The following is one of the scenarios will be run at Tacticon next week.

Cutthroat
3 players
Y???

A three-way battle with a twist.

(SG_.1) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3

(SG_.2) INITIAL SETUP
Forces: Each player selects a pair of ships from one empire on the list below:

Federation	DW	NCLa+
Klingon	F5WK	D5Ky
Romulan	SKA	SPA
Kzinti	DWy	CMy
Gorn	BDDs+	HDDs+
Tholian	DDs	CWs
Hydran	DWH	TAR
Andromedan	COB	PYT
Lyran	DWBp+	CWB+
Seltorian	DD	CL
Frax	DWy	CWy

y = Y175 refit; s = Sabot refit (Gorn) or Snare Refit (Tholian).

Initial placement: Place a counter for each ship in the cup. Draw randomly to assign one ship to each of the six map panel sections. Players then secretly record a hex number and facing for each of their ships within its map section. Locations are revealed simultaneously before EA.

(SG_.3) LENGTH OF SCENARIO: The scenario continues until only one player has forces remaining.

(SG_.4) SPECIAL RULES
(SG_.41) MAP: The map is fixed; it does not float. The edge of the map is tournament barrier (P17.0). No unit can disengage by any means.
(SG_.42) SHUTTLES AND PFs: No shuttles come with warp booster packs. Shuttles are assumed to be standard admin shuttles; advanced admin shuttles or booster packs may be purchased under (SG_.431) below.
(SG_.421) No MRS shuttles are available for purchase.
(SG_.422) No EW fighters are available in this scenario.
(SG_.423) There are no PFs in this scenario.
(SG_.43) COMMANDER'S OPTION ITEMS
(SG_.431) This scenario does not used Commanders' Options, per se. If the player's force, after purchasing drone speeds (see below), is less than 225 BPV, then the player can purchase items from Annex #6 or #6A to bring the force up to 225 BPV. For purposes of item availability, Y184 is assumed.
(SG_.432) Drones are speed-20, but faster drones may be purchased under (SG_.431), above.
(SG_.433) Prime teams (G32.0) are not used.
(SG_.44) REFITS: Ships have the refits shown in the table above (and only the refits shown above).
(SG_.45) LIMITED EW: This scenario uses the tournament limited EW rules. Note specifically that erratic maneuvers and ECM drones are not allowed.
(SG_.46) MAP SECTIONS: No more than one ship of each player can be in same map panel section at the same time.
(SG_.461) Hexes that straddle two map panel sections are under the restrictions of both panels. For example, if a player has one ship in section A and one in section D, neither ship could enter hex 1015.
(SG_.462) If a ship attempts to enter a map section containing the player's other ship, it will strike tournament barrier (P17.0) and not leave its hex. Displacement is treated under (P17.4); the ship would be placed in the last legal hex.
(SG_.463) It is not possible for two ships to swap map sections by both moving on one impulse. Both ships would hit tournament barrier. It may be possible for one ship to enter a section vacated by the other ship on the current impulse; use the (C1.313) Order of Precedence to determine whether the other ship has already left the section in question.
(SG_.464) The restrictions of this section (SG_.46) apply only to ships, not shuttles or seeking weapons. In a variant with PFs, a PF would be treated as a ship, except it could enter the same section as its tender.
(SG_.465) There is no restriction on firing weapons from one map section to another, or guiding seeking weapons from one map section to another, or using any other system (such as tractor beams or transporters) in a way that crosses a map section boundary.
(SG_.466) If a ship is destroyed, the player's other ship is no longer subject to these restrictions.

(SG_.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS: One victory point is scored for each point of internal damage scored on an enemy ship. Destroying a shuttle is worth one point. Destroying a fighter is worth two points – one for crippling, one for destroying. Destroying a ship is worth 10% of its BPV, in addition to the points for the internals actually scored. If two players both damage a ship in the same step, resulting in its destruction, points are split proportionally, based on the amount of damage each scored. If a ship self-destructs, the 10% points for its destruction are split between the other two players.

To determine the level of victory for each player, take that player's score and double it. Divide that number by the sum of the points scored by the other two players. Look up the result in the table in (S2.3).

(SG_.6) VARIATIONS: The scenario can be played again under different conditions by making any of the following changes:
(SG_.61) Use a different set of ships. Below is a list of Omega ships. For purposes of (SG_.431), the maximum force BPV is 208.

Mæsron	DD	CA
Koligahr	DDa	CAa
Vari	FHp	Cap
Drex	BFLc	BDc
Hiver	CA (2xB1)	BC (2xB1)
Loriyill	DD	CA
Worb	FF	DH
Singer	DD	CA

a = ACG refit, p = Probe refit, c = case refit

(SG_.62) Add terrain to the map -- asteroids, a dust cloud, heat zone, etc.
(SG_.63) Use a hexagonal map with a black hole in the center. Each pie-shaped wedge is treated as a map section under (SG_.46), with the hex rows common to two different sections. The hexes within range 2 of the black hole are not under any restrictions.

(SG_.7) BALANCE: This scenario can be balanced between players of different skill levels by:
(SG_.71) Substitute a larger or smaller ship for one of the ships on any of the teams.
(SG_.72) Spot the inexperienced player some victory points.

(SG_.8) TACTICS: You can still group your forces along hexes adjacent to the edges of the map sections, but beware this will restrict your maneuverability. If you attack one enemy ship, be sure to have an escape plan, or you may be victimized by the third player. Conversely, look for enemy ships that have depleted their resources fighting the other player.

(SG_.X) DESIGNER'S NOTES: This scenario makes for a good three-way battle as it is difficult for players to concentrate their forces.

By Jim Davies (Mudfoot) on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 03:10 pm: Edit

So how did it go?

By Andy Vancil (Andy) on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 04:45 pm: Edit

I have played this scenario a number of times, and it is always a blast. At Tacticon, we ended up doing a game with me and Marc Michalik. The third race was alternately played by Scott Moellmer (who had to leave to run Fed Com), Mark Bochinski (who had to leave for another event) and Dave Miller. I took Maesrons and Scott took Loriyill. As Marc was a bit rusty, we let him take the Hydrans.

In the end, Dave won for the Loriyill tag-team by just two points over the Maesrons. The Hydrans threatened to dominate for much of the game, but couldn't rack up enough points before Dave and I temporarily allied to put some hurt on them.