Playtest rules: Crusade era and 3rd age

[Joe_Dracos]

well to say the least, there isn't much here for either fleets. The new missile variant (while interesting) seems like a waste of a missile launcher. The one shot trait makes them highly undesirable on most ships. I may use them once on an apollo and only in one arc just to see them in action, but compared to the cumulative effect of the standard missile it seems that it will be unlikely that I will use them at all.

As for the third age... I'm kinda disapointed.

 

[H]

are there no new crusade ships, I could have sworn someone said there were

 

[Joe_Dracos]

I believe I was told there were some chronos variants coming... but no new Raid level cruiser

 

[katadder]

yeah chronos variants are on the way.

 

[Greg Smith]

I imagine Matt is still working on ideas for 3rd Age.

New missiles are useful for planetary assault and against the Minbari.

 

[Narchy]

I reckon the EA:3A needs some sort of quick launching fighter rule.

 

[Everyman]

The new Fusion missile is just a means to add some more tactical depth and it works fine in that capacity. While you would not use it on every ship or in every scenario, putting into one arc of an apollo or on a hermes might be tactically useful. Also in several scenarios that tend to be over quickly such as Ambush and Blockade this would be a solid advantage. In campaign play going up against certain dodge or stealth heavy fleets might also merit its inclusion.

 

[Foxmeister]

I presumed that the Hermes couldn't take them, since they aren't allowed any of the other missile variants. I don't think I'd want to see a patrol level ship with an e-mine even if it was only O/S.

Regards,

Dave

 

[katadder]

even if its only 2AD as well? but you're right it cant take them.

 

[nekomata fuyu]

I suppose that it could be a useful deterrent to have in the rear arc of an Apollo.

 

[Ministalker]

I suppose that given the attention the hole EA fleet lists have had since the beginning (half of the Armageddon book was made to redifine the EA fleet lists), new options for it are not a priority.
IMHO, other lists such as Vorlon, Shadows or Psi Corps should get the priority for additions and fixing.

 

[Foxmeister]

even if its only 2AD as well? but you're right it cant take them.

It's true that the EA will be giving up a "reusable" weapons system slot for something that can only be used once, but 3 Hermes with O/S e-mines is going to be more of a fighter bane than a single Dag'Kar with its S/L one (IMHO), so I'm very happy that at least the Hermes can't use them.

I think there's a definite danger of making e-mines far too prevalent in the game. First we had Narn, but they don't really get that many and most of them are O/S. Now the Gaim have them in far greater numbers than the Narn, and this is introducing a 3rd set of them to a race that arguably already has more options that the rest put together. Coupled with the fact that the EA O/S "e-mine" is better than the Narn O/S e-mine (SAP vs AP), I think this is possibly a step too far.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Ministalker]

And don't forget the Brakiri Takata and it's 4 times 4AD AP E-mines

 

[Foxmeister]

Oops! Missed that one, which is odd as I have a Brakiri fleet!

So it's a 4th set of e-mine wielders!

Regards,

Dave

 

[H]

and in theory the Pak Plasma web works like an e-mine
and the takata e-mines are not AP, they are just DD

 

[Greg Smith]

Narn
Brakiri Takata
pak plasma web
Gaim
Abbai deploy mine SA
Crusade EA fusion missiles

We're up to 6.

 

[H]

which for a unique racial weapon takes the piss a bit

 

[Funbeast]

I think the Fusion missile might be ok on an Apollo strike variant, stick em on the front and aft launchers (as thats all its got), then once you've fired them you have a tough ship with good broadside firepower to go hunting raid and lower ships.

Also i've been looking forward to P+P anyway but upon reading the S+P article i'm now REALLY looking forward to it thanks to three little words...."CHRONOS MISSILE FRIGATE".
One of my favourite weapons on one of my favourite ships, oh i can't wait 8) :roll: :lol:

 

[katadder]

its not quite the ship I had in my earth/centauri war supplement but this could be interested fitted with heavy missiles.

 

[Tolwyn]

Just read thru the 1.1 rules and EA ships.
Here my 2 cents :

Chronos-class Escort Frigate
Give it back the Pulse Cannons the original Chronos had

Chronos-class Missile Frigate
make the Missiles Turreted as the Railguns were, add 2 AD Pulse Cannons to the sides

Chronos Attack Frigate:
Please make it finally better then the actuall one in the fleet book.
It's not worth it