Battlefleet Gothic - Tactics

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BFGTACTICS
By Adam Brown
Of all the races in the 41st Millenium, the two most common adversaries of all are without doubt the Battlefleets
of the Imperium and the treacherous warfleets of Chaos. The fleets share much in their approach to space
warfare, though also rely on their own strengths whilst overcoming their own individual weaknesses. Here, Adam
Brown presents a players overview of the fleets, their ships, their strengths and weaknesses, along with some
important tactical notes for budding Admirals.
OVERVIEW
Unlike their Chaos counterparts, Imperial cruisers are not
designed to win wars by themselves. The Imperial fleet is
a slow, methodical monster. Each cruiser is but a piece of
the whole. Conversely, Chaos commanders can afford to
have their fleet split apart to some degree. The long reach
of their batteries allows their ships to still back one
another when separated. Chaos ships are also designed
with a solo bravado in mind; each self-obsessed,
ambitious captain trying to outdo the next with a torrent
of heavy firepower.
IMPERIAL CRUISERS
Dictator Class Cruiser
Strengths:
easy to build, excellent turret rating, heavy
ordnance output.
Weaknesses:
undergunned, expensive.
The Dictator is equal in measure to Mars class
battlecruisers. Oddly enough, with its prow mounted
torpedoes, the Dictator outdoes its heavier counterpart in
the total ordnance it launches, being able to launch four
fighter or bomber markers as well. Dictators are designed
to help an Imperial fleet keep neck-and-neck with Chaos
in the ordnance race. Its flaws are more those of the
player than design. Many Imperial players pick up
Dictators in an effort to match Chaos players with total
numbers of fighter-type ordnance. They, of course, lose as
the Imperial Navy simply cannot compete with Styx and
Devastation class cruisers, especially when backed by a
Despoiler. I have often heard Imperial players feeling
cheated that way. The Dictator allows an aggressive
Imperial player to seize the initiative with ordnance. When
the formation of Imperial ships launches its torpedoes
alongside waves of fighters and bombers, their opponent
Not so the Imperials. To get the most out of your cruisers,
look at them in pairs at the very least. Gothic & Lunar class
cruisers are a waste of points on their own. They cannot
keep up with, say, a Slaughter class cruiser in a gunfight.
But pair them up with a second Lunar, take on two Chaos
cruisers of the same displacement, and the Imperials will
come to the fore
so long as the Imperial ships work in
tandem with one another!
Boasting 12 torpedoes and an
easy spread of either heavy firepower or lance decks, the
Imperials can bully their way through the worst of the
Chaos shooting and hit home hard.
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is forced on the defensive to counter the massed waves of
onrushing, shield-avoiding attack craft and missiles
inbound on their fleet. The enemy must prepare for this
inevitable deluge by launching fighters or risk taking a
severe beating by a crafty Imperial player.
Tyrant Class Cruiser
Strengths:
long range weapons batteries, good firepower
strength, Nova cannon & improved battery options.
Weaknesses:
ranged weapons batteries weak.
Gothic Class Cruiser
Strengths:
heavy lance decks, inexpensive, easy to
assemble, very effective against enemy escorts, firepower
not diminished by aspect, damn cool looking.
Weaknesses:
ineffective against other cruisers in duels,
weak against the Eldar.
The Tyrant class appears in many respects to be a variant
of the Dominator for players that don’t favour the Nova
cannon. It provides all the advantage of the former’s gun
batteries but with added strength. Granted, the
Dominator’s options allow it to take same range batteries
at a higher strength but at a sacrifice of the slightly longer
range batteries on the Tyrant. The Tyrant essentially
provides some reach for Imperial players that suffer from
getting battered before closing with the foe. It has options
enough to make it an improved clone of the Dominator
but at considerable cost. This makes the Tyrant a rather
unspecialised Imperial vessel, able to take on several roles
but be master of none.
The Gothic class is one of two main Imperial vessels. It is
in all respects a ship of the line and needs to work in
tandem with a sister vessel, such as another Gothic or
Lunar, to realise its full potential against enemy capital
ships. Its no-nonsense outlook towards combat makes it
very easy to use, firing last with its heavy lances. Many
Imperial players have had their Gothic ships score
impressive kill lists by virtue of always getting the last
shots in on a targeted vessel. Overall, the Gothic is a very
specialised ship. Use it well and enjoy!
Lunar Class Cruiser
Strengths:
inexpensive, jack of all trades, easy to build,
awesome looking, underestimated, Nova cannon options.
Weaknesses:
none appreciable.
Dominator Class Cruiser
Strengths:
Nova cannon, heavy weapons battery
armament, improved range options.
