Just noticed that ALL the Tournament Ships have Five Batteries instead of the usual Four Batteries.

No wonder everyone can HET whenever they want!

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 11:08 am: Edit

Ah, correction. Not all of the Tournament Ships have Five Batteries.

The Archeo-Tholian, the Orion, the LDR, and the Jindarian only have Four Batteries. Of course, the Andro has only Three.

Strange, it doesn't seem fair for all of the ships to not have the same amount of Reserve Power...?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 11:12 am: Edit

Andy wrote:
>>Ahh. the Snare!>>

Ok. Get this. Not only did he use the snare, and the snare got killed, but he successfully *repaired* the snare (9 points)! The snare!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 11:18 am: Edit

Norman wrote:
>>I'm beginning to see why you favor the Gorn. You are launching a Plasma nearly every turn. Plus you have Pseudos. Plus all your Shuttles. >>

Launching plasma every turn isn't always the best move, but in this instance, it works out--the Tholian needs a lot of power, so it is often gonna not be just punching real hard at one time, so a torp here and there is often effective. Especially as you can't generally rely on anchoring him (getting to R1 is difficult), and launching multiple plasmas at once is just gonna see them webbed up.

>>Not sure if I would Bolt as often as you do.>>

Most people don't.

>> The odds are only slightly better than a Photon. And you are taking a 3-Turn Weapon and only scoring Half-Damage with it.>>

Yep. But, well, a lot of the time, some damage now is better than some not damage later. Especially vs the Tholian. You can often push folks around with a single torp (i.e. an enveloper early, regular torps later in the game), and getting a bolt and phasers on a flank shield makes a hole to exploit later.

>>I would have thought the Tholian would have the edge in this battle, as they can not only fire through their Web (while you cannot), but the Web can counter your Plasmas. But judging from the current Damage Scored, it doesn't appear that way. >>

All of these things are true, and the Tholian does have an edge in this fight. But, well, I hit 2-2 bolts when I needed to, and his disruptors have been terrible, which works out well for me.

>>Yes, it seems like you could take your S Torps and keep firing them as Two Turn F's if you wanted.>>

Generally not an optimal plan; 2 turn Fs are good if you can pretty much guarantee a hit, or if you really need someone to turn off now and the F will do it. Most of the time, however, getting the extra turn to arm the full S torp is a better play.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 11:21 am: Edit

Norman wrote:
>>Strange, it doesn't seem fair for all of the ships to not have the same amount of Reserve Power...?>>

The 2/3 move ships don't need 5 batteries to HET (only 3.333), and having only 4 batteries on those ships is a minor balance point for their general movement advantage (2/3 move ships with 24 warp can HET at speed 31, and have more available power, generally speaking, while moving, so a trade off).

By Dan Bitseff (Cadet_Stimpy) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 11:51 am: Edit

Norman:

>>1) Kzinti launched 4 drones on T1 and 4 drones on T2. Wouldn't a SP have gotten more drones on the board at once?

A: I expected to see the SP on T1, was surprised it did not show up.

>>2) Kzinti uses a HET to charge the Hydran. Was this a tactical error because of your Fighters and Fusions (which are deadly at close range)?

A: Well, I didn't expect it, so there was the surprise element. But it didn't work out for the reasons you mentioned.

>>3) Hydran is using SS's, but Kzinti is not launching any shuttles. Tactical error?

A: Kzinti wanted to get some shuttles out, but was under post-HET restrictions.

>>4) Hydran HET's on T2. What that allocated beforehand (5 pts) or 1 point+Reserve Power?

Hydran HET was with reserve power, Kzinti HET was allocated

>>5) Great use of that tractor beam! Was that allocated energy or reserve power? Why was there no Reverse Tractor to fight it?

Tractor was pre-allocated. I considered using it to grab a couple of the drones earlier, but glad I didn't (although that allowed them to soak up most of my phaser suite). Kzinti used batts to OL 2 of the DR, and only was charging 4 batts (if I remember right), so no reserve power left to fight the tractor. They also had 50-some internals at that point, so likely would've used any available batts towards reinf. earlier.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 12:16 pm: Edit

Thanks for the answers, Peter and Dan!

It's wonderful understanding the reasoning behind the decisions you made during gameplay. Your experience really shows.

Ok, the 2/3 MC makes sense with 4 Batteries.

Boy, that Hydran Lord Marshall is a Tough Son-of-a-Gun!

