Drone Storage is Annex # 7G (carrier) or 7N (non-standard reloads) ...

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Saturday, October 29, 2022 - 07:11 pm: Edit

Mike, I've never considered writing an article. How generic do they need to be? "Attacking a Hydran base with a fed fleet in Y178" seems like it would be way too specific.

By Nick Blank (Nickgb) on Saturday, October 29, 2022 - 08:47 pm: Edit

You create a force without knowing the mission. That comes after all forces are submitted. Then you write a short article on how you plan to complete the objectives given.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Saturday, October 29, 2022 - 10:02 pm: Edit

Sorry, I meant an article re: the campaign, battles, and tactics described.

I submitted a force for the battle group. I'm not actually a fed player so it's cool that they were taken. I don't usually like playing them... Too dependent on dice rolls. I'm playing them in the campaign because they can definitely bring the violence and because they seemed like a good match up against Hydrans and LDR. Thr latter being my opponent's original choice before he saw their lack of capital ships.

He's addicted to gatlings. Partly because he knows I love seeking weapons. :-)

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Friday, November 04, 2022 - 11:54 am: Edit

The more I think about the fleet battle the less likely it is that he'll stay at the base and let me use range 12 proxies. The only time that will work is if he rolls very low on his WS and the ships are nowhere near the base. That would give me one turn for range 12 proxies and moving away to reload. There's no chance I get two turns of proxies unless he manages to roll WS-0 and starts two maps away. Even then it would mean being out of photons as the ships are approaching. I'd rather be fully armed when they get within 30 so I can cripple or pop their TAR.

My fleet can field 34 photons, 18 of which will have no shift. At range 30 that's around 36 damage. Enough to drop a shield on an approaching Hydran ship.

If they're far away then the t-bomb plan stays in place so I can pop the base before anyone arrives. That drastically lowers their EW advantage and means that the scout can either protect a ship or itself, but not both. If it doesn't protect itself then I can mangle it with proxies at range. if it doesn't protect a ship then I do the same to the ship instead.

Carrying on from the Hydran thread, their best bet is to charge in headlong because they're mostly fusions and fusion-armed fighters. I'll have a turn to cripple or pop something with proxies before they get into range.

I'm definitely afraid of the fusions and don't want to lose too many ships in this assault. It's a campaign and unlike duels fighting to the bitter end is a really bad idea. I'm already short a bunch of frigates and police ships on turn 2 because I used them as the minimum required vessels in all of the sectors which don't have bases. I wanted to make sure I killed all of the bases and didn't care if I have to fight the first defense line again. Those open space battles use floating maps so I'll be able to keep my distance with proxies a lot better than on the fixed base maps. Plus bases get minefields if attacked and unharmed and can force me to hold back ships if not destroyed while I advance.

Basically bases and starbases are priority one.

Which brings me to the next big hurdle: the two starbases on the second layer of the campaign trail. The Hydrans will have all of their ships available. I just don't see being able to blow up a starbase that has a full fleet defending it and I don't see him leaving less than 11 ships at each one. I'll be outgunned by around 1,000 BPV and will be forced to leave 6+ ships behind when I pass on to the next layer.

I could leave behind full fleets if he only leaves a skeleton crew, giving myself a second chance (albeit through a minefield). That would mean taking heavy losses but actually being able to destroy an SB.

Looking ahead I'm thinking this may eventually end up as a stalemate. Assuming I've made it to layer three I'll end up finishing on layer one. That's a Marginal Victory. It's the best I can do unless I can manage to take out both starbases. Which, again, I highly doubt because of the sheer firepower they can bring to bear on a fixed map using a fleet that has a ton of fighters and fusion-armed ships.

Man, I really hate fixed maps!

But that assault is a discussion for a different day. There are still two BATS to worry about. The second one has a much larger fleet defending it. My attacking force is identical. And the t-bomb trick won't work well because I would have to get those t-bombs (2 ships if I want to save the dreadnaught) within range 6 of a slew of phaser-4s, fusions, and hellbores. Granted they'll have a shift of 2 but that's still a heaping helping of damage.

