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Kamikaze attacks would not be a viable military option in my opinion

For this game they are fine, but for true combat it is generally a bad tactic...

Many would probably argue that such attacks have been done with great success in real life, which is very true, but the reason these attacks are very effective is usually the realatively low cost.

Military units are expensive, no tank or mech would be outfit with a self-destruct mechanism because this just isn't practical due to the sheer expense of these units.

Kamikaze attacks are not practical with expensive units, they are generally used with cheap expendible units, and a mech or equivilant unit would not be expendible...

sorry to get into realism mode here, but I just felt like getting my two cents in (or pence, or whatever unit of currency you prefer)

These are good points but its also true that if a pilot ejects in a tos, enemies could easily capture it and learn its technology and other military secrets. To prevent this from happening, the self-destruct was added. Its not so important on a jet as it will just crash after an eject. A Titan-AT is just standing on ground when the pilot ejects. An enemy would have full access to the entire design. Self-destruct is an easy option. just remove the cooling rods from the fusion reactor and meltdown occurs.

i dont like kamikaze attacks in games. The game eventually degenerates into duckshoots. Basically, i dont think games should allow players to take specialisation to such an extent that its 100% make or break situation.

There will be no kamikaze option in ToS. Only skilled jocks will get the chance to manipulate engine and heat regs to get 'a chance' of the titan exploding if it reaches heat 300. There is no guaranteed success as the final chance will be checked as soon as the jock ejects. What does happen : The jock is damaging the engine and disabling the heat regs as well as the shutdown mechanism. He than risks a eject penalty, probably dying in the attempt. You will loose your titan and the explosion will only happen if the jocks made his skill and the 300C are reached. Maybe enough time for the enemies to leave the 2 hex area of danger.

Summary : It will be a risky last ditch possibility with no guaranteed success, just adds a bit IF it will work. Its FUN IMHO !

Addition : the jock will have to a decent damage control skill AND survival skill modified by its captains leadership to even get the choice to do it. Only experts or very loyal jocks will try it.

Maybe it should also be disrupted (the action) if the titan is hit by weapons fire or has to make a move check or something, just like when you're using the dcs. I can't see someone doing something as delicate as fiddling with a nuclear power plant as he's taking fire from an AC20...

What about ejects in water? Suppose your prone in a lake, are you sure you want to detonate a nuclear device in your vicinity?

I think ejects should be made much more clear than what they are now. Something consistent.

Originally posted by klichka:
Kamikaze attacks would not be a viable military option in my opinion

For this game they are fine, but for true combat it is generally a bad tactic...

Many would probably argue that such attacks have been done with great success in real life, which is very true, but the reason these attacks are very effective is usually the realatively low cost.

Military units are expensive, no tank or mech would be outfit with a self-destruct mechanism because this just isn't practical due to the sheer expense of these units.

Kamikaze attacks are not practical with expensive units, they are generally used with cheap expendible units, and a mech or equivilant unit would not be expendible...

sorry to get into realism mode here, but I just felt like getting my two cents in (or pence, or whatever unit of currency you prefer)

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Suicide attacks have never been effective except as antipersonnel tactics, and then only till your enemy learns better. Even the vaunted Japanese Kamikazes did negligable damage to US ships at the cost of many good pilots and millions in explosives.