LBH's fleets, advice on additional purchases please

lastbesthope

Mongoose
I'm going to split all this across a few posts, keeping the major fleets separate where appropriate.

I've got a good smattering of the big 5 fleets, I'm mainly interested in filling out my ISA, then my EA and Minbari. Possibly breaking out into Psi Corps as an addition to my EA fleets.

There’s some Narn and Centauri stuff, but just the original fleet boxes so unless anyone has any cheap suggestions to improve those fleets I doubt I'll be buying any more of those.

Some of my minis can be used in more than one fleet, apart from the obvious EA ships, I have 3 VCDs one of which can be used in EA Crusade, I also have 5 Sharlins which can double as Tara'Lins for the ISA, obviously the ISA shares some of my fighters with the Minbari and EA. When I list how many fighters I have I will list all I have of that type.

Basically, analysis of the PLs I need more ships at, what to get, and a rough idea of the viable game sizes I could field fleets for. How I would build fleets for a certain sized game, etc.

Say I wanted to field a 5 point War ISA fleet, with my ships as a basis how would you go about it, that sort of thing for the different fleets and different levels.

Ok here goes.....
 
Sundry ships

Ancients Box Set
1*Dark Knife
1*Lordship
1*Thoughtforce
1*Traveller
1*Triumviron

OK, I know Mongoose seemed to mix the two pictures of these got mixed up, so which is the Thoughtforce and which is the Lordship?

Civilian Ships
3* Tanker
4* Freighter
1* Space liner

I suppose the freighters could double as fighter carriers for the Corps, as could the Space Liner double for a Mothership, what do you reckon?


Raiders
4 flights of Delta-Vs

Picked these up in trade ages back, I have no concerns about using these. Some of the freighters could proxy for Raider modified freighters as well.

And my EA Nova could play here as well, 1 Battle point and 4 Patrol gives me 3 Raid worth of Raiders, though I'd be short a few fighters. Not worried about that though

So any advice on any cheap ways to augment these fleets?

Thanks

LBH
 
The War of Retribution

Narn
4*G'Quan
2*Ka'Toc
4*Sho'Kos
1*T'Loth
8 flights of Frazis


Centauri
3*Primus
2*Centurion
6*Vorchan
8 flights of Sentris

I just picked these up as fleet boxes before I knew what fleets I liked, but anything to make them a bit more flexible from those that know the fleets better would be appreciated.
Not really planning to use either of these fleets competitively though.


Thanks

LBH
 
The Minbari

2 flights of Flyers
3 flights of Tishats
18 flights of Nials
1* Neshatan
2* Tigara
5* Tinashi
5*Sharlin
1* Morshin
6* Torotha
2* Troligan (Original)
3* Leshath

I ran the numbers on this fleet, if I fielded every ship (How feasible is that, what size game?) I'd need 30 flights of Nials, 8 flights of Flyers and another 3 flights of either Flyers or Nials
For the Leshaths. My thinking here if I wanted to fill the hangars would be get 12 more Nial flights, 8 more Flyer flights, and use my Tishats to swap out for 3 flights of Nials to mean I could potentially field all the fighter minis I need. But how likely am I to actually need all those fighters? Plus, what other cap ships should I get to fill out the fleet, if I need any.

Cheers

LBH
 
Earth Alliance (All eras)

36 flights of Aurora Furies
36 flights of T'bolts
2* Omega
1* Nova
4* Hyperion
6* Tethys
4* Artemis
1* Avenger
2* Oracle
2* Hermes
2* Olympus (Old large size)
2* Poseidon
1* Warlock
1* Explorer
1* Babylon 5 Station
4* Chronos
3 * Victory Destroyers (Yeah I know I can only field one, but I have 3)

From my first glance, a decent mix for 3rd Age, and a not bad showing for early or Crusade either. Theoretically I could need a total of 100 flights of fighters to deploy a full showing of my 3rd age capability, but only if I pick Command Omegas and 2 Poseidons, what's the chances of that????