Weaknesses:
no ordnance, requires 4 weapons batteries
to build.
Pound for pound, by far the most effective ship in the
Imperial/Chaos cruiser arsenal. The Lunar class cruiser is
a little miracle. It is unimpressive on paper, but by that
very design, forces players to use it cunningly. The Lunar
is very direct in its purpose – close with the enemy while
firing ordnance, cross in front or behind and let loose
with others of its kind. Two Lunar class ships working in
tandem provides an awesome 12 torpedoes, 12 firepower
and 4 lances to each side. With the option of upgrading to
a Nova cannon, this beast becomes a hard-hitting
leviathan, forcing enemy ships continually onto the
defensive. The Lunar is also very easy to build. Each sprue
frame comes with the parts needed to build the ship
without encroaching upon another sprue. Very affordable,
they should form the bulk of any Imperial fleet over 1,000
points. Any fleet worth its salt has at least one Lunar on its
roster, most should have two.
Not a true ship of the line, the Dominator is an odd ship
in that it’s one of the few equipped with a Nova cannon as
standard. True, other ships like the Tyrant and Lunar may
be upgraded to bear a Nova cannon, but to do so those
vessels must sacrifice their prow torpedoes – quite a loss
to an Imperial admiral.
Enemy ships cannot afford to stay at long range against
Dominators, as the Nova cannon hammers them. Closing
with the cruiser only brings them into range of the massive
gun decks of the Dominator, along with any friendly ships
close at hand. A favoured tactic is to force an enemy to
close with the Nova cannon armed ship and, when they slip
inside its range, let loose with all the torpedoes of its sister
ships. Because of this, consider squadroning Dominators
with a Gothic or Tyrant class cruiser (or possibly both).
BATTLECRUISERS
Overlord Class Battlecruiser
Strengths:
Long range, heavy turret options, good weapons
strength.
Weaknesses:
expensive, requires 4 weapons batteries to
build.
There is no going wrong with an Overlord class battlecruiser.
It is a very self-sufficient vessel; something of a rarity in the
Imperial list. It can stand and fight unsupported for a turn or
two and batter an opponent in a one-on-one duel, something
most Imperial vessels struggle to do. Between the Overlord
and the Mars, the Overlord is the safer choice, though the
Mars provides a gamble many veterans are glad to take.
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The only telling flaw of the Overlord is that it isolates itself
from the rest of the Imperial fleet with its long range guns.
It often wants to begin firing broadsides into the enemy
fleet sooner than its shorter ranged counterparts. Up
close it fares little better than a Lunar for half again as
many points. However, it escorts a Retribution or
Emperor class battleship beautifully, as both ships are able
to reach out and smash the opponent at range. Against
Eldar, it is also equally invaluable, providing a null zone
into which the pirates are loathe to send their cruisers
until the Overlord is neutralised.
can also keep harrying the opponent once a ship is finally
crippled, racing past sheltering ships to put the deathblow
to these wounded vessels.
Murder Class Cruiser
Strengths:
long range lances, respectable firepower.
Weaknesses:
painfully ‘average’, requires four gun
batteries to build.
The Murder class cruiser is very much like its Imperial
counterpart, the Lunar. One’s not bad, two working in
tandem are incredible. If you have one, get a second and
keep them working together, even squadron them if you
want (I do!). The long range lances to the fore do not do
much until they’re backed by a second ship that can reach
out that far. A second Murder easily does so, providing the
punch of a Gothic class cruiser, but at a 60cm range. If the
enemy closes, the combined firepower of 20 that the pair
can bring to bear is nothing short of intimidating. The
Murder class is a workhorse. It is the master of no art, but
it is a very worthwhile vessel.
Mars Class Battlecruiser
Strengths:
carrier, Nova cannon, improved gunnery
option, inexpensive for abilities, excellent ranged
weaponry.
Weaknesses:
undergunned up close, expensive.
The Mars is everything an elite Imperial commander could
want. It has attack craft, it has range, it has lances that
allow it to fire while closing and it has a Nova cannon. It
is a hard-hitting little monster that, in the hands of an
experienced player, is a real tough nut to crack. There’s
no easy way to take out a Mars cruiser with a conventional
fleet. If the Mars has a weakness, it’s that it is no better
than a Lunar class cruiser up close, as far as gunnery is
concerned. Its waves of attack craft will still maul any ship
that gets too close, however. Closing with it is a pain
under the continual barrage of the Nova cannon and the
accompanying lances. Under escort, the Mars often forms
the core of a small Imperial fleet and makes an impressive
flagship.
Carnage Class Cruiser
Strengths:
heavy firepower, good range.
Weaknesses:
no lances, requires 4 gun batteries to build.
