Can Anyone give me some background on the Church ?

[Keeper Nilbog]

Used to play ActA:B5, and have just started looking at NA. Whilst the current fleets do have a few of interest (tend to go off design style - then style of play) - the Hazat being the front runner, I was wondering if anyone could give me some background on the Church fleets. As there not out yet, but coming, i'm looking more toward style of ships (loads of religious fanatics for boarder's, or more of a cleasing flame approach). Hopefully, somebody can provide a bit of background.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[godsgopher]

Keeper,

Dont really know what to tell you. There is a ton of "Fluff" material available on the net. But as for information on the ships only one of the play testers could help you and frankly there not suppose to give out any hard information and from my experiences with them they wont.

The only piece of info on the Church that I have that's reliable is they are the only Known worlds fleet that has Heat Blasters. But as to play style, ships appearances, special rules, or anything else I and almost everyone here except the playtesters is clueless.

 

[Keeper Nilbog]

Not really that interested in the 'stats' of ships, just the background behind the fleet. Do/Will they be a core fleet with an option of which sect or just a straight fleet. If so, would they be 'Brother Battle' (the main military faction of the Church) or just a vanilla group.

As the fleet book appears to be released before the actual fleet box, i can have a looksee at the models before i buy. Just don't want to buy a third fleet (as i intend to just build 2 to a 2000-3000pt level), if the Church fits my needs.

 

[starbreaker]

There was teaser talk about some of the Church ships having more Heat Blasters than the Kurgan, so it's a safe bet there will be some Inquisition/Avestite/flaming fanatic designs, even if the whole fleet isn't built that way.

 

[Digger2000]

You could get the Church Fief from Drivethru.

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=50850

 

[Greg Smith]

Church fleets have: (at least in playtest)

Heat blasters mostly.
Suicide fighters
Brother battle troops
Easy access to theurgists
Fighters with unusual weaponry
No dedicated carrier

 

[Stormrider]

Given what we've seen so far I would expect the Church to be pretty much more of the same with a few minor differences.

Coming from B5 I was pretty shocked that all 5 fleets (now 6 with more coming) seemed very similar with one or 2 ships that stood out, but overall, same tech, same emphasis, only a mild flavour and a lick of paint separating them (except maybe Al Malik, they do, I admit, have a different flavour).

Do the Church deviate much from this, possibly bold, statement Greg?

 

[Greg Smith]

Do the Church deviate much from this, possibly bold, statement Greg?

They have a frigate, a galliot, a destroyer, a cruiser all of which pretty much follow the standard templates. Other stuff varies.

Bear in mind all fleets will be getting new ships and new troops types in the fleets book, giving more variety.

 

[godsgopher]

I have to agree with Stormrider, after the great diversity of 2nd Edition B5, the fleets of Noble Armada (to date mind you) are very bland and extremely similar. In Babylon 5 every race has a unique over all feel, and usually a different tech base as well.

Now that said, its still very very early in Noble Armada's development as a game. Its been out all of four months ish. We are already seeing many new vessels in the works, each a unique spin on existing designs. I expect with time that the game will gain depth.

However, if 3rd Edition is a fairly accurate reflection of the style of the original Noble Armada, I think I might just see why the game didn't make it ten years ago. None the less I have much higher hopes for ACTA: Star Fleet.

 

[Nerroth]

Well, after looking a bit more into the Fading Suns setting, it seems more reaonable to expect the House fleets to share certain characteristics, both with each other and with other navies within the Known Worlds.

As the Kurgans have shown already (with their increased reliance on carriers) I'd expect more variety from the "barbarian" human fleets as and when they emerge; and of course, even more diversity from the likes of the Vau and Symbiots.

 

[Keeper Nilbog]

Thanks Greg, for the notess on the Church fleet, i was expecting the fleet to be similar to the house fleets, as after all, there all built from the same basis (being Known World Fleets), just wondering which/what the actual differences for the fleet would be - No Carriers, but Martyr Fighters, so Hybird vessels then ?

I actually like the fact that the core fleets are similar, unlike B5, as it allows a (kind of) settled playing field (In B5 i had 3 fleets, Drazi to start, the 3rd Era EA and finally (and, to be fair) mainly Drakh). I found that the way the group i played with went, the fleets moved toward the optiumised ones - ISA, Minbari, Shadow, Vorlons, Psycorp - and away from the other powers. Games also started to get bigger. This is where my dislike of stealth comes from. I actually enjoyed playing Drakh (all my fleet gone now, though if i did get back into it - Fleet Action Scale all the way), but the move to War level put me off - not sure how point system will work for me.