RE: Fleet Escorts

> I'm a new player to Full Thrust playing in a local
> group (in Atlanta). In the few games I've played
> so far (knock down drag outs with lots of ships)
> I've been struck by two things -- 1) Escort sized
> ships seem to be nothing but targets in the battle,
> and 2) Escorts don't seem to have a real role on
> the board other than to make the setup look pretty
> and possibly to absorb damage.

Are your escorts leading your fleet into battle?  This is a common
tactic I
have seen that just results in their destruction.  I have seen much
better
results by leading with your capitals and cruisers with your escorts
hanging
back.  Then with their high thrust, they can move where needed to
reinforce
a wing, make a deadly strike against major target, or to finish off
damaged
ships.

> This, combined with the difficulty defending against
> salvo missiles and fighters led me to wonder if it
> was possible to create an escort sized vessel with
> the ability to actually protect the fleet from
> fighters and missiles and maybe stay alive themselves
> (and have a role on the battlefield).

Actually a common use of very small ships is the 'Banzi Jammer',
basically
surround your main ships with these disposeable ships to soak off salvo
missile fire.  Area defence is another use since the escorts can be
where
needed instead of the PDS locked on a single hull.

You also mention missile boats in a later post, escorts again are the
perfect choice to defend against these ships so they don't destract your
main line ships.

Dean Gundberg

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