And just discovered that I can only make one WE>KE conversion per turn. I'll fix those...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, December 30, 2017 - 04:05 pm: Edit

Instead, turned 2SP in the N Fleet into FH at those 2SB. Not as efficient, but I didn't feel like redoing my numbers, and it can't hurt to have more 9 point cruisers in circulation...

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, December 31, 2017 - 03:54 am: Edit

Yeah the Coalition could use a few more 9 point cruisers...

By James Lowry (Rindis) on Sunday, December 31, 2017 - 02:47 pm: Edit

And just discovered that I can only make one WE>KE conversion per turn.

Uh-oh.

>.<

Time for me to go fixing things.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, December 31, 2017 - 03:56 pm: Edit

Heh. Yeah. Surprise!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 01, 2018 - 03:09 pm: Edit

CT10

Movement is well underway.

In Hydran space, the Coalition are again pinning the main Hydran fleet at SB 0215, and attacking two forces at the mouth of the Old Colonies (in 0117 and 0118). Each force is 8 ships, which will result in just a dead HN and a Hydran retreat if they want, but the Hydrans have two modest off map reserves that could reinforce these hexes. If both reserves go to one of these hexes, they'll have a not insignificant force to fight with, but will probably lose anyway, so it remains to be see what the Hydrans will do with their reserves.

On the Kzinti front, the Coalition pinned the Marquis Fleet at SB 1704, allowing them to attack BATS 1902, planet 1504 to retake it, planet 1001 to retake it, and recapture most of Kzinti space. The Kzinti have two moderate reserves off map that can go to numerous places.

On the Klingon/Fed front, the Klingons are attacking planet 2306, possibly SB 2204 or BATS 2004 and/or planet 2106 (there is a big fleet currently moving in hex 2105 that hasn't resolved yet...), but otherwise seem to be avoiding interacting the Feds much on that front. In the South of Fed space, the Klingons have met up with the Romulans in 2916, where the Romulans are currently putting up a MB. The Klingons also are attacking Fed BATS 3212 with a reasonable force.

On The Romulan/Fed front, most of the Romulan Home Fleet attacked neutral planet 3912; most of the West Fleet is on top of SB 3611 (but likely not enough to actually kill the SB). The Romulans are also attacking BATS 3215, planet 3415, BATS 3613, planet 3612 (with a single SN at press time) and BATS 3812 (but only with a KE and SN). As noted, the Romulans are setting up a MB in 2916, and about 30 Coalition ships are sitting on top of it currently (there are zero Federation ships in range of that hex currently, but reserve movement might put a dozen in range depending on where the reserve goes).

A few moves left to go.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, January 02, 2018 - 09:34 am: Edit

CT10

Moves are done! Other than a modest Lyran fleet attacking BATS 2004 and a big Klingon fleet attacking devastated planet 2106, nothing significant changed from above. Currently waiting for reserve movement. The Feds have 4 reserve forces (2 in the NW portion of Fed space, one near the SW that I don't think can reach anything so won't move, and one near the Roman incursion that could go to numerous spots); the Kzinti have two off map that can reach a few spots where they might be useful; the Hydrans have two off map that can reach three fights (well, 2 fights and a pinning operation over SB 0215), but it is unclear if sending them to the two fights they can reach will be beneficial or not.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, January 02, 2018 - 07:51 pm: Edit

CT10

Combat is underway!

In Hydran space, in hex 0118, the Hydrans gave up an HN and retreated off map. In 0117, where all the reserves went, the Hydrans had a significant line (97/2 compot vs the Klingon's 98/4). The Hydrans rolled badly, but still killed the biggest thing they were going to anyway (a D7), losing an HR in return. The Hydrans then retreated off map. There is still a pin fight over SB 0215, but that will likely see an approach/retreat that might not result in combat (depends if the Hydrans are feeling feisty or not).

In Kzinti space, the Coalition recaptured planets 1001, 1504, killed BATS 1902, retreated onto devastated planet 1802 and captured it.

On the Fed/Klingon front, so far, the Klingons retook planet 2106 (killing an FF in the process) and are currently fighting over planet 2306--the Klingons have about 45 ships, the Feds have about 27 and a single PDU.

