Tau Guardian Class Battleship

[Ravager Zero]

Tau Guardian Class Battleship....................................................360pts


After many engagements and skirmishes with the fleets of other races, the Tau learned that they had a great need for a ship that could go toe-to-toe with the equivalent of an imperial battleship. The Guardian class was originally derived from a retro-fitted Custodian class carrier. The Ventral Grav Hooks were stripped out due to combat damage, and in their place were put massive Ion Cannon batteries and back-up reactors to power them beyond normal specifications. The extra space used also added considerably to the vessels overall bulk, making it slightly more durable than any other Tau battleships.

TYPE/HITS	SPEED	TURNS	SHIELDS	ARMOUR	TURRETS
Battleship/12	20cm	45º	2	5+	5

ARMAMENT	RANGE/SPEED	FPR/STR	FIRE ARC
Prow Launch Bays	Barracudas 25cm Mantas 20cm	2 Squadrons	N/A
Dorsal Railgun Batteries	60cm	4	Front/Left/Right
Port Railgun Batteries	45cm	6	Front/Left
Starboard Railgun Batteries	45cm	6	Front/Right
Port Ion Cannons	30cm	3	Front/Left
Starboard Ion Cannons	30cm	3	Front/Right

Notes
Deflector: All Guardians are equipped with powerful Deflectors fields, raising their front armour to 6. This is disabled by a prow critical hit.

Tracking Systems All Guardians are equipped with specialised sensor arrays, giving them a significant advantage in long-range combat. A Guardian counts as having tracking systems.

Enhanced Ion Cannons: If the vessel is currently on Lock-On special orders the range of its Ion Cannons may be increased to 45cm for that turn only. However, if this is done it strips power from other systems. The ship loses it's Prow Deflector & Tracking Systems until the end of the Tau player's next turn.

[lorddemon]

My main problems are three, one with rules and one with fluff, one with use:

Ruleswise, there is no criticals to hit the Ventral weapons. This is one reason I oppose any special new weapon locations. Dorsal might work better, but that doesn't quite work with the description.

Fluff wise, it somehow doesn't fit the general Tau style. Most Tau capital ships have launchbays, even if it is only few. I think this could use a launch bay on each side, to better fit the fleet and as defence. The special rule is very against the Tau way, usually everything in Tau fleet has been tested heavily and is reliable. The critical doesn't fit them. Maybe have the range increase on lock on without the critical. It is not that big deal IMO.

But the third is use: What is the use of this ship? It has firepower, but not that much. You can have two heroes at same price (or 2 protectors I think), and they are a bit more durable due to the shields. IMO it's too fragile to be used as a line breaker, too expensive to be used as a support vessel, and too cumbersome as a flanker or hunting stragglers. It is a (sort of) working ship. But what is it's use?

[Ravager Zero]

Significantly changed the stats.
Prow Battery replaced with 2sq Launch Bay (as you say, all Tau Capital ships seem to have a launch capacity).
Port/Starboard Batteries and Lances have increased Strength.
Deflector added (any combat design Capital Ship seems to have one), Tracking Systems added, Enhanced Ion Cannons changed slightly.

Fluff, and use:
The ship is designed to strike quickly and powerfully at distance to soften up a target for the rest of the fleet to engage safely. The Tracking systems help with this as they allow the ship engage targets at long range without penalty. It can also act as a line breaker, putting out a crippling volley in one round at short range, or hunt stragglers, picking off lighter ships at long distance.

The only problem I see now is that it may be undercosted.

[lorddemon]

I don't think so. It has plenty of firepower, but short range. Also, if forced to split the firepower, it will not be that much. I think you can let the launch bays be normal, ship that size can carry manta without problems, even in it's current upgunned status. You still have ventral Ino cannons in the explanation, but that is nothing major. The lose ofDeflector is actually quite interesting idea, certainly more Tauish then the critical hit.

Try playtesting that a bit, see if it is too good ortoo bad.

[Ravager Zero]

Added Mantas, fixed the EIC description.
I'll have to playtest over VASSAL when I next have some spare time. (the chances of finding a BFG player here are slim to anorexic )

[Yurrath (aka Rezzy)]

When you think this design is ready and balanced just shoot me a PM and I'll add it to the Unofficial Rules page on the website.

[Wargamer]

To be honest, I think it's good to go. Realistically, it's not a scary ship (compare it to other Battleships, which can engage from 60cm away). I say stick it up.

[Yurrath (aka Rezzy)]

I've added this to the website now.

[Ravager Zero]

So, after playtesting this ship earlier today, and noticing the 45cm range weapons that come as standard on a Protector Warship, I think some changes are in order.
Firstly, the Port/Starboard Railguns should be 45cm range.
The Prow Railguns could be 60cm, but only S4, but upping the Port/Starboard Railguns to S6 (so the total S stays the same).
Finally, the Enhanced Ion Cannons should double the range of the Ion Cannons, up to 60cm.

But, with these changes, I think the ship should be a little more expensive.
-First Post Edited-

Now, with those changes in place, this ship becomes more of a threat at long range, but if it utilises its Ion Cannons at long range it leaves itself vulnerable to fire, and less effective at long range during the following turn.

At short-medium range though, this ship becomes absolutely brutal, but is only likely to get off a single turn of focused shooting, two at the most. (unless you're playing Orks, but then again, it's Orks )

[lorddemon]

I think 6 lances up to 60 is a bit much. Specially since the downsides are less likely to come into play. (not so much return fire from that range). I'd keep the lances at 45 on lock on, and try that.

[Ravager Zero]

Okay, brought it down to 45cm again.
What if it was 2 x S2 Lances at 60cm on Lock-On? (to keep the range, but reduce the power)

[lorddemon]

Would be better ruleswise, but will it be too complicated? Fluff wise, the Tau don't seem to have long range lances, focusing more on torpedoes for long rane support. I think the heavy long range lances would be sort of "untauish", but that is just my opinion