Additional Rules
Battlefleet Gothic
Eldar Battlefleet Gothic Formula
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Introduction
Any formula used to construct new ships or modify existing designs must, with accuracy, replicate the original
values in the basic Battle Fleet Gothic rules. The following paragraphs provide a basic formula for use on Eldar
Cruisers, Light Cruisers and escorts plus a battleship formula, derived from the basic formula, for Eldar
battleships that meets the aforesaid criteria. Following the formulas is an Eldar ship construction guide.
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Formulas
The Basic Formula for Eldar Escorts, Light Cruisers and Cruisers:
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Points = [4.6 x Damage] + [12 x (# Torpedoes)] + [37.5 x (# Launch Bays)] + [11.2 x (# Weapons)] + [34.5 x (# Pulsar Lances)] + 2
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The ‘2’ is a constant representing the Holofields and the 4+ armor that all designs start with.
The DATA1 table shows the inputs, points calculated by the formula and the per cent error. This formula estimates
the values of existing ships within 5 per cent, and rounding to the nearest ‘5’ gives the correct values. The
Voidstalker is included to show why the formula must be adjusted for Battleships. The speed value is NOT used
in the calculation. It is a given depending on the hull points and ship class.
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Damage
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Torpedo Tubes
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Launch Bays
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Weapon Battery
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Pulsar
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Predicted
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Actual
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Delta
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Voidstalker
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10
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0
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4
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8
|
4
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425
|
380
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11.8%
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Lightning
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
0
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2
|
137
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140
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-1.9%
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Shadow
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6
|
4
|
0
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12
|
0
|
212
|
210
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1.0%
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Eclipse
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6
|
0
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4
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0
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2
|
249
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250
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-0.6%
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Hellebore
|
1
|
2
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0
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1
|
1
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76
|
75
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1.7%
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Aconite
|
1
|
0
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0
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5
|
0
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63
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65
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-3.7%
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NightShade
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1
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2
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0
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1
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0
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42
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40
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4.5%
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Hemlock
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1
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0
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0
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0
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1
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41
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40
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2.8%
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DATA1: Existing vessels calculated using the formula.
The Voidstalker is an exception to basic Eldar ship design. Almost twice the size of a cruiser, it has weapons
with 3 firing arcs, lances with two firing arcs and weapons and lance range is increased to 45cm. In addition,
the existence of the Forge of Vaul establishes that, for battleships, 6 torpedo tubes are equal to 4 Launch Bays.
Launch Bays, because of their size, are presumably less costly to install in Battleships since they do not take
such a large proportion of hull volume. On the other hand, costs for pulsars and weapons should be increased
to account for the extended range and arc.
The Eldar Battleship Formula:
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Points = [4.6 x Damage] + [12 x (# Torpedoes)] + [18 x (# Launch Bays)] + [13 x (# Weapons)] + [39 x (# Pulsar Lances)] + 2
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Damage
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Torpedo Tubes
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Launch Bays
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Weapon Battery
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Pulsar
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Predicted
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Actual
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Delta
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Voidstalker
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10
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0
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4
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8
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4
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380
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380
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0.0%
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Forge of Vaul
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10
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6
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0
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8
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4
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380
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380
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0.0%
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DATA2: The Void Stalkers points values calculated using the formula.
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Eldar Ship Construction Guide
As an example, I will construct a new Eldar light cruiser that is relatively cheap and does not rely on
ordnance. I use the Epic scale Eldar Vampire Raider for this vessel in Battle Fleet Gothic games.
Step One
Choose the basic hull type, determining speed, hits, and prow/keel firepower/strength limitations:
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Damage
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Speed
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Shields
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Armour
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Max Firepower/Strength
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Battleship
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10
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10/20/25
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Holofield
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4+
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30
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Cruiser
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6
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10/20/25
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Holofield
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4+
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18
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Light Cruiser
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4
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10/20/30
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Holofield
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4+
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12
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Frigate
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1
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10/20/30
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Holofield
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4+
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6
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Destroyer
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1
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15/20/30
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Holofield
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4+
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3
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All Eldar ships have 4+ armor, all have Holofields, and none have shields or turrets. The Firepower/Strength
limitation refers to the sum of all entries in that column of the ships data display. Weapons and torpedoes
count as 1 each, pulsar lances count as strength/firepower 2 each and each launch bay counts as strength/firepower
3. This limits the amount of weaponry on a given ship class. For example, a destroyer can carry a maximum of 3
weapons batteries, or a lance and 1 weapon battery, or a single launch bay.
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Name
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Type/Hits
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Speed
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Turns
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Shields
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Armour
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Turrets
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Points
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Vampire
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Light Cruiser/4
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10/20/30
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Special
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Holo
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4+
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None
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2 + (4.6 x 4) = 20.4
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Step Two
Add weapons. There is room for 12 on our Light Cruiser. On any Eldar escort, cruiser or light cruiser all
pulsars and weapons batteries fire in the forward arc with a range of 30cm. Battleship pulsars and batteries
have a range of 45cm and 2 or 3 fire arcs respectively.
