A few thoughts about IN Carriers

[Jakeman214]

After playing a few games with only a few Dictator Class cruisers running around in the back end of my fleet trying to stave off enemy Fighters and Bombers, I've come to a conclusion.

I need to stop using my Carriers as US Navy Supercarrier equivelents, hanging back and launching Wave after wave of SC, treating them like fragile ships.
I need to use them like the Battlestar Galactica! Good shields, Good Armour, decent firepower all around (Torps count!), able to take the punishment from being right in the heart of battle.

Of the three or four IN players in my local BFG group, I'm probably the only one who tries to at least have 4 Launch Bays per 500pts. The rest of the guys either ignore them and go for pure firepower or take an Emperor and leave it at that. I'm still not sold on the Emperor, used it a few times and it was never where I needed it, too far behind the cruiser gunline, whilst my Dictators actually got in close enough to lend the support I wanted.

I can't believe it has taken me over 6 months of playing BFG to realise that I have to get my carriers in close rather than keep them safe at the rear. Real life =/= Tabletop eh?

[horizon]

If you like the IN steamroller then indeed the Dictator is the best choice.

If you are a more conservative/other tactician the Emperor is much better. The Excorcist applies to this as well.


If you want a traditional US Navy fleet then Tau Armada is the choice. Explorers are such carriers. Cheap, unrestricted and lots of AC.

[afterimagedan]

I am a huge fan of the IN steamroller tactic and 2 Dictators are something I use most games. Two Dictator shotguns in one turn can really mess something up.

I do agree though that the Emperor is a great ship. I like to pair it with a Vengeance or have a battlecruiser close by.

[andrewchristlieb]

I have been tinkering with the Dominion (bakka list) and it has been proving to be a very good support ship in smaller games. This plays very well behind a lunar/lunar or dom/gothic pair using their ranged lances they don't loose any effectiveness from not being squadroned . I have also had good results using these with tyrants.

[fracas]

Dictators are strike carrier best used with combined torps and bomber launches within 20cm

[andrewchristlieb]

^+1 that can be very devastating even with just one, a pair can really mess up even a heavily turreted BB. You can really mess with people by letting them hang back a couple turns then aaf'ing down they're throats.

[afterimagedan]

^+1 that can be very devastating even with just one, a pair can really mess up even a heavily turreted BB.

Exactly what is meant by torpedo shotgun. I support it highly.

[Garvey]

The only place for you IN carriers are in the line of battle! It is no more or less fragile than any other cruiser, and you will need its Weapon Batteries when your line meets the enemy! In fact, I NEVER let my capitol ships get seperated (excepting ships to slow to keep up to the slowest speed without using Orders.) The speed of the the Fleet is the speed of the slowest moving ship.