Drazi Claweagle

[Silvereye]

Looking over the Drazi fleet earlier tonight, I noticed that the Claweagle does not posses either of the Atmospheric or Dodge 5+ Traits unlike every other Drazi vessel of Skirmish Level and below.

Was this intentional, or is it a misprint in the books (much like the Raider Carrier not having a Jump Engine)

 

[Green_Knight]

and another one on this:

is the weapon system of the claweagle right,
think it was mismatched with the sleekbird, maybe ?
Or is the claweagle 2 per Patrol ?

I can't see fielding a claweagle right now, cause
you can get the sleekbird instead, which is in all
aspects superior to the claweagle.

Hull/Crew CE: 8H 6C, SB: 18H 20C
Weapons CE: 4" 4AD Weak, SB: 4" 12AD TL
Troops CE:3 SB:4
Craft CE:None, SB: 1 Breaching Pod
Traits: SB: Dodge 5+, Shuttles 2

So its a win win for the sleekbird.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Looking over the Drazi fleet earlier tonight, I noticed that the Claweagle does not posses either of the Atmospheric or Dodge 5+ Traits unlike every other Drazi vessel of Skirmish Level and below.

Was this intentional, or is it a misprint in the books (much like the Raider Carrier not having a Jump Engine)

Intentional - the Drazi rather over-reached themselves with this hull

However, as a specialised ship, it most certainly has its uses.

 

[Burger]

I'd only field Claweagles under special circumstances, which is a shame because they are such a cool concept. They are just too fragile to field normally, you just know they are going to be shot first because they pop like a wet balloon.

I think there is definitely a good case for them being 2 for the price of 1, it would also help with the Drazi's boresight initiative problems.

 

[inq101]

It's a HUGE breaching pod. Can you imagine 3-4 of these ganging up on a Omega?

 

[Burger]

It's a HUGE breaching pod. Can you imagine 3-4 of these ganging up on a Omega?

Can you imagine an Omega letting 3 or 4 get within 30"?
Hiding behind scenery would be the only way they'd ever make it.

 

[Romu]

Yeah i just bought 2 of them cos the models and concept are so cool but i'm not sure i'll play them every time like i tought i would when i first heard about them

 

[inq101]

you imagine an Omega letting 3 or 4 get within 30"?

Thats why you get 8 of them for the same cost.

The claweagle is imune to anti-fighter, unlike breaching pods. It is specialist, but far from useless.

 

[Silvereye]

The only benefits the Claweagle has over the Breaching Pod wing (which does actually come with more troops) is the ability to perform Special Actions, and its speed. All Power to Engines! does mean that this ship can lunge 18" and board its target - which is pretty powerful if you've lined up in the previous turn or you come onto the field through a jump point. However this does pretty much make it's Agile Trait pointless a lot of the time.

The lack of traits (coupled with the abysmal damage and crew scores on a hull of 4 - comparable to a Tethys) means that it really is a one trick pony. Provided there is no one there to watch the trick. The weaponry is really only there for a shot of opportunity while on your way to board something and for use when you have disengaged - but frankly the Claweagle is safer staying attached.

While I can see what was attempted with the ship, and how it can work, I do think that in almost all cases you are better off with any other Patrol level Drazi choice. However, make it a 2fer and it will definitely be a popular choice (if just for the initiative sink). Atmospheric (fluff wise for ease of loading Troops) will add a secondary use for it in a Planetary Assault and an excuse to disengage from the boarded victim in the scenario. Dodge 5+ so it can potentially survive an attack run from within 12" of its target, or has a reason to disengage and attempt to use its guns.

 

[Greg Smith]

Slightly obsure and unlikely question, but if a claweagle is attached to an atmospheric ship which decides to land, what happens?

 

[Lord David the Denied]

Ballistic re-entry is very bad for ships not intended to do it...

 

[Burger]

I assume the Claweagle would melt off the side... and the hole it drilled in the other ship wouldn't be too pleasant for its atmospheric plating!

 

[Silvereye]

The hole in the side would probably not be too pleasant for the occupants inside the ship either.

 

[Burger]

Well at least it wouldn't be unpleasant, for very long.....

 

[MongooseMatt]

Now, if we wanted to complicate the rules for realism, I would say that any ship with a Claweagle attached loses (temporarily) the Atmospheric trait.

However, as the rules currently stand, I would say the Claweagle follows the ship into the atmosphere, but if it lets go, it automatically crashes!

 

[katadder]

I'd only field Claweagles under special circumstances, which is a shame because they are such a cool concept. They are just too fragile to field normally, you just know they are going to be shot first because they pop like a wet balloon.

I think there is definitely a good case for them being 2 for the price of 1, it would also help with the Drazi's boresight initiative problems.

i tried to get this as a 2fer as its worse than the other 2fers out there.

 

[Greg Smith]

In straight combat it is certainly worse than the 2fers. However if it gets latched on, it has the potential to take a patrol or skirmish level ship out of the game quite quickly and earn double VPs, while at the same time be difficult to kill.

 

[katadder]

easier to use a breaching pod wing - harder to hit, they have dodge and are SM. this ship has to actually contact an enemy using its standard turns and then win an opposed CQ check which is why it needed to be a 2fer as breaching pod wings are better in almost every way (slower but use Gaim ones as part of your league fleet, no negative to init and they got better drones) for taking down small ships.

 

[Burger]

Drazi should at least get their +1 Aggression bonus to the CQ check for Claweagle attachment. Currently they don't so even after surviving the barrage and all that exact movement to contact the base, a Claweagle only has a 50% chance of attaching (assuming equal CQ's).

 

[Harry Lonsdale]

The weaponry is really only there for a shot of opportunity while on your way to board something and for use when you have disengaged - but frankly the Claweagle is safer staying attached.

You can also continue to shoot your target ship while attached, making it somewhat faster to wipe out the crew on board.

Drazi should at least get their +1 Aggression bonus to the CQ check for Claweagle attachment. Currently they don't so even after surviving the barrage and all that exact movement to contact the base, a Claweagle only has a 50% chance of attaching (assuming equal CQ's).

That's a really good idea.

I think they'd be quite useful coming out of a jump point or in a scenario like Ambush/Convoy Duty (as the attacker, of course), especially if you can squadron them with a high-CQ ship.