>>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.>>

Without FCRs in the mix (i.e. basic game), I can see the argument for possibly making one or two FVs for the Feds to get some extra fighters on the board cheaply (you are already making an FF, you have already used all your free fighters on good carriers, you have an extra 7EPs lying around but don't have an extra 14 to make, like, a CVS or something). With FCRs available, for the exact same cost, you can make an FCR, so you might as well do that instead.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 08:53 pm: Edit

Better to save the EPs til next turn when you CAN build a decent carrier than to build a ship that can't help in serious combat.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 05, 2018 - 10:45 pm: Edit

CT10

Movement is under way! So far, the Hydrans have reopened their supply path to the off map zone, attacking some Klingon FFs in the way with a giant mob of ships.

In Kzinti space, things are getting a little, ahem, hairy, as the Kzinti seem to be rushing into all of the Coalition units in and around BATS 1507. So far, like, 100+ Kzinti have been pinned by 100+ Coalition ships in 1505 and 1507. There are still plenty of Kzinti to move and plenty of Coalition to react.

on The Fed/Klingon front, the Feds moved about 30 ships on to planet 2306, being held by about 40 Klingons.

Moves continue.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 09:35 am: Edit

AT10 (I accidentally wrote CT10 in the above post)

Things are starting to look dire on the Kzinti/Klingon front for the Coalition; the Kzinti are going full on offensive in a massive pinning operation, and it looks like the Coalition are possibly going to lose a SB this turn--I don't know for sure which the Kzinti are going to hit in earnest, but I'm gambling on 1509 currently.

I neglected to meticulously count the Kzinti this turn and over extended the Klingons--they have about 100 ships in NW Fed space on planets 2106 and 2306, and figured I had enough ships in and around 1509 to pin all the Kzinti, but, well, it turns out I was off; I had about 6 ships too few *before* the Kzinti did their builds this turn. As it is, the Kzinti can pin everything the Coalition have and still have enough ships to kill a SB if the Coalition try and pin them away, so they are going to get a solid force on at least one of the two SBs in the area (the Lyrans built one over planet 1407) that will be defended, but not real well; there is about half of a weak reserve sitting on SB 1509 currently; depending on what the Kzinti do, there may or may not be more ships that can defend 1509.

Moves continue.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 05:40 pm: Edit

AT10

As of press time, the Kzinti have pinned almost all of the Coalition units around SB 1509; there is a weak reserve and some cripples on SB 1509. There are about 20 Kzinti left to move on SB 1704. It seems like SB 1509 is going to go down for a song.

It was bound to happen eventually, but unfortunately, due to bungled front maintenance, will not cost the Alliance much to kill. Which is a problem.

I could have easily put, like, another 10 ships on SB 1509 and have a superfluous 7 ship Lyran reserve over on the edge of Lyran/Kzinti space (which I had in 1507 originally, but then was all "Well, I'll put it over on the edge of Lyran space, to dissuade him from attacking my province raiders. What's the worst that can happen?"...) which would have prevented all of this. But, well, at the end of CT10, I was lazy during the tedious counting of every ship in Kzinti space phase, and it got me hosed. That's a problem with this game. It overly emphasizes the need to tediously count everything all the time. Oh well.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 12:05 am: Edit

As predicted by Peter, I pinned a heap of ships with my ships in 1401, then used SB 1704 to attack SB 1509 with:

DN(adm), CC, 2xCM, 3xFFK, 5xCV, 2xCVE, 5xMEC, 2xCLE, 3xEFF, 2xDF, TG(SP) up against:

SB, D7, MD5, 2xD5, 2xF5, D5S, LAV, SAV, and some cripples

I can still be smashed by poor rolls, but odds are I can take it down.

There are 2 small battles in Kzinti space, the Kzinti are getting 1802 back and have large pinning battles in a number of hexes.

The Hydrans are doing very little.

