Hello, all!

My players, after no small amount of effort, have unearthed STC plans for a new macrocannon. Their profit factor is crap at the moment (24), so they're planning on using it to earn them some cash. I'm trying to think of a good (but not broken) macrocannon to give them that isn't already out there, and debating how much PF it'd be worth once they find a way to start manufacturing them.

So far, I'm thinking that a macrocannon that damages armor as either its entire or as part of a secondary effect might be neat, and add some strategy. What thinks you?

A new weapon system doesn't need to have more bang bang to make it a financial boon. Something as simple as a reduction in power consumption would be a huge breakthrough. A new pattern that uses 1 less power or 1 less space (all min 1) would be a big, big deal.

I agree. There is an example of a new one in "Lure of the Expanse", a fantastical new macrocannon that uses previously unheard of levels of automation! It allows them to replace the thousands of crew currently used to load and am the guns with an automated system, a huge improvement!! All this translates into +1 damage, -1 space, +1 power.

In the real world a "huge" improvement in efficiency might be only 10%, but in mechanical terms that is pretty impressive, and improvements add up.

As for PF increase...

Well an STC is a BIG deal, and the ad-mech would be knocking down their door to get at it, so if they can successfully sell it I might give them an increase between 4-8PF (double the usual amount, enough money to buy a planet if they liquidated their goodwill).

Of course, that is if they can successfully sell it. An STC is a big deal, there should be multiple forgeworlds fighting over it, as well as multiple factions, assassins, etc. I would make selling it an endevor in and of itself. They need to find a proper venue for auctioning it, get the invitations out covertly, and survive the inevitable infighting. If they handled it well they might pull off a full +10PF increase, which would be nice for a crew with a PF below 30. A good start on their dynasty.

Yeah, I was thinking that adding those three little letters would make all kinds of trouble. I think they want to try and keep the manufacturing secret... this should be entertaining.

Absolutely, though, on the whole "Door bursts in, hooded dudes rush in, babbling, waving bags of money from each mechadendrite" thing... and the inevitable backlash from those that are rejected.

Here's what I've written up:

Aechma-Pattern Macrobattery

Recovered from the remains of the forge-world Choral's production files, found aboard the Able Servant's core cogitator. These advanced macrobatteries make use of near-heretical pattern-recognition logis engines and high-precision auspexes to identify probable changes in target trajectories to adapt firing solutions to match new potential target zones. The practical upshot of this is a cannon that can fire fewer rounds more accurately, saving space with on-hand munitions for higher overall accuracy.

Appropriate Hull-Types: All Types

Power: 3

Space: 1

SP : 3

Strength: 4

Damage: 1d10+2

Crit Rating: 5

Range: 6

I don't have the book on hand but I'm not seeing much of a differnce from mars pattern macrocannons?

Maybe lower the crit rating for accuracy, 5 seems a little high, more so when the shard-cannon battery if crit rating 3.

I agree with SomVone, if the purpose is "Higher Accuracy" at a cost of raw firepower I would say lower Both Str and Crit to 3. That will provide a good balance of firepower vs crits scored. May also consider upping the range to a 7 Maybe 8 with the various prediction cogitators onboard. May also give only a -5 to shots up to double range, instead of the normal -10. Combine that with the Turbo Batteries, a Common/ good could give a +5 to ballistic and a Best would give a +10.

I know the Void Master in my game did some mean and nasty to Hadarak Fel's ship at the end of Into the Maw with the Shard Cannon. In fact, in 2 rounds of starship combat she not only destroyed it (rolled 10,10,9,7 on damage with one volley, thing only had 20 integrety after first turn). She scored BIG time on the crit table, +10 to go past normal crit. Then threw ANOTHER 10 to Breach its Warp Drives. All the while the Arch-Militent and Seneschal were preping for a hit and run. And all of the sudden there was nothing to attempt a hit and run against. Everybodys Jaw just droped when I said "Umm. Guys..., guess what she just did"