That's walk talk that is....to war!!!

On a marginally more relevant issue - wow 6 E4's overbuilt.

Why 6 E4's over say 5 F5's?

(I know E4's are likely to be garrison forces and it will die/allows others to escape - but F5's are pretty useful and massively more useable than E4's!)

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, November 06, 2017 - 05:20 pm: Edit

'Cause E4s are cheap and just garrison and get killed. I have been downsubbing F5s into E4s all game (generally 3 of 6 per turn). I got plenty of F5s to use in combat if I wanna use F5s. E4s are pinning bulk and ships to get killed when ships need to get killed (which is often).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, November 06, 2017 - 07:39 pm: Edit

CT7

Movement is well underway.

In Hydran space, the Hydran fleet at SB 0215 has been pinned and all other targets in Hydran space left have been attacked (a couple BATS, some liberated but devastated planets). SB 0215 has been cut off from the Off Map.

In Fed space, the Coalition have rolled over the border, but not actually attacked that much; BATS 2010 and 2012; a pinning force on SB 2211; BATS 2615; SB 2915; an E4 made it to the Orion province. Not much else is likely to happen in Fed space. Not impressed with myself so far here.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition have pinned about 60 SEQ at SB 1704 and are aggressively attacking the Marquis Zone and retaking most of Kzinti space.

Moves continue.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, November 07, 2017 - 09:01 am: Edit

CT7

Movement is done. Other than the Coalition attacking everything in the Marquis Zone, not much changed from above.

At press time, Coalition Leadership (i.e. me) is concerned about the lack of overwhelming force in Fed space. At press time, the Feds will lose 3 BATS and probably the 7th Fleet SB in 2915, but other than that, they are mostly unharmed--there weren't enough ships to reach the 4th Fleet SB *and* the 3rd Fleet SB, so I pinned the 3rd Fleet at the SB and ignored the 4th Fleet and didn't attack anything it could react to. The reserve 4th Fleet Reserve has gone to Kzinti space (which we are assuming is legal currently, as there is no rulebook handy at press time).

Also unclear what to do about the Hydrans currently. I could probably kill SB 0215 with SIDS, but would take a *lot* of damage doing that. The Hydran Fleet would then be out of supply on T7 (although it still has the 20 ship turns on the supply TG). But then it could just easily retake planet 0416 and be back in supply on T8, and I'd be in the exact same spot (i.e. having to defend both SB 0411 and the captured Hydran Capital).

Yeesh. This is what happens when you never play the Coalition...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, November 11, 2017 - 10:25 pm: Edit

CT7

Combat is over!

Yeah, things didn't go as well as they could have, in theory, but not horribly.

In Hydran space, the Coalition captured pretty much all of Hydran space, cut the main Hydran fleet (at SB 0215) off from the off map zone, but also got cold feet on assaulting SB 0215, and just offered an approach and retreated.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition captured most of Kzinti space, including planet 1802 and killing BATS 1803 (1902 was saved by a Fed reserve), but not much actual combat occurred other than the fight over planet 1802.

In Fed space, there was a rather unimpressive attack. The Coalition killed 3 BATS, killed SB 2915 (the 7th Fleet SB), forced Orion neutrality, and have a big pinning fleet that didn't fight at SB 2211 (3rd Fleet), but not a lot happened, otherwise. Maybe on T8? The Klingons also captured planet 1910.

Ships Killed:
-Kzinti: BC, FF
-Fed: CA

-Klingon: D6M, D7, D5

The Kzinti lost BATS, 2PDU on minor planet.

The Hydrans lost 2 remaining BATS.

The Feds lost SB, 3BATS.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 03:49 pm: Edit

CT7

The turn is over!

In Hydran space, the Lyrans retrograded 50+ ships to SB 0411 and the Klingons with some Lyran backup have about 110 SEQ of ships holding 0617. The Hydrans have 114 SEQ (not counting a couple LAVs) in 0215. Klingons probably should have counted a little closer...

In Kzinti space, the Lyrans have a solid 20 ship line at planet 1504; the Klingons have about 75 ships including a reserve at 1506, about 25 ships at 1707, a dozen ships at 1807 as a reserve, a dozen ships in reserve at SB 1509, and the Lyrans have another 25 ships at their SB in 1407. And then a 10 ship reserve at Klingon BATS 0906 and another 5 ships reserve in 1411.

On the Fed front, the Coalition have about 65 ships right by SB 2211 (including a Lyran expeditionary force), about 25 ships at BATS 2416, and a dozen ship reserve at SB 2318.

As of press time, the Coalition really only have captured 2 Fed provinces, are disrupting a few more, and have forced Orion neutrality.

I'm unconvinced that my initial foray into Fed space went well...

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 04:30 pm: Edit

I recommend moving some of the ships in Hydran and Kzinti space over towards the Feds.

Should help the invasion.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 04:36 pm: Edit

Mmmmm

Hydrans can easily kill 411 (if they are prepared to trade cruisers for SIDS etc...) or go for 617...

Tough call!

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 04:46 pm: Edit

Yeah, I havent had a look at the final map yet, so will make up my mind once I do some ship counts.

It may actually be better to have his ships at 0411 rather than off in Alliance space...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 06:07 pm: Edit

Yeah, full disclosure, they can totally kill the Lyran SB in 0411, but it will be very costly; they have no scouts that are bigger than 2EW and, at press time, no command points. They could also probably take back 0617 this turn, but it would cost them, and they probably couldn't hold it.

I mean, on the up side, it is exciting!

