Hello DaltWisney,

I just wanted to ask how your progressing with your displacer beast mission.

Look forward to getting our battle started when your able.

By Christopher M Schrader (Eastcoastfolk) on Wednesday, September 07, 2011 - 05:45 pm: Edit

Declassified Communications Intercepts Y175

From: Commodore Sanidine

To: Disodium Inosinate, Minister of Security

Subject: Mission report, Encounter at Mining Colony QX-57

BEST force is underway from QX-57. All freighters are fully loaded with refined materials from the colony.

The approach to the base was interrupted by an unusual energy manifestation. In order to protect the freighters my squadron drew the manifestation to our destroyers. It seemed to want our shield energy. Convinced it would not break contact with the destroyers as long as the shields were active we stopped and three of the ships that had the most energy drawn from them oriented themselves to form a pinwheel. We discharged many phasers into the manifestation in an attempt to overwhelm its absorption rate. The DD Barite was drained several times from the forward shield and when it buckled the manifestation damaged both warp engines, then the radiation and heat from the zone inflected casualties (1 Crew Unit) and additional engine damage. We immediately linked ships to prevent additional damage. With one last volley of phasers the manifestation departed to destantions unknown.

I regret the loss of crew. Repares to the damage on the Barite are more then 60% complete but the ship will be at 75% warp power for some time. The Squadron’s Science Department has 192 units of data on the manifestation that a crew member named “Hip Hop” based on its movement and rhythmic energy consumption.

The encounter helped to bond the crews and was worth months of training time. The crew did enjoy a respite on the planet as a reward for there performance in this mission.

By Christopher M Schrader (Eastcoastfolk) on Thursday, September 15, 2011 - 05:50 pm: Edit

Declassified Communications Intercepts Y175

From: Director of Alien Contact

To: Special Agent Corundum

Subject: BEST potential encounter information

The classified orders to the BEST squadron that you hold will take you to areas outside this Galaxy. Some time ago the Bureau of Border Integrity discovered areas in the energy barrier surrounding this Galaxy that become week enough to allow safe passage of vessels. The Bureau of Alien Contact has sent a number of extra galactic range reconnaissance probes with two way encounter communications equipment through these gaps. One of the devices was able to establish communication with a culture from a globular galactic formation near this galaxy. From the data received from other probes and the communications with a race called the Baduvai we have determined that there is tremendous upheaval in their galaxy. The Baduvai are apparently desperate for resources and technology to prevent there civilizations collapse. This provides us with the opportunity to exchange resources and technology with them for a unprecedented return.

To make direct contact with the Baduvai we are taking the extraordinary step of using our extra galactic transdementional vortex transportation unit housed at Area 51 to place the Best Squadron’s ships near a Baduvai enclave on the fringe of their galaxy.

The extra galactic transdementional vortex transportation unit is still recharging from the strain of the exodus and will only have one opportunity to retrieve you from this mission so it is critical to return to your point of arrival at the time in your orders.

Commodore Sanidine will be responsible for insuring the security of the Squadron. If he is comfortable that this is not a trap or deception then you will be responsible for negotiation to obtain new technologies and resources to benefit the Holdfast.

The Department on Isolation is insisting that the number of crew to make contact with the Baduvai be kept to a minimum. You must try and retrieve the maximum amount of information on this civilization and divulge as little about us as possible.

This race could be so desperate for survival that it may be dangerous, be vigilant.

Maltodextrin

By Mike Johnson (Akira) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 01:01 pm: Edit

Campaign update:

Scenario 1 (Displacer Beast): I have the results for everyone except Daltwisney and Skycaptain. Also Princeton can you please confirm the result from your play of this scenario. I think your freighters took some hits but want to be sure I give you the correct score.

Scenario 2 (Historical enemy): I have the results of one battle (Princeton v Saaur) and have seen partial writeups of a couple others. If anyone else has completed this scenario please post the results for all to enjoy.

Scenario 3 matchups to be posted shortly. As a reminder we are about halfway through the phase so if you have not completed at least scenario one you're falling behind!

By Mike Johnson (Akira) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 01:08 pm: Edit

Scenario 3- Random enemy matchups:

Bakija Gorn BDL+ Fafnir, BDD+ Naja, BDD+ Wyrm
versus
Purple_Drazi Peladine DW(Y175) Flipper, DW(Y175) Ganga, DD+(Y175) Sly Cooper

Skycaptain42 Romulan KCW Atlantis, K5W Firefly, BHp Nightwing
versus
The_Rock Orion DR (FFFFF) Fluffy Bunny, DR (FFFFF) Pink Teddy Bear, DR (FggSenSen) Soft Little Kitten

Jungletoy Lyran DWLPp Kratos, DWPp+ Lelantos, DWSPp Nyx
versus
Kludge Baduvai DW Moe, DW Larry, DWD Curly

EastCoastFolk Tholian DD Calcite, DD Copper, DD Barite, DD Pyrite
versus
Princeton Kzinti DWL Gryphon 2, DD Unicorn, DD Minotaur

Devil Federation DWC Tony, DW Xanana, DDL+Zoroaster
versus
GaiusFrackingBaltar ISC DDLf Relentless, DDf Executioner, DDf Enforcer

DaltWisney Hydran CNT Farfegnugen, KN+ Vernichtung, KN+ Beseitigung, 4xSt-II
Krellex Vudar DWL Forked Tongue, DW Hard Scale, DWS Ion Eye

Saaur Drex BD(CASE) 0186, BD(CASE) 1194, BD 0233
versus
eol Frax SDD U 1, SDD U 3,SDD U 4, SDD U 5

By Josh Driscol (Gfb) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 06:29 pm: Edit

Interesting.

Devil, setting my watch to GMT once again.

