Archive through September 11, 2008
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Archive through September 11, 2008
Coalition turn 7 op move is well underway. Most of the Klingon fleet appears to be attacking the Feds. The 3rd, 4th, and 7th fleet starbases are all likely to go down. Major planet 2205 is likely to hold out.
A starbase, BATS, and planet in the Marquis region are also under attack. The Kzinti have two very fat reserves and ought to be able to save two of these targets.
On the Hydran front, the only battle so far is an open-space battle of little consequence. He appears to be repositioning his fleets there to defend against the expected Hydran offensive.
Indeed indeed indeed!
With the Hydrans strong, but with a limited counter attack capability and the Kzinti well and trully under the thumb, I just couldn't turn down the chance of a turn 7 attack.
The arrival of the Fed Home fleet makes (mainly being used as reserves and able to be placed to cover 2 SB's) a turn 8 attack far more difficult - to which I thought I would not gain as much from slapping the Hydrans and Kzinti for another turn ot two (although I did work out plans for the invasion of Tholia, the cost put me off!).
To take 617 would have most likely taken 3 turns (with no maulers in range on turn 7, stripping PDU's would have been painfil!) and so, capture 617 on Turn 10....or Earth on turn 11??
Question is - how much damage will we each take on the opening salvos? Hopefully, for once the Combat dice will favour the Coalition, and Shock Rolls will slowly return to average (and to be fair, William is due the odd capture or two, but to be fair, the dice have just continued their good rolling for him, and bad rollowing for me - it's just bad rolling is good on capture 
)
Federation Front.
Currently, 4th Fleet and 3rd Fleet reserves are pinned (no other reserves in range), pretty much the only target not currently being attacked is the 3rd SB (although with something like 60 hulls v 15 defending....it might just have the odd ship or two visit it!)
I think first surprise though so far has gone to William - the 3rd Fleet has defended very far north - with just a basic line over the SB....this has caused me the odd headache or two!!!
Only time will tell on losses and rolls - with hopefully Op move being completed tonight.
Paul is being a gentleman on one point -- on my turn 5, he could have directed on fighters at Hydrax, which would have given him a fair chance of killing enough fighters to stop me from retroing there (we think . . . though we could be mistaken about the rule as it does not appear to have been tested in Q&A). If he had been able to stop my retro, he would in turn have been likely to take Hydrax on his turn 6 (as the Hydrans would have had no ships there). I think he was deterred by a combination of:
1) The rule is untested and the ruling might have gone the other way
2) Paul and I appear to share a distaste for "cheesy" endings. Earlier I could have tried an expedition and it would have caused enough disruption that it would probably have been correct play even if it didn't reach the Feds.
3) "cheesy" gets even cheesier when the ruling in question is unclear.
4) With a poor roll he could have lost 4 ships for nothing -- i.e. if he failed to do enough damage to kill 7 fighters with dirdam.
Having chosen not to attempt the above, I think Paul is correct that he needed to hit the Feds on turn 7. It is true that he could have taken Hydrax in time to have the fleet back on the Fed front in time for a turn 10 attack. However, he would not have been able to destroy all on-map Hydran starbases before his fleet would have needed to return to the Fed front. And the tight schedule for the campaign would also have prevented him from directing on much of the Hydran fleet while it was underway. The upshot is that he would have been attacking a much stronger Federation with the Hydran front still very much a problem.
My choice to put about 55% of Third Fleet at the two Northern planets was a surprise for sure, but was it correct? Only time will tell . . .
Hydran and Kzinti fronts are done.
The Hydran front had more or less equal casualties on the two sides. Each side suffered 5 ships crippled. Additionally:
Hydran dead: 2HN, KN.
Klingon dead: D7, F5E.
On the Kzinti front, the Kzinti took fewer casualties than the Coalition, but they can also afford it less.
Kzinti dead: 2EFF, SF, BATS.
