Nerroth,
Thanks for the elaboration.
In summary: It looks to me like your main desire is to incorporate another ship model as it sounds like you are a BFG fan and would like to see more cross-over. Along the way, you're thinking maybe a more fluffy weapon system to fill a missing barrage type role would be handy. Nothing wrong with that motive, but that helps me understand the perspective.
I think the lil hero at 2xPPC for 150 works. The idea to give him a +50 upgrade option to take the gravetic missles is probably a better idea. That would allow the Hero to be playtested with the upgrade, without messing with the base ship that has proved to work. Good comprimise and suggestion, this optional upgrade solution would get my consent. Though I must say, this is still a comprimise for me as I think the hero with 2 PPA is adequate and requires one to gamble in bringing it. If you want a gurantee that some of your weapons will work - more reason to buy the Custodian to get the Gravetic Launch bays IMHO.
The larger ship at 300 seems to be a good place to start with 1 PPA and 1 Gravetic salvo of larger scale at first glance. The fact that it can carry a boat load of Mantas is of interest in the event of a larger game, but may not be much of a consideration at the 2K-5K point game. Even at 5K, we get 1666 points of aircraft. If 300 goes into the Custodian, that leaves 1300 of restricted points in air caste. Two manta at 850 each are going to run 1700. So that puts you over. So one is never going to have 2 Manta's with a space craft in a 5K game, unless the mantas get a lot cheaper (not likely, nor should they IMHO!)
To play with 6 Mantas @ 850 and a Custodian @ 300 - you are talking about 5400 points of restricted air caste units. Multiply that times 3 to figure out how many points you would be playing to take advantage of all that transport capactiy = 16,200 point game.
Even in order to play a proposed 2 Manta and 1 Custodian, you'd have to be playing 6K points minimum to get 2K of restricted air caste points.
So the custodian's points need to take it's transport capabilities into consideration, however, the weaponry is more of a concern for balance in your typical tournament E:A or even 2K - 5K game considering the Hero really transports a significant amount as it is.
A disection of the Hero should prove a good place to measure.
If 2 PPA plus 2 Manta transport on the hero is 150... What is that... 60 points per PPA plus another 30 for transport capacity on Hero? Assuming those values are accurate, conversion from Hero to Custodian would look something like this:
ATTEMPT ONE
150 = Hero
-60 = loss of one PPA to go to Custodian
+60 = Manta transport increase of additional 200%
+75 = Custodian Gravetic Launcher upgrade
======
225 = Proposed Points for Custodian Vessel
Now, perhaps I over valued a PPA... so maybe they are only 5 each and the 2 manta transport capacity on the Hero is also 50 points in value. So to take a Hero to a Custodian, the math would work like this:
ATTEMPT 2
150 = Hero
-50 = loss of one PPA to go to Custodian
+100 = Manta transport increase of additional 200%
+75 = Custodian Gravetic Launcher upgrade
======
275 = Proposed Points for Custodian Vessel
SUMMARY
Nerroth, I would guess your proposed Custodian is going to be somewhere around 225 - 275 the way you've designed it, when compared to the Hero as a precident.
