SCD2 is a game between Peter and myself. It is a lot like SCD except this time the roles are reversing. Peter will be the Coalition and I will be the Alliance.

Below is shamelessly stolen from Peter's first post in the old game.

We are using F+E2K10+FO2016+CO+AO, minus some rules that we removed due to fiddliness or us just not liking them:

We are not using:
-SFGs
-Monitors
-SAFs
-Ground Attack
-Prime Teams
-Logistical Task Forces
-Penal Ships

This time around we will be using Police Ship rules, which means that only serious ships will be able to raid - given it would be crazy to risk a reasonable sized ship against an unlimited pool of POLs which may get lucky rolls.

We aren't using ship captures (to save die rolling and avoiding the always present "Agh! We forgot to roll for ship captures again!" phase of every battle). We are using "you can always substitute an FF for any build slot".

Other than that, we are playing straight--salvage, EW, military (non special) raids, weird ships, etc. I'm pretty sure we are using Federation Reaction and Tholian Reaction rules.

We'll see how it goes.

The game will be starting in the next few days, but for those who enjoyed the speed we zipped through SCD, note that Peter returns to work after his 10 week annual Summer holiday so we will probably return to a more moderate game speed.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, September 03, 2017 - 06:53 pm: Edit

Federation Reaction is an optional rule, just so you know. :p.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, September 03, 2017 - 07:05 pm: Edit

Dont even know what it is

But it was in the game last time, so I assume it is in the game this time.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, September 03, 2017 - 09:01 pm: Edit

I was figuring we were just using the "POLs exist only for the purposes of raids", rather than general police ship rules (i.e. police ships *only* exist to combat raids in your home territory, and not to generally pull them up for service). Concur?

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, September 03, 2017 - 11:12 pm: Edit

Yep, sounds good.

I assume this means that every time there is a Raid either a POL, or Fighters, or a ship will turn up?

Or does the POL turn up in addition to Fighters/ships?

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, September 03, 2017 - 11:13 pm: Edit

If you want some more challenge, take some balance options. Perhaps let the Klingons attack on turn one.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Monday, September 04, 2017 - 12:42 am: Edit

No thanks. Delay Klingons until Turn 3 sounds good though !

Peter?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, September 04, 2017 - 08:27 am: Edit

The POL only shows up if you don't have fighters or another ship to show up; like, a raid shows up in your home territory, and you can react in one ship or a squad of fighters, and if that isn't available, you can always just have a generic POL show up. Mostly, this is just a part of the Raid rule that was built in and we ignored last time. It probably won't make much difference in the grand scheme, but seems like something that should be in there if using Raid rules.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, September 04, 2017 - 09:37 am: Edit

CT1

y168 FA T1

I haven't been the Coalition in a long time in a GW game, and not with all the kooky expansion rules, so hopefully, these are all legal.

If I understand the Lyran JGPV correctly, it gets converted for 1+5 fighters (which can use FFF to save 2EP per FFF) and needs to be at a SB to do it, but doesn't actually count as using conversion capacity of the SB, and it has the weird 3 [2] fighter factors? So it can contribute 3 fighters to combat at a time, but has 2 backup fighters? Weird.

Lyran Econ:

Command Points: 4

Exploration: 0+8=8 (+0, 20 next)

Treasury: 0

On Map (56): 56
Off Map (24): 24
Capital (35): 35
Captured: 0
Salvage: 0

Total: 115

Construction:
-10 BC
-8 TGC
-20 4CW
-6 DWS
-8 2DW
-7.5 3FF (one 0404)
-10 FRD

Construction Total: 69.5

Conversions:
-6 CA>DN (0408)
-1+4 JGP>JGPV (3FFF 0608)
-2 DW>DWS (0608)
-1 CA>CC (0608)
-2 DD>SC (0404)
-1 CA>CC (0404)
-3 3CA>CC (off map)
-3 3CA>CC (0411)

Conversion Total: 23

Repairs:

Repair Total:

Total Spent: 92.5

Treasury: 22.5

FFF Left: 0

Salvage:

-----------------------------------------------

Klingon Econ:

Command Points: 6

Exploration: 0+ (+0, 20 next)

Treasury: 0

On Map (93): 93
Off Map (0): 0
Capital (49): 49
Captured: 0
Salvage: 0

Total: 142

Construction:
-9 D7C
-8 TGA
-10 D6M
-8 D5S
-40 8D5
-9 3F5
-7.5 3E4 (sub F5)
-7.5 3E4
-0 E4A
-10 FRD

Construction Total: 109

Activations:
-2 2D6
-2 2F5
-3 3E4
-0 E4

Activation Total: 7

Conversions:
-5 D6>D6M (1411)
-4 D6>D6S (1411)
-3 3F5>F5S (1411)
-1 F5>F5V (1509, 4FFF)
-1+4 F5>F5V (1509 2FFF)
-3 D6>D6D (2318)
-3 D6>D6D (1716)

Conversion Total: 24

Repairs:

Repair Total:

Total Spent: 140

Treasury: 2

FFF Left: 0

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Monday, September 04, 2017 - 09:47 am: Edit

Yeah the JGP has a target on it, and the JGP-V has a giant target on it.

