So do you think we will ever see a ship with a more narrow firing arc? Instead of a 45 degree angle, (Actually I think it's closer to like 48 degrees, but I digress), perhaps we would see a ship with a 30 degree angle but significantly stronger attack? The idea here is that you have to line up your shots with much less room for error, but the advantage is you get a 4 or possibly even 5 dice main weapon attack.

I think if you went with a 4 attack narrow primary you could manage it somewhat cheap, I'd say in the area of 23 points for the base model (provided it isn't super tanky).

I think it could be an interesting way of helping to distinguish new ships as more and more are included.

I wish the existing arc was a little less forgiving.

Likewise i think the existing arc is a little generous and should be for a 'pintle' mount with a slight swivel like a gun on a real work self propelled non turrreted armoured vehicles.

Also a reduced rear arc for things like advance a wings would be good.

Some of them can fire back wards, if the rear firearc was 45 degrees rather than 90 it wouldnt be over powered.

Existing arc is 90ish, not 45. Even a 45 would be extremely hard to land unless the ship had some very unique movement options available.

The firing arc is like that because ships can only turn in 45 degree increments, it can only fly in eight directions. Unless blocked, ship can only fly down compass lines from its original position, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. Lining up shots would become a nightmare.

I think you could take into account the pitch, yaw, and roll movement of ships.

Yes the current firing arcs aren't really realistic based on the movies/games/etc, but if they were narrower it would make games go a lot longer.

While I think it would make sense from a "physics" point of view, I doubt we will see this for sake of game balance and expedience.

I say it would make sense physically for this reason:

The weapons on any of the ships in the game are fixed straight forward. They point in the exact same trajectory as the ship is traveling. The Firing Arc represents the ship's capability to yaw left and right to align its target, and then return to the same trajectory as its previous maneuver. Theoretically, this means some ships that are more maneuverable should have a wider firing arc than some that are more sluggish, IE the difference between a TIE Interceptor vs an X-wing.

The reason this is not the case is likely just a game balance issue. For example, with Interceptors as they currently exist, if their firing arc approached say a 135 degree breadth, as opposed to its current angle close to 90, then it would be MUCH easier for them to dodge their attacker's arc and maintain arc themselves. The game has already provided ample method of achieving that arc dodge, so all of the arcs are the same size.

While I think it would make sense from a "physics" point of view, I doubt we will see this for sake of game balance and expedience.

I say it would make sense physically for this reason:

The weapons on any of the ships in the game are fixed straight forward. They point in the exact same trajectory as the ship is traveling. The Firing Arc represents the ship's capability to yaw left and right to align its target, and then return to the same trajectory as its previous maneuver. Theoretically, this means some ships that are more maneuverable should have a wider firing arc than some that are more sluggish, IE the difference between a TIE Interceptor vs an X-wing.

The reason this is not the case is likely just a game balance issue. For example, with Interceptors as they currently exist, if their firing arc approached say a 135 degree breadth, as opposed to its current angle close to 90, then it would be MUCH easier for them to dodge their attacker's arc and maintain arc themselves. The game has already provided ample method of achieving that arc dodge, so all of the arcs are the same size.

I think you're missing an important point. The wide angle reflects the fact that the position of the ship is just an approximation, since as has been said you're makign very fixed movements. It's not about the ships wobbling about just to pull of the shot, it's about them being in many potential places. At least, that's how I view it.

The advantage for high agility ships takes the form of more/better mvoement options.

While I think it would make sense from a "physics" point of view, I doubt we will see this for sake of game balance and expedience.

I say it would make sense physically for this reason:

The weapons on any of the ships in the game are fixed straight forward. They point in the exact same trajectory as the ship is traveling. The Firing Arc represents the ship's capability to yaw left and right to align its target, and then return to the same trajectory as its previous maneuver. Theoretically, this means some ships that are more maneuverable should have a wider firing arc than some that are more sluggish, IE the difference between a TIE Interceptor vs an X-wing.

The reason this is not the case is likely just a game balance issue. For example, with Interceptors as they currently exist, if their firing arc approached say a 135 degree breadth, as opposed to its current angle close to 90, then it would be MUCH easier for them to dodge their attacker's arc and maintain arc themselves. The game has already provided ample method of achieving that arc dodge, so all of the arcs are the same size.

I think you're missing an important point. The wide angle reflects the fact that the position of the ship is just an approximation, since as has been said you're makign very fixed movements. It's not about the ships wobbling about just to pull of the shot, it's about them being in many potential places. At least, that's how I view it.

The advantage for high agility ships takes the form of more/better mvoement options.

And not just movement options on the dial, but boost/br actions that readjust the firing arc in ways that a less agile ship (cough X wing) can't do.

That said, I think it would be a great way to give new ships a different identity than the current ones. Whenever this conversation comes up, inevitably someone mentions that it could be a side arc shot only, kinda like Armada is. Or that the A wing could have a mod that would give it a 60 degree rear firing arc or something, which honestly wouldn't be a bad thing these days to compete against AutoThrusters.

Personally, I want to see a ship with two forward arcs and 2 attack dice. If your target is in the overlap, you can chose to make a single attack with 4 dice, or you can make one 2 attack die per firing arc.

The arcs are set as is because of the chosen movement mechanic and the desire for a quicker game overall.

Take a look at Wings of War WWII (now Wings of Glory WWII), that uses a card based movement system, which is much more realistic and the firing arcs are far more in line with gun position and movement ability within the craft.

The down side is game speed and complexity.

I like X-wing very much, but it is a simplified mechanic that works for what the designers and majority of players want.

Yes the current firing arcs aren't really realistic based on the movies/games/etc, but if they were narrower it would make games go a lot longer.

You never noticed a TIE Interceptor fire its LASER beam in a extermly diffrent tajectory in relation to the heading of the craft? Its right at the begining of battle of endor in s-pace. FFG got the arcs right.

I was pondering a ship with 2 side arcs. About 30 degrees from the side forward. If you get a target in both arcs, you get 2 additional dice or something like that.

Maybe one day they will release a "pro format" with all the bases with smaller firing arcs

I think the angle of fire is more a representation of how the movement would be in a dogfight situation, what I mean is a pilot doesn’t wait to fire until its target is perfectly line up to his guns, I would think he will pull the trigger in bursts calculating that the target ship will cross or fly into his line of fire

Imo, the arcs are just fine. They're wide enough so newer players don't break their teeth on them, and narrow enough for more experienced players to dodge.

Besides, arcs can't ever be considered "too easy" or "too forgiven" so long as turrets exist.

LOL thanks for the catch. Sorry I got confused. Of course it's 90 degrees for the main arc... wow I probably made this post before having my coffee.

Personally, I want to see a ship with two forward arcs and 2 attack dice. If your target is in the overlap, you can chose to make a single attack with 4 dice, or you can make one 2 attack die per firing arc.

Or what about the normal arc with its red shading, but a smaller, say 45° green arc within the center of the red arc that if the ship were there, meaning that "I can't shake him!" would reduce their defense dice by 1...?

I was pondering a ship with 2 side arcs. About 30 degrees from the side forward. If you get a target in both arcs, you get 2 additional dice or something like that.

That looks awfully familiar....