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Post by slave2gaming on Mar 7, 2016 5:11:04 GMT
Hey guys, I was looking at my collection of Martians (planning for a game), using both my Lobotons and my drones. Now I only have 1 controller tripod ATM.
I know that it might make the Martians more powerful, but I thought I'd ask the question. I wondered whether there should be an option to buy the controller ability for other sorts of tripods?
This may have been up in discussion before, but I've missed it. What I thought was that perhaps for every 750 points of Tripods, you could buy a 50 point(?) controller upgrade?
my thoughts were'nt really based around making Martians more powerful, rather making controlled units more available.
Thoughts?
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Post by mikedski on Mar 7, 2016 9:43:52 GMT
I'd say 15 - 25 points. Slavers, reapers and scientists are not that expensive point-wise for their abilities. Perhaps with a limit of 3 drones like the sniper drone rules.
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Post by madmorgan on Mar 7, 2016 12:05:43 GMT
Hmmm, its an interesting & good idea. Another thought is to have semiautomatic drones like the Snipers. In other words, for 75pts a unit, drone squads thats attached to a given tripod. So you could have, say a Shock squad or Drone Squad attached to your Assault. The limit would be lifted, but the attachable drones would be limited to ones under 75 points (ei no Scorpion or Viral for example). Currently that list would include Drones, Shockers, and Hovers. The other thing interesting would be that under this idea the Shock drone squad could be attached to a Scout with targeter, making an nice 'artillery' style unit. And that same Scout could also still target for the larger Grenadier if needed. Sorta like artillery vs mortar type action. I would think that part of the SLV/RPR/STS cost is due to their relative low armor values and speed?? Note that you could also maybe add my Detection Drones and other ideas to this.
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Post by billf on Mar 7, 2016 15:46:07 GMT
We have been playing that a Veteran Tripod can take over drones if there are no controllers in range. The penalty is that it can't fire it's weapons as it too busy with the drones. No extra point cost,it just can't shoot.
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Post by madmorgan on Mar 7, 2016 23:11:23 GMT
A viable solution, although I'd like to think that the Slaver, et al, are there to be taken out with their drones and thus make part of the tactics element of the game. But, I certainly see the point that a Martian force won't want to lose total control of their 'infantry'.
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Post by terrance on Mar 8, 2016 20:06:38 GMT
The idea that drones and lobototons are helpless if the controller is destroyed limits a very interesting weapon system. What if drones that are within 12 inches of an enemy when the controller is destroyed are considered locked on and will continue to move toward the nearest enemy until destroyed? The rule book already states on page 126 that they can move if obliged to without a controller because they are semi-automated. This would just extend the automation a bit. It could lead to the adoption of dive-bomber tactics with drones: move them to within 12 inches of the enemy and them move the controller away. And the drones continue on their trajectory.
For lobototons it says if they are forced to move they are destroyed, and that is probably all right.
Also I think someone suggested allowing another controller to "pick up" drones or lobototons that have become isolated.
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Post by Chronos on Mar 8, 2016 21:23:02 GMT
It was suggested somewhere on the old forum that if a controller was taken out then any assault tripod could take them over by spending a command point . That's all i remember about it. I can't recall if it was a 1 off payment or per round.
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Post by billf on Mar 8, 2016 21:33:40 GMT
Chronos, read my post above.
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Post by Chronos on Mar 9, 2016 0:04:47 GMT
Chronos, read my post above. I did and it wasn't similar enough to make me think i shouldn't add what i posted. I think the idea may have been one of Ernie's convention rulings.
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Post by loyalist on Mar 9, 2016 2:43:02 GMT
The idea that drones and lobototons are helpless if the controller is destroyed limits a very interesting weapon system. What if drones that are within 12 inches of an enemy when the controller is destroyed are considered locked on and will continue to move toward the nearest enemy until destroyed? The rule book already states on page 126 that they can move if obliged to without a controller because they are semi-automated. This would just extend the automation a bit. It could lead to the adoption of dive-bomber tactics with drones: move them to within 12 inches of the enemy and them move the controller away. And the drones continue on their trajectory.
For lobototons it says if they are forced to move they are destroyed, and that is probably all right.
Also I think someone suggested allowing another controller to "pick up" drones or lobototons that have become isolated. Is there anything in the rules that says that another controller that comes within 12" range of a drone unit can't take over control if the original controller was destroyed? If there is I can't find it.
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Post by madmorgan on Mar 9, 2016 10:56:48 GMT
Per the AD rules, there were no limits on the number of drones a given Slaver could control - and thus any Slaver can control any number of drones within the proper range of 12". A look at the organizational chart gives same impression, no less that 6 Drone squads and 2 Lobototon squads are pictured. The rule is clear as well. No limits. I think the tactics dictated at less 2 Slavers per game to insure control of the various drones - at least that was what was the case in the Historicon 2015 game I took part in. I'm sure part of it was to help sell Slaver Tripods. Wish I'd gotten more btw. With 3 Slavers (only 300 pts remember) you covered the table left, right, and center. A true horde of drones and lobototon units could be fielded - think about it, with a few Reapers (2=300) and two Scouts (with targeter=310). Backup with a single Veteran for FC (280) and one or two Assaults (500) with Green Gas and a single Grenadier (100) you've got a force ready to attack just about anyone. Mix and match units of drones & lobos up to the game point limit and off you go. With all that infantry you can swamp the defenders or at least bog down any mobile forces whilst your heavy hitters take them out. Ah well, that might of been the days. Now we all pay primo bucks for even the lowly drone unit. Sigh.
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Post by billf on Mar 10, 2016 0:01:36 GMT
Fortunately I was able to get 3 slavers,a reaper,and 2 scientists to control my 9 drone units,3 scorpion units, and my snipers. Glad I did.
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Post by terrance on Mar 10, 2016 3:24:03 GMT
This is probably a good example of someone (me) reading too much into the rule. It says if a controller is not within 12" a drone or lobo cannot act and my brain just jumped in and added that they could only be controlled by the slaver or scientist they started the game with. It does not say this anywhere I can find.
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Post by loyalist on Mar 10, 2016 5:19:15 GMT
I haven't played enough to know what the maximum number of drone/lobototon units would be for effective operation by a controller. You wouldn't want to have a very large number with one Controller because they would all be rendered ineffective when the controller is destroyed, and a large concentrated throng would be more vulnerable to artillery. Not counting sniper drones I have 36 drones and 12 elements of lobototons that need a controller. I was thinking I'd limit the number of controlled elements to 12 per controller tripod. I have only 1 Slaver and 1 Reaper but have a line on a second Slaver that should arrive in several weeks. For the 4th controller I'd prefer to have a Scientist of either type but they're so scarce (and expensive) I'll probably have to convert an assault tripod to a Royal Scientist.
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Post by madmorgan on Mar 10, 2016 11:38:58 GMT
Fortunately I was able to get 3 slavers,a reaper,and 2 scientists to control my 9 drone units,3 scorpion units, and my snipers. Glad I did. Man thats a great force on its own! Just for giggles, I worked the points as follows: (3) Slavers @300 (1) Reaper @150 (2) Scientists @160 (9) Drone Squads @540 (3) Scorpion Squads @300 (1?) Sniper Squad @75 total 'billf' pod = 1525pts in 19 Units = BP 10 [7 order tokens] At 50% = 763 Break Point. Add in a few Assaults, Grenadiers, and Scouts and you've got 2k easy. Good going Bill!
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