centauri but newbie...

[arkhosh]

Hello, I know the game is dying but I wanted to buy some fleet before it is too late.

I'm very fond of the centauri fleet and I will order some ship from IWM before the end of this month. I have already ordered the rules books (but not yet received) and so I was wondering which ship "must" I have in my centauri fleet...

We will play with friends so I want to have some "replacement ships" to change my fleet a little.

What's your opinion? for the moment I think I would buy:
- 1 primus
- 3 vorchan (really like this iconic centauri ship)
- maybe 1 octurion?

thanks

 

[Da Boss]

My Good Dear Friend - welcome to the Glorious Republic

Centauri ships - well luckily your chosen fleet has a multitude of good ships across the board

Primus and Vorchan/Demos are excellent vessels and will serve you very well. If possible get at least one of each the following ships:

Balvarin (Essential) (one of the best carriers in the game)
Maximus (very useful ship against some fleets)
Dargan (interesting and powerful assault ship)
Alutarin/Elutarian (very important)
Corvan (excellent scout)
Kutai (good low level gunship,)
2 Haven (in sink par excellence and rerasonable guns)
Darkner/Amar (great new carrier and ok gunship)
(if not counters are your friend!)

The Octurion is a nice impressive looking ship but is a bit weak at War - not Narn weak but not really worth it - you will seldom use.

Now a difficult one - the Liaiti is a wonderful ship and will cause havoc against most opponents but it is a horrible model - I would be tempted to proxy it.......

Alot of people swear by the Centurion (I dont use it myself)

 

[arkhosh]

thanks for your valuable answer Da Boss!

reviewing my funds and the minis list on the IWM website (+ your very fine analysis) , I've made this "wishlist":

1 octurion
1 primus
3/4 vorchan
1 Balvarin
1 Dargan
1 Mograth (what about 2 of them?)
2 corvan
1 darkner

I would take an octurion anyway just for the look (and for scenarii)... and for the same resaon I don't like the maximus and I replace it by a mograth (don't know if they have the same use...)

and two more questions:
1- what about the sullust? this ship is very "centauri-like" and I see it well along my fleet...
2- and I don't see on IWM website the picture of the Alutarin/Elutarian?

thanks for your help!

for the republic!

 

[McKickaha]

and two more questions:
1- what about the sullust? this ship is very "centauri-like" and I see it well along my fleet...
2- and I don't see on IWM website the picture of the Alutarin/Elutarian?

thanks for your help!

for the republic!

(1) Yep I too like the Solust mini and have a couple, don't use them very often tho, Da Boss has covered the best gamers of the fleet but sometimes you have to play with ships that you just like the look off.

(and also explains why I continue to field G'Quans in my Narn fleet).

(2) You are correct, Iron Wind don't appear to sell the Alutarin/Elutarian, guess the mould wore out. I suppose you could e-mail them and ask the question, you never know. Or you could try FRP games.

Here's a pic of the ship. Not in Centauri Fleet colours of course. This one was sold to the Balosians.

 

[Da Boss]

Hmm no sign of the Alutarian on the website - it is the class ship of serveal versions - the most important being the Elutarian Bombardment cruiser - great ship - long rnage heavy weapons (30") - again may have to proxy.

Morgrath - very seldom seen them used (I don't like the look or the stats personally) its another gunship - but the Centauri have so many excellent ships at Skirmish its probably just not good enough to compet with the real gunships - Darkner/Vorchan/Demos or the specialist ships (Maximus, Corvan and Amar).

The Maximus is an excellent ship (Although no longer as fleixble) rpivding vital defecnes for larger ships but its not as Essential as in 1st Ed. (if you like the ship shape - just proxy it for the Maximus)

yes forgot the Sullust - another excellent ship

 

[arkhosh]

ok thanks again for your explanation!

I think I'm ready to place my order:

1 octurion
1 primus
4 vorchan
1 Balvarin
1 Dargan
1 Mograth
2 corvan
1 darkner
2 sullust

last question, how many fighters flights will I need with these fleet?

arkhosh, lion cub of the galaxy

 

[McKickaha]

strictly speaking to fill the bays;

16 flights of 6 fighters

plus the Darkner, new P&P variant takes additional 4 flights. (corrected)

making total 20 flights

Then gets a little more complicated;

(1) If you wish, you probably can get away with less flights because (a) most times you will not always be playing with all of you fleet. (b) Flights tend to get destroyed realtively easily so have a high turnover rate on the table, a good rule of thumb if you are wanting to save cash or due to unavailability is go for 60% of full load.

