How Do You Cope With The Vorlon's Side & Rear Weaknesses

[Proiteus]

I've always love the Vorlons, out of all the races featured in B5 they were most certainly my favourite. So now I’m considering buying the fleet box set before the last bit of stock dries up, as there is very little chance of getting any individual ships now (not 2nd hand anyway).

I'm also very skilled with beam weapon dice rolls which makes getting a Vorlon fleet even more tempting.

However there are certain weaknesses in the Vorlon fleet true they are one of the toughest fleets in the game but they can only fire in one direction, so how do I deal with such a weakness?

 

[eldiablito]

It really depends on your fleet.

IMO, certain fleets and scenarios have trouble getting close enough to the Vorlon firepower: If you are slow, there are no ships in hyperspace, you start too far apart, or you don't have enough long range guns.

My Minbari (if you are not allowed to use hyperspace) can have trouble with our local Vorlon player's fleet. I just cannot seem to match their forward arc firepower and those destroyers and cruisers tend to rip my own ships apart. On the other hand, if I ever get a chance to deploy some ships in hyperspace, then I imagine that I'll just drop in behind them and really make them suffer. :twisted:

Meanwhile, my Vree can just trash them if I do an All Power to the Engines the first turn or two and survive the initial volley.

 

[Proiteus]

The only soloution I see so far to protecting the rear and side of the main ships from White Stars and other fast ships is lots of fighters

Are there any Vorlon players out there who can give me a bit of advice here?

 

[Burger]

Are there any Vorlon players out there who can give me a bit of advice here?

Turn.

 

[David Anla Shok']

Play in depth, using destroyers in the back to cover your six...

 

[wpngjstr]

If facing a numerous and maneuverable foe with vorlons, or similar frontarc forces, I favour a scissors approach;
split your force into 2 elements, separated by about 1/2 -2/3 (weapons range+speed), which then turn towards each other. Each element then covers the flanks and rear of the other, while allowing the possiblity of concentrating the whole fleets fire on one target/area. the elements then basically criss-cross as they advance

While you can do a similar thing keeping the fleet together and facing outward this creates a fire gap between the fleets as they diverge. Firing past each other ensures no gaps for the enemy to hide in (mostly)

 

[David Anla Shok']

If facing a numerous and maneuverable foe with vorlons, or similar frontarc forces, I favour a scissors approach;
split your force into 2 elements, separated by about 1/2 -2/3 (weapons range+speed), which then turn towards each other. Each element then covers the flanks and rear of the other, while allowing the possiblity of concentrating the whole fleets fire on one target/area. the elements then basically criss-cross as they advance

While you can do a similar thing keeping the fleet together and facing outward this creates a fire gap between the fleets as they diverge. Firing past each other ensures no gaps for the enemy to hide in (mostly)

Interesting approach in a free style game but more difficult or worse in a scenario..

 

[Marco Raimeous]

all-stop pivot is a vorlons best friend. Groups your ships together (even agains eminers) and shoot at as few enemy ships as possible to kill off InSinks and decrease return fire....this is much better than damaging a lot of ships that can all fire the next round. If you think you can take out a big ship in a turn by all means do but try to pop at least a couple ships a turn. I usually set up shops once I am in range and make a pillbox of Vorlon death beams using All-stop-pivot. (no close range weapons means you don't have to get in close.)

Also stagger your ships for better arc protection. Group ships in a ball or "conga line" both seem to work well. When fighting steathy buggers (Minbari) have a squad of transports at close range to get the lock then let your backfield artillery go.

To fight fighter fleets (EA), counter fighter but do not engage, just get in range of the antifighter weapons. After fighters are taken care of use the fighters to go after capital ships as they can be deadly critting buggers.

Finally, Vorlons have the range...so use it, let your enemy come to you. All the while you may have a few turns of no return fire.

 

[Locutus9956]

Are there any Vorlon players out there who can give me a bit of advice here?

......yes.....

 

[Burger]

Are there any Vorlon players out there who can give me a bit of advice here?

Truth points to itself.

 

[Locutus9956]

Ok seriously though and obvious Vorlon Jokes aside, use a few smaller ships and keep them back and push your bigger ships forward, if anything tries to get past the big ones arcs blatt them with the trailers.

Frankly the key to winning with the Vorlons generally revolves around blasting the bejesus out of the enemy before they get a CHANCE to play the 'ooh look I'm behind you now' game. Also make good use of all power to engines to run as far as possible before coming back if your opponent out runs you.

Last trick I can suggest is to deploy in two groups at opposite corners and plan to have the groups cross each other over then turn round and do it again, that way they can scrape the enemies off each others rears.

 

[Burger]

Last trick I can suggest is to deploy in two groups at opposite corners and plan to have the groups cross each other over then turn round and do it again, that way they can scrape the enemies off each others rears.

Yeah that is a good trick, I've used it well with Shantavi's and Drazi to!

 

[Proiteus]

Truth points to itself.

Thanks for the advice guys and that was an amusing line Burger, also those data sheets of yours are a live saver Burger as the B5 fleet book is out of stock at the moment it'd be troublesome to play the game without them.