COMMENTS ABOUT SKY PIRATES (PART 2)

I dont really like how the Jacknife Destroyers final models differ so much from the rules. In fact I actually like the model completely matching the game stats. It is was supposed to be another airship (small size) maybe with sails (frigate sails) maybe even wings (for diving/ pitching down) with a torpedo launcher in the nose and some broadside guns. 

These where the original stats.

Expensive but very good. Has a powerufll torpedo attack (with unnecessary ship extra rules in its description because the Torpedo weapon already has its rules in the Uncharted seas basic rulebook). However what we got from Spartan Games whas totally different: The models represented in the picture below:

As you can see, there are no sails, so it is not dependant on the wind direction, it doesn´t has broadsides and doesn´t seem to have a crew higher than 1, plus I don´t think it can whistand a damage higher than 2 because is nimbler than a frigate. So, how can this model have the stats value shown above.. It´s magic? Is the pilot a powerfull mage that count as a three crew, can cast powerfull spells to the sides but not to the front and enchanted the flying machine to be as hard as a destroyer? As you can imagine the model looks soo wrong or odd to me when using those game stats. Many UCS players thought the same and purchased Dystopian wars blimps to replace them and have a model that actually matches the stats.

I also commented long ago in the Spartan Games instead of purchasing another model from a game that has a differente scale (half the size aproximately, probably less) I decided to make game stats (unofficial) to actually match the current model itself which still looks nice to me, so I got to something like that (based on the stats of the dwaf Belcher class submarine.

This model has to be playtested.
It has as a apecial rule:  It is NOT able to initiate any kind of boarding action (but can still be boarded)
and also
Cannot initiate a ram (but can still collide with terrain normally)
If aother flyer rams this model the owning player rolls a die:
1-3    No effect, the ram misses and it counts as it had not been declared.
4       The Jacknife takes one point of damage and rolls normally to damage the ramming model
5-6    The Jacnkinfe is automatically destroyed and rolls normally to damage the ramming model

(basically your roll a die on a 4+ you hit, and that hit can be a partial hit or a dircet hit, that breaks a wing, the tail etc.. and the model goes down)

With those rules the model is likely to be an alpha striker, because it can be easily destroyed by defensive fire unless the model being attacked can shoot it down (If the controlling player uses Range Band (RB) 1, making a dive-bombing). There is also the option of making an attack at RB 2 (no, dive-bombing, just a standard torpedo run,  and remember you can´t link their torpedoes) outside of defensive fire range but within cannon range.

Playtesting adjustments/comments

 The squadron size  has been set to four to "match" the number of units commonly on an aerial squadron, but as they are indipendent and cannot link don´t benefit much, besides making a combined attack like the card of the same name. It that probes too powerful the squad size maybe can be reduced back to 2-3. In the game I had befoere, the Sky pirates were severely out-activated by the dwarves, and having squadrons that small could have helped much.

If the model probes too weak, maybe the rule of capitals hitting them on 6+ and smalls hitting on 5+ (rams left as mentioned).
Another buff-up could be increasing the move value to 14" so they can stay more easily at a distance then using their speed to close quicly to the ccenter once the enemy fleet is too busy to attack them.
If still too weak combine both of them.

If the model probes too powerfull maybe the torpedo value can be just 5 at RB 1 or ber just  7 at RB 1 losing the AD at RB 2.

The model main weaknes is vulerability to crew-depleting effects and also to anti-flyer ships, airships and flying creatures. This  should not be changed.

The model expected main role is to remove blocking frigates or harass damaged or isloated cruisers/medims and letting the SP achieving small models superiorty by removing the enemy´s smalls)

And that´s all hope you liked :)

Dan

PS: if you purchased some DW to match the old stats, it is perfectly acceptable. The jacknife just has two versions with the same name (like the frigates and destroyers in Thaniras elves fleet)