Has anyone had luck using Mars yet? I've tried playing a Martian fleet twice, and I was defeated rather quickly by a Mercurian fleet and a Terran fleet. I used two rocketships: the Mauler and the Arm of Tarkus, both outfitted evenly w/ 3 shields and 3 lasers each, and a Weapons Officer to help me hit.

If anyone has found a successful formula for using Mars, I'd really appreciate some advice.

Try using some Martian Fighters. They can be really nasty. I like the Blood Brothers. They have 8 AP, and a good WR. Three pods make them basically a shielded fully loaded out fighter (2 lasers 1 shield). Also, a 6 podded rocketship with a Marine is 8 boarding dice. That will take out most things.

9 dice, even. 1 for ship, 6 for pods, 1 for crew, 1 for Marine ability. :)

---Dave

D'oh! Figures I'd mess up the simple math. ;)

I haven't played it yet but I have Eradicator built with a Captain, Fighter Pilot, Engineer Waak, two shields and four lasers. It only has 4 AP but it moves L and shoots L and fires for 0 AP. Waak allows you to double your movement twice in a turn. So, you can cover 6 L spaces using your 4 AP. Fire all four of your missiles at a target and choose the pods to remove, then navigate and board it that same turn with your +2 from your Captain and roll 11 die.

Or... you move away.

You have 11 pts for the rest of your fleet. I'm using the Polaris to hoard resources needed to bring in my reserve fleet.

I haven't played it yet but I have Eradicator built with a Captain, Fighter Pilot, Engineer Waak, two shields and four lasers. It only has 4 AP but it moves L and shoots L and fires for 0 AP. Waak allows you to double your movement twice in a turn. So, you can cover 5 L spaces using 3 of your 4 AP. Fire all four of your missiles at a target for free, choose the pods to remove (I'd take out the shields), navigate and ram it that same turn with your +2 AP from your Captain (which will damage it and automatically dock you afterwards) and roll 11 die for your boarding party with your final AP.

I hate history buttons. :-(

It didn't even show a post the first time.

Fighter Pilots may only be assigned to fighters.

---Dave

unfortunatley you can't use a fighter pilots ability. It only works on fighters. :( But it is a great idea with the others

Not a big deal that Fighter pilot is illegal, replace him with a Marine. Eradicator is deadly, moves and shoots L range.

Martians are a lean, green mean fighting machine.

</GaymBoi>

Here is the first Fleet that I used, I got schooled.

Dark Angels squadron (13pts)
The Fist rocketsship (11pts)
- Captain (3pts)
- Weapons Officer (3pts)
29pts total

Hammers squadron (11pts)
- Weapons Officer (3pts)
Zarcass cruiser (8pts)
- Captain (3pts)
- Weapons officer (3pts)
- Structural Engineer (2pts)
30pts Total

Only got out the Zarcass cruiser, the second squadron never made it out. My opponent build used Mercuy's Devils Due squadron and the Venus Andromache cruiser. It vacuumed all the resources so quickly that in the end I had only The Fist canabalizing his fighters to repair my own ship.

New Fleet:
Horde squadron (11pts)
Hammers squadron (11pts)
Zarcass cruiser (8pts)
30pts Total

Dark Angels squadron (13pts)
The Fist rocketship (11pts)
- Captain (3pts)
- Weapons Officer (3pts)
29pts Total

I am hoping to swarm my opponents fleet or at least wound it enough before it comes after me again. With my bigger guns in Reserve, I might be able to shell them apart in the second wave. Don't know, will try tonight and Wednesday.

Friday, my shipment of everything else is due in. I will enjoy it much when I go out that night as well. :D

Good news: second fleet design worked very well.

Bad news: no gaming for me on Friday night. Oh well.

Back to the good news... I mined away but kept rolling 6, and somehow managed to destroy all but 2 Carbon-7 that my opponent took. After several good mining and noticing that all that was left was Radio-active waste, his fighters looked rather nice.

I ran over and captured his last useful fighter, then boosted for home (slow Zarcass). My fighters worked over the Venusian cruiser fairly well, but only after the two Mercurian rocketships (Galatica & Centari) were deployed. Luckly for me, the Mercurians only hit 1 once per 2 ships each turn. The sad but true part is next, I continue to harass the slower of the two rocketships (Galatica) while the Centari takes down my Zarcass and captures it. The Dark Angels, everytime I use them, eat Mercurians alive. I will probably miss every shot at Venusians or Rebels with them but against any Mercury ship I have faced, these two corvettes shredd them apart.

Regardsless, the Galactica fell and very shortly there after the Centari as well.

The Fist never made it out.

The Eradicator is, by far, one of the best ships the Martians have. Give it a Tractor Beam Engineer, and a rocket engineer for kicks, and load it full of shields and bam! instant cargo brick.

Guaranteed delivery or your money back.


The Reedy River Pirate