Hi all,

Just a quick one really - looking at BFG stock cruiser models, which one do you think is the best in terms of Rogue Trading and what you get for the points? Assuming Vitae Life Sustainers and Voidsman quarters with no component downgrades and including the armoured prow where applicable :-

A stock Lunar comes in at 70SP, 3 free space

A stock Dominator comes in at 69SP, 6 free space

A stock Dictator comes in at 69SP, 5 free space

A stock Tyrant (using 2 x Regular Ryza and 2 x Good Craftsmanship (Range) Ryza batteries each side to more or less match BFG stats) at 73SP, 13 free space

A stock Gothic comes in at way more than 73SP due to the necessity for higher craftsmanship components to save power and space, a warcruiser drive + auxiliary plasmas so can't be a starting ship in most instances

From what I have read, the Dictator probably makes the best RT flagship but issues about affording the small craft and torpedoes would be a concern. The stock Tyrant has room to customise, and if you use Hecutors you could get better range and more space.

I must say, that of the "stock" models, my inclination would be for a Dominator...

Your thoughts and comments - and corrections if I got my admittedly quick calculations wrong - would be welcome. I know most RTs would strip out components to free up space and points, but hopefully you get my drift here.

well must say I am a fan of the Tyrant as the Gothic is just to hard to make work and the Dictator is so heavy on the requisition tests

I am a fan of the Dictator.

The small craft may come at a cost, but you can use them for way more stuff than just naval battles - it's a big game-changer (more precise/controllable than macro-batteries).

E.g.: why deal with Ansai's bull in Vaporius when you can precisely plasma-bomb his throne room/palace with a Marauder/Starhawk while leaving the city intact? (dropping auto-temple in the crater optional)

Oh, that sneaky RT trader is running away with his fast-moving ship? Not if your bombers get to him first.

You were attacked by hordes of orks/rakgoul/etc while planetside? Bomb them.

The GM showed up with a Rak Gol gunship he intended to use as a boss? Call in the Fury Interceptors.

A rival's guncutter has been shutdown by xeno interceptors? "Rescue" your rival (read ransom).

Deny rival's access to ground - blockade planets.

Or at least that's what my players have actually done with their Dictator.

If ship points aren't an issue, I have a lot of fondness for the Ambition, the Dictator, and the Endeavour Light Cruiser just because I like torpedoes. Of course, I also dig the Conquest-Class Star Galleon, in part because I started on that a year ago and we've carved out a little empire with it pretty nicely, and in spite of its shortcomings, which I firmly admit are shortcomings, I've been able to blast the unholy hell out of Cruisers and other ships that had me outgunned with it. The Tyrant-class is also nice.

RAW it's hard to beat the Ambition. Armor doesn't matter, the loss of hull integrity is small, a slight gain to maneuverability, a better gain to detection, and all for 3 SP less than the standard (Lunar). It's an efficient design that will pack the punch of any of the other cruisers.

Using Math-hammer or other house rules, the Dictator shines. Then again, if you house rule small craft then they become less attractive.