And the Chronoses might make a good escort flight for a VCD.

Any ideas to fill in the holes, complement the Crusade, maybe open up possibilities of a Psi Corps fleet?

Cheers

LBH
 
Interstellar Alliance
18 flights of Nials (Same ones listed for the Minbari above)
36 flights of Aurora Furies (Same ones listed for the EA above)
36 flights of T’bolts (Same ones listed for the EA above)
5 * Tara’Lin (Same ones listed for the Minbari above)
3 * Victory Destroyers (Same ones listed for the EA above)
2* WS Carrier
2* WS Gunship
20* WS Fighter
10* White Star
2* Liandra (Why does a unique ship come 2 to a blister????)
1* Nolo'Tar
6* Blue Star

Maximum fighter loadout 8 Flyers and 30 Nials, plus allied requirements. Another reason to pick up some Nials maybe.

Could probably do with some more Blue Stars, possibly some White Stars, maybe even some more Skirmish Nolo'Tars. This is my main fleet, the one I want to be filled out first while I have the money. I probably have enough big ships, but need to fill out the Raid and lower levels, what do you think?

Well that's it, if I have any more ideas I'll post them here when I think of them. All advice greatly appreciated, the sooner the better, only about 5 weeks to go to get stuff.

I plan to try and get some Pinnaces and any other ships that are 'interesting' but I want to get it all in one big order to make Matt's job of sorting it out to get to me easier :)

Thanks in advance for all your help.

LBH
 
lastbesthope said:
Sundry ships

Ancients Box Set
1*Dark Knife
1*Lordship
1*Thoughtforce
1*Traveller
1*Triumviron

OK, I know Mongoose seemed to mix the two pictures of these got mixed up, so which is the Thoughtforce and which is the Lordship?
The Thoughtforce is the one that Ivanova and Lorien find at the beginning of "Into the Fire" (always reminds me slightly of a whale). In battle is fires in pulse mode.

The Lordship is the spherical ship with the small orbiting segments and the long "nose" sticking out of the front. It fires a large beam-style weapon.
 
ISA

What you have is pretty comprehensive. I don't see the need for a whole lot more really. Maybe another blister of WS Fighters to fill the Gunships too, 2 more Blue Stars (fighters are good for the other slots in low PL games) and 1 or 2 more Nolo'Tars just to fill the Skirmish PL. After that you have a comfortable 5 FAP Armageddon PL fleet (using no more than 2 Victorys).

Minbari

Assuming you don't want the new style Troligan, I'd say 2-3 more Tigaras to give you flexibility in mid-PL games, 2 more Torothas (only if you play many lower PL games) and the fighters. To cover your bases, even for the largest battles, you won't need many (any?) more Nials/Tishats (just use some of the Sharlin variants if you need to cut down on Nial numbers - this is probably a good thing anyway). I'd buy a single blister of Nials. You do need more Flyers though. These babies are awesome to fill in the gaps in a low-end PL game and you need at least 16 flights of them to give yourself options. Once you have the Tigaras and Flyers you'd have good options and again a 5 FAP Armageddon PL fleet.

EA

I'm assuming you'd want at least 5 FAPs at Battle PL in each of the eras and a potential mixed fleet of larger size.

You need a couple of Orestes ships for bigger Early Years fleets. I'd also suggest 2 more Novas as these are excellent ships, particularly against certain foes (e.g. ISA). You would also do well to go for a couple of blisters each of Nova and Tiger Starfurys (I know ships can change them out for Auroras but you still want the options for low PL games).

Aside from the pair of Nova Dreadnoughts, your Third Age EA fleet looks fine.

For the Crusade fleet, you need a Delphi! I'd also buy a blister of Firebolts and another pair of Chronos Frigates (again for those low PL games). A Marathon and Apollo to round out your options and you're golden.

Overall this would give you a good 5 FAP fleet at War PL for your Third Age and options when taking other eras.

