Are fighters worth it?

[Tankdriver]

Let me start by saying I am a carrier type of guy, and not in the disease way.
My first experience with space combat games came when a friend wanted to fill spaces in his Star Fleet Battles campaign and talked me into playing the Hydrans. When I saw the Hydrans carried fighters on almost all of their ships, I was in heaven. I became so known for fighters tactics, I earned the name Captain CF, with the CF standing for something not usable in polite company.

But there in lies my problem. ACTA features a long list of carriers, and my chosen fleet, the EA, has some good ones (still not sold on the Posieden, too slow, too low a hull number), but so far, in the games I have played, fighters are meat.

Are they really effective, or are they just there to draw fire?

 

[H]

If you play the Pak then heck fighters are worth it, If you are playing most other races, they can offer a bit of fun, but aren't really game winners. I would consider a change in your standard game tactics!

 

[Tankdriver]

Well, I am undefeated so far, but have not yet tried the carrier group tactic yet. Mostly I am going with gobs of small ships backed by a big ship or a big gun ship. For the EA I would field Hyperions and skirmish level ships with an Omega for striking power.

Though a 2e fleet with a Victory and an Avenger would sound nice. :lol:

 

[H]

your current tactics sound about right, seriously, Fighters may be a bit of fun, but I would never base a fleet round them, but then I play Narn, who's idea of a carrier is a T'Loth with no crew quarters, the Drakh who can field a raider for the same cost as a WS fighter, or Brakiri whose fighter is as effective as a doughnut in a dogfight!

 

[Tankdriver]

Plus, the massive number of skirmish and in some cases patrol ships still allows me to live up to the "Captain CF" nickname.

 

[CZuschlag]

Given the style you like, a second fleet (maybe with counters only, just to see if you like the feel) to consider is probably Drakh. Hiffano and I can both speak to the Horders of Raiders concept, and, while the fleet is very tricky to keep alive in the case of CAs and CLs), or had to kill things (in the case of just raiders) it does work.

But the fleet does definitely lend itself to the Captain CF mentality.

Fighters on their own right now just don't work. I don't know if they ever will. Unfortunate, but true.

 

[Tank]

Dont diss the mighty Falkosi, they are able to destroy Vorchans in a single volley, I have seen it, it is true! :lol:

 

[H]

I will say that yes, good point, if you like fighter tactics, the Raiders are a great choice, excelent fun.

 

[katadder]

well carriers are being made (to put it matts term)"sexy" in 2e. the posiedon is now gonna make you happy if you like your fighters.

 

[JoeSmokem]

well carriers are being made (to put it matts term)"sexy" in 2e. the posiedon is now gonna make you happy if you like your fighters.

mmm... 16 thunderbolts... mmm...

 

[Valen is my name]

whilst fighter may not win you a game, they are still worth getting because they do a lot of good.

 

[Locutus9956]

They help but theyre not worth taking specifically. So to answer the main question Id have to say no. If you get some free with a ship thats good anyway then sure that can be helpful but under most circumstances if its a choice between some fighters OR a ships with some guns your better off with the ship.

 

[animus]

Nials are great.

My last game 3 Nials wiped out a Sulust and took out clouds of Sentris so no Scanners could break my stealth.

 

[Triggy]

well carriers are being made (to put it matts term)"sexy" in 2e. the posiedon is now gonna make you happy if you like your fighters.

mmm... 16 thunderbolts... mmm...

What, only 16?

 

[Valen is my name]

dont forget about the white star fighters. Oh, and the poseidon has only ever had 16 flights, but trus me, hats a hell of a lot.

 

[Tankdriver]

I understand the Drahk mother ship is a carrier for raiders, is that right?
The problem I run into is that the two players I play most often play the Minbari and the Vree. Both seem pretty stacked against fighters, but against multiple small ships, they have a little trouble. The Minbari because there are more chances to break stealth, and the Vree because there weapons may be turret mounted but there are fewer of them.

 

[Da Boss]

most fighters are Ok - but best bought in carriers - or so I have seen so far, especially ones such as the White Star fighters which are incredibly deadly. They are very expensive bought as seperate choice however.

Minabari ones are good against ships and fighters and of course all ISA get the annoying +1 to dogfights - (White stars have +5 dogfight if Carrier around...........)

Centauri are good at killing others fighters - especially Raziks, Narn are OK and eath have some good dogfigfhters/ bombers, latter are pretty good against ships.

not sure about the League - the starnge Green ones recently encountered apparently are quite good and kileld my Scout ship...............

also heard the new Pak ships are hard but not played.

 

[Tankdriver]

I am wondering though if WS fighters, Pak fighters and Drahk raiders are really fighters though.

 

[lastbesthope]

If it has the Fighter trait, then in game terms, it's a fighter

WS Fighters do, Portafis do, I don't think the Drakh do

LBH

 

[Tankdriver]

And the fighter trait means exactly what? I was never really sure on that.