Tac Bombers

[Tralis]

As of AA50 I thought the air units were rather balanced. Fighters were the "baseline" air unit, and if you wanted a bomber you got the following advantages:
6 Range
SBR capability
4 Attack
For the following drawbacks:
2 Extra Cost
1 Defense

That seemed fair. Bombers had some very powerful advantages, especially the 6 range and SBR ability.
Tac bombers though, as compared to fighters, have 1 advantage:
4 Attack, but only when paired with other units
With the following drawbacks:
1 Extra Cost
Can't escort in SBR
3 Defense

None of those drawbacks are as devastating as the bombers one Defense. However, the advantage just doesn't seem worth it. 3 Attack is good enough. 4 Attack is nice, but its not worth all of those small disadvantages added together. Am I missing something about why Tac Bombers are worth the cost? I remember reading something about how they choose their casualties on the first round of combat, but I haven't heard about that for awhile. So what do Tac Bombers do that make them worth the purchase?

[kcdzim]

So what do Tac Bombers do that make them worth the purchase?

Or you can think of it as a cheaper bomber that's not a sitting duck on defense.  A 4 on attack is actually pretty huge in a game like this.  Anything hitting 2/3s of the time is pretty dang helpful, especially in battles where every unit you kill in the first round is better for you in subsequent rounds.  And they get to go on trips around the pacific without needing dry land.

[Vareel]

No I completely agree and would never personally purchase a tac-bomber.  Esp since once that fighter next to it dies that tac-bomber just turned into a regular fighter on the attack, but still has all the draw backs.  Love the concept, terrible execution.  These, 6 IPC tanks, and cruisers make me sad =(.  Maybe thats why japan only has enough tac-bombers for setup, they figured no one would want to purchase more 

[Stoney229]

As of AA50 I thought the air units were rather balanced. Fighters were the "baseline" air unit, and if you wanted a bomber you got the following advantages:
6 Range
SBR capability
4 Attack
For the following drawbacks:
2 Extra Cost
1 Defense

That seemed fair. Bombers had some very powerful advantages, especially the 6 range and SBR ability.
Tac bombers though, as compared to fighters, have 1 advantage:
4 Attack, but only when paired with other units
With the following drawbacks:
1 Extra Cost
Can't escort in SBR
3 Defense

None of those drawbacks are as devastating as the bombers one Defense. However, the advantage just doesn't seem worth it. 3 Attack is good enough. 4 Attack is nice, but its not worth all of those small disadvantages added together. Am I missing something about why Tac Bombers are worth the cost? I remember reading something about how they choose their casualties on the first round of combat, but I haven't heard about that for awhile. So what do Tac Bombers do that make them worth the purchase?

I kinda felt the same way at first, but don't forget S-bmrs also have 2 more drawbacks: not being able to land on CVs and not being able to scramble.  both of those can be significant.  If you have a 1:1 ratio of Tacs to Figs (naval), or Tacs to FIGs + ARMs (land), you have too many Tacs: just like you want more infantry than art and Arm, because you want to still have a good ratio after your infantry (or FIGs) take all the hits.  If you are on the offensive, then a few TACs seem like they can be worth the extra cost.

[kcdzim]

I suspect that they'll be really for Russia in Europe as well, because they'll be more useful for defense than a bomber and be very helpful for the russian attack/retreat hit and runs on germany using armor to wear the front line down but not leaving it to be destroyed.  I dunno, I haven't played Pacific, doubt i will unless there's a TripleA map, but I see those Tacs as pretty helpful.  Strategic bombing is a heavy investment as a strategy (and not one that's suited to Japan early in the game anyway) so this gives you the power of the bomber in battles and you can leave it on the frontline.  As the game wears on maybe you'll upgrade to strategic bombers, but somehow, until it's the global game, I kinda doubt it and even then I see the tac bomber as pretty essential to the pacific naval battles.

That said, once the global game has tech, Heavy Bombers and Jet Fighters will make the Tac worthless.  Unless they get Spotters as an upgrade and you can start picking your hits.

[Tralis]

I suppose the real question is if there's any situation where one would definitely want a tac bomber vs just a fighter? There seems to be more of a clear divide between the role of other units.

[hyogoetophile]

Like kcdzim said, getting +1 on attack for an extra IPC is huge for air units. Because only fighters can scramble (and since compared to tacs they get a +1 on defense, for 1 less IPC) they are a much stronger purchase for defensive fights.

Tacs however are best for launching non-SBR attacks. So they're not the greatest purchase, but they certainly have their place.

[kcdzim]

I suppose the real question is if there's any situation where one would definitely want a tac bomber vs just a fighter? There seems to be more of a clear divide between the role of other units.

It's just like buying artillery.  You normally wouldn't stack artillery, you'd buy more infantry supported by some artillery.  Now we have the option to buy tac bombers to support the fighters.  You still need fighters, and unless you have many fighters or many tanks, you're probably not buying tacs.  But once you have enough fighters and tanks, that 4 hit on the offense is a big fat deal.  Would it be worth to you in a battle to pay one ipc at the start of the fight for a unit to fire one point higher?  I know I've had rounds where I'd kill for that tac.  And then you don't have to retreat it as far (like that very very very vulnerable bomber).

You pay a premium in A&A for offensive power.  The units as a general rule (for price) favor defense (or at least trended to though some of that has changed as subs & carriers were downgraded and transports eliminated from combat). 

[Kilukru]

And remember, mech inf + tank + tac. bomber = great mobility and firepower on the ground. A great improvement on the classical Inf, art, tank.