BFG FAQ 2010 General Rules Questions

[flybywire-E2C]

In your new rules draft for the Rogue Traders you have created a heavy fuel transport. For those that have not read this document, its a heavy transport that suffers crits on a 5+ and rolls 3D6 adding together the value on the catastrophic damage table when destroyed. I was wondering, any chance of using these as "fire ships"? These to me are MUCH more effective at this role than the current escort vessel. Also, could we by chance have the attackers in the "Surprise Attack" scenario be given the chance to use Fire Ships? This idea comes from the Battle of Gravelines (and others) that used fire ships in this role to defeat numerically superior forces when catching them by surprise. I have played one game using this idea and it was quite chaotic watching the defender scattering to avoid these mysterious vessels AAFing straight to the middle of his fleet!

-Zhukov

This sounds great as a house rule, but for as long as the game has been around, planetary defenses have only been for scenarios that require them, and fireships are firmly ensconed in the category of a planetary defense. That being said, I like it. Let me see how it rolls past the other HA's, but this one may be touchy and may prove broken in playtesting.

When imagining a new rule, don't think like a fair adult interested in a fun and challenging game. Always approach a new idea from the mind of a personality-challenged 16 year old with deep pockets and the will to munchkin any rule to the fullest extent allowed.

- Nate

[flybywire-E2C]

We just re-posted the Eldar Spire and refits document. No rule changes, but I did make some minor formatting adjustments and added a date stamp in the bottom left corner so if someone relies on printed copies, they will know in a glance if they have the most current copy available. This date stamp will be on all the documents we staple shut and pull out of draft status from now on.

Link:   http://tinyurl.com/23nul8q*

A DRAFT of the 2010 FAQ/Errata is also posted. This has been formatted to read as a single document, but each individual fleet is in it's own section in case players want to pull the document apart and keep the relavant pages behind the fleets they pretain to.

Blindfold on and cigarette in mouth, I await your bolter rounds, shuriken shards, las-shots, etc.   

- Nate

[Zhukov]

Hey Nate,

You could place a limit on how many you can take? We used four escort sized vessels when attacking a 1500 pt fleet. For the Heavies, I'm thinking we could do half the transport value, so make it two? Not too overpowering I don't believe. If your looking for a formula, you could always say one escort sized fire ship per 500 points in the fleet? For every two escort fire ships you can exchange them for one Heavy Fuel Fire Ship? I won't be offended if you guys say no I just thought it made for a unique scenario.

-Zhukov

[lastspartacus]

I propose, for the final errata, that the limitation on not conducting teleport attacks on larger vessels be waived.  Instead, -1 or -2 modifier, depending on size and such.
It never really made much sense to me that you would not be allowed to do it at all. 

The proposed change assumes that larger ships have heavier armed and more dramatic internal defenses, but certainly not a denser population distribution.

[fracas]

i thought attack crafts were to be standardized to 20mm bases and torpedoes to 25mm bases

[Vaaish]

BC always rolls a 4+. this is about as clear as you can get in the rules:

I) Bombardment cannons always hit on a 4 or
more, regardless of the target’s armour (even vs
ordnance).

Deflectors just raise the armor value of the prow to a 6+ they have nothing to do with shields for the purpose of gameplay. Also note it's not just the linear accelerator, it's the warhead that causes the damage.

[lastspartacus]

'Ship Types' should be clarified.  Lets say one wants to ram, and reads that 'ship types' matter in the difficulty of the LD check.
Now, does he take it to mean just the 3 types, or the 4 different brands of cruisers as well, fit into the scale?

[horizon]

Per rulebook:
small = escorts
medium = cruisers
large = battleships


Cruisers = all cruisers.

[Don Gusto]

'Ship Types' should be clarified.  Lets say one wants to ram, and reads that 'ship types' matter in the difficulty of the LD check.
Now, does he take it to mean just the 3 types, or the 4 different brands of cruisers as well, fit into the scale?

This is already clarified in the FAQ Draft on page 10. Read it.

[lastspartacus]

This may be idiotic, but do the same modifiers that effect SO's effect LD checks like shooting further targets?  Do novas have to test for ld the same way?

[lastspartacus]

Also, how far can left and right shifts go?  This should be clarified.  Can you get a left shift for close range on defences, back to your full firepower strength?

[horizon]

Yes, left till edge of gunnery table per rulebook. Right will go to far right. That's it. Not up down or off the chart.

Ld tests have same modifiers as SO tests.

[lastspartacus]

So youd get a bonus to LD to disengage if your opponent went on SO previous turn?

Ok, good to know.  So the actual strength of the battery is considered part of the chart.

[horizon]

Yes. And yes.

[Don Gusto]

This may be idiotic, but do the same modifiers that effect SO's effect LD checks like shooting further targets?

There's a difference between leadership modifiers and command check modifiers.

Command check modifiers are:
+1 if any enemy vessels are on SO
-1 if vessel checking has blast markers in contact
These only apply to command checks, including BFI (rules page 12).

Everything else (e.g. radiation bursts, mark of slaanesh, ...) applys to command checks and other leadership tests in the same way.

There is also a special set of leadership modifiers for disengaging (rules page 33).

Do novas have to test for ld the same way?

Yes if there is a closer target within its range (i.e. closer but at least 30cm away).