Centauri

Quick advice to get them playable:

A Balvarin, a Corvan, two Maximus Frigates (and a Liati if wanted) along with 2 blisters of Raziks would give you a fighting 5 FAP at Battle PL fleet and a couple of options.

Narn

Also keeping this one short and sweet:

A G'Vrahn for any larger games is needed, 2 Var'Nics, a T'Loth (T'Rann), a Sho'Kar, a Thentus and two blisters of Sho'Kovs (along with two blisters of Goriths) would give you a nice fighting force at the same sort of size.

Hope this helps a little.
 
Blimey, Thanks Triggy.

Well I think I'll say now that I can't really justify the money or the effort to round out my Narn and Centauri fleets. They just don't interst me as much as the sluggers that are the EA and the fiery beamy death that are the Minbari.

So, here's what I understand you recoomend Triggy

ISA:

More WS fighters: Just checking, I have enough to fill both Carriers and Both Gunships with no spare, so I guess one extra 4 pack can't hurt.

Couple more Nolo'Tars, I agree here.

2 more Blue Stars: Do you mean 2 more, or 2 more 3 packs. I reckon I need at least 6 more, maybe a dozen to give me 12-18 opf the puppies, though 12 total is probably enough.

On that basis, 2 Nolo'Tar, 2 3-packs of BS, and 1 blister of WSC-L, that's about what, £25. I don't think the ISA box set is worth it, too much big stuff, not enough little stuff.

You reckon 10 WS is enough overall?

Minbari
A 2-pack of Torothas and 3 Tigaras, £20 give or take

4 packs of flyers and one of Nials, another £25, maybe get Tishats instead of Nials there to add flexibility, they are interchangeable in the fleet after all.

Do you think the Minbari fleet box is worth it here, probably not, not enough fighters for what I need and I reckon I have enough Tinashis and Leshaths.

EA
Early

2 Orestes
2 Novas
Tiger Furies
Nova Furies

3rd age

2 Novas (I assume the 2 Early ones would do, you don't mean I would need 5 Novas total do you?

Crusade

Delphi
Marathon
Apollo
Chronos
Firebolts

Looking at the above one each of the Early and Crusade era box sets looks like a cost effective way to fill most of this gap. Adding a blister of Firebolts, 2 blisters of Novas, and maybe 1 or 2 2-packs of Myrmidons to round it off. That'd give me at least one of every EA hull.

Plus I wanty to get a blister of breaching pods and a Technomage Pinnace pack

So my shopping list would be


1* EA Early years Box Set
1* EA Crusade Era box set
2* 2-pack Myrmidons
2 blisters of Nova Furies
1/2 blisters of Firebolts
1 blister Badger furies (EDIT)

1*2-pack Torothas
3 Tigara
4 blisters Flyers
1 blister Nials/Tishats

2* Nolo'Tar
2* 3-pack Blue Stars
1* blister WS Fighters

1* 3-pack Technomage Pinnace
1* Blister breaching pods

Ouch, touching on £200. Ah well, I can probably afford it, but the cost of the paint!!!!! :shock:

What do you think Triggy?

LBH
 
lastbesthope said:
Blimey, Thanks Triggy.

Well I think I'll say now that I can't really justify the money or the effort to round out my Narn and Centauri fleets. They just don't interst me as much as the sluggers that are the EA and the fiery beamy death that are the Minbari.

So, here's what I understand you recoomend Triggy
No problem, with your Narn and Centauri you will still have fighting forces, they just don't have much variety.

lastbesthope said:
ISA:

More WS fighters: Just checking, I have enough to fill both Carriers and Both Gunships with no spare, so I guess one extra 4 pack can't hurt.

Couple more Nolo'Tars, I agree here.

2 more Blue Stars: Do you mean 2 more, or 2 more 3 packs. I reckon I need at least 6 more, maybe a dozen to give me 12-18 opf the puppies, though 12 total is probably enough.

