base size: you'd still need 10+ hits for the big base. don't limit orks to small bases... unless you call their kroozers BB's... but then you screwed the slowpokes even more on turning.
Turning? how does a big base help with that?
Actually the only reason that the 'tractor fields' rule came into being was because GW screwed up on packaging a bunch of cruisers, and gave them big bases instead of small. So the BFG faq people decided that any capital ship could have either if they wanted.
The reason for this is for boarding and ramming. In orks it makes the larger vessels more valuable for these two things. Also it's something to take from Orks in trade for their large overall firepower increase/cost reduction. The whole Ork revision was to make players move away from the Terror ship spam lists.
Also its a simplicity/clarity thing. Certain ships gain unexpected advantages dependant on base size. It helps balance them better if they have a specific one. Think Demiurg Ships, they're more likely to pick up blast markers.
IMO the reason that large bases exist on larger ships is simply because they are putting out a lot more energy, and therefore are easier for other ships to track/detect/teleport to/whatnot.
if boarding torps reroll vs armor, then what do CWE boarding torps get?
Since when do CWE have boarding torps? There is actually no need for change here, as their boarding torps already are hit on a 6+ by turrets. Its just that 'all' boarding torps re-roll against armor.
non fleet commander characters.... try adding in the gryphon knight idea from MMS. that way select fleets could have access to more reliable SO fleet wide. rather than throw off balance with chaos and bastion IN swarming tones of sub commanders.... call the imperial ones commissars.
Gryphon Knight? I'm not familiar.
I don't think that being able to still roll a command check with the 1 extra character you have is such a big deal. This one is mainly a compromise for Orks, which people wanted to ignore the 'failed command check' rule. With this is allows their (usually 2 additional) commanders to roll LD checks no matter what.
Additional characters are very rarely worthwhile. The Captains in bastions are 50 points.... pretty pricey. 25 in chaos, but most players would spend the extra 10 points for CSMs every time. This would give a reason for those characters to actually be worthwhile, without reducing their cost (as they both are fairly priced, just not appealing).
How many people do you know that take more than a warmaster?
Ideally there would be 'lesser characters' available to every fleet. I would like to hear some other peoples thoughts on that.
after the whole bakkan debacle, yeah the jovian should be out from tartanus. besides its just an exorcist... but worse. dominion's cool. its my favorite ship. please investigate further.
Dominion is in. Jovian is out. Already decided. Also Charybdis Grand cruiser will likely make an appearance in BFT.
on your other post about the light BB 'vanquisher' at 290... well a lite BB should be like a grand cruiser. The big V is kinda between an unfixed ret and vengeance (with torps) in Firepower, but its not at all un-conflicted in its line breaker role. its 15cm move isn't really a hindrance, it just makes it blunt: point towards large formation of enemies and move forward. without the dorsals it should just aff off the bat. i'd put it at 300, and take it every time.
No, it doesn't need the extra speed. It's just that the previous incarnation of the vessel did. It's a curiosity that the HA didn't give it that. It will be somewhere between 280-310 in its final presentation, but I want to wait on the HA to respond to their 10 pages of dialogue before I make a decision.
ahh yes. and rules... (after reading RC's thread)
escorts should be able to squadron with caps - it would be friggin awesome. perhaps even BB's with cruisers. but squadron size would have to remain pretty small.
This was actually discussed previously, sometime in early december. The reason we didn't decide to go for this is that it would have unexpected effects on gameplay.
perhaps allowing single ships to BFI. though ordy squadrons may go a little out of hand.
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Ordy? Capital ships in squadrons can BFI individually iirc. I know they can disengage individually.