Specialist Arms Forum

Battlefleet Gothic => [BFG] Discussion => Topic started by: CyberShadow on October 19, 2020, 04:08:19 AM

Title: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 19, 2020, 04:08:19 AM

I have been slowly building a small Tau Commerce Protection Fleet. But I am not a huge fan of getting 3D printed the original designs. I would prefer to support mini companies that are making ship minis now. I have been using a mix of GZG Full Thrust and Startans Firestorm Armada. I felt that this gave me a nice mix of heavy industrial and more organic designs. But now, of course, Firestorm is dead, and so the ships have exploded to now about $100 for a large mini. I am looking for general ship design recommendations, but specifically I need a Custodian right now. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thanks.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 19, 2020, 05:23:43 AM
This one has been suggested before:
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/full-thrust-starships/federal-stats-europa-fse-/ft-634.html
The Richelieu Class

Hi,

cool to see you around :) and still busy with Battlefleet Gothic  8)
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 19, 2020, 06:55:09 AM
Really don't know how big these are:
https://ttcombat.com/collections/dropfleet-commander/products/ucm-destroyers

This one: And then the Olympus variant (painted black here)
https://ttcombat.com/collections/dropfleet-commander/products/resistance-trident-battleship

Or... Aeronautica Imperalis if the scale fits:
https://www.firestormgames.co.uk/aeronautica-imperialis:-tau-air-caste-tiger-shark-fighter-bombers
https://www.firestormgames.co.uk/aeronautica-imperialis:-tau-tiger-shark-ax-1-0-fighter-bombers
https://www.firestormgames.co.uk/aeronautica-imperialis:-tau-air-caste-barracuda-fighters
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 19, 2020, 03:18:49 PM
Ha. I am always around.... lurking! I check this place daily. And I will never be far from BFG and Epic.

The FT carrier is nice. I dont know how I missed that. I think that I just did a search for 'dreadnought' and 'battleship'. But, damn, I wish GZG had more pictures of their stuff online. There are a few ships that have turned up now that are interesting. Thanks.

The Dropship is a great idea. I still have my Shaltari from the KS but no other fleets. That resistance battleship would work VERY well!

I will probably avoid the Aeronautica stuff..... mostly because I have a few assembled and awaiting both paint and play.

I was also looking at this, but I have no idea how big it is. Anyone got any idea?
https://www.amazon.com/Bandai-Hobby-Collection-Dessula-II-Battleship/dp/B00LIRIFJW/

My final option was to convert a 40K Piranha.... but thats more of a last choice idea!
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 19, 2020, 04:07:50 PM
Wow, that Mecha one is really cool.

If I look at another model from them, almost same prize:
https://www.amazon.com/Bandai-Hobby-Domellers-Starblazers-Collection/dp/B00ME1VNHM?ref_=ast_sto_dp
it has these dimensions:
15.75 x 14.57 x 15.75 inches

which would be way to big for a Custodian.

But for the one you posted:
https://www.amazon.sg/Bandai-Hobby-Collection-Dessula-II-Battleship/dp/B00LIRIFJW
Under technical details:
10.16 x 7.62 x 7.62 cm; 18.14 Grams

which could be an option.

Good to read you are always there. In the cyber shadow.
Wait...lol
;)
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 20, 2020, 08:27:33 AM

This is what I am using so far as Tau proxy ships.

The Mecha ship is from Space Battleship Yamato, I think. I saw the dimensions on Amazon, but I think that those numbers describe the box that it comes in, for shipping purposes. But I did find a review of this one that listed it as 'between 4 and 5 inches', so that put its at 10-13cm. That's not bad, but my current Cruiser-equivalent minis are about 9cm long each, so it might not look big enough compared to them..... but that's something about the mini itself so I might pick one up just to check it out. I am sure I can find a use for it later even if I don't use it here.

The Dropfleet Destroyers are a bit small I think, but I will keep them in mind for the light cruiser ships of the Tau fleet later. I did ask some DFC players here and apparently Resistance Trident Battleship is around 15cm, depending on how you build it as there are a few options in the build. This might be a little big..... but I really like it, so I might just use it anyway. The rule of cool!  8)

I will keep looking around, but right now I will probably pick up the Mecha ship that I like and the DFC Trident Battleship you suggested and see how they feel in hand with the rest of my growing fleet.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 20, 2020, 10:00:04 AM
Good.

