Re: Bombers

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-spelljammer@??????.????????.????.com
> [mailto:owner-spelljammer@??????.????????.????.com]On Behalf Of
> gantr@???.edu
> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 1998 12:00 AM
> To: Spelljammer Maling list
> Subject: Re: [SPELLJAMMER] - 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
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------
>
>
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Ah, here we go a jammer after my own heart! Thats what I was thinking, use a
cheap helm, grab a few bombs, a decent crossbow and you got yourself a good
idea!