We will add 2 pulsars and 4 weapons batteries costing:
[11.2 x 4] + [34.5 x 2] = 113.8
And taking up 8 of our space allowance.
We now have, using the BASIC formula:
Pts = [4.6 x 4] + [0 x 12] + [0 x 37.5] + [11.2 x 4] + [34.5 x 2] + 2 = 134.2
When calculating new ships round to the nearest 5, thus 135 pts.
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Name
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Type/Hits
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Speed
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Turns
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Shields
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Armour
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Turrets
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Points
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Vampire
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Light Cruiser/4
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10/20/30
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Special
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Holo
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4+
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None
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135
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Armament
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Range/Speed
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Firepower/Strength
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Fire Arc
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Prow Pulsar Lance
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30 cm
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2
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Front
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Prow Weapons Battery
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30 cm
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4
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Front
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Philosophy
In general, ship point formulas should not be used with input values that fall outside the bounds of good sense.
Yes, you can construct an escort with a launch bay, but take into account that the game’s designers, with four
escort designs, choose not to do so.
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Eldar Battlecruiser [Experimental]
While working on this article, I thought about an Eldar ship with 8 hit points, a battle cruiser, if you will.
Traditionally, battlecruisers were faster but more weakly armored than battleships. In the Battle Fleet Gothic
world, you cant get much more weakly armored than the Eldar so some offensive capability should be sacrificed.
The ship should also fill the point gap between the Eclipse and Voidstalker and retain the battleships 45cm
range and arc advantages but lose the cheaper launch bays.
Start with:
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Type/Hits
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Speed
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Turns
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Shields
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Armour
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Turrets
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Points
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Max Firepower/Strength
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Battlecruiser/8
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10/20/30
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Special
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Holo
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4+
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None
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2 + [4.6 x 8] = 38.8
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24
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Add weapons suite: 4 Prow Torpedoes, 6 weapons and 4 pulsar lances
Using a modified BB formula (greater Launch bay cost):
[12 x (# Torpedoes)] + [27 x (# Launch Bays)] + [13 x (#Weapons)] + [39 x (#Pulsar Lances)]
[12 x 4] + [27 x 0] + [13 x 6] + [39 x 4] = 282 pts
Adding 282 + 38.8 gives a 320.8 (round to 320) point battlecruiser.
Enjoy
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Top of Page
Date: 22/11/2002
Submitted by: Kevin Kelley
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Recently, I received an email from Pat about this article, stating a few alterations which he felt were needed. He felt
that the values were excellent, but a few were 'slightly off'. So, I suggested that he send me his opinion of the numbers,
so that I could add then to the end of the article. Then, people could make up their own mind, and use what they felt
was correct. He did, and so I did. So, here is his ammendment to the article. Feel free to drop me an email and let me know
your opinions on this. Alternatively, go over to the EpiComms Forums and let us all know.
Thanks, CyberShadow.
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Figuring out the points value of the Eldar ships published in the basic rules is easy. There are 2 Hull types:
the Escort, and the Cruiser. Once you have chosen the hull you just have to add the cost of the weapons. The
costs of both are listed below.
- Eldar Costs:
- Escort Hull : 5 Points
- Cruiser Hull : 20 Points
- Weapons Cost per point of strength:
- Torpedoes : 11.5 Points
- Launch Bay : 40 Points
- 30cm Weapons Battery : 12 Points
- Eldar Pulsar : 35 Points
For convenience, here is the chart showing the costs:
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Hits
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Hull
Cost
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Torpedo
Tubes
(11.5)
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Launch
Bays
(40)
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Weapon
Battery
(12)
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Pulsar
(35)
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Actual
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Predicted
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Delta
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Shadow
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6
|
20
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4
|
0
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12
|
0
|
210
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210
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0%
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Eclipse
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6
|
20
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0
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4
|
0
|
2
|
250
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250
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0%
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Hellebore
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
75
|
75
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0%
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Aconite
|
1
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
0
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65
|
65
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0%
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Nightshade
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
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40
|
40
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0%
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Hemlock
|
1
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
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1
|
40
|
40
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0%
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I also 'pointed' out the Aurora and Void Stalker, by using estimated guesses for the hull costs. If the Void
Stalker hull costs -16 (negative 16) and the Lightning costs 24, then the posted values are perfect. ;) But
that still does not account for the range 45 guns.
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Hits
|
Hull
Cost
|
Torpedo
Tubes
(11.5)
|
Launch
Bays
(40)
|
Weapon
Battery
(12)
|
Pulsar
(35)
|
Actual
|
Predicted
|
Delta
|
|
Void Stalker
|
10
|
35
|
0
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
380
|
431
|
-12%
|
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Lightning
|
4
|
10
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
140
|
126
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11%
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Top of Page
Date: 03/03/2003
Submitted by: Pat Estes
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