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 02:04 pm: Edit

Regarding my game with Peter, Tholian vs Gorn.
I'd think a Tholian should be advantaged but right now I am behind.

T1, mostly a nothing turn. Neither of us fired phasers, used any batteries or did anything major. I turned and ran from an enveloper which gave Peter position at start of T2. I missed with 4 out of 4 disruptors which is pretty low odds but probably not a big deal as he likely had reinforcement up and facing me.

T2, I expected Peter to bolt at some point this game. He got me to lay web first to catch a S torp which turned out to be a pseudo. Then he got two hits and good phaser rolls but hit a shield I had some reinforcement on, and some batteries helped limit the damage. I shot back with disr but held the phasers in case we were still closing. I probably should have fired the players as range went from 5 to 6 and I lost the good shot. That would have had his no. 6 shield more than half gone if I had shot phasers rather than the 9 pts I did. He did about the max damage a Gorn can hope to with bolting at range 5.

T3, I ate an F torp on the nose to chase after his HET, then we exchanged near equal phasers. I chickened out on his double shuttle launch. I'd counted power and he could have had 2 SS, just enough power for that, but I didn't think he did. Anyways I allocated a pair of ph-3 to the shuttles when I needed those phasers to get through his front shield as I had no disruptors armed. Then after I saw he had 2 shield boxes left I shot a range 1 disr from battery and rolled a 6. That is the die roll that hurts more than the 4 misses T1.

Maybe I should have shot phasers early and turned and ran from the torp after he HET'd. I wouldn't have killed a shield but I would have saved my no. 1.

T4 this turn went alright for me other than a EA mistake. I started at speed 21 a turned, dropped to 15 with the intent of turning twice more than sped back up to 28. But I sped up 1 impulse too quick and I couldn't complete my 2nd turn at 15 so I ended up going 2 more hexes away. I had a lot more power in movement than Peter did so I caught him anyways but it was later in the turn and I didn't quite get the post shooting separation that I wanted. No disruptors this turn, just a phaser pass on no. 5 rear shield which got me my first internals. But lost me most of my last front shield so I'm in trouble now.

T5 was run out a torp and then turn around at range 8 to 10. Peter's phaser dice turned bad on him the last 2 turns which is the main reason I'm still in the fight. I laid a web near the end of the turn to give me a spot to shoot phasers from behind and catch any torp launch. There is a 30 pt torp about to run into web 2 hexes from me but I bet it's a pseudo. I hope to take it on a rear shield for a couple points on T6 to see if I can tell. I hit with 2 of 3 disr but also had bad phaser rolls so I did minimal damage to his no. 3.

If it is a pseudo than Peter would have 3 torpedoes available next turn. S, F and fast loaded F. The only thing going for me is he is going to have trouble bringing his A and C launchers into play with a down no. 5 shield and a 2 point no. 1 shield. I have my snare back and with a web caster have a good chance at catching any launched torp.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Hi Dana. Love the insight into your side of the game. Thanks for posting this.

On T2, I didn't know there was a Type S Pseudo that made you lay a Web. I went back to Peter's writeup and didn't see a note about it (just the S+F Bolting and Phaser Fire). That Gorn is Crafty!

You had some really bad rolls this game. Missing 4 out of 4 Disruptors? Then rolling a 6 with a Range 1 Disruptor? Terrible!

T4 is more clear now, knowing what you were trying to accomplish with your movement, but didn't quite achieve. What a difference a single impulse too early can make.

This is an Awesome Battle. Can't wait to see who wins.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 03:37 pm: Edit

Dana wrote:
>>If it is a pseudo than Peter would have 3 torpedoes available next turn. S, F and fast loaded F.>>

I'm down an F tube, and I'm pretty sure that was the F tube that could be armed this upcoming turn. Yeah, just checked the game; I launched tube C on impulse 5.1. And D is exploded. So a potential S and a potential fast F for T6 available.

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 04:04 pm: Edit

Peter,

Agreed, I had copied all of the notes, typing, die rolls, movement info to a text file before leaving the game last night. As I went through earlier today reviewing I missed the launch from Pl-C on 5.1. Although I did record my shooting ph-3's at it.

So my scratch pad notes on launcher status had C being held on T6 which was wrong. So you definitely could have a fast load F on T6 from your A launcher. I view that as low possibility unless I end up a lot faster than you and force the issue. I'm not sure why you would try to turn past hurt/down shields to send a 20 pt torp at me. You may also have a real S being held in your B launcher which is in arc and has good shields if the torp on the board is a pseudo.

