Well I have shown sensor teams to in fact be epic in some circumstances.
Now to do the same for clusters...
Issue is that Sensor teams are good, people just ignored them. Cluster Bombs are 5 extra points that dont do much unless you roll great.
I still maintain that I would of paid 5 points for an effect that allowed me to discard the Cluster Bombs to hit the squadron in question and all other squadrons at Distance 1 of that squadron (yes friendlies included) with 3 Black dice
Well I have shown sensor teams to in fact be epic in some circumstances.
Now to do the same for clusters...
I eagerly await reports of your success!
There are some lists that could use Cluster Bombs to deter bombers like Keyan and Luke. Not so much Rhymer since his strength isn't shooting, but enabling others to shoot.
Take an AF2A with cluster bombs. Coupled with a few describes it can quickly kill a key squadron, by pushing it across the destruction threshold several turns earlier than it otherwise would.
So in isolation it's not useless.
But 5 points and uses the defensive slot, for a mediocre niche discard effect?
No.
Cr90 swarm with cluster bombs. SW7 to flavor.
Cluster bombs, what a topic.
Each defensive retrofit has a key situation in which it thrives. Cluster bombs requires a meta in which you see tons of squadrons, preferably ace squadrons, but expensive squadrons will do. If that's your meta, then Cluster bombs starts looking like a good cheap way to support your own squads. If the enemy has invested a lot in bombers, then he's usually brought Intel and wants to avoid your squadrons to go after your ship. If you can remove Nym because of the combined force of your squads and CB, then things are starting to look good. Dropping one key bomber can sometimes be the difference between living and dying, especially as you remove its damage potential across several rounds.
Mathematically, its damage is just fine. The A-wing is a nice comparison. You pay 11 points for about 3.5 average points of damage. I'm counting one regular attack and 2 counter rolls. If your opponent has brought some strong AS himself or damage mitigation, that might be less. If you're not facing much in the way of squads, then you might get 5. Of course, you get the flexibility of adding to your deployments and being able to turn against ships when the squadron game is over. I think the key for all AS upgrades on ships is that you definitely need your own squads (or lots of ship AS) to bring that squadron to the point of destruction.
That takes us to the final point of objection, that it eats a slot that you'd rather spend on something else. Maybe. I play plenty of Rebel lists, and usually I find I'm taking the defensive upgrades on the expensive ships and leaving the upgrades off the cheaper ones. This is what I see at the table as well. In other words, there are ships out there that could take Cluster bombs. On the expensive ships, I think you get a meta choice between the upgrades. If you're facing XI7 on ISDII a lot, then you need ECM to bring that huge damage total down. If you're facing Gladiators, then Advanced Projectors looks better. Redundant Shields really requires a strategy where you plan on taking damage over multiple rounds. None of these upgrades are going to be great in a heavy bomber list, or in a more general heavy squadron list. So in short, which of the many upgrades you take is going to be a question of your overall strategy and your appreciation of the current meta.
Well I have shown sensor teams to in fact be epic in some circumstances.
Now to do the same for clusters...
I eagerly await reports of your success!
My first version for testing. Not majorly confident. My theory is that lack of non heavy squads mean cluster can be hugely threatening to certain squads.
Cluster bombs
Author: Ginkapo
Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 400/400
Commander: Garm Bel Iblis
Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Fire Lanes
Navigation Objective: Intel Sweep
Assault Frigate Mark II A (81 points)
- Ruthless Strategists ( 4 points)
- Cluster Bombs ( 5 points)
= 90 total ship cost
GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bright Hope ( 2 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 32 total ship cost
[ flagship ] Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Garm Bel Iblis ( 25 points)
- Ruthless Strategists ( 4 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- Cluster Bombs ( 5 points)
= 110 total ship cost
CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Jainas Light ( 2 points)
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits ( 7 points)
= 53 total ship cost
7 Y-Wing Squadrons ( 70 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)
2 YT-1300s ( 26 points)
Card view link
Fleet created with Armada Warlords
Well I have shown sensor teams to in fact be epic in some circumstances.
Now to do the same for clusters...
I eagerly await reports of your success!
My first version for testing. Not majorly confident. My theory is that lack of non heavy squads mean cluster can be hugely threatening to certain squads.
Cluster bombs
Author: Ginkapo
Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 400/400
Commander: Garm Bel Iblis
Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Fire Lanes
Navigation Objective: Intel Sweep
Assault Frigate Mark II A (81 points)
- Ruthless Strategists ( 4 points)
- Cluster Bombs ( 5 points)
= 90 total ship cost
GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bright Hope ( 2 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 32 total ship cost
[ flagship ] Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Garm Bel Iblis ( 25 points)
- Ruthless Strategists ( 4 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- Cluster Bombs ( 5 points)
= 110 total ship cost
CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Jainas Light ( 2 points)
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits ( 7 points)
= 53 total ship cost
7 Y-Wing Squadrons ( 70 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)
2 YT-1300s ( 26 points)
Card view link
Fleet created with Armada Warlords
I agree with certain squads but they have to attack you for it to activate