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	Archive through March 06, 2008	25		04/07 05:41pm

Hmmm, I actually like the concept of allowing the base to shoot at the planet. A lot. I'll very likely include a victory point shift based on the number of "factories" left at the end of the game. Combined with the non-hard time limit, that might just do it. There's also the C4's activation procedure to potentially swing the Hydran's attention more towards the area of the base.

My only fear is that players will feel too shoehorned by the scenario, but well... my feeling is that time limits, specific orders, and needing to react to threats against civilians are all elements of warfare. The Hydran player needs to sweat (methanate?) in this one.

By Michael Lui (Michaellui) on Saturday, March 08, 2008 - 05:11 am: Edit

This is a "Class M" planet, the Klingons have troops on it. And those troops are probably in and around the factories. They're going to be shooting at their own people.

By Robert Gamble (Rgamble) on Monday, April 07, 2008 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Well, I could certainly see 'subject races' being used not only to run the factories, but to help the few ethnic Klingon troops guarding them. And I could also see the Klingons on the surface knowing that in the event of an attack that could take back the system, that they may receive a transmission giving them a short time to get out of the factories before the base in orbit starts shooting.

I would see these events in the scenario as:

1. Base picks up first group of ships approaching, scrambles the Early Year's squadron to intercept, minus the still activating C4 and the even older D3.

2. Base picks up second group approaching from another direction, and while it's only 2 ships, not 3, the base prepares by beaming the highest ranking ethnic Klingons off the planet that it can. Any not 'rescued' "go to ground" with some of the subject race forces.

3. Base sees new ships, realizes it's in trouble, starts bombarding.

I'm still not convinced this scenario even needs that 'clock' if victory conditions for the Hydrans are dependent on the base being destroyed (no chance for victory if it's not - effectively the intelligence gathered is the secondary way for the Hydrans to lose), especially if the Hydrans start losing victory levels after a certain amount of time passes and know that a decent Klingon ship will be arriving at some point.

Mind you, it's all a balancing act, but...

So here's a question... I keep setting the darned thing up and prepping to run it through solo, but events occur that keep me from getting too far into it. Anyone interested in trying this thing out on SFB Online? If so, let me know... and keep checking in here for updates on when it would happen (I'm guessing not until late in the month).

I would observe, not play, ideally.

By Michael C. Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Monday, April 07, 2008 - 05:28 pm: Edit

1) IIRC there weren't "exile races" in the Hydran areas BEFORE the Klinks and Lyrans conquered them. So ALL the "people" there would be Klingon subject races and Klinks.

2) Why would the Klinks destroy their own ground bases? They would be planning on retaking them soon. Its not as if the Hydrans can really occupy the planet without some "exile race" help. The orbitals? Yeah, but the planet is pretty much only going to see Hydrans in uncomfortable environmental suits on brief visits/ raids...

By Robert Gamble (Rgamble) on Monday, April 07, 2008 - 05:41 pm: Edit

True. Will rethink, and as said I'm inclined to use the other elements to create the tightrope the Hydrans have to walk.

By Michael Lui (Michaellui) on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 - 05:44 am: Edit

1. I didn't say that the people on the planet were "exile races" or Klingons or even Klingon subject races. There ARE other life forms out there (in this universe). It could even be giant talking mice on the planet. Now, that wouldn't stop the Klingons from considering them subject races, like they consider the Hydrans a subject race at this point in time, but as you point out in #2, there is no reason for the Klingons to destroy their own bases.