Gents,

I wanted to ask about Cracken, specifically, how to use him correctly? Do you always go speed 3 and + , or do you slow down to 2 and less on occasions?

I just did a game where I lost terribly and felt always trying to maintain speed 3 and + might be detrimental, especially with MC30s. The thing is, once MC30s do their shots, they kind of become irrelevant for the rest of the game. The thing is, if a ISD-2 with XI-7 wants to have front arc shot on you, it will happen eventually (perhaps not on every ship) and removing 1 die won't change much.

Still, I feel he's a decent commander, but perhaps he's only good for corvette swarms because they can get in rear arcs and still get decent shots while MC30s can't?

8 minutes ago, Sybreed said:

Gents,

I wanted to ask about Cracken, specifically, how to use him correctly? Do you always go speed 3 and + , or do you slow down to 2 and less on occasions?

I just did a game where I lost terribly and felt always trying to maintain speed 3 and + might be detrimental, especially with MC30s. The thing is, once MC30s do their shots, they kind of become irrelevant for the rest of the game. The thing is, if a ISD-2 with XI-7 wants to have front arc shot on you, it will happen eventually (perhaps not on every ship) and removing 1 die won't change much.

Still, I feel he's a decent commander, but perhaps he's only good for corvette swarms because they can get in rear arcs and still get decent shots while MC30s can't?

MC30 vs an ISD2 front arc balances on a knife edge anyway, and falls very heavily on the side of he who brought more upgrades. Dropping that one die can actually have a fairly significant impact on the odds of surviving that one shot, if you're otherwise unscathed. And if you're not, you shouldn't have your MC30 anywhere close to the front arc of an ISD2 for any reason ever if there is any chance at all that he'll get a shot on you. You're faster, more maneuverable (usually), and more responsive: don't stick around for a fight you can't win.

All that said, I agree with you that he's probably not the best option for MC30's under most circumstances. TRC90's get much more out of him.

1 minute ago, Ardaedhel said:

MC30 vs an XI7/ISD2 front arc balances on a knife edge anyway; dropping that one die can actually have a fairly significant impact on the odds of surviving that one shot, if you're otherwise unscathed. And if you're not, you shouldn't have your MC30 anywhere close to the front arc of an ISD2 for any reason ever if there is any chance at all that he'll get a shot on you. You're faster, more maneuverable (usually), and more responsive: don't stick around for a fight you can't win.

All that said, I agree with you that he's probably not the best option for MC30's under most circumstances. TRC90's get much more out of him.

thx, that's what I felt also. My 2 CR90s did wonders with him, while the MC30s, ehh, 3 decent shots at best.

I start at speed 2 with a nav token. No need to be at speed 3 unless there is a threat worth obstructing.

7 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

I start at speed 2 with a nav token. No need to be at speed 3 unless there is a threat worth obstructing.

yeah, I had a speed 3 ISD-2 with XI7 rushing my at MC30s

Normally you don't fly 1 Mc30 against 1 ISD, which would be quite unbalanced. You have to have a full list with lots of small ships, Mc30c, CR90 and GR 75. It's wonderfull to fly them with initiative and outnumber your enemy. With a little practice you learn to navigate in a way your opponent never gets a front arc and feels uneasy only to roll 1 to 3 dice with his heavy dangerous ISD.

Without initiative you have to park in the front arc of your enemy, maybe with two ships and to circle around it. "Concentrate Fire" will receive another meaning, when you ever did. If you don't dare to be aggressiv and nosy you will have a problem, especially with ISDs at speed 3.

And you don't need to be always at speed 3. The Mc30c can deal with a regular punch! Even the CR90 can stay alive in the front arc of a VSD. Just practice - or you go with Mon Mothma, same principle without the need for speed.

I've been flying a 5 ship Cracken list this past two weeks or so with roughly:

Admo
TRC90
Salvation
Slicer Tool Flotilla
Squad Pusher Flotilla
And a fairly hefty squad wing.

Just on Friday I had my MC30 survive the front arc shot from an ISD 2 Devastator. Granted its dead from the ram if there had been X17s on the ISD, but as it was, I just took shield damage. After that the 30 peaced out and left the CR90 and Salvation to finish off the ISD.

As for speed, for that game it depended on the ship. The CR90 started off at 4 because it was going to flank. The flotilla pusher started at 3 because I didn't want to use a command for naving when I needed to be pushing squadrons. Salvation was hyperspaced (jumped in at 3), but the MC30 and ST flotilla both started at 2 to allow other things to get in to position and force things towards me.

Alternatively, I played an ISD/VSD Rhymerball combo that dropped to 0 on the first turn, in which most everything was going nearly max speed to prevent him from just getting all of the fire lanes tokens. So my answer is, it depends? Haha. But I do really like him. At close range Mothma only possibly helps ships, especially ships like Admo, whereas Cracken was just a straight benefit. Cancelling two dice from the front arc of an ISD was pretty substantial.

No matter how many times I use cracken, it never seems to match the rush of that first time...

1 minute ago, Madaghmire said:

No matter how many times I use cracken, it never seems to match the rush of that first time...

You're not using enough cracken. I hear some people use it so much they get really, really high compared to everyone else and prove how good cracken is.

47 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

You're not using enough cracken. I hear some people use it so much they get really, really high compared to everyone else and prove how good cracken is.

I dunno man, just feels like im forever chasing that Krayt Dragon

1 hour ago, Madaghmire said:

No matter how many times I use cracken, it never seems to match the rush of that first time...

Assault Frigate carriers without boosted comms and YT1300's, Jan Orrs and Bwings with Gallant Haven.

Oh man that is hilarious coordination, that moment you get it just right and they cant hurt anything on the table.

13 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

Assault Frigate carriers without boosted comms and YT1300's, Jan Orrs and Bwings with Gallant Haven.

Oh man that is hilarious coordination, that moment you get it just right and they cant hurt anything on the table.

I think this is better than MC30s honestly

I like to fly Cracken. Mostly with 1 MC30, 3x CR90's, and a Transport for bombing runs. Squadrons to taste (though limited as I only have one pack of the basic ones so far.)