Ken-yes I do.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Friday, December 31, 2010 - 07:23 pm: Edit

...and your SFBOL handle is?

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Tuesday, January 04, 2011 - 04:33 pm: Edit

jungletoy of course.:-D

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Wednesday, January 05, 2011 - 12:18 pm: Edit

Thanks, Troy.

Do you own C5? The position you're taking over is Fed/Baduvai.

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 02:50 am: Edit

OK, it's the 9th, where we at? Let's make some progress

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 08:13 pm: Edit

I have everything SFB. :-)

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 09:19 pm: Edit

Peter, I have to resolve the abandoned Sumo-Val battle, and find Sumo's last ship allocation sheet to send to Troy, but I hope to find time for that early this week.

Troy, you're playing the combined Federation/Baduvai forces, with Fed as primary and Baduvai as secondary.

I suspect that if you pop on to SFBOL, that GaiusFrackingBaltar or EastCoastFolks or Teemo will be interested in doing a few practice battles with you so you can experience what's going on with the fleets.

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 10:27 pm: Edit

Im online alot more then EastCoastFolk or Teemo, and you are always welcome to join in the fun.

Given your races i suggest trying to put together different fleets in the 500 to 700 BPV range, unless you would like to start smaller. Give youself whatever CO's you want, up to the DboM limits. You can even prepare your fleet offline and i can join your saved game to save a bit of setup time.

Just let me know what races you want to fly against or can i take anything, within the campaign rules. Fed on Fed is not my favorite im afraid and you have no Fed neighbors so lets avoid that one matchup. I don't know alot about the Budavai, i have the rules for them so we can learn it as we go.

GaiusFBaltar-Josh

lol, and welcome to the campaign, have fun, best of luck to you in your game.

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 10:27 pm: Edit

Ken:

I still need all the Benoit documents also so I can do his next turn. Unless he is still admiraling them? (you around Benoit?? You still admiraling and me captaining?)

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 10:29 pm: Edit

Josh: I know you were angling to get The Fed-Baduvai. I'm not all that excited about taking over Hydran/Rom's .. if you're interested you can take them. I haven't did a turn yet, only captain'ed the last round.

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 02:54 pm: Edit

Eol, thanks unfortunatly I don't think i would be given a shot at them either. I guess the powers that be don't want to start breaking up the TAoC group. Then you have most players playing races they didn't have a hand in selecting.

So before I say yes, this time i think i will wait and see what happens. Besides if i really wanted it its surely not going to ever happen. If the powers that be would like they can offer it to me, get me all excited, and snatch the HYPE back from me at the last second.

And you did really well taking out that Battleship, and the other fight, don't think i can fill those shoes. I really think we need to start recruiting alternates for TAoC and here. I am trying to when i can, but you all know how deserted SFBOL can be.

Josh

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Thursday, January 13, 2011 - 07:08 pm: Edit

I'll get online this weekend for some immersion training. I'm getting up to speed on the DboM rule set and welcome any mentoring, advice etc. Thanks in advance.

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Friday, January 14, 2011 - 03:02 pm: Edit

Well Troy, I am not really a DboM expert by any means. I have watched two months of battles, and playtested perhaps 3 DboM style battles for our campaign. Now we use a modified ruleset for the other campaign. Some of the changes have been proposed in this campaign, ask one of the players what got voted in and what didn't. I don't know all of them but i do understand that you get a discount on older hulls.

First thing i think is get you oriented in your new home. This isn't the galaxy as we all remember, EW is hard to come by, and somehow the masters have gathered a prodigious amount of teflon to use as asteroids. There power amazes me some days, As they say its good to be the king.

Now for just a second i thought i was going to be playing sumo's race. Now I had talked to sumo quite a bit, and what he said is they are all coming to kill me. lol So if i might suggest a bit of diplomacy specifically with your purple friend to the north and the ISC/Kzin(yellow). I also heard a rumor your predecessor was having dealings with the Romulans to the south. Now i don't think i would count on keeping sumo's alliences, you can try of course.

Key is not retaining all sumo's enemies I think. Play the map back and forth, watch the fleet movements. I see Valonqar clearly has an arrangement with tugger, he need not defend that border, i believe he is letting Tugger turn the corner and drive south into rom/thol territory. But its just as easy for them both to attack you, probably easier you are closer.

Im not sure discussing specifics on the BBS is wise, but when fracking is your middle name nobody takes you seriously anyway. So ill be specific, regardless of the settlement that the overseer pronounces on the OZ_019 battle I don't think you can hold or retake it easily. I say hope the Klingon is in a bargaining mood and Tugger also.

