Optional Tailing for VDP?

[kevan]

On June 7th, we used the optional tailing cards for the VDP game. I tailed on quite a few turns, and found that it sped up the game noticeably. Plus, I find it just makes sense to me that a pilot has to commit to a general direction, and it gave me real incentive to hang back at 150', trading the likelihood of hitting for a much better tailing chance.

If the general concensus is that we should use optional tailing, I think we should make it a standing VDP house rule (we use it by default unless players vote to use standard tailing in an individual game).

[AP]

I agree that it DEFINITELY speeds up the game and is a great option for VDP!! Lets make it S.O.P. 4 V.D.P.

[kirkh]

I agree with AP. I still don't get the gist of it (I don't understand the advantage of tailing someone from 100' back with a 5 in 16 chance of successfully tailing vs. the 50/50 chance of just rolling the regular numbers) but it definitely speeds up the game. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Stephen]

I am a committed opponent of Optional Tailing for lots of reasons that I won't go into here, so just take my word that they're really good.

I do see its uses in VDP, but I think some caution may be warranted -

1) is the goal of VDP really to be as fast as FTF play?
2) if so, aren't technical and communications issues chewing up far more time than tailing?
3) in every instance possible, aren't we best off leaving the decision up to the players in the game?
4) we should be very careful about mitigating the game too far toward speed and convenience... we may find ourselves playing a game that's great for our 1/0 pilots but we wouldn't dream of taking one of our aces up in it.

I'll vote against mandating it as a VDP house rule, but if players at the table want to use it, I will and I'll still have fun.

[Orion]

I am not a huge fan of optional tailing either. Maybe there is a way to speed up standard tailing? Maybe a second cards window that is private to each user so we can drag and drop an already prepared deck and reuse it later? Then, the tailer only needs to tweak his deck a little each time he tails. What do the modders think?

Dan

[Rex]

I have to agree with Stephen. I don't think it should be mandated. I think it should be a choice. I think the less house rules we have the better.

[kazorm]

I agree, Optional tailing should be just that, OPTIONAL!!!!