De'Aynes Spotters Guide to Gothic

Information


So, what is all of this, and who is that De'Ayne guy?

The De'Aynes guide began in Warp Storm and White Dwarf magazine. Originally a play on the Janes guides, it has now become the default title for any type of analysis and showcase of military equipment in the Warhammer 40K universe. This section continues that tradition, in an examination of the fleets used in Battlefleet Gothic.

The De'Aynes Spotters Guide to Gothic examines each of the official fleets in detail, focussing on the vessels that are used and the thoughts, backgrounds and colour schemes put together by you, the players. On this page, you will see the guidelines for those of you who would like to submit your ships, as well as a little general information about what is covered by this guide, and what is not. Please, do send in your submissions. It doesn't need to be a vessel painted to showcase standards, as long as we can see the idea behind the scheme, and the history and tactics need only be brief (although you are welcome to go into as much detail as you can, within the guidelines on article length).

Next, there is a list of the vessels which make up the fleet, these are links and each ship has a page dedicated to it, which consists of the thoughts and submissions of a number of people, all about the same vessel. After that, there is a brief report on the fleet in general, both from the point of view of the how the rules came about and the reception that the Gothic community gave them, and the character of fleet on the tabletop, with general strengths and weaknesses.

So, what is it all for? Well, this guide is for both new and old players. It should inform those of you just starting with this fine game, giving you details and ideas of both the fleets and ships. In addition, the hope is that it will aid you in the construction of your fleets, with both picking the vessels and selecting the colour scheme, and in your games, whether you look for advice about how best to use your fleet, or on the weaknesses of your opponents ships.

Anyway, I hope that you get a lot out of this guide, and that you can contribute to it for other players. Feel free to email me with your thoughts, comments and opinions about it. Thanks, CyberShadow.

Submit Your Vessels

I really cant urge you enough to submit your own thoughts and vessels for this guide. Each submission should consist of three parts:

  • A picture: This should be a good, clear picture of your ship, either scanned or (preferably) with a digital camera. Please ensure that there is minimal extra room around the edges of the vessel, and that it is a big as possible and takes up as much of the picture as you can. We should be able to make out the scheme and see how it looks in its best light. I can handle most picture formats, and most sizes. Ultimately, the picture will be converted to a size of 240 x 180 pixels, so pictures of this size or larger are needed. If you have trouble sending me the picture because it is too big for your email, let me know, I have provisions for accepting large files. One thing that I will need to be strict on, is that the vessel should be painted and complete, but can be converted in any way.
  • Background: A brief history is needed. This does not have to be a detailed account of every engagement, but should be enough to put across the character of the ship. As a guide, around 500 to 750 words is optimal. This should also explain any outstanding officers on board, and any refits and upgrades (as well as any extras and cutomisations which take it away from the standard class in the rules). The background does not have to be set in the Gothic sector, whatever your background involves is fine, as long as those unfamiliar with it can understand it.
  • Tactics: Finally, this section should hold details of your thoughts on the vessel, how (in your opinion) it is best used, what roles it performs well and what other ships it is most effective in partnership with. Dont worry if your thoughts contradict what someone else has already said, this should be based on your personal experiences and thoughts. Again, around 500 to 750 words is optimal here.
So, what is covered, and what is not? Well, this guide will cover all vessels which have been in the Blue Book (the main rules), Planet Killer (the precursor to Gothic Mag), Warp Storm (the first Gothic Annual), any Gothic Mag and any Gothic Annual. If your ship is not listed here, then please submit it to the Showcase section of this site instead. A submission or entry in the guide should consist of a single ship of cruiser size or bigger, one or two light cruisers or three to five escorts.

When you have your submission, simply email it off to me at: deayne@epic40k.co.uk. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.