(S_.0) THE FIRST CHALLENGE OF THE VANQUISHER (Y178)
by Ahmad Abdel-Hameed, Washington

The Vanquisher was the first and ultimately only Paladin to be built on the heavy dreadnaught model. As it was travelling to join its fleet, the Lyrans ambushed it with a fast dreadnaught of their own. It would be the first test of the new unit.

(S_.1) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2; the Hydran player and the Lyran player.
(S_.2) INITIAL SET UP
HYDRAN: DNH Vanquisher within 3 hexes of 4002, heading E, speed max, WS-III
LYRAN: DNL Heartseeker, 3*PF within 3 hexes of 0328, heading B, 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: MAP: The map is floating. The Lyran player may only disengage in direction E.
(S_.42) SHUTTLES AND PFs:
(S_.421) MRS shuttles may be purchased [up to the limits in (J8.5)] under (S_.431).
(S_.422) If using EW fighters, one fighter in any squadron of eight or more can be an EW fighter. If not using EW fighters, it will be a standard fighter of the most common type in the squadron.
(S_.423) PFs are available as balance items in some variants.
(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) There are no drones in this scenario. In variations with drone-armed ships,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.
(S_.433) PRIME TEAMS: If the players wish to use the optional rules for Prime Teams (G32.0), either ship may buy one team with its commander's options.
(S_.44) REFITS: The ships on both sides have all available refits.
(S_.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS: Use the Standard Victory Conditions.
(S_.6) VARIATIONS: This scenario is pretty specific for the two races.
(S_.7) BALANCE: The scenario can be balanced between players of different skill levels by one or more of the following changes.
(S_.71) Add an DWS to the Hydran side.
(S_.72) Add a DWS to the Lyran side.
(S_.8) TACTICS
HYDRAN:
LYRAN: You have a speed advantage. Use it!

Design Note: Jay Williams, North Carolina helped out tremendously with this scenario in both the force design for the Romulans and subsequent playtesting. I don't know if he wants credit for this here. Plus, we've designed the scenario, but we still haven't extensively playtested it. We'll update the tactics section once we've played it a few times.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Friday, November 03, 2023 - 04:04 pm: Edit

The design note mentions Romulans, but I see nothing about Romulans in this one.

By Ahmad Abdel-Hameed (Madarab) on Friday, November 03, 2023 - 04:14 pm: Edit

Thanks. I'll fix that.

By Ahmad Abdel-Hameed (Madarab) on Friday, November 03, 2023 - 04:16 pm: Edit

(S_.0) THE FIRST CHALLENGE OF THE VANQUISHER (Y178)
by Ahmad Abdel-Hameed, Washington

The Vanquisher was the first and ultimately only Paladin to be built on the heavy dreadnaught model. As it was travelling to join its fleet, the Lyrans ambushed it with a fast dreadnaught of their own. It would be the first test of the new unit.

(S_.1) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2; the Hydran player and the Lyran player.
(S_.2) INITIAL SET UP
HYDRAN: DNH Vanquisher within 3 hexes of 4002, heading E, speed max, WS-III
LYRAN: DNL Heartseeker, 3*PF within 3 hexes of 0328, heading B, 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: MAP: The map is floating. The Lyran player may only disengage in direction E.
(S_.42) SHUTTLES AND PFs:
(S_.421) MRS shuttles may be purchased [up to the limits in (J8.5)] under (S_.431).
(S_.422) If using EW fighters, one fighter in any squadron of eight or more can be an EW fighter. If not using EW fighters, it will be a standard fighter of the most common type in the squadron.
(S_.423) PFs are available as balance items in some variants.
(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) There are no drones in this scenario. In variations with drone-armed ships,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.
(S_.433) PRIME TEAMS: If the players wish to use the optional rules for Prime Teams (G32.0), either ship may buy one team with its commander's options.
(S_.44) REFITS: The ships on both sides have all available refits.
(S_.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS: Use the Standard Victory Conditions.
(S_.6) VARIATIONS: This scenario is pretty specific for the two races.
(S_.7) BALANCE: The scenario can be balanced between players of different skill levels by one or more of the following changes.
(S_.71) Add an DWS to the Hydran side.
(S_.72) Add a DWS to the Lyran side.
(S_.8) TACTICS
HYDRAN:
LYRAN: You have a speed advantage. Use it!

