Today the Spartan Games Blog have taken a good look at the new Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, with a unit-by-unit breakdown of the new (and old) vessels released. In a revealing and in-depth article, they talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the squadrons, with some great insight into their intentions for how the fleet should be formed and how it should be played.
Check out more on their blog! Here is a small section on my favourite new release, the Naval Battle Group...
Land-locked and embroiled in an ongoing armoured campaign along the Eastern Front the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth might not seem capable of fielding a force capable of meeting the other powers on the high seas. Utilising and then developing skimming technology from their Russian allies however, has opened up this theatre, and allowed the PLC to bring their peculiar blend of heavy ordnance and fire to the oceans and seas. A wholly skimming force, the PLC navy has seen action in the Arctic, the Baltic and the Black seas, and have even been used to devastating effect along the Eastern front.
The Triglav:
The Triglav is the Polish-Lithuanian Assault Carrier, and like everything we’re about to look at from the Naval box, it is a Naval Skimming Model. At 140 Points, this Massive model has a Carrier capacity of 6, and at first blush looks much like any other Assault Carrier, it has a reasonably high AP of 8, but its weapon systems, a Bombard and Broadsides, operate in arcs that don’t overlap. It is definitely a model that should be used in a support role, but due to its relatively low cost, and the fact it’s a skimming model, it has a certain level of flexibility that other Assault Carriers just can’t match. Don’t forget the PLC Fighters and Recon SAW have the Acrobatic Pilot MAR – making them particularly tough to kill off!
The Triglav is the Polish-Lithuanian Assault Carrier, and like everything we’re about to look at from the Naval box, it is a Naval Skimming Model. At 140 Points, this Massive model has a Carrier capacity of 6, and at first blush looks much like any other Assault Carrier, it has a reasonably high AP of 8, but its weapon systems, a Bombard and Broadsides, operate in arcs that don’t overlap. It is definitely a model that should be used in a support role, but due to its relatively low cost, and the fact it’s a skimming model, it has a certain level of flexibility that other Assault Carriers just can’t match. Don’t forget the PLC Fighters and Recon SAW have the Acrobatic Pilot MAR – making them particularly tough to kill off!
The Dazbog:
Ever wondered what a large skimming Pocket Battleship might look like? Answer: The Dazbog. Fast (with a movement of 8”), and tough (DR/CR of 6/9), as well as housing an internal Shield Generator (2), the Dazbog can take a beating. But it can also throw out a frightening amount of damage as well. The fast speed and shields are all designed with one intent in mind – get in close. With the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR this beast can steam in, and swing sideways to allow all three turrets the opportunity to concentrate fire on a target close up. Each of those three main turrets will be hurling 11AD and Incendiary munitions at the target/s. If combining on a target in RB1 that could be 22AD hitting on 4, 5, and 6s. Not bad for 150 points, although you also have the option of increasing the quality of the crew to Elite for a further 15.
Ever wondered what a large skimming Pocket Battleship might look like? Answer: The Dazbog. Fast (with a movement of 8”), and tough (DR/CR of 6/9), as well as housing an internal Shield Generator (2), the Dazbog can take a beating. But it can also throw out a frightening amount of damage as well. The fast speed and shields are all designed with one intent in mind – get in close. With the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR this beast can steam in, and swing sideways to allow all three turrets the opportunity to concentrate fire on a target close up. Each of those three main turrets will be hurling 11AD and Incendiary munitions at the target/s. If combining on a target in RB1 that could be 22AD hitting on 4, 5, and 6s. Not bad for 150 points, although you also have the option of increasing the quality of the crew to Elite for a further 15.
The Podaga:
The Podaga is a Medium Skimming Naval Cruiser that can be taken in squadrons of 2-3 and which are worth 65 points each. It’s as tough as a typical cruiser, with a 4/6 DR/CR split. What puts the Podaga apart is the fact that like the Dazbog, it has Close Quarters Gunnery, and also like the Dazbog, sports a handy Internal Shield Generator (2). While each Podaga is equipped with a single turret, the speed of 9” and the Close Quarters Gunnery (plus the Incendiary Munitions on the Main Turrets) make for a deadly foe up close!
The Podaga is a Medium Skimming Naval Cruiser that can be taken in squadrons of 2-3 and which are worth 65 points each. It’s as tough as a typical cruiser, with a 4/6 DR/CR split. What puts the Podaga apart is the fact that like the Dazbog, it has Close Quarters Gunnery, and also like the Dazbog, sports a handy Internal Shield Generator (2). While each Podaga is equipped with a single turret, the speed of 9” and the Close Quarters Gunnery (plus the Incendiary Munitions on the Main Turrets) make for a deadly foe up close!