The Carnage class cruiser is a dream to any player that has
been frustrated by the Eldar. With the ability to reach out
as far as 60cm with weapons battery fire, it seems almost
cruel to those pointy eared gits. Up close, the Carnage is
absolutely brutal with its potential of 16 firepower to one
side. The Carnage, however, suffers from some key
problems. The first is that it is yet another Chaos ship that
requires the use of gun batteries to build. Second, some
Chaos players find them less effective against seasoned
Ork and Imperial players, who are less likely to flinch
when the gruesome amount of firepower is brought to
bear against their armoured prows. A newer opponent
might brace, even at extreme ranges, but against high
armour values (6+), the Carnage suffers somewhat. It’s
key to get around to the rear of an enemy vessel and
pound them to dust to get the most out of the ship’s guns.
Still, for those that like a theme, the Carnage is vicious.
Downing your first Eldar cruiser will make it all
worthwhile...
CHAOS CRUISERS
Slaughter Class Cruiser
Strengths:
very fast, heavily armed, inexpensive, easy to
build.
Weaknesses:
short-ranged, too fast.
No other class of ship have I seen so often ill used in a
Chaos fleet. Many players get caught up in just how
quickly the Slaughter can move and halo them with a
couple of escorts and go straight for the enemy’s throat
ahead of their entire fleet. Of course, the Slaughter does
an impressive amount of damage and then gets crippled,
reducing its effectiveness to something comparable to a
slightly damp cloth. I have found that a Slaughter is best
used by keeping it behind a Chaos fleet and using it to
follow up attacks rather than leading them. Only once the
enemy has finally closed with the Chaos fleet does the
Slaughter jump into the fray, becoming an immediate
mobile reserve. The Slaughter has an impressive amount
of weaponry (14 firepower from combined fore and side
weapons batteries backed up by two lances) and
pouncing on a straggler or jumping an annoying
squadron of escorts can be crucial during key turns. They
Devastation Class Cruiser
Strengths:
long range lances, inexpensive carrier,
excellent turret rating, doesn’t require gun batteries to
build.
Weaknesses:
undergunned at distance the Devastation is
comparable to the Lunar class Imperial cruiser in overall
effectiveness. Both ships launch a similar spread of
ordnance (though the Devastation can boast a more
versatile variety), and have similar weapons
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displacements. The Devastation is purely a fleet-support
carrier; a hybrid that sacrifices considerable distance firing
that’s so key to the Chaos fleet for ordnance. Just
remember what you’re giving up when you take a
Devastation.
Styx Class Heavy Cruiser
Strengths:
heavy ordnance, long ranged weapons, good
weapons strength.
Weaknesses:
often forced to be Chaos fleet’s flagship.
HEAVY CRUISERS
Archeron Class Heavy Cruiser
Strengths:
heavy lance output, good turret rating, easy to
build.
Weaknesses:
undergunned in one on one duel.
The obvious merits of the Styx are that it allows a Chaos
player to launch a large amount of ordnance at an
affordable cost. The Styx is a remarkable vessel, with an
impressive array of support weaponry with excellent
range. This allows it to stay at deliberate range from the
enemy while continually launching support elements in
the form of either offensive (bombers) or defensive
(fighters) ordnance. The only catch seems to be that the
Styx is somewhat expensive. The cost may not be so
readily apparent at first until placing the Warmaster within
the fleet. The Styx is a very obvious target for any
opponent, especially one that’s keen to cripple the
ordnance capabilities of their opponent. It often proves
key to remove it as early as possible, and if isolated, the
Styx cannot endure a duel with what’s sent against it.
The Archeron is a support ship, very comparable to the
Gothic class cruiser. At 45cm, its four lances and 6
firepower which can be brought to bear on one flank do
not seem like a lot, but it’s substantial enough to bear in
mind when choosing a Chaos fleet. The Archeron is,
simply put, a poor-man’s heavy cruiser. There is nothing
spectacular about it, but it does provide the Chaos fleet
with some badly needed lance support.
Hades Class Heavy Cruiser
Strengths:
excellent fleet support ship, good forward
lance strength, inexpensive for power.
Weaknesses:
requires weapons batteries to build.
REGENTS OF THE FLEET
There is nothing, but nothing, that can stand up to the
massive power of a battleship in Battlefleet Gothic. Over
several turns, anything but a rival flagship will be pounded
into dust. Their shields and armour and turrets are proof
against almost all forms of single attack. Only en masse
can they be brought low by the enemy ships. Their
appearance is inspirational and frightening all at once.
Their timely presence can easily turn the whole course of
a game.
