Dual-action Piston. This works similarly to the normal laser piston, but uses the rebound of two juxtaposed pistons and barrels to produce twice the fire rate and require less energy. However, these are heavier and may only be equipped to craft of F5 or more.

Proton Bolt and Launcher. This is a new and much more effective delivery system than the standard proton weapon. The Bolt Launcher is a recoilless weapon that uses large “smart” bullets designed for launching in space and other hostile environments. These “smart” bullets are programmed to ionize the protons of tri-carbon-incased hydrogen, producing a solid and relatively long-lasting proton bolt. Though recoilless, it is not free from vibration.

The Bolt Launcher can be attached to a personal fighter, but the mounting points must be serviced at a quarter of the cost after every use, as the vibrations could rip it from its mount after prolonged use. If the weapon itself is not serviced immediately after battle, it could lead to serious and even deadly consequences in later battles because of the discharge elements. It works against Albedo Screens and half capacity against Inertia Screens.

Plasma Bomb. Also called a “mini-nuke”, the plasma bomb causes a limited fission explosion with limited radioactive effects. Though not free from dangerous levels of radiation, it only irradiates a 1 cubic mile radius. If detonated on a planet, the radiation may be blown up to 100 miles.

Missiles. There are several types of missiles available to aerospace vehicles of all sizes. Destroying missiles before they reach their targets isn’t easy, but can be done, so they are provided with structural points. Missiles work in conjunction with your ship’s targeting system. The Missile Table is needed to help you know how fast you need to be traveling to get out of the way of the missile. Multiply times 10 for each speed value below F6 (See Shades of Motion in 3-D in Issue #6 for more details).

• Mini-rockets are much smaller than normal missiles and have none of the programming, used primarily for spray and pray firing. You may fire 8 of these at the same time, following rocket battery rules. For every missile your ship can load, you can load 3 mini-rockets.
• Redeye missiles have infrared sensors that track a target’s heat trail.
• Guided missiles are guided by the onboard computer that has locked onto a target (must have Target Tracker or better).
• Hard Lock missiles have both infrared and guided capabilities along with "last known position" capability. They are slightly larger than other missiles. (-1 to the maximum number of missiles allotted to the fighter in the Armament Table for every 1-3 Hard Lock missiles added.)

Bomb Launcher. A bomb launcher isn’t so much a weapon as a delivery device. This vibration-resistant box attaches to a cargo bay and stores any number of bombs on an antivibration temperature control rack that delivers the bombs to a box that accelerates the bomb through a hole with minimum vibration and maximizes accuracy.

The bomb launcher is ideal for the very volatile Fusion bomb, giving the bomb 200% of its usual carrying distance and stability. It adusts to any cargo bay for F7 to Knight Hawks “Hull Size” size 3.

Equipment

Now that you have designed your fighter and chosen the weapons, choose the equipment to maximize its potential. Now that you have your weapons, you need defenses to survive the battle. However, don't choose your targeting system just yet. You have a chance to choose a special System Package that includes a weapons package, as well as the computer and other equipment at a reduced cost.

Defenses

Starburst. A decoy that emits ionized plasma and radio and electrical signals that radiates bright light and heat and confuses infrared and guided systems. Each time the vehicle is re-equipped with starbursts, the delivery system must be replaced. This makes starbursts a little more expensive, but also safer. These are similar to interceptor missiles in purpose, but are incapable of guided intercept and are very much smaller. You will find starburst stats on the weapons tables in this article.

Targeting Systems

Special targeting systems are used for aerospace fighters. These systems range from simple to very complex.

Crosshair Targeting. A simple targeting system that provides a crosshair and on screen target measurement and locator. +5 to Hit. Crosshair targeting does not work with Guided Missiles.

Target Tracker. Provides all the abilities of the Crosshair Targeting, but provides a lock on without visual to the nearest target with a bias toward on screen targets. An inherent flaw exists in this technology in which if the pilot is chasing a target, another target that passes closer can distract the target tracker and cause you to lose your primary target. +10 to Hit.

Multi-target Tracker. Providing the abilities of the Target tracker, this system identifies all targets within a specific range and provides ranges for each target. Whichever target is within striking range gets a circle identifying it for attack. +15 to Hit.

Target Discriminator. Along with the abilities of the Multitarget Tracker, this targeting system not only chooses the best target and gives it a unique box, but is able to penetrate most forms of interference. +20 to Hit.

System Packages

In the list of new equipment are packages of communications, defense, and weapons programs with computer systems. These are packaged together to reduce costs and keep aerospace vehicle design simple. Any system can be used on any size aerospace unit that can fit the mass and volume, but you must pay the full price even for systems you do not use (ie., mini-flyers have no need for astrogation equipment).

