Priority Levels for scenarios?

[CheesyRobMan]

The discussions in various threads about wanting lower-PL ships for Shadow/Vorlon fleets, as well as the threads clamouring for more ships for random minor races that hardly ever got mentioned in the TV show, got me thinking. Taken to its logical extreme, we could see every race that ever got mentioned in B5 having its own complete fleet, with at least a couple of options at every PL not to mention variants and so on. That would require *hundreds* of different miniature designs, and I very much doubt that Mongoose could or would stretch to that level, especially when only a few might be sold.

Someone mentioned making the Shadows and Vorlons equivalent to the other Ancient/First One ships, and to be used only in special scenarios. I don't think that's the answer either, although a tangent from that formed into an idea that I'll explain. I like the idea of having Shadow and Vorlon fleets that can be used as "normal" fleets - they are such iconic ships and races in the TV show that you couldn't really not include them. To limit them to special scenarios would be a little bit pointless IMHO.

However, it got me thinking that as things stand, there are certain scenarios that you just couldn't fit Ancient fleets into, and certain ones that would suit them ideally (Recon Run springs to mind as one that would work either way). Likewise, Ancient fleets don't work too well at lower PLs, because their ships are *meant* to be big and powerful.

With this in mind, I suggest that certain scenarios could be limited in the PLs they can be played with, or at least annotated with suitable and unsuitable fleets, grouped perhaps into Ancients, Major Races and Minor/League Races. Who plays Annihilation as a 4-pt Patrol game? Likewise, Assassination might actually work quite well as a small game, perhaps a strike team has slipped past enemy lines to catch an enemy admiral off guard as they are ferried to their ship in a smaller frigate or transport. Where the Ancient fleets fit into this is that with the right number of scenarios to play with (including a straight fight between fleets), it won't matter that there are some they don't work in.

Does anyone else think this would be a good idea, or shall I go back under my rock?

 

[Valen is my name]

thats a good idea and certainly could reasonably be included as an option, so people can still use a random PL if they want, or can agree to limit the options of the PL level, but would it make much of a difference with the PL modifier already in place, or is that just for campaigns?

 

[lupus]

I have to agree its a more than Viable option rather than moaning about what you have look at how best its used...

Also the Ancients are more likely to send a single ship in to do some task's there confidence in the Tech they have would lend some arogance to this approach...

 

[greenboy]

How about a rule for the elder races where the level of any battle they fight in is raised by one

 

[H]

How about a rule for the elder races where the level of any battle they fight in is raised by one

but then the non elder race involved is penalised, as they may excel at low levels.

 

[greenboy]

With the way the break downs work you are nearly always better of bringing ships from lower levels to the table so it would not be too bad and it means you dont need weak ships for the eldar races as the never fight at patrol

 

[Burger]

You are not always better off bringing lower-level ships in a campaign game, since they cost more RR to replace.

Tournaments and one-off games, yes. But campaigns, no.

 

[H]

With the way the break downs work you are nearly always better of bringing ships from lower levels to the table so it would not be too bad and it means you dont need weak ships for the eldar races as the never fight at patrol

not really, a cmapign is highly dependent upon your fleet selection and availability. the point with the shift in different fleets at different levels is to allow people to try and gain some tactical advantages at different levels based upon their selection

 

[Valen is my name]

and don't forget there is the PL modifier thingy!

 

[Da Boss]

Interesting idea but.........

The campaign we played recently the Ancients just always went for +3 and seemed to work out fine.........

re the lots/hundreds of minatures required - hmm well not sure - most races have some ships already and filling in gaps won't take that many more. If there is time and will to remake ships like the Trolligon when other ships have not been made yet seems there is plenty of slack. I would also think that "good" Vorlon Shadow ships will sell well cause of their iconicness, but they need to look like Shadow or Vorlon ships..........