Can a Mobile Structure be used as a Hull Defense weapon?

[truetanker]

Just as it stayed, can't remember if there are restrictions.

Can anyone answer this?

A MS as a WS support weapon.

Thanks,
TT

[AlphaMirage]

I don't think it can because I don't think there is a way to deploy it. A Rattler is not something you are going to be fitting in a standard bay door. A Superheavy could conceivable be however.

[monbvol]

Really there's no good way to keep a unit attached to the hull of a ship if the ship uses thrust.

[truetanker]

Not saying use thrust...

Ideally, as a stationary station...

If a DropShuttle can enter...

Why not a Rattler or similar MS?

TT

[cray]

But...why not just mount weapons on the space station? You can get a lot more guns built into the station than can be carried on the mobile structure.

[idea weenie]

But...why not just mount weapons on the space station? You can get a lot more guns built into the station than can be carried on the mobile structure.

Mobile Structures as giant Omni-pods?  If expecting Dropships, you can rapid-transfer a Rattler & friends to the combat space station.  If expecting a swarm of ASF and you don't have an ASF swarm of your own, another Mobile Structure designed for shooting down ASF.  If the opponent likes to use missiles, you tag out for a MS designed for anti-missile setup.

You would also be able to bypass Fire Control limits this way as the Mobile Structure's weapons would not be part of the Space Station's weapons array.

Of course, you'd need a nearby completely innocent cargo space station to store the various Mobile Structures, which means you need to get the relative tonnages of a Mobile Structure to determine how many can fit into the cargo space station's bays.

This also runs into fun numbers of how many tons of weapons you get per 1000 tons of Mobile Structure, vs tons of weapons per 1000 tons of Space Station.

[BATTLEMASTER]

I think this falls into the "whatever works at your table" category.  I'd allow it for cleverness! 

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Mobile Structures as giant Omni-pods?  If expecting Dropships, you can rapid-transfer a Rattler & friends to the combat space station.  If expecting a swarm of ASF and you don't have an ASF swarm of your own, another Mobile Structure designed for shooting down ASF.  If the opponent likes to use missiles, you tag out for a MS designed for anti-missile setup.

You would also be able to bypass Fire Control limits this way as the Mobile Structure's weapons would not be part of the Space Station's weapons array.

Of course, you'd need a nearby completely innocent cargo space station to store the various Mobile Structures, which means you need to get the relative tonnages of a Mobile Structure to determine how many can fit into the cargo space station's bays.

This also runs into fun numbers of how many tons of weapons you get per 1000 tons of Mobile Structure, vs tons of weapons per 1000 tons of Space Station.

That would be a good reason to think about this. You won't expect those to kill a giant warship, but it would be the detachable anti-air turret.

[truetanker]

Exactly...

A Mobile turret built for space or underwater.

As it is, would you look at it if it was built longways or wideways? Or both?

After all it can go from 2 x 1 either way, and upwards of several hex wide/deep.

Not to mention the Levels, 2 for the tracks and 1+ for the body...

TT

[cray]

Mobile Structures as giant Omni-pods?  If expecting Dropships, you can rapid-transfer a Rattler & friends to the combat space station.  If expecting a swarm of ASF and you don't have an ASF swarm of your own, another Mobile Structure designed for shooting down ASF.  If the opponent likes to use missiles, you tag out for a MS designed for anti-missile setup.

You would also be able to bypass Fire Control limits this way as the Mobile Structure's weapons would not be part of the Space Station's weapons array.

The fire control requirements for just installing all required weapons at once would be lighter than the mobile structures' dead weight.

[truetanker]

Also correct, but the idea of building extra defenses to help out is what's the question.

The rear answer is, could this be useable?

TT

[idea weenie]

Also correct, but the idea of building extra defenses to help out is what's the question.

The rear answer is, could this be useable?

TT

One key issue would be dealing with impact damage from ballistic weapons.  A high-energy laser or PPC will try to melt through, but a shot from a Gauss weapon is pure momentum.  You will need to make sure that the Mobile structure is properly attached to the Space Station's structure so an impact on the Mobile Structure doesn't crack through weak points, which means the Space Station's structure would still be needed to resist the damage.

But this is starting to get into fan rules