It is a double edged sword, as indicated. That being said, it's important to get your pound of flesh. I'll probably defend with light fleets; riff-raff so that I get 2-3 rounds and then leave.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - 01:20 pm: Edit

A2 is complete.

Kzinti went to maximum ADS this turn (-14.5 out of 14.8). Repaired a bunch and depot 4 ships, but still have a decent repair backlog (5 SEQ of cripples, will be 10 when repaired). Built 4 PDUs. Did not build 2 FF I could have (left one DD slot unbuilt). Still managed, though, to get everything truly needed done. Built a tug and converted a CVS for capital ships. Paid for Long Lean to be on map.

Raids: Nothing fancy. Disrupted 1 Lyran and 2 occupied provinces.

Operational: This time I played it safe. The Zin can't afford to be risky twice in the early stages of the game.

I left Count's Fleet (16 SEQ) unmoved on 902. However, I smuggled 1 EP there so that combined with the 1 EP in the partial grid I could repair the crippled BC there. (I laid down a POL to open supply to Counts SB for C3).

Duke's fleet (15 SEQ) left the wounded starbase at 1304 and was pinned in 1402. It fought 1 round. I lost an EFF to fighters (I had very low compot). I had a lone FF out there on the Klingon border, but it managed to get away. Duke's and the lone FF retrograded back to 1502 and 1401.

At the end of C2, with Baron's Fleet and new construction, I have two very powerful reserves (16 and 14 SEQ, respectively) in the offmap. The home system has 56 SEQ. I left 10 SEQ from Duke's fleet in 1502.

All non-essential personnel have been evacuated from Duke's SB, as it has been left abandoned with 5 SIDS.

I face exactly 159 SEQ of Coalition units that are in striking distance of Kzintai. Another 44 SEQ are within striking distance of the ZTO, for a total of 203 SEQ of Coalition units in the theater.

So far, he has not reinforced the Hydran theater, although 17 SEQ from Far Stars (ships that didn't strat to the ZTO) moved to BATS 109 near the HTO.

True to Dana's word, it's looking like a Zin-first strategy!

With 86 SEQ of defenders that can reach the capital I feel *reasonably* safe that the Kzinti capital will withstand the inevitable capital assault on C3. However, I expect a major attack which will - at a bare minimum - strip and devastate all outer planets and probably strip at least 4 PDUs from Kzintai itself.

I would not be surprised if the Kzinti capital fell on C4. However, it might be C5, depending on how aggressive he wants to play it, how good our die rolls are, and his tolerance for having a cripple backlog. We'll see!

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Thursday, November 15, 2018 - 10:40 pm: Edit

T3C

Lyrans build BC, CA, 4xCW, 2xDW, DWS, 3xFF, SAV and convert CA->DN, and 2xDD during repairs to DDG and SC. They then spend 56.5 pts on repair fixing 41 ships. They were left with 2 ships that exceeded repair at Home.

Klingons build D7C, D6M, D7, 8xD5, D5S, 6xF5, 2xE4, E4R, activate mothballs and convert D7->D7A, D6->D6M, capt kzin CC, D6->D6D. They also get a good first roll of 5 on a B10. The Klingons spend 20 on repair fixing 15 cripples, half of them were Lyrans crippled at 0803 last turn.

Before movement I should have enough ships that are too far away from the Kzinti capital but can hit and kill 0902 SB, 1304 SB and 1105 minor and 1205 BATS. But either of his reserves could save any 1 or 2 of them.

Ships within range of the capital (just calling everything by the Lyran class but probably 75% of ships are Klingons.

6 DN(DN or C8), 2 DNL, 2 BC, 3 D6M, 8 CC, 6 TGC(A) so 4 BT and a Drone Tug, 17 CA (including fast), 17 CW, 9 six pt ships, and 57 normal ships of DD/F5/E4/FF. Good scouts, 3xD6S, 2xD5s, 3xD6D plus few small scouts. 40 fighters on 4 D6V/CVT plus FV, 7 E4A and some E4R's.

If I sent all available ships within range to the capital, other than enough to pin the Dukes on 1502. I think the capital would definitely by safe this turn if both