Author Topic: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship  (Read 2826 times)

Alan Grant

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Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« on: 08 January 2018, 21:04:23 »
I'm trying to assess the Hannibal dropship from the perspective of a combat vessel.

Its fluff says it might be a candidate to replace the Intruder. A line that has me pondering whether or not the Hannibal might have a place in a poor man's attack dropship force. Like how the Medusas deploy Fortresses and Intruders along more obvious combat droppers like the Avenger and Achilles.

mbear

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Re: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« Reply #1 on: 06 February 2018, 08:42:26 »
I'm trying to assess the Hannibal dropship from the perspective of a combat vessel.

Its fluff says it might be a candidate to replace the Intruder. A line that has me pondering whether or not the Hannibal might have a place in a poor man's attack dropship force. Like how the Medusas deploy Fortresses and Intruders along more obvious combat droppers like the Avenger and Achilles.

This doesn't answer your question, but how do the Medusans use the Intruders?
« Last Edit: 02 March 2018, 07:48:41 by mbear »
Be the Loremaster:

Battletech transport rules take a very feline approach to moving troops in a combat zone: If they fits, they ships.

You bought the box set and are ready to expand your BT experience. Now what? (Thanks Sartis!)

Jellico

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Re: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« Reply #2 on: 06 February 2018, 15:18:35 »
Because they were told to.

When the Medusans and Intruder were created there weren't that many combat DropShips published. So the Intruder and boarding actions grabbed the short straw.

Alan Grant

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Re: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« Reply #3 on: 02 March 2018, 07:04:35 »
I find the firepower on the Hannibal interesting.

Nose/Wings Short range: 23, Medium Range: 19, Long Range: 15

By comparison, the '57 Achilles.

Nose Wings Short range: 26, Medium Range 19, Long Range: 19


Of course the Hannibal is nowhere near as well armored, or as fast. But at 5/8 she's no slouch either for a transport.

Weirdo

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Re: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« Reply #4 on: 02 March 2018, 11:41:39 »
It helps to be able to blow a hole through a defensive screen and exploit it, or to give an attacking assault ship a bloody nose. Of course a Hannibal captain can't get cocky with those guns, as he doesn't have the armor to pretend to be a true assault ship, and his cargo is far too valuable to risk that way.
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Wrangler

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Re: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« Reply #5 on: 14 March 2018, 12:12:21 »
So the ship's guns is a form intimidation for possible attackers? Basic idea is it should try rush in and drop the troops off while escorts try cover the big ship to deliver it's payload?
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Re: Tell me about...the Hannibal dropship
« Reply #6 on: 14 March 2018, 13:20:46 »
Or it can hang back and wait for the escorts to deal with defenders, and the guns are there to hopefully deal with anything that breaks through or sneaks around your screen.

It's not about being tied to a specific strategy. It's about having more options than a less well-armed craft does.
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