If anyone does not know, then on the site, through the English interface, there is an access to Knowledge Base, which is gradually replenished. I'm putting out some fresh stuff that hasn't even been poured in yet.
Weapons in space.
We're all used to great movie stamps. A “laser” shot flying at the speed of a bullet also along a ballistic trajectory (hello SV!), battles of giants at a distance of hundreds of meters, slow “bombers” dropping (???!!) into the free fall of a bomb in space ... Most of these moments do not carry any history or engineering thought, they exist solely for a beautiful picture and convey simple emotional leads to the viewer, by showing ... stamps. Imagine if the laser always hit. The villains would have won right away...
But what is it really like in our game?
laser Any weapon emitting photons or waves has a propagation velocity close to or equal to the speed of light. In the conditions of our game - in the space of battlespace - instantly. Hitting or not hitting depends on the accuracy of guidance and information about the angular coordinates of the target. The advantages of a laser less information about the target for a successful hit Lack of ammunition and/or supplies for most of them lack of impact Cons Problems with spot size/focus over long distances Difficulty with accurate positioning at long distances momentary ease of protection high energy consumption complex Possible long launch to operational readiness drop in specific energy per area with increasing distance
The most sensible use of the laser at the moment is short-range protection against unarmored targets, but even here it loses in some moments to much simpler and cheaper systems. However, this does not negate the ability to develop new systems and improve current ones. Games with beam aperture and power can lead to the creation of bulky but effective laser guns capable of damaging ships. Since the R&D architecture in the game is quite open, you can go for it.
Missiles Missiles are divided into guided and unguided. Unguided fly on the trajectory originally set by the launcher, controlled can change the direction of their flight. To begin with, we will dispel one very persistent myth and explain a little how a guided missile actually works. In many, especially solid-fuel guided missiles, the engine runs a little time compared to the flight time, then the rocket flies inertia, controlled by deflecting stabilizers and gradually slowing down. It is with these points in mind that pilots have methods of escaping the rocket. Since the homing head constantly calculates the point of collision with the target, the missile almost always goes ahead. Changing this point due to the maneuver of the target causes the missile to change its trajectory and, accordingly, further lose its kinetic energy and speed. In space, the rocket has no aerodynamic braking, but there is no support to change its trajectory. This implies no need for needle shapes, but there is a more complex problem - the presence of engines or correction and orientation systems, possibly restarting the main engine, protection from radiation and cold. Example. In order to turn 90 degrees in space and at the same time maintain its speed, you will have to spend almost 2 times more fuel than on acceleration in the original direction. Because as paradoxical as it may sound, it is necessary to completely stop the movement along the original vector and give speed in the new one. If the new vector is under 45 degrees to the old one, then you will need to spend as much fuel as the acceleration cost, although the speed of the rocket will increase. However, all this is possible both in reality and in our game. Players need to remember that rockets are now more small space drones than classic earth-based feathered rockets. Pros of missiles lack of impact Ability to carry additional intelligence and EW equipment battle-readiness simultaneous launch Slow launch without unmasking the platform the possibility of manufacturing low-tech and inexpensive complexes wide range of combat load adaptive combat protocols Possibility of effective blind shooting Possibility of completion at the final stage Cons Possible demasking of the platform when starting engines limited maneuverability and fuel supply High cost for complex missiles with complex seeker vulnerability to enemy defenses
Rockets are very promising in combat, even in the long run. The high flexibility of this type of weapon makes it possible to strike at vulnerabilities in enemy defenses in a short time, whether it is tactical decisions, changing warheads or structural materials.
Guns. Will a gun be fired in space? Will it break, because there is no air pressure? It will. It won't. They've already. Guns are firing shells. Under the shells, we make friends both kinetic and explosive-containing ammunition, controlled and unguided, the main acceleration and targeting factor of which is the barrel in which the gas expansion occurs. The method of gas generation is not important. It is worth mentioning that due to the lack of atmosphere, feathered shells will not have stabilization, in turn, stabilization by rotation with a rifled barrel complicates the design of guided projectiles and reduces their muzzle speed. We allow any design decisions, the choice is up to the players. Highlights - in a vacuum, the muzzle speed is 15% higher, you can to a certain extent exceed the rule of 50 calibers, unguided projectiles released from smoothbore guns will rotate arbitrarily along all axes, mechanisms for warming up the elements of the turret, increased overheating of the barrels are necessary. Pros of guns and shells cheapness compactness diversity within a single system high-speed high-speed ease of reloading and replenishment of ammunition difficulty in defeating enemy defense systems Cons compensation spread high mass of barrels, especially large caliber deterrent the need to accurately anticipate the position of the target Gun weapons have a lot of tactical advantages and disadvantages. The ability to fall asleep all zones of a possible target trajectory with a high degree of probability will lead to a hit. In general, this class of weapons is very promising, especially with competent use.
Accelerators Railguns, Gauss guns have long settled in fiction. As always, they are mythological. In reality, however, these technologies are being implemented in real military applications, primarily naval ones. Without going into specific methods of acceleration of the impactor, and they are different, we reduce them to the class of accelerators, the main features of which are the direct application of electrical energy to accelerate the impactor and a very high muzzle speed. Due to the extremely high overloads during the shot and some other features, projectiles - impactors can only be uncontrollable and kinetic. However, this point may change in the future. Pros of accelerators high-speed impactor flight high-striking evasion inexpensive and compact impactors ease of reloading and replenishment of ammunition extreme difficulty of interception by means of enemy defense Cons high-energy bulkiness high cost and high technological design low-rate As a result, under certain circumstances, it is the ideal endgame weapon. When the enemy is already deprived of the ability to maneuver strongly and sighting data is complete, a volley of accelerators can do away with even a very armored target. This is a very promising technology, especially against large ships.
Drones/Fighters In the literal sense, weapons are not, but a platform for various types of weapons. What is the main advantage of an armed ship? The ship can be destroyed by a single successful hit, as well as a drone. However, in the first case, all the guns will be silenced at once, and in the second it is only minus one drone or fighter. The rest will continue to do damage. Drones can carry elements of detection and guidance systems, thus not disguising the position of the main ship. Drones can enter the enemy from the flank, which will reduce his ability to evade, and also force him to choose which orientation to give the ship, if it is better protected only from one side. A massive drone attack will force the enemy’s detection equipment to work at full capacity, unmasking itself.
Plasma guns The Master of Orion weapon! Sadly or fortunately, this is pure fiction. If someone puts at our disposal formulas and a prototype of a project that is calculated to do more harm than burst a balloon at a distance of 10 centimeters ... we will put it into play as part of future technology. The same applies to The secret gun. Quantum destabilizer "Insert something scientific" "insert something threatening" >> With you, the evidence base, with us a new class of weapons.
Exotic weapons This class contains various potential weapons that do not cause direct destruction, but are capable of disabling individual systems or crew. It is possible to assemble a particle accelerator, mount it on a ship and send into space a beam of high-speed protons or electrons or X-rays or neutrons. Depends on the specific design. The effectiveness and practicality of such devices is questionable, but in some situations it can have an effect. How to get into such a situation is a separate question, to which there is no answer.
Over. Do not be upset by the lack of such beautiful, but absolutely wonderful fantastic trunks. The fact is that most players do not even realize how interesting the existing weapons are. The variety of types of warheads, striking factors, characteristics of the systems, seasoned with opportunities for improvement and customization will create a unique story for almost every battle. Besides, we still play fiction... so who knows... what is hidden behind Alpha Keith... ;