The Marowit:
The Marowit is a Medium Skimming Gunship that are taken in squadrons of 2, and cost 95 points each. With a speed of 9” these Gunships are no slouches, and equipped as they are with Internal Shield Generators (2), this is another ship that likes to get up close. Each Marowit has two 270 degree fore fire arc main turrets (Incendiary), and like nearly everything else we’ve seen before also has the benefit of the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR. With all four turrets from both ships pointed at the same target the Marowit can lay down some impressive fire for a small squadron. With their speed, they may even be useful in an Advance or even a Flanking force.
The Marowit is a Medium Skimming Gunship that are taken in squadrons of 2, and cost 95 points each. With a speed of 9” these Gunships are no slouches, and equipped as they are with Internal Shield Generators (2), this is another ship that likes to get up close. Each Marowit has two 270 degree fore fire arc main turrets (Incendiary), and like nearly everything else we’ve seen before also has the benefit of the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR. With all four turrets from both ships pointed at the same target the Marowit can lay down some impressive fire for a small squadron. With their speed, they may even be useful in an Advance or even a Flanking force.
The Bagiennik:
Named after the fabled Slavic water demons, these small skimmers are fast, tough, and can throw out impressive firepower for a small ship, and at a decent range. With a speed of 13” and a squadron size of 2-4, the Bagiennik can make for a little squadron that is easy to underestimate. With a DR/CR split of 4/5, they are a little tougher than the average small to damage initially. At 30 points they are also more expensive, but then, they are also armed with turrets that can fire out to RB 3 (albeit most effectively in RB1 and 2).
Named after the fabled Slavic water demons, these small skimmers are fast, tough, and can throw out impressive firepower for a small ship, and at a decent range. With a speed of 13” and a squadron size of 2-4, the Bagiennik can make for a little squadron that is easy to underestimate. With a DR/CR split of 4/5, they are a little tougher than the average small to damage initially. At 30 points they are also more expensive, but then, they are also armed with turrets that can fire out to RB 3 (albeit most effectively in RB1 and 2).
All up the Naval box contains:
1 x Triglav Assault Carrier, 1 x Dazbog Battleship, 2 x Marowit Gunships, 3 x Podaga Cruisers, 4 x Bagiennik Heavy Frigates, 16 x Russian Coalition Support Aircraft Wings, 3 x SAS Trays, micro-dice, skimmer flight stands, as well as template and token sheets and TAC Cards.
1 x Triglav Assault Carrier, 1 x Dazbog Battleship, 2 x Marowit Gunships, 3 x Podaga Cruisers, 4 x Bagiennik Heavy Frigates, 16 x Russian Coalition Support Aircraft Wings, 3 x SAS Trays, micro-dice, skimmer flight stands, as well as template and token sheets and TAC Cards.
Final Thoughts:
This a Naval force that likes to get up close, nearly everything in the box has both Shield Generators and the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR, making them particularly dangerous in RB1. The Naval box breaks with the expectation set up by the previously released Aerial box, in that there are no flame weapons to be found at all. But this is something we’ll see a return to in the Armoured Battle Group Box. Being skimmers, they have a flexibility that few other Naval forces can boast. With Incendiary munitions nearly across the board, this is also a fleet that is likely to be slowly whittling away at the AP of the enemy as they approach.
This a Naval force that likes to get up close, nearly everything in the box has both Shield Generators and the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR, making them particularly dangerous in RB1. The Naval box breaks with the expectation set up by the previously released Aerial box, in that there are no flame weapons to be found at all. But this is something we’ll see a return to in the Armoured Battle Group Box. Being skimmers, they have a flexibility that few other Naval forces can boast. With Incendiary munitions nearly across the board, this is also a fleet that is likely to be slowly whittling away at the AP of the enemy as they approach.
I think this article says everything better than I could - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth have brought some serious surface-skimming firepower to the Grand Coalition, and can now work as a Nation on their own, beyond their greater allies in the Russian Coalition and Kingdom of Britannia. I have discussed in a previous post how I was thinking to add some of these great models to my Russian fleet when it is nearly finished, and having read this sneak peek I doubt this will change!
The painted ships look great in their red and white scheme, bold colours that work well as a fleet or on a single vessel. If and when I invest in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, they will probably feature a similar scheme to this.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check out their blog!
George
No comments:
Post a Comment