If I get lucky on the WS roll I can catch the base while the defending fleet is a map-length away. If the defending fleet starts on top of the SB I'm basically forced to flee or suffer heavy, heavy losses and maybe not even take out the base. If I don't take out the SB then it gets a minefield on my next assault.

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Friday, November 04, 2022 - 04:07 pm: Edit

I find that all my plans and schemes go straight down the tubes as soon as some one says:
If we're done allocating, lets begin.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Friday, November 04, 2022 - 07:11 pm: Edit

#truth

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Sunday, November 13, 2022 - 06:40 pm: Edit

I'll put battle reports up in the campaign thread.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 09:11 am: Edit

In a campaign against the Hydrans would you prefer to build a carrier group or 3.5 cruisers? I think I really need the F-111s and A-20s for starfish drones but those groups are freaking expensive.

I'm leaning towards carriers, especially since we're creeping up on warp booster packs, megafighters, and PFs. But I'd love some second, third, and fourth opinions.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 09:30 am: Edit

I just checked our rosters. He doesn't have any IDs, just 3 PALs.

My choice is basically between a carrier group (several options) or a CLC and 2-3 NCLs.

Which brings me to another question: What Fed ships are good for going fast and firing long range proxies? Most of our battles will be on floating maps in open space and I want to soften him up with proxies for as long as possible. 32 of them at range 30 is an average of 64 damage. a.k.a. a down shield, some internals, and an enemy vessel which has to make the tough decision between taking a lot more damage or turning away and leaving the fight behind.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 09:59 am: Edit

And another question: what are some good Fed ships with 2 drone racks? The extra spaces bump the percentages up so they can carry a type-I Starfish or MW drone.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 10:10 am: Edit

When looking for "price-per-photon" and "shoot-n-scoot" with Fed ships, you best bet is likely the NCLa+. It is 124 + drones (and you can make the drone cost zero if you use all ADDs), which makes it more cost effective than every other RPW ship in the Fed fleet. It can arm photons and still move 30. Only the DW comes close.

If you game the NCL a little, it can be more cost effective by using the NCL+, without the AWR refit. When playing in a heavy EW environment, the AWR doesn't provide any benefit (as you will be generating four EW points each turn minimum). That drops the price down to 120 + drones. The max speed while arming photons drops to 24, but, again, this assumes your max speed is dropping anyway because of EW.

The only other RPW ship that comes close is the DW. (The FFB is slightly better than the NCLa+, and matches the NCL+, but is RPL, not RPW.) The FF isn't cost effective. All other cruisers are much more expensive with the same number of photons.

To be clear: I am talking about price-per-photon and being able to run and arm. Add in other considerations, and the answer might change. Even so, the NCL is still a great all-around ship. It is very hard to beat going speed 30 while arming all four photons for only 124 BPV.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 10:23 am: Edit

Thanks! I was leaning towards it as well but wondering if there are other great options since it's kinda small. Then again size doesn't matter as much at range 20-30 vs. Hydrans.

Any thoughts on ships with 2 drone racks? SF drones are great against fighters and MW drones will be good once PFs appear. A swarm of fighters plus drones from ships can fill the aa with type-VIs and ADDs.

By Alan Trevor (Thyrm) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 11:33 am: Edit

If you have the money to spend, consider the Kirov-class BCG. Four drone racks (two Type-G and two Type-B) while retaining all four photon torpedoes. And it is almost as fast as the NCL while conducting a long-range bombardment with proximity-fused torpedoes.

NCL: 32 generated power; 4 for housekeeping and 8 for photons leaves 20 for movement (speed-30).

BCG: 41 generated power; 4 for housekeeping and 8 for photons leaves 29 for movement (speed-29).

And the BCG is actually faster than the NCL in a heavy EW environment. Generating 4 EW slows the NCL to 24, the BCG to 25. Generating 6 EW slows the NCL to 21, the BCG to 23.

Downside, as mentioned, is cost.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Ouch, 180 is expensive. But I just noticed that I can't actually refit my DNGs to CVAs. They're the wrong hull type. I can refit them to DVAs but not for a couple of turns (Y179).

