Which Do You Think Is More Effective: Bombs or Weapon Strikes?

[boilerman]

Just an opinion, in your experience survey. I've never used aerospace assets in a ground attack roll in my games so I'm just wondering what other people have experienced.

[Daryk]

It really depends on how long you can have your ASFs hang around the battlefield.  Bombs are vastly more efficient on a single attack, but they can only be used once.  The best thing to do is drop bombs on the first turn, then strike for as long as the armor and gas hold out.

[AlphaMirage]

It really depends on how long you can have your ASFs hang around the battlefield.  Bombs are vastly more efficient on a single attack, but they can only be used once.  The best thing to do is drop bombs on the first turn, then strike for as long as the armor and gas hold out.

+1 to that.  Bombs are a good trick, strafes are risky you have to fly directly over a group of mechs or tanks and that can lead to one dead Aerofighter

[Goose]

Where would TAG-guided bombs fit, on this spectrum? I'm guessing the TAG'r is race-tracking at safe distance?

[Weirdo]

As others have said, it all depends on the bombs you can carry, the guns you're already carrying, and strafing is NEVER the answer unless every target in your flight line is completely incapable of shooting at aeros.

[Cannonshop]

it depends on what you're doing, what kind of aircraft you have, what the enemy is doing...

[Scotty]

As others have said, it all depends on the bombs you can carry, the guns you're already carrying, and strafing is NEVER the answer unless every target in your flight line is completely incapable of shooting at aeros.

It feels a lot like the Light Mech Paradox: I want to be close but I don't want to be close in the wrong direction.

I suspect the answer is the same: provide alternate opportunities to divide your opponent's attention.

[ThePW]

It's been decades since I did this but I remember one campaign where I was told prior to the contract to acquire aerospace assets. I was given a budget and still excepted to acquire a mech. I don't remember what 'mech I road onto the battle field but I remember the airforce I bought. 25+ Boeing Jump Bombers, laden with a combo of infernos and HE. I think a couple actually survived the engagement but I caused a lot of OMG agro that game... Bombs, bombs and more bombs.

No, I wasn't an AO in the Navy but I worked and helped a few in my travels, enough to appreciate the concept of Warheads to Foreheads...

[monbvol]

Bombs really are a great opener and if you employ them like I tend to, in large numbers level bombing from altitude 8 picking my target hex based off the idea I am going to miss but thanks to how drift works for level bombing I'll probably hit my real target anyway, can soften up your opponent quite nicely without over exposing your ASFs to return fire.

[Wotan]

Using alternate rules from StratOps increases survival rate of your ASF drastically.

[Weirdo]

Bombs really are a great opener and if you employ them like I tend to, in large numbers level bombing from altitude 8 picking my target hex based off the idea I am going to miss but thanks to how drift works for level bombing I'll probably hit my real target anyway, can soften up your opponent quite nicely without over exposing your ASFs to return fire.

Oh yeah, that's loads of fun. You won't kill anything, but you will hit everything. >:D

Great for putting some early hurt on an opponent's light units, or throwing off the coordination of vehicle groups by scoring a smattering of motive hits.

[Kojak]

Honestly: bombs, and it's not really even close. I've seen bombing runs turn the tide or be the defining move of a battle on numerous occasions. Strikes can be a useful tool like anything else, but a dedicated bombing run from, say, a couple of Stukas, will blow a hole in the enemy's line if you do it right.

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Remember that your fighter does not need to spend the weight on bomb slots. Though you DO need some engine rating to fly with enough bomb for your fighter's tonnage.

And, just for one-turn glory bomb would be the best. If you expect long-run fight then their weapons will makes some difference, though.