Which air fleet would you most like to see?

[Pik]

OK, we all know that next fleets will be Germans and Italians, and we're still waiting for the Core Box, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about our preferences

Personally, I'd like to see Austro-Hungarian Air Fleet. Mainly because K.u.k. armed forces are overlooked in both historical and steampunk wargames. I also like their dual-state feature and multiethnic crews.  Finally, Austro-Hungary was one of the three powers that were occupying my country, so there should be some Poles on their Leviathans' decks, too.

[Worktroll]

Speaking as one of the game's creator, and as the one who did the write-up on the Austro-Hungarians, I have to agree with you. The K.u.K. is really poised to be a wonderful 'flavour' faction, with multiple influences pulling them this way and that, and a unique 'flat-iron' approach to leviathan design. And given that we've tried to avoid the massive factionalisation that happened prior to the mundane WW1, it's a safe bet that you won't need much of an excuse to have Luftkreuzer Kapitan von Trapp taking the SML Admiral Spaun into combat against any preferred foe.

And Pik, don't forget Rychnowski was Polish. We haven't heard the last of him, and his obsession with the infamous E-bomb ...

W.

[blackbrunswicker]

I'm looking forward to the Japanese personally. I can't wait to see the direction they take after their loss in the Russo-Japanese War in this setting. The Royal Navy and the IJN have always been favorites of mine.

[Garydee]

I'm really looking forward to the US Air Fleet myself. I can't help but wonder how they'll play.

[Toolian]

Japanese. I'm sort of wondering if they will have a unique design structure, like the fins have a oriental look to them, sort of like the sails on a Chines Junk (Yeah I know those are Chinese and we are talking Japanese).

The fact they'll be PP means I can collect all fleets and not just 1 or 2

[Kylen]

Pirates! Pirates pirates pirates!

Also, what does PP stand for?

[Toolian]

Pirates! Pirates pirates pirates!

Also, what does PP stand for?

purple penguins 

[Pik]

what does PP stand for?

Pre-painted, I suppose. But not sure about it. Toolian's mind is enigma.

Japanese. I'm sort of wondering if they will have a unique design structure, like the fins have a oriental look to them, sort of like the sails on a Chines Junk (Yeah I know those are Chinese and we are talking Japanese).

I'm also curious about how next factions airships look like (Hell, who's not?! ). IMHO Japanese ones will be more 'European-like'. After all, Meiji shipbuilding policy was similar to 'buy already tested ship, study her, improve her, produce improved version'. However, it's alternate history so your dream is possible. Especially if Catalyst Lab guys want to have good sales in Japan. The Japanese do love their culture and probably they wouldn't accept IJA Leviathans without proper oriental design. I just hope all differences in design of different factions ships won't be too big. (If you want to see what 'too big' means, check dys. wars gallery... yuck!)

I'm looking forward to the Japanese personally. I can't wait to see the direction they take after their loss in the Russo-Japanese War in this setting. The Royal Navy and the IJN have always been favorites of mine.

I love IJN too, but I definitely prefer Pacific War period. You know, when you say 'Japanese Navy' I think 'aircraft carriers!'. Zuikaku, Shoukaku, Souryou, Hiryou, Akagi, Kaga - all these ships have a very special place inside my heart Not the "gunships", even cool flying ones.

I'm really looking forward to the US Air Fleet myself. I can't help but wonder how they'll play.

Knowing that main target of the game will be U.S. board & wargame players, I bet they will be awesome

Unique 'flat-iron' approach to leviathan design. And given that we've tried to avoid the massive factionalisation that happened prior to the mundane WW1, it's a safe bet that you won't need much of an excuse to have Luftkreuzer Kapitan von Trapp taking the SML Admiral Spaun into combat against any preferred foe.

By saying 'flat-iron design', you mean their bow will be looking like iron, or like NY skyscraper? I've previously noticed that timeline lacks some important political events, i.e. German - Austro-Hungarian defence treaty. So, no Central Powers block. I Like it.

And Pik, don't forget Rychnowski was Polish. We haven't heard the last of him, and his obsession with the infamous E-bomb ...

I've just wanted to add a topic "why so few weapon types?!" Please, make it work in a different way then guns and torpedoes, so that game will be more exciting.

And nothing's more epic than Polish mad scientist creating it's evil engine of doom & destruction

[Garydee]

I'm really looking forward to the US Air Fleet myself. I can't help but wonder how they'll play.

Knowing that main target of the game will be U.S. board & wargame players, I bet they will be awesome

Oh, I'm sure they will be but I was wondering what their play style will be. Will they have big armor, slow ships like the Brits or speed demons like the French? Something in-between?

[Pik]

I'm pretty sure that at least one nation will get ships with torpedo launch bays mounted on the bow. Maybe USA?

I disagree with your description of French and British ships' features. The French ones aren't speed demons (only 3 out of 11 known ganymedes have speed value of 12) and the British ones are not so slow (we know only about slow HMS Hertfordshire; HML Charger, HML Raven and HML Beagle are very fast) nor heavy armored (HML Courser, HML Charger are very light cruisers). IMO the real difference is in weapon placement. French ones utilize lots of torpedo launchers (5 out of 11 ganys have them), steering gears (4 out of 11). Their light cruisers usually are armed with lots of small caliber guns. On the other hand, British light cruisers have medium to high caliber weaponry. Their Armoured Cruisers both out-gun French Protected cruisers, who have few medium guns. For now, the British have only one steering gear-equipped ship. Their type 4 ship is the only one armed with dreaded Dblack/Dred weaponry.

[Padraig Tseng]

No option for "All of them"...

[Pik]

No option for "All of them"...

Hey, it's  just forum-based simple application, not sophisticated survey engine Other way, multiple choice option would be a necessity.

[Garydee]

I'm pretty sure that at least one nation will get ships with torpedo launch bays mounted on the bow. Maybe USA?

I disagree with your description of French and British ships' features. The French ones aren't speed demons (only 3 out of 11 known ganymedes have speed value of 12) and the British ones are not so slow (we know only about slow HMS Hertfordshire; HML Charger, HML Raven and HML Beagle are very fast) nor heavy armored (HML Courser, HML Charger are very light cruisers). IMO the real difference is in weapon placement. French ones utilize lots of torpedo launchers (5 out of 11 ganys have them), steering gears (4 out of 11). Their light cruisers usually are armed with lots of small caliber guns. On the other hand, British light cruisers have medium to high caliber weaponry. Their Armoured Cruisers both out-gun French Protected cruisers, who have few medium guns. For now, the British have only one steering gear-equipped ship. Their type 4 ship is the only one armed with dreaded Dblack/Dred weaponry.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but as a whole the French fleet is faster, more maneuverable, and lighter armored than their British counterparts.

[blackbrunswicker]

I love IJN too, but I definitely prefer Pacific War period. You know, when you say 'Japanese Navy' I think 'aircraft carriers!'. Zuikaku, Shoukaku, Souryou, Hiryou, Akagi, Kaga - all these ships have a very special place inside my heart Not the "gunships", even cool flying ones.

The Pacific War is good too, an the Japanese carriers are very nice, but I prefer the heavy cruisers of that era. Those are some beautiful ships.

[Spence]

Carriers are great....for WW2.  But they would kill the feel of Leviathans much more than adding detailed boarding rules would.    Within days of the release of a 'carrier' module, the need for any actual leviathans would be gone.   

I voted for Japanese because I am very curious about the look of a non-European Lev fleet.   But carriers are one of those "you can't put the genie back in the bottle" game enders.