Archive through September 28, 2020
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: SFB General Discussions:
Archive through September 28, 2020
Shawn Gordon:
I do not know. The contact with the Alpha Octant was post operation Unity, so some time in the early Y200s, but no later than Y210.
The situation in the Magellanic cloud is an extrapolation from the arrival of Galactic Forces in Y202 and the status of the Cloud. That is to say all of the Empires in the Cloud were beaten down, major industrial and research centers, if they were identified by the Andromedans, eliminated (with extreme, I mean REALLY extreme, prejudice). The asteroid shipyards help some, but they are not capable of doing the research needed, and most or the highly educated people and the supercomputers that enable their research are just ... well, imagine what you would have done if you were an Andromedan.
SPP:
According to the consolidated timeline in the 2011 SFB Omega Master Rulebook, which runs through to the end of the Seventh Cycle in Y221, the Mæsrons develop their own form of first-generation X-technology in Y198; "although their X-cruiser is not as highly advanced as those in the Alpha Octant Empires." (In one of the threads I linked to in my last post, I speculated that this might be read as not being quite as highly advanced, but how and ever...)
It is also noted that, as a last throw of the dice, the Mæsrons pass on samples of X-technology, along with samples of the "volatile warp" engines they had separately acquired from the FRA a few years earlier, to a number of other empires in the Omega Octant. For their part, the Alunda, incapable of adopting "Mæsron-type" X-technology, instead work together with a group of Sigvirion exiles to "infect" the organic control systems used to interface with their living ships; the resulting "Sig-Tech" is first encountered by the Hivers' own X-ships in Y202.
By the time of the Sakharov's pioneering voyage to and from Omega in the Y210s, I might suggest that enough time would have passed for the Jindarians of Omega to have considered adopting "Mæsron-type" X-technology, whatever that turns out to be; as well as "volatile warp" fast patrol ships, equivalent to those shown in SFB Module Omega #5.
That said, there is as yet no indication as to if, or when, any empire in Omega would gain access to second-generation X-technology - or, for that matter, if such tech would evolve from the "Mæsron-type" advanced technology tree, or would be inspired more directly by any X2-ships encountered in the Alpha Octant or the LMC in the wake of Sakharov's return home in Y219. Perhaps Bruce Graw planned to keep Omega X2-tech in reserve until the as-yet-unpublished Eighth Cycle of Omega history?
(I should clarify that even I am not crazy enough to want to speculate on the Eighth Cycle any time soon...)
Got a question about Hydran Gunboat deployment. It's not critical, just something I've wondered about for a while...
We all know that it's SFU Canon that mixed flotillas of Harriers and Hellions were unknown. My question is, is the same true about casual gunboats attached to ships?
What got me thinking about this is, Travellers, having only two hellbores, would benefit tremendously from having one Hellion and one Harrier. The former gives the ship a third Hellbore while the latter gives the ship the ability to use Fusion Beams to dimple enemy shields. As such, it almost screams (to me, anyway) that it's something to be considered.
BUT that leads to possible complications with the Light PF Tender. Most ships of that class are regarded as being "Casual Tenders" when operating singly, but two of them together are considered to operate a Full Flotilla.
Alone? No Leader or Scout. Two? Got both.
If Hydrans are allowed to mix casual gunboats, does that also mean a FDW flying alone is allowed to carry a mix, but two flying together are not?
Like I said, it's not critical, it's just one of those weird things that sometimes run around in my kooky cocoanut... 
Jeff Anderson:
Normally it is a full Flotilla of PFs you need to have for variants (K0.32). PFs like cargo are limited (K0.324).
My understanding is the (K2.2) Mechanical Linkages, say two on a DW allows you to carry to standard PFs, Like Klingon G1.
Jeff Anderson:
(K2.114) The PFs on casual PFTs are all of the standard combat types (unless specified by the scenario).
Appreciate the input, Wayne, but I think we're on slightly different pages.
Both the Harrier and Hellion are standard Hydran combat types of gunboats. Either is perfectly legitimate as a casual gunboat. What I was wondering about was having one of each type as casual gunboats assigned to a ship.
It's one of those questions that, as I've read them, I don't think the rules you brought up answer.
Let's start with a simple question that you didn't ask: a pair of FDWs acting as a single PFT on two hulls; their flotilla is all Harriers or Hellions (or, conceivably, Howlers) though they may have been different separately. I can see the mechanism for that, when they married they received the leader and scout, so also the combat PFs to match.
The big question: mixed types casually on the same ship. The only mechanism I can think of for the doctrine of no mixed flotillas is that the parts or equipment or trained personnel to maintain PF fusions or hellbores are such that one can't carry both. If that's the case on a PFT with its own equipment removed, even more so on a warship carrying some casually. That's a strong enough argument to stop me from mixing, but I don't have enough confidence in it to try to stop you.
Good case, Jack.
Respectfully, though, wouldn't that doctrine preclude having Hellbore armed Stingers aboard ships like the Ranger?
Hydran doctrine considered their fusion ships as their base (can sub a fusion for a hellbore, but not in reverse) ...
Hellions are 15% of Hydran PFs built (R9.PF2), and there are two operating Howler flotillas (R9.PF3) ...
IIRC, 15% of Hydran PFs built, but constituting about 20% of operational flotillas. While this was attributed to higher attrition rates for Harriers, it also suggests to me (now) that Hellions were used far more rarely as casual gunboats.
