The ROC connection is post war though, so not much of an incentive. Petunia was busy overall, but struggling with much SA scope apart from rescue seeming obvious. The ram incident with Crocus is one of the more well known events involving a flower, due to the drama of the event itself and the fact it has been well documented with published eyewitness material from both sides, including Capt. Cremer (U333). Don't see it as a better option myself either way.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
Petunia could reasonably get both: TO THE RESCUE: At the end of the second player's Sea Movement step, you may place this unit in an adjacent sector that contains a friendly crippled Ship.
EVADE TORPEDOES: Once per game, when an enemy unit would make a Torpedo attack against this unit, you may roll a die. On a 3 or higher, the Torpedo attack automatically misses instead. This unit can't move during the Sea Movement phase the turn after it uses this ability.
The RoC transfer is before Vanguard. Also, as a fluff text thing, even that comparison is not really relevant.
Putting the ROC aside, which I agree is not relevant to its wartime history, it will come down to a straight choice preference of SA suites, which are similarly balanced overall. Crocus to me is still better because I like the ram on it and the history too.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
I think at this stage with the deck almost done, it's prohibitive swapping anything out for no obvious reason/improvement. Crocus is a good choice and was an immediate yes when you suggested it. Its iconic for that ram and that depiction is often used when representing the flower classes wartime achievements.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
Still fits in game wise with the type of use they are going to get. Ram gives it a little boost considering its speed. It must have looked OK when we did it originally? Was certainly an improvement on the the sweeping ability type put forward, but I'm struggling to see an improvement that's worth changing it for again.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
We do have sub hunter on Sackville but for what it's worth, I wish we would have just done Starling before a UK flower class. Obviously a flower was suggested in connection with the starter theme but we went away from that anyway, due to the limited flower choices from that battle. I actually think doing the starter theme is not as much of a pull with not having physical cards in hindsight. Just digital is not really going to make the starter theme all that apparent. Like I mentioned previous, it just limited the options and whilst several of those choices are fine, some others wouldn't have been picked in a normal vote. If the 'Robin' version of Victorious is put forward next deck, that will be on the back of doing another Ark Royal this deck, with nothing wrong with the originals, but obviously taking up two slots that could have been used for other new units. Others like Kelvin could have been improved on, either in same class or another and we probably wouldn't have done another county class so soon.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
The objective has always been to try covering all bases. In this instant, the objective was only to have a UK roundel Flower class. Adding a roc ship notionally via fluff adds a double use and is a compelling case over any individual flower
Convoy Protection - this unit may deploy adjacent to a friendly auxiliary. If it does, it cannot capture a objectives on turn 1 or 2
SUB HUNTER: At the end of the second player's Sea Movement step, you may place this unit in an adjacent sector that contains an enemy Submarine.
RAM: Once per game, during the Sea Movement phase, this unit can make an immediate ASW attack when it enters a sector that contains an enemy Submarine.
On the morning 6th of October, 1942, HMS Crocus detected the U-333 by radar and raced to engage. Exchanging close range gunfire. Wounding the U-333's commander and killing the second in command. Not satisfied, Crocus rammed the submarine twice before it submerged and slipped away hounded by Crocus's depth charges
HMS Petunia Ship - Destroyer 1940 Speed 1 MG 2 1 1 0 AA 3 ASW 4
A1 V4 H2
LEAD THE ATTACK 2: After both fleets are deployed, this unit can make a speed-2 move before the first turn begins.
DRIVE OFF ATTACK : Once per game, at the end of the Surface Attack phase, choose ONE SUBMARINE ADJACENT OR LOCAL TO THIS UNIT. The target must immediately move one sector away from this unit. If that movement isn't possible, you can't use this ability.
I haven't followed this thread. But I guess, having hard time deciding what ship to put into the game? Both from same class, stats and year. I am inclined to favour Petunia
Erwin Rommel - "Give me American supply lines, British planes, German officers and Canadian troops, and I can take over the world".
I second Crocus—it has a good story with its special abilities (especially with a flag bonus).
It deploys ahead of your convoy, while your Guard the Convoy ships stay back and protect. Now out in front if the convoy, it can use Sub Hunter to ward off enemy subs, and with good initiative (and a flag bonus), you can catch and sink a submarine with the Ram ability before it gets much of a chance to attack your auxiliaries.
University Student— Lover of Plato, Aristotle, War At Sea, Palestrina, and Mozart
I second Crocus—it has a good story with its special abilities (especially with a flag bonus).
It deploys ahead of your convoy, while your Guard the Convoy ships stay back and protect. Now out in front if the convoy, it can use Sub Hunter to ward off enemy subs, and with good initiative (and a flag bonus), you can catch and sink a submarine with the Ram ability before it gets much of a chance to attack your auxiliaries.
I like your explanation
Erwin Rommel - "Give me American supply lines, British planes, German officers and Canadian troops, and I can take over the world".