Avalon Class - How to use the fighters and bombers

posted on June 9th, 2009, 12:42 am

Title is self-explanatory.  How do you use them and what are the best tactics?  I'm a complete noob when it comes to this, so leave nothing unexplained.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 1:14 am

Hmm, I fear you will be hard pressed in order to find a strategy which uses them well. Just like the Phalanx. However, do not let that discourage anyone else from posting (or you responding) please.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 1:21 am

I have found that for the most part they are not very useful.....but...what I like to do with them is use them to augment my bases defenses....Ill build the avalons and launch the fighters at my base and then put the avalons on a patrol route around my base...ive noticed that the AI will usually target my harasing fighters before they target larger ships or my defensive emplacements.....as for mutiplayer I dont see much them being very useful in the sense that they are fairly harmless and easy to take out unless you have vast numbers of them flying about.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 1:49 am

So when you launch fighters or bombers, do they just fly in a ring around the Avalon?

posted on June 9th, 2009, 1:58 am

Nope, they just fly in a ring around where you released them... 

posted on June 9th, 2009, 11:43 am

I think that approach is a bit off. The carrier shouldnt be able to buy the fighters, but just release them. I think they should work like normal weapons, just fly out of the carrier on their own and then return when the target is destroyed.
That would be much more realistic. Also, as it stands all the carriers in the game have to low of a damage output IMO

posted on June 9th, 2009, 1:22 pm

I think that approach is a bit off. The carrier shouldnt be able to buy the fighters, but just release them. I think they should work like normal weapons, just fly out of the carrier on their own and then return when the target is destroyed.
That would be much more realistic. Also, as it stands all the carriers in the game have to low of a damage output IMO

Yes, that would be a much more interesting way to do it. Stuff cannon!

posted on June 9th, 2009, 1:54 pm

I think that approach is a bit off. The carrier shouldnt be able to buy the fighters, but just release them. I think they should work like normal weapons, just fly out of the carrier on their own and then return when the target is destroyed.
That would be much more realistic. Also, as it stands all the carriers in the game have to low of a damage output IMO

Actually, why not have it just cost supplies to launch them, and then when it reaches a limit go to a ship yard to refill?

posted on June 9th, 2009, 2:18 pm

Alight, I used to play as Risner all the time.  Using the avalon as a fighter spam is an amazing tactic.  especially against Borg.  The reason for this is that the Borg always target the fighters first.  So, all you need is about two Avalons, and whenever you can Build BOMBERS.  I'm not sure there is really a difference in strength, but the torpedoes seem to be more effective.  This also works well, because the multi target beams of cubes and the like all have a target, so it really keeps them busy.  Then you use more offencive ships like the phalnax and the defiant to destroy the enemy.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 2:58 pm

Did I hear you right? Use the Phalanx and the Defiant to kill the Borg while Avalons spam?!!? These are top level ships--what's been going on the rest of the game (plus the Phalanx is anti-destroyer, not anti battleship, and Defiants are also armed primarily with pulse weapons... though critical shot is useful as support)?

Using the fighters from the Avalon costs resources... essentially what you are proposing is throwing out immense amounts of resources, which could be better spent building more useful and ranged Intrepids.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 3:12 pm

Nah, I was using them as an example.  Use the fighters to keep the enemy occupied, then then kill them with more powerful ships.  I' merely said Phalnax, and defiant because they were the first ones to come to mind. most likely the Akira is your best bet or excelcior II( to avoid getting too close).

posted on June 9th, 2009, 4:32 pm

But... but... the Avalon is still end game, and you only get 3 fighters (oooh wow, a distraction for half a second that cost me more than a Saber) ... so not only would you need a few Avalons, but you'd need a lot of reserve cash being stockpiled. Seems kinda unlikely to me 

posted on June 9th, 2009, 4:38 pm

He just asked how to use it.  I don't even play as Risner any more.   If you are going to use it that is my best stragity, but over all, Mayson is the best.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 5:05 pm

The other day, I was playing 4 v 4 Fed v Borg, and I bomber spammed.  It worked quite well actually.  I still died, but it was much slower than if I didn't bomber spam.

posted on June 9th, 2009, 5:07 pm

It isn't a game wining stragity, but it helps occupy the enemy fire while reinforcements come.