ACTA:NA Kurgan Query

[thelostcity]

Hi

I'm just starting a Kurgan fleet off using the demo rules posted until the new fleet book comes out. I understand if you want to keep this secret but if you dont can you tell me what the Raider trait does. This trait appears on the Kurgan Raider but I can't find a description of the trait.

Thanks

 

[Clanger]

Us Playtesters have been threatened by the Inquistion themselves not to divulge that info yet. Otherwise they will get Flamer Happy on our Pancreator sorry butts .

Raider Trait is still on the playtesting table at the moment along with Fighters / Bombers and Vau.

 

[Captain Jonah]

So this is the point where wild specualtion spreads across the forum?

 

[thelostcity]

That would be jolly useful Captain Jonah, especially if we can convince my gaming group if you have a ship with the raider trait all the shields in your fleet become immune to burnout!

 

[Rick]

I'm actually wondering if the Raider trait is going to be retro-fitted to the Decados Raider as well. Might make things interesting, whatever it is.

 

[Clanger]

All Raiders will get the Raider trait not just the Kurgan otherwise it would not be fair for the Decados or the Li-Halan.

 

[Captain Jonah]

Well since they are "Raiders" designed to "Raid" the "Raider" trait must reflect that. :wink:

Free hit and runs on enemy ships with your marines.
Extra income gained when you board the enemy.
Bonuses to the loot and wenches table for captured enemy ships.
The ability to make Ram attacks with a bonus that do no damage but permanently remove weapons and systems from the target as the raiders steal them. :lol:

 

[thelostcity]

We were talking about this last night and thought it would be quite cool if they could deploy anywhere on the battlefield out of 'line of sight' of the enemy.

That way your opponent has the choice of putting some effort into going after them or they may end up with some smaller ships in their rear.

 

[Clanger]

thelostcity you might be onto something there :wink:

 

[MongooseMatt]

We were talking about this last night and thought it would be quite cool if they could deploy anywhere on the battlefield out of 'line of sight' of the enemy.

Oooo, that is very close to what we currently have. But they are also almost invisible before they strike...

 

[Captain Jonah]

We were talking about this last night and thought it would be quite cool if they could deploy anywhere on the battlefield out of 'line of sight' of the enemy.

Oooo, that is very close to what we currently have. But they are also almost invisible before they strike...

So can we consider this to be a leak, or is it just a tease :lol:

 

[MongooseMatt]

So can we consider this to be a leak, or is it just a tease :lol:

Or both

Oh, stuff it, here's the rule - in return you chaps can do some playtesting for us and let us know how you find it

You can deploy a ship with the Raider trait in any Stellar Debris outside of your opponent's deployment zone. _Whenever_ a Raider is within Stellar Debris, it gains the Stealth 6+ trait. If it starts a turn within Stellar Debris, it may be moved at _any_ time, breaking the normal initiative sequence (if two Raiders try this at the same time, make opposed Crew Quality checks). Finally, Raiders gain a +2" bonus to any Slingshot effect.

Scouts, incidentally, will also be able to deploy in Stellar Debris, but get none of the other benefits above.

Now, I foresee this will (initially) lead to a lot of dead raiders as people get over-excietd with them However, given time, tactics should develop that allow for Raiders to hunt down scouts (board them, don't bother shooting unless you have 2 or 3 raiders on the case), pile on extra boarding troops to swing otherwise equal odds, and generally 'lurk,' forcing opponents to take them into account even if they do little throughout most of the battle.

But, give them a shot, and see what you think. Oh, and yes, the Reaper and Slayer will both get this rule too.

 

[Rick]

Oh, I think I'm going to like this rule! If it starts out in an asteroid field it doesn't need to make a CQ check and gets 6+ stealth as standard. Very nice! Does this mean that it will be unable to be targeted at over 20", or will it remain at 6+ for any range over 8"?

 

[Greg Smith]

It looks like you won't be able to target a ship with Stealth 6+ at over 20".

(B5 had a rule that 6 always saw a stealth ship, but there is no such rule in NA).

 

[Rick]

Somewhat interesting! :twisted:

I guess it's just a complete coincidence that no existing fleet has both a Raider and a Scout? That would be a nasty combination to have lurking around! I so want a Decados Scout now!!

 

[Da Boss]

If it starts a turn within Stellar Debris, it may be moved at _any_ time, breaking the normal initiative sequence (if two Raiders try this at the same time, make opposed Crew Quality checks). Finally, Raiders gain a +2" bonus to any Slingshot effect.

When you say "any time" I assume you mean just in the normal movement phase and not say in the firing phase - for instance not as someone is about to fire at you in the firing phase?

 

[Rick]

I read it that it would be in the movement phase. You might have a situation where you need to move some of your Raiders first, even if you lost the Initiative - or if an enemy ship moved within grappling distance of a few Raiders.
One other question I hadn't thought of until you made me think of it - can a Raider break the normal movement of a squadron? For example; player one has a squadron of 3 ships, moves 1 to within, say, 8" of a pair of player 2's Raiders and is going to move the other 2 alongside it. Can player 2 announce he will move (and grapple) with both his Raiders before player 1 can move the other ships in the squadron, or must player 2 wait until the entire squadron has moved before he can act?
It would be rather nasty if that was possible! :twisted:

 

[MongooseMatt]

When you say "any time" I assume you mean just in the normal movement phase and not say in the firing phase - for instance not as someone is about to fire at you in the firing phase?

Well, in theory you could, but as no one can move in the Attack Phase...

 

[MongooseMatt]

can a Raider break the normal movement of a squadron?

Can't see any reason why not...

 

[Greg Smith]

When you say "any time" I assume you mean just in the normal movement phase and not say in the firing phase - for instance not as someone is about to fire at you in the firing phase?

Well, in theory you could, but as no one can move in the Attack Phase...

Ah, but as it says in the SF FAQ, 'traits are exceptions to the core rules'.