BFG - Battlefleet Gothic

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BFG - Battlefleet Gothic

Post by Rasputinii »

Hi,

I was just wondering if any one has info on BFG. Basically I am thinking of getting (back) into it. I used to play when I was about 12, and have always loved the idea of space ships, and would rather like to play it again. I remember liking the depth, and now I am a big boy, I can seemyself really enjoying what seems to be a very tactical game.

So I was wondering if it is a good game, and what people think of it. Also, whats good about what armies. If I start up I would either play Imperial (very kool) or Eldar (very me). I'm basically just looking for some basic info :D

Thanks,

Ras
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Post by Gnosis »

You'd also make me quite happy by divulging some secrets concerning BFG. The game has always appealed to me because it seems completely different to the core game systems, as opposed to Mordheim and Necromunda who still share similarities.
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Post by Vorchild »

I know a bunch of people around here who play the game and I've tried it and really rather like it. Its a very different type of game and its like WFB in that so much depends on movement. The thing about BFG is that it can be an integral part to a 40K campaign, which can make things a lot more interesting.
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Post by Gnosis »

A small question. Is it possible to use the BFG rules to recreate Man O War-ish naval fantasy battles? Or are some of the main rules so outlandishly science fiction that this idea is doomed?
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Post by Cervantes3773 »

It may be possible... with lots of tweaking. One thing you would have to over come is the Eldar method of propulsion. Their ships use solar sails, so their facing in relation to the sun matters...

Also, you would have to work out the representation of fighters and bombers. A ship from Man-O-War is fairly "reasonable" in size, in that you could easily find an equivilent ship in the water today (Tall Ship tour, anyone?). However, the ships in BFG are monstrous... easily 15 decks or more on some of the larger imperial ships...

GW's specialist games website has the rules for BFG for free. (as they do for all specialist games).
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Post by Vorchild »

Damnation wrote:A small question. Is it possible to use the BFG rules to recreate Man O War-ish naval fantasy battles? Or are some of the main rules so outlandishly science fiction that this idea is doomed?


I've been thinking about this same thing myself. :) The missing piece of the puzzle to me though is the actual rules for Man'owar. Does anyone know where I can find a copy? I'd hate to reinvent the wheel after all. ;)

I think though that the general rules set can be brought over, though I think there shoudl be some tweaks for boarding actions and ordnance, and magic for sure needs to be added. Maybe some weapons changes as well and some table changes,but in general, the ships should effectively move in the same way, and that's the biggest part of the game I think.
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Post by General kala »

I actually just got into BFG. I had always been curious about it but never found anyone else who plays it. Then a few weeks back I stumbled on to a few players at one of the local game shops. Not we've got about half a dozen players.

So now I'm scratch-building a fantastic Tyranid Hive Fleet, which I plan to post pictures of once it is completed. I'm also fleshing out the small Chaos fleet that comes with the box set (I traded off one of the Imperial ships for Chaos bits and another I am "infesting" with 'nids). I'm actually much more enthusiatic about BFG than I am about my 40K Tyranids. 40K is OK, but BFG really suits my style.

The two things that appeal to me most about it are the intuitive nature of the rules and the really nice playability. The game really just kinda flows along smoothly. Even the arcane rules for my Hive Fleet are simple and intuitive. I'm really surprised that this game didn't have more staying power. It is just so easy and fun, not to mention cheap as compared to the other GW games.

As for converting to fantasy, I think that the weapons system would be all that needs to be overhauled. Vorch it right about movement easily carrying over. I personally think boarding actions would carry over OK. But yeah, lances and ordnance don't really have a fantasy equivalent, nor do shields, turrets, etc.

Overall though it is an awesome game.
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Post by Rasputinii »

Hmmmm. So tempted. It does seem like really great fun... It does seem a bit expensive though. How many points do most people play? By that I mean what is the average game size. Like fror WFB iys 2k, and for 40k its 1.5 what is it for BFG??

As for carrying over for MOW. I assume it would quite well for Dwarf steamships, but anything with sails would be different, and then there is the lack of turrets and shields and stuff. A lack of torpedos, shields, lances, fighters etc... I am sure you could do it, but I am not sure it would be even remotely simple.
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Post by Vorchild »

Around here, people like to pay about 1000 pts, which is a few cruisers and a bunch of escorts, the cost of which really shouldn't run you any more than about $100 US. Then again, you get a lot cheaper minis in the UK compared with the rest of us, so if you can catch some at GW, you might pay 60 pounds or so for a fleet? Lots of imperial and eldar fleets hitting eBay these days though so you should be able to get quite a deal.
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Post by Voodoomaster »

I Play BFG and i have a 1000pt of Imperials which consists of 4/3 Cruisers and a Couple of Squadrons of Escorts usually a unit of 4 cobras, 3 Swords and 3 Firestorms.
I Love the Game myself as it is always great fun to play and reminds me of when i was about 6 and i got some large Pirate Ships and used them to wage war on the High Seas of my Carpet (hey i was 6)
This allows me to go back to my Childhood :D
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Post by General kala »

Yeah, 1000 - 1500 points will yield a good game. I'm working up 1500 points in my hive fleet and 1000 points of Chaos.

