Fire as she bears question..

[seldon]

Hello everyone, new to the board here..

Quick question, does anyone see a problem with the "Fire as she bares" rule being used as a way to combine firing with maneuvers that could prevent you from shooting or force you to shoot half broadside ?

thanks
Francisco

[TikaKino]

I can't think of any examples off the top of my head where that'd be a problem. Unless I'm missing a possibility the only circumstances you can get your broadside halved are if you change sail setting and fail (done before you start your move), heave to (should be pretty obvious it's needed), take certain damage results (takes effect as it happens) or split your broadsides (decided at firing time). So there shouldn't be any issue.

Are there any other relevant circumstances I'm missing?

Edit: Also, Welcome!

[seldon]

thanks for the welcome

Well, what about if a ship moving second FASB and then tries to tack and fails thus getting in Irons ? This would encourage ships to try FASB before tacking since you might get a free shot...

Also from your explanation it would seem that you guys play like ALL sail settings are defined at the start of the phase before ANY moves..is that so ?

thanks

Francisco

[scrivs]

As she bares what

I agree somewhat after having a ship with a nicely tee-ed up shot set on fire by a Fire as She Bears having her broadside halved. But it's just one of those things and the -1 penalty does apply.

Welcome to the board.

[TikaKino]

Well, what about if a ship moving second FASB and then tries to tack and fails thus getting in Irons ? This would encourage ships to try FASB before tacking since you might get a free shot...

True, you do have the chance of being unable to fire if you end up In Irons (I missed that last night!) - I don't think that's too big a deal, especially because of the -1 to-hit penalty. You're getting a less powerful broadside, and only avoiding the possibility of failing to fire all together. Presuming no other penalties, that -1 alone will reduce your expected damage output by a third.

Also from your explanation it would seem that you guys play like ALL sail settings are defined at the start of the phase before ANY moves..is that so ?

No, it isn't - again, I missed the possibility of firing on another ship that's moving before you move (that's what I get for posting five minutes before bed ). That's a harder call.

My gut reaction would be that since it's supposed to be a quick reaction shot, it's not too much of a stretch to have it over and done with before sail change and thus unaffected by the possibility of halving (the -1 penalty would again balance that). I would probably house-rule that if you want to keep the option of going to Full Sail, you need to take the additional -1 penalty you would suffer at Full Sail.

[seldon]

Ok, so as I see it I am playing the sequence right, and in general people are not too concerned by these issues ...

Thanks for the answers on fire as she bears

cheers

[Bosun]

I know it's a game mechanism, and I might sound pedantic but taking a -1 for firing as you bear I find a bit odd, as all ships are continually moving and there fore all shots were fired as the ships guns bore. There, thats that off my chest.