Design Note: Jay Williams, North Carolina helped out tremendously with this scenario in both the force design for the Lyrans and subsequent playtesting. I don't know if he wants credit for this here. Plus, we've designed the scenario, but we still haven't extensively playtested it. We'll update the tactics section once we've played it a few times.

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Friday, November 03, 2023 - 07:27 pm: Edit

One - DNs normally have escorts, a bit of color helps to show where they are (rearguard against a heavier Lyran fleet perhaps?) ...

Two - any fighters on board? If not, why (added to rearguard action above?) ...

By Ahmad Abdel-Hameed (Madarab) on Friday, November 03, 2023 - 08:41 pm: Edit

DNLs usually operate alone, and the color text tells why this particular Hydran DNH is unescorted at this specific time. I'll add fighters to the description in the next edit.

By Ahmad Abdel-Hameed (Madarab) on Friday, November 03, 2023 - 08:55 pm: Edit

(S_.0) THE FIRST CHALLENGE OF THE VANQUISHER (Y178)
by Ahmad Abdel-Hameed, Washington

The Vanquisher was the first and ultimately only Paladin to be built on the heavy dreadnaught model. As it was travelling to join its fleet, the Lyrans ambushed it with a fast dreadnaught of their own. It would be the first test of the new unit.

(S_.1) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2; the Hydran player and the Lyran player.
(S_.2) INITIAL SET UP
HYDRAN: REG Vanquisher (9*St-2, 2*St-H, St-E) within 3 hexes of 4002, heading E, speed max, WS-III
LYRAN: DNL Heartseeker, 3*PF within 3 hexes of 0328, heading B, 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: MAP: The map is floating. The Lyran player may only disengage in direction E.
(S_.42) SHUTTLES AND PFs: The PFs may have warp packs. Warp packs had not been invented at this time for fighters and shuttles.
(S_.421) MRS shuttles may be purchased [up to the limits in (J8.5)] under (S_.431).
(S_.422) If using EW fighters, one fighter in any squadron of eight or more can be an EW fighter. If not using EW fighters, it will be a standard fighter of the most common type in the squadron.
(S_.423) PFs are available as balance items in some variants.
(S_.424) Because of the weapon's status, up to 4 fighters may start out deployed within 2 hexes of the REG. The Lyran PFs must start out docked to the DNL.
(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) There are no drones in this scenario. In variations with drone-armed ships,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.
(S_.433) PRIME TEAMS: If the players wish to use the optional rules for Prime Teams (G32.0), either ship may buy one team with its commander's options.
(S_.44) REFITS: The ships on both sides have all available refits; the PFs do not have refits.
(S_.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS: Use the Standard Victory Conditions.
(S_.6) VARIATIONS: This scenario could be used with any two antagonistic bordering races.
(S_.7) BALANCE: The scenario can be balanced between players of different skill levels by one or more of the following changes.
(S_.71) Add an DWS to the Hydran side.
(S_.72) Add a DWS to the Lyran side.
(S_.8) TACTICS
HYDRAN:
LYRAN: You have a speed advantage. Use it!

Design Note: Jay Williams, North Carolina helped out tremendously with this scenario in both the force design for the Lyrans and subsequent playtesting. I don't know if he wants credit for this here. Plus, we've designed the scenario, but we still haven't extensively playtested it. We'll update the tactics section once we've played it a few times. I'm trying to figure out if I should put a time limit where the DNL et al has to disengage to avoid incoming ships from the Hydrans.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Sunday, November 05, 2023 - 12:29 pm: Edit

Hydran Tactics. Close and Anchor. Stingers & suicide shuttles away!

ps, I can't remember if remote controlled fighters have the delay post launch before they can shoot...