Oh well. Kinda shoots down that possible tactics paper...
Gentlemen, thank you all for your contributions. This has been enjoyable.
The maintenance equipment for fighter-sized hellbores is smaller? Drone fighter carriers get all sorts of storage, Hydran casual carriers maybe can store the specialized equipment, if it's one rig to work on all the fighters?
What I'm thinking is, the ship-sized fusion beam and hellbores, each the size of a large room, have maintenance sensors, readouts, access, or reconditioning equipment built in. To fit in a smaller space on a PF, some of this is offloaded to one or more freestanding units on the tender, which are hauled to around to each PF on a weekly or monthly schedule for preventive maintenance. These freestanding units, because they are built separately, all together take the space of a small room. There's a bit of "slop" in an SSD, to squeeze in a some things beyond the base hull type. The mechlink takes the space of a tractor, despite needing a room, or at least disrupting a corridor for the access hatch, for example.
Side question: the rules say the up to six casual PFs you can distribute among your squadron or fleet may be loosely organized into a "casual PF flotilla." It doesn't get the advantage of a formal flotilla, leader and scout, but does it trigger the no mixing rule? Any published allowed fleets with casual Harriers & Howlers or Centurions & Starhawks?
Howlers are forbidden except in published scenarios (and good luck getting a scenario with them published :p).
... Or getting an opponent to be okay with your using Howlers as casual gunboats, for that matter.
(YIKES!!)
()
In all seriousness, IIRC, there's one scenario that features a mixed Klingon/Lyran Flotilla that leads me to think a casual mixed flotilla may be possible. However, as discussed over the past two days (or so), it appears the Hydrans may have had few enough Hellions that there would seldom be more than one or two as "Casual Gunboats" across an entire theater and, as such, their chance of appearing as part of a "Casual Flotilla" is little better than my chance of ever being "Rated Ace."
Centurions and Starhawks? Let's tap some Cold Ones as we discuss that...
Why Howlers are forbidden for General Deployment, Game Logic.
A four player PF demolition derby was to be played, with each player selecting his own PF flotilla.
Two players picked Klingons, one player Picked Kzintis, and the fourth Hydrane.
As the game started, the other Klingon and the Kzinti went at it, while the remaining Klingon closed on the Hydran, smuggly stating he had ever been beaten by a Hydran.
When he reached Range 2, he was confused because the Hydrans had not fired yet. He asked why, and then suddenly it dawned on him and he said "Those are Howlers, aren't they!" The Hydran answered "Yes" and the Klingon's next words were unprintable.
The other Klingon and Kzinti looked up form their fight, where the Klingon flotilla USED to be, and called a truce to face off with the Howlers.
It did not matter (fixed map, there was no where to run as the Howlers simply closed in for the kill).
The Hydran won the Tournament.
Of course, that was back when they had Four phaser-Gs instead of only three. But still.
The ONLY case of a mixed empire PF flotilla was Operation Cavalry in which the Klingons and Lyrans operated mixed flotilla. History records that it did not end well.
Quote:Of course, that was back when they had Four phaser-Gs instead of only three. But still.
Take into consideration the Klingon I was fighting was moderately skilled....
I flew a Howler Squadron down the throat of a B-10, did enough damage a second pass could have crippled it...
Would have loved to even had a DD available with HBs in that battle.....
Sorry, it double posted..... 
Played my first face to face game in 20 years.
My Rom Battlehawk B Destroyer leader vs his BDD (I think).
Y175, and 100 BPV.
I won, but made a number of mistakes, any one of which could have killed me.
Lot of fun. But jeesh were we rusty on the cloak rules...
Having any luck sourcing the counters?
SPP made reference to R4T in another thread and it has me salivating.
Yes, we have a source for counters and R4T shall have them.
Fantastic! I can't wait.
And getting the most current F&E Base Set!
So, I'm prepping for a duel. I'm the Feds and he is going to be a neighbor (not Rom or Tholian) with 150 BPV in Y180.
So I dug though my books. Didn't find them all...
Fed Medium Cruiser, BPV 135. (I get 13.5 CO points)
one G rack.
Upgrade all 4 drones on the rack and their 2 sets of reloads to speed 32. Cost =4 (because the reloads get their upgrades for free) (now at BPV =139)
One drone on the rack (and it's 2 reloads) is an III ECM version = 0.5 (now at BPV 139.5)
One reload (8 ADD rounds) is ADDs (required IIRC). = free.
Swap out 2 ADDs for 2 1/2 space speed 32 drones= 2 (so I can play scatter pack tricks) (now at 141.5 BPV)
Legendary Navigator =8 (BPV - 149.5) (for the improved turning radius and breakdown rating)
Buy two extra 2 space speed 32 explosive drones. = 4 for the drones + 2 for the speed upgrade= 6 CO Points (so 149.5 plus 6 CO)
1 tbpmb =4 CO points (so 149.5 BPV plus 10 CO)
2 extra Commandos =2 (149.5 plus 12 CO)
3 extra BPs = 1.5 (149.5 plus 13.5 CO)
Sounds reasonable? Legal?
Mike Grafton,
(Optional Rule) Legendary Officers (G22.1) Unless specified in the scenario rules or agreed to between players, legendary officers are not used in standard games.