Now losing that resource world hurts a bit, you don't have many to lose. But what I was thinking is maybe if you don't try to retake OZ_019 and agree to open a corridor south for Valonqar and Tugger that the three of you could then turn on the Romulan/Tholian within 5 months probably at the gates of his Home Zone. That in my opinion would be a poweful 3 way alliance, in last months fighting the Rom lost 2 fleets, one including a King Condor. Even if he has no more conflict with the Hydran/Peladine those losses will take time to replace. And in DboM you only get one King Condor in the game, they are irreplacable. I don't think you want to bargain away OZ_032, they should realize you need to retain some resource worlds to be an effective ally. I would turn south try to take OZ_035 first, and then OZ_054. There is a stron Rom/Thol Fleet in the first zone, but i don't think he can afford to lose another 600 pt fleet at this point. And if the three of you can show a little trust and cooperation your not fighting on multiple fronts, you need not guard rear areas that border your ally. I think that the rules make cooperation deadly, the only real risk is that the other three form an alliance themselves, but by singling out the romulan maybe that won't happen.

Its just a thought,

Sry mr Romulan

As for practice this saturday I may not be home, there may be somebody from the campaign on that would help you.

What your going to need is either sumo's fleets, or make your own under the DboM rules. You are going to want various sized fleets to try out. And you need somebody besides me to show you the tricks of the Budavai, I simply don't know them. I think you should have at least something ready thats at 400 BPV or so and another as close to 700 as you can get. Then depending on players available you can start a managable sized fight relativly quickly.

What ive learned is that scouts are very important, and the scarcity of EW makes the big ships very vulnerable to EW jamming. That has seemed to favor smaller ships, as the firepower is more distributed and the limit of one scout usually means you cant jam all the enemy ships.

We havn't even started our campaign, no idea when it will start, I think you may be better off getting some immersion from these guys, all are way more experienced than the three of us. The fleets we would pick are not in your game even, it would be experience yes. But the best part of our practices is we get to know the other players a bit, and thats what you really need. Build up some contact with the other 5 players and the overseer. You would think after so long without any battles some would be just itching to play a game.

See we could use their help, a rules screw up unoticed is on thats going to get repeated over and over untill its corrected, and worst of all we will think we know what were doing.

I still get surprised by tournament rules i just didn't understand, I don't want to spread misinformation unknowingly. We have played whole games where we wern't interpreting the TAoC rules correctly, only learning later, thats not what you need.

You don't have time like we do, you need both a veteran SFB'er and somebody that knows DboM back and forth. I can think of several who would be ideal. The overseer designed the Budavai, who better to teach you there tactics. Tugger, a man i simply cant beat, or even come close, he knows all the alpha races and general rules and DboM rules probably better than anyone besides Ken. Eol has been around forever, i can find posts of his on the BBS from when dinosours roamed a lush and fertile SFB universe. I have no doubt he is another fountain of knowledge that you should seek out.

I learn from these people, but am still pretty sucktastic at times. So I hesitate to do more than point out the truely gifted SFB'ers out there, I am not one. I don't think you need to be to have fun.

Gaius-Josh

By Ken Apel (Kengulnar) on Friday, January 14, 2011 - 06:05 pm: Edit

wow.. that was a long post..

I actually negotiated a cease-fire agreement with the BadFed government with the idea that he could focus on his northern neighbor and I on my western one.. I cannot relay more specifics here, tho there were a few, shall i say, sensitive details...

Oh and if you weren't paying attention, I WON one of those 2 battles last turn.. you are overstating my losses a little.
I will have to re-read the rules again its been so long... was that supposed to be 1 battleship ever, or only one in existance at a time...


Ken of the Romulan Tholian alliance

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Friday, January 14, 2011 - 06:16 pm: Edit

Thanks Josh! Sounds like I need to mend fences and some cram sessions with the Baduvai for tactics. ;-) Glad were getting snowed in this weekend, I think defending the universe will take precedent over the 'honey-do list. :-D

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 12:38 am: Edit

Given I have yet to get a email from the Romutholes I am going to assume he plans to continue his unprovoked war on the peace loving HYPE.

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 03:07 am: Edit

Oh i did miss that didn't mean to misrepresent things Ken of the ROTH, and congratz on that, i only saw the one in the washing machine. Hellish place that was. Mostly i was hoping if i wrote the intro to my manifesto above i might get you guys talking again. It worked, I have found Troy that often ppl think everyone is out to get them when really only 2 or three want you dead so i wouldn't worry too much just yet. But i would try to introduce yourself to all of them when you see them online, perhaps you could make some "in game friends". These guys are way better than ill be for years to come, so i do recomend either watching or playing them. Or even a little strategy pep talk. Im sure you will have fun with it, we cant wait for ours to start up. So gl to you. And long live the Empire Ken, its my understanding that your only allowed one BB, but now DN's and or DN sized carriers are an option to replace the King Condor. I don't know how i missed the second battle, and am sorry about misrepresenting what happened I thought somebody told me, but obviously that was wrong.

