Shadow Queen
Mongoose
Thanks , i replaced the top turrets with some i had hanging around
What do you think of the EA Apollo?
- Thread starter fluffy05
- Start date
Epaminondas
Mongoose
missiles are nice, but the damage potential of the apollo compared to the omega or marathon is about half of those two ships.
Granted, you don't have the bore sight; making the apollo easier to use, and a decent initiative sink.
But it also has less fighters- which the crusade list has a lack of to begin with.
While heavy missiles do nice things to the damage profile of the apollo, an apollo loaded with heavy missiles will be a priority target for the enemy.
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Personally, I might consider a few apollo in a truly huge battle... but in the typical 5 point raid/3 point battle I play, I just don't see a role for it.
The marathon is just head and shoulders better.
Granted, you don't have the bore sight; making the apollo easier to use, and a decent initiative sink.
But it also has less fighters- which the crusade list has a lack of to begin with.
While heavy missiles do nice things to the damage profile of the apollo, an apollo loaded with heavy missiles will be a priority target for the enemy.
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Personally, I might consider a few apollo in a truly huge battle... but in the typical 5 point raid/3 point battle I play, I just don't see a role for it.
The marathon is just head and shoulders better.
Shadow Queen
Mongoose
My 4 point battle list will be.
2x Omegas
1x Apollo
1x Delphi
1x Nova
2x Omegas
1x Apollo
1x Delphi
1x Nova
Epaminondas
Mongoose
With the new armageddon list no Novas in the Crusade era
Shadow Queen
Mongoose
Replace it with what???
Locutus9956
Mongoose
Well you should if you want to play with up to date Armageddon lists as the Apollo is only IN the crusade list. Besides Chronos are better than Novae anyway 
As for the Apollo itself I personally love the thing its a great ship.
And to whoever said it should have P/S defensive weapons it has a turreted Particle beam, what more do you WANT? It's a support ship not a line warship
As for the Apollo itself I personally love the thing its a great ship.
And to whoever said it should have P/S defensive weapons it has a turreted Particle beam, what more do you WANT? It's a support ship not a line warship
Locutus9956
Mongoose
Shadow Queen said:
Chronos Chrons Chronos Chronos Chronos Chronos Chronos Chronos Chronos Chronos Chronos (mushroom mushroom
)Shadow Queen
Mongoose
How about a Hyp as a support ship??
Locutus9956
Mongoose
could do but in all honesty a Chronos is a far closer replacement for the Nova's role (you just rush into the middle of the enemy and open fire in every direction (it may LOOK fragile with only 20hp and 18 crew but its hull 6 with 3 interceptors. The things nigh on impervious to non beam weapons and takes alot more killing than you might think (and to sweeten the deal they come in lovely affordable boxes of 4 )
Chronos Frigates for president!!! (seriously not many people seem to actually use them much but I personally think they are the BEST ship in the entire EA list (certainly the best in the crusade list)
)Chronos Frigates for president!!! (seriously not many people seem to actually use them much but I personally think they are the BEST ship in the entire EA list (certainly the best in the crusade list)
Shadow Queen
Mongoose
I want an Escort for the Delphi
I like the Apollo. It's a massive initative sinking, non-boresight, long-ranged, Hull 6, relatively survivable, verstile beatstick of a ship. In a supporting role, it works great - forces your opponent to think about it, can knock out thier initative sinks and you have defiantely have to CAF w/ it each chance you can get.
Problem is you need to support it with a Chronos or Hyperion Assault when facing interceptor-equipped fleets and it lacks fighters (dunno why Crusade lists all of a sudden decided to dump fighters hangers from thier ships). It's not exactly a main-line ship, lacks good secondaries, something I'd consider at high PL than 5pt. Raid or 3pt. Battle.
I like this ship, I like the model, and weaknesses aside it's good at what it does. There's a good deal of ships I like in Crusade-era, though I get the feeling that the whole is defiantely less than the sum of its parts.
Problem is you need to support it with a Chronos or Hyperion Assault when facing interceptor-equipped fleets and it lacks fighters (dunno why Crusade lists all of a sudden decided to dump fighters hangers from thier ships). It's not exactly a main-line ship, lacks good secondaries, something I'd consider at high PL than 5pt. Raid or 3pt. Battle.
I like this ship, I like the model, and weaknesses aside it's good at what it does. There's a good deal of ships I like in Crusade-era, though I get the feeling that the whole is defiantely less than the sum of its parts.
angelus2000
Mongoose
I kinda figured they would find a way to stick Novas and Avengers into Crusade Era myself. Maybe knock down the stats in regards to hull, dam/crew, weapons, to reflect the ships age in respect to the newer mainline ships
Epaminondas
Mongoose
Play tested it with heavy missiles two days ago.