But really I doubt the torp are going to get me, it's going to be 4 to 6 ph-1's a turn poking away at my down front shields.

By Andrew J Koch (Droid) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 04:34 pm: Edit

He repaired the Snare!
Inconceivable!
Shiver me britches!

By Andrew J Koch (Droid) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 04:35 pm: Edit

I am starting to feel bad that I didn't join this...
Feels kinda like....old times

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Tuesday, July 09, 2019 - 04:45 pm: Edit

It seemed like it may be a long game, so 3 turns to fix it was reasonable. As well as protection for the caster, that little snare is really power efficient for turning out and catching a pursuing plasma. Versus most other races, I wouldn't bother.

Well the point to this whole new series is only join if you have the interest and ability to commit and get your game done. If not, join in the next time. Hopefully we'll see you in for a next one in the fall.

By Brian Evans (Romwe) on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 09:14 pm: Edit

Evans(Hydran) over Taylor(Orion).

Is this the correct place to report results?

By Paul Franz (Andromedan) on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 10:17 pm: Edit

Sapphire Star Tournament #1

By Andrew J Koch (Droid) on Thursday, July 11, 2019 - 09:32 am: Edit

Brian,
That writeup must have been exhausting

By Brian Evans (Romwe) on Friday, July 12, 2019 - 05:47 am: Edit

Yep Andy, it was very taxing...

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Friday, July 12, 2019 - 11:40 pm: Edit

Sir_CatWhoEatsPhotons (KLI, Ted Fay) v. Emeketos (AND, Don Lavanty).

We finish turn 3 with me dropping to 11 and circling around slowly as he screamed around the edge of the map at 30. Drones chase. End of turn he sucks in 2 more to batteries (now full) and dumps 10 (6 front, 4 back). EOT I repair 1*LWarp as AWR.

Turn 4 I go 15/20, refill phasers (all 10 cap) and refill batteries. Impulse 1 I launch 2 drones. I chase, and I pin him in the center north of the map, and manage to maneuver the drones so that he has to shoot them with 4*ph-2 if he is going to go where he wants to go (which he does, killing them). I use 1 battery to boost speed to 21 to get a point of move when I want it, and I manage to get to range 2 on the rears within the wing arcs. I use 4 batteries to power 2 standard disrupters. Phaser dice were very hot (1, 1, 2, 4, 5) on ph-1. This scores 16 in bagging a panel, all hull/cargo, 1 battery, and several warp. Next impluse he's forced to move forward and stay at range 2 without a HET (which he doesn't do) and I fire 2*ph-2 waist phasers and 2*ph-3 wing phasers. Again, I roll well scoring 16 damage.

At this point, Don has taken too much damage, and gracefully concedes.

The lucky hit on the TRL removed what little chance he had, I think. Of course, that he was flying the Andro meant he was the underdog in the first place, so props to him for managing to score internals. His T-Bomb tactics were excellent, bagging 2*IVF separated at range 2 to each other.

My next opponent is Brian Evans in the Hydran, I think. Classic grudge match!

By Drew Klenotic (Tillek) on Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 09:07 pm: Edit

Zero_G (Fed TCC) vs. Klenotic (Hyd TLM)

After two turns.....

Having chosen not to play Fed this time, I'm somehow still alive.

Actually, at this point, it's anyone's game. Turn two ended with a phaser barrage at range 1 that did score a few internals on the Fed but nothing to write the dock master about.

We will continue Sunday at 6pm eastern.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 09:00 am: Edit

note the fed has hit with one out of four photons

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 01:59 pm: Edit

Sounds about average ... for your dice, Gregor.


Garth L. Getgen

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 02:35 pm: Edit

yes for me is why i play Plasma

By Drew Klenotic (Tillek) on Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 08:01 pm: Edit

Zero_G (Fed TCC) vs. Klenotic (Hyd TLM)

After two turns.....

Having chosen not to play Fed this time, I'm somehow still, still alive.

Actually, at this point, it's still, anyone's game. Turn three ended with some internals on both sides with the Fed down 3 P3's, a photon and some power and the Hydran down 2 P1's.

Maverick and Iceman have launched.

I think turn 4 is going to do it one way or the other.... Monday night... 6pm eastern.


We will continue Sunday at 6pm eastern.

By Drew Klenotic (Tillek) on Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 08:03 pm: Edit

Err..... Monday.