The MC-80 battlecruiser specifically. I've been playing with it today, mostly because I bought it and wanted it to see the table.
She's very maneuverable.

She's also a total and utter piece of junk.

In theory a maneuverable ship seems good, yes? but considering that an ISD can also go speed 3, even if you can get behind one you can no longer catch her (even with engine techs you can barely catch her).
I've come to the conclusion that she's good for chasing down smaller ships, but shouldn't go near an ISD. Even from the rear she can't guarantee a kill within 6 turns against a running ISD.

Thoughts anyone? Someone help me justify my £30...

I don't understand the issue? You don't like it because it can't chase down an ISD?

Personally, I love using mine with engine techs and madine. Thing is crazy maneuverable, especially for a large based ship.

Their job IS to chase down smaller ships and run away from an ISD. That's the point of it...

Yes I agree, she's crazy maneuverable. But to what end?
She has to go somewhere useful, and for 40 points of Madine + techs you have to get your points, so how do you use yours?

... but with the right load out (two turbo laser slots - that's unique to date) she can savage an ISD by getting behind them (engine techs and Madine make this easier).

Walex Blissex helps add some defence (you can burn that single redirect safely knowing you'll get it back) and the Endeavour title adds a contain if needed.

As with all and any ship, sorry to say but problems with them are down to pilot (ie us) error. The Lib is a particularly potent speed 4 laser monster in the right hands.

4 minutes ago, stuuk said:

Yes I agree, she's crazy maneuverable. But to what end?
She has to go somewhere useful, and for 40 points of Madine + techs you have to get your points, so how do you use yours?

It's the cheapest large ship in the game so it's primarily useful as a super-maneuverable (with Madine and Engine Techs) bully that hunts down small and medium ships and takes their lunch money hull points. You can use it as a cheap bargain bin ISD-II with other commanders but you need to keep the upgrades light.

It's not that the LMC80 can't put a beating on an ISD - it can - it's just that it's not really designed to do so or to win that fight unless there's extenuating circumstances. It's cheaper, so that's fair.

Here is how you always lose with an MC80:

Deploy so the first maneuver will end off the map.

Boom.

You lost.

While you're at it, you could do your entire fleet like that.

I rather like a fully loaded MC80 with LS, GT, ET, H9 and SA. It kills anything except for other MC80s and ISDs.

Surely though once you load her out to be a killing machine you're paying ISD points for something that isn't designed to kill an ISD.
I had my loaded out MC-80 today consistently failing to take down ISD's from the side.

..whereas should they have a reasonable small target, they probably don't need all the upgrades to kill it

25 minutes ago, stuuk said:

The MC-80 battlecruiser specifically. I've been playing with it today, mostly because I bought it and wanted it to see the table.
She's very maneuverable.

She's also a total and utter piece of junk.

In theory a maneuverable ship seems good, yes? but considering that an ISD can also go speed 3, even if you can get behind one you can no longer catch her (even with engine techs you can barely catch her).
I've come to the conclusion that she's good for chasing down smaller ships, but shouldn't go near an ISD. Even from the rear she can't guarantee a kill within 6 turns against a running ISD.

Thoughts anyone? Someone help me justify my £30...

I can respond later or I can PM you. But the MC80 Home one is probably the best large ship in the game... Are you saying the MC80Liberty? Most people are having a huge hard time playing it. Regionals data supports that.

1 minute ago, stuuk said:

Surely though once you load her out to be a killing machine you're paying ISD points for something that isn't designed to kill an ISD.
I had my loaded out MC-80 today consistently failing to take down ISD's from the side.

You can't expect it to take it out by itself. And it a weaker ISD, but more importantly the Rebels can have it.

I've seen MC80L die more often to Glads and MC30s than to ISDs for what it's worth. They just can't survive APT and black dice very well. The single Redirect really hurts them.

1 minute ago, Blail Blerg said:

I can respond later or I can PM you. But the MC80 Home one is probably the best large ship in the game... Are you saying the MC80Liberty? Most people are having a huge hard time playing it. Regionals data supports that.

the battle cruiser is the Liberty, so I don't know why you were confused here. Yeah, it's pretty bad ship. It needs madine or constant nav commands to remain relevant throughout the fight. Still not as bad as the Pelta though.