Gaius-Josh Federation alliance

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 01:10 pm: Edit

BTW since we have a replacement (that's you Troy) you still have one fight this turn

YOu don't have to understand all things DBoM to have a SFB tactical fight ;)

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 05:23 pm: Edit

Not just a fight, you have a BATS to defend. Problem is the game was in progress when we lost Sumo. I think they had played at least 4 turns, but i don't think there is any way for you to continue from there. It was a slow battle if it needs to be fought from the start again you should get together with Val, it will take several sessions just to catch up to the old game.

You need to know the fleet he had and how many drones and speed upgrades he paid for. Commanders option items possibly, there is information that hopefully is in sumo's files.

Josh

By James Bunker (Valonqar) on Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 10:18 pm: Edit

Hail Lord Jungletoy,
Congratulations on your successful coup, I hope you find him a nice bar an seclude him there. The former leader of the Badfeds had interesting ideas of negotiation maybe your skills will prove better. Do not loose all hope though, the Kith have made plans for a fine Menagerie World to stock with races of interest.
I would offer an exchange of peace to stay in effect for 3 turns, in exchange for your withdrawal of forces from OZ_019. This would allow for you to reorganize the fleets to your own choosing an negotiate new terms with the sector lords.

Sincerely,

The Arch Prelate of Kith,
Valonqar

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Sunday, January 16, 2011 - 02:14 pm: Edit

Josh:

They can continue. Basically Val needs to send his save to Paul who will edit it replacing Sumo with Troy. Paul has did this in the past in other campaigns where similar situations have came up.

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Monday, January 17, 2011 - 03:57 am: Edit

oh sweet, i hope he takes the peace deal myself

Very generous offer by the Arch Prelate

GFB

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 - 01:23 pm: Edit

Ok, I have some questions, some stupid, others to understand the background.

1) What are the official communication channels? Is it via the moderator or email?

2) Is there a specific phase where diplomacy takes place?

3)I'm sure this has been debated but, No narrow salvoes?! Doesn't this hinder tactical viability of Federation races?
4)No Carrier escorts? Doesn't this hinder the Feds as well.

Diplomacy-
==================================================
-= OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: Fed/Baduvai Empire =-
==================================================
After a quick and decisive coup the Fed/Baduvai is under new leadership. It is our goal to be prosperous and by that virtue make our neighbors prosperous through strategic alliances. Having fully stabilized our operations we are evaluating all previously negotiated treaties for validation with our economic and relationship goals. We welcome all tenders of peace and mutually beneficial alliances.

Do not mistake our peaceful course of action as weakness. Acts of aggression will be met with swift and decisive action. As part of our leadership changes many of our Fleet Commanders and Captains have been summarily executed if there station was gained through other means than combat experience and competence. Our new command staff is well versed in Federation technology application and our fleet posture and doctrine will reflect this policy.

We have eliminated all former trappings of democracy in favor of a Warrior Caste system. We have determined that any real diplomacy requires judicious use of a carrot and big photon armed stick. My staff have been instructed to peacefully negotiate in good faith in all cases. Let us all begin this new era with collective good will and prosperity.

Respectfully,

Lord Executioner Jungletoy

By Robert Grey (Tugger) on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 - 02:04 pm: Edit

Troy,

1) This forum, emails, chats in SFBOL, are all valid forms of communication, diplomatic or otherwise. Treaties are backed by the authority of the persons who agreed on them, and no one else.

2) Any time you like.

3 & 4) All the rules were posted and agreed on when the players choose their races. Narrow salvos tend to make the games revolve around the result of a since d6 roll, which is less interesting than more complex strategies and tactics. Also, Fed and Hydran carrier escorts tend to be used for...other tasks than escorting carriers, and are not in use this game. The Hydrans seem to be doing just fine without them, and will full price fighters. Since you are coming into this game already in progress, I think you will just have to do the best with what you have...You can ask Valonqar how effective the Fed can be at shooting down drones.

Good luck and have fun!

Tugger

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 - 04:40 pm: Edit

And as a clarification:

UNQ/CNJ ships are not replaceable. This means that while the Rom BB that got popped cannot be replaced, the RomuloTholians can build a DIFFERENT UNQ/CNJ ship to replace it.