Not sure you'd ever use it in combat except for small stuff where there is zero chance of it getting destroyed.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, September 04, 2017 - 09:51 am: Edit

Yeah, it likely will only ever see combat as part of a group with ad-hoc escorts (which I assume it can use) feeding fighters forward (Yaa! 3 point independent group!) or attacking a mostly undefended BATS or something.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Monday, September 04, 2017 - 10:47 am: Edit

It can be used in modest attacks where you will win unless a reserve shows up. You can have adhoc ships escort it in such a case if you can't just sac a single ship, thereby being able to use its fighter factors.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 05, 2017 - 04:30 pm: Edit

CT1

Movement is done and combat is underway!

The Kzinti had most of the Duke's fleet set up in 1003, a small reserve at SB 1304, and then the whole Count's Fleet (including full reserve) at SB 0902. The Lyrans sent most of their Home Fleet to BATS 0803 first, and the Kzinti didn't react on (although they reacted fighters from 0703 into 0704 NZ hex), so then they sent most of their Red Claw fleet up to 0802 (adjacent to Count's SB) to see if they'd react off, they did not, then down to 0903 (to see if they would react in, 'cause if they didn't, I then move away back to 0803 and they can't react on), and seeing that coming, Jason reacted all his non reserve ships into 0903. The Lyrans then sent a handful of ships to 0704 to dissuade him sending a reserve (to avoid potential supply issues). The Kzinti just sent the Coun't reserve to 0903.

Fights end up as:

-0704: A dozen Lyrans vs a squadron of fighters.

-0803: Currently 2 dozen Lyrans vs an undefended BATS, but it seems likely that another 30+ Lyrans will end up retreating here soon.

-0903: About 33 Lyrans vs about 45 SEQ of Kzinti. Likely will be a single round fight, and then the Lyrans retreat on top of 0803.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 05, 2017 - 06:45 pm: Edit

CT1

Combat is finished!

In 0903, the Lyrans got an SC vaporized, crippling an EFF in return (rolled bad, direct crippled the EFF rather than just kill fighters). The Kzinti retreated to SB 0902, the Lyrans retreated to 0803. In 0803, the Lyrans killed the undefended BATS, only losing fighters in return (JGPV FTW!). Lyrans did not retreat. In 0704, some Kzinti fighters died.

After retrogrades, etc., the Lyrans have about 53 ships in 0803, about 25 ships at SB 0404 (including 2 reserves, each about 5 ships), and a couple FFs on border BATS. The Klingons sent all their new builds, except for an E4 or two, to BATS 1307, clearly for non aggressive purposes.

Ships Killed:
-Lyran: SC

Kzinti lost a BATS.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, September 06, 2017 - 06:20 pm: Edit

AT1

The Kzinti spent most of their money building a CVS, FFK, 4FF, 4PDU, a set of SP, and converting a second CVS (paying full for the fighters), a handful of CLEs, and a CLD.

It remains to be seen where they move, but word on the street is that they aren't attacking this turn, and just reinforcing positions and covering their heads.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Wednesday, September 06, 2017 - 08:37 pm: Edit

Not sure where that word could possibly have come from. Perhaps a distraction for raids deep in to Lyran *AND* Klingon territory.

We saw that build up in Klingon space. We know whats going on here !

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, September 07, 2017 - 04:48 pm: Edit

AT1

Turn is done. As expected, the Kzinti didn't attack anything, although they did totally successfully raid a northern Lyran province.

The left a dozen ships at each SB, put everything else in the Capital, including a solid reserve; the other reserve is at 1704, made up of most of the Marquis fleet.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, September 07, 2017 - 04:49 pm: Edit

CT2

y169 SP T2

Lyran Econ:

Command Points: 4

Exploration: 8+13=21 (+1, 40 next)

Treasury: 22.5

On Map (56): 55
Off Map (26): 26
Capital (35): 35
Captured: 1.2
Salvage: 1.25

Total: 140.95

Construction:
-16 DN
-6 TGP
-7 JGP
-15 3CW
-6 DWS
-8 2DW
-7.5 3FF (0404, 0608)
-10 FRD

Construction Total: 75.5

Conversions:
-6 CL>BC (0408)
-1 JGPV (5FFF 0408)
-1 CA>CC (off map)
-2 DW>DWS (off map)
-2 DD>SC (0404)
-1 CA>CC (0404)
-2 DD>SC (0411)

Conversion Total: 15

Repairs:

Repair Total:

Total Spent: 90.5

Treasury: 50.45

FFF Left: 1

-----------------------------------------------

Klingon Econ:

Command Points: 6

Exploration: 0+ (+0, 20 next)

