Sebenko Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Here's a fun game for all the family. All you need is a d8, the rules here, and your Covenant fleet. What follows is a list of the eight main archetypes I can see in the CoA ORBAT (if you can find more, add them!). CoA Archetypes List: Drone Spam Boarding Gunnery Assault Minelayers Command & Control E-turrets Particle Accelerators Board Control Descriptions: These descriptions include the general idea of each archetype, and a few sample units that fit that archetype well. Drone Spam- Carriers, and lots of them. Diophantus, Kepler, Epicurus etc. Boarding- Despite appearances, the CoA can do well in boarding with Elite AP and some strong boarding units. Zeno, Thales. Gunnery Assault- Somewhat overlooked in the age of E-turrets, but some units can do well with them. Cleomedes, Prometheus Minelayers- High payload mines are very powerful, and are excellent for board control. Ptolemy, Zeno, Alea. Command & Control- Many of our units can interact through Target Painters, Combat Coordinator and Mine Controllers. Euclid, Hyperbius, Prometheus, Diophantus. E-turrets- We have a vast array of laser armed ships that can kill from RB4. Fresnel, Aristotle, Plato. Particle Accelerators- Area clearance special weapons, and a lot of fun. Zeno, Diophantus, Prometheus, Euclid. Board Control- Controlling the board with our shenanigan generators is one of the first specialities people often notice. Prometheus, Hippasus, Callimachus. Rules To play, roll a d8 twice. The first result is your fleet's primary archetype, the second is your support archetype. Once you have your two archetypes, build a list that focuses on those two archetypes. Use the MFV that you most regularly play. Use the core type you most regularly play. Allies are allowed, but bonus points are awarded for lists that do not use them If you're playing at home, once you have your list, post it in this thread. Can it win a game against most fleets? Would it be able to win against your most regular opponent? If you're in it to win it, wait until you're about to play a game of Dystopian Wars, print these rules and show them to your opponent before you see their list. Then roll in view of them and build the list as you would for the home game. Play that list, and possibly post the results here. Why Are You Doing This You Bloody Lunatic? After my last game some other players were trying to decide on why they found the Covenant so difficult to play against, and they settled on being able to play most any archetype and do well with it, which makes it difficult to predict what list I'll bring to a game (Shame on them for trying to tailor their lists!). So I thought it would be fun to be as unpredictable to myself as my opponents think I am to them. My Go! First roll: 2- Boarding Second roll: 6- E-turrets List: 1000 points, Naval, No Allies Aristotle Battleship, E-turrets | 205 Kepler Drone Launcher (attached to Aristotle) | 95 3x Zeno Armoured Cruiser | 270 2x Plato Light Cruiser, E-turrets | 110 5x Thales Corvette | 100 4x Diogenes Frigate | 100 Hyperbius Control Flyer | 120 My usual opponent is Russian. I bet this list could take him with some smart manoeuvring- the Zenos have done it before, and the E-turrets can clean up any un-boarded targets. rufus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufus Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 @Sebenko: I think this is an awesome challenge. It can provide great fun games and I believe it can even make one look at a fleet in another way. EG if I am "forced" to play an E-turret list what I usually don't I can see how other units perform. Just go for it... BIG STYLE . EDIT says: Maybe it could be helpful if you describe your archetypes in a short form. EG to me it seems unclear why there is a E-turret + CC archetype and not a time dilation shenanigans one or a max. particle beam... R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 PA fleet is possible, Not going to go into drone spam I see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebenko Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 @Sebenko: I think this is an awesome challenge. It can provide great fun games and I believe it can even make one look at a fleet in another way. EG if I am "forced" to play an E-turret list what I usually don't I can see how other units perform. Just go for it... BIG STYLE . EDIT says: Maybe it could be helpful if you describe your archetypes in a short form. EG to me it seems unclear why there is a E-turret + CC archetype and not a time dilation shenanigans one or a max. particle beam... R I'll edit them into the first post. Sorry, my RP group turned up just as I was posting. PA fleet is possible, Not going to go into drone spam I see? PA fleet sounds like another archetype to have. Can we come up with another, so we can roll it on a d8? EDIT: Ah, board control shenanigans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 What do you mean board control exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 Robot assault, works on both land and naval. Aronnax and the new dread on naval and then the command robot on land too with colossus robots. Sorry for double post. Forgot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nazduruk_Bugzappa Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 What do you mean board control exactly?Dilation fields, portals, mines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nazduruk_Bugzappa Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 I sort of do this type of thing when compiling my lists. What I do is randomly choose a vessel for my flagship and my "compulsory" medium/small choices. I then use my various available choices to match the "theme" (or to closely fit what points are left). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 I try to come up with a strategy well before list building, then use the models to make the strategy happen. Instead of just going off models. If one model is a better choice in every regard then the other wont see play.... Sorry Daedalus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nazduruk_Bugzappa Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 The random list building is to remove predictability from list-building. When you take the same models all the time, your opponents soon figure out counter tactics for those models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunnahabhain Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 I'd say minelayers and board control are one and the same. I can't see how you could theme a fleet round either one of those without very heavy overlap with the other. However, as a D7 is clearly silly, we need another one- Robots, as suggested above? James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebenko Posted November 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 The issue with robots is that it only really works on land. Naval wise, we have the Arronax, and that's it. Maybe make them Minelayer Board Control and Generator Board Control? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thamoz Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 How about a one-of-each theme? You would only be allowed one choice of squadron from each of the other themes, e.g. only one e-turret squadron, only one board control squadron, only one carrier squadron, only one mine layer etc, etc. There can be only one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 The new Robo Dread =P, also there can be a field control with out teleports. I use the beta orb dilation and TDO fields to Half AD say my Prometheus so it can close in with big guns. Or screen zenos if i dont want to risk the the rolls. Even the aronnax can sneak up with a half AD screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufus Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Hmm, I think the point of the lottery would be to go big on the CoA "strongpoint" the dice point out. So if I eg had a 6: E-Turrets I'd rather have to field some Fresnels or Platos with E-Turrets besides an E-Turreted Large/Massive and not go with a couple of Zenos and a TDO because they are great. Of course one can't build a fleet entirely to those types and everyone should play whatever he/she owns and thinks fun to use. Nevertheless I'd suggest to streamline types as imho minelayers/command&control/board control could be merged into one category. And instead of giving many similar results that may differ in details I'd rather go with general archetypes. R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Well I think that goes to a more focused fleet build. To me this "lottery" thing would have to be done in a bigger point game to give some space for more units and more unit roles. Such as if you run an E-turret fleet, you can take some off key zenos corvettes and maybe TDO to protect your gun line. Harder to do in a low point game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebenko Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 How about this for a revised list? Drone Spam Boarding Gunnery Assault Aggressive Board Control E-turrets Defensive Board Control I don't think PA is an archetype to really build around, as it's very specific in what it does. However, I think it could be merged under the heading of "Aggressive Board Control", as they very much help control the movement of opposing smalls. Aggressive (or maybe Direct) Board Control would include Particle Accelerators and Mines i.e. Damaging effects, while Defensive (or maybe Indirect) Board Control would cover the Time Dilation generators, Target Painters and other generator based effects. rufus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Covenant Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 OK, so I got aggressive board control and E-turrets. So here's my 1500 point list: Naval core: Prometheus (shield 3, E-turrets) 320 pts Aristotle (E-turrets) 205 pts 2X Fresnel 200 pts 3X Plato (E-turrets) 165 pts 4X Diogenes 100 pts 4X Diogenes 100 pts 4X Diogenes 100 pts 1X Galen (attached to Prometheus) 20 pts Aerial core: 3X Ptolemy 195 pts Armoured core: Callimachus Beta 95 pts The idea is to blast the **** out of the enemy at range with green rays while my Ptolemys lie in wait at the stratospheric level. When an enemy threatens to get too close, the Ptolemys fly down and seed the area with high payload explosives, and the Callimachus brings down clusters of smalls and mediums. Sebenko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 OK, I don't mean to pick apart your list but I assume you are trying to be competitive. So I'll give you my opinion on this list. Do what you will but this is just me. The Prometheus at 7 AD a turret for 300 points is awful..... Take a Fresnals squad or an Aristotle with keplar for 295 both 16 AD. I like the aristotle to the Fresnals, fills out large spot, more resistant to damage and helps with activations with drones. Take the escort off the edread and whatever's left from the dread to upgrade the Plato to Fresnals. Now you have an option here. Keep the frigates to torp the smalls of you know there will be a lot of smalls, or take a squad off for a TDO and use it to screen after it before your E turrets have shot. Then this way you play defensively or offensively by switching out to Thales with the other 2 small squads to deal with anything that needs boarding or a hard RB 1 hit. Or hit and move from behind 1/2 AD spots with frigates. I personally don't like the ptomelys, I don't like mines or flyers since mines only really bother smalls and maybe some mediums and both usually have enough move to avoid them since you will be dropping 3 at a time. And flyers are just something to shoot when nothing in a good range (your e turret models) so they will eventually die because we do play with dice here. Could switch them out for more fresnals or Thales or maybe the platos and add a Galen to the other BB. This is just my mid maxed verion of E turret and board control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Covenant Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 I may have considered the Kepler and the swap to Fresnels, but I've loaned some of my models to a pal, trying to draw him in. As for the Prometheus, it stays. I'll be needing a nice big castle of a model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Alright, good luck. Let us know how it works out. I made the list without taking model count into account. I have like 6-8 fesnals and 2 BB and soon to be 4 keplars. I just hate not having enough of the good stuff for bigger games Also might try using the bunker complex with its e turrets and target painter and mines. Tho if probably use the primaries since I'd shove it forward to get as much a possible in the 24inch PnS target painter, just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Covenant Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Thanks. I like the Bunker Complex. It's a fun and useful tool, especially in a fluffier game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Sure, I just play to win lol. And hitting on 3+ with E turrets is fun Side note. Doesn't anyone know if TP gen stacks????? O.O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidrial Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 It's what is so good about the Covenant! The ability to play any type of game. I would never settle for a 1-trick-pony Faction.Anyway; awesome game, here is my go: First roll: 3- Gunnery Assault Second roll: 5- Command & Control List: 1000 points, Naval, No Allies Massive/Large: 365 (37%) Medium: 360 (36%) Small: 275 (28%) 1x Aristotle (Battleship) - Nav. Large - 185 - IG Target Painter (Primary Weaponry, 12") - Nav. Large - 10 - With two escorts 1x Pericles (Fleet Carrier) - Nav. Massive - 170 - E.Turrets (S) 1x Hippasus (Battle Cruiser) - Nav. Medium - 120 3x Cleomedes (Cruiser) - Nav. Medium - 240 5x Thales (Corvette) - Nav. Small - 100 3x Plutarch (Heavy Destroyer) - Nav. Small - 135 2x Galen (Escort) - Nav. Small - 40 My most played opponent is Prussian. Honestly, this list would struggle because it can't cover it's major weakness vs Prussians (boarding).Going gunnery means I can't kill enough units early enough to prevent boarding. Still a good all-round list though vs other factions Sebenko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halosss Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Hmmm, the Aristotle with P guns makes me cringe. I would want to throw that sucker in the mix against any fleet especially Prussians. Could try running platos with P guns. Coming in on a flank is pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
