Ok, new scenario idea... Quick note, I forget which refits I'd decided on for the ships:

Time Period: Sometime during the General War when the Hydrans start to retake territory from the Lyrans.

Setup: In the first days of the reconquest of Hydran territory from the Lyrans, confusion reigns. While well planned, after the initial stages, losses and changing objectives create a fluid front. This leads to a number of unusual situations, one of which is mentioned here.

Supposedly safe behind the front lines, a Base Station releases its defending force as reinforcements to a sector hard pressed by the attacking Hydrans. Reinforcements to the Base Station will arrive shortly from various locations behind the lines.

A large and small freighter are nearing the Base Station, escort less due to heavy losses at the front and the assumed relative security of the area. Warp signatures are detected at long range by the Base Station, and they don't look friendly, so it diverts one of its incoming reinforcements, a Cheetah FF to catch up to the freighters and provide escort over the last distance.

The warp signatures are indeed Hydrans: a Curaisser and a Hunter frigate. Both had been part of a reserve fleet and due to losses, had received orders to a location. Unfortunately a number of things went wrong. It was supposed to be a 3 frigate squadron of Curaissers, but a clerical mishap sent the order to only one of the correct vessels, along with the Hunter. Additionally, the location given was wrong and the orders were given as "Attack targets of opportunity along the way..." instead of "Make fastest speed to your assigned fleet." Needless to say, the clerk responsible for the mishandling of these two ships had a short remaining career.

General Setup (Two maps laid short end to short end):

Lyran Forces
Map 1
Cheetah (FF): 0110C (WS-2)
Large Freighter (F-L): 1310B (WS-2)
Small Freighter (F-S): 1310B (WS-2)
Map 2
Base Station (BS): Somewhere on Map 2... testing will reveal where best to put this. (WS-2)

Reinforcements: Arrive on Turn 3-5 (for balance.. and should be more than a match for the Hydrans) on map edge B/C of Map 2 (ie, on opposite side of the battle).

Hydran Forces
Map 1
Hunter (HN): 1430A (WS-3)
Curaisser (CU): 1430A (WS-3)

Modified Victory Conditions could be used.

Additionally, it could be based solely on the destruction of the two freighters.

Notes: I solitaired this without EW (and abstracting the Base and reinforcements) and it appears to have an interesting dynamic. Played right, the Cheetah can certainly interfere with the two Hydran frigates' mission, and the timing of the ESG will be critical. The Base is the first 'clock' against the Hydrans. Given unlimited time they could probably win this one easily. Instead, they need to keep the freighters from getting under the umbrella of the Base's Phaser-4's. An additional clock would be the reinforcements.

Part of the goal here is to make a tight, tense little battle and I think this has the potential to do that. I may have a local get together this afternoon to give it another run through.

I'm also looking for any advice on precisely when to set this, and whether there are any issues with these ships being in service that I may have forgotten.

By Scott Tenhoff (Scottt) on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - 10:27 pm: Edit

I was thinking of writing an Olivette Rochette scenario (i.e. fictional story) with an Orion CX in Y188 (or so) going to fight some Jindarians.

Any opinions on what optional weapons it should have? Just photons, or a mix? It has 3xFA, and 2 wing options.

Plasma-M and 3xPhotons?

By Terry O'Carroll (Terryoc) on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - 11:18 pm: Edit

Depends on what cartel the ship is from. Jindarians are ubiquitous so could be anywhere.

By Scott Tenhoff (Scottt) on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - 12:27 am: Edit

It can be any cartel, I can write the scenario for any area. It's just what weapons would be good on an x-ship is what I'm looking for

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 03:33 pm: Edit

I sent a couple scenarios to Petrick, and he found "problems" with them that make it likely they'll be rejected for publication. However, he said I may post the ideas to see if anyone has suggestions how to fix them.

Here's the first one:

TEST FLIGHT

The scenario is designed to showcase several advanced rules. The back-story is that the Federation was doing a fly-off test between X-tech and computer-controlled ships. The judge for the tests is a combat experienced Fleet Captain in his own ship.

The test is interrupted by a squadron of Klingon ships, and as that these three ships are all that stand between the raiders and a planet or supply base (off map), they engage the enemy.

The Federation ships are one CX, one CC+ computer-controlled, and one CC+ (or perhaps CB) with Outstanding Crew and all Legendary Officers. No idea what ships are in the Klingon squadron, but it would make sense that one is a D6J.


