Seeking Advice - building Skies of Fire for balanced games

[firestorm40k]

Hello, I recently bought the Skies of Fire set, and I'm just looking for advice on which options to build the models with, so that I've got two balanced, equally (points) matched 'squadrons' to game with.

 

Longer post with a bit of background on my choice if you're interested:

Almost 20 years ago (!) when Forgeworld first released Epic scale Imperial and Tau aircraft, but before they officially made Aeronautica Imperialis, I bought a few of those models and tried to make my own game of aerial dogfighting combat. It, uhh, wasn't that great :D I eventually sold those miniatures to fund other projects, but never bothered to try AI first time around.

 

When they announced the 'Skies of Fire' set a few months back, it immediately hit that 'nostalgia' spot with me; bringing back memories of those cool little aircraft. The fact that the set was self contained - two squadrons, all the rules, and a gaming mat - made it a must buy for me.

So I don't plan to expand either force that's in this set*, which is why I want to build to relatively equal forces from the kits in the box, just for pick up games.

 

I know that the basic Lightning is quite cheaper than the Baracuda points wise, would it be advisable to build them as Lightning Strikes to match this? Similarly, would it be better to build the Valkyries as the Vendetta option?

 

Thanks in advance for any pointers and suggestions!

 

 

* Until they release a set with Chaos aircraft, in which case I'll go all in on a Chaos v Imperium air-war B)

[klisof]

This may be a difficult question to answer as a lot of people will not have had a chance to play with the aircraft in Sky's of Fire yet.

 

There were discussions about the effectiveness of the lightning as it's a lot less firepower than a thunderbolt but cheaper and more manoeuvrable so I would like to see some reports about how it performs in game.

 

Thanks to COVID it's been months since I've even been near a game myself :(

 

To my mind, I would assemble one lightning as a strike. You only get parts to do one in the SoF box and personally I like more variety in loadouts.

 

Do you want to throw your lists up? That might help any discussion.

[firestorm40k]

Thanks for replying :)

 

So at the moment I don't have a list in mind, just using everything that's in the box. Just using the 10 aircraft that are in the box, without any upgrades, there's a fair disparity between the Imperial (89 points total) and the Tau (114), so I'd be looking at which upgrades would put the Imperials nearer on points, as well as decent balance game wise.

 

So if I make one Lightning a Strike, give each a pair of Hellstrike and Skystrike Missiles, that's another 16 points. And if I take a Vendetta, and give the other Valkyrie a Multilaser, and both take Missile Pods, that's 113 points total.

 

But having not played this game, I don't know how effective it is mixing up different types/upgrades on squadrons of aircraft - or do experienced gamers find it doesn't make too much difference?

 

Thanks again for any advice!

[klisof]

If you are not buying more aircraft at this point the imperials will definitely need ordnance to compete with the more heavily armed tau.

 

One thing about AI that is very different to 40k is you can't do just one list, especially with ordnance upgrades. Missile/bomb selection is mission dependant.

If you expand beyond the SoF book other missions have restrictions on types of aircraft as well.

 

Hellstrikes can not target aircraft so they are wasted points in any mission without ground targets, skystrikes can't hit ground targets.

You need to equip your aircraft for the mission or you will be at a big disadvantage. T'au don't have this problem but also lack ground attack options, they are limited to low level strafing runs.

 

I have not heard of anyone playing WYSIWYG on missile loadouts so just assemble the model's how you think looks best and use tokens to show loadout in the game.

 

The aircraft and aces card set is really useful for this, you get cards for each of your aircraft plus additional cards to represent upgrades and missiles.

Or you can print your own to save cash.

[Firedrake Cordova]

The aircraft and aces card set is really useful for this, you get cards for each of your aircraft plus additional cards to represent upgrades and missiles.  Or you can print your own to save cash.

If you're handy with a spreadsheet program, it's not too difficult to make your roster in that, with boxes for structure points and ammunition.  You can then use dice, tokens, or simply colour the boxes in with a pencil when they're used/lost.  Then you can get an extra box of planes. 

Edited July 25, 2020 by Firedrake Cordova

[klisof]

Absolutely, you can save yourself cash if you spend a bit of time in Excel, or a table in word :)

The cards are nice if you don't want to do it yourself

 

So if I make one Lightning a Strike, give each a pair of Hellstrike and Skystrike Missiles, that's another 16 points. And if I take a Vendetta, and give the other Valkyrie a Multilaser, and both take Missile Pods, that's 113 points total.

 

 

I'm not convinced on taking rocket pods on both. I would probably go full lascannon on the vendetta for a mid/long range threat and do the other as a Valkyrie with multilaser/ rocket pods

 

I would not be surprised to see a lot of people go all full lascannon vendetta with that kit, that looks like a very strong build.

 

Personally I am not keen on relying too much on weapons that run out of ammo around mid game.

[firestorm40k]

Thanks Klisof - ironically I actually assembled these minis today, and made two Vendettas with Missile Pods, that was before I saw this post :lol:

 

I also discovered the Lightning kit, strangely, only has one pair of lascannons, so you can only make one 'true' Lightning, and have to make the others as Strikes..! :rolleyes:

 

I gave each of the lightnings a pair of each missiles - I'll defo follow your advice with regards to wysiwyg and missions.

Edited July 25, 2020 by firestorm40k

[Arendious]

Personally I am not keen on relying too much on weapons that run out of ammo around mid game.

A career in modern air combat is not for you then.

[Mandragola]

There's actually a lot more points worth of Tau stuff in skies of fire than there is Imperial. I don't think it's a particularly balanced set, sorry to say. If you try to make both sides cost the same points you'll have to pile upgrades on the Imperial stuff and leave them off the Tau stuff completely. I don't think that would be a good way to treat your models in the long term.

 

Lightnings are very short on firepower and hull points. Vendettas are cheaper but better at both. But the vendetta is a transport and its aerial handling is seriously lacking

 

To be honest I don't think I'd actually try to make skies of fire, alone, into a game like that. You'd have to leave out one of the Tau planes really. But the valkyries really have a specialised role and it is not dogfighting - it's delivering troops to places. 

[firestorm40k]

Thanks for your reply Mandragola; you've kind of confirmed what I suspected about the set. I think instead of trying to do games with everything out of the box, I'm better off using smaller 'lists' (75-100 points), and different scenarios e.g. transport escorts missions.

 

As stated on the OP, I'm not likely expand on this set, so it'll just be pick up casual games. Though I'll probably go all-in when they release some Chaos stuff! :D