The Feds completely ignored the Romulans, and are not doing a huge amount near Kzinti space. A couple of small battles and battles over 2106 and 2306.

Will be interesting to see how the map looks once all the combat is done.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 02:24 am: Edit

Peter

You can't cover every opportunity the enemy will get and the sheer size of the game will make it difficult to calculate pin equivalents - so don't beat yourself up.

The smattering of Coalition hulls (even with half of them crippled) will mean the SB will go down at a cost - not as much a you would want, but a lot more than it could have been!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 08:08 am: Edit

Heh. It isn't a matter of beating myself up. It is a matter of being annoyed that I'm losing a significant resource that easily could have been avoided as the result of not wanting to tediously count chits again and again. Like, if I spent an extra 10 minutes counting those ships, that I knew I needed to count? This could have been prevented. But instead, well, a significant loss in this game as the result of being weary of the tedium of counting counters. Ah well. I knew the risks when I joined this outfit.

By Jason E. Schaff (Jschaff297061) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 08:42 am: Edit

One thing that is commonly done as a courtesy in games I've played is for each player to do a pincount for all his own fleets while the other side is doing econ. FTF, just use mini Post-It notes. VASSAL will let you attach text flags to fleet counters. I'm assuming Cyberboard allows something similar. The flag just uses the form "X/Y" where "X" is the number of ships and "Y" is the total pin count. This allows for much more efficient use of time and helps ensure someone doesn't make an oopsie that causes them a major problem.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 09:00 am: Edit

Yeah, there isn't, like, a reason that I didn't count fleets. We are playing via e-mail. We have infinite time to count fleets. It was 100% the result of me saying "Ah, crap. I don't want to count out the Kzinti fleets *again*. It looks like I have about enough ships in the right places to prevent anything terrible from happening..."

Which, ya know, sometimes results in terrible things happening :-)

By Jon Murdock (Xenocide) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 01:07 pm: Edit

A new slogan? "Federation and Empire: Where Terrible Things Happen"

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 08, 2018 - 05:17 pm: Edit

Sold!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 09:46 am: Edit

AT10

Combat is underway!

In Hydran space, a fleet killed an E4 (of a group of province garrison ships) and then a couple Coalition reserves showed up and pushed the Hydrans out of hex 0117 off map again (losing a CW for fighters in the process). The Hydrans still have open supply to off map through a 8 ship force in 0118.

O the Kzinti/Klingon front, to no one's surprise, SB 1509 went down; it took 3 rounds, the Kzinti lost 2CM and an FFK before the Klingons were out of fighters and SIDS and had to retreat a passel of cripples. The Klingons lost the SB, took a few cripples, and an LAV and SAV that were sloppily located bought it.

On the Fed/Klingon front, the Feds have retaken planet 2106, losing an FFE in the process (the Klingons didn't fight real hard to keep it).

Battles rage on.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 11:14 am: Edit

AT10

The Kzinti are currently in the process of killing Klingon BATS 1507. Which is extra dumb of me (in a turn full of dumb), as I could have easily pinned him away from the BATS, but, well, I guess if I pinned him away from the BATS, he could have diverted 4 or 5 ships from the SB attack and killed it anyway. At least this way, I get to do damage.

On the approach, the Kzinti outrolled the Klingons marginally, and got to the BATS after one approach round; over the BATS for the first round, the Kzinti rolled a 1 and the Klingons rolled a 6 (forcing an autokill); it seems likely the Kzinti will kill the BATS (they have a lot of ships and a lot of fighters), but if things keep up like this, it'll be painful.

So far this turn, the Coalition have been outrolling the Alliance pretty much every round of everything. The recent 1-6 was the most egregious, and mostly it has been, like, 1-2 or 2-3. But still. I'm sure the Alliance are getting demoralized by terrible dice this turn. But on the upside, they get to kill multiple Klingon bases!

