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Ok, so I decided to pick up BFG and picked up a Despoiler battleship and some idolator raider and was looking to make a 2000pt list, let me know what you think. I've only done a cursory read through of the BFG and Armada rulebooks (this list is with the Armada 13th BC list) and so its basically a very basic starting point.

Despoiler-Warmaster, extra reroll, CSM crew, chosen terminators

5 Slaughterer cruisers, CSM crew, 3 with Lords.


3x3 Idolator raiders


-2000pts

-thanks in advance for any advice.

TBH, I'd drop the escorts and the Lords and use the points to get more cruisers.

Cruisers will win you more games of BFG than any other vessel. They are tough enough to hang in the fight and Chaos in particular can pump out enough firepower to see off most opponents if you judge your ranges/turns correctly.

Don't get caught up with one type of cruiser though. If you want one fleet to take on multiple opponents you need a mix of lances/guns/carriers.
Gun decks are where chaos rule (and will pretty much guarantee you a win against any eldar fleet).
Leave your carriers deploying nothing but fighters to fend off the inevitable incoming ordnance.
Lances are useful against Imp fleets as it negates their awesome 6+ front armour whilst keeping you safe (as they need to turn and close to bring their broadsides to bear.

Overall try and get a 3:1:1 mix of gun decks:lances:bays. Paint them all in Iron Warrior colours ('cos you will be shooty as hell) and pound from long range.



Repeat as necessary FTW!!!!

get some Styx in there, they rock!!! Also my opponent uses loads of bombers in small waves, and minimal protection. Cuases havoc when they get through, and if they don't they still put your opponent on the defensive. Just be careful they don't use attack as a defense if you go with it, also if your going for long range be carfeul about well placed torpedo waves. I start by unleashing a huge wave from the whole fleeet aimed at the centre of the enemy fleet, and spreading out enough to force your oponent to either take massed torpedo hits or split their fleet fast. Divide and conquor usually works for me, and if they don't devide, then they start with a bit of damage. Just make sure you cripple ships before moving onto the next. Don't underestimate the power or boarding slightly damaged cruisers either, with marines in there you on the offense and can wreek havoc. Again be careful to board lone ships though, I've actually boarded the planet killer before and destryed the thing!!!! (only the once mind you )

If you're just a beginner...starting out with a 2000 pt fleet is a BAD move.

In just picking up the game, you should explore your fleet more....start out with a 1000 pt fleet, play with the cruisers you get in your box set (you wont be able to make them all slaughterers, you wont have the WB decks unless you get more elsewhere). Any GOOD BFG player will jump at the chance to play smaller battles as they are much quicker (and moreoften more fun). there is a LOT going on in gothic, so learning the game at a 2000 pt level is such a poor idea I cannot really even convey to you the chaos that will ensue, it's difficult for experts to keep track of ordinance fired/damage points/critical hits/ships equipped with lords/squadroning/ect. between many ships in a fleet. This is something that has to become second nature before you graduate into this level of fleet movements.....and NO, "I've played a couple of games" isnt enough experience.

Dont be in such a rush to compete with friends with already established fleets. You wont have trouble getting a game at lower points values....trust me. You wanna be good at BFG? Play 1000 pt games....lots of them, you can fit in 2 in a row in the time you can play 1 2000pt game.

That all being said...some pointers.

Steer clear of Battleships in games under 2000pts. Everyone wants to use the 'big boys' in every game, but dont take my word for it, look at the numbers....

Despoiler class-12hp, 6fp right/left, 3 lance right/left, 4 lance forward (you dont neccessarily want your ONLY carrier moving toward the enemy fleet), 8 fighter/bomber squadrons, speed 20cm (crippled at 6hp)
2xDevestation (squadroned)-16 hp, 8fp right/left, 4 lance right/left, 8 fighter/bomber squadrons, speed 25 cm (effectivly crippled at 8hp's done)

.....the two Devestations have more HP's (effectively more resiliant), firepower/lances to the right/left, are faster, and have the same amount of ordinance. All this for 20 pts cheaper than the Despoiler Class and you arent locked into having all of your ordinance in one place as a target for the enemy fleet. This brings us to another point.

Screw the Styx, Devestations are point for point one of the BEST carriers in the game. Apply the numbers the same way between the two carriers (2xStyx VS 3xDevestation) and you'll see that I'm right.

If you need to have a large ship in your fleet, either to attract attention or simply be cool, try the repulsive, its really a neat ship and is pretty cool to fly if you manage to shoehorn 2 into a fleet (very possible at your goal of 2000 pts)...a better choice than either of the battleships in my opinion.

Planet killer.....dont even think about it unless you're 12 or younger...it sucks. One ship, 12hp's, worth LOTS of points after your lord is aboard...lose it and you lose the game. I smile everytime I see one deployed across the board against me....typically it means his ordinance isnt up to par with mine. He's instantly in trouble. Any Imperial that decides he wants to win against you only needs to bring 3 dominators against you...its an instant loss for chaos in this scenario.

BFG is a game of Cruiser combat....cruisers are the best weapon availiable to you in the game as Chimera said. It's possible to go to battle with nothing BUT cruisers and win. In fact, in many cases, its your best possible fleet.

New list! After reading through comments here and elsewhere and reading through the rulebook a bit more I came up with the following list.

Repulsive- Warmaster, extra re-roll, CSM crew, Mark of Khorne, extended range lances-420pts
Repulsive-Lord, Mark of Khorne, extended range lances-285

4x Devestation Cruisers-760

2x Slaughter cruisers-330

1x Hades Heavy Cruiser

1995pts