So I've been thinking about how to incorporate Neb-bs in a fleet with MC80. I clearly haven't had a chance to try this yet.

So run Yavaris in the middle with some squadrons. The famous Neb weakness is the sides so what better to protect those side than an MC80. No one will attempt to go through an MC80 just to get to a Neb. The broadside will eat any smaller flanking ship.

But doesn't the MC80 want to go sideways. It does! Which is when you peel the banana! At contact the two MC80s will peel off from the Neb opening up its big broadsides to the onrushing enemy. At this point the enemy might even be trapped and unable to escape from this focus fire.

What to do with Yavaris here is an issue. It will get chewed on or have to book it. But, it should have done some major damage by this point.

Issues: I have no idea how these ships will turn until I get them. The 2 MC80s may even collide as they fishtail their turns (or pinch the Neb). Further, ranges may make some of this unpractical. If the two MC80s end up too far apart on the turn to coordinate firepower the enemy will just choose one side to concentrate on. Turning the entire formation may also be a challenge. What to do about ships that manage to come in at an angle? Would Gallant Haven work better in the middle as a banana? Could Yavaris then follow up from behind?

Thoughts?

I like the concept. Try it out with an Assault Frigate at speed 2

I'm tempted to say that the best use of an MC80 is to plunge it straight into the middle of the enemy fleet. Then it can fire from both broadsides for a few turns before peeling off onto one side or the other. I dunno, I just feel like flying length ways around the edge of the field is wasting one of those devastating broadsides.

Slow speed is an issue, though.

I'm tempted to say that the best use of an MC80 is to plunge it straight into the middle of the enemy fleet. Then it can fire from both broadsides for a few turns before peeling off onto one side or the other.

Which is exactly how they're used in the movie, and in the EU's "Akbar Slash". Quick run into the enemy formation, and then pound them with broadsides while only taking fire from the two ships you're between.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ackbar_Slash

I'm tempted to say that the best use of an MC80 is to plunge it straight into the middle of the enemy fleet. Then it can fire from both broadsides for a few turns before peeling off onto one side or the other.

Which is exactly how they're used in the movie, and in the EU's "Akbar Slash". Quick run into the enemy formation, and then pound them with broadsides while only taking fire from the two ships you're between.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ackbar_Slash

To do it best I will be adding in Engine Techs to get that needed speed for a few turns

The benefit of a formation like this is they would have the option to slash if the enemy is spread wide.

One problem with the slash is if the enemy keeps a tight formation you can't get between them.

Sounds even better with AFs with gunnery teams. Maybe try that out, gain some experience.

If the enemy comes in at an angle, say 45* from the left, the left side could open with a 90* left turn while the right side keeps going straight.

My big concern is a couple of ISDs with gunnery teams. This formation might be better for them than the rebels.

...lewd

anyway, the Nebs weakness become dramatically less pronounced and the ship becomes far more easy to integrate with strafers (Such as the fattie) if you include the immaculate garm as your commander. The navigate token and the Neb's amazing chart at speed 3 make life a lot easier when it comes to your positioning.

and it'll probably be a legit pairing. Nebs (apart from yavaris) suck at close range, but Mr. Mon Cal is throwing 7-8 (you did bring Defiance right?) at medium range and that's insane.

when Wave 2 hits, I'm trading up my Afmk2 + 2 nebs for a Mon cal and 3 nebs

I kind of tested this with 2x nebs abreast and an afii on each side. they are better starting at an angle but can still choose to keep formation or peel off depending what the enemy does. Any gladiator coming forward would feel alot of heat!

I guess the issue I'm stuck on is that, while you're closing the gap you're stuck with poor firepower from your forward arcs. And once you're in position for broadsides, you're wasting that strong front arc on your Neb B's. It seems like MC30s would be much better ships to accompany the MC80 since they basically want to do the same thing and can complement each other easily.

I'm really looking for a way to make the Neb Bs work, but I'm struggling. They always seem like the weak link in any fleet I put together.

You peel off before contact. If you get it just right, they then have to approach first giving you the first shots.

