How many EA players use the Hyperion?

[fluffy05]

Hi all,

just curious as I look to expand my EA fleet - how many of you use the Hyperion?

How do you use them?

How many Hyperions would you use in a 5 point raid game?


The reason I am asking is I am eyeing off the different EA boxes and the origional EA Fleet box has 4 Hyperions. Basically I like the boxed set except for the Orestes monitor.

Do any of you actually field 4 Hyperions by choice?

Do you prefer the Hyperion variants?

Many Thanks & Happy Gaming!

 

[Triggy]

The basic Hyperion is an OK ship, nothing hugely special but it's fairly solid and packs a wallop if you can get a couple of good shots in.

Most of the variants are pretty good actually. The Skirmish level ones particularly. The Missile Hyperion is a very good mid-range ship, the Assault Hyperion has a good short-range presence and the Rail Hyperion has a god mid-range forward set of guns and a flight of fighters. Of course, all are very tough for a Skirmish ship so are able to get in position quite easily.

The Pulse Hyperion is a bit weak, particularly with the Assault Hyperion as an alternative but if you want to try it out, it's not the worst ship out there.

Ignore the Command variant, it basically charges you a whole extra PL for just a command bonus...

 

[Reaverman]

The basic Hyperion is an OK ship, nothing hugely special but it's fairly solid and packs a wallop if you can get a couple of good shots in.

Most of the variants are pretty good actually. The Skirmish level ones particularly. The Missile Hyperion is a very good mid-range ship, the Assault Hyperion has a good short-range presence and the Rail Hyperion has a god mid-range forward set of guns and a flight of fighters. Of course, all are very tough for a Skirmish ship so are able to get in position quite easily.

The Pulse Hyperion is a bit weak, particularly with the Assault Hyperion as an alternative but if you want to try it out, it's not the worst ship out there.

Ignore the Command variant, it basically charges you a whole extra PL for just a command bonus...

I think the Skirmish level Hyperions are not bad. The Raid level, well IMHO; its beam laser with a rice paperhouse wrapped rouund it. They just never seem to handle damage, for more than 2 turns of combat (and thats being optimistic)

 

[Triggy]

I think the Skirmish level Hyperions are not bad. The Raid level, well IMHO; its beam laser with a rice paperhouse wrapped rouund it. They just never seem to handle damage, for more than 2 turns of combat (and thats being optimistic)

The trouble with standard Hyperions is that they have better than average firepower and worse than average staying power. Therefore, what targets are your opponent going to prioritise? If you took a fleet of similar ships (e.g. Olympuses, Hyperions, Hermes, etc.) then they'd probably perform better as all of your fleet is fragile but potent.

 

[fluffy05]

Ok basically what I was thinking as well. I can get a Nova at Raid level so I thought the skirmish options might be better.

Does the basic Hyperion stay at Raid level in Armagedeon Rules (sorry have't been able to get rules for Armagedeon in OZ yet).

Thanks for the constructive feedback :wink:

 

[Triggy]

No problem, and yes, the basic Hyperion stays at Raid level (and is a bit tougher than before but not a huge amount).

 

[Twin-Linked Aldades]

All hail the mighty Hyperion, backbone of any EA fleet (especially in the early age, though I do take `em along int he middle age as well, not a fan of the late era though) and damn hard damage dealer. Oh, and she looks very nice to boot...

 

[Voronesh]

I dont like the raid lvl hyperion, because as Triggy mentioned it hampers your fleet makeup.

Hyperions go pop rather fast. Combining them with Novae just makes the enemies fire control opimization so much easier.

But the SKirmish ones actually have average staying power and nice firepower

 

[Ripple]

But the skirmish ones seem to be only early and late now aren't they? could have sworn they got lost in the mid years.

Now days you need to specify which era you are going to play.

Ripple

 

[Lorcan Nagle]

All the Hyperion variants are in the early fleet, with less and less as you move towards Crusade.

 

[Triggy]

You still get the Assault Hyperion all the way through (in fact it's the only Skirmish choice at all in the Crusade list).

 

[emperorpenguin]

The trouble with standard Hyperions is that they have better than average firepower and worse than average staying power. Therefore, what targets are your opponent going to prioritise? If you took a fleet of similar ships (e.g. Olympuses, Hyperions, Hermes, etc.) then they'd probably perform better as all of your fleet is fragile but potent.

I agree 100% with you! In fact I've been trying to convince Mongoose and the other playtesters (to no avail ) that the Hyperion would actually benefit from losing some firepower!
As you said it puts out a lot of fire (as much as an Omega pretty much) but lacks the high hull and damage soaking.

