We have been discussing our next tactics, and realised that we can't find anything about how many small craft a Ship has aboard.

We are thinking about gun-cutters, shuttles for getting crew to and from planets, cargo loaders, and other non-combat utility vehicles.

What sort of number would standard ships have? We have an Orion-Class Clipper, but are also interested in the numbers for other hull-types.

While on the subject, is it likely that we have any ground-vehicles (Rhino, Chimera, buggy, jeep?) aboard?

Our Pilot is considering his skills, and if we have some of these, it might be useful for him to be able to pilot/drive them.

Ships doesn't start with Gun-cutters, you have to buy them yourself during game.

Battlefleet Koronus, p. 11 - Ships without Launch Bays:

"Not every starship has dedicated launch bays to host whole squadrons of attack craft and shuttles. However, most starships have some sort of landing bay with room for shuttles and small craft. Generally, Imperial ships are too large easily land on a planet’s surface, and small craft become vital for loading crew and cargo, and resupplying the vessel.

The size of these small bays can vary wildly based on a ship’s size and class. However, if GMs or players wish to determine how many shuttles a ship may have room for, a useful guideline is that a ship has room for one lighter, shuttle, or heavy lifter for every 5 points of Space its hull has. In general, these vehicles shouldn’t be larger than 50 metres. However, if a ship has a cargo hold component (such as the Cargo Hold and Lighter Bay), they should be able to hold an additional four vehicles."

As a houserule, I give the players the same amount of ground vehicles.

In my game that number is for the number of Halo Barges possible. Every size category down doubles the number for what can fit (aka 2x Argus Lighters or Aquila Landers). This also doesn't account for the Space in Barrack for vehicles, or filling a cargo hold with vehicles (therefore making it useless for hauling cargo).

You should also consider that the private areas for the captain and the command crew is undefined. If they want a personal hanger, by all means give them a personal hanger with support staff and all. Removing 1 or 2 of those "lighter" spaces makes more than enough room for a fairly massive hanger area.

I too use the guidelines in BFK and then break it up for the players into a few options to start with. If they want anything beyond that, then its Acquisition Test time.

As an example, my group have a Cobra-class Destroyer. Space 35 = 7 craft. They have a bay component (shadowblind) which adds 4. Total Craft: 11

2x Arvus Lighter
2x Aquila Lander
1x Chiropteran Scout
2x Gun-cutter
4x Halo Barge

Thus far they have used most of these and are equipped for most any need that could come up. Granted, they don't have a lot of any one, but that makes them think before they commit resources.

I haven't looked through Battlefiled Kronos yet. but that is some useful info.

Of our possible 12 (Orion Class (40 space=8 vehicles) with Cargo Hold (+4)), I'd definitely like us to have:

some shuttles for getting on and off planet (with some red-shirts, I mean crewmen)

some cargo lifters for loading up our Holds with goodies

A ground-craft (Rhino? Chimera?) and something to get it to and from planet.

What are halo barges like?

Maese Mateo said:

Maese Mateo, could you please cite a page reference for this? I seem to recall reading it somewhere but I'm unsure of whether or not it was in a book or online.

Thanks!

WarpWalker said:

i thought i remembered reading the ship starts with 1 best craftsmanship guncutter as the main PC personal ship and undefined amount of cargo lifters. Book reference would be nice though.

BlackSpike said:

Halo barges are your typical big cargo-hauler… no weapons, slow, and the manoeuvrability of a lead-plated anvil. But, they can carry 40 tonnes of cargo each. They are the only 'small craft' in BFK that can easily haul a Rhino or Chimera to and from planet. (The Valkyrie Sky-Talon can also do this, but that's in Citadel of Skulls, and CoS has generally not won much praise.)

The Arvus and Aquila can carry red-shirts and/or some cargo; they're more utility fliers than anything else. You'll still want a few Halos for heavy lifting.

Gun-cutter is best if you are expecting trouble.

By the way, my group bought a Chimera with their very first acquisition check, and then didn't use it once in 32 sessions! *facepalm* It seems they didn't want to fly down to the surface in a slow, vulnerable Halo Barge. They always took the Gun-Cutter because they were expecting trouble… and that can't carry a Chimera.

Cheers,

- V.

Thanks for the reply.

After some discussion with the GM, and a few encounters, we have put a bit more definition on our vehicles!

We have:

2 gun cutters,

A vehicle-lifter

A heavy Cargo Lifter

A couple of Cargo Lifters

Several personnel shuttles.

A Rhino

Quite a lot of it is in need of maintenance, as we have 'traded' it from people who had let it rot

But we have spare parts and Tech-Priests, so while they are not fixing the power and ammo feeds to the Shard Cannon, they have something to keep them busy!

Whenever we've been using the cargo lifters, the gun-cutters have run cover for them, which has worked so far.

We've also decided that we need:

Catachan-Pattern Heavy Jungle-Clearer (and Heavy Vehicle Lifter!)

More Gun Cutters (and Trained Pilots and Gunners!)

BlackSpike said:

Whilst gun cutters are nice and big and tough, if you are using others purely for escort they are kind of a waste of resources, as they are designed more for transportation than pure combat. I mean, if you are also going to put a dozen elite commandos (carapace, hell guns, camo cloaks, preysense goggles) in each cutter and have them land and secure LZs before landing anything else then that makes sense but, if you just want extra eyes and guns escorting you then you would be better off getting some strike craft like lightnings, thunderbolts or more esoteric vessels.