 | Main - Tactics - Fiction - Rumours - Army Features |
Tactica: Gothica Chaotica - Mordax Tenebrae | |
THE BATTLESHIPSThought I’d start with the big boys first. These are by no means essential although you may want to consider getting one when your fleet starts going over the 1500 mark.CHAOS DESPOILER CLASS BATTLESHIP At 400 points this is not a cheap ship. It is however the largest carrier a standard Chaos fleet has access to. With a massive 8 launch bays it is the equivalent of its Imperial counterpart, the Emperor class. Although more expensive than the Imperial ship, the Despoiler is faster (20cm) and has long range weaponry. This means it is more suited to a stand-off role, using its attack craft to engage the enemy along with its longer ranged lances and weapon batteries. One of the peculiarities of this ship is that it has a strength 4 prow lance battery that has a short range of 30cm. This can however, be exchanged for 10 pts for a strength 8 torpedo launcher which is more befitting its long range role. Due to its cost, the Despoiler is a real love it/hate it ship which may be suited to some players more than others. CHAOS DESOLATOR CLASS BATTLESHIP This is by far one of the cheapest battleships out there at only 300 pts. At first glance it can appear somewhat under gunned. Don’t let this fool you as the Desolator is a very capable ship. It is fast, at 25cm it has the speed to keep up with its supporting cruisers rather than slowing them down as the Despoiler can. Its modest dorsal weapons batteries are complemented by a strength 4 lance battery on either side. All its guns have a 60cm range and these are joined by a strength 9 torpedo launcher in the prow. These are reasonably priced, formidable ships and one of these should be on your shopping list if you want to build a larger fleet with an emphasis on big guns rather than attack craft. THE GRAND CRUISERSThese should be thought of as being midway between the battleships and cruisers/heavy cruisers although they have the same selection restrictions as battleships They have 10 hull points, decent armament and are very reasonably priced. Their downsides are that their weapons tend to be shorter ranged than the rest of the Chaos fleet and with a speed of only 20cm, they are slower (although just as fast as most standard Imperial cruisers). What they are good at is being used as pocket battleships in smaller games. Their heavy firepower in a smaller, cheaper package means that they are a popular choice for many players.CHAOS REPULSIVE CLASS GRAND CRUISER This is probably the best of the grand cruisers. In fact it’s a bloody marvelous ship. At 230 pts it is a bargain, with strength 14 weapons batteries on either side with a range of 45cm it can deliver a fearsome broadside. Added to this is a strength 3 dorsal lance battery, the range of which can be upped to 45cm for a modest 10 pts. The ship also has a strength 6 torpedo launcher in the prow which can also prove useful. The ship only has 2 shields although I have a feeling that a recent FAQ stated that this could be upgraded to 3 for a certain amount of points (but I cant remember exactly). All this combined with its 10 hull points makes for a dangerous proposition for any opponent. A pair of Repulsives in a large fleet can be a real intimidation factor. CHAOS VENGEANCE CLASS GRAND CRUISER This ship is available to both Chaos and Imperial fleets and should be thought of as a real workhorse. Its has long range guns with a decent strength 10 weapons battery and a pair of lances on either side. It is the same price as the Repulsive though perhaps not as flexible as it has no forward firing weapons. Like the following grand cruisers it is slower but well shielded with a decent turret value. All in all, a very reasonable ship that wont overshadow your fleet flagship. CHAOS EXECUTOR CLASS GRAND CRUISER This is an inexpensive ship for what it can do. At 210 pts it is easily affordable but requires some careful thought as to how you will use it in conjunction with the rest of your fleet. The reason; it is an all-lance armed vessel. These lances are all short range and mounted in port and starboard batteries so do not count on this ship to add its weight of fire when closing with the enemy. With its 3 shields and 10 hits it is highly survivable and its lance armament can do serious damage to any high armoured enemy like necrons or space marines. The key is to support this ship with something that can knock down the enemy shields first with massed weapons batteries (like a carnage class, or a squadron of escorts) so the Executors heavy lance armament can take its toll. All in all, an inexpensive, tough ship that requires careful use to get the best from it. CHAOS RETALIATOR CLASS GRAND CRUISER An odd one this. The Retaliator is best thought of as a beefier Styx class with less launch bays and shorter range weapons. At 275 pts It is slightly cheaper than the Styx but is still a very expensive ship who’s role can be easily filled by less expensive ships such as the Devastation class cruiser. Again it is as tough as the Executor but it is of limited use and is not a very popular ship due to its obsolescence. However, if you are looking for something different then the Retaliator makes for an interesting choice for any Chaos fleet commander. THE HEAVY CRUISERSThese are of the same size as standard cruisers but are often fitted with a heavier armament and usually have a better turret rating. You need 2 standard cruisers for every heavy cruiser in your fleet. Other than that, all 3 of the Chaos heavy cruisers are excellent ships in their own right.CHAOS STYX CLASS HEAVY CRUISER The strengths of this vessel are obvious on paper. With 6 launch bays and modest though very long ranged weaponry it has no real equivalent in the Imperial fleet. The Styx is a very capable carrier that can launch large waves of attack craft from a distance. The downside of this ship is its cost. At 290 pts it is almost in battleship territory, this often forces the Styx into the role of fleet flagship, something for which it is not suited due to its cruiser standard hull and shield rating. When using the Styx keep it supported by another vessel with heavy firepower as the Styx cannot endure one on one gunnery duels. CHAOS HADES CLASS HEAVY CRUISER This vessel is an good ship when closing with the enemy. It has a very heavy, long ranged lance armament that can deliver punishing blows once the enemy shields are down. It is best though of as the Murder classes bigger, meaner brother and should be used in a similar way. At 200 pts it is inexpensive for its capabilities and when paired with a Carnage class cruiser, these two become a force to be reckoned with. Pairing it with a second Hades gives you a squadron that can produce 8 60cm lances in the forward arc of fire, or 4 to the left and right. This combined with the ships not inconsiderable port and starboard weapons batteries makes for a brutal long range duelist. CHAOS ACHERON CLASS HEAVY CRUISER The Acheron has a decent lance output which combined with its dorsal weapons batteries can contribute effectively to any firefight. It has a fine turret rating but is still somewhat under gunned for a ship of its type. It works best when abeam to the enemy, enabling the chaos player to make use of its side lances as well. This can lead to 6 WB’s followed up by 4 lances at 45cm. Not too bad. Other than that it is not a very spectacular ship and if I had to recommend 1 heavy cruiser it would be the superb Hades class. Next: Cruisers and Escorts | |
Want to discuss this? Or anything else? | |
Main - Tactics - Fiction - Rumours - Army Features | |