The following is a study of how the various weapon systems available to large space craft perform when attacking small craft.
For the most part I will be avoiding specific weapons and will instead use imaginary weapons that do 100 points of damage for internal consistency.
It will also be assumed they can be Bracketed to level 3 as necessary when appropriate. Of course you can’t bracket against small craft at short range.
For the most part I will use a 4 Gunner unless noted otherwise.
The target will be generating a +2 defensive modifier. This of course could be less. Also Evasion outside 12 hexes is also likely and adds a +3.
Capital Weapon (NAC, NGR, NPPC)
The standard generic capital weapons they suffer a +5 against small craft. At the same time they can be bracketed to level 3 if enough weapons are available.
With no bracketing a Capital Weapon can only generate a firing solution under 12 hexes.
Accuracy: Short 8.3%.
For comparison purposes a 3 Gunner will generate Short 16.6% and Medium 2.7%.
When comparing bracketing one needs to observe Average Damage and Accuracy because damage is reduced as accuracy increases.
Bracketing Level 3 Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium 16.6%, Long 2.7%
Bracketing Level 3 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 6.6, Long 1.1
Bracketing Level 2 Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium 8.3%
Bracketing Level 2 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 5
Bracketing Level 1 Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium 2.7%
Bracketing Level 1 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 2.2
Clearly if your Capital Weapon can Bracket you want to take it to the highest level possible as there is no damage drop off with any realistic gunner.
Naval Laser
Basically similar to a standard generic capital weapons they suffer a +5 against small craft. At the same time they can be bracketed to level 3 if enough weapons are available. More importantly they can be put into AA Mode to improve their accuracy against small craft by -2. This has no damage penalty.
With no Bracketing or AA Mode a Capital Weapon can only generate a firing solution under 12 hexes.
Accuracy: Short 8.3%.
For comparison purposes a 3 Gunner will generate Short 16.6% and Medium 2.7%.
When comparing Bracketing one needs to observe Average Damage and Accuracy because damage is reduced as accuracy increases.
Bracketing Level 3 Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium 16.6%, Long 2.7%
Bracketing Level 3 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 6.6, Long 1.1
Bracketing Level 2 Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium 8.3%
Bracketing Level 2 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 5
Bracketing Level 1 Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium 2.7%
Bracketing Level 1 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 2.2
The important difference is the addition of AA Mode.
AA Mode Accuracy: Short 27.2%, Medium 8.3%
AA Mode Damage: Short 27.7, Medium 8.3
The two modes make appropriate firing modes more difficult for Naval Lasers.
If you can only Bracket to Level 2, always use AA Mode as it offers the same accuracy with greater damage.
If you can Bracket to Level 3, use Bracketing outside 25 hexes. Between 13 and 24 hexes you have a choice. Bracketing is twice as accurate, but AA Mode is more consistently damaging. At 12 hexes use AA mode. This pattern is consistent for higher gunners.
Sub Capital Cannon
The standard generic sub capital weapons they suffer a +3 against small craft. At the same time they can be bracketed to level 3 if enough weapons are available.
With no bracketing a Capital Weapon can only generate a firing solution under 25 hexes.
Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 9.3%
For comparison purposes a 3 Gunner will generate Short 41.6%, Medium 16.6%, and Long 2.7%.
When comparing Bracketing one needs to observe Average Damage and Accuracy because damage is reduced as accuracy increases.
Bracketing Level 3 Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 41.6%, Long 16.6%
Bracketing Level 3 Damage: Short 27.7, Medium 16.6, Long 6.6
Bracketing Level 2 Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 27.7%, Long 8.3%
Bracketing Level 2 Damage: Short 27.7, Medium 16.6, Long 5
Bracketing Level 1 Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 16.6%, Long 2.7%
Bracketing Level 1 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 13.3, Long 2.2
Clearly if your Capital Weapon can Bracket you want to take it to the highest level possible as there is no damage drop off with any realistic gunner.
Sub Capital Laser
Similar to a standard generic sub capital weapons they suffer a +3 against small craft. At the same time they can be bracketed to level 3 if enough weapons are available. More importantly they can be put into AA Mode to improve their accuracy against small craft by -2. This has no damage penalty.
With no Bracketing or AA Mode a Capital Weapon can only generate a firing solution under 12 hexes.
Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 8.33%
For comparison purposes a 3 Gunner will generate Short 41.6%, Medium 27.7%, and Long 2.7%
When comparing Bracketing one needs to observe Average Damage and Accuracy because damage is reduced as accuracy increases.
Bracketing Level 3 Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 41.6%, Long 16.6%
Bracketing Level 3 Damage: Short 27.7, Medium 16.6, Long 6.6
Bracketing Level 2 Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 27.7%, Long 8.3%
Bracketing Level 2 Damage: Short 27.7, Medium 16.6, Long 5
Bracketing Level 1 Accuracy: Short 27.7%, Medium 16.6%, Long 2.7%
Bracketing Level 1 Damage: Short 8.3, Medium 13.3, Long 2.2
The important difference is the addition of AA Mode.
AA Mode Accuracy: Short 58.3%, Medium 27.7%, Long 8.3%
AA Mode Damage: Short 58.3, Medium 27.7, Long 8.3
The two modes make appropriate firing modes more difficult for Naval Lasers.
If you can only Bracket to Level 2, always use AA Mode as it offers the same accuracy with greater damage.
If you can Bracket to Level 3 you have choices. Outside 25 hexes Bracketing is twice as accurate, but AA Mode is more consistently damaging. Between 13 and 24 hexes you have a choice. Bracketing is about 50% more accurate, but AA Mode is 75% more damaging. At 12 hexes use AA mode. This pattern is consistent for higher gunners.
Capital Missile (KW, WS, B, P, SR, SF, MR)
Capital Missiles and Sub Capital Missiles suffer no penalties against small craft. Barracudas are unique for their -2 accuracy advantage. For the purposes of this comparison Barracudas do 100 damage.
Accuracy: Short 72.2%, Medium 41.6%, Long 16.6%, Extreme 2.7%
Damage: Short 72.2, Medium 41.6, Long 16.6, Extreme 2.7
“Barracuda” Accuracy: Short 91.6%, Medium 72.2%, Long 41.6%, Extreme 16.6%
“Barracuda” Damage: Short 91.6, Medium 72.2, Long 41.6, Extreme 16.6
Not much to say here except that these are brutally accurate weapons.
Conventional Weapons
Basically any conventional weapon. Please remember that Extreme Range for conventional weapons corresponds to Medium Range capital weapons while Medium Range corresponds to Short Range.
Accuracy: Short 72.2%, Medium 41.6%, Long 16.6%, Extreme 2.7%
Damage: Short 72.2, Medium 41.6, Long 16.6, Extreme 2.7
Pulse Accuracy: Short 91.6%, Medium 72.2%, Long 41.6%
Pulse Damage: Short 91.6, Medium 72.2, Long 41.6
For interest’s sake I am going to include some Capital Weapons at their most accurate.
Capital Weapon Accuracy: Short 8.3%, Medium (Short) 8.3%, Long (Medium) 16.6%, Extreme (Medium) 16.6%, (Long) 2.7%
Capital Laser Accuracy: Short 27.2%, Medium (Short) 27.2%, Long (Medium) 16.6%, Extreme (Medium) 16.6%, (Long) 2.7%
Capital Missile Accuracy: Short 72.2%, Medium (Short) 72.2%, Long (Medium) 41.6%, Extreme (Medium) 41.6%, (Long) 16.6%, (Extreme) 2.7%
