Ok- not to start a debate over reality versus fun play but the asteroid rules in KWs does not really match conditions in the asteroid belt in sol system but probably comes close to the density of rings around a gas giant.<br /><br />Infact the vast majority of the material in sol systems belt is contained in just 4 bodies- I kid you not just four bodies. <br /><br />Anyways I was thinking about alternate asteroid rules- if combat takes place in the region of the main belt then there is the chance, based on speed, that each turn the ship will be struck buy a small bit of debris and holed- 1hp and atmosphere leaking- leaking slowly but still needing to be dealt with.<br /><br />Addtionally- there are 3 possible results of an asteroid being struck by another (called and impactor) and I think 2 of these could be used in game. the set up is that each asteroid is moving on the map during the game and they will collide at a pre-determined time: turn 4, 5 or 6. One result would be the impactor shattering the asteroid and reducing it to rubble. It becomes a debris field within its hex still moving on the asteroid's previous course and speed and any ship coming within a hex of it has an even greater chance of being holed with 1-2hp of damage. This increased chance of being holed has an area of effect around the shattered asteroid that is 1 hex per turn since the impact for the rest of the encounter.<br /><br />The 2nd result- is that impactor shatters and blasts away from the asteroid and creates a debris plume that has the same effect as above but is only on the side of the asteroid where the impact occurs.<br /><br /><b>Blackholes</b><br />Dragon #88 "Battle of Ebony Eyes" details two nearly identical black holes orbiting each other as a location for a battle.<br />Ships coming within 5 hexes of a black hole are lost but can orbit at 6 hexes with its engines off- not sure about this but that s what the article says. Anyway a black hole would make a significant terrain feature since it can cause instant destruction of a ship. Would not beam weapons have their effect bent by passing through the 5 hex radius of a black hole?<br /><br /><b>Nebulae</b><br />made up of gas and dust and the birth place for yound blue stars<br />high speed could be bad- and lead to a sand blasting effect of the hull and external sensors and cameras<br />could also be an area of high likelihood of the ship being holed for 1 hp and loss of atmosphere.<br /><br /><b>Gas Giants</b><br />looking at wikipedia it seems that the outer layers of a gas giant is a thinner atmosphere- this suggests that atmospheric capable ships of small size can enter- for what reason? gas scooping. and a gas giant would take up more than 1 hex making it a significant terrain feature. then throw in rings with a really high likelihood of the ship being holed if at too high a speed. this could be a great raid scenario where the aggressor is trying to tag the asteroid mining shuttles which can enter the atmosphere for cover. Assault scouts can also enter the atmosphere for cover but sathar destroyers cannot.<br /><br />Any other ideas? what else could work as terrain features in a KHs game?
- Log in to post comments