Minibari Strategy Help!

[desiredtoe]

I would like to ask for some help. I like playing with the Minbari, but I can't ever seem to keep as range from the enemy!

Does anyone have some tips on how to keep my ships at range?

 

[Nomad]

You could try giving the enemy a reason not to close, such as taking a Tigara or four mixed in with the Sharlins. He may close anyway, but at least he'll pay for doing so.

 

[H]

you will never truly be able to stay at range. Alas it's one of those annoying things in ACTA. Minbari need range, so are fast, narn need to close, so are slow, go figure!
As Nomad said, you have to make your enemy pay for trying to close range. The Tigara and Trolligan both have good close up weapons, mix them in with your fleet, all stop as long as you can to hang back, then as the enemy closes, try blasting right through their formation to the other side. you will loose a couple of turns of best shooting, but you should still be alive, chances are you will turn as fast if not faster than your opponent, you could even try an all stop and then all stop and pivot. Warning however, this will not work against ISA, Vree, Shadows!

 

[Ripple]

Yup, All Power to Engines is your friend a lot of the time. Also make best use of your arcs. Fly so your parallel to your target and he is just barely in arc. This keeps more options open for moving away and snapping back with a Come About. Flying in two wings so that the one getting closed on can disengage while the other moves in behind and gets its licks in also works.

Ripple

 

[desiredtoe]

I guess just flying through his formation at the last moment could work. The Sharlin does have that butt mounted neutron laser that I've never fired....

 

[Ripple]

It's not uncommon for local Minbari players to spend a turn or two only using the mini-beams. Minbari are more finesse than folks think.

It's part of a design issue I have with the game. A number of fleets are designed so they do well with fairly basic straight into the teeth attacks, but get over the top when leveraged well. The other races are stuck at the initial strength level and don't get better with maneuver, or canny use of defenses. This leads to the discussions as players get better of becoming more and more disappointed if they like the basic races because they can no longer compete against opponents of equal skill.

At least that is what we've seen lately.

Ripple

 

[Karhedron]

I have found one tactic that works well with the Minbari.

Encirclement!

If you can get round to your opponent's side and rear arcs you can really become a nuisance. Your fusion cannons have 18" range usually, most races secondaries are far short than this. You will often lose out on the the Neutron laser fire with this tactic but the benefit is you can whittle your opponent down while he will really struggle to respond.

Ashinatas are good for this as they are really tough for a Raid level ship and have equal firepower all round. Use "Close Blast Doors" special order as they will usually only be firng one weapon system from one arc. At higher levels a Sharoos will give you some side-firing Neutron lasers.

Do not approach your enemy head on. Use your speed and manouvrability to run around him. This only works against enemies who have their best guns facing forwards. Don't try this against Vree.

 

[desiredtoe]

I'll give both these tactics a try.

 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

As a Minbari player, I have used most of the above tactics to varying degrees of sucess. I still feel the best tactic for them is to have good support for your Sharlin(s) so that they can stay all stopped as long as possible and soften the enemy up before they get in close, then all power to engines through them. Having such a high plus to their initiative helps as well, you make them move first, then when you fire first hopefully you'll get some good crits and damage before they can return fire. My 2 cents.