I am opening this topic as a place we can discuss a new campaign. In the SB general proposals section is Special Heavy Carriers. I open that proposal to gather information on dreadnought (SC2) RTN hunters.

I am proposing two phases. Phase one start at the beginning of Y195 when the RTN was found. Phase 1 ends at the end of Y197 which was the height of the Andromedan power in the Alpha Octant. Phase 2 start at the beginning of Y198 and ends in spring of Y199 (first 6 months). In operation unity campaign three routes from the Lesser Magellanic Cloud (LMC). At the entrance of each route would be some type of Andromedan base. Phase 2 ends with the assault and destruction of these Andromedan bases. Operation Unity starts in Y200.

Captain's Log 35 updates the campaign rule (U1.0). The update is four pages and starts on page 67. For this campaign I will follow those rules. The period of time between scenarios has changed to short, moderate, and long. Resupply is greatly expanded. This is the place we need to develop the logistics for the campaign. Jeff Wile I could use your help.

The boards have been quite for awhile regarding SFB. I am hoping the development of this campaign can be a community effort. I have read bits and pieces of Federation and Empire (F&E) Andromedan war. I hope F&E players will help. I am not a game designer nor a seasoned player. I am asking for assistance. Anyone is welcome.

We may discover the need for additional ship types or variation of existing ships. You may mention the concept but please develop it in a separate topic. Please don't propose crazy things like a warp powered stellar fortress named Fort Petrick with a 360 degree mount black hole asteroid gun. I do not wish to become collateral damage in the process of purging heresy.

This could be a fun experience for us.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, May 04, 2020 - 06:38 pm: Edit

Joe, the point I was attempting to make in the other topic was your proposal could make a good start for A new K Rule module.

And, as part of that effort, it would be natural to include a campaign.

The “easy” option is to replicate the CVA campaign that used a generic CVA group in a series of published scenarios.

The problem with adapting HDSC (or SCS variant) to a campaign during the RTN hunt (circa year 195+) is that the onboard stock pile of consumable supplies (drones, fighters, spare shuttles etc.) is limited. Depending on the exact variant (and the fighter types in the flight group)a HDSC might only have enough drones for one or two alpha strikes.

Hence the reason that some sort of support ships were needed to provide for replacement fighters (PFs for those empires that use PFs other than the Federation) drones, spare shuttles, and some sort of repair capacity outside of returning to the nearest star base or BTS.

Bottom line, this campaign might have 4 or 6 separate scenarios in a six month period.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Monday, May 04, 2020 - 08:39 pm: Edit

I agree. That is why I split the campaign into 2 phases.

I envision as part of phase 2 some of the empires will work together. Feds with Klingons. Feds with Kzintis.

The phased time period combined with supply and repair dynamic will make this an interesting campaign.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, May 04, 2020 - 10:23 pm: Edit

It might work best if several new generic support ships are available, that or a specialist tug pod that carries cargo, works, fabricators, with some hull and power boxes to facilitate repairs.

I’m tempted to say a repair pod, but not sure if it would serve in this case.

Heck, it’s even possible that replacement crew is needed to refill the ranks.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 12:46 am: Edit

I was actually thinking a heavy operation base (3 pods HOB) could do these tasks. With military freighters including the FNT, DWTs FCF/FCR supping the HOB.

I think route 2 ends some where in the 3rd or 4th fleet area. So a STB would be the support for the whole operation.

The Andro force will raid the supply lines and attack the support ships. So some scenarios will be needed for these actions.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 04:37 pm: Edit

Joe,
That could be an option.

Just throwing out some numbers, F&E rules indicate that mobile bases (MB) are deployed on a six month rate. I assume HOB are similar?

If they are, then a hypothetical team of HDSC(plus escorts?) and the units supporting the HOB could search a seven hex cluster of F&E sectors each six months, then move to another location and “sanitize” 7 more hexes.

That means each “team” can handle 14 f&e hex/sectors each year. Let’s assume the Federation deploys 7 RTN hunter groups, altogether that adds up to 98 hexes a year. So searching Federation territory would require three or more years or so.

Does that sound reasonable?

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 06:46 pm: Edit

JoeC - You're talking about upgrading the central 'pod' of the OB to a jumbo configuration (3 pods)?

Will the supports also be upgraded to jumbo (3-pod) size or remain large (2-pod)?

Would this require a jumbo freighter to move (OA mode)?

Could be called a jumbo base with the heavy for the 4-pod type …

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 08:46 pm: Edit

STB?

I guess I missed that one...

I thought SB was the approved abbreviation for Star Base.

Is STB an abbreviation for Stellar Fortress?

Stellar mobile base?

