[-Sara-]

The GEF's work in cells. If even each owns a large gunship or cruiser, a combined fleet would already house a threat to anyone who runs into those.

[Delta_V]

A cruiser that isn't doing anything flashy like jumping around a lot is really easy to hide.

Just for the sake of argument, what good would a couple of said cruisers do for the Gefs?  Even if they managed to keep a couple of cruisers hidden, they would be almost impossible to actually use.  They would most likely be one-use weapons, because once they commit them to an attack, the UEF would drop the proverbial hammer on them either before they were able to jump away, or track their jump and vector other forces on them.  Either way, I don't see a Gef cruiser lasting long if they actually try to use it.

[Aramil]

A cruiser that isn't doing anything flashy like jumping around a lot is really easy to hide.

Just for the sake of argument, what good would a couple of said cruisers do for the Gefs?  Even if they managed to keep a couple of cruisers hidden, they would be almost impossible to actually use.  They would most likely be one-use weapons, because once they commit them to an attack, the UEF would drop the proverbial hammer on them either before they were able to jump away, or track their jump and vector other forces on them.  Either way, I don't see a Gef cruiser lasting long if they actually try to use it.

I would see them in a more defensive role.

IE. fighters attack something somewhere (objective done) then go to escape with enemy fighters following instead of having to engage on even terms they flee towards a civilian transport (some distance away) the fighters clear the "transport" and continue on. the following fighters go to do the same.

the "transport" powers up and lays down a massive flak attack and Com's suppression, taking many enemy fighters by suprise. the other fighters turn round to help mop up. after which the fighters & "transport" can move out to safer space.

It has the bonus of never having to flee towards a base or other fixed secret location (therefore keeping it operational and hidden) and also you would have a better chance of retaining a larger number of fighters/pilots.

so not an attacking option but a great way to protect your limited assets.

It is not the only option for a few larger units, but it is a way in which you can have larger units in small numbers make an operational difference.

[Luis Dias]

I think it rather obvious that it is better to have a couple of cruisers than not having them.

[-Norbert-]

The question isn't wether to have them or not. The question is wether to build/steal/otherwise aquire a cruiser or something else and wether the cruiser is worth the effort to obtain it.

From the material needed to build a single cruiser, you can build quite a few fighters I guess. And restoring a derelict cruiser (if you happen to get your hands on one in the first place) isn't exactly effortless either, especially if you want it equiped with better stuff than pre-great war era weapons and armor.
Stealing a cruiser isn't exactly easy either and runs the risk of exposing your hidden agents or it getting tracked all the way to your secret space dock.

[Luis Dias]

I've been told in another thread that diversity is a good thing to have in our gene pool.

The same may apply to a fleet. If you only have fighters you have only one kind of strategy. If you have frigates, you can make more surprising moves. Is it worth it? I think the question is more like, can they even afford or conquer one?

[The E]

Just as only very few terrorist groups in RL operate MBTs, groups like the militant Gef are better off with a bunch of assets that can disperse quickly, instead of bundling everything up in one big flashy ship.

[Nuclear1]

Cruisers are probably used by pirate groups more as command posts and headquarters, not specifically for combat roles. 

Once the pirates start trying to play on the same level as regular military forces, they're going to have their asses handed to them. 

[MatthTheGeek]

Just as only very few terrorist groups in RL operate MBTs, groups like the militant Gef are better off with a bunch of assets that can disperse quickly, instead of bundling everything up in one big flashy ship.

I don't think MBT is a good comparison here. Those things are slow. Given the subspace manoeuvrability, I'd more compare cruisers to helis or even fighter jets. Some militias definitely use helis as heavy hitters.

[Destiny]

Why not use the Iceni as a point of reference then?








...oh...right. Never mind.

[-Sara-]

Just as only very few terrorist groups in RL operate MBTs, groups like the militant Gef are better off with a bunch of assets that can disperse quickly, instead of bundling everything up in one big flashy ship.

