Archive through July 31, 2008
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Archive through July 31, 2008
An interesting way to force a fight by the Zin. In this case, maybe they didn't want it - but i am always looking for ways to force an enemy to fight.
Indeed the dice gods continue to favour the Alliance!
In the three small battles in Hydran space - the Hydrans rolled enough to achieve their aims.
416 - Lyran CA died (need 15% or less to live)
317 - Lyran FF crippled (needed 15% or less to not be crippled)
118 - Lyran FF crippled (needed 10% to not be crippled)
Success in 1 of the 3 would have been nice 
However, at 413, the dice was just evil.
Over 3 rounds, the Hydrans rolled 6 5 3. The Coalition rolled 3 2 1!
With closer dice, the BATS/MB might have been saved (it didn't help, I missed 4 ship in a 2nd fleet I had there!) - and with the dice reversed might have won (or atleast caused 2 or 3 Hydran cripples, and killed one of the Paladins there). The Lyrans also spent 1 Command Point.
1401 - Indeed - Big and important battle! May the dice gods like the Coalition there.
The Hydran front has been concluded.
The dice have improved (although the Alliance remains rolling better )
215 - FF crippled plus fighters lost on both sides
314 - HR crippled and 4 x DD crippled - shock horror gasp - the Hydrans failed a persuit!! (I rolled badly and couldn't do better than direct cripple the HR as the Hydrans had enough fighters to cover their losses)
213 - 50/50 chance of no losses(Hydrans needed 30% and got it) - crippled D5 killed.
212 - No losses - but Coalition retreated to 312 and killed the HN garrison there and fighting retreated to 311 and crippled the HN garrison there.
Kzinti front started
1502 - Coalition needed 25% to do damage - and failed. Both sides retreated (Kzinti to 1501, Coalition to 1401)
1601 - Brave E4 fought off (badly, it died) the Kzinti hoard while the F5S escaped to 1502.
1401 .......and our brains failed us on how to do it!
The Kzinti attempt to retake 1401 is a bloodbath. Each side has 25 crips. Dead are Kzinti BT, CC, MEC (all mauled) and Klingon 2D5, 4F5, E4A (all self killed). The Kzinti spent 1 command point; the Klingons spent 3. The battle continues.
1401 - Indeed
Personally, I think William should surrender - we don't know how it happened - but a Mauler has actually not self shocked! Whats the odds of a Mauler not shocking....must be very small 
As it stands, I think Kzinti will remain will remain Coalition held.
We are down to 21 uncrippled Coalition ships v 15 uncrippled Kzinti ships (and William has 18 damage to take).
It could go down to the wire - and I need to keep 8 ships uncrippled to keep all the planets from rebelling.
For once also, the dice gods have favoured the Coalition - a couple of times I have rolled higher - but most dice have been 3's and 4's on both sides, so similar percentages are being done.
If I can force the Kzinti to retreat, they will have to retreat to the Barony - which means the Dukes and Count's SB's will be very weakly held - and Kzinti reserves will be low - so 1401 is the key to both sides this turn!
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Duke has five wives. The Count has been gambling. The Baron drinks intoxicating liquors. The Baroness goes outside her home without a Burqua. The Marquis comes to morning prayers only rarely. Worst of all, the Baron's third daughter has been seen in the company of strange men!
Allah is angry with His Kzinti! He has shown us this in the most painful way, over Kzintai. We will not liberate our gardens. It is our fault, for we have angered Allah!
We must submit ourselves completely to the will of Allah! This, and only this, can bring us victory!
The 1401 battle is completed. He rolled well in the early battle and so decided to self kill to hold the hex. He then proceeded to roll poorly at the very end and so had to self kill more than he thought, especially since he was trying to maintain 8 uncrippled ships so he could garrison the planets.
The final bill:
Dead: Kzinti BT, CC, MEC [all mauled]
Klingon: 9D5, 5F5, 3E4, E4A [all self killed]
Crippled: 37 Kzinti; 23 Coalition [plus 2 Coalition that were already crippled at the start of the battle]
Remaining uncrippled after the battle:
Coalition: 7E4, F5S [exactly the 8 ship garrison]
Kzinti: none.
In exchange for his hideous total of dead, he has held the hex, which is worth 12EP a turn. And he has forced the Kzinti to retreat offmap -- thereby stopping my plan to retro them to the starbases and CEDS them there. As a result, it is very unlikely that 1304 will survive his next turn.
Also, the Kzinti now have only 2 CR10 ships remaining in their fleet -- and one of them is crippled.
All in all a very interesting exchange.
Kzinti final economy:
Left at end of Econ Phase 3.9
Post Econ Phase Expenditures:
CEDS 7.5
Left at end of Alliance turn: -3.6
Hydran final economy:
nothing spent
0EP in main grid
14.5EP in Old Colonies grid
1401 - indeed. Was far more bloody than I wanted, but the tactical situation warranted it.
I actually think both 902 and 1304 will fall cheaply, as there is basically only just enough forces and reserves to cover 1 SB.