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 09:06 pm: Edit

STB = Sector Base. Between a battle station and a star base.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 10:30 pm: Edit

Thank you, Ryan.

This discussion is really splitting the differences between SFB logistics and the published F&E rules.

F&E handles empire wide operations and the whole of an empires fleet.

Star Fleet Battles breaks battles down to individual ships or (rarely) individual base (singular.). (Note: IIRC there is only one scenario that shows two competing empires Bases on the same tactical map in a published scenario.)

What we are talking about here is a single ship (Joes HDSC placeholder thingy) engaged in RTH hunting operations.

Placing a HOB (or worse, trying to build a STB) on, near or in proximity of a RTN node might well provoke an Andromedan attack on the newly placed MB, HOB or (if it can be completed in time) STB.

My original idea was to simply have several civilian variant hulls (on an not yet published design) of APT or FT or PT versions of FCF/FCR, military freighters, and the regular escorts that would normally be assigned to the HDSC joe was talking about.

Sort of a mini logistical task force geared to supporting a single CVA/SCS group during the RTN hunt. Such a creation would never dream of supporting a fleet or even a battle squadron of 6+ ships.

Just something that could move when the HDSC moves on to the next area to be scanned for RTN nodes or bases.

More specifically, a campaign rule, not something of any possible use for F&E.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 10:50 pm: Edit

I was thinking more general. The campaign would represent a sector.

I think the Admiral campaign would work for the Andromedan forces. 4 lines everything hidden. The final base also has to be hidden in some fashion.

The Alpha octant empire Player has a SB, an operations base, several planets, multiple shipping lanes, and various mining operations. Empire player will be more on the defense until Y97.

Empire player with have: 5 or special sensor equipped ships; 4-6 combat response squadron; supply units; SB defense squadron; 1 X-ship squadron.

The heavy ops base I was thinking would be 3 pods. The first two pods are one large pod. I was thinking of attacking a third center line on the bottom. This combination would be 3.5 pod weight and would need jumbo military freighter (if that exists)

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 11:41 am: Edit

Joe, you might want to consult with the Steve’s on that.

All I am thinking about is how a vanilla Mobile Base (MB) is enough to supply a full fleet of ships, and you are outlining a full theater of operations like one of the ‘winds’ Campaigns from f&e.

In short, it’s not something compressed into a single f&e hex (also some times referred to an ‘area’ or, more rarely, a ‘sector’.). You are describing a force Pool that the Federation would deploy on the frontier between Federation territory and the Klingon Empire.

If that is the case, then you are talking a F&E scenario.

Yes, you can portray it in Star Fleet Battles terms, but it would be so large that most SFBs groups would be unlikely to play it.

I guess I owe you an apology.

I was thinking in terms of a single RTN hunter and a dedicated support group of its regular assigned escorts and three (or so) small support ships.

I.E. something smaller gaming groups or even just a couple of players could do in a normal gaming session.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 12:02 pm: Edit

No apologies necessary. In the post I am making are ideas which I am happy to change.

I looking at the Admiral's campaign as a guide or framework. We would have three categories and a much smaller number. We can out that make a mini campaign for a single RTN hunter.

Post your ideas my friend.

After we define the special heavy carriers and this campaign. I may post a proposal for the HOB. For this campaign a mobile base could work I just prefer the operations base that can move.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 12:09 pm: Edit

I also want to define the scale of this campaign. Maybe the Admiral's campaign is to large.

Ant star or sector base would already be built. since there isn't a front line in a way the RN hunter or Hunters are finding in circle are the fixed base that would be in orbit over a planet.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 01:49 pm: Edit

Mobile bases move.

Just takes a tug!

Grin.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 04:23 pm: Edit

This campaign is a division of ship 5-10 commanded by a rear Admiral. The ship under command of the sector base or star base are not part of the division. The support ships such as tug, LTT, mine sweeper and commando ships are part of the number fleet that the division is part of.

A Fed example: 3rd Fleet, 3rd Division.
Dreadnought Heavy Carrier Scout ((DVAS) RTN hunter) + 2xNAC + DWA. Total 4

NVH (RTN Hunter)

BCG, CM, and DW (combat support)

GSC (RTN Hunter)

NCA (combat support)

3rd Division total is 10

A base has squadron of ships attached. NAX and 2 DWXs.

Support ships: Tug, LTT, FCF, FCR, DWM, CDW, DWS, and various pods at the base.

Supply: Various freighters with escorts.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 06:37 pm: Edit

Joe, just my opinion, but you really should hang a date of this event some where. YIS date for these ships range all the way back to year 142 for the GSC.

I forget, but the Tug might even be earlier.