Still waiting to play the Hydran squadron, do these need done in order?

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 07:13 pm: Edit

Baduvians- I know they synergize well with drone using races but discriminating cats want to know if they taste like chicken?

By Mike Johnson (Akira) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 08:04 pm: Edit

Scenarios two and three can be played in either order, but both must be complete before moving on to the last scenario.

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 12:31 am: Edit

Got it Mike.

Let me see if I can get a game w/ Saaur

By Troy Latta (Saaur) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 10:44 am: Edit

Oh, you definitely can. :D
I emailed you before I noticed your time-zone. We'll figure something out, but it might take a couple weeks.

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 04:25 pm: Edit

Sounds like a plan.

I'm in Hawaii (UTC -10) but can play any Saturday or Sunday after 9am (my time) till whenever (not after 11pm) as long as you give me at least a week notice.

By Majead Farsi (Devil) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 05:39 pm: Edit

Josh drop me a line and lets see if we can find a slot to start this.

By Majead Farsi (Devil) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 05:42 pm: Edit

I think I have Rock to play too!

By Francois Lemay (Princeton) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 06:29 pm: Edit

ECF, email sent to get things started !


Cheers
Frank

By Peter D Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 06:37 pm: Edit

Holy crap. What is the deal with the Peladine? Or really, what is the deal with all these relatively recent additions to the game that just look insanely optimized?

The Peladine DW has a G torp, 2xF torps, a B rack, and 5xP1. And 23 power. And strong shields. Really? Where do these things come from? What is their BPV?

Well, in any case, Dale! Let's play a game sometime soon!

By Dale McKee (Brigman) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 06:43 pm: Edit

I need to finish up my game with Troy first... we tried for last week but it fell through.

Troy, drop me a line with a good time!

By Christopher M Schrader (Eastcoastfolk) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 07:42 pm: Edit

Declassified Communications Intercepts Y175

From: Secretary of Isolation

To: Commodore Sanidine (Personal)

Subject: BEST security

You will receive orders on your arrival at area 51 that could, if followed to the letter, jeopardize the future security of the Holdfast for short term opportunism. I trust that the long history of service to the security of the holdfast you have demonstrated will not fall pray to the folly of those wishing to entangle our culture in the affairs of those who are alien to us. In your duty to protect Tholia you must be prepared to thwart risks from within as well as the dangers from the outside.

Secretary of Isolation, Iron Oxide

By Christopher M Schrader (Eastcoastfolk) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 08:17 pm: Edit

When the BEST squad reaches Area 51 will it use the "Extra Galactic Transdementional Vortex Transportation Unit" to reach the Baduvai, or will the unit fail and sent the Squad to the heart of Kzinti space. Only the variables of three humans' datebooks in the early 21st century will for-tell their fate.

Frank, E-mail received.

For either Frank Lemay or Kenneth Jones: I will be free from 2 to 11pm AST(Atlantic Standard Time) Sunday September 25th and will reserve it for starting round 2 or 3 of the Squadron Commanders Camp.

I hope either of you are free.

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 09:00 pm: Edit

Peter: Did those Peladine BPV's stay the same in E4?

By Peter D Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 09:04 pm: Edit

I have no idea--I don't have E4. I just can see the SSDs on SFBOL, and SFBOL SSDs don't have BPVs on them.

By Francois Lemay (Princeton) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 09:09 pm: Edit

Mike,
Re Displacer Beast scenario.
Displacer Beast was fed to capacity but all 4 of my F-S ended up as contaminated hulks.

Total cargo losses is 13 between the 4 F-S's.
The F-L's survived !

Not sure if I get credit for the 4 F-S's ?
I guess I could have towed them out of the system so not sure if I get credit for that or not ?

If I do, total cargo survived ( albeit 87 is contaminated ! ) is 187.

Cheers
Frank

By Mike Johnson (Akira) on Thursday, September 22, 2011 - 07:29 am: Edit

Frank- you get credit for any freighters that made it off the map and the cargo they were carrying.

No worries about contamination as the cargo is basically a concentrated form of the contamination!

Also, the freighters will not play an active role again until scenario 4, giving you an opportunity to repair them to a certain extent.

By Troy Williams (Jungletoy) on Friday, September 23, 2011 - 04:31 pm: Edit

Peter said: Holy crap. What is the deal with the Peladine? Or really, what is the deal with all these relatively recent additions to the game that just look insanely optimized?

The Peladine DW has a G torp, 2xF torps, a B rack, and 5xP1. And 23 power. And strong shields. Really? Where do these things come from? What is their BPV?

Yeah, that's what I said. Apparently Dolphins are very industrious in disguising a war cruiser as a destroyer...

By William T Wilson (Sheap) on Friday, September 23, 2011 - 04:39 pm: Edit

It is pretty much a given that every Peladine ship is as strong as the next class up of any other race (except perhaps the ISC). I don't know if the BPV reflects this accurately or not. Other races can do this sometimes (Lyran BCH, Romulan heavy hawks, Fed DD) but not on every ship, and those races have other ships that are inferior as a tradeoff.

It is just bad (game) design. The ISC were able to do this because they got to watch the General War but not fight in it, and could afford it due to their strong economy. The Peladine, in the rough & tumble part of the galaxy, would not have had either luxury.

I'm not sure other recent additions to the game have the same problem. The Vudar ships may be a tad generic, but most ships were generic in the era the Vudar were building ships, and (at least to me) they don't seem overpowered. I've never had the opportunity to play the Jindarians except in tournament, and they seem to have some major advantages, but much like Tholians, their limited strategic goals and terrain dependence balances it out in practice.

By Peter Thoenen (Eol) on Saturday, September 24, 2011 - 02:42 pm: Edit

I think you overestimate the Jindo's Sheap