(2) Choice of fighters; 3 for the Centauri

(a) Rutarian- (which is std for the Dargan, (2 flights))- one of the best, and arguably the best, heavy fighter in the game).

(b) Sentri - reasonable std fighter but pales in comparison to the other two options.

(c) Razik - Excellent light fighter, great dogfighting ability.

Raziks swap in for Sentris at no additional cost, Rutarians at additiona Fap cost 4 for 1 (corrected).

Normally I would say try before you buy on the fighter split but given the situation, in my own games I do not use many Sentri's, very often and usualy tend to split more or less evenly on the other 2, but it really depends on your gaming style.

 

[Da Boss]

The Amar carrier - variant of the Darkner carries 4 flights of Raziks or Sentris but for an extra patrol point can carry 4 Rutarians (thanks to another poster on the forum for pointing this put to me) - which as mentioned above are one of the best fighters in the game (see a pattern with the Centuari fleet?) :wink:

In a Balvarin I tend to have 4 Sentri and 4 Razik - the Sentri are good dogfighters - matching all other races except for the best the Vree and Minbari can field and also can be used to intecept enemy fire whihc the Razik with its weak wepaons can not.

 

[Burger]

Raziks swap in for Sentris at no additional cost, Rutarians at additiona Fap cost 2 for 1.

4 for 1

 

[McKickaha]

Raziks swap in for Sentris at no additional cost, Rutarians at additiona Fap cost 2 for 1.

4 for 1

oops : thanks Burger. & Da Boss on the Amar, talk abot seeing patterns, seem to be mixing up 4 with 2's today

 

[arkhosh]

ok thanks, i've all the infos I need.

soon my centauri fleet will frighten the poor other races...

To reduce the shipping costs (i'm french ) from IWM I'm thinking about buying a few shadow ships too...

I have heard that we don't need many ship to play with shadows. Can I play a regular game with 1 or 2 ships of each type (cruiser, scout and hunter).

as usual thanks in advance for your advices :wink:

arkhosh, lion cub of the galaxy

 

[AdrianH]

You can, although more Scouts would be good.

The Hunter isn't part of the Shadows fleet in 2nd edition. It now belongs to the Psi Corps. This means instead of buying 2 Hunters, you can buy yourself a couple more Scouts. For a Battle level ship, you just declare a Scout to be a Stalker.

A few flights of fighters would also be useful. Partly because the cruisers have fighters on board, especially if you declare them to be the Ancient variety; and partly because Powers & Principalities says the fighters' shields now work against dogfights and anti-fighter, meaning the fighters actually are useful.

 

[Foxmeister]

One day, you're going to want an Adira - I'd get it now if I were you!

Regards,

Dave

 

[Democratus]

The Elutarian and Sulust are perfect stablemates. I've bought a few of each. With the Hunting Pack rule you can put the Elutarian up front within 30" of the enemy and your Sulust now has a 36" range and can fire from the back of the squadron.

It's an excellent way to put some beam weaponry on the enemy from over 18" away - a rare opportunity for the Centauri.

If you can get 3 of each of these, plus a flight of 4+ Vorchans, you can have a solid "swarm" fleet at high levels and are ready for anything at lower priority levels.

 

[Da Boss]

One day, you're going to want an Adira - I'd get it now if I were you!Regards,
Dave

There is a much much better version of the Adira than the official one. :wink:

 

[[Omicron]Urobach]

One day, you're going to want an Adira - I'd get it now if I were you!Regards,
Dave

There is a much much better version of the Adira than the official one. :wink:

psssttt... 8) :wink:

 

[ubersnug]

One day, you're going to want an Adira - I'd get it now if I were you!Regards,
Dave

There is a much much better version of the Adira than the official one. :wink:

que?

explain!

considering i just paid 50 dollars for one...

 

[Joe_Dracos]

Primus and Vorchan/Demos are excellent vessels and will serve you very well. If possible get at least one of each the following ships:

Balvarin (Essential) (one of the best carriers in the game)

I would agree with that comment, but only because you really do need it in battle level or higher games to fend off the swarms of fighters that some fleets can and will throw at you.

