which 'the barrage' could be used is if there were no fighters harrassing the squadron, so the enemy fighters whould have to be eliminated or otherwise occupied. Consequently it won't be a common tactic, but two of my players have read the x-wing novels and are looking forward to using the tactic in a cap ship battle.

I see this as something different then a combined action, rather, it is a specific, advanced tactic. One fighter targets the capital ship, flying in close and feeding their telemetry to the other squadron pilots who are roughly equidistant from the cap ship, they fire simultaneously and feed the first pilot's telemetry to their torpedos through their astromechs. If everything goes right 8-12 proton torpedoes will hit the capital ship in the same place in the same round.

I think this should cause massive damage, more then a combined action roll, and I'd like to know how you would calculate that damage roll.

Thank you in advance.

[atgxtg]

I wouldn't make it too good. Or else the tactic would make capital ships obsolete (whener you can relaibly destroy a big, expensive craft with smaller, less expensive craft, people stop making the big craft).

To me, it sounds exactly like a combined action, but one that is assisted by the astromechs for a bigger bonus.


But then I use the older (and higher) combined fire rules from 2E instead of the nerfed rules from 2R&E, so the combined fire bonus would be higher.

So if 6 fighters are worth a +5 bonus in 2R&E, then adding in the droids could double that to a +10 bonus.

For 2E that would be a +3D bonus for 6 fighters, increased to +4D with the astromechs.

Notes that firing both protons at once, would also increase the damage.



At least that is how I would run it.

[Kytross]

The example for combined actions given in the Revised and Expanded rulebook has one trooper making one shot and getting the entire bonus.

The barrage I'm talking about is one pilot aiming and 10-12 pilots shooting. The other pilots in the squadron would effectively be flying in formation in the middle of combat, which is practically impossible in a dogfight. Albeit, it's a loose formation, but still all but impossible in a dogfight. Which is why the tactic would be used rarely in combat, though probably a common tactic against ground facilities for bombing runs, which is why it would be practiced.

I like the idea of adding in the astromechs to the combined action total. For twelve starfighters that would be a bonus of 8D damage, added to 9D torpedoes is 17D which is significant, but not really representative of 11-12 torpedoes worth of damage.

[atgxtg]

[Kytross]

I thought ISD's had ray and particle shields. Hmm, more research must be done.

Your post made me looking things over, and your right, damage is generally grown by 1D maybe 2D per weapon added.

I have test rolling to do and no time to do it in.

[atgxtg]

[Kytross]

That's good. I might use that.

[atgxtg]

[garhkal]

This is what command rolls are for, combining fire..

Though i would love to see an actual rule for what corran did by having the y wings (first book) lok onto HIM while he flew at the Lancer.
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