HG2 question

[Wol]

Hello.

1) In HG 2nd ed The rules state that in the pre combat decision step “The defending player announces all such decisions before the attacker.” and in the text “There are several decisions players must make before the firing begins. The defender must make all these decisions before the attacker.”.

Is the intent that the defender make these decisions first, announce them to the attacker, then the attacker make and announce their decisions, or that the defender makes their decisions, tells the attacker he has made them, attacker makes their, then defender announces and the attacker announces?

The example is unclear “The Imperial player wins the initiative and chooses long range. In the
pre-combat decision step the Solomani, suspecting a break-off attempt, decides to
use the Omega's emergency agility. Sure enough, the lmperial player announces
that all three of his ships will break off. “

2) How are sandcasters effective against missiles?

regards

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Hello.

1) In HG 2nd ed The rules state that in the pre combat decision step “The defending player announces all such decisions before the attacker.” and in the text “There are several decisions players must make before the firing begins. The defender must make all these decisions before the attacker.”.

Is the intent that the defender make these decisions first, announce them to the attacker, then the attacker make and announce their decisions, or that the defender makes their decisions, tells the attacker he has made them, attacker makes their, then defender announces and the attacker announces?

I would assume the attacker can use the information the defender discloses, otherwise it would say both records their decisions and reveal simultaneously.

2) How are sandcasters effective against missiles?

Same as is hinted in LBB2:

LBB2'77, p15:
Sandcasters: Sandcasters dispense abrasive particles into the path of enemy
targets, lessening the effectiveness of lasers, disrupting missile fire, and interfering
with enemy ship flight. Firing involves the discharge of one canister of sand (see
expendables) which must be replaced by purchase. Sandcasters cost CR 250,000
each.

Specified in JTAS Special Supplement 3: Missiles:

SS3 Revisited, p10:
Sand Effects: Any missile which passes through sand may be incapacitated by that
sand. For each 25 millimeters of sand that a missile passes through, throw 12+ for the
missile to be incapacitated by it. If incapacitated, the missile ceases to function.

 

[kilemall]

Re the sandcasters, they can be used as either defensive fire against successful hits from laser/energy or missile batteries. This is laid out on page 40 with the defensive allocation step, and page 45 with the missile penetration table covering sand or beam. Additional missile defenses are repulsors, and nuclear dampers for nuclear missiles.

At the bottom of page 45 there is the beam weapon table with sand being the only defense. Plasma and fusion weapons get +2 to penetrate sand.

All battery fire is called for on each target ship in sequence. The defense allocation is not made until all hits have been determined so the sand battery defense can go to whichever attack type is preferred.

Presumably the sand abrades or kinetically damages the missile. Alternative one can presume the missile warhead is a directed energy plasma jet like HEAT or a detonation laser and sand as acting as a barrier against a missile borne energy attack.