I can't make a pick

[ShadowAszourus]

Testies Besties,

I've been looking at both the vanguard harbinger and Retaliator bomber for a while because i want a cool bomber that i can do alot with.
Which one of these would you guys choose?

Please leave me a tip and also tell me why you would choose the one or the other, enlighten me oh Aurora crashers.

 

[Mich Angel]

I have chosen the Harbinger my self it's made for longer missions and you can fly it solo if needed but will do just fine on a short mission and as crew shipp too, the Retaliator need a escort since you do not have guns for the pilot and are totally dependent on the turret gunners skill and your escort to protect you until you get to target as in Retaliator is more meant to attack bigger ships.. Wile the Harbinger can do both small and big ships easy on it's own and as in a group or multi crewed. Retaliator is multi crew only to be successful

:smile:

 

[supitza]

As per the recent ordnance document, The Vanguard Harbinger has 4x S4 Missiles and 3x S5 Torpedoes, while the Retaliator has 6x S9 Torpedoes (+maybe some bombs)? One is small and goes far, the other goes hard.
I'd make the choice based on what the rest of your fleet looks like.

 

[DirectorGunner]

What the guys above wrote, dido.
ooooor

 

[DragonHeart]

Probably the Vanguard for solo, and Retaliator for multi-crew missions.

 

[marcsand2]

The Retaliator can be modded to:
- bomber
- personnel transport
- hauler
- dropship
The Vanguard can be modded to:
- heavy fighter
- bomber
- electronic warfare
The Tali is multi-crew ship, it can't even defend itself with only a pilot. The Warden can be operated solo.

 

[Deroth]

If there isn't a Drake equivalent, does it really exist?

 

[marcsand2]

If there isn't a Drake equivalent, does it really exist?

You could try to load the Black with torps, but then you must throw them out of the rear main door or the side sliding doors.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

If you would like to be able to haul cargo, the Tally looks like it may have enough hull that it can sneak about with shields down, running a smallish reactor and minimum thrusters. We should all make it a habit to boost to max speed and decouple. The Tally might drift through systems to deliver medium cargo unnoticed. The Vanguards will never be haulers of any sort.

Both are long range. If what you want is to bomb though, you want your Vanguard flying with others. One bomber is seldom enough, and you will want a Sentinel with you so your target doesn't know what is approaching until it is too late. Plan to group with other bombers and EM Warfare specialists. Also note the Vanguard are WAY faster than the Tallies. Makes a difference.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dJlTDbvHMJ-iQ1EWzUymcp3JpCcD96REDS9rpJBDG70/edit#gid=1875385912

If you are interested in Privateering, find that thread in the Professions folder and drop a note so we can collect your name. Many of us will be teaming our various Vanguards on strike missions and the more the merrier.

 

[Printimus]

What the guys above wrote, dido.
ooooor

^ What this guy said.

 

[DarthMunkee]

If you would like to be able to haul cargo, the Tally looks like it may have enough hull that it can sneak about with shields down, running a smallish reactor and minimum thrusters. We should all make it a habit to boost to max speed and delink. The Tally might drift through systems to deliver medium cargo unnoticed. The Vanguards will never be haulers of any sort.

Both are long range. If what you want is to bomb though, you want your Vanguard flying with others. One bomber is seldom enough, and you will want the Sentinel with you as the least so your target doesn't know what is approaching until it is too late. Plan to group with other bombers and EM Warfare specialists. Also note the Vanguard are WAY faster than the Tallies. Makes a difference.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dJlTDbvHMJ-iQ1EWzUymcp3JpCcD96REDS9rpJBDG70/edit#gid=1875385912

Damn. I hadn't even considered drifting through a system like that. That makes me want to become a charming, scruffy-looking smuggler even more.

 

[Bambooza]

You could try to load the Black with torps, but then you must throw them out of the rear main door or the side sliding doors.

That's what the Nox or X1 is for.

 

[Radegast74]

Everybody above makes great points.

I would only add that, with the BUK's (Battlefield Upgrade Kits), the Vanguard can be configured into any of the variants, if you so choose. It also can be flown solo, with the pilot control of the guns. The Vanguard is a great longer range, jump capable craft. As long as you don't dogfight with anything smaller / more agile, you should be fine. I see the Harbinger as a bomber capable of going with little/no escort fighters into areas, targeting medium size craft or facilities (size 5 tops are big, but three of them aren't going to do a whole lot against a Starfarer or larger craft).

The Retaliator can also be configured, with the use of the modules, and could even haul cargo or act as a drop ship. With NPC's and/or AI turrets, you could have some defensive capabilities as a solo player. The size 9 torps mean that you can take out larger ships and/or structures.

Interestingly, the speed difference isn't that huge between the ships...but yes, the Vanguard is faster. Both ships are meant to jump in, go straight at a target, drop their bombs/torps, and then get out.

 

[Radegast74]

As per the recent ordnance document, The Vanguard Harbinger has 4x S4 Missiles and 3x S5 Torpedoes, while the Retaliator has 6x S9 Torpedoes (+maybe some bombs)? One is small and goes far, the other goes hard.
I'd make the choice based on what the rest of your fleet looks like.

Interestingly, that document (https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/engineering/16190-The-Shipyard-Ordnance-Hardpoints) doesn't show any missiles for the Retaliator. I have been expecting them to have some sort of external pylon ro the 'Tali, but this does not show that. It appears they really want to 'Tali to be the B17 analog in this game.

 

[supitza]

Interestingly, that document (https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/engineering/16190-The-Shipyard-Ordnance-Hardpoints) doesn't show any missiles for the Retaliator. I have been expecting them to have some sort of external pylon ro the 'Tali, but this does not show that. It appears they really want to 'Tali to be the B17 analog in this game.

As I understand, torpedoes are larger, unguided missiles. On top of that, I still expect bombers to be able to drop some kind of bombs.

 

[Huegpaynis]

Neither. Get a polaris, and fire aaaaaall the torps.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

. . .the Vanguard can be configured into any of the variants, if you so choose.

IIUC, you cannot reconfigure to the Hoplite--it requires you buy that variant. I wish it were not so, but I think the official word on that bird is because it requires a larger bay door, it uses a different frame, which means it cannot be turned into a Warden, Sentinel nor Harbinger, and they they cannot be turned into a Hoplite. This actually makes the Hoplites more rare and valuable.

 

[marcsand2]

doesn't show any missiles for the Retaliator.

Just like the rocket pods on the Delta:

Ships that have bespoke pods that are modeled into their hull (e.g. Mustang Delta) or have internal bomb bays (e.g. Sabre) are locked to their original stock items. The only customization that can be done in these instances is swapping the missiles/rockets/torpedoes themselves.

 

[marcsand2]

That's what the Nox or X1 is for.

That makes the Black a better Bomber than the Harbinger or Retaliator. The Retaliator and Harbinger have locking and targeting torpedoes, the Nox or X1 make the torps smart.

You only must give the pilot enough high percentage alcohol to make up for the lower explosive payload.

 

[Bambooza]

the Nox or X1 make the torps smart.

Did you just call fellow testies smart?