contemplating starting BFG

[Cpt_Reaper]

Hello all.

 

My urge to start up a space marine Battlefleet has been growing of late, and I was wondering if you could answer some of my questions.

 

- What are the main points levels for battles (40k is 1000 to 2000 points)

- How do I write up a list? is it as simple as "1 x battle barge, 3 x Strike Cruiser etc"? or do i need to specify weapons?

- In terms of escorts, are the forgeworld ships better than the GW ones?

 

Any other tips would be appreciated.

[Demoulius]

hey m8. BFG is a VERY fun game so im sure you will enjoy it :P

 

if i were you though id make sure you have some opponents to play first :D sadly its not as popular as 40k.

 

and yes list building is that easy :P if your shiips have options you can list those but IIRC no marine ship has any so you wont have to worry about that :)

 

1500 points is the golden standard i believe

[Grey Mage]

FW and GW escorts are identical in function. That being said, the FW models are often a bit cheaper :S and very pretty.

 

In most cases a ship doesnt really have options. So yes- 1 battle barge, 2x strike cruiser, etc is how a list goes. If you do take options- such as adding a hero to it, rerolls, or rare equipment transfers you just note it down and increase the price as needed- its all self explanatory as you read through.

 

That being said, I like to have a cheat sheet with all my ships, their names, and their profiles listed out. Very helpful when you have 20 of the suckers running around the table.

 

The core of any SM fleet is the Strike Cruiser. Battlebarges are great, but you really cant load up on them, and going to heavy with them reduces your speed and firepower in my experiance. They are, like most SM vessels but more so, really tough vs conventional weapons.

[Race Bannon]

Not sure what your group will say, but my group practically outlawed the SM Battle Barge. Only on *really* big games or campaigns are they allowed where I'm at.

 

I'm not saying this will happen to you, but definitely play without one first. After you taste it's awesomesauce, it'll be hard not to want to use it again :P

 

(Then there is the financial cost to one :lol:)

[spu00sed]

BFG is a great game.

 

I have a 6K Imperial Navy fleet and about 2K of nids (with very evolved hiveships)

 

I love the tactics involved and how you can try to save the day by getting your damaged ships out of there (Or in my nids case decide to drift lazily towards a planet :tu: )

 

I might suggest startting with either an IN fleet or a Battle for Armageddon fleet. Since they have more ships to choose from.

 

I have found most BFG players very accepting for combined lists.

 

For example my Navy contains several vessels that are restricted to certain sub groups of the imperial navy, but they don't mind me playing them (there again the Hawkings is a light cruiser costs as much as a battle crusier, the invincible class battle ship will blow up if you try to do anything with it, and the Avenger and Oberon are only so-so unless they are played very well).

 

One last thing

 

There is nothing like declaring ramming speed with two Dauntless light cruisers to end an enemies Battke ship

First one broke upon its bow, though battle damaged it. Second one took off the bridge, I finished it with a close volley from the Avenger ;)

 

Or taking out the entire enemy fleet with a sucidial tyrant claw cruiser

Grappled the central crusier of the line and boarded it. He elected to blow up the ship rather than die. Warp drive implusion crippled 2/3s of his fleet and did nothing to my cruiser.

[Grey Mage]

Not sure what your group will say, but my group practically outlawed the SM Battle Barge. Only on *really* big games or campaigns are they allowed where I'm at.

 

I'm not saying this will happen to you, but definitely play without one first. After you taste it's awesomesauce, it'll be hard not to want to use it again ^_^

 

(Then there is the financial cost to one :))

Thats monstrous.

 

Why would they do that?

 

Do they not ever take lances?

 

My Hemlocks Looooove battle barges.

[Race Bannon]

Yeah, it is. Granted, it saved me the actual cost for one (yay proxy!), but the main argument was, "it's broken". At the time I was Outriding to help drum up support for my LGS so I went with the Power Fisted punch. It sharpened my game without one anyway. <_<

 

I still have not bought one. Hmm.

[Demoulius]

pity, its a really nice model :)

 

can indeed so the advantage in learning to play without one but restricting one ship because they think hes broken...cold man...so cold ;)

[Grey Mage]

It just means their local fleet compositions cant handle it- wich implies a need for a change in fleet compositions.