Re: Bombers

On Wed, 10 Jun 1998, Harry Bandoian wrote:

> ***doning my fire-proof vest***
> Ok, since no one likes fighters on this (stay with me on this).
> I was thinking of modifying a wreck boat, to carry small 5-10 lb explosive
> or biological warhead. The pontoons would be enlarged so it could carry the
> bombs. These ships would carry only 2 or 3 crew members and the necessary
> equipment. Im still toying with this idea. Im thinking of creating a whole
> line of bomber craft!!!

[Lurker mode off]

I'm probably one of the individuals who feels that fightrs don't work in
Spelljammer as it is designed.  That said, I do like your new idea.

Small (2-3 ton) craft, especially if equipped with a decent helm, would
make excellent bombers.  Such a role would make far more sense for them
than fighters.  They are still capable of carrying a decent amount of
weight, they could carry a larger than maximum crew (air supply should not
be a concern if they are used as short range support vessels), and they
could do a decent amount of damage.

Of course, the concern is still the helm.  Without something like a pump
(IMHO the best spelljamming engine ever developed), they are still rather
expensive.  Destruction of a few bombers could cripple a navy, because of
the loss of the expensive helms.

A better option might be to limit their use to combat against relativly
immobile targets (asteroids or citadels, for instance), or in fleet
actions where the bomber-equipped fleet is preparing an ambush.  In those
situations, a nonmagical engine could prove cost effective.  The bombers
would require only tactical maneuverability, and they would be cheaper.

Even better, the bombers could be painted black (to allow them to blend in
better with the background) and equiped with long-range weaponry.  This
would allow them to serve as space-going snipers, and return fire would
prove difficult (try and spot a black object in space; it should prove
quite difficult unless it is contrasted by passing between a brighter
object and the observer).

It wouldn't be a perfect weapon, but it would be a better use for small
craft than fighter.

Richard Gant

[Lurker mode on again]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     "Put me down, Uncle!"  Shiro cried.  "I have to go back and get one
of those guns!"
     "You couldn't even *lift* one!"  Tomokato said.
     "I could!"  Shiro insisted.  "I have the strength of madness!"
               -"Samurai Cat in the Real World",
                by Mark E. Rogers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------