Nice collection. (I have the same Aquan in my collection).

Make sure to post a comparision picture once the mecha one and DFC one arrive.

I really liked the movie Space Battleship Yamato :)
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 21, 2020, 03:26:15 AM
The Aquan is my Protector..... the problem arises when I want a second one! But the CPF Fleet list must be the most complex list in the game, by far..... Any number of x, but less than y, one z for every 3 w types ships, Orca hooks can transport Wardens but Warden hooks cant transport Orcs.... I had to make a sheet of the various rules to keep track of what I can and cant take!

I have now ordered the Dropfleet Trident. I will get the Yamato ship a bit later. Pictures when I have them assembled with comparisons.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 21, 2020, 11:06:27 AM
Cool.

Have you checked the latest Tau rules?
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wZMEK2NGKfdnNo1b-iEHovsG7KqDgdBq

If you are basing your fleet on what is known as the CPF (Forgeworld models) it isn't that difficult tbh.

One Custodian per full 750pts.

Protectors and Emissaries as you wish (same for the 'old' Merchant)

One Hero per one other cruiser (the same battlecruisers are picked in the Imperial battlefleet Armageddon fleet list).

Castellans as you wish
Wardens 1 per grav hook; but not on the 'old' vessels
Orca's 1 per grav hook; on old and new vessels.


I have one Aquan here :) pm me.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 22, 2020, 03:43:14 AM
I cant remember when I got my copy of the CPF, but I think it was in the last year so I guess its the latest version.

That's one BB for every 3 Cruisers. Any number of Emissaries or Merchants as long as there are more Emissaries, and one Protector for every two capital ships (not just Cruisers) and one Hero for every Emissary or Merchant, but there must be less than or equal (this time) the number of Protectors. One messenger for every 750 points, any number of Defenders or Castellans as long as there are less Defenders than Castellans, and Wardens and Orcas are limited by the number of hooks on the capital ships, but while Wardens can use Orca hooks, Orcas cant use Warden hooks....  :P Simple!
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 22, 2020, 07:32:19 AM
Ehm. No. That is an old version iirc.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aN9SHC6iCMfEtQLLh6AQP7JUCDA87aiX/view?usp=sharing

From the FAQ2010 fleet list edition:

Quote
Battleships
Your fleet may include any number of Explorer
battleships. Your fleet may include up to one
Custodian per FULL 750 points of Tau vessels.
Allied vessels don‟t count toward this total. For
example, a fleet that has at least 750 points of Tau
vessels in it may include a single Custodian. Fleets
of at least 1,500 points may include two Custodians.

Quote
Cruisers
Your fleet may include any number of Merchant,
Emissary or Protector class starships. It may also
include up to one Hero class starship for every other
type of capital ship in the fleet.

Quote
ESCORTS
Your fleet may include up to one Messenger class
starship per 500 points.

Your fleet may include any number of Defender
and/or Castellan class starships.

You may not have more Orcas and Wardens than the
gravitic hook capacity of the fleet. Much of the cost
of these vessels is included in that of the parent ship.

And the Custodian & Emissary can only hook Wardens.

Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 23, 2020, 03:23:42 AM
Then I have no idea where I got my version of the rules. I will need to rewrite my list now.
Should we put these up as resources on this site, for clarity?
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on October 23, 2020, 07:51:41 AM
Uhm.

You do not read sticky threads?  ;)
https://www.specialist-arms.com/forum/index.php?topic=5203.0

First thread of this subforum. All and everything rules related. Official rules, fan rules
, Archived rules. :) All nicely done.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on October 24, 2020, 03:14:31 AM
Yeah. I just assumed that I had the most recent version. No problem.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on November 13, 2020, 06:44:51 AM
The cost of the Merchant Cruiser is inconsistent. In the main list, it is 105 points, but in the CPF list it is 95 points.... Which is correct?
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on November 13, 2020, 08:27:02 AM
The cost of the Merchant Cruiser is inconsistent. In the main list, it is 105 points, but in the CPF list it is 95 points.... Which is correct?
95 Points. Page 31 of the FAQ2010. :)
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on November 14, 2020, 03:36:01 AM
The cost of the Merchant Cruiser is inconsistent. In the main list, it is 105 points, but in the CPF list it is 95 points.... Which is correct?
95 Points. Page 31 of the FAQ2010. :)

