- "Hovercraft capable of engaging ground units. Strong against ground strikecraft." — In game description
The Shepherd-class Armored Craft (Coalition Intelligence codename: Aard'th Saar Assault Ship) is a Kiith Gaalsien armored hovercraft used during the time of Operation Khadiim.
Lore[]
- "This Gaalsien assault ship can be lethal adversary if allowed to pick the range of engagement. The Aard'th Saar is armed with an array of rapid-fire autocannons firing HE rounds. While damage falls off dramatically at longer ranges, at short range, it can be devastating. Often Saar's will in coordinated packs, using their high survivability to lure careless enemy units into pursuing one team member while others pounce at short range." — Expedition Guide
Campaign[]
Assault ships counter LAVs, and are countered in turn at long range by railguns. They diminish in threat level as the campaign progresses, as they are pretty ineffective against the armor of the larger cruiser-class ships, and are easy pickings from air attacks.
Assault ships may only be produced from production cruisers. Should the player hack a production cruiser, they may build their own assault ships.
Hacked assault ships can be a decent addition to AAVs early on, packing more punch, but are still largely redundant later on and even fall behind their equivalents more as more upgrades become available for them.
Multiplayer[]
Assault ships may only be produced from production cruisers. It was the counterpart of the coalition's Armored Assault Vehicle. Although its weapons, though fast firing, are still slower than the Phalanx' gatling, the Shepherd compensates with the highly explosive rounds its autocannons fire, allowing it to deal AoE damage to large groups of strikecraft. They had a crew of four.
The Gaalsien assault ship can be a lethal adversary if allowed to pick the range of engagement. The Aard'th Saar is armed with an array of rapid-fire autocannons firing HE (High Explosive) rounds. While damage falls of dramatically at longer ranges, at short range it can be devastating. Often Saar's will work in coordinated packs, using their high survivability to lure careless enemy units into pursuing one team member while the others pounce at short range.
Strong Against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
Weak Against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
- Coalition Railgun
- Soban Railgun
- Coalition Battlecruiser
- Soban Battlecruiser
- Strike Fighter
- Gunship
- Tactical Bomber
- Coalition Carrier
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
- Assault Railgun
- Heavy Railgun
- Khaaneph Siege Cruiser
- Interceptor
- Precision Bomber
- Gaalsien Carrier
- Khaaneph Carrier
Veterancy[]
Rank | Effect | XP Required |
---|---|---|
Novice | +1 Armor | 350 |
Acolyte | +200 Hull | 625 |
Sentinel | +1 Armor | 950 |
Guardian | +1 Rate of Fire | 1800 |
Elder | +100 Hull | 3400 |
Research[]
Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect | Prerequisites |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assault Ship Fabrication | 600 CUs | 100 RUs | 65s | Enables Assault Ship Production | Sandskimmer Fabrication |
Armored Unit Defences Level 1 | 200 CUs | 100 RUs | 15s | +3 Armor | Assault Ship Fabrication |
Armored Unit Defences Level 2 | 200 CUs | 200 RUs | 20s | +2 Armor and +100 Hull | Armored Unit Defences Level 1 |
Armored Unit Defences Level 3 | 250 CUs | 300 RUs | 30s | +1 Armor and +200 Hull | Armored Unit Defences Level 2 |
Trivia[]
- Gaalsien Assault Ship are manned by four personnel.