Talk:Debris Cloud/@comment-27037799-20160921084537/@comment-454133-20160921140547

You're referring to the Rigged Cargo Chute? I'm not certain (and someone with the rules insert may be able to answer better), but unless the cargo token has special rules for being placed on someone, it won't do anything to them on placement. It's not a bomb, it's just a debris cloud, and obstacles only damage ships when those ships perform maneuvers. In fact if the front of their ship is past the debris cloud, they may be able to fly out without ever taking any damage or stress (since their maneuver template and ending position didn't touch the cloud).

Someone pointed out that, with luck, you could do up to 2 damage (possibly both crits) by dumping the cargo token in front of a ship, waiting for it move through (thus rolling for damage), and then having another ship use a Seismic Torpedo on the token to damage them again (and possibly some friends). But all of that damage is rolled, and can miss.

The main purpose of the rigged cargo chute is to create a large, problematic obstacle at a strategic point to inhibit/control your opponent's actions. It's a serious threat to ships that don't want the stress (and the risk of a crit), but it's not designed to maximize damage. For that you want a bomb, such as a Proximity Mine.