SPP said that it was "too Hollywood", that they had already published "Olivette Roche scenarios" in recent Captain's Logs. Also, he questioned why the test site was close enough to the front lines to be raided (I don't know, but if it isn't, there's no scenario), why there were no support ships for the Feds (they were back at the supply base on that day, of course), and why the Feds didn't fall back to said base (too much ego, perhaps?).

Anyone else care to comment?


Garth L. Getgen

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 03:43 pm: Edit

It does seem to be really wild as far as having rare capabilities. Any one of those three ships would be very exceptional, then adding a rare event (a surprise raid by Kingon ships near the test area?), that's just too much wackiness.

At the least, I'd demote the CC+ to just a normal CC, no legendary officers, no outstanding crew, or maybe replace it with a base that is where the test occurred.

I sent in a wacky scenario, but I tried to limit it to one unusual thing (Hydrans allied with Klingons) rather than add more things that would just stretch credibility. It did get used.

Maybe just the computer controlled ship and raiders? Not many scenarios that have a computer controlled ship so that would be nice to see.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 03:53 pm: Edit

But, Richard, the point of the scenario was to highlight the special rules involved with X-tech, computer-controlled ships, and outstanding crew / legendary officers. Take any that out and it eliminates the whole point of the scenario.

The one thing I never worked out is just how big the Klingon task force should be. My gut feeling is perhaps seven ships, as long as three of them are F5W or smaller. Opinions?


Garth L. Getgen

By Jack Bohn (Jackbohn) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 05:38 pm: Edit

Include a commando ship for boarding party combat! Oh, wait, Klingon marines are as likely to join a mutiny as suppress it.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 06:01 pm: Edit

I thought you wanted assistance on how to get the scenario not rejected. Good luck though.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 06:04 pm: Edit

Richard B. Eitzen:

Technically, there is pretty much zero chance that a CC would not be a CCa+ if there is a CX also on the map (barring time travel or a purely Olivette Roche fiction piece of course). If there is a CX, then any CC would have long since either been refitted, or destroyed.

Background wise, if a CX is one of the ships being tested/compared, then the year has to be about Y180 or later, and the refits would have been installed on a non-X CC by then.

Beyond that, as noted, I just cannot make the background work. You have three "Command ships" in one place (one a "DN substitute since a CX has a command rating of 10), no supporting ships, and close enough to the front that the Klingons can conduct this raid (and had enough time and advanced knowledge to have the raiding force on hand).

It does not make sense as a "normal" battle simulation, so I am left with only two possibilities:

A: An Olivette Roche Tri-video event

B: A simulation run by bored Academy command students with no basis in reality.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 06:31 pm: Edit

I did not mean normal CC as in no refits, I meant normal as in no legendary officer or outstanding crew. I certainly agree that in the time period of CXs, a Fed CC would be fully refitted. My apologies that I was unclear.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 08:47 pm: Edit

"close enough to the front that the Klingons can conduct this raid (and had enough time and advanced knowledge to have the raiding force on hand)."

Unless, of course, those sneaky Feds put three nice juicy targets out close to the front intentionally to draw such a raid and smash it.


Garth L. Getgen

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 09:00 pm: Edit

Okay, so next up, this was just a rough idea without enough forethought put into it. Petrick showed me the error of my ways. For some reason, I had it in my head that the "starting speed" was what you had to plot for that turn. Because of this minor oversight, the entire scenario falls apart. Well, actually, there's more "wrong" than just that.

A TIGER BY THE TAIL

During the initial Klingon invasion into Federation space in Y171, many civilian ships ending up behind enemy lines. Some were destroyed by a second wave of Klingon warships, but most evaded capture and eventually escaped. A few fought back gallantly.

The Police Cutter "J. Vigiano", unable to outrun the approaching fleet, had enough warning to dive into an asteroid field and "go dark". The Vigiano was lucky and remained undetected. However, one of the Klingon battle-cruisers suffered some soft of mechanical failure (or perhaps an attempted mutiny or sabotage by a Federation spy -- we will never know) and fell out of formation. Call him brave or call him stupid, but what the Vigiano's captain did next is what legends are made of. After the Klingon ship passed by his hiding place, LtCmdr Karl Flynn pounced with a surprise attack from behind. Luckily for Flynn, the damaged Klingon ship was unable to maneuver very well, so the Vigiano was able to stay behind the target most of the battle.

Two players:
Federation POL, WS-3, max speed
Klingon D6 (or D7), WS-2, speed 8
Both heading same direction, with POL 25 hexes behind D6.
Objective: Destroy or at least cripple the D6.
Game length: ten turns (Klingon reinforcements arrive).