While I'm not a fan of the Mc80L I can tell you for sure she can knock the teeth off an ISD if run correctly. As an ISD player, I am always cautious when I see one or two of those chilling in their fleet...

2 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

You can't expect it to take it out by itself. And it a weaker ISD, but more importantly the Rebels can have it.

I've seen MC80L die more often to Glads and MC30s than to ISDs for what it's worth. They just can't survive APT and black dice very well. The single Redirect really hurts them.

I wonder if someone tried Endeavor + Damage control officer....

1 minute ago, Sybreed said:

I wonder if someone tried Endeavor + Damage control officer....

An extra 9 points? I'm better off taking a flotilla and hoping to block the incoming ship than trying to stay alive. The APT hurts, but its the H9 to Redirect and taking a ton of damage into the side.

I usually run mine with Madine, X17s, Spinals, Leading Shots, Engine Techs and Gunnery Teams/Sensor Teams (And Walex if I have points). I do spam nav commands with them. I can't tell you how many times I've hammered an ISD to the front with one in medium range then immediately move and with the engine techs/+3 maw move to the side and angled so that it's completely out of its front arc and ready to circle around behind it or run down behind their line to a second ship. With spinals it's got the same forward firepower as an ISD but can be much more maneuverable and faster. I love the thing. I know a lot of others hate it because it can't get ECMs, but I don't mind much.

34 minutes ago, stuuk said:

I've come to the conclusion that she's good for chasing down smaller ships, but shouldn't go near an ISD.

Correct. It will wreck little ships, but will be outmatched (typically) by ISDs.

15 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

Here is how you always lose with an MC80:

Deploy so the first maneuver will end off the map.

Boom.

You lost.

Stop giving away these CC strategies! (aka I hate this ship it must face permadeath!)

15 minutes ago, Blail Blerg said:

I can respond later or I can PM you. But the MC80 Home one is probably the best large ship in the game... Are you saying the MC80Liberty? Most people are having a huge hard time playing it. Regionals data supports that.

Liberty. Who's currently shooting the side of a VSD and doing much better in this game. Stayed away from the ISD and targetted the smaller destroyer.

2 minutes ago, stuuk said:

Liberty. Who's currently shooting the side of a VSD and doing much better in this game. Stayed away from the ISD and targetted the smaller destroyer.

Attaboy.

Just had a similar conversation..... Gahbag. Seriously though it can be good in certain situations

So I did get out of the front arc of the destroyer, it looked awesome. But now I have no shot for this turn. Next turn will be okay, but she's out of the fight for a go.

Yep waste of space. The MC-80 side firing monster earned points as they always do. The Liberty moved a long way and looked very impressive but let down the side and almost lost me the game.

I think like a lot (most) Rebel ships it takes a lot of practice, maybe especially so with the Lib (the MC30 is another one that takes getting used to).

Time and practice - the Lib is a monster in the right hands.

Myself and another player both turned up to an event last year with a 7 activation Lib list each (no fighters - i think we were the only players there out of about 17 without them). I had a similar experience to yourself and my Lib got hammered in 3 games. The other guy got to the top three on the strength of his Lib flying. A player experienced in Lib handling is dangerous prospect.

I failed with it too in similar ways. Then I had games where it wrecked 2 vsds using gunnery teams. And I saw games where it gave the finishing blow to an Isd after holding back on an objective most of the game. Keep playing it if you like it, it will shine sometimes.

*Blink*

The Liberty is a beast. 7 Dice out the front, standard, and with some of the best weapon slots in the game. Yes, it only has one redirect- but it also shouldnt be taking damage anywhere that isnt the front. Why? Because like an ISD you should be protecting its flanks, via board or smaller hulls with good defenses.

You should be locking things into place using your large base to keep medium and slow speed models firmly in a ram.

Sure, it might be rough taking an ISD by yourself.... why are you by yourself? Rebels usually have more ships, why fight fair? The MC80 is your anvil, the MC30 your hammer; forge a new fate for the galaxy.