Maximus (very useful ship against some fleets)

As an Earth alliance/Brakiri player I can confirm its usefulness. It does have the ability to pass on its interceptors to other ships but its anti-fighter weapons are what make this little ship (from my limited perspective). Don't take to many though. I've fried them with my Omega's at long range before my fighters swarmed his capital ships.

Dargan (interesting and powerful assault ship)

Against any fleet with an interceptor... a primus might be a better choice but... I really don't know how I would judge these ships. The stealth is a pian in my neck though.

Alutarin/Elutarian (very important)

yes... yes it is.... never leave home without them (note the plural)

Corvan (excellent scout)

A must for your Octurion. The redirect fire ability really puts some teeth into it.

Kutai (good low level gunship,)
2 Haven (in sink par excellence and rerasonable guns)

Personally I would by 2 Kutai and 4 Havens and make a dirt cheap and fairly powerful hunting pack (for the cost that is).

Darkner/Amar (great new carrier and ok gunship)

This is more of a must. The Amar is a cheap way for you to bring fighters on the table.

The Octurion is a nice impressive looking ship but is a bit weak at War - not Narn weak but not really worth it - you will seldom use.

I would disreguard this. I've found that with the proper support any ship can be as good as *insert disired ship here*. Give it a couple of Maximus as escorts and a pair of Primus/Secundus to back it up. Also have a Corvan (or 2 if you can afford it FAP wise) nearby redirecting the matter cannons. The impressive looking nature will also attract a lot of enemy fire power towards it so it can act as a damage spung if anything else. (Trickery is a useful tool). That formation will have teeth and it will be a tough nut to crack.

Now a difficult one - the Liaiti is a wonderful ship and will cause havoc against most opponents but it is a horrible model - I would be tempted to proxy it.......

He's right, its so ugly my buddy took it out back and shot it. A suitable proxy is a must. Kit bash some models if need be.

Alot of people swear by the Centurion (I dont use it myself)

Yes I know a guy who is addicted to this vessel. I personally would use other ships for my raid level choices. Its going to have to be a personal decision.

Also, the Adira looks no better in person.... but with the right paint job it can look okay.

 

[Da Boss]

One day, you're going to want an Adira - I'd get it now if I were you!Regards,
Dave

There is a much much better version of the Adira than the official one. :wink:

que?

explain!

considering i just paid 50 dollars for one...

talk to Urobach - 8) (note my limited painting skills don't really do it justice)

Valerius

 

[Da Boss]

Primus and Vorchan/Demos are excellent vessels and will serve you very well. If possible get at least one of each the following ships:

Balvarin (Essential) (one of the best carriers in the game)

I would agree with that comment, but only because you really do need it in battle level or higher games to fend off the swarms of fighters that some fleets can and will throw at you.)

I use it at all PL levels and nearly every fleet because once its launched its excellent fighters - it still provides a important +1 Command, has good guns (10 dice double damage at the front alone) and can soak damage.

Dargan (interesting and powerful assault ship)

Against any fleet with an interceptor... a primus might be a better choice but... I really don't know how I would judge these ships. The stealth is a pian in my neck though.)

not used as much as the Liati or Primus (I know Katadder swears by them) it has reasonable damage and the stealth is pretty good - the front arc (even against interceptors) can be brutal.

The Octurion is a nice impressive looking ship but is a bit weak at War - not Narn weak but not really worth it - you will seldom use.

I would disreguard this. I've found that with the proper support any ship can be as good as *insert disired ship here*. Give it a couple of Maximus as escorts and a pair of Primus/Secundus to back it up. Also have a Corvan (or 2 if you can afford it FAP wise) nearby redirecting the matter cannons. The impressive looking nature will also attract a lot of enemy fire power towards it so it can act as a damage spung if anything else. (Trickery is a useful tool). That formation will have teeth and it will be a tough nut to crack..

maybe, maybe, - the 18" range on its beam is a killer for a war level ship - every time I use it it is useless by the time it gets near enough to fire. in a battle level game 2 Primus (squadroned) are more effective I have found. Together they have double the beam firepower and nearly as much normal conventional guns, plus as usual two ships are harder to take down/ crit out of the game than one. In a war level game I'd take an Adira over an Octurion (or more likely 2 Primus, 2 Liati).

We normally play games at 5 pt raid or at most 5 pt battle which may have a bearing on the matter.