Minbari_ Best Raid level ship?

[TGT]

Whats the concensus on the best Minbari Raid level ship to take?

Does the Leshath Scout rule out compared to the Ashinata's all round TL?
Or do people think we'll see more fighters being used now that you don't get VP's for "carried" flights, and the Esharan might be viable?

 

[Burger]

Or do people think we'll see more fighters being used now that you don't get VP's for "carried" flights, and the Esharan might be viable?

Eh? No VP's for carried flights has become official? When did that happen?

Leshath all the way for me.

 

[TGT]

nope just tourneys recently

 

[Alexb83]

Hard call between Leshath and Ashinta, I reckon. Leshath is probably better off in terms of stealth, but the Ashinta has it beat on firepower and hull track.

The scout ability does help the Leshath somewhat and make it more valuable to a fleet.

 

[CZuschlag]

only 3 reasonable answers:

Small fights (3 raid or smaller): Ashinta. Can take serious pounding and still function normally. Capable brawler that operates without degradation at extreme range. Still very fast.

In support of Larger fights (5 Raid or more): Leshath. I don't believe this is a mainline warship -- others do. I believe you only field one to two of these things in larger fights. I actually consider this a marginal buy at 5 Raid -- a raid slot is a lot to pay for Scout. Very vulnerable to fighters, Nial or no Nial. Fusion cannons save this as a respectable buy, but Hull 4 is painful.

Larger fights: Teshlan. My big winner. This ship overruns at and angle past the enemy fleet. Its all ahead full speed of 21 can allow this ship to engage in high-speed oblique passes to try to keep the range open. Much more effective when you can time the proper use of Close Blast Doors to make as much use as possible of the Flight Computer and the oversized crew score to protect Damage, something the Tiagra with its brawling close-range multi-arc nature can't really do. 2 Crit-trawler beams are not to be laughed away, especially if enemy speed is hampered. Tends to outrun its scout support.

 

[TGT]

If the Leshath enters via a jump point can you perform a scout trait ability?

 

[CZuschlag]

Enters by someone else's jump point? Yes. By its own? No (technically, it's still engaging in the special action "Initiate Jump Point").

 

[prelude_to_war]

If the Leshath opened the JP then no, it can't use its scout ability. However if another ship opened the JP for the Leshath, then yes, it can. At least that's how I understand it.

As far as best Raid level - Ashinta of Teshlan all the way. Leshath is pretty good as a scout but is too dependent on circumstance to be worthy of a 'best of PL' title.

 

[TGT]

I think its between the Leshath and the Esharan then.

I'd choose the Ashinata over the Teshlan as i'd prefer the TL over Beams

 

[Alexb83]

Esharan isn't worth its points, not in comparison to its peers. It doesn't fill the escort role nearly as well as the Ashinta, due to its trimmed down fusion armament and lack of TL.

Add that to the way that fighters fire first, and you've got an escort ship that restricts your fleet coverage significantly in order to keep them all covered by effective AF fire (only 5 inches!), and can't fire until fighters have already done their damage anyways. You'd be better with any of the other 3 options... they all beat it on all-round minibeam AD.

You're gaining 1 inch of AF ability, but losing an awful lot of main firepower.

 

[prelude_to_war]

If the Esharan's AF range were extended, and the rumored mechanic of AF firing before fighters is true then I can see the Esharan being of some use. Still over-specialized though for best-of considerations.

 

[Silvereye]

Hmm.... Best Minbari Raid ship? Tough call. Pre Arm, you would probably have had the Tigara at the top of that list. It used to be aguably the nastiest Raid ship in the game.
Post Arm, CZuschlag has a great heads up, but the best Raid of choice really depends on what you are up against, and your play style.

My Take:
Ashinta is a superb fleet support vessel, that works in a completely different fleet support role to Leshath. Both have their time and place within a fleet though. Teshlan is a solid choice as part of the Neutron Laser Squad, or as a sound laser platform in its own right in lower PL games. Tigara is still a good knife fighter (Arm's Stealth tweak and Fighter tweak make it a lot more vulnrable), though it really needs an AJP insertion and support in this role now. About the only stale choice is Esharan like its fluff says, is pretty much redundant by the other options available. Could be interesting in what they may make of this in 2e.