Alpha Strike 'Mech of the Week: VL-** Vulcan

[Weirdo]

That's definitely an article to look forward to. I definitely lurves me some arty. 8)

I'm also a fan of direct-fire shots, though I prefer SPGs in that role. Much more durable.

[Nikas_Zekeval]

We saw the 0* damage nomenclature on the Vanquisher's IF Special], and it makes the Vulcan look even more anemic.  That's the AC/2 on the -2T, incapable of doing even half a point of damage in Alpha Strike.  The saving grace of a 0* damage is that it doesn't actually raise the PV of the unit that has it.  Small favors.  Even with the potential for backshots, the Vulcan -2T gets a pitiful D for armament (and only then because the Charger -1A1 and Wasp -1W exist).

Can some explain the 0* damage to an Alpha Strike newbie?  What, you can only do long range damage under certain conditions?

[Scotty]

0* in Alpha Strike nomenclature means that you can do damage inconsistently at the range which has that as a damage value.  On a successful attack, you roll 1d6.  On a 4, 5, or 6, you do 1 point of damage.  If you're using the Variable Damage rule in the Companion, you do 1 damage on a 5 or 6.

[Xotl]

I should note that the errata had a mistake in it (now corrected): Long Range 0* is worth the same as Short Range: 0.5 points (half the chance to hit, half the regular value).  All units with such a value have always had their PV calculated that way, so there's no changes other than my errata post edit.