So either 1 falls for 'free' or both fall cheaply.
If I had lost 1401, it would cost me 24 Ep's (2 turns of income) plus 2 crippled Carrier groups and cripples could have retrograded to each SB - giving another 1 to 2 battle rounds of casualties (CEDS repair 2 x CV, 1 x MEC, 1 x EFF for example).
The loss of '1 turns worth' of Klingon CW and Frigate production is very serious, but the price I think was worth it.
Due to the costs, the Kzinti ship yard probably will not be completed for another 7 turns, , as the Kzinti took about 3 turns worth of cripples (SB + 2 x FRD), which is 20 ep's a turn - which is close to the Barony income.
So those existing Carriers will need to take the strain a while longer!
Dice - as William mentioned, they went horrible again for the Coalition. The problem is William always seems to get enough to force a cripple or kill - and always seem to miss it.
Example
401 - Lyrans needed 40% (Unlikely I accept) v Kzinti needed 25%.
1002 - Lyrans needed 35% v Kzinti needed 20% (very likely)
Kzinti got both - and Lyrans failed both
In 1202 - we should have taken equal casualties - probably 2 each- I had 25% higher compot (no Scout though) and William had 6 fighters - but the unequal rolls (6 v 2) meant it ended 3 v 1 in cripples.
Net result - the dice are causing probably 7 extra Coalition cripples a turn (and 2 more dead ships)- and saving the Alliance 4 cripples a turn.
Which has happened on turns 2,3 and 4 - which is an awful lot of unlucky dice!
Hopefully, the dice gods will reverse the luck for the next couple of turns.
The Federation has sent a Second Final Ultimatum to the Klingon Ambassador
Sir,
If your forces do not leave Kzinti space within the next three weeks, a state of War shall exist between the Federation and the Empire.
Is that a Penultimate Ultimatum?
Or, perhaps, a Penultimatum?
Coalition Turn 5 has started.
Turn 5
Lyrans
BC - 10
CA TGC (S) 8
3 x CW - 15
3 x DW - 12
3 x FF - 7.5
PDU (508.31) 7
59.5
Conversion
408 CA to DN 6
Repairs
104 SC, FF 2
FS 2 x CW 3
404 C8, D6M, 2 x DD 8
504 CC 2
707 D5 1.5
608 D6M, 3 x DD, 2 x FF 8
809 D5 1.5
408 CA 2
1508 48 pts 24
52
Balance 0.5 Ep's
7 Command Points
Klingons
D7C - 9
D7 - 8
D6 D6M (S) 10
7 x D5 - 35
3 x F5 - 9
F5 F5S (C 1716) 4
F5 F5S (C 1509)) 4
3 x E4 - 7.5
2 x D5, F5 3D5V 17
B10 5
PDU (508.31) 7
115.5
Conversion/MB
D6 (MB) 1
D6 (MB) D6M © 6
CP 5
Repairs
1107 CC 2
906 F5S, F5 2
1009 D5 1.5
1209 D5 1.5
908 D6D 2
1011 D5 1.5
1509 3 x D7, F5, F5S 8
1411 2x D7,3 x F5, F5S 8
1417 D7C 2
1508 32 pts 16
44.5
Balance 0.05 Ep's
5 Command Points
Certain Lyran units are now out of supply
DD and crippled DD in 214
Crippled FF in 316
Crippled FF in 217
All other units are in supply and receive replacement fighters.
Re: supply.
How does the Klingon carrier near Hydran 2nd flet SB get fighters? I agree its in supply if thats a supply tug, but fighters would have been at the end of last turn . . . and it was out of supply then?
Re: supply.
How does the Klingon carrier near Hydran 2nd flet SB get fighters? I agree its in supply if thats a supply tug, but fighters would have been at the end of last turn . . . and it was out of supply then?
William
Replacement Fighters are given in the retrograde phase for both players...and the phasing player in Production phase (501.5).
So in Step 1 - the tug gets the carrer into supply, and in step 2B, the new fighters arrive.
(Steps are on Page 5 of the rules book).
Key points so far from Coalition Turn 5.
B10 - Number 1 (at this rate, it will be unique!) - Rolled another 1, total is now 9 (Average is 3 per 1D6)
Survey
Klingons rolled 3 - so, average is 5.75 per 2D6
Lyrans rolled 9 - so average is 11.2 per 3D6).
So 2 of 3 rolls remain below average (and overall its bad : per D6, -0.5 for B10, -0.625 for Kl Survey and +0.233 Ly Survey)
The dice gods have got to start being nice!
Operation Movement.
Swarms of Coalition ships cover Kzinti space (there is just too few Kzinti to do much)....although there is a CL unpinned at the moment!
Hydran space is more equal, with the Hydrans reacting to various Coalition moves. The bulk of both sides forces remain uncomitted though at the moment!
Further Op moves should be done tonight!
Quote:The dice gods have got to start being nice!
No, they don't. Besides which, aren't they Chaotic Evil?