On the Fed/Rom front, so far the Roms killed BATS 3215 (for a cripple), captured neutral planet 3415; had a crazy fight vs a BATS where a SUP, SKB, K5S, and K4 ended up killing the BATS over 7 rounds, but all the fighters were killed, SKB, K5S, and K4 were crippled. The Feds got a +1 BIR from failed cloak maneuvers twice, and got a -1 twice.

Combat continues.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 07:25 pm: Edit

CT10

Combat is winding up. The Klingons captured planet 2306 (which started the turn with only 1PDU on it), losing a D7 and a handful of cripples and killing an FFE before the Feds fled.The Lyrans killed BATS 2004 for fighters; the Klingons killed BATS 3212, also for fighters.

Over on the Romulan front, the Romulans had a couple ships on BATS 3812, avoiding getting crippled in a mandatory approach vs fighters; most of the Romulan Home Fleet captured Neutral planet 2912 for fighters. They offered an approach at reinforced SB 3611, which was declined, so the Romulans retreated onto planet 3612 as a non fighting retreat, due to a cagely place convoy in 3614. The Romulans will capture planet 3612 for minimal casualties.

There is an approach over SB 0215 in Hydran space, which will probably be declined and then the Coalition will retreat; there is a similar fight over Kzinti SB 1704, but the Kzinti might come out and fight the approach.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 08:12 pm: Edit

CT10

Combat is over!

In all:

-Hydran Front: Closed off supply to off map, killed a couple ships, nothing real dramatic.

-Kzinti Front: Captured most of their space, killed their last on map BATS; avoided any actual combat. The Kzinti Capital planets and the 2 planets within 2 hexes of the Capital are, IIRC, recovering this turn, so the Kzinti economy is going to be nuts. Not sure what to do about that yet...

-Fed/Klingon front: Captured planet 2306, recaptured planet 2106, currently have 40 ships in range of Earth. Killed another border BATS.

-Fed/Rom front: Killed a couple BATS, captured minor Fed planet 3612, captured both NZ planets. Setting up MB in 2916. The Romulans and Klingons mostly control the south of Fed space.

Ships killed:
-Hydran: HR, HN
-Fed: 2FF, FFE

-Klingon: 2D7

Feds also lost 4BATS, 3PDUs; Kzinti lost a BATS.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 08:17 pm: Edit

Well that was interesting. So as of right now, I think the Coalition is doing ok; I'm steadily chipping away at the Fed economy, but not overwhelmingly so--I think at press time, I'm reducing Fed econ by 48EPs, which is significant, but I think certainly manageable for them. The Kzinti are going to become very problematic very soon; the Hydrans are about to see a SB finished over their homeworld, but the front is pretty stagnant until someone decides to do something rash.

The Alliance is getting pushed back, but they still have been steadily killing off Coalition bases, and can threaten numerous Coalition hardpoints already.

I suspect that this game is going pretty much as the designers envisioned--I imagine that as the Coalition, I'll continue to be on the offensive for a few more turns (maybe till economic exhaustion hits), but it seems likely that the Alliance will start to get the upper hand at some point.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 11:32 pm: Edit

The Grind will possibly continue until PFs turn up along with X-Ships.

Should be fun !

I agree on the Hydran front. If I go for one of your SB then I will get so smashed that you will take out my SB fairly cheaply.

If you go for my SB you will get smashed so badly that I will then take out your SB fairly cheaply.

Who blinks first?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, January 04, 2018 - 09:42 am: Edit

Heh, maybe? Like, I think I'm doing less well overall than I could be--the Feds are slowly falling back, but they are still well poised to attack numerous important things if they decide to push; the Kzinti have had full production runs since turn 1 and now are going to have a robust economy, and I don't know that I can get back in their Capital any time soon to redevastate those planets.

My attack with the Romulans went ok, but was not overwhelming at all; I did kill a few BATS and captured that planet due to cagey convoy placement and retreat abuse, but I think you could have foiled me there if you wanted to--I outclevered myself, and planned for your reserve fleet going everywhere *but* the 6th Fleet SB, so I was lower on ships there than I actually needed. I'm pretty sure that if after I decided to retreat from the SB, you had then decided to retreat, you could have retreated to that planet. It would have been a fighting retreat (as I put the SN there just for that purpose), but 'cause the reserve showed up, I'm pretty sure you would have had more ships at that planet (by, like, 1 or 2 SEQ) than I had in my retreating fleet. Which would have prevented me from retreating onto the planet (as you can't ever retreat into a hex with more ships than you have unless there is no other option, even if it is the closest to supply). I would have had to retreat to some other hex; you then do the fighting retreat on the planet, kill my lone SN, and retreat somewhere else.