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 12:43 pm: Edit

I should report the results of turn 1. I was able to destroy all 4 BATS. I did it by sending massive fleets to all of them but only FFs and POLs to the other 4 sectors. That means I did not advance and will not have those tiny little sacrificial lambs available for turn 2 as they return to the reserves. They served their purpose and will be able to do the same thing in the future as needed.

Turn 2 construction will be:
1 NVH + 6 F-111
1 FFA
1 NAC
2 NCL
1 BCG

Assume full refits unless otherwise noted.

As of last turn his fleet was:
4 PAL (Now 3)
4 LC
4 RN
3 DG (Now 2)
3 MNG
3 TAR
4 KN
4 LN
3 HN
4 CU
4 NSC

I don't yet know what he will build. I'm assuming some larger ships to make up for the lost PAL. He also likes Rangers so maybe more of those. He's seen the problems with fusion ranges, so maybe not. I'm dreading the day when he gets an opportunity and realizes what massed fighter fusions can do at range 10.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 03:12 pm: Edit

Alan,

Again, I was purely focusing on "photon per BPV" for fast Fed ships. On that basis the NCL wins hands down as both have four photons, but the NCL is 124 BPV instead of 180. Yes, there are other considerations like a bigger hull, more ability to take damage, three extra drones, bunches of extra phasers. Oh, and a much higher command rating! But if you want to maximize photons and move, the NCL is your ship.

Also, do note that NCLs have the standard crap CW control rating. So, you will have to build some bigger ships to meet that need. Honestly, the BCG is great in that role.

Ginger,

I do not have as good of an answer on the two drone thing. For the most part, only RPL or LPW ships get multiple drones along with their standard array of photons. Based on fleet size, you might be forced to consider an NCD, DWD, or even FFD to help out with that.

I do want to mention the CS. It is a broken design (in an advantageous way) that gives four photons and two drone racks and a couple extra phasers. But you do pay 20 or so extra BPV for the privilege. And it is RPL, which I have been assuming matters, but might not.

On the DNG -> CVA idea, it should be possible, as that is what you get to do in F&E. On the other hand, the DVA isn't a bad design, so it is a reasonable choice. Do note that the DVA doesn't get F-111s; it uses A-20s. (But then, the CVA doesn't get F-111s, either.)

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 03:55 pm: Edit

What's are RPL and LPW?

Ignore that part about not being able to convert them. I just read deeper and it actually says that DNs and DN+s were converted to DNGs so conversion to CVA is also possible.

I have to rework my purchases for this turn.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 05:00 pm: Edit

RPL means "Regular production, but limited for some reason"

LPW means limited production.

Basically refer to the right side of the master ship chart where those designations show up in recent publications. The Module G3 book has them as do new product master ship charts (such as R12 and R11 and C6).

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 07:42 pm: Edit

Basically, many campaigns will limit themselves (for the most part) to ships that are RPW, meaning regular production warships. So, for example, the DW is RPW: you can construct as many of them as you have the budget for. But the FFB is RPL: they were only made in very limited numbers. So, even if the FFB may be better for some application, most campaigns will still only have a few of them compared to many more DWs.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, November 14, 2022 - 10:28 pm: Edit

We're following historical limits. I can use up to 3 BCG.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 07:47 am: Edit

Or 3 CVBs?

By Alan Trevor (Thyrm) on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 11:08 am: Edit

I don't think the CVB is the way to go in this case. IF I understand (J4.23) DRONE LAUNCH RAILS correctly (especially subsection (J4.234)), the first F-15 that can carry Starfish or Multi-warhead drones is the F-15D, which isn't available until Y185.

By Alan Trevor (Thyrm) on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 11:14 am: Edit

Now, the standard, vanilla F-15 is better than a vanilla F-14. But the F-14A becomes available in Y177, and has two "Special" rails, giving it the capability to use Starfish or Multi-warhead drones.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 11:23 am: Edit

I don't see special rails listed on the master fighter chart for any version of the F-15.

The F-14A gets them in Y177. The F-111 has them in Y177 as well. We're in Y178.

I will never buy any fighters that can't carry MW drones. They're just not worth it against swarms of stingers (and later PFs.)