:-/

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 07:21 pm: Edit

AT10

The Kzinti have now also killed Klingon BATS 1507. It was costly, as the Klingons dropped damage over 3 rounds in front of the BATS, crippling a bunch of escorts, and then killing 4 of them in pursuit with a D6M (which then shocked out). On the upside for the Kzinti, they outrolled the Klingons in the last two rolls over the BATS!

A few more fights left, that the Klingons will probably see a few E4s get killed in.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 06:07 pm: Edit

AT10

Combat is over!

In Hydran space, not much happened. The Hydrans killed a couple small ships, lost some fighters, got 8 ships into 0118 to open supply to 0215.

On the Kzinti front, the Kzinti killed SB 1509, BATS 1507, and recaptured planets 1504, 1506, 1802.

In the NW of Fed space, the Feds took back planets 2106 and 2306 and killed a few E4 province raiders.

Nothing moved or fought on the Fed/Romulan front.

Ships Killed:
ZIN: 3CM, 2FKE, FFK, FF, (MEC, 2FKE, EFF)
HYD:
FED: NCL, FFE

LYR: CW, DW
KLI: D7, F5L, F5E, F5, 4E4, (LAV, SAV)

Klingons also lost SB, BATS

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 12, 2018 - 10:28 pm: Edit

CT11

SCD2

y173 FA T11

Lyran Econ:

Command Points: 3

Exploration: 97+6=103 (+5, 130 next)

Treasury: 37.875 (CT10)

On Map (56): 56
Off Map (24): 34
Capital (35): 35
Captured: 12
Salvage: 2.25 (AT10)

Total: 177.125

Construction T11:
-10 BC
-10 STT
-8 CWS
-5 LTT
-10 2CW
-12 3DW
-7.5 3FF (0404, 0411)
-15 3FF (overbuild)

Construction Total: 77.5

Conversions:
-6 CL>BC (0408)
-3+12 CW>CVL, CW>CWE (0411)

Conversion Total: 21

Repairs:
-5 (2F5L, 2F5 1411)

Repair Total: 5

Expeditionary Fleet:

Expeditionary Total:

Total Spent: 103.5

Treasury: 73.625

FFF Left: 0

Salvage: 0

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

Klingon Econ:

Command Points: 7

Exploration: 54+5=59 (+2, 60 next)

B10: 26+6=32

Treasury: 47.5 (CT10)

On Map (93): 91
Off Map (0): 4
Capital (49): 49
Captured: 36.2
Salvage: 7.9 (AT10)

Total: 235.6

Construction T11:
-9 D7C
-6 TGB
-10 D6M
-8 D5S
-40 8D5
-18 6F5
-7.5 3E4 (sub F5)
-2.5 E4 (2318)
-15 3E4 (overbuild)
-5 B10 #9
-8 PDU (1407 self production)

Construction Total: 129

Activations:
-2 2D6

Activation Total: 2

Conversions:
-5 D6>D6M (1411)
-4 D6>D6S (1411)

Conversion Total: 9

Repairs:
-2.5 (F5L, F5S 2318)

Repair Total: 2.5

Total Spent: 152

Treasury: 83.6

DBB:

FFF Left: 0

Salvage:
-----------------------------------------------
Romulan Econ:

Command Points: 4

Spare Parts: 6-1=5+1=6 (CT10)

Exploration:

Treasury: 21.5 (CT10)

On Map (79): 70
Off Map (0): 0
Capitals (34): 34
Captured: 3.4
Salvage:

Total: 128.9

Construction T11:
-17 CON
-8 FH
-7 SPF
-8 SPC
-10 2SP
-7.5 3SEH (sub SK)
-2.5 SEH
-10 FAL
-2.5 SN (3518)
-10 MB

Construction Total: 82.5

Conversions:
-5 WE>FAL (4613)
-4 TGB>KRT (4514)
-3 WE>KE (4015)
-1 BH>BHE (3518)
-15 MB>BATS (2916)

Conversion Total: 27

Repairs:
-4 (SKB, K5S, BH, K4 3518)

Repair Total: 4

Total Spent: 113.5

Treasury: 15.9

FFF Left: 0

Salvage: 0

The Klingons finished their SB over the Hydran Homeworld; the Romulans put up a MB in the south of Fed space, which is currently being upgraded to a BATS, and also another MB in Klingon space.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, January 12, 2018 - 10:31 pm: Edit

CT11

During the Raid phase, the Romulans raided a NE Fed province and the Klingons sent a C5 to raid a NE Kzin province. Both were successful (and both whacked a POL).

