B5 ACTA Centauri Fleet- advice needed

[wargame_insomniac]

Hi

As my Minbari 5 points War fleet nears finishing (just the tiger stripes to come, which in itself I reckon will be fiddly and time consuming) I have started to think about painting my Centauri.

Initially i am looking to have a rounded 5 points War Centauri fleet to have as potential opposition or as an alternative to Minbari. Does have to be a tournament killer list, just one that I can use against a variety of opponents, and certainly featuring the more iconic ships.

Basically I have the original Centauri Fleet box set, the Centauri reinforcements box set and several extra blisters, giving me the following:

1 Octurion Battleship War
2 Dargan Strike Cruiser Battle
4 Primus Battlecruiser Battle
1 Balvarin Carrier Raid
3 Centurion Attack Cruiser Raid
2 Sulust Escort Destroyer Raid
2 Corvan Scout Skirmish
2 Darkner Fast Attack Frigate Skirmish
2 Maximus Frigate Skirmish
6 Vorchan Warship Skirmish

I mkae that lot as 6.25 War points, so I would need to trim 1.25 points to get down to my initial target.

I am tempted to keep all 4 Primus and all 6 Vorchans as these are the most iconic Centauri ships. (yes i know I can various variants of either but I cam keeping things simnple for the moment)

From the above list are there any shipps you would drop from a face-all comers fleet? i.e. are any of the ships most suitable only for specific scenarios or vs specific opponents?

For example I was thinking of only taking one Corvan scout, keeping the other in reserve for specific games.

How important are Drakners to Centauri fleet. Was thinking about dropping them just based on looks of model (likewise have not included any Kutai).

Thanks for any help you can offer

Cheers

James

 

[Stormrider]

Well, I know you're trying to remove points not add them but 2 elements I see as missing from that list would be the Altarian (and variants) and the Haven. Also a fleet featuring multiple Balvarin will give most people pause for thought.

There's people far better versed in the Centauri than I but the Centurion and Sulust don't seem common in what I've seen, not sure about the Battle level ones.

 

[wargame_insomniac]

yep- I do have a haven- did nt include it on my list as did nt think worth including a Patrol choice in a 5 points War list. But I can drop it in if I am slightly under on points.

I don't have any Altarian models. And only one Balvarin. So my priority would be to make best use of what I have got and get it all painted, before I worry about buying new models and adding to fleet.

You said that Centurions and Sulusts were nt that common. Will be interested to see why.

Thanks very much

James

 

[Da Boss]

I play Centauri ALOT

Def keep the Primus - its a great battle level ship, Dargan is a good alternative - all three Battle levels ships are extremely powerful in their own ways. If you can proxy a Dargan or other ship as a Liati - thats also great.
Vorchans def need (probably 4+) as both the original and the Demos variant are extremely powerful ships
Balvarin - vital ship
Maximus is a great fleet protection ship but not as vital in numbers as 1st Ed, prob 1 is ok
Darkner - interesting ship and can now also be the extremely useful Amar carry (which can be upgraded to carry Rutarians - which are awesome fighters)
Sullust is a good ship

I'd drop the Octurion, a Centurion or two, a Corvan - unless you can proxy ships as an Elutarian (Alatarian variant)

Octurion is a OK at best ship but it will be extrmely difficult to justify it over tow of the really excellent battle choices or more likely:
Battle, Raid, Skirmish (x2)

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Ok- i don't mind keeping the Octurion in reserve as flagship for big games. I don't like the Adira model so If I want a big ship it would be Octurion.

Taking your advice would leave me the following 5 points War fleet:
2 Dargan Strike Cruiser Battle
4 Primus Battlecruiser Battle
1 Balvarin Carrier Raid
2 Sulust Escort Destroyer Raid
1 Corvan Scout Skirmish
2 Darkner Fast Attack Frigate Skirmish
1 Maximus Frigate Skirmish
6 Vorchan Warship Skirmish

How does that sound?

Cheers

James

 

[Da Boss]

It gives you a nice range of ships - not optimal as a bit heavy on the Primus but nothing that can be ignored (its a Centauri fleet after all). Ideally more Balvarins, Elutarins......

I missed the bit about Jutai - if you can add a couple - In sinks are extremely important in ACTA - and the Kutai is alos an excellent low level gun boat with good guns (again its Centauri), hull 5 and dodge. It can quite happily move about on CBD with a single cannon hitting out at enemies.

Its also worth reading this very good summary

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43529

 

[KennyBoy]

I agree with Charles (Da Boss) on virtually all his points. The only thing i'd add is that the Sulust seems - to me at least - to be a very specialised ship. Like Charles, i'd proxy something for a Liati, as it is an excellent Battle PL ship, which, if lucky rolls are with you, can be easily elevated to the best Battle ship in the game!
However, Charles is possibly the most experienced Centauri player you're likely to meet, and any advice from him is to be well heeded

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Thanks Charles/Kenny

I have bookmarked that link to read at leisure- may have more questions later!