Kzinti crippled: ships that will cost 18EP to repair. Also 2 SIDS on the Marquis SB.
Klingon dead: D6M, 2F5
Lyran dead: 2CW, CC [all were already crippled]
Coalition crippled: about 30EP in repair cost.
Lyrans spent 1CP.
Kzinti fleet is down to 58 ships.
At least the dice have been fairer.
At 1704 - both sides compot was dropping and unfortunatly as over half the Coalition force was F5/FF/E4, I didn't have the legs to stand and fight (shouldn't have self killed the 2 F5's but there was a glimmer that I might be able to cripple the base...which turned out to be a dice roll too far!).
On the Hydran front, I made a slight error - I directed on the Hydran Carrier Tug in form to cripple it (should have killed another KN), and thought I would get it in persuit - only think was, I wanted to retreat to get back into retrograde range of a base! It did force William to overcripple though, and so I gained a bit more than I lost in the final battle round, before I retreated.
On the Kzinti front - the Marquis provinces are once more cut off in a partial grid, with about one third of the Kzinti forces in the 'pocket'. As there are on bases, other than for replacement fighters, they are in supply.
Next, the Federation front!
Battles now rage accross the Federation front.
2004 - Federation BATS destroyed, Coalition FV and F5 crippled
2204 - Federation SB, DN, CA,3 x FF destoyed, plus several cripples, Coalition C8, D7C, 2 x D5 killed, plus a stack of cripples (including another failed shock roll D6M, 2 shocks so far out of the 3 maulings this turn!). Klingons spent 1 Command Point and 4.0 Ep's on Drones. Both sides used cripples in the final rounds of battle. The dice gods continued to play havoc with the Coalition (6 consecutive rounds the Federation rolled higher - out of 11 rounds, I think there was 1 equal roll, 2 higher Coalition rolls and 8 higher Alliance rolls - what do I need to do to get fair dice ???)
2306 - Federation CL killed, D5V and F5E crippled.
2214 - Planet devastated and captured, F5 crippled
2414 - Federation BATS destroyed, 2 x F5 crippled
2816 - Klingon F5 killed in Single combat against the BATS fighters.
Overall, at the main battles, the Alliance rolls well, and in the small battle, the Coalition does better (but not as good as the main battles).
For Mauler shock rolls, I am massively above average - 66% this turn, which is twice the average! Lets hope the dice are fairer in the rest of the battles.
Several battles to be concluded shortly.
2006 - BATS killed, F5L, F5 and E4 crippled.
1910 - Devastated and captured for fighter losses.
Fed/Klingon front is done. The 3rd, 4th, and 7th fleet SB were all destroyed. Minor planet 2715 was captured. Planets 2306 and 2106 are both untouched, and the 3rd Fleet FRD survived as it was at 2306. Causualties are amazingly heavy on both sides:
Feds:
Dead are DN, CC, 5CA, 2NCL, CL, 4FF, SC [all to dirdam] plus 6 BATS, 3SB, 2PDU. Also 16 ships crippled.
Klingons:
Dead are 2C8, 4D6M, 2D7C, 2D5, E4A [also all to dirdam], plus 1CP spent. Also 60-odd ships crippled.
The dice gods remain favouring the Alliance - but atleast I got to 50/50 on the Mauler shock rolls. Only 50% above average now on failures 
Very bloody turn - with both sides generally directing when they could!
All good fun though!
As a result of this turn's battles, several races have significant repair problems. The Kzinti, Klingons, and Lyrans (none of whom had quite managed to clear their prior backlogs) now all have about 2 turns worth of repairs to do -- and the Kzinti and Klingons will need to skip builds to do the repairs even that quickly. The Feds also have a significant crippled force that won't be repaired until turn 8 as it is not currently on a repair site.
The Hydrans also have a bunch of crips, but by either skipping builds or downsubstituting, they should be able to repair almost all of them this turn.
