Fleet Questions

[CrookedWookie]

There are two fleets I'm having a little trouble wrapping my brain around; the Centauri and the Drakh. I was hoping any fans of those two fleets--I know there are a LOT of Centauri players out there, but haven't heard a lot of pro-Drakh noise--could fill me in on what makes each special.

The Centauri just don't have a "hook" (Narn e-mines, ISA manuverability, EA fighters, etc) that I can get my head around to understand their power and appeal. I know there are a lot of players out there and they've had quite a bit of success so I'd love to hear your thoughts on why it's a good fleet. Not looking to bash them--I'd honestly like to understand them better.

And the Drakh... If I understand the GEG right that is a pretty cool special ability. But aside from that I really don't get them; the small carried Raiders and stuff just don't seem that effective on paper. So I'd love to have someone who's played them tell me how they work and what their strengths are.

Thanks, gang!

 

[Jetbaker]

Centauri seem to do everything well. If you like beams you can get them. If you like tons of DD twin linked they have that in spades. The best thing about Centauri is that they have no real weakness. Some will tell you that the Centauri side arcs a flaw to be exploited. The trick is to survive to get into the side and then have the ability to stay there. Overall, one of the best and most well rounded fleets. The Centauri are also very forgiving if any mistakes are made.

The Drakh are a different army. They are a swarm fleet that utilizes aux craft on their bigger ships. The Drakh are almost all beam so the potential for mass damage is there. However, I have seen more famine than feast in that regard. The Drakh dont have a hull 6 ship outside of the breaching pod I think, rather they are low hulled. This is a killer against any high AD race. Dilgar and Centauri seem to incinerate most of their ships with ease, in the games I have played with the Drakh. Drakh dont do well in dealing with fighters in my opinion as they only have 1 ship that can negate dodge. I admit I have my dificulties with the Drakh so take my advice with that in mind.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Lord David the Denied]

Centauri are fragile. That's their weakness. They hit hard but they have glass jaws. Most of the larger ships have no interceptors and very little anti-fighter so they rely on their (admittedly excellent) escort to provide those things. Fighters are non-existent below raid level and while decent, don't have the numbers of people like the EA to really affect a battle. Weapons are medium-range at best and beams are single damage only until you get to armageddon level.

Plenty of weaknesses, you just have to know how to exploit them.

 

[Taran]

Just wanted to chiome in here about EA:
They aren't a fighter-focused fleet. They are an all-round fleet. DD Beams, Fighters, High-hit points, 360 degree firepower, AF, Interceptors, long range...
About the only thing they don't have is fast movers. Seems they sacrificed speed for everything else they have...

 

[Ripple]

Heh, don't buy it.

The beams are single damage, true, but they are precise. That works out to be pretty even in the effect department.

Range is a bit shorter on the large hulls, but not really on the smaller hulls. Range 18 is not short, and range 15 and 12 are clearly the mid range. You get all your firepower in between 12 and 18 (or 24 on the sulust), a hyperion needs to be at 8 before it gets in its last die.

Centauri are not fragile. They have a few fragile hull, but hardly a racial trait.

They don't have interceptors on a lot of ships but they do have fighters to do that job (don't need too many here) and the best escort (and only one that can lend interceptors) in the game. Not a real weakness.

Anti-fighter is also somewhat light, but it is in most fleets.

The first responder is right, the Centauri are to jack of all trades. They do everything (and with the Maximus, their unique thing) well to really well. They even have stealth cruisers and fighters.

As for the Drahk, great goodly moogly...try a few rounds with counters... they control the flow of the fight with all those raiders. Don't underestimate position in this game, it can be everything vs a number of races.

Ripple

 

[Fiztbane_65]

Personally, i like the Drakh.

However, it is really hard to take their higher level priority ships if you arent playing a huge battle. With Drakh, its all about the raiders. Lots and lots of raiders. Esp if you put them in squads. It also depends on who you are fighting. The Light Raiders work well for fleets that have dodge...ISA, Drazi... and the fact that they themselves have dodge and a GEG make them nice.

i really wouldnt be to concerned about having fighters attacking drakh ships, as your GEG will negate most of the damage.

 

[eldiablito]

I'd also mention that the Centauri have great skirmish level ships (Vorchan, I believe). With all that firepower and decent turning/speed, you can easily keep the enemy aimed to your front and kept away from your flanks.

I have yet to win against the Centauri with my Minbari... Early era and 3rd Age Earth fleets are no problem, general League fleets are not too hard, but Dang! Those Centauri are tough!

 

[CaptBavo]

I think the Centauri are a great fleet, with good ships at all PLs and the maximus is a great escort with the guardian array. However the maximus has to be just crippled to lose interceptors and thats only 11 hits. I play Dilgar mostly and every game ive played against them, i take out the maximus right away, and the games usually come down to the wire(last night lost by 5 VP).

My two cents worth

 

[Ripple]

If I could protect my capital ships by taking a skirmish escort I'd think I was well paid. And by protect I mean get you to fire at the escort not the capital ship. (is it capital or capitol? I'm all confused now) It's almost like maneuver to shield was still around.

Ripple

 

[Lord David the Denied]

It's capital. Capitol is the government building in the US, or a hill in Rome.

 

[Taran]

I got confused by that a little while ago. So I looked it up.
I guess it depends on your dialect.

In American English (I'm unaware of how it is in English English), it goes either way. I don't think it's supposed to, but Webster's gave in due to common useage...

 

[Burger]

(I'm unaware of how it is in English English)

We just call it "English" over here

Like a mate of a mate of mine, who went to a pub in Ireland and asked for some Irish Stew... "We just call it stew over here" :lol:

 

[Ripple]

haven't been able to sleep more than 90 minutes in at a time for months now, and my grasp of the fine stuff is slipping. Hopefully this bout of insomnia is almost over and I can find my speech center again.

thank you for the info...=)

Ripple