Will look at what I can use to proxy for Elutarins/Liati. A 2nd Balvarin will have to wait until I have the model. I actually have 3 Jutai'- I just don't like the model- it does nt seem very Centauri looking to me.

Cheers

James

 

[AdrianH]

I'd keep the Octurion. I don't care if it's optimal; in your position, if I've got one of those then it's getting painted and going on the table in a 5 point War game.

If you don't take the Octurion then the entire rest of your collection listed there is 5.25 War, i.e. 5 points War plus a spare Raid ship. Which of the Centurions and Sulusts do you want to drop? I'd probably dump a Centurion and keep both Sulusts, partly for the additional long range beam and partly because the Centurion looks silly.

If you do take the Octurion then under P&P, the remaining 4 War points each break down to 2 Battle, one of which breaks down to 2 Raid, one of which breaks down to 2 Skirmish, giving you in total:

4 Battle - you said you wanted to keep all the Primuses, so that's sorted.

4 Raid - definitely the Balvarin. If you don't, several fleets will punish your Vorchans for the lack of fighter support. For flexibility, take at least one each of Centurion and Sulust. For the fourth Raid, see the previous comment about Sulust versus Centurion.

8 Skirmish - at least one Corvan, at least one Maximus, at least four Vorchans. Then decide whether your War level fleet wants two more Vorchans, or trade one or both in for an extra Corvan and/or extra Maximus. Not that it matters much because once you've completed your 5 points War, paint up the rest of the Skirmish ships anyway.

Start by painting up whichever Vorchans, Maximus(es) and Corvan(s) you plan to use. That way you've got 5 Skirmish or 3 Raid for a decent small game before you've finished the painting.

 

[Da Boss]

I'd keep the Octurion. I don't care if it's optimal; in your position, if I've got one of those then it's getting painted and going on the table in a 5 point War game.

Sadly seen them in some many games lumber slowly (like a Narn) towards the enemy being shot to pieces and accomplishing nothing - especially against Minbari.

If you don't take the Octurion then the entire rest of your collection listed there is 5.25 War, i.e. 5 points War plus a spare Raid ship. Which of the Centurions and Sulusts do you want to drop? I'd probably dump a Centurion and keep both Sulusts, partly for the additional long range beam and partly because the Centurion looks silly.

I don't like the Aestetics either but hopefully as a very different ship it can be a proxy Elutarin

 

[AdrianH]

I'd keep the Octurion. I don't care if it's optimal; in your position, if I've got one of those then it's getting painted and going on the table in a 5 point War game.

Sadly seen them in some many games lumber slowly (like a Narn) towards the enemy being shot to pieces and accomplishing nothing - especially against Minbari.

Good, if the other guy is putting all his fire onto that then he's not shooting at the Vorchans, a decision he'll regret later. Besides, that's what "All Power To Engines" is for.

If you don't take the Octurion then the entire rest of your collection listed there is 5.25 War, i.e. 5 points War plus a spare Raid ship. Which of the Centurions and Sulusts do you want to drop? I'd probably dump a Centurion and keep both Sulusts, partly for the additional long range beam and partly because the Centurion looks silly.

I don't like the Aestetics either but hopefully as a very different ship it can be a proxy Elutarin

wargame_insomniac has three Centurions and two Sulusts. If he leaves out one Centurion, he still has two more which can pretend to be Elutarians. And he can always paint up the third Centurion later...

 

[Da Boss]

I'd keep the Octurion. I don't care if it's optimal; in your position, if I've got one of those then it's getting painted and going on the table in a 5 point War game.

Sadly seen them in some many games lumber slowly (like a Narn) towards the enemy being shot to pieces and accomplishing nothing - especially against Minbari.

Good, if the other guy is putting all his fire onto that then he's not shooting at the Vorchans, a decision he'll regret later. Besides, that's what "All Power To Engines" is for.

nah if its Minbari they are beaming your big ship and using mini-beams on the smaller ones! Plus he only needs to get a couple of speed crits to render the Octurion impotent - something no Centauri should have to suffer

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Good suggestion with starting with Vorchans, 1 Maximus and 1 Corvan.

Thanks

James

 

[Target]

I actually prefer the Centurion over over the Sulust but i like them to team up with the Vorchans, Sentri's for interceptor cover. Vorchans don't need to go 14 & the Centurion is only slightly slower.
Guess i like the Centurion / Vorchan mix as the amount of dice you can put out will quickly demolish the foe's intercptors and they are manauverable as hell.
I play a lot vs EA so ignore the beams as it tends to weaken your ability to burn througn interceptors. Do it Dilgar style.
Guess if i was using beams i'd go for Primus/Sulust/Morgaths combo.
Balvarian is a must though.
If i could swap Plasma Accelerators for the Primus beams or Sentri's for the Secundas Shuttles i would.
This is probably due to ability to mess beam rolls up. More dice the more likely im going to get average. Easier to work out how much firepower to kill the ship you are firing at, The best way to win B5 is to make sure the ship you have fired at is dead.