I always take them when playing as EA because their firepower is great but conversely when fighting EA they are a priority target because they are so fragile.

 

[fluffy05]

Ok then there is 4 Hyperions in the original set- EA Fleet Box.

Has anyone used 4 in a game?

Just curious. I don't mind the Artemis and Thethys being in the set but the Orestes are not that great with a move of 4 all though I could see them as a "second wave" with their Beam weapons etc after fleets have gotten to close quarters.

I like the Hyperions but if I can't use half the ships I will get a different ship through the Era boxes and seprately.

I have now got a mate interested in playing and we had our first game 5 point Raid Narn vs Centauri (I rolled alot of sixes :wink: - which I have never done in any other game system :? ) . Anyway we are both hooked and we have been using counters.

I have the EA reinforcement set and are working my way up I just don't know where to go next with my fleet (also have 1 Omega and 1 Nova)

 

[Lord David the Denied]

The standard EA fleet box doesn't have an Orestes in it. It has two Omegas, four Hyperions, two Artemis, two Tethys, a Nova and eight Starfury flights.

As for the Hyperion, it's a workhorse. Use one in most fleets for the firepower it puts out. Get in close when you can to maximise the weapons that can fire and hope the enemy rolls badly for shooting at you...

 

[fluffy05]

The standard EA fleet box doesn't have an Orestes in it. It has two Omegas, four Hyperions, two Artemis, two Tethys, a Nova and eight Starfury flights.

As for the Hyperion, it's a workhorse. Use one in most fleets for the firepower it puts out. Get in close when you can to maximise the weapons that can fire and hope the enemy rolls badly for shooting at you...

Sorry my bad the Orestes aren't in it - I must have been thinking of the Early Era box - sorry.

Looks like I will be getting the fleet box Thanks

 

[E-Mines Hurt]

5 Raid points (SFOS)

Missile Hyperion (F/P/S) arcs 3.5 AD per turn x10 = 35 AD P, SAP missiles
Saggitarius (F/P/S) arcs 5 AD per turn x5 = 25 AD P, SAP missiles
Apollo (F) arc 8 AD per turn x 2.5 = 20 AD P, SAP missiles

defense

Missile Hyperion 5 Hull 24 Damage -> 72 vanilla AD needed to kill
720 AD with 20 Interceptors

Saggitarius 5 Hull 26 Crew -> 78 vanilla AD
390 AD with 10 Interceptors

Apollo 6 Hull 38 Damage -> 228 vanilla AD
570 AD with 7.5 Interceptors

The Missile Hyperion is most bang per buck, takes the most to kill, surely an option to consider.

 

[Tank]

If your playing early era EA then a hyperion is a good choice just solely for the beams it brings to your fleet. It 's secondaries aren't too bad and it does bring a flight of furies. Obviously the main drawbacks are that it's hull 5, doesnt have a huge amount of damage and its main weapon is boresight.

 

[Kadorak]

Only problem is that the missile hyperion can't use missile variants.

 

[Silvereye]

I find standard Hyperions to be one of the best Earth ships going at Raid Priority, and tend to need a very good excuse not to take one or two. It is fast (8") and Manouverable (2/45º turns). It is also the one of two ships in the game with a weapon in all 7 arcs (the other being a Ka'Bin'Tak).

Its only drawback is the lack of damage capacity, it is right at the bottom of the range at Raid level. A Nova has +12 damage/+15 crew. As others have said this makes them a priority target for your opponent.

With its turns, you should never have a problem aligning a boresight, combine this with its higher than EA normal speed you have a very useful ship. You just need to be a bit careful with it.

As to my opinions of the variants;

The Missile Cruiser and Rail Cruiser are both second rate to an Artemis or Saggitarius.

The Assault Cruiser is a solid Skirmish choice, and the 6 troops will certainly help if you get the chance to board enemy ships or assault a planet.

Pulse Cruiser, it throws a lot of 'vanilla' AD around to the front and rear. Not really worth taking over a standard one.

As to adding to your Omega and Nova, 2 Hyperions would certainly not go amiss (unless your fighting against Minbari beams). Use the Hyperions to hunt and destroy your enemies escorts or as support for the Omega against the more powerful enemy ships. They can also make a good strike force from Hyperspace to come in against the enemy rear or as flankers from the sides to cross the line of engagement.

 

[fluffy05]

Great advice. Thanks very much. I will use them in my next game