Before the start of the scenario, the D6 has suffered four points of damage to the starboard (right) warp engine, plus two random hit elsewhere but not in the boom or warp drives. The D6's turn mode to the left is one-worse than normal, and the ship cannot HET at all. The D6 may attempt to repair the engines, and if able to bring them back to full (less any "new" damage) these restrictions are dropped.

Historical outcome: The POL was able to do heavy damage to the D6 but had to break off as an F5 squadron approached from the direction the D6 was heading towards. The D6 got on last good shot off just before the POL jumped to high-warp but was unable to pursue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As mentioned, Petrick pointed out that the D6 can plot speed 18 on the first turn. The POL can never catch it, at least not enough to do anything to it. He also feels it should be a POL+ to stand any chance against drones and still do anything worthwhile to the D6.

The only way -I- see how to fix it is to add in further restrictions in that the D6 can't use erratic maneuvering, and is limited in how much it can accelerate. That's the only way the POL can get into firing range. And at that point, the D6 pulls a Maverick TOP GUN "I'll hit the brakes and he'll fly right on by me" move.


Garth L. Getgen

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 09:09 pm: Edit

What keeps the D6 from just starcastling?
Also it's a D6B, right? Notes on the B refit indicate it was applied to most ships by Y168 and virtually all ships by the time they were in an active theatre.

By Scott Tenhoff (Scottt) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 09:21 pm: Edit

re: the CX/CB/CC+ scenario.

Could you make it a 3 to 4-way scenario with:
Player-1=CX
Player-2=CB
Player-3=Monster who stumbled into the practice zone (TBD, Death Probe or star swarm?)
Player-4=Rom FFH who was sneaking by on a raid, slowed down to observe the testing from far off, and then followed the monster in to sow confusion amongst the Feds.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 09:22 pm: Edit

Richard, this is a pull-quote from Petrick's e-mail: "I will note also that there is no reason for the D6 to not go Speed Zero with Tactical Maneuvers and divert power not spent moving to the disruptors, as a sublight tac followed by a warp tac is more than sufficient to bring the disruptors into arc."

Was it too obvious, or are you starting to think like Petrick?


Garth L. Getgen

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 09:24 pm: Edit

It's pretty obvious.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 09:29 pm: Edit

Death Probe would be a bit much.

By Michael Bennett (Mike) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 10:25 pm: Edit

Has a serious effort been made to try to convert any of the "made for FC" scenarios to SFB? Or, is that anathema?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 11:07 pm: Edit

Patrick has already converted most of them if not all of them when he ran out of "written for SFB" scenarios.

By Terry O'Carroll (Terryoc) on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 - 11:29 pm: Edit

Michael, I think Petrick has converted some FC to SFB in the past. They're that hard up for SFB scenarios.

By Steven E. Ehrbar (See) on Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 06:28 am: Edit

---

Quote:

The back-story is that the Federation was doing a fly-off test between X-tech and computer-controlled ships.

---

By Bill Schoeller (Bigbadbill) on Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 01:08 pm: Edit

How about you do the supercomputer vs x ship fleet a bit differently. There is a Romulan faction toward the end of the war taht is attempting to take control via a supercomputer ship. Most regular ships are tied up fighting the feds, and slower ships are not much use, so the Fleet commander in his X command ship breaks off to engage the rebel on his own. As they are abotu to begin combat a squadron of Gorn Recon in Force ships arrive. Realizing that they have no shot against the combined Gorn force, the rebels request amnesty and decide to fight the hated enemy together.

By Richard Wells (Rwwells) on Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 02:23 pm: Edit

Another case where the computer controlled ship might have been reintroduced and possibly paired with X-ships was the WYN fleet of return. If the ships were undergoing trials in the Cluster but away from prying eyes, then the forces would be closer to the walls of the Cluster and perfectly positioned to deal with an incursion.

By Jack Bohn (Jackbohn) on Friday, July 05, 2013 - 07:44 pm: Edit

I saw my brother's collectible Dickel Tennessee Whiskey bottle today, and it reminded me of a daydream I'd had about a story of a CO and XO who came to a D6J by different paths. Garth, do you think you could come up with a campaign if there were interest in a "Penal Captain's Game"? A solitaire, say the unglamorous job of charting an ion storm, a monster scenario (chasing baby space dragons) with some special twist or goal, basically to build the crew up from "poor," a border duel or other action, and finally as part of a General War fleet action.