2 Heavy Cruisers or 2 Fast cruisers

[Zarathustra Suicune]

I've drawn up a 1000pts federation list:
Kirov Battle cruiser
2 Constitution heavy cruisers
Wolverine Fast cruiser
2 Ramius Battle frigates
However, I have been thinking it may be better to take 2 fast cruisers and one heavy cruiser instead of 2 heavy cruisers and one fast cruiser, any thoughts?

 

[Ben2]

It's entirely a matter of personal preference, however I'd never take just 1 fast cruiser. If you want to take fast cruisers, take two.

Or

BC
2xCA
NCL
CL
FFB

Do you know what fleet you're up against?

 

[Zarathustra Suicune]

I'm designing it as an all rounder fleet, capable of taking on most other fleets. At the moment however, I think there is only a klingon player, a federation player and another possibly federation player.

 

[Ben2]

What have you got available?

 

[Zarathustra Suicune]

contents of the fleet box, the reinforcments box, a manta way, an extra fast cruiser, a blister of ramius and an extra new light cruiser, and not with me but soon a mars and a Gettysburg.

 

[Ben2]

Federation Fleet

New Jersey class BCH Thunderchild - 220
2 x NCL - 320
1 x Texas class CL - 130
3 x Ramius class FFB - 330

25 photons, 8 drones (suited to defence), 40 phaser-1s forward

With this fleet the Thunderchild manoeuvres behind the rest of the fleet, so as not to limit them with it's Turn 6. This is not really important in the first couple of turns, as you'll be looking to close and unload those photons into the enemy fleet, but after the moment of decision and you having a couple of cripples on the board you'll be going to independent manoeuvering and the Thunderchild might find itself on it's own. Don't hesitate to trail the Thunderchild behind your fleet and jump a decently sized enemy ship with overloaded photons after they've traded punches with the bulk of your fleet. It would be the perfect time to slam a C7 in the side or to jump a BCH with damaged shields.

The main point of the fleet is that everything except the Thunderchild is Turn 4, which means that you can out turn a Federation gunline fleet and have some chance against Klingons. You'd be running what I term a heavy pack, Turn 4 cruisers and escorts packing a heavy alpha strike.

Or

New Jersey Class BCH - 220
Chicago Class NCA - 190
2 x Constitution Class CA - 360
Ortega Class DW - 120
Ramius class FFB - 110

24 photons, 9 drones, 38 phaser-1s.

Four big cruisers packing photons and 6-10 forward phaser-1s each with a couple of heavy escorts. One fewer ships, individually more survivable and gives you a heavier gunline. You could even trade the Ramius and Ortega for a second New Jersey (giving you more phaser-1s) or upgrade the Chicago to a New Jersey and drop the escorts to Burke class frigates (no overall change in firepower). This fleet is your standard Federation cruiser gunline.

 

[Zarathustra Suicune]

Must admit, I like both those fleets, though would probably go for the latter as I prefer having more ships that can take a beating, though an idea could be to swap the war destroyer for a burke and use the extra points to upgrade one of the constitutions for a lexington (I have one, forgot to mention it), though I am not sure how well the Burke would do though on it's own, but it may be able to use it's speed and agility to get round the back of enemy ships whilst they try to focus on the cruisers, or possibly swap the war destroyer for a light escort cruiser?

 

[SneakyPete]

I would go with three Fast Cruisers and 2 BCJs.
While the BCJ's advance straight towards the enemy the FC's circle in from the flanks at max speed.

 

[Ben2]

When the Star Tiger comes out you can go with 2 Star Tigers, a Manta Ray and a Wolverine in 1000 points.

Which should be pretty SickNasty.

 

[billclo]

2 BCH 480
1 NCA 190
1 DWE 135
2 FF 190
995 pts

BCH 240
3 NCA 570
2 FF 190
1000 pts

BCH 240
2 NCA 380
DWE 135
2 DW 240
995 pts

 

[McKinstry]

For what it's worth, ADB's suggested fleet organization rules limit the number of BC's per 12 ships to essentially one.

 

[Ben2]

And ditto dreadnoughts.

I'm struggling to think of an F&E game where there hasn't been a multi DN/BC fleet knocking around several times (and not just the Lyrans). X-cruisers replace them soon enough, but Romulans are another fleet that can get very Compot dense (off the top of my head I think Gorn can as well?) converting heavy battlecruisers. Will have to dig out my F&E stuff at some point soon.

 

[dix]

If you are going to go with fast ships, take more than one. A single fast ship will probably just get picked on when it gets separated from the rest of your fleet. If you operate it with the rest of your fleet then you are largely wasting its best strength, which is mobility.

Also, I prefer more Phaser-1s over more Photons any day.

 

[Zarathustra Suicune]

In regards to war era ships, the only one I have multiples is the Kearsage, the others I have only one.
New Jersey Class BCH - 220
Chicago Class NCA - 190
2 x Wolverine CF - 360
Ortega Class DW - 120
Ramius class FFB - 110
I'd possibly swap the Ortega for the Escort variant of the Texas, as it's tougher and the ability to protect other ships from drones would be helpfull, and the extra phaser fire from the Wolverines and their speed may be more helpfull then the constitutions photons, especially as I will have the kirov and Chicago in their faces, not sure how I would play the frigates, especially if I took the texas escort as whilst it would be nice and really helpful for the Wolverines, it would also need to use all power to engines each turn to keep up with them.

 

[nekomata fuyu]

I'm pondering the idea of 2 Star Tigers and 5 Wolverines as a 1,500pt fleet