Oh boy. So, two lists and the FAQ to keep track of.  ;)

95 points makes it more balanced against the Emissary. I assume that the +2 damage/+15 points upgrade still applies, which makes it 6 hits against the Emissarys 4 for the same points cost...... A much tougher choice.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on November 14, 2020, 07:12:47 AM
Yes, upgrades still available.

The lowering was much needed since the Armada fleet tended to be only explorers and heroes.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on November 15, 2020, 01:44:05 AM
The lowering was much needed since the Armada fleet tended to be only explorers and heroes.

I agree that the points cost lowering was needed, but really to bring the Merchant in line with the Emissary.

Before the adjustment, a Dal'Yth Merchant has 6 battery and 2 lances to the front, while the Sa'Cea Emissary has an extra 5cm move, double the turn capacity, with the same weapon strength to the front and then adds strength 3 torpedoes. All this for 5 points. Now, the stats are still the same, but for the same cost you can make the Merchant damage 6, and that makes it a lot more difficult to choose, which is good.

By contrast, I consider the Merchant and Emissary as Light Cruisers, and will pair them up. Doing this, I think that they are in line with the 'regular' Cruisers by stats and points cost.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on November 16, 2020, 07:49:44 AM
Yes, that was a nice side effect. But when developing FAQ2010 the main input was the ECF fleet selection.

Haven't seen a reply (is your email still valid?): I have an Aquan here with which I could part.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on November 17, 2020, 03:09:54 AM
Thanks. I did reply.... I am not sure why you didnt get it. I think that I will pass on the Aquan, as the shipping would be a nightmare and I am looking around for other potential ships to mix in.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on December 07, 2020, 01:58:33 PM
So, both the Resistance Trident Battleship and the Yamato Battleship finally came in, and they are very different.

The Trident is big! It comes in several parts, all resin, with a ton of flash and gates, and will be a real project to clean up and assemble. But the fore and aft sections can be added to either end of the superstructure, and so there are several options to put this thing together, and it looks very impressive. Did I mention that its big? I think that it will be around 15cm when assembled fully.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on December 07, 2020, 02:04:21 PM

The Yamato Battleship is a more manageable size. It will be around 11cm when assembled, and comes on three blue plastic frames.

I dont have any official BFG ships here with me, but I seem to remember Imperial Cruisers being around 8cm-9cm.

I think that I will treat the Trident as the Custodian (it should really be an Explorer, but I dont have any my current fleet and I am not a fan of the design, so its likely that a Custodian will be the largest ship in my fleet) and I will use the Yamato as a Protector or Emissary. This will also allow me to pick up a few more from the range in different designs, as they are not very expensive and the detail is 'good', not being quite up to regular BFG standard, but being pretty good for game purposes.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: horizon on December 07, 2020, 02:55:32 PM
Yeah, the large grey one certainly would fit the Explorer role.

Didn't expect to have them so much flash. But Forgeworld also had more flash then other resin manufacturers (Mangozac had very few flash, Wintermans also only a little bit).

The yamato is cool.
Title: Re: CPF Tau (Custodian) Suggestion
Post by: CyberShadow on December 09, 2020, 07:58:21 AM
Yeah, I am NOT looking forward to assembling that Trident..... It feels like I need to sculpt the ship out of a block of resin! I expect a bit of cleaning up, especially with a resin model, but that is crazy. Its a big ship, too. Not just at 15cm, but in width too, where other ships are thinner, so it feels massive. But it does have that hammerhead front end which is iconic Tau.

Looking again at the Yamato ship, the detail is actually quite good. I think that making a full fleet from this line is certainly realistic and possible, and they are about the right size. The base is different though, so I will need to rectify that. Still, very happy that both ships I picked up can be used, and now I have more minis than I need for my initial 1000 point fleet, so I have a few ships for the next expansion phase too.