System Package I. Ideal for keeping costs low, but is also low on amenities. Computer level 2. Contains: astrogation; crosshair targeting; videocom radio; computer lockout; life support; and parabattery.

System Package II. Often ideal for the standard personal fighter. Computer level 3. Contains: astrogation; target tracker; videocom radio; videocom screen (adjust cost for each screen according to Knight Hawks); computer lockout; damage control; life support; and parabattery.

System Package III. The most common military fighter control. Computer level 4. Contains: astrogation; multitarget tracker; subspace radio; videocom screen (adjust cost for each screen according to Knight Hawks); half-size camera system; skin sensors; security alarm; computer lockout; damage control; life support; and parabattery.

System Package IV. The most common military bomber configuration. Computer level 5 Contains: astrogation; target discriminator; subspace radio; videocom screen; half-size camera system; skin sensors; radar; security alarm; white noise broadcast; computer lockout; damage control; life support; and parabattery.

System Package V. Most often reserved for large military bombers and dignitary vessels. Computer level 6. Contains: astrogation; target discriminator; subspace radio; videocom screen; half-size camera system; skin sensors; radar; energy sensor; white noise broadcast; security alarm; computer lockout; damage control; life support; and parabattery.

Using Fighters

With having only been counseled against the use of fighters in the past, the understanding of how to use fighters is sadly undeveloped, so let us examine what uses fighters may have in Star Frontiers gaming.

Useful Tactics

Planetary Patrols. Large space-fairing vessels cannot enter a planet’s atmosphere, but smaller vessels can. As a result, fighters are the weapon of choice for planet-side defense and ground and air battles. Fighters are also ideal as escorts for vessels of Knight Hawk Hull Size 4 or smaller. They can provide effective defense against pirates and other undesirables.

Bombing Runs. Probably the most important use of any fighter in war time. While bombers are, of course, used to bomb ships and installations, small fighters can help protect bombers and can even provide cover and confusion so that bombers are hard to pick out of a swarm.

Skirmishes. Swarms of fighters are an effective way of overwhelming an opponent’s defenses. A squadron of fighters can often provide as much fire power as any Assault Scout. Imagine the power of a swarm.

Location Hopping. Simply going from location to location, players may want to have their own transportation to go from one part of a planet to another.

This also opens up potential broader planet-side adventure ideas. Going from location to location, characters can be reassured in having the firepower for their defense.

Reconnaissance. Being able to scout a wide area is problematic without personal flight transportation, and is therefore resolved with the use of fighters and shuttles.

Quick Escape. Ever felt trapped by your surroundings? Having a fighter on hand can help provide players with that badly needed means of escape. Such escapes themselves can provide very unique opportunities at role-playing as characters try to creatively make their way back to their vehicle.

Damage

You can use these fighter rules to battle other fighters even in a game of Knight Hawks, but against the larger ships that have greater weapons, use the Knight Hawks weapons scale.

Alpha Dawn uses Structure Points (SP) or current STA, Knight Hawks uses Hull Points (HP), but these rules use Frame Points (FP). The frame points of your fighter are figured a little differently than in Knight Hawks. In these rules, FP determines damage resistance on the Fighter Type table. To interact with character weapons and defenses, multiply all fighter figures times 10. To interact with Knight Hawks weapons and defenses, including calculated HP, divide all fighter figures by 10 and round up.

DCR is calculated using the same formula in Knight Hawks, but using the frame size rules in this article. You will still use the Advanced Game Damage Table from Knight Hawks to determine the type of damage. Do not access the table if damage is from a character weapon, unless critical damage is rolled. When attacked by a ship using Knight Hawks rules, multiply damage and damage modifiers by 10.

Some weapons have a modifier. This modifier applies before the above-mentioned damage adjustments.

Terms

Several Terms are introduced in the tables in this article. The meanings of these terms are listed below.

Minimum Vehicle Size (MVS): Works the same as the MHS in Knight Hawks, determining the minimum size of vehicle frame needed for the particular equipment.

Passenger Number (PN): The number of passengers (including pilot) allowed for fighters within the type’s range.

Frame Size (F#): The weight class of a vehicle.

A New Door to Adventure

You have now been given the opportunity to open up your gaming to a whole new variety of game play. Challenge yourself, challenge your players, and give aerospace fighters a chance in you campaigns.

Keep an eye out for future articles on vehicle combat and strategies that can help expand this avenue of game play even further for both role-playing and board game play. There will also be examples on how to put a fighter together, in case you haven’t figured it out here.

Sample Aerospace Vehicle Record