EA Explorer

[verdantgreen]

Can any of you describe the use of the EA Explorer? When would you take one over a Hyperion Commandship or an Avenger? What is its purpose? How effective is it?

In first edition I used it as a scenario ship from time to time but with the change in beam weapons I feel like the Explorer deserves a second look.

I've always been rather partial to the ship...I guess it is a reminder to the EA players what they are fighting for.

 

[H]

If you are playing crusade era and need fighter support for cheap, an explorer offers that, it may not have quick launch facilities, but it offers command, scout and limited fighter support at a low cost compared to fielding a Poseidon and delphi for example.

 

[Greg Smith]

It is a big scout that the Minbari will struggle to kill (unlike the Oracle). The hull 4 is no benefit to most Minbari ships.

You get command, scout and fighter support rolled into one. It isn't an avenger, it isn't an oracle, it isn't a command hyperion, but it is cheaper than buying all 3.

 

[verdantgreen]

Interesting. Thank you for the prompt responses, folks. How often are Explorers actually fielded? Also, a semi-related question: what were they like in Babylon 5 Wars?

 

[H]

Interesting. Thank you for the prompt responses, folks. How often are Explorers actually fielded? Also, a semi-related question: what were they like in Babylon 5 Wars?

in B5 the series, I believe there were only 6 in service? could be wrong though.
I have fielded them a few times in 1st ed, really just as huge damage sponges with fighters, I honestly think though they are pretty viable in 2nd ed now they are more surviveable against beams

 

[Burger]

TGT has won a tournament with an EA fleet including an Explorer :lol:
We all laughed at him... at first... then cried.

 

[verdantgreen]

Hehe, go TGT!

 

[Locutus9956]

Its a surprisingly good ship, its not as well armed as a command hyp, and it doesnt launch fighters as fast as a true carrier, and it hasnt got stealth like most scouts but it HAS a reasonable mix and has alot of hitpoints for raid level ship.

I cant say I ever fielded one in B5Wars but as I recall it was in that ship very tough to kill simply becuase the thing was HUGE and had structure points to rival some space stations. It was very lightly armed though (but then again it had hangars and fighter in B5Wars were NASTY (however in B5Wars you had to PAY for all fighters carried or otherwise so it wasnt like the fighters were part of its cost (which was already fairly high due to the sheer amount of hitpoints). It DID I believe have an interceptor array the likes of which the WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN!!! MAUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!. Ahem....

Basically though, try it out, you may be pleasently surprised...

 

[verdantgreen]

I have one coming in the mail. Once it gets painted I'll give it a try. I end up fighting Centauri and Vree a lot so the Hull score will probably kill me...but I do have a Minbari opponent I might have a go against.

It is interesting, the way a down- or upshift in priority changes the dynamic of a fleet list. A Hyperion is a bit on the weak side at raid, but if you use a Rail Hyperion at Skirmish, it becomes quite tough. The same thing goes for the Neshatan/Veshatan (sp=?). Downshifting the Neshatan to Battle gives it great damage for a Minbari. See the Drakh Strike Cruiser for another example.

The Explorer and T'Loth are both interesting to me due to their abnormal damage scores.

 

[Burger]

Neshatan is great, I've won a tourney with one :lol: Though it was 1pt Armageddon, not 5pt Raid. And I got taken apart by the Drakh...

 

[H]

I have one coming in the mail. Once it gets painted I'll give it a try. I end up fighting Centauri and Vree a lot so the Hull score will probably kill me...but I do have a Minbari opponent I might have a go against.

It is interesting, the way a down- or upshift in priority changes the dynamic of a fleet list. A Hyperion is a bit on the weak side at raid, but if you use a Rail Hyperion at Skirmish, it becomes quite tough. The same thing goes for the Neshatan/Veshatan (sp=?). Downshifting the Neshatan to Battle gives it great damage for a Minbari. See the Drakh Strike Cruiser for another example.

The Explorer and T'Loth are both interesting to me due to their abnormal damage scores.

the T'Loth gets overlooked by a lot of players due to the now, rather good raid selections available to the narn. however, It's tough as old boots, performs great boarding actions, and onces it's trundled into a fight, it's a decent amount of weapons too

 

[katadder]

i always use explorers in my EA fleet, its the toughest scout in the game, plus brings good amount of fighters and a command bonus. its a good init sink too at range as people with boresights end up pointing their beams at my hull 4 explorer which has the damage to soak it.

 

[texican]

I have even had the explorer board a mimbari Tigara when it jumped into the middle of a convoy it was escorting using the boarding special action.

 

[Vladimir]

I have used them sevral times I like them in groups of 2. I get my from this guy...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260171595462&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=016

 

[Celisasu]

The T'Loth sucks. Sure it's tough but beyond being tough it does nothing. Which means it won't be used anymore than it was in first edition where we showed why being tough without guns really had no value. The Explorer on the other hand at least serves as a scout that's launching a squad of fighters each turn. And gives a command bonus too. More situational than most ships but against certain races(the Minbari as some mentioned) it probably has value. It looks nice too.

 

[katadder]

lol t'loths are great, war level damage, 10AD all round and a DD weapon on the front, plus a couple of fighters, whats not to like. plus if you ever slow someone down you can usually board them. i use t'loths all the time and they helped me beat an EA fleet (used 2 t'loths, 2 var'nics, 1 dag'kar) as well as be ageneral pain in the ass.

 

[Triggy]

lol t'loths are great, war level damage, 10AD all round and a DD weapon on the front, plus a couple of fighters, whats not to like. plus if you ever slow someone down you can usually board them. i use t'loths all the time and they helped me beat an EA fleet (used 2 t'loths, 2 var'nics, 1 dag'kar) as well as be ageneral pain in the ass.

Agreed, they're as hard as most Battle PL ships, having moderate firepower (not Raid PL average but easily better than Skirmish PL firepower), fighters and a Troops score to frighten anyone into not stopping anywhere near your fleet.

 

[Lord David the Denied]

That's an assault cruiser for you...

 

[Ripple]

Guess our games are more fluid, no one EVER stops right near anything. Boarding is too easy and doesn't stop a ship from doing all it's own fire.

Ripple

 

[verdantgreen]

I have a love/hate relationship with the T'Loth. Not being able to do much in the way of direct damage is a serious disadvantage, but being able to suck up more fire than battle and some war level opponents is a nice trick.

I've never had a T'Loth actually launch a boarding assault. However, the threat of it doing so has directly changed the outcome of one game and influenced several others.

Also, I once played against my own Centauri miniatures (oh, the treachery!) as a Narn fleet. It was my last 1st edition game and the Centauri player was using two Primuses and six Demoses. I had a Bin'Tak, two T'Loth's, and the rest as Ka'Tocs.

The Centauri ignored the T'Loths, which was probably a good idea. Unfortunately, by the end of the game the T'Loths were unharmed and the Centauri didn't have enough firepower to finish them off before they were destroyed themselves.

That being said, I would not have wanted to put those T'Loths up against precise weaponry. They would have been effectively killed long before their damage scores were actually reduced to zero.