Aerospace and ENE special ability

[ianpelgrim]

I thought that aerospace with ene had some kind of advantage but i can't find it anymore. Am i wrong or does someone know where i can find it?

[nckestrel]

 Aerospace with ENE don't halve damage on strafe attacks?  Errata to AS p57.

[ianpelgrim]

Thanks a lot.

[Xochi]

I have an issue with that rule set in Alpha Strike. There are aero that can do up to 9 dmg with ENE. In a strafe run with even 2 mechs, the damage potential is extreme compared to any mech of similar PV. On top of that they can strike anywhere on the map.

I know they are more fragile and come in every other turn usually do to thrust. Though for 50 PV and a potential to absolutely decimate a lance or star in 1 stafe or strike....

[nckestrel]

NM.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

I have an issue with that rule set in Alpha Strike. There are aero that can do up to 9 dmg with ENE. In a strafe run with even 2 mechs, the damage potential is extreme compared to any mech of similar PV. On top of that they can strike anywhere on the map.

I know they are more fragile and come in every other turn usually do to thrust. Though for 50 PV and a potential to absolutely decimate a lance or star in 1 stafe or strike....

Consider that any ASF likely to have high damage isn't arriving until turn 3.  Right there that's 1 in 3 turns of even getting the chance to try a massive hit.  They then hit every other turn thereafter...   It's been my experience that games are over (formally or conceded) no later than turn 6.  That's enough time for only two passes.  Even if it was wildly successful on both passes, is that really changing the game?  And odds are it won't be wildly successful on two passes ;)  Not only are strafes far from guaranteed hits, something that scary will rather often not survive to see a 2nd pass since ASFs are so fragile and so easy to hit..

[Weirdo]

Is strafing as suicidal and counterproductive in AS as it is in TW? I learned how Strikes worked and more or less stopped reading after that and bombs.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Is strafing as suicidal and counterproductive in AS as it is in TW? I learned how Strikes worked and more or less stopped reading after that and bombs.

If you're using air to ground to nibble on the flanks or backfield it can be effective.  Attacking the opponent's center of mass is just a way to get rid of ASFs you don't want anymore.

As for strafing vs striking:  it depends.  Striking is easier to hit, but strafing is the counter to mopping up multiples of artillery/IF that hide behind terrain and forefiet move.  They're both upstaged by bombs tho for anything with a minxy TMM...

[Weirdo]

That's the case with any other air to ground strike. The problem with strafing is that by its nature you're going straight over multiple units, so it greatly increases the odds that you won't get out of that game turn alive, and the shots are harder than other attacks, so the odds of you achieving anything useful as you die are notably lower than with other attacks.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

That's the case with any other air to ground strike. The problem with strafing is that by its nature you're going straight over multiple units, so it greatly increases the odds that you won't get out of that game turn alive, and the shots are harder than other attacks, so the odds of you achieving anything useful as you die are notably lower than with other attacks.

Gah, having a hell of a time with a tablet.  Over to my computer with a real keyboard...

Yes to reiterate what I so slowly and agonizingly edited above after realizing I initially missed the point of your question:

As for strafing vs striking:  it depends.  Striking is easier to hit, but strafing is the counter to mopping up multiples of artillery/IF that hide behind terrain and forefiet move.  They're both upstaged by bombs tho for anything with a minxy TMM...

Strafing does have its advantages, but they're very niche*.  If I'm out of bombs, 9/10 times a Strike is the correct call.  Of course if I have bombs, 10/10 times bombs are the correct attack.

*The errata I mentioned upthread goes very far in making strafing viable.  You can lay down your attack path in the back arcs of your victims, then offset your strafe template to cover the targets that won't be allowed to shoot back (unless they have TUR or REAR specials)