Tactical Command
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Drone Drops
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5368
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Author:  Steele [ Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

Hello,
it sounds like a newbie question, well in this case it is. How often does the Tigershark get to Drop its Drone Payload per game? Once, or every bombing run? I ask this because I haven?t so far used Tigersharks but Whitesharks.

Cheers!
Steele

Author:  baronpiero [ Thu Aug 18, 2005 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

Drones are to be bought as a separate formation. After that it works the same way as a SM Thunderhawk and its infantry cargo, except that:
- the tigershark itself does not land while performing an attack run. Apart from that everything works as per normal transport aircraft: hence the Tigershark and its payload must fire at the same target etc...
- also the Tigershark and its payload cannot air-assault (this option is dropped because it rises too much issues and would not be of much use anyway).





Author:  Tactica [ Fri Aug 19, 2005 2:51 am ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

My understanding is the tigershark cannot pick units back up either... so, its a one time drop.

That's the way I run them anyway.

I have to admit, dropping drones hasn't been a common tactic I use though.

Author:  baronpiero [ Fri Aug 19, 2005 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

In fact I quite agree in the case of normal drones, which don't pack a lot of firepower: I don't expect 4 of them to be of any real use as a raiding force: better use them attached to another formation to soak-up hits, or as an already in-game unit to get a cheap activation that can create crossfires at will.

However heavy drones could be more interesting in that role, just because 4 of them can cause more significant casualties. When I rethink of my last game against air-dropped marines, in which I used my tigersharks as counter-striking reserves rather than artillery hunter, the punch of heavy drones could have been a neat addition to the tigershark weapons.

But it really depends on the opposing force: against IG, the mission assigned to the Tigershark would have been hunting artillery, and therefore dropping drones would have been ?practically useless (well you still have the markerlight stuff though).

(Really should build heavy drones to playtest it)





Author:  nealhunt [ Fri Aug 19, 2005 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

I always thought it was a cheap and expendable way to generate crossfire bonuses.  Fly in behind, drop and shoot; retain and get crossfire.

Is that not what you guys are using them for?

Author:  asaura [ Fri Aug 19, 2005 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

Quote (nealhunt @ 19 2005 Aug.,14:12)
I always thought it was a cheap and expendable way to generate crossfire bonuses. ?Fly in behind, drop and shoot; retain and get crossfire.

Is that not what you guys are using them for?

That's what I do.

Author:  Legion 4 [ Fri Aug 19, 2005 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

If they never make heavy drones ... all mine will be considered Heavy !  And that seems like a good tactic, and I planned on dropping in my Drones once I completed my Tau ... I'll watch and listen ... :D

Author:  baronpiero [ Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

Legion 4:
If they never make heavy drones ... all mine will be considered Heavy !

In fact I just ordered drone turrets, and expect to use them either as turrets or heavy drones. The idea is not to glue the 'hat' and perform some magnet/metal bar tweaking :p . I will tell if it works fine!




Author:  Legion 4 [ Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:44 am ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

Now there is an idea !  Thanks ! :)

Author:  Tactica [ Sat Aug 20, 2005 5:56 am ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

nealhunt - I've tried this, but typically I need the tiger on the other side of the board, so in what might only be a 3 turn game, taking this guy in to drop off and set up cross-fire may or may not be the ideal tactic of the time. Everytime I've purchased the drones for this role, I've not needed the tactic in the game. That is what I'd expec the logical roll for them to be in epic though... just hasn't worked out for me yet.

Author:  Tactica [ Sat Aug 20, 2005 5:57 am ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

BaronP

- I quite like the idea of sentry's as heavy drones... LOL, brilliant!

I'm off to place an order now! Thanks!

Author:  Clockwerks [ Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:21 am ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

I think using the drone-drop tactic to get the cheap crossfire would be a devastating maneuver on units that typically have very good armor... Imagine, drop your drones behind tough units, shoot, then retain with that coordinating formation of pathfinders and firewarriors to fire from the other side. With the pathfinders firing in that situation they would reduce reinforced armor armor by -2... Not much is going to stand up to that.

Adam

Author:  Tactica [ Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

All armored targets would since PF's and FW's only have AP shots. ;)

Personally, I found it a lack luster and too many points to commit for the one-hit wonder. The drones become sacraficial and the tiger's may be in too much danger to pull off. It an awful lot of points to 'hope' for an opportunity to use it.

Author:  baronpiero [ Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

I quite agree with Tactica. Causing a crossfire with dropped drones is a trick to do on the occasion but does not appear to be a main tactic. Calling coordinate fire with sevaral ground units seems far simpler.

Not only counter-strike, I just tought this thing could perform well in the disposal business :blues: . With 4 AP3+ disrupt shots anywhere, you can go exterminate annoying formations, especially if they are well protected like terminators: The disrupt weapons will score more than 2 BM + 1 for shot at, +1 if at least one casualty = 3 Termies dead (or 5 battlesuits if you happen to play Tau-Tau games).

Then the heavy drones can go grab an objective etc and continue to cause hinderance, mark targets etc.





Author:  Tactica [ Mon Aug 29, 2005 11:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Drone Drops

I'll agree with Baron P here too.

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