As for the cost, I was really pleased with the box set. It is relatively cheap at $60 US and comes with two fleets of plastic cruisers that can be built out to about 800 points (not to mention the nice rule book and all the markers and tokens).
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Post by Rasputinii »

Well, last night / today I read the rules, and cut out some pieces of paper and played two test games against myself. Oh the joy!

What a fabulous game. The rules for ordanance and movement are so condusive to a tactical and fun game. I mean the fact that most ships can't turn initally makes for a lot of thought. Similarly the speed at which Torpedos move, and the space they take up makes one really think.

In my first game I played Imperials Versus Chaos. I much preferred how the Imperials played, with more ordanance and some forward firing weaponary! In my next game I played a Imperial fleet against an Eldar fleet. I really liked the edlar rules but was aprehensive about how little one can get in to a fleet! Well. What a gamne. I played as fairly as I could and as well as I could with both fleets and the Eldar one ju9st tore the Imperial fleet apart, loosing two escorts and gettng a crusier crippled, and in return wiping the entire Imperial fleet off the board! Holofileds and solar sales ROX!!!!11!!!!1!!!!one!!!!1!1!!111!!!

So I am really likinng Eldar. As kool as the imperials are fluff wise, nothing beats a good eldar solar sail and holofield!!!!!

So I think I might have to pick up a little eldar fleet. The problem is what to do about Solaris Light Crusiers, which don't seemt o ahve models at all...

Ras

EDIT: Just noticed that one doesn't get holofield saves against Gunnery and also that eldar suffer from criticals on 4+. Hmm. That makes things different. They aren't as amazing as I thought. I would certainly have suffered a horredous ammount more damage. Hmm.... Oh dear. What to choose....
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Post by Scionuk »

Oh if your still going for eldar the solaris light cruisers are £14 each through forgeworld.
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Post by General kala »

Yeah, Eldar torpedos are a nightmare and holofields are like a 2+ ward save against most things. But their ships are fragile. Tyranid Pyro-acid rips through them like wet paper. If I recall correctly, they also don't have as many damage points as similar sized ships of other races. This is bad news for ramming, boarding, repairing criticals, etc.
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Post by Rork »

Eldar have the guns, but if your opponent actually gets hold of their ships, you're toast. Your armour is low and your chances of taking critical hits are high.

I must build my fleet and find someone to play...
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Post by Rasputinii »

I was reading that they are currently re-writing the eldar rules to try and make them more balanced. There wasa good synopsis about the Eldar on the BFG forums, saying that if you have heavy terrain they are near unbeatable, if you have limited terrain they are almost always beaten.

Which is something that doesn't really appeal to me. I don't like being too dependant on extral factors like that. That and the fact I like the Imperium. Its kool. I have come up with a fleet I quite like for the Imperium as well:

Emperor Class Battleship + Fleet Admiral
Dominator Class Crusier
Dauntless Class Light Crusier
Dauntless Class Light Crusier (refitted with Prow Torpedos)
3 Cobras Class Escorts
3 Sword Class Escorts

It has a nice bit of everything, with a nice mix of long and close ranged fire power and enough orinance to keep me happy :D Would be interested to hear what people who actually play the game think about it, as I am not going on much expereince here ;).... I just figured if you are gonna be slow, may as well do it in style :D...

Ras
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Post by Dyvim tvar »

I love the game, but have not played it in a long time.

At one point, in a BFG annual, there were rules for limits on the amount of ordnance (fighters, bombers, and assault boats) that could be on the table at any given time. They make the game much better and make torpedoes and guns more viable. I highly recommend playing with the ordnance limit rules.
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Post by Skaven lord vinshqueek »

Although the Imperial Navy has some of the most dreaded-to-face battleships and cruisers, IMO their strength lies more in the use of escorts/ frigates. The Imperials are a slow fleet compared to other fleets and you need to use your escorts to ensure you can take on your opponent on your own terms, instead of having them fly circles around you.

I'd say that adding more Sword class frigates wouldn't be a bad choice. At this point, I only don't know what your intended goal (for points) is at the moment, so if you could clarify which way you wish to go with your fleet and what opponent's you're most likely to face, we can proceed a little further.

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Post by Sha'a'alaar »

Have any of you guys tried Babylon 5: A Call to Arms? (Like BFG)

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Post by Skaven lord vinshqueek »

No, not yet... From what I've heared of people whom already played it, the two systems seem to look like one another pretty much. On a convention the 20th of May I'm to attend, someone will throw a demo of the system, which I'll most likely be going to watch. It sounds very interesting.

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Post by Kyrel »

BFG is really a fantastic game. Though the basic rules are enormously simple on paper, once the game gets underway, it's easily one of the most tactically challenging games I've played at all. Maneuver is so bloody important :-D

Basically it's a great game that I can highly recommend.


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