On that basis, 2 Nolo'Tar, 2 3-packs of BS, and 1 blister of WSC-L, that's about what, £25. I don't think the ISA box set is worth it, too much big stuff, not enough little stuff.

You reckon 10 WS is enough overall?

Sorry yeah, I was thinking 10 WS Fighters per Carrier not 8. In that case don't go for any more WS Fighters.

A lot of my opinions here stem from you already having over 5 FAPs at Armageddon PL (not counting allies) and not wanting to recomment huge purchases as I simply don't think you'd ever use them.

Personally on the Blue Stars I don't think you need that many - by the time you're using 8+ you ought to be throwing in a few White Stars instead as they rock. In smaller games, fighters are your friend and frankly if you're playing a large Skirmish or Patrol PL game then you will still end up using White Stars if the game is big enough. I'd get a single extra blister but two won't break the bank if you really want them.

Also, I'd only get the two Nolo'Tars if you don't want to use the Liandra. Personally I would use multiple Liandras as their scale is better IMO but either way, it'd be good to have at least three to choose from. More than that is overkill as White Stars, Blue Stars, Gunships and Carriers will form the bulk of your fleet.

Overall the recommendation is for one blister of Blue Stars and two Liandras/Nolo'Tars (depending on your miniature preference).
lastbesthope said:
Minbari
A 2-pack of Torothas and 3 Tigaras, £20 give or take

4 packs of flyers and one of Nials, another £25, maybe get Tishats instead of Nials there to add flexibility, they are interchangeable in the fleet after all.

Do you think the Minbari fleet box is worth it here, probably not, not enough fighters for what I need and I reckon I have enough Tinashis and Leshaths.

I agree with this assessment on the fleet box. Frankly I wouldn't bother with Tishats as you will have fighter superiority vs most opponents and it's the firepower you're after in fighters. What I've suggested is the upper end of what's needed - you could make do with no further Torothas and only two Tigaras if you want to trim costs. You'll still have a large and varied fleet. The Flyers I would get but only if you're going to play low PL games, otherwise half of them won't be needed.
lastbesthope said:
EA
Early

2 Orestes
2 Novas
Tiger Furies
Nova Furies

3rd age

2 Novas (I assume the 2 Early ones would do, you don't mean I would need 5 Novas total do you?

Crusade

Delphi
Marathon
Apollo
Chronos
Firebolts

Looking at the above one each of the Early and Crusade era box sets looks like a cost effective way to fill most of this gap. Adding a blister of Firebolts, 2 blisters of Novas, and maybe 1 or 2 2-packs of Myrmidons to round it off. That'd give me at least one of every EA hull.

Plus I wanty to get a blister of breaching pods and a Technomage Pinnace pack
The Early Years boxed set looks ideal - it's good value (giving you bonus Sagittariuses) and the Hyperions and Artemises are usable over more than one era. Add two blisters of Nova fighters and this era is sorted.

Dawn of the Third Age doesn't need any extra Nova Dreadnoughts as you say. Add some Badgers and/or two more Hermes if you like (for variety) but there's nothing really missing.

The Crusade boxed set looks to be reasonable value if you don't want the extra ships but great value if you do. As you say, just add a single blister of Firebolts and a pair or two of Myrmidons (I have four Myrmidons and they're great but only really in smaller games).

lastbesthope said:
So my shopping list would be


1* EA Early years Box Set
1* EA Crusade Era box set
2* 2-pack Myrmidons
2 blisters of Nova Furies
1/2 blisters of Firebolts

1*2-pack Torothas
3 Tigara
4 blisters Flyers
1 blister Nials/Tishats

2* Nolo'Tar
2* 3-pack Blue Stars
1* blister WS Fighters

1* 3-pack Technomage Pinnace
1* Blister breaching pods

Ouch, £190. Ah well, I can afford it, but the cost of the paint!!!!! :shock:

What do you think Triggy?

LBH

Out of that list I'd say a single blister of Firebolts, can drop some of the Minbari (depending on your personal taste), drop the WS Fighters and if you want drop one of the Blue Star blisters.

