Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I have a unit of 3 Broadsides in my force and I'm looking at my Anti-air capabilities.

Is it worth sinking points into the Broadsides for the velocity trackers, or do I invest in a Skyray?

I'd say both since the skyray's markerlights allow the broadsides to deal with jinking flyers.

Edit: I don't know how rules work, disregard.

IMO, velocity trackers cost too many points on Broadsides. The support system they should have is EWO.

Invest in a Skyray. When a flyer arrives, don't move your Skyray. Pivot and fire everything. Use the 2x networked marker lights to remove any cover saves if the flyer decides to evade. Launch all 6 seeker missiles at BS4.

It depends a bit on your local meta. Mine, for example, is not flyer heavy so I don't need more than my broadsides (and I don't run them with VT). Skyray is pretty nice if you need a boost in AA. But another option to consider is a HBC Riptide with VT. Add fusion if you see heavier flyers a bit.

VT to expensive.

You have a decent enough chance with EWO anyway as everything is twinlinked.

But if you can a Skyray helps.

 Cryogen wrote:
It depends a bit on your local meta. Mine, for example, is not flyer heavy so I don't need more than my broadsides (and I don't run them with VT). Skyray is pretty nice if you need a boost in AA. But another option to consider is a HBC Riptide with VT. Add fusion if you see heavier flyers a bit.

A Riptide with a heavy burstcannon and a Buffmander will wreck any flyer. always penning 12 is nice.

I take a skyray and broadsides... although these days the sky ray is mostly relegated to dumping an alpha strike onto monstrous creatures since I don't really see fliers that often (and my barracuda is pretty capable at removing the occasional one I do see).

That said, let's get back to the question. If you have a commander buffing the broadsides to let them ignore cover saves then jinking matters nothing to you, and even if they don't a jinking flier effectively removes it from the game from a turn since it can't shoot worth beans (unless you're fighting a tau mirror match).

A single squad of broadsides can actually be very effective against fliers even without skyfire. A three man unit gives 12 twin linked shots. On average this gives about 3-4 hits on a flier even needing a 6. That's statistically at least a hull point strip even on AV 12 fliers with a chance to completely destroy them (1/3 chance of rolling a 5 or 6). Note that if you have a full rack of missile drones this increases to 5-6 hits. Pretty good.

Another option (if forgeworld is allowed) is to buy an XV84 battle-suit for your commander and a velocity tracker. This gives your commander a networked markerlight that can have skyfire. That one markerlight will boost the expected hits from the broadsides to 6 or 7, not even counting the drones. Pretty awesome.

If you can't tell I'm a huge fan of sticking a support commander with a group of broadsides. Very fun unit.

Skyrays don't fail morale checks...just saying.

You could always run deathrains with velocity trackers for anti-air. They may not put out the firepower of broadsides but are far more mobile. Deathrains and a Barracuda generally keep the skies free for me. I am now even experimenting with VT equipped Sunforge suits, which are more effective than you might think. My Iridium Commander also tends to run a VT regardless of how he is configured, it never hurts to have BS5 tankhunting skyfire shots on a platform almost as tough as a Riptide.

Phanixis wrote:
You could always run deathrains with velocity trackers for anti-air. They may not put out the firepower of broadsides but are far more mobile. Deathrains and a Barracuda generally keep the skies free for me. I am now even experimenting with VT equipped Sunforge suits, which are more effective than you might think. My Iridium Commander also tends to run a VT regardless of how he is configured, it never hurts to have BS5 tankhunting skyfire shots on a platform almost as tough as a Riptide.

I run something similar. squad of 3 crisis, MP,MP,VT on each. then a commander with MP,MP,VT,TL and the Puretide chip (for tank hunter). up to 16 str 7 shots with tank hunter is a pretty good way to take a flyer down. with the target lock you can split fire if 2 flyers come on. I also run a skyray in the back field.

There's also the Forgeworld missile turret for the Hammerhead. Two TL Missile Pods and Velocity Tracker as a free swap with the railgun.

Sorry Lord, they are no longer TL.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Sorry Lord, they are no longer TL.

My book says two twinlinked missile pods and a velocity tracker, and it hasn't been Errataed.