Glul was a slave. A lowly Vudar. The Klingons had executed his parents for some long-ago "crime" whose nature he had not understood. And they forced Glul to work long hours in the shipyards of Klinshai.
Glul appeared to be a simpleton. He was anything but. Nonlinear dynamics, phase transitions, turbulence, and catastrophe theory were among the most difficult areas of physics and mathematics. But where others saw only mysteries, Glul saw patterns, order, clarity, elegance, and beauty.
"Clean the capacitors", they told him, "then test them." "Make sure they hold their full charge, with minimal leakage, but discharge fully and promptly when the command is given." And by golly he would! The Klingons couldn't very well complain if he did as he was told!
He had checked the equations over and over in his mind. If the capacitors were a little too efficient, the circuits a little too good, and the timing a little too precise -- the poor D6 hull wouldn't be able to take it, would it? But by then the mauler would be far away, and Glul's role would be long forgotten -- if, that is, the Klingons had noticed it in the first place -- and he wasn't sure about that one way or the other.
Double checks again and rubs eyes...
I have just read Williams e-mail showing the Alliance Turn 7 Survey rolls (I don't read it until after I have finished my turn)...
Kzinti average 3.67 (pretty good)
Hydran average 4.67 (very good)
Federation average 5.13 (what the ****!!!) - it must have been something like 1 x 4, 4 x 5 and 2 x 6!
(A good comaparison is that after 12 Survey rolls, the Klingons have less Survey points than the Federation and it's 7 survey rolls!)
I can only imagine how well the Coalition would have been doing with even average rolls - never mind the levels the Alliance is getting.
I did a double take on that one too. Did I roll 10D6 by mistake? Or 6D10?
No, just 36 pips on 7D6, on a die roll server that my alter ego must have hacked into.
I ran the math on this, and the chances of getting a 36 or better on that roll are roughly 2/3 of 1%.
Think of it like this:
All those years of peace treaties with mutual defense and support clauses just got ruthlessly invoked by those sneaky Fed diplomats! Who ever thought that the Federation would need a backwater planets help when they were signing those treaties? I mean, they're a HUGE empire claiming responsibility for hundreds of worlds, WHY NOT accept their money, it's not like they'll ever need it back.
WilliamJ, there are 42 pips on 7D6, 36 is 6D6...
Stewart, welcome to our game!
Fed economy Turn 7
Total from previous turn -3
Base 221
On-Map -26
Off-Map 2
Survey Roll 36
Survey Total 36
Total Income (at 75%) 147.75
Grand Total 144.75
Econ and Repair phase expenditures:
DN 12
CA TG 6
3NCL 15
FF FFS 4
2FF one at 2nd fleet SB; one next to Earth 6
overbuild 10FF 60
Activations 8
Conversions:
Earth (CA+DD+FF -> 3CVS)x2 20
Earth, 5th, 6th 3x(CA -> CC) 6
2nd FF -> FFS 1
Repair:
CVS at 2612 2
Total Expenditures 140
Left at end of Economic Phase: 4.75
Kzinti Economy Turn 7
Total from Previous Turn -9.6
Capital
Onmap majors
Onmap minors
Onmap Provinces 1
Other (specify)
Offmap 23
Survey Roll 11
Survey Total 71
Total Income 24
Grand Total 14.4
Econ and Repair Phase Expenditures
EFF 3.5
Barony repairs DD, 2FF, 2SF 5.5
FF -> EFF 1
Total E+R expenditures 10
Left at end of Econ Phase 4.4
Marquis partial grid: 6EP. Spent 5EP on repairs and 1EP on supply/replacement fighters. Balance 0.