Treasury: 2

On Map (93): 93
Off Map (0): 0
Capital (49): 49
Captured: 0
Salvage: 0

Total: 144

Construction:
-16 C8
-10 D6M
-6 TGB
-8 D5S
-5 D5H
-35 7D5
-9 3F5
-7.5 3E4 (sub F5)
-7.5 3E4 (1509, 1716)
-0 E4A

Construction Total: 104

Activations:
-2 2D6
-2 2F5
-3 3E4
-0 E4

Activation Total: 7

Conversions:
-5 D6>D6M (1411)
-4 D6>D6S (1411)
-3 3F5>F5V (12 FFF 1411)
-3 D6>D6D (1509)
-3 D6>D6D (2318)
-1+6 E4>E4R (1716)
-2 2F5>F5S (1716)

Conversion Total: 27

Repairs:

Repair Total:

Total Spent: 138

Treasury: 6

FFF Left: 0

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 09, 2017 - 10:12 am: Edit

CT2

Movement is done and combat is underway. The Klingons and Lyrans were strong considering blitzing the Kzinti capital, but given the large number of ships that were sitting there (it was going to take, like, 100 Coalition ships to pin the Kzinti Capital, leaving not much to do much else), they decided to err on the side of caution, and attacked everything else they could.

The Lyrans hit BATS 0701, 0703, 1004, 1205, planets 1105 and 1001, and SB 0902 (with clearly just pinning force). The Klingons hit BATS 1405, planet 1504, and SB 1304 (with enough ships to kill it, even if reserves showed up). The Kzinti decided to save planet 1105 and BATS 1405 with reserves.

So far, the Kzinti have lost 4BATS and 2 minor planets for minimal losses to the Coalition, and the Kzinti have killed a DD and FF in a very one sided fight vs a reserve. Combat continues.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 10:00 am: Edit

CT2

Combat is over! The Klingons managed to kill SB 1304 for modest damage, losing a D6M, D5, and F5S and taking a handful of cripples (including a shocked out D6M) and in exchange killing 2BC, an FF (to an autokill) and crippling a few escorts.

Over SB 0902, the Lyran pinning force just offered an approach and ran when the Kzinti declined to fight.

After retrogrades, etc, the Lyrans are still swarming all over Western Kzinti space, with a large fleet on planet 1001, a moderate fleet in 0903, and a dozen+ ships including 2 reserves on SB 0404. The Klingons are holding provinces, have about 15 ships holding planet 1504, and have about 80 ships (including a reserve) pulled back to planet 1407, covering a Lyran MB that is being set up. They also have a handful of cripples and about a dozen ships in reserve on SB 1509. Kzinti SB 0902 is in a partial grid cut off from the Capital.

The Klingons got 20EPs from the Lyrans (who clearly like to invest in infrastructure!) and the Klingons are setting up a MB in the Lyran capital.

Ships Killed:
-Kzinti: 2BC, FF

-Lyran: DD, FF
-Klingon: D6M, D5, F5S, F5, E4

The Kzinti lost about 4BATS, SB, got 2 minor planets captured, a lot of space is occupied.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 01:22 pm: Edit

Question if I may.

I can see why saving 1105 is good (keeps open a possible northern route for the Hydran expedition) - but why save 1405 with a reserve fleet?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 04:25 pm: Edit

I imagine 'cause it was a fight he was going to win with a not real spectacular reserve fleet that also got more than one Klingon ship killed in the process (as I had 6 small hulls attacking the BATS, he got to kill a couple ships just by dropping damage on me). It also means he has some ships deployed forward on his turn I have to worry about.

I mean, I don't know for sure, but that was what I was assuming. Like, that reserve could have gone to SB 1304, but it wouldn't have significantly changed the outcome; it could have gone to planet 1504, but would have been brutalized by the Klingons there. I guess the easy kills and forward deployment was reason enough.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 07:10 pm: Edit

Yep. I couldnt save the battles in range so figured I would go beat up an easy target.

But I now have a LOT of ships forward and need to get them back towards the Capital.

If I could choose again and with the exact same rolls Im not sure if I would have gone to 1304 instead.

The Klingons got a *lot* of very handy rolls, leading to me losing more ships than I had hoped for, and the Klingons not losing as big as I had hoped for.

Time will tell if it was a good idea or not.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - 07:59 pm: Edit

AT2

The Kzinti generated about 78EPs, built a TGC, 2MEC, 3FF, FFK, FKE, 4PDU on Kzintai, a command point, converted up a CV, BCE, FKE, and SF.

Moves have started, and the Kzinti so far seem to be attacking Coalition forces inside of Kzinti space (to do some damage and reorganize forces) rather than trying to hit Klingon or Lyran space.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Thursday, September 14, 2017 - 06:50 pm: Edit

There was only a single round of combat in Kzinti space. In 1304 the Kzinti lost a CL and the Klingons lost an F5.

I suspect it will be more expensive in T3C when the Coalition either strip the outer Capital planets or go full on for the Capital.

The Kzinti will end the turn with almost all their ships in the Capital, a few ships in 0902, a Resv on 1704 and a Resv Off Map.