Updating My Lock-On Rules

[CRMcNeill]

As part of my Advanced Starfighter Combat System a while back, I came up with rules for using Sensor Focus as a crucial component of firing guided missiles. Looking back on it, however, I think I made it a bit too crucial a component, as both the films and the X-Wing video game (on which these rules depend heavily) allow for the firing of guided weapons without a Lock-On.

Here's what I'm considering for an updated version:

Skill: Sensors
Time To Use: 1 Standard Action
How To Use:
-Make a Sensor Focus roll, with a base Difficulty of Easy.
-A Lock-On attempt automatically shows up on your target's Passive sensors, so your target may try to evade the Lock-On just as if it were an attack (roll Piloting + Maneuverability against the shooter's Sensor Focus roll).
-The Lock-On holds for one round. If the target continues to evade, you must re-roll every round to keep the Lock.
-When firing at targets of a higher Scale, the gunner can attempt to lock-on to specific points on the target's Hull.
Effect:
-Fixed Guns: +2D to Fire Control
-Rockets & Bombs: +2D to Fire Control, All Ranges Increased 50%*
-Gimballed Guns: +3D to Fire Control
-Missiles, Torpedoes & Guided Bombs: +4D to Fire Control, All Ranges Doubled*
Note: Lock-On Bonuses to Fire Control have already been incorporated into existing warhead stats.

*When firing at Long Range while Locked-On, the weapon does not attack until the beginning of the next round, which requires the launching craft to maintain Lock-On for the full round.

The main reason I set the bonuses so high is to counteract the MAPs incurred by adding an additional Standard Action to the Gunnery and Piloting skill rolls the character will already be making.

This rule would be universally applicable for all ordnance, all the way up to Capital-Scale, which will necessitate some changes in my stats. The big thing I like is that it adds a definite advantage to missile armed ships: range. A ship with heavy missile launchers that gets a Lock-On could potentially hit targets out to 120 SUs, which is a bit of a game changer.

As part of this, I'm also thinking of dividing Launchers and Torpedo Tubes into Light and Heavy variants, with Light being Frigate-Scale and Heavy being Destroyer-Scale.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]

As an extension of this, I'm thinking that certain weapons should be allowed to do a Passive Lock-On, using Passive Sensors instead of Focus. This fits with the usage of certain types of weapons, like heat-seeking missiles (ala the AIM-9 Sidewinder) or anti-radiation missiles (such as the AGM-45 Shrike or AGM-88 HARM).

For the purposes of the above rule, I'd say use them as written, except using the attacker's Passive Sensor Dice instead of its Focus Dice. Obviously, this will reduce the chances of success (~3D less), as well as effective range, but it will allow the attacker to maintain any stealth measures they have operating.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Random_Axe]

I think those bonuses are much too generous.
I see a sensor lock as being a more generic description, as in when an enemy ship is scanning you, you will know about it (as you said).

But wouldn't an actual sensor lock-on be dependent on an actual missile type, which gives that particular missile launcher a bonus to hit if you've managed a sensor lock with your Sensors skill roll?

I would say that standard Concussion Missiles have a potential to gain a sensor lock bonus, while a Proton Torpedo launcher does not.

[CRMcNeill]

[Raven Redstar]

Maybe Missiles have an additional bonus while in atmosphere and torpedoes get an additional bonus while in a vacuum?
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RR
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[CRMcNeill]

[CRMcNeill]

Updated the OP to reflect some of the choices I made regarding unguided rocket / freefall bomb stats.

I'm also thinking strongly about having the Range Value for Sensor Focus be the number of targets that can be Locked On at the same time.
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index