Hydran Economy Turn 7
Total from Previous Turn 0.3
Capital 12
Onmap majors 3
Onmap minors 5
Onmap Provinces 12
Offmap Treasury 14.5
Offmap 21
Survey Roll 14
Survey Total 53
Total Income 67.5
Grand Total 67.8
Econ and Repair Phase Expenditures
Offmap repairs 8FF 8
Hydrax repairs RN, UH, DE, AH 6
First repairs LB, LN, HR, CR 6.5
Sub base hulls for 4UH:
TG 6
2HR 10
2LN 8
TR 5
3CU, 4HN 17.5
Skipped: 1HN 0
Total E+R expenditures 67
Left at end of Econ Phase 0.8
...The Kzinti Ambassador to the Federation walks up and down, up and down, outside the Treasury Ministry...waiting for the call in to find out how much aid his poor battled Empire will receive.
The call is made and the doors open... to a very oppulent and expensive looking room....
Welcome to the Treasury Ministry, the Minister said....may I offer you some drink?
Thirsty, the Ambassador accepted, took a sip, and sits down in a (very expensive looking and plush) seat.
Politely he states 'The Great Federation has now joined in the war again the evil Klingons - as we are now allies - what aid can you supply us?'
Federation Miniter - I hope the drink is nice...as alas thats all your getting at the moment!
Ambassador leaps out of his seat in shock - 'what?'
Federation Minister - Well you see it's like this.... Holodecks and Captains private Yachts are not cheap....
The Ambassador falls silient in disbelief - although his brain goes into overtime - Yachts instead of Warships - what a mad empire this Federation is!
He was expecting the Federation Minister to ask at any moment for the return of the glass (no secreted into his hidden pouch) - stingy neighbours - that was going to go back to the Barony - the Patriach was going to hear of this!
Thanking the Ambassador for his visit and escorting him to the door, he turned to look round his small office - maybe other 100 Sq meters of Space would be an idea - being a senior minister, you had to have serious amounts of space?
Now then, where was that glass gone - he can't have lost another one? Never mind he thought, I'll just order another 3 dozen matching tumblers (as 35 matching tumblers was practically useless) - it would only cost 10 Eps!
Well only 2 carrier groups for the Federation - and 10 overbuilt FF's.
No defences, and no money for the poor Kzinti!
Atleast the Kzinti navy gained something ...1 ship
Question also - at what point will the Kzinti have more carriers than escorts?
The Feds are overbuilding FFs, but not giving any cash to the Kzinti???? I'm sorry, but 20 EPs per turn to the Kzinti should be an automatic, as it allows them to build a FF and repair damage they may take while going on the (albeit limited) offensive, which helps take pressure off the Feds, more than making up for the loss of 3.33 overbuilt FFs.
Furthermore, the Feds should conserve excess cash the first couple of turns. It is to be expected that the Fed economy will fall to less than 100 EP by Turns 10-12, as the full Coalition onslaught overwhelms much of Fed territory. You will come to rue the days of profligate spending.
The Federation Council wishes to thank all the listeners for their most interesting observations.
I've never tried overbuilding FFs with excess fresh cash. I will remind others that the kzinti have already lost everything, so sending them extra money for ships will not only take 2 turns to get it there, but can only be used for offensive purposes. Ships are about 30-40% more useful defensively, and the overbuilt FFs come into play immediately. Those overbuilt FFs will almost certainly make the difference on 1 hardpoint per turn or more, NOW. Assuming the ability to hold a hardpoint (bats, planet) is worth 3EP per turn cumulatively, the overbuild decision is closer than many might think.
I will however comment that I would probably have bought an extra Federation medium carrier (or carrier pods) of some discription, if the ruleset you are using allows it. This would reduce the number of overbuilt FFs somewhat.
Oh, and sending EPs to the Zin via the off-map as will no doubt be necessary takes valuable federation tugs away from base upgrades or pod-carrying duties.
Why couldn't a couple of Kzinti tugs come and pick up the EPs? Yes they do count against both strat moves for Kzin and Feds, but easier than using up Fed tugs bringing the EPs.
The Off Map route requires the services of 8 tugs to fully utilize the 20ep per turn capability. Obviously if you can manage to keep a on map Strat route it's much easier.