no MMS Shennanigans.
What?
I've noticed that most list have both mixed squadrons, and large ones at that. Why?
Which lists have mixed ones and large ones?
this thread has mostly agreed that 3 is the correct number, and pure.
3 is a number I prefer but I can see the merit of 5 a lot.
What makes it so that eldar uses the exact opposite composition? Is it because the escorts fulfill more of the "line ship" role, damage wise?
How do you mean?
First of all they are xenos, being different makes sense then. In my Corsair list I do not run mixed squadrons at all:
3 Nightshades
3 Nightshades
3 Hemlocks
3 Hemlocks
3 Aconites
In a 1500pts list.
Add Void Stalker, Aurora + Command.
If I run my Hero list (one option):
Hero
Void Dragon
Aurora
Solaris
3 Nightshades
3 Nightshades
3 Hemlocks
2 Hemlocks + 3 Aconites
See, I add the 2 Hemlocks to the 3 Aconites to get an uneven number.
With Corsair you have more escort shuffling anyway since the core is escorts.
Shoudl I still be seperating Nightshades and Hellebores, due to RO? given that escorts are my damage output, should I be using CL and cruisers as support for the excorts?
Ideally, yes, the Nightshades should always be single so they can concentrate on ReLoad.
Hellebores have less need to do so, at times they will have more benefit from a LockOn. They can forfeit their ReLoad, especially if other ordnance is near.
For Tau, Castellans and Defenders. They seem like 50 point cobras. yet every list I see includes Castellans. Less so for defenders. I get that orca's and warden are paid for in part, and so take them, and the warden I've used haev done their jobs pretty well, but the larger escorts just don't seem to be worth 50 pts to place 2 torps. fro 100, just buy an emmisary, and get a much more effective warship.
Wella, the Castellan always had design difficulties. The FW variant from IA3 was a Defender copy with a better turn rate.
Currently the 50pts are high edged, but the escort has a good strike range due its missiles. A beefed up Infidel for most part.
You see this escort a lot as most people run pure FW fleets. And that the old Emissary designs have always been poo; it was never a choice, so that is why a lot of Castellans have found a place in fleets these days.
The new Emissary is better but still not ideal (25cm speed... which the Castellan also should have...).
3 hits on an Emissary is a crippled Emissary.
3 hits on a str3 Castellan squadron is 1 down, 1 shield down => uncrippled.
With turret massing Castellans are also more safe againt enemy ordnance.
If you run them under Custodian wings they'll gain benefits on their Railguns.