Unfortunately, of all the flying vehicles, the Firebat is the worst. It has no real firepower or durability, nor anything that makes it different or even a viable choice. It's basically a poor copy of the others. Shall we try posting some ideas here in the hope that the CB staff can add something valuable to it in an update? Even with a few simple additions it would make sense, like: - add Heavy Riotstopper +1B or +2B or -add repeater or deployable repeater or - add Forward Observer
I think its fine, can it go toe to toe with a TAG? no but that's not its job, sneak it round in as much total cover as possible and hunt down cheer leaders and other soft targets just avoid enemy favorable range bands and MSV because it need those modifiers.
From what I’ve seen that is not the case. It’s a pretty good cheerleader killer. The Thunderbolt will take out anything under ARM2 even if in cover, if it is in cover, you can use the LRL template that gives them no + to ARM. It’s so fast and maneuverable you should be able to get LoF and +3 range fairly easily while you get them in 0 or -3 range with Mim -6. Also remember it’s SR -1. The LRL effectively becomes a HRL, and Thunderbolt becomes a Mini-HMG. I think the worst could be the Haytham with STR1 and the only ranged weapons a non-modified Thunderbolt or Flamenspeer. My candidate for the second worst flyer is the Feiquan. It’s only killing weapon is a +1 B Multi-rifle. It doesn’t have SR -1 either. The only weapon good over 16” is a Akrylate Kanon. It’s cheaper than the Firebat but not likely to make it’s points back in comparison.
So between the two versions, do you think the one with the light rocket launcher is better? I don't know, it doesn't convince me. Witouth +1b is only B2, and lose also the +1b in the thunderbolt. The Redeye for practically the same price has a Spitfire and Arm 6...
Im afraid you'll never be convinced as long as you're comparing it to the Redeye or that damned Go-pod. That way lies madness.
I think it just depends on points and SWC. I like the LRL because I like the continuous damage and no ARM bonus. But also, can change to Hit mode if enemy is in the open. I will say I’ve only seen it played twice and not yet myself. But it did its job both times. Which was to kill back-end cheerleaders trying to hide on rooftops. The maneuverability is no joke. Yes, and I don’t see many PO playing it because its 1.5 SWC and they have other and maybe better shooters than that.
I think all the vehicles are less than great right now. It is the core rules: S7, Aerial, and No Cover are extremely punishing, especially all together. It makes them difficult to hide and relatively fragile. So they are extremely vulnerable on the reactive turn. Like mentioned by @RobertShepherd, it is extremely striking comparing them to Garuda TacBots. CB seems to wish to incrementally improve Vehicles, so I could see an ITS Rule to test the option of giving them Tac Awareness. But until the mobility benefits outweigh all the negatives, they probably will not see much use.
They're a very tricky unit type to balance because while their performance floor is very low (gets seen by opponent in their active turn, gets shot, dies immediately), so is their performance ceiling (highly mobile jet propulsion plunging fire scores multiple kills that couldn't be contemplated by any other troop type). Make them too cheap, and they become an easy gamble because the payoff is well worth the small opportunity cost; make them too dangerous and the blowout games start happening too frequently (although I'd expect players and tables to adapt over time). I think my personal thing would be to see them move from No Cover to Limited Cover. They don't get it anyway in active turn if they're using Super Jump but it gives them a slightly better chance of surviving someone drawing LOF to their S7 chonk in reactive. Do a bit of testing to see if the GoPod and Redeye need any points increases with that change, maybe tweak some of the other vehicles in small ways as well, and leave it at that before making any other radical changes.