Three point battle; I took an Apollo, marathon, hyperion AC, delphi, and two hermes.
fought against Narn; one battle level ship and a bunch of low level skirmish ships (which had 4 beams on each ship).
Apollo did a good job with heavy missiles; pretty much punched out a ship a turn with its heavies; with the exception of one turn where it failed a come about check to turn around into the fight after destroying the forward enemy.
Overall however, it did not perform better then the marathon; and I could have used the two additional fighters. The maneuverability of the marathon would have been quite useful as well; I had a decent range advantage with the marathon (7 inches) that I exploited nicely.
Most of its damage was from the 3x damage; not precise or critical. I picked up maybe 3 extra critical over average over the course of the game... [expected number being around 8 based on number of shots that contacted]
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Chris' call: Decent support ship for a truly large battle (3 war or higher). Not worth it in smaller games; the Omega and marathon beat it out in damage/range/cost; bring more fighters in a list that is short on them; and have better secondaries.
Not a bad ship- the Omega and marathon just out class it hands down.
I could see a fleet of a Warlock/Nemesis; 2 Marathons; 1-2 Apollo and escorting ships [couple of chronii, hermes, delphi and hyperion ACs] being good... but I'd place the emphasis on the marathons over the apollos. Particularly in the crusade list; the EA gets alot more beam ships so the usefulness of one or two supporting missile boats is reduced.
Three point battle; I took an Apollo, marathon, hyperion AC, delphi, and two hermes.
fought against Narn; one battle level ship and a bunch of low level skirmish ships (which had 4 beams on each ship).
Apollo did a good job with heavy missiles; pretty much punched out a ship a turn with its heavies; with the exception of one turn where it failed a come about check to turn around into the fight after destroying the forward enemy.
Overall however, it did not perform better then the marathon; and I could have used the two additional fighters. The maneuverability of the marathon would have been quite useful as well; I had a decent range advantage with the marathon (7 inches) that I exploited nicely.
Most of its damage was from the 3x damage; not precise or critical. I picked up maybe 3 extra critical over average over the course of the game... [expected number being around 8 based on number of shots that contacted]
===
Chris' call: Decent support ship for a truly large battle (3 war or higher). Not worth it in smaller games; the Omega and marathon beat it out in damage/range/cost; bring more fighters in a list that is short on them; and have better secondaries.
Not a bad ship- the Omega and marathon just out class it hands down.
I could see a fleet of a Warlock/Nemesis; 2 Marathons; 1-2 Apollo and escorting ships [couple of chronii, hermes, delphi and hyperion ACs] being good... but I'd place the emphasis on the marathons over the apollos. Particularly in the crusade list; the EA gets alot more beam ships so the usefulness of one or two supporting missile boats is reduced.
Hedgehog said:
Because when they decided to install missile racks and the necessary missile storage magazines, the cavernous hangers were the ideal place to put them?
The Apollo is a fantastic fleet support ship. Definitely not a bonafide front line warship, but it will do this role in a pinch.
I don't know...long range forward arc support ships that throw a stack of precise dice, very easy to unbalance if it does not have a weakness. That's how we went bad with the Sag., not a great ship but once we started upgrading her it got to be an issue. If the Apollo had even a handful of twin linked dice around you stop thinking she's a less attractive choice than the Apollo. Right now shes a niche ship in that she plays well in fleets rather than squadron fights, but you do not feel bad taking her like you would taking a Kutai. Hanging very close to balance here so tweak with care.
Ripple
Ripple
Against opponents who lack Interceptors I'd seriously consider taking an Apollo over an Omega, there's more chance of CAFing and a better average damage output at long range, depending on missile loadout.
If they do have Interceptors you need a support ship like a Chronos to overload them before you let em have a faceful of Flash missiles.
If they do have Interceptors you need a support ship like a Chronos to overload them before you let em have a faceful of Flash missiles.
Epaminondas
Mongoose
Problem is the chronos is so fragile- any one that even looks at with some beam weapons is going to pop them fast. Heck bringing a second apollo is probably a better use of priority levels then two chronii.
If you want to overload interceptors; fighters or more missiles are the best bet- which means more apollos; or taking dedicated fighter transports [Omega, Posiden].
Crusade EA has a tougher time bringing a good fighter strike to the table then 3rd age... fighters exist in the crusade list to keep enemy fighters off the capital ships, not to hunt down enemy criples/patrol/skirmish ships.
If you want to overload interceptors; fighters or more missiles are the best bet- which means more apollos; or taking dedicated fighter transports [Omega, Posiden].
Crusade EA has a tougher time bringing a good fighter strike to the table then 3rd age... fighters exist in the crusade list to keep enemy fighters off the capital ships, not to hunt down enemy criples/patrol/skirmish ships.
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