Moves are underway. In Hydran space, the Coalition pinned 8 ships in 0118, and then started piling ships on SB 0125.

On the Fed/Rom front, the Romulans sent most of their Home Fleet over to SB 3611. It looks like just about enough ships to pin the Fed fleet there.

Moves continue.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, January 13, 2018 - 09:37 pm: Edit

CT11

Movement is done!

In Hydran space, the Coalition are fighting a small fight in 0118 (about 20 cruddy ships vs 8 Hydrans, mostly FFs) and then all the rest of the Coalition are on SB 0215, where there are about 60 Hydrans (plus a lot of fighters) facing about 160 Coalition (plus not as many fighters). The Hydrans have two off map reserves, about 9 ships each, left to move.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition piled into 1401. They have about 177 SEQ facing the Kzinti's 176 SEQs (a lot of that is PDU and AuxCV fighters). The Kzinti had no reserves this turn (all the Kzinti moved last turn to ensure the killing of the SB), so the Coalition are recapturing planets 1105, 1202, 1502, and capturing most of Kzinti space.

On the Klingon/Fed front, the Klingons are mostly avoiding big Fed fleets, attacking 2610 (the Fed reacted 30+ ships to the planet, being attacked by about 75 SEQ of Klingons) and undefended BATS 2612 with about 30 ships. They also moved about 40 ships forward to 2408, but they aren't fighting anything. The Klingons are capturing a lot of Fed space, but left planets 2106 and 2306 free this turn.

On the Romulan/Fed front, the Romulans pinned the 6th Fleet at SB 3611, are attacking BATS 3209 (pinning down a reserve), planet 3210 (with a small screening force), BATS 3414, planet 3711, BATS 3810, and BATS 3812. The Feds have one reserve in 2808 that can reach the fights on the Klingon side of things, and a couple fights on the Romulan side of things (the ones closer to the Capital). The Romulans have captured a lot of Fed space as well.

A couple reserves need to move, and the fighting.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, January 14, 2018 - 07:25 pm: Edit

CT11

The Feds sent a reserve to BATS 3209 (one was pinned, and 2 were out of range of anything). The Hydrans sent a reserve to 0118 and a second reserve to SB 0215.

On the Fed/Rom front, the Romulans killed BATS 3810, 3812, and 3414 and captured planet 3711 for minimal damage (dead fighters, a couple crippled FFs, a crippled FAL). They killed BATS 3209 which had about 24 Feds over it; they mauled the BATS to death over two rounds, losing the FAL and taking 5 cripples, then fled.

On the Fed/Klingon front, the Klingons killed BATS 2612 for dead fighters, and captured planet 2610, losing a D6S before the Feds fled.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition recaptured a bunch of planets without combat, and are waiting to see what they want to do in the Capital.

In Hydran space, the Coalition have gone in to attack SB 0215 in earnest. This is going to be painful.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 15, 2018 - 02:30 pm: Edit

CT11

The assault on Hydran SB 0215 is 5 rounds in, and, well, the Lyrans are coming out way ahead here. The Hydrans are pretty much always firing into a -2EW shift (Hydrans have no scouts bigger than PGSs) due to the Coalition having 13 points of EW (3CWS+D6S). That, and the Hydrans are rolling pretty much terribly; in 5 rounds, the Lyrans have rolled 6, 1, 6, 4, 6 where the Hydrans have rolled, 3, 2, 5, 2, 2. It is horrible.

