The Lightning Cannon Sucks, play test 2

This time it was a 400-ton Laboratory ship, re-figured by pirates, called "The Wheel O' Death" with a turret with 2 missile launchers and 1 sand caster, and a second turret with 2 pulse lasers.   Fighting it were 2 200ton-Yachts, the "Howell" which had a mssile rack and sand caster, and the "Trump" which had 2 beam lasers.

Both sides detected one another, and so were set at 30 inches apart with a vector of 4.  Since the yachts had more ships, they got to decide who went first, and they choose themselves.

Turn 1
Both sides accerlate 1" to a 5" vector but remain out of range.

Turn 2:
The Trump reaches long range and fires 2 beam lasers, which miss.
The Howell launches a missile and protective sand.
The Wheel fires 2 missiles and 2 pulse lasers at the Trump.  The lasers miss.

Turn 3:
The Trump and Howell reach short range.   The Trump fires 2 beam lasers, which miss.  The Howell launches sand and another missile.
The Wheel O' Death maintains vector and fires 2 pulse lasers at the Howell, which miss. And 2 missiles vs. the Trump.

Turn 4:
The Trump uses its lasers to intercept one of the missiles approaching it.
The Howell launches another missile.  The missile it launched on turn 2 impacts the Wheel for 6 hits, damaging its computer (twice), the jump drive, the missile turret, and 2 hull hits.
The Wheel O' Death fails its damage control attempt.  One of its earlier missiles strikes the Trump for 3 hits (power plant, fuel, cargo) and 2 others hit the Howell for 6 hits (turrret, computer, hold x2, hull x1, fuel x1)

Turn 5
Now as the ships are flying away from each other,  the Trump repairs its power plant.  The Howell repairs its turret and launches a missile.
2 previous missiles strike the Wheel.  One does 2 hull hits.  The other does 2 fuel hits, 1 computer hit, 1 hull hit, and a turret hit.

At this point the Wheel O' Death might possibly escape but has not chance of winning.  Another missile hit might be really bad news.

LESSONS LEARNED:

The -1 to hit with lasers vs ships from 100 to 400 tons, is crippling to laser fire.   Generally speaking the laser fire this battle was compeltely weak, only managing to get one hit (on a missile).   I'm definitely going to have to say a natural 12 is automatically a hit.   Also, the big lesson is that if you have a crappy computer, and crappy gunners, then your lasers are going to miss....a lot.