(S_.0) DRONES VERSUS DISRUPTORS (Y172)
by Ahmad Abdel-Hameed, Washington

Even from their start as a space-faring empire, the Kzintis favored drones and drone defenses over direct firepower. The Klingons used drones, but much more sparingly and had correspondingly larger direct fire compliments. This exact mix of ships may never have actually met in combat, but scenarios like this or very similar to it were found in both sides simulator exercises to teach their cadets about the art of warfare.

(S_.1) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2; the Klingon player and the Kzinti player.
(S_.2) INITIAL SET UP
KLINGON:: 2*D5, 4*F5 start within 5 hexes of 2230, heading A, speed max, WS-III
KZINTI: 2*CM, 4*FF start within 5 hexes of 3201, heading D, speed max, WS-III
(S_.3) LENGTH OF SCENARIO: The scenario continues until all units of one side have been captured, destroyed, or have disengaged.
(S_.4) SPECIAL RULES
(S_.41) MAP: The map is floating. The Kzinti player may only disengage in direction A. The Klingon player may only disengage in direction D.
(S_.42) SHUTTLES AND PFs: No Shuttles will have warp booster packs. There are no PFs in this scenario
(S_.421) MRS shuttles are not available to any of the ships.
(S_.422) There are no fighters in this scenario.
(S_.423) There are no PFs in this scenario.
(S_.43) COMMANDERS OPTION ITEMS
(S_.431) Each ship can purchase additional or special equipment as Commander's Option Items (e.g. T-bombs, extra marines, etc.) up to 20% of its combat BPV. See (S3.2) for details and exceptions.
(S_.432) All drones are speed 20. Each drone-armed ship can purchase special drones up to the historical racial percentages as part of the Commander's Option Items. Note that (S3.2) allows drone ships extra points for this purpose. Also note that some special drones may not be available due to the date of the scenario.
(S_.433) PRIME TEAMS: There are no Prime Teams in this scenario.
(S_.44) REFITS: Refits can be used as a balance option.
(S_.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS: Use the Standard Victory Conditions.
(S_.6) VARIATIONS: This kind of conflict also happened between the Federation and Klingons.
(S_.61) Replace the Kzinti forces with 2*NCL, 4*FF
(S_.7) BALANCE: The scenario can be balanced between players of different skill levels by adding refits to one side or the other or changing the time period to allow faster drones.
(S_.8) TACTICS
KLINGON:
KZINTI:

DESIGNER’S NOTES: When doctrine meets the real world, who wins?

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 - 09:40 pm: Edit

First impression: I love the enthusiasm.

Now, then... How to fly the ships...

Klingon: Knee-jerk thoughts are that the Kzinti need to close to point-blank range to get past the legendary drone defenses of the D5s. DON'T LET THEM!! Pick them apart with disruptor fire Go for the Frigates first, possibly while retrograding; they have a higher degree of vulnerability to Mizia degradation than do the cruisers.

Kzinti: Knee-jerk thoughts are that, without the refits, our ships just don't have the drone launch rate and staying power to really crack open the Klingons unless we do a tractor or overrun attack. Both are things they would expect from us.


Second thoughts: Both Klingons and Kzinti would have already faced each other extensively during the four powers war (to say nothing of Early Years battes)...

Early Years...

Hmm...

A variant, perhaps?

Two cruisers and four frigates, all "W-Era" technology (D3, WCA, etc.), on both sides facing each other? The Dawn of Drones vs. Disruptors?

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 - 01:51 am: Edit

You should set a year for the scenario.