Tracking Weapons and firing arcs

[Tryn]

Hi there,
maybe I overead something but I have a question reagarding tracking weapongs:
As far as I understand tracking weapons can also only (initially) be fired at targets within the arc. But once fired they can move outhside the arc, is this correct?

And if so what do you think for the following change:
Tracking weapons can be fired at any target, but have to travel at least half their speed in direct line from the ship before heading toward the target.

(I thinking of film/series, where missile batteries fire towards the side of the ship and after a short tim then the missile head to a target in the front of the ship)

[Dazz]

From what I can tell, you do have the RAW right in your first paragraph. And the change/houserule you're suggesting certainly seems reasonable, and I can pretty clearly picture sci-if movies/shows with ships doing as you're describing.

Granted, it would likely not be used terribly often, as every round a missile doesn't reach its target is another round it could miss the TAC and be wasted, but it would be a tactical choice.

Still, this would fall under a houserule, I don't see them changing the rules on them like this.

[Lane_S]

I do not like that idea.

Say you have a missile speed 12, a target is 2 spaces from you and between straight line spaces on side arc. Your method would still hit but would travel the full 12 spaces and hit an arc of the target that was facing away from you. In fact if the target is anywhere except on a straight line you will almost always hit an side that is away from you.

[Tryn]

Talked with my players about this and one mentioned that this would take the strategy out of ship combat, since you would add TL weapons to your side slots all time (since they can attack any square then).

On the other hand you will mostly have at least 2 rounds of travel, so more chance to fail/intercept.

I'm really not sure, from a cinematic view it's cool, but from a rules view... not sure

[Xenocrat]

Tryn wrote:

Talked with my players about this and one mentioned that this would take the strategy out of ship combat, since you would add TL weapons to your side slots all time (since they can attack any square then).

On the other hand you will mostly have at least 2 rounds of travel, so more chance to fail/intercept.

I'm really not sure, from a cinematic view it's cool, but from a rules view... not sure

Intercept chance is only rolled when it actually hits your hex, so only once regardless of travel time.

[Tryn]

So only downside (playerwise) would be that they probably will not hit with the TL in one round.

Mh...