How does MFTAS work?

[Tupteq]

I know that MFTAS is a part of Stormtrooper helmet. Official rules say: "MFTAS: Multi-Frequency Targeting Acquisition System; adds +2D to Perception checks in low-visibility situations, +2D to ranged weapon skill uses against targets moving more than 10 meters per round; polarized lenses prevent flash-blinding.". Bonus dice may differ between versions.

Bu what does it mean? Only polarized lenses are clear for me.
About low-visiblity - I always used it not as a bonus, but as a reduction of penalty (for example: complete darkness has +4D modifier to difficulty, but for Stormtrooper it's only +2D, light smoke +1D is reduced by MFTAS to +0 etc.).

But what about MFTAS and moving target? I think it will not work as a penalty reduction (I haven't found any difficulty modifiers for attacking a moving target). So, it looks for me like a strange device, that can't help you as long as your target moves <2m/s (<10m/round), but gives you great bonus (+2D, compared to Stormtroopers' blaster 4D - armor 1D = 3D) if target moves 2.01m/s or more. In my games I'm ignoring it - I think it's a kind of authors' mistake.

Also - I see thet many sources don't tell about MFTAS as part of Stortrooper helmet: Imperial Sourcebook doesn't mention about MFTAS at all, SE Trilogy Sourcebook says about something called MTFS (page 154, Game Notes for E-11). Probably I could find more examples, but it's not needed. It's present in SWRPG R&E, are there other sources describing/referring it?
Wookiepedia doesn't mention about MFTAS "moving target" feature, it says only: "Multi-Frequency Targeting and Acquisition System (MFTAS) helped with the stormtroopers' perception in darkness as well as smoke and other visibility obscuring conditions".

[vong]

I always figured it was labeled as a "multi-frequency way to help the trooper acquire a target" as it it was filtering out non visible light with visible light, helping the trooper see and thus acquire targets.

As for the bouns / reduction in penalty it works the same. you have -4D for low light and +2D for MFTAS giving you a net -2D penalty
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[Gry Sarth]

I'm with you on this one Tupteq. I deal with the low-visibility thing the same way you do, and am also at a loss regarding the speed thing. It's obvious that the "moving bonus" should operate as something that negates a penalty, but the problem is that the game system doesn't have a difficulty modifier for moving targets. It doesn't make sense that a targeting system would exist where it's actually EASIER to hit a target that's moving fast than one that's just sitting there.

The more correct thing to do would be to raise the difficulty when anyone is shooting at a moving target, and then the ST would get that bonus in those situations....
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[Esoomian]

Perhaps the moving target thing helps only if the target is dodging so if you call a dodge and make the difficulty higher than the range difficulty then the stormtrooper gets his bonus dice to hitting you.

[vong]

well, this only adds to perception, and it is easier to see a moving target...
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[Tupteq]

[vong]

hmm, well, it could show the ST the targets current trajectory, so the difficulity of increased range is brought down a bit, as the trooper just shoots where the dot is..
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[Gry Sarth]

Again, the entry says nothing about "increased range". We have to try to work with what WEG gave us.

As I see it, this system scans the target in front of you, calculates its movement and speed and feeds into your visor an image of its projected trajectory. So if the target is standing still or moving slowly, it makes no real difference because the projection will be practically on top of the real target. But if the target is traveling fast, than you won't have to mentally calculate where to "overshoot" your target, you simply shoot where your MFTAS tells you the target will be (taking into acount target speed and trajectory and you blaster bolt's travelling speed).
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[Tupteq]

I totally agree with you Gry!
This system could only negate penalties (shows you most probable vector, so you can shoot to moving target as it was motionless). It doesn't help you with dodging target (random moves, no vector) nor with long range shots.

[Xynar]

People dodging aren't moving 2m/sec. usually. So if a character was moving quickly and dodging, they're still S.O.L. and the Stormtrooper gets the bonus.
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Xynar
The Great Adventurer

[Gry Sarth]

Hummm.. I don't know. A dodge seems like too brief a movement for the MFTAS to be used effectively. The system would have to be able to effectively predict the future in order to aid on a quick subtle dodge.
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[garhkal]

I have always used the low vis as an offset of penalties too. Especially in smoke or darkness (in fact i use stormies with smoke grenades as a battle tactic)..

[Esoomian]

[Ray]

I can confirm that Stormies with Smoke Grenades are *LETHAL*!

[garhkal]