How to kill battleships (bfg)

[eyescrossed]

Thanks for all of the advice (especially that biggish post by Grey Mage :woot:). Now I'm thinking of using the World Eaters Battle Barge from the Powers of Chaos draft (v3.2). Is it worth it, in your opinions?

[Vaaish]

Most of the powers of chaos stuff isn't worth the cost outside of kicking around for the heck of it.

[eyescrossed]

Most of the powers of chaos stuff isn't worth the cost outside of kicking around for the heck of it.

Haha, fair enough. What ships (besides the Slaughter class Cruiser) would be good to give the Mark of Khorne and Chaos Space Marines, in your opinion?

[Vaaish]

None. Chaos works fine without marks outside of Tzeench using the 50 point warmaster.

[eyescrossed]

But from a non-tourney point of view, which ships would you and wouldn't you give certain marks to? If I'm asking for a bit much, sorry, it's just I'm a massive noob. Obviously Khorne wouldn't be very useful on slow ships, though.

[Grey Mage]

Its less the ship and more how you intend to use it.

 

Though Ill say this- Saaneshi demonships are a pain.

[eyescrossed]

Its less the ship and more how you intend to use it.

Ahh, right. I'm thinking too close-minded.

 

 

 

Though Ill say this- Saaneshi demonships are a pain.

Which is the short-ranged Cruiser, again? Is it the Murder or the Slaughter? Whichever it is, would that be good to upgrade to a Slaaneshi Daemonship?

[Vaaish]

The slaughter is the short ranged one. Basically marks eat up points and rarely come into play. Khorne means you have pretty limited tactical options if you want to get the most out of it (run at the enemy and board) and even then it'll usually just net you a +1 to the resolution die roll. Tzeench is useful but best on your commander for the extra reroll rather than on individual ships. Nurgle gives an extra hit but outside of the no boarding it's expensive for what you get. Slannesh could be useful but you have to be nearly touching a ship to use it.

 

The biggest problem by far though is you have to purchase a lord for the ship before it can get a mark. That's 25 points gone there and another 25-35 points for the mark. Do that three times and you've lost a cruiser. Even once can have a pretty serious impact on what you take.

[eyescrossed]

Hmm... Very good point... I'll probably leave marks at home, then.

 

Thanks for the advice :)

[Loyalist]

I try a combined arms approach against Chaos and Imperial battleships and SM battlebarges. (I play all 3 fleets.) My preference is getting into the battleship's stern arc with faster and more maneuverable lance-armed ships (i.e. Novas, Firestorms, Dauntlesses) while other ships fire on the flanks and launch ordnance. Again I prefer lances and like to have a Gothic or Acheron lance ship in the flank attack.

 

Torpedo attacks from astern can be effective too. I've combined 6 ship squadrons of SM Novas and of Hunters (lance and torps respectively) or Firestorms and Cobras with decent results against battleships. They'll rarely destroy a battleship but may do enough damage to slow one down or decrease it's firepower, either of which make it less of a factor in the game.

[Vaaish]

I try a combined arms approach against Chaos and Imperial battleships and SM battlebarges. (I play all 3 fleets.) My preference is getting into the battleship's stern arc with faster and more maneuverable lance-armed ships (i.e. Novas, Firestorms, Dauntlesses) while other ships fire on the flanks and launch ordnance. Again I prefer lances and like to have a Gothic or Acheron lance ship in the flank attack.

 

Torpedo attacks from astern can be effective too. I've combined 6 ship squadrons of SM Novas and of Hunters (lance and torps respectively) or Firestorms and Cobras with decent results against battleships. They'll rarely destroy a battleship but may do enough damage to slow one down or decrease it's firepower, either of which make it less of a factor in the game.

 

This does work, but it's exactly the reason you either need assault boats, escorts of your own, or maneuverable light cruisers to hunt down ships trying to pull this off. As IN I'll typically leave a couple of dauntless on this duty or divert AB from the emperor. As Marines, thunderhawks do a great job as do a squadron of gladius. Chaos can typically use dreadclaws but this doesn't usually seem as problematic with their range and the speed of their battleships.

[eyescrossed]

I'm working on a list (very slowly), and it turns out I'll be facing IN too. Against them, what are some random tips for a newbie?

[Vaaish]

Against IN... They typically have range extremes with most things shooting at 30cm and NC shooting at 150cm. Battlecruisers add some range but you shouldn't expect to see more than two most of the time. They have a lot of torpedoes to watch out for or intercept. They are also a bit slower although their broadsides are matched unlike chaos where you have to focus to one side for the best firepower. They have 6+ prows which basically means you are always shooting abeam at them. AC is also pretty expensive for IN so most times 2x dictators or and emperor is all you'll see. IN also has good escorts with the cobra and the Sword.

[eyescrossed]

So basically, circling them would be a good idea most of the time, and getting in amongst them would essentially be suicidal?

[Vaaish]

Not per se. Letting them get in the middle of your fleet where they can shoot off both broadsides would not be good but closing a bit to get better results on your WB isn't bad if you are careful.

[eyescrossed]

Ah, so it's good to be close sometimes as long as you can make sure you don't surround them/get surrounded.

[spu00sed]

I like getting abeam of battleships and locking on with my Avenger. There is nothign like a close range volley to ruin a ships day, and if that doesn't work Dauntlesses are very good ramships (though often one use).