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 06:13 pm: Edit

I just have to decide the point in time when the Hydrans will be comfortable going on the attack.

Until then the goal is to use them to hurt the Coalition and cost them as many small ships as possible, hoping the Feds can go on the attack.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 06:40 pm: Edit

Well, on the upside, I don't think the Feds are currently prevented from going on the attack...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, November 18, 2017 - 09:14 am: Edit

AT7

The Hydrans only generate money from off map and a single province as a partial grid (with SB 0215). They build an off map FF, fix a bunch of cripples, and convert a couple AH at the SB. The Kzinti make a low, but not unreasonable amount of money from their mostly devastated capital, off map, and a few points from on map provinces. The build a CV, MEC, CM, MSC, a couple FKEs, and a bunch of FFs. The Feds generate most of their income at 75% (they are down, like, 15 or 16 EPs at the start of the turn from enemy action on CT7). They build a DN, CVS, the regular run of NCLs and FFs, activate 7 ships, make a TG+SP, convert some DEs and a couple SCs, activate both CLVs, and overbuild 4NCLs.

Movement has started. In Hydran space, a bunch of freshly fixed FFs and a few CWs have come out of the off map to try and free up some planets and open up supply. In Fed space, the 3rd Fleet is moving south (as that is the direction they can go, seeing them attack KLI BATS 2215, BATS 2416, and try to close off Klingon supply to the Orion province.

Moves continue.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, November 18, 2017 - 12:52 pm: Edit

AT7

Moves seem to be winding up for the Alliance. They are making a mess of the Coalition. It is amazing how quickly this is falling apart.

The Kzinti will mostly be reclaiming all of their space, and possibly helping the Feds kill Klingon BATS 1807. The Feds will also probably kill Klingon BATS 2215 and possibly 2416. The Hydrans are reclaiming all of their space (except their Capital), have enough ships over Lyran SB 0411 to possibly kill it, and certainly are going to kill BATS 0109 with a trio of fast ships from SB 0215.

Yeesh.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Saturday, November 18, 2017 - 06:59 pm: Edit

I dont think its falling apart, but time will tell.

I have large forces which can hit heavily defended Coalition bases, but that will mean losing a lot of resources which probably need to be used in important places.

We are currently working through the easy fights. I will then have a think about which of the big fights I really want to win.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, November 19, 2017 - 02:19 pm: Edit

AT7

Combat is underway. A lot of little fights that just saw an FF explode for no (or minimal) damage in return has seen 9 coalition and 1 Fed FF get killed so far. The Feds and Hydrans have each killed an undefensed BATS (Lyran 0109 and Klingon 2215. The Alliance are currently fighting over Klingon BATS 1807 and 2416; 1807 will probably die. It remains to be seen what happens at 2416.

Other than that, all that remains is the Hydrans over Lyran SB 0411. There are 68 Lyrans, a couple SAVs, and a couple cripples, there is also a Klingon MB; the Hydrans have 64 ships and a billion fighters, but most of the ships are FFs. It remains to be seen what the Hydrans plan on doing here.

By Thomas Mathews (Turtle) on Sunday, November 19, 2017 - 02:36 pm: Edit

If nothing else kill the Klingon MB in 0411. It changes the supply situation some.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, November 19, 2017 - 05:15 pm: Edit

Not sure how killing a Klingon MB in 0411 changes anything.

Plus, it would be a pretty expensive attack just for an MB.

In 1807 the Klingons rolled a 6 and did 43 damage so the Alliance only managed to cripple the BATS before running away. Unless Peter wants to waste time repairing it, it may well die next turn instead.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 10:12 am: Edit

Strike that! Reverse it!

The Alliance stuck around one more round over BATS 1807 and killed it. The Coalition may pursue some cripples; we'll see how he resolves the damage.

For what it is worth, if you do go attack the MB over the SB, due to the "co located" base rule, if you fight at the MB, the SB only contributes half compot and the fighters have to show up as independent units. But yeah, still, that'll be a lot of damage.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 10:13 am: Edit

Yeah. with the Klingons in 0617 and 1013 being a joint Klingon/Lyran supply hex, the MB in 0411 isn't actually particularly vital at this point. I mean, like, it is moderately handy, but not the key to anything important, especially as the Klingons also have a MB in the Lyran Capital (so Klingons are in supply at SB 0411 anyway).

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 12:22 pm: Edit

The Coalition in this case have the option of hiding the MB so only the SB can be selected, UNLESS the opponent fights all bases at full value (and with all attrition units). Obviously the Coalition should hide the MB here.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 05:07 pm: Edit

What rule covers that, Richard?

Im not overly eager to take on an SB but if I can kill a MB and Tug then that sounds like a bit of fun.

Thanks.

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

I just saw something from Paul at the top of the page:
"On a marginally more relevant issue - wow 6 E4's overbuilt.

Why 6 E4's over say 5 F5's?"

I think I killed 7 or 8 E4 this turn.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 05:14 pm: Edit

Jason,

The rule is (302.2123A).

Ryan

By James Lowry (Rindis) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 05:19 pm: Edit

(302.2123) and subsections. If the Attacker goes for all bases at full value, this is skipped, but if he wants to focus on one base to reduce the power of the others, the Defender can declare one base as completely out of the combat that round.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, November 20, 2017 - 05:28 pm: Edit

Ah, yeah. we can hide the MB. So the Hydrans could:

A) Not be able to attack the MB, as it is "hidden".

or

B) Attack the MB, but face the wrath of a fully operational Star Base.

Yeah. (302.2123) is convoluted and easy to forget.