You peel off before contact. If you get it just right, they then have to approach first giving you the first shots.

works just fine

having the mc80 come in at an angle from the side while the Nebs form the middle works just fine, especially when you got some squadrons compensating for any facing related issue

so far, all that's happened (with a fattie instead of a mon cal) against imperials was their GSDs got forced to engage, broke their teeth on a bunch of B-wings, and then the whole formation Garmed to speed 3 and ran for the hills

havn't had an imperial think to match all those red dice with GSDs yet, probably because they can't

But doesn't that leave your Nebs super vulnerable once you peel off?

I'll admit, I haven't had the opportunity to play more than a dozen games so I'm still learning a lot of things but this is what's going on in my head.

You form a sandwhich MC80s on the outside, and Nebs on the inside. All point toward the enemy, travelling at speed one for the Nebs and two for the Mon Cals. On turn two, you split, with the Mon Cals peeling off to either side to present their broadsides to the opponents. The Nebs continue to face forwards and reduce speed to 1 to remain at long range for as long as possible.

What I see happening next is the other fleet destroying the Nebs with relative ease since they're now exposed and then wrapping up the unsupported MC80s.

The only other option I can think of is to have the Nebulons peel off WITH the Mon Cals and use their own (tiny) broadsides. With expanded armaments and making use of Ackbar, you can get a decent long ranged broadside out of them.

In an ideal world I'd like to thread my ships through the gaps in the enemy fleet, firing broadsides in both directions as I go, then peeling off behind the enemy ships to continue the barrage. Then at least the Nebs would get to use their three red dice on the approach, and then fire some five/six dice broadsides in the thick of things. I also feel like I'd get more utility out of my fighters, particularly B Wings, in this sort of match. The obvious catch is if the enemy simply positions his ships to block you and you get boxed in in his front arcs.

I guess at the end of the day, I'm struggling to find a role for the Nebulons that the MC30s don't do better.

I've never been attracted to the idea of the Nebulon as a line ship. It's strengths and weaknesses have already been discussed at length, and combined they just don't provide a package that I want to spam more than one of. It requires too much babysitting to keep aggressive ships off the sides, or to attempt to make a full 180 to keep its front arc bearing. Even the films only take one Nebulon.

The real strength of the Nebulon is in its titles. As we move up into the higher points bracket, I think we'll start to see Nebulons used as more of a fleet multiplier, as a one off support ship. Yavaris has seen a lot of buzz lately, and is amazing with squadrons. Raymus can get you that coveted third activation every turn, with a slight increase in survivability when it comes tune to move a few shields around. I think a support Redemption will go a long way in an a MC30/80 heavy fleet. We saw how integral engineering commands were to the Gencon Special list. Salvation has been used as a cheap source of long range fire, not that rebels are in dire need of that, but a lot of the new upgrades enhance that even further. Most of these ships, save Yavaris, will be only a secondary target in a larger fleet as well, so should be able to do their job without being mobbed.

I've been using a sort of "banana peel" tactic to screen my Yavaris from any gladiators in a being list I'm currently using, and it's allowed Yavaris to live through every game. Using a MKIIB to intercept the gladiators on whichever side they are on, and bodyblock while the AF and B-wings line up the kill has been working beautifully. Having more points for ships to cover both sides may be excellent, but it does force you into a symmetrical plan which may or may not be exploitable by an opponent.

Nebs are just dandy as filler, and their vulnerability is hilariously overstated on the forums

reason being: holy **** that speed 3 chart

you have to think less redcoat and more hit-and-run

Once they've done their job escorting squadrons into the thick of things and piling in the red dice, crank up to 3 and gtfo

of course, I'm talking about the Escort Frigate here. There is no more economical package for anti-squadron and squadron control in the game, and they hit very decently (and Yavaris is simply disgusting ). If you're looking to run just Support Refits, I'd recommend the CR-90 instead.

Apart from Salvation, nebs just don't make much sense without Squadrons in mind. If I had to pick an actual, significant weakness for the ship it'd be their lack of impressive damage output without the title or squadron support.

cr-90s pop out the same amount of dice for cheaper, and far more easily (cmd 1, dat nav chart)