Everything that applies to the Murder holds true with the
Hades. The Hades is essentially a 30 point upgrade that
provides an extra pair of lances with good fire arcs. At
range, this equates to some wonderful closing shots with
the enemy, particularly if the Chaos fleet takes its time
closing the gap. In ship to ship duels, the lances
(particularly when locked-on) can provide that nice knock
out punch. When backing Murder or Carnage class ships,
the Hades shows its worth.
Admittedly, they aren’t without cost, though it’s strangely
affordable. For the price of two cruisers (and the support
of three others) a battleship can be fielded. This usually
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limits their use to games of 1,500 pts or more. In smaller
games they, like Titans in Epic, either dominate or never
do enough to earn their keeping, making them a risky use
of points. Ideally, at 2,000 pts or more, a battleship should
be fielded though it isn’t necessary to do so. They make
spectacular flagships and always make their presence felt.
Many players include at least one, if only as a centrepiece
model. Like a Lord on a Monstrous mount in Warhammer
Fantasy, they don’t always hit the field, but they’re
available now and again.
Executor Class Grand Cruiser
Strengths:
very heavy lance armament, good shields,
inexpensive.
Weaknesses:
relatively short ranged, underarmed in
cruiser duels.
On its own, the Executor suffers all of the same problems
as a Gothic class cruiser. With only lances making up its
armament, it cannot damage enemy ships fast enough in
protracted duels. Its short range means that it needs to get
in close to ensure that its damage is telling. However,
when the Executor is paired up with another Chaos ship,
its weaponry becomes very formidable, allowing it to
either knock down shields before the rest of the fleet
opens fire with gun decks, or allowing it to get the killing
blow on stricken vessels.
So, without further adieu, the big ships:
Repulsive Class Grand Cruiser
Strengths:
good armament, heavy torpedo salvos, good
turret rating, low cost.
Weaknesses:
slow, low shield & armour ratings.
The Repulsive is a dueling class of ship.Though lacking
the defensive strength of a true battleship, it has the
hitting power of most ships in that class. The Repulsive is
a hunter of cruiser-sized ships, dominating them in size
and strength. With a small 10 point upgrade, all of its gun
systems have a 45cm range that can be brought to bear. It
has the hitting power of a Slaughter class cruiser but with
an additional lance. The impressive torpedo array to the
fore gives them an ordnance threat, easily forcing an
unwary opponent to brace for impact or risk losing (on
average with most fleets) two hits from their ship.
Desolator Class Battleship
Strengths:
good lance armament, long range, very heavy
torpedo strength, fast.
Weaknesses:
undergunned, unmaneuverable.
The Desolator is the poorer choice of the two Chaos
battleships. Unspecialised, its biggest advantage is the very
long range of its guns and lance decks. Its speed allows it
to keep the enemy at very long range while continuing to
punish its advance. There should be little reason for it not
to be on lock on orders from the get go, providing a
continual barrage at the earliest moment. When the
enemy finally closes, the Desolator can let loose a
frightening amount of torpedoes which can cause even
the most stalwart of players to swerve to avoid them. The
Desolator is best backed by at least a squadron of escorts
to provide some extra short range weapons battery fire
and to prevent it from being swarmed.
Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser
Strengths:
excellent gun range, strong shields.
Weaknesses:
unimpressive armament, slow.
The first of a group of grand cruiser variants, the
Vengeance is overall an unimpressive and unimaginative
vessel. It is a workhorse style grand cruiser, very much a
ship of the line rather than a definitive flagship. For those
seeking a ship that won’t overshadow their commander’s
vessel, the Vengeance is an excellent choice.
Retaliator Class Grand Cruiser
Strengths:
well armed, well shielded.
Weaknesses:
expensive, short ranged, small carrier
capacity.
Despoiler Class Battleship
Strengths:
very heavy lance armament, very large launch
bay capacity, good range, inexpensive for power, torpedo
options.
Weaknesses:
slow, awkward lance placement towards
prow.
The Retaliator is essentially a shorter ranged Styx class
heavy cruiser with better defensive capabilities at the
sacrifice of carrier bays. The Retaliator is fully able to
engage other cruisers in gun duels while launching its
attack craft, its heavy shield and turret ratings providing
proof against cruiser-sized armaments. However, it is an
expensive ship and is unspecialised in its role.
The Despoiler is a dream come true for most Chaos
players. It is incredibly heavily armed and comes backed
with a massive carrier output. At a glance, it loses one
lance at 60cm to the Desolator, but gains an extra four
towards the front at 30cm. Though these weapons have
questionable use on a carrier, in the right hands, the
Despoiler becomes a line breaker like the Slaughter. It is
almost guaranteed that whatever vessel slips within 30cm
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