Like, it might have foiled some other plans you have, and might have put you somewhere less optimal than on a SB, and it also probably didn't matter *that* much (me getting that planet for cheap doesn't actually change all that much). But still, I was all "Man. I outclevered myself again. Crud..." when you sent the reserve fleet there :-)

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Thursday, January 04, 2018 - 08:35 pm: Edit

I had a few thoughts about where to send the Reserves but figured the SB could fall if I didnt, and I ignored the Approach battle because with terrible rolls you could have then gone and taken out the SB.

T10A should be fun for the Kzinti and Feds. Hydrans would be horrible to play if you played no other Empire. They just do nothing.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, January 04, 2018 - 08:37 pm: Edit

I dunno, I usually figure some mischief for the Hydrans to do.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 09:52 am: Edit

AT10

Econ:

Feds generate about 180EPs, and with the 50 they had saved, have about 230 to spend this turn. They build CVA, CC, CA, 4DE, 8NCL, 2FFE, 11FF; overbuild another 10FF (?!?!). Activate CA, 3CL, 3FF. Convert 3DD>DE. Spend 11EPs on repairs. End econ with 12EPs saved.

Kzinti generate about 70EPs (their Capital has now recovered from devastation). They build CV, BC, MSC, 2CM, MEC, FKE, FFK, 4FF. Convert BC>CV, EFF>FKE, 2FF>EFF. End econ with about 14EPs saved.

Hydrans generate 32EPs (including treasury bonus); build Shipyard #5, OCS LN, CU, free PGV, convert 2HN>AH at SB 0215. End econ with about 14EPs saved.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 09:55 am: Edit

Building DEs! ! !

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 10:23 am: Edit

Mmmm . look like the Coalition had a tough call - defend 617 or re-devastate 1401.

I would state the Hydrans probably think they made the wrong call?

How many more ships would the Coalition need to get into 1401?

Only real question - why so few Federation carriers?

(With 12 Eps left - that's a FV or 1 less overbuilt FF, a proper carrier - the CVS for example).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 10:32 am: Edit

Here is the map, as of the end of CT10:

http://www.lightlink.com/pdb6/SCD2mapCT10.html

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 10:41 am: Edit

FVs are a waste of EPs for the Feds.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 10:43 am: Edit

The Coalition could probably get in and redevastate 1401 with another dozen ships, but they would probably need to give up a lot of the rest of Kzinti space. We'll see what happens.

Things will become more fluid, certainly, next turn when the Klingon SB is finished over 0617.

The Feds are apparently gonna super overbuild FFs so far. They probably could have built another CVS this turn, as noted, but I guess they wanted to save some money for next turn? I mean, like, this turn, they were loaded. Next turn, they'll probably be down even more money, and will want the excess? Dunno

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 10:54 am: Edit

>>Building DEs! ! !>>

The Feds are loaded this turn. That being said, they don't have a huge surplus left, and they are yet to max out PDUs on Earth and haven't upgraded any SBs in the Capital yet (they have 16PDUs on Earth, an extra BATS over Earth, and an extra BATS over Vulcan currently). Their basic builds for next turn (DN+, 2CA, 12NCL, 12FF; activate 7 ships) cost 133EPs. With any justice, they won't generate much more than that :-)

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 01:36 pm: Edit

Probably worth losing Kzinti space for 1 turn to re-devastate those planets?

On the FV - a Fighter is a fighter.

As your not playing with FCR's - cheap Fighter hulls are useful.

But it's your game!!

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 01:40 pm: Edit

An FV is low compot but expensive. If you _are_ going to pay full costs (EPs or free fighters) for a carrier, it is best to do so for one that can fight reasonably well.

Paying EPs, an FV is 10 EP plus the surcharge for whatever escorts you use with it. There are virtually always better ways to use those EPs.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 01:48 pm: Edit

>>Probably worth losing Kzinti space for 1 turn to re-devastate those planets? >>

Maybe? Depends on where and what happens.

>>As your not playing with FCR's - cheap Fighter hulls are useful.>>

We are using FCRs. We are using most of the rules in CO, AO, FO. We ommited SFGs, Penal Ships, Ground Attack, Monitors, and Police Ships (except for response to raids).