These are questions about what Federation Commander bills as the Middle Years era (SFB pre-GW, pre-refit ships...approximately Y.130-160).

1. Neutral Zone questions:
a) Can ships from any empire explore in there?
b) Are skirmishes likely between opposing empires' ships? To what extent? [up to the point of crippled triggering disengagement?]
c) I know this next question would greatly depend on how far into the Neutral Zone the event would occur, but perhaps there is a generalized answer for it. About how many game turns would it take for reinforcements to arrive at the scene of a skirmish?
d) Related follow-up question to (c): Could there be situations in which only 1 ship from an empire would be on its own to accomplish a mission? No backup, no reinforcements. ["We're the only ship in the area. Destroy the ___ and the entire sector is wide open."]

That's all for now.

By Michael C. Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Monday, January 25, 2010 - 11:35 am: Edit

A) There is always the problem of GETTING your ship to some neutral zone not adjacent to your own borders. On an F&E scale I have always had the impression that you only have a couple or three hex range unless you KNOW you can expect to wander into some supplies/ fuel.

B) Depends on the relative levels of trust/ tension/ orders from higher. Between the Feds and Gorn not likely. Between the Kzinti and Lyrans very likely. And of course, if your empire is having a war with a different neighbor you probably will want to avoid the chance of starting the second front! But skirmishes do happen (CL is full of examples) as exemplified as by the infamous tactics manual preface (just walk away...). And how much damage are you willing to risk? How important is your mission? Is it a pretext or a serious deal?

C) as you noted. Sometimes the answer is going to be HOURS (or dozens of turns) or days...

D) Sure. There is always some backup, the question is how close and what is it? YOU might have the rest of your F5 squadron responding when a Fed DD bounces your F5L while the darn Feds happen to have a couple Cruisers that "just happen" to be in the region. SO the answer is unless you are cruising in a squadron you are it until your reinforcements get here. And sometimes that is a LONG time.