I don't think MBT is a good comparison here. Those things are slow. Given the subspace manoeuvrability, I'd more compare cruisers to helis or even fighter jets. Some militias definitely use helis as heavy hitters.

So is a cruiser which has minutes left on it's subspace recharge timer. Even if they can jury-rig a solution in say 3 minutes that's a lot of time to take out a sub-par cruiser engine.

[-Sara-]

Just as only very few terrorist groups in RL operate MBTs, groups like the militant Gef are better off with a bunch of assets that can disperse quickly, instead of bundling everything up in one big flashy ship.

I don't think MBT is a good comparison here. Those things are slow. Given the subspace manoeuvrability, I'd more compare cruisers to helis or even fighter jets. Some militias definitely use helis as heavy hitters.

So is a cruiser which has minutes left on it's subspace recharge timer. Even if they can jury-rig a solution in say 3 minutes that's a lot of time to take out a sub-par cruiser engine. I don't think cruisers can be too much compared to a helicopter or fighter jet. Those relatively compared to the cruiserhave mostly forward facing weaponry. A cruiser has turrets/weapons mobility in the first place because it turns like a brick and needs all over coverage, a tank turret does the same, even though modern battle tanks can more and more turn on a dime (and fast too!).

The question isn't wether to have them or not. The question is wether to build/steal/otherwise aquire a cruiser or something else and wether the cruiser is worth the effort to obtain it.

From the material needed to build a single cruiser, you can build quite a few fighters I guess. And restoring a derelict cruiser (if you happen to get your hands on one in the first place) isn't exactly effortless either, especially if you want it equiped with better stuff than pre-great war era weapons and armor.
Stealing a cruiser isn't exactly easy either and runs the risk of exposing your hidden agents or it getting tracked all the way to your secret space dock.

I don't think the UEF, with it's burned ground tactics allows a cruiser to be stolen from a dock and taking an actively manned cruiser is tedious business. But I think I read it either on the BP forums here, or ingame, that the GEF have various ways of producing some pretty useful things on their own. Maybe larger ships also.

[crizza]

Remember, that Steele destroyed several uncrewed Izrael in his blitz...so maybe the Gef can steal a uncrewed cruiser or something, a Sanctus has a small freight compartment...perhaps it is big enough for one or two Scimitars...

[Delta_V]

Once the war started, I could see the GEF getting away w/ something like that, and once the UEF is busy fighting the Tevs, the GEFs would have more freedom in using something like a cruiser.  But before the war, even if the GEFs could basically acquire a cruiser for free, I don't think it would be worth the resources and manpower to keep it operational.  The GEF were litterally the only ones around for the UEF to fight, so you can bet that once the UEF realized the GEFs had deployed a cruiser in an engagement, they would send everything they had after it.  Considering the size of the UEF fleet, and the fact that before the war it had nothing to do but training exercises and hunting GEFs, there would be no way a couple of cruisers would survive once the UEF had their location.

[General Battuta]

The Gefs have each other to fight too. The cells no longer share a common agenda, common social structures, or - arguably, in some more extreme cases - a common species.

[PsychoLandlord]

Woah, are the Gefs getting into Trans-humanism now? If they are, that, combined with the fact that they live in Comet-Colonies, is giving me some serious Hyperion vibes.

[General Battuta]

The Ousters wouldn't be a bad analogy - but the Gefs are much more grungy and much less powerful. They're on the edge out there, both of humanity and of their own survival. It's a rough life.

[PsychoLandlord]

This made me MUCH more interested in the Gefs as a whole. I hope they get more screen time to show these facets of their society off.

[Rodo]

So they developed like... claws or something?

[-Norbert-]

Probably better night vision, so they have to waste less precious energy to light up the corridors of their home rock. Or better adaption to low gravity.

And I agree, a Gef campaign sounds rather interesting. Against the UEF and GTVA you'd have sneaky missions and against other Gefs the pure battle missions.
It could be something like a faction believing in genetic purity, against another cell that commonly employs genetic manipulation.