The Southern Coalition fleet is mostly Klingons, with a little Lyran support. In terms of ship count, the Hydrans are significantly outnumbered. However, the Hydrans have higher average quality, and their overall strength in battle is only a little less than the forces they are facing. Therefore, they are giving up nothing for free, and reacting to fight for every point the Klingons want to take. So far, this is all three Hydran on-map planets.
Coalition turn 5 op move is done. The Hydran front has an incredible 14 battle hexes, and many of them are close battles. All but 5 of the uncrippled Hydran ships are in battle, as are all of their onmap planets, and all but 3 of their onmap bases. Many of these are close battles. Hydrax is an amusing battle which pits 21 Hydran ships (only 6 of them CA size or larger) against 51 Coalition ships, of which 37 are frigates! The Hydrans also have 18 fighters in the FCP. It is likely that some planets in the capital will be devestated.
On the Kzinti front, both starbases are under attack. The Kzinti fleet is mostly crippled from the Kzintai battle last turn. As his reward for self killing so many ships at Kzintai, he will easily kill the Duke's SB and take planet 1504. The Kzinti could have reserved to make sure they would hold the Count's SB, but instead chose to create a close battle at the Count's while putting enough force at the Duke's to at least have a full line while the SB is going down.
Depending on the dice, the Count's SB battle could easily turn into another bruiser, with the Kzinti taking still more crips they can't afford to repair, while the Coalition does more self killing that it can't really afford either.
1001 will lose its PDUs to and be devestated by Coalition forces, who are then likely to retreat to avoid being crushed by Kzinti retreating from 902. This would leave the devestated planet in Kzinti hands.
The Klingons are starting to prepare for a turn 7 strike on the Feds. Authorities on Earth continue to ignore the danger.
The liberation of Hydran and Kzinti space will continue, until the evil overlords are removed from power.
The Klingons also refute the point that 'the Klingons are starting to prepare fo a Fall 171 invasion of Federation space'. Significant (Federation sponsered we believe) Pirate activity in the Eastern provinces has led to the Eastern Fleet chasing down several Pirate ships and destroying them.
A significant amount of 'proof' of Federation support of these Pirates was taken from these ships, aswell captured ship personal confirming recent trips into Federation space, to re-arm and re-plenish. This information will be presented to the neutral Organians as proof of the aggresive nature of Federation, who should be limited somehow in their offensive capability.
Continued aggression by the Federation, against the peace loving Klingon Empier - will not be tolerated.
In other news, the Pacification has begun, with ISC troops appearing on Lyrantan!
Well, the battles in the Kzinti front have beeb concluded
The dice gods started well for the Coalition, but fairly rapdily again went against the Coalition - and end very poorly.
1001 - F5 and SC crippled - planet 'liberated'
902 - The SB lived and is uncrippled! I miscalcualted this somehow - and as the dice didn't help either!
Coalition losses D6M and 2 x FF
Crippled DN, BC, CC, CA, 5 x CL, 2 x DW, DD, 6 x FF, C8, D5, 3 x F5, 2 x E4, D6D and F5S
Kzinti losses CC and EFF
Kzinti cripples TGC+BP, 3 x CC, 2 x BC, CV, MEC, EFF, CL, FF and SF - SB received 6 SIDS.
The SB would have survived, but probably crippled with more reasonable dice.
1504 - 'Liberated' with Fighter only losses
1304 - Very Interesting battle - I don't think there was a round when the Coalition outrolled the Alliance - and only 1 round where they was even!
Coalition losses DN and TGC+BP (both directed)
Coalition crippled 2 x D6M (100% failure rate on the single roll, I did self cripple one though), CVT, 2 x D6V, 4 x E4A
Kzinti losses 2 x CVE, 3 x EFF (all directed) and SB
Kzinti crippled - I think there might have been 1 that I missed.
We also had our first capture of the game (and 2nd) - 2 EFF's now show Klingon colours!
Overall, not quite what I wanted, better dice might have saved the Lyran DN and killed another CVE (it would have died if the Mauler hadn't Shocked), and crippled the SB - but, I am getting used to under rolling constantly.
I would guess in 14 combat rolls, I am probably down 8 points or so, and 25% damage - but the main difference is, I seem to roll better in the smaller battles, and very badly in the crucial ones - William care to comment on this (just to prove I am not imagining it!)?
Wait a minute, since the Dice Gods are against the Coalition, that means they are Lawful Good.
It is definitely true that in combat and shock rolls, the dice have overall been unfriendly to Paul. However, there are other areas (survey rolls and captures) in which he has done better than I have.
This turn, Paul outrolled me a little in the most important battle (902) -- he did 10% extra damage overall. I outrolled him pretty badly at the other starbase battle (1304), but this battle was not as important as the 902 battle.
Overall I thought the dice on the Kzinti front this turn were in my favor. But not by much. If, for example, he had made his shock roll, or if I had done 10% less damage one round at the less important SB battle (1304), they would have been basically equal.
In the game as a whole, the dice have been in my favor.
William
I would have prefered to kill 902 over 1304!