Using Flotillas as Emergency Breaks?

By corlinjewell, in Star Wars: Armada

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Obviously this would have very situational use, but I could see scenarios where you really didn't want to have one of your own ships moveyet (because you would move into range of the enemy too soon, hit an obstacle, etc.). Based on how the flotilla rules work, you could move a flotilla in the way (taking advantage of their (hopefully) good agility) and then ONLY the flotilla takes a damage card when your friendly rams into it. Just a thought....

EDIT: Yes, I spelled Brakes wrong in the title

Edited by corlinjewell
Posted at

Perfectly Legal? Yes.

Useful? Perhaps. But it does involve exposing a very fragile target to both basic damage and puts them in front of something they'd often want to be hiding behind...

So its probably going to end up being very situational, and dependant on points costs involved.

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True. They are fragile and could die but that scatter might save them. Alternatively the strategy could be used to keep a good firing arc for an important ship for an extra turn.

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Could. But they're still going to potentially block LOS (provide an obstruction)...

So yes, it will be very situational. Not dismissing the idea in entirety at all - I just feel its something that you're either planning from the start to do as a strategy - or something that will happen very infrequently off-the-cuff as to not plan it at all :D

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I think the reverse is more likely by boxing an opponents ship in a kill zone. but I can see it going both ways.

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or perhaps as a blocker, cutting off routes for your opponents last activating DEMO??

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My plan right now is to keep my flotillas at the edges of the battle, screened by the bigger ships. If I can keep them there, they are the perfect first activation both to make my opponent move, and to use their fleet support abilities that turn on larger ships. right now I have plans to use Raymus Antilles on one with comm. network to be a command token factory every turn.

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The thing is, the fleet support upgrades seem really powerful, so running a flotilla without seems unlikely. So effectively you have a fragile ship with potent support skills, making a viable target for the enemy. Throwing it away seems wasteful.

(Adding a captain, also seems dangerous as that starts to add a lot of points to a weak base, but i bet someone puts their admiral on one at some point)

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The thing is, the fleet support upgrades seem really powerful, so running a flotilla without seems unlikely. So effectively you have a fragile ship with potent support skills, making a viable target for the enemy. Throwing it away seems wasteful.

(Adding a captain, also seems dangerous as that starts to add a lot of points to a weak base, but i bet someone puts their admiral on one at some point)

Yep, Screeds new ride. :)

I have to agree that using a flotilla for braking isn't going to be an every game occurrence, but keep it in mind. If only to be ready if your opponent does it.

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I hate HOMOPHONES, they all SOUND THE SAME TO ME.

brake 1

(brāk)

n.
1. A device for slowing or stopping motion, as of a vehicle, especially by contact friction.
2. Something that slows or stops action.
v. braked, brak·ing, brakes
v.tr.
To reduce the speed of with or as if with a brake.
v.intr.
1. To operate or apply a brake.

2. To be slowed or stopped by or as if by the operation of a brake.

break

(brāk)

v. broke (brōk), bro·ken (brō′kən), break·ing, breaks
v.tr.
1. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
2.
a. To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting: break crackers for a baby.
b. To separate into components or parts: broke the work into discrete tasks.
3. To snap off or detach: broke a twig from the tree.
4.
a. To cause to undergo a fracture of (a bone, for example): The impact of the fall broke his leg.
b. To experience a fracture in (a bone, for example): I broke my wrist when skateboarding.
5. To crack without separating into pieces: broke the mirror.
6.
a. To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items): broke the set of books by giving some away.
b. To exchange for smaller monetary units: break a dollar.
7. To vary or disrupt the uniformity or continuity of: a plain that was broken by low hills; caught the ball withoutbreaking stride.
8. Electricity To render (a circuit) inoperative by disruption; open.
9. To open (a shotgun or similar firearm) at the breech, as for loading or cleaning.
10.
a. To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate: The blade barely broke the skin.
b. To part or pierce the surface of: a dolphin breaking water.
11. To produce (a sweat) copiously on the skin, as from exercise.
12. To force one's way out of; escape from: break jail.
13. To make or bring about by cutting or forcing: break a trail through the woods.
14.
a. To find an opening or flaw in: They couldn't break my alibi.
b. To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: break a code; break a spyring.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Edited by Geressen
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OP already noted the mistake. So... you're cool. Yay for you.

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Now that I'm thinking about it, how about a ship with projection experts to boost the suitability of fleet support flotillas?