A Discussion on Mass Drivers

[verdantgreen]

They have been outlawed by every civilized planet...

The purpose of this thread is to discuss the application of mass drivers in A Call to Arms. I am relatively new at this and have never faced or used MDs. Could those more well-versed in the game's intricacies elaborate on some of the following topics?

1. Are there any viable MD-specific tactics for the Dilgar or Centauri? That is to say, how effective is the MD as an anti-ship weapon?

2. How effective are they against space stations or planetary targets?

3. Any anecdotes about slamming some poor guy with a volley of MD fire? Alternatively, any anecdotes about getting slammed by a volley of MD fire?

 

[Burger]

1. Not very, unless said ship either takes a speed 0 crit, or stupidly All Stops. Then, they are in a world of pain.

3. No, but an anecdote about MD's in general. Digger was very excited about these, and his new Dilgar force (flat-pack of course). He went on about how many AD's they were, and how they were triple damage. He was quite excited and we were quite scared, until we realized the range was 10". And then, that we had to stop for him to use them. Not one to be put off, he put all his ships in a pentacon and a tactic was formed, and he began his crusade to hit someone, anyone, with a Mass Driver. At 4" per turn, he got precisely 8" before being immobilized himself with a speed 0 crit followed by a 4-6 crit :lol:

 

[verdantgreen]

Hehe, poor guy!

Maybe he'll have better luck next time

 

[cordas]

Have seen them used against ships twice, they are devasting as they should be, but the circumstances when you get to use them in combat tend to be few and far between, but they do rip space stations a new one once they get close enough.

 

[verdantgreen]

I hear that attacking a space station can be quite tough. Their basic tactical manual suggests that the Dilgar do quite well at it. Does this turn out to be true? What about the Centauri and their MDs?

 

[meglos]

I like mass drivers,but in my last 3 games iv not been able to use them as i failed to get any speed 0 crits.
But in games were iv been able to use them they can dice a ship in one volley.
people can mock the mass driver as its true as it rarely gets to fire, but watch peoples faces when they realise there ship has just become a viable target with a mass driver pointed at them. :lol:

 

[katadder]

i have got to use them once. played dilgar against brakiri and I was ambushing with the dilgar so launched MDs which were suitably impressive but thats the only use for them really that i can see.

 

[H]

I have been on the receiving end of a mass driver when I without really thinking parked a G'Quan, needless to say the Dilgar player was Thrilled to bits, and reeled off his damage calls, only to look crestfallen when I said "is that it", good old G'Quans

 

[Reaverman]

Not one to be put off, he put all his ships in a pentacon and a tactic was formed, and he began his crusade to hit someone, anyone, with a Mass Driver. At 4" per turn, he got precisely 8" before being immobilized himself with a speed 0 crit followed by a 4-6 crit :lol:

Would that be the same Dilgar Mankhat, goosed by my Shadow Omega. Funny thing was not Digger watching have his ship crippled, and also suffer a 0 move crit. But the noise Tank made, when I chose to ignore it, and focus my attention on other ships available. He was jumping up and down, shouting "Kill it, kill it" :lol:

 

[Morakas]

I'm currently painting my Dilgar fleet and cannot wait to open fire with mass drivers. I'll be sure not to hold my breath though.

 

[cordas]

Unless you are fighting against a space station the chances to use them are rare.

I remember playing my mates Minbari, I had crippled his Sharlin with a 1,6 crit (the only damage it had suffered). The only thing I fired at the Sharlin was the MD and it simply grated it like cheese.

 

[Locutus9956]

They are also, needless to say, quite handy for planetery assaults

 

[TenaciousB]

As a Dilgar player, I can safely say that I've only managed to fire MDs a few times.

That being said, the feeling of absolute glee, and the look on your opponent's face when you DO get to fire one at their ships is PRICELESS. :twisted:

 

[Burger]

But the noise Tank made, when I chose to ignore it, and focus my attention on other ships available. He was jumping up and down, shouting "Kill it, kill it" :lol:

Yes that was definitely the most amusing part :lol:

 

[thePirv]

Having been on the recieving end of a Dilgar fleet a few times I can say that although Mass Drivers are not something to fear because of their firing restrictions, they can often really hamper your own strategy as you can't perform an all stop for fear of getting MD'd to oblivion.

 

[Banichi]

Do intercepters stop mass drivers? It says in the rules that intercepters don't stop astroids, and it seems odd that they would be effective against mass drivers. It seems to me that it would be like trying to stop a bowling ball with a whole lot of pea shooters.

 

[emperorpenguin]

Do intercepters stop mass drivers? It says in the rules that intercepters don't stop astroids, and it seems odd that they would be effective against mass drivers. It seems to me that it would be like trying to stop a bowling ball with a whole lot of pea shooters.

they do at present but won't be able to in 2nd ed

 

[TenaciousB]

Do intercepters stop mass drivers? It says in the rules that intercepters don't stop astroids, and it seems odd that they would be effective against mass drivers. It seems to me that it would be like trying to stop a bowling ball with a whole lot of pea shooters.

That's why u whittle them down first with pulsars and bolters!!!! :twisted:

 

[verdantgreen]

So, how effective are the MDs if you are attacking a heavily-armed space station? That is to say, how useful are they at one of their intended roles?

 

[Valen is my name]

i've never tried it but if their range is 8" would the ship be able to get that close? if i faced one and i had a station i know what my main target would be.