Aeronautica Publication 3-1 Volume 2: Armaments

[Arendious]

Given the vast array of missiles, bombs, pods, and other exotic options available to modern combat aircraft; I felt the offerings in A.I. was in need of some expansion. Eventually, I plan to include sketches and line-drawings (inspired by Iron Hands Fanatic's Heresy work).

 

*Fair warning, nothing has been playtested yet.

 

 

Mars-Pattern "Misericord" Short Range Air-to-Air Missile

 

     Colloquially named after the dagger/badge-of-office carried by the Emperor's Custodes, the Mars-Pattern SRAAM was presented to the Imperial Navy's Admiralty in response to their (repeated) petitions to the Fabricator-General for improved close-range ordnance. Recovered from a previously over-locked data tomb in the Hellas Basin, the STC for the 'Misericord' was blessed and canonized in a remarkably short period of time, taking only 50 years from discovery to production.

 

    The 'Misericord' combines a broad-angle thermal-seeker, an exceptionally cunning and bellicose cogitator, and improved connections to the standard Imperial Navy fighter fire control systems (particularly helmet sights) to offer exceptional high-off-boresite capability. Additionally, such is the wrath of the missiles' machine-spirit that it denies all but the most devious of enemy countermeasures. Thrust-vectoring, and a highly-aggressive propulsion system, allow the missile to rapidly accelerate and manuever, even to intercept targets almost directly behind the launch platform. Unfortunately, this leads to tradeoffs in the form of reduced flight time, as the rocket motor greatly favors the initial boost over sustained acceleration. Additionally, the large explosive warhead favored by Imperial pilots is replaced by a much more modest fragmentation system. 

 

System Name                                    Arc             FPR      DMG     Ammo     Special

 

Pair of 'Misericord' SRAAMs        Any except Rear      3-0-0        5+           1           Aerial Attack, Extra Damage (6+)

 

 Points Cost: 8 per pair, only available to Imperial Thunderbolt air-frames (at this time).

 

 Designers Notes: established points cost; reduced Ammo and Damage stats; limited availability, though not currently limited to only once per a/c

 

 

   <Originally proposed profile>

    System Name                                    Arc            FPR      DMG     Ammo     Special

 

   Pair of 'Misericord' SRAAMs        Any except Rear      3-0-0        4+           2           Aerial Attack, Extra Damage (6+)

[Dosjetka]

Interesting. :) Have you given the points cost any thought? Given that Short Range is the only range at which Ork aircraft can operate with any degree of satisfaction, perhaps these should be 3-4 pts per pair so as to reduce the risk of severely neutralising DakkaJets flying up close?

[Arendious]

I hadn't considered points cost yet, but 3 points seems reasonable. Additionally, I intended to include limiting carriage to the Thunderbolt (and other fighter-class platforms later).

[Dosjetka]

Good idea. Something else you might want to do is limit the number of these to one pair per aircraft? In any case, once I have a few more games under my belt, I'll see a friend of mine (with whom I started playing Aeronautica) is interested in test-playing your creations. :)

[Perry]

I dont like this upgrade, you've removed the main weakness of the Thunderbolt which is lack of short range firepower.

 

Adding a pretty reliable ammo 2, 3 shot short range missile that can target the side arc as well? And charge 3 points?

 

This is a 10 point upgrade at least.

[Dosjetka]

Perry raises a fair point about the ammo which I missed in my first read. Since it's a pair of missiles, it should be "Ammo 1" as you consume both missiles in one shot.

[Arendious]

I had envisioned having two smaller missiles on a dual-rail pylon, which is how the F-4 carried its AIM-9s. But I agree that in retrospect, extra shots is probably a little much at that initial points cost.

 

I think a points increase, as well as a reduction in the damage stat to 5+ is probably warranted. As well as a change to "2 pair". I'll update once I get back to my computer.

 

Edit: Adding a limit of "may only be taken once per aircraft" seems a reasonable suggestion too.

[Arendious]

I updated the original post after considering the feedback from Perry and Chaplain Dosjetka. I left the original stats underneath for reference.

 

Next Idea:

 

"Chastener" Anti-Radiation Missile

 

     Description upcoming

 

System Name                                     Arc          FPR      DMG     Ammo     Special

 

'Chastener' Anti-Radiation Missile         Front        0-2-1        3+          1*        Ground Attack, Extra Damage (6+),

                                                                                                                Emitter Homing (+3 to FPR against AA that fired within the last turn)

 

 Points Cost: 5 (* Point cost includes a necessary targeting pod which takes up a hardpoint, additional missiles may be purchased for 3 pts each) 

 

 Designers Notes: Intent is to replicate missiles similar to the AGM-88 HARM - used for suppressing/destroying air defense systems. 

[Exilyth]

Some ground asset that launches grot bombs could be interesting.

[Arendious]

You thinking Surface-to-Air Grots? Or more like a surface-launched cruise missile, Exilyth? Something to target your opponents ground assets, or aircraft, or both?

[Exilyth]

I don't have my Rynns World book yet, but I was thinking grot bombs working exactly like thoose fired by the grot bommer.

[Gorthaur]

Some ground asset that launches grot bombs could be interesting.

I think they would more likely be grot rokkit silos than bombs, But I also wouldn't mind seeing a grot specific scout craft for the faction, something brand new.

[Arendious]

Gorthaur, when you say a scout-craft, what are you envisioning? Something small and fast, like a WW2 reconnaissance plane? Or something more like a U-2 (high-altitude)?

 

Outside of a specific "escort" scenario, do you envision specific scout perks?

[Gorthaur]

Scout craft is just the term they used in the twitch stream. I'm not sure scout craft fit into the game much since both forces are basically already engaged in a dogfight when playing this game. I expect something small, weak, maybe even suicidal. We might simply get the old fighta and lightning instead though. To me though the fighta more or less was replaced by the dakkajet cause their role isn't that different.