Of course take all of my advice with a pinch of salt. I'm the sort of gamer who likes to round out his options then move on to a new project when done. I'm not the sort who tends to take lots of every option to "complete the set" so please bear this in mind when you evaluate my advice.

If you ever assembled everthing that'd give you 5 FAP fleets at Armageddon PL in EA (if you mixed eras a bit), Minbari and ISA. More than you're likely to need for most battles although giving you great choice and having a lovely display cabinet :)
 
They're all unassembeld in boxes, so I don't see why you'd want photos.

Triggy, don't you ever sleep? Thanks again for the info, I'm analysing choices for 5 point fleeets at each PL to see what I'd field/buy.

Anyone else wants to chip in with advice, please do so.

Why do I have a hankering for more Omegas.... I wish the Orestes could be fielded in 3rd age.

LBH
 
lastbesthope said:
I wish the Orestes could be fielded in 3rd age.

Well, with your opponents consent, why not? Have a scenario featuring a reserve or second line fleet.

I was going to say with the 6,6, duty, but that's only to skirmish level.
 
The Ancients:

ctaancients.jpg


Regardless of what it may say in the books or Mongooses protestations I firmly stand by the original way round AoG had the miniatures (since they named them in the first place....)

From left to right in the above image:

Triad Triumviron, Thoughtforce, Krishiak Lordship, Tovalus Dark Knife, Walker Traveller (aka the Walker of Sigma 957).

If you can find it (like most AoG books theyre somewhat hard to comeby these days unfortunately) I'd highly recommend the B5Wars supplement 'Wars of the Ancients'. Even if you never play the game its great for extra background to all the ancients (including the Vorlons and Shadows) and actually expands all of them into full fleet lists they had in their hayday..... They are scary SCARY fleets.... :shock:
 
lastbesthope said:
They're all unassembeld in boxes, so I don't see why you'd want photos.

of course they're unassembeld and in boxes its LBH :twisted:
unless by some miracle in my absence he has taken up putting together his collection of white stars and started to paint them
 
My thoughts, (these are based on giving you a good selection rather than building fleets to a specific level):

ISA

Blue Stars and White Stars are the key to this fleet. You have plenty of top-end stuff, it is the lower priorities you have in smaller quantities. Another blister or two of Blue Stars would be good, and a couple more White Stars. In a campaign fleet, I'd consider a dozen WS to be a good number, maybe more. My first ed campaign fleet ran to 20 WS at its height. But that was before much of the swanky new ships.

EA third age looks good.

EA Crusade
A couple more Chronoses. A Delphi. A couple of battle-level ships, either Apollo or Marathon.

EA Early

You have around 6 battle points. A couple of Orestes and some Sagis would round this out. For a full campaign fleet add another Avenger, Nova and a couple of skirmish ships.

Minbari

You have a pretty good selection here. I wouldn't feel the need to add any more.

Narn

A sho'kar, a couple of blisters of Sho'kos are essential, a couple of Thentuses and a Varnic or two would give you a great fleet.

Centauri

A Balvarin is very useful, as well as a few raid and skirmish level ships, Sulust, Covran, Maximus.

-------
Psi Corps:

If you wanted to substitute your liner for a mothership and freighters for fighter carriers, that gives you 3 raid points. For a five battle point fleet add a couple of hunters and a EA ships to suit. A couple of shadowcloaks is useful too. A Shadow Omega would be the icing on the cake in this fleet, 'cos it is a great looking miniature.
 
Pretty much. :D

The only other thing I might suggest for LBH is to is to get one of each of the canonical ships that appered in the series.
 
hiffano said:
Triggy said:
Greg, seems like you and I pretty much agree on everything here :)

isn't you two agreeing why the gaim got through playest?... :twisted:
We only agreed the principles, we just didn't play enough games - that's what got them through!

Anyway, back on topic - LBH, all your money are belong to Mongoose :)
 
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