The Lyrans have been just mauling SIDS every round. The Hydrans have been blowing up maulers and scouts. So far, the Lyrans have lost 4 good ships and taken 6 or 7 crippled DWs and dead fighters. The Hydrans have lost SIDS, crippled a handful of CWs and DDs, and lost a lot of fighters.

Combat rages on.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 15, 2018 - 05:50 pm: Edit

CT11

Combat over SB 0215 is over, with the SB destroyed and the Hydrans fleeing.

The combat went 11 rounds. The first 8 saw the Lyrans directing SIDS with maulers and occasionally without (due to low BIR). The Hydrans mostly directed the biggest thing they could each round, killing maulers and scouts. The 9th round was over the crippled SB, but BIR was down to 2, and we both rolled 1's, so I killed a CU and he exactly direct crippled a DWE (to avoid killing fighters and crippling something for minus points). Round 10, I pushed BIR up finally to 4, we rolled ok, I mauled a RN, he killed the mauler and fled. R11, the Hydrans had a crippled SB and a couple empty LAVs, so they were wiped out and did no damage in return due to minus points (and a lot of fighters). In the last round, the die rolls were 6, 6, 6. Yeesh.

The Hydrans retreated with about 35 fighters and some cripples. The Hydrans are likely to be out of supply at the end of the turn.

The dice were *terrible* for the Hydrans. Over the 10 rounds of actual combat, the rolls were:

LYR: 6, 1, 6, 4, 6, 3, 4, 6, 1, 5= avg 4.2

HYD: 3, 2, 5, 2, 2, 3, 5, 1, 1, 3= avg 2.7

And on top of that. the VBIR hosed the Hydrans where it could too (i.e. in a couple of rounds, VBIR went down so that they couldn't hit the mauler they wanted to kill, or in one round, they couldn't kill anything at all). It was grim. And the Hydrans had a -2EW shift most of the fight on top of that.

Carnage:

Lyrans lost: 4STT, 2CWS, STJ.

Lyrans crippled: 4CC, 8DW, DWE.

Klingons lost: D6M

Hydrans lost: RN, CU, SB, 2LAV

Hydrans crippled: 4HR, 3KN, 2LN, CU

A few more fights to do; two short ones, and then the Coalition attack the Kzinti Capital (Probably not to try and capture it. But maybe! Mystery! Which is compromised by the Coalition having a total of one D6M and one STJ in the hex...)

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar2) on Monday, January 15, 2018 - 07:00 pm: Edit

Bit more of an uphill battle that way but could be doable (depending on the initial die rolls) ...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, January 15, 2018 - 09:30 pm: Edit

CT11

All fights except for 1401 are finished. The one fight left in Hydran space (0118) saw the Hydrans brutalize the Klingon pinning force, crippling 5 ships and killing one cripple in the pursuit, losing a LN for their troubles. The fleet retreated in a way that has cut the main Hydran force (from the SB battle; 60 some odd ships) out of supply. It will be trival for them to get back in supply on AT11, but they are low on fighters (about 35 left in the fleet) and won't be able to wreak much havoc next turn, with the 3 hex limit on moves (the Hydran Supply TG is nowhere to be found).

The Klingons recaptured planet 2214 from a small Fed force that was holding it, which is now stranded out of supply, crippled, and behind enemy lines. It's like the start of ever exciting movie!

The Romulans pinning the 6th Fleet at SB 3611 just offered an approach and retreated away.

The Coalition are going into the Kzinti Capital. It remains to be seen if they are there just to redevestate planets, or try and capture it! (Hint: they probably aren't going to try and capture it...)

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Monday, January 15, 2018 - 10:43 pm: Edit

Stewart, I would love for Peter to have a go at the Kzinti Capital.

Sadly Im pretty sure his goal it just to reduce their income by about 15 or 20 EP...