Kragnost
	I know changes are in the pipeline to how tractor beams work but currently the Tech Manual for Tractor Beams is: QUOTE >Date 32.1: Tech Manual {340}    Tractor Beam (340) - 10 mus        The output of the tractor beam directly counters the thrust output of the    targeted ship. If the total tractor output against a ship is greater than    its thrust, the ship will be held stationary.        Item Type:                Tractor Beam    Mass Factors:             100    Required Crew Factors:    1    Build Requirement:        10 Metals (1)    Weapon Stats:             0 Dmg, +12 Acc, 1 AF    Substitute:               1 Tractor Beam mkII (341) As the thrust output of a standard Thrust Engine (160) is 1000 does this mean that at the moment it requires 10 Tractor Beams to negate the effect of a single Thrust Engine? or 15 to negate a single Combat Engine??
Mica Goldstone
	Yes. Although the tractor beam is half the mass of a thrust engine. Therefore approximately 5x the mass of the thrust engine is currently required to negate a standard engine and 7.5x the mass of a combat engine.
Lord Scrimm
	The question I have is - do tractor beams actually INCREASE the targetting effectiveness of enemy ships? Currently, Combat thrust imposes a negative modifier on targetting (because of rapid thrust maneuvering) which needs to be offset by increasing the number of targetting computers aboard. If Tractor Beams are brought into the mix and REDUCE the combat thrust rating, this would theoretically reduce the negative modifier on targetting - thus making the tractored ship slower and easier to hit, but more accurate in the bargain. I would think that a ship with sufficient tractor beams would be able to cause stresses within the affected ship and to push/pull it out of optimal targetting position while the ship itself is trying to shake the effects of the tractor beam by stressing the engines and maneuvering wildly. Clarification on this would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Rich Fanning aka Lord Lawrence Scrimm CIA Director of Regional Operations
Mica Goldstone
	QUOTE The question I have is - do tractor beams actually INCREASE the targeting effectiveness of enemy ships? Currently, Combat thrust imposes a negative modifier on targetting (because of rapid thrust maneuvering) which needs to be offset by increasing the number of targetting computers aboard.  If Tractor Beams are brought into the mix and REDUCE the combat thrust rating, this would theoretically reduce the negative modifier on targetting - thus making the tractored ship slower and easier to hit, but more accurate in the bargain. Reduction in target speed makes them easier to hit. Reduction in target speed makes them more likely to be pinned. These are the two primary uses of tractor beams. Secondary use is to reduce target's speed which may be enough to prevent them pinning an allied ship. QUOTE I would think that a ship with sufficient tractor beams would be able to cause stresses within the affected ship and to push/pull it out of optimal targetting position while the ship itself is trying to shake the effects of the tractor beam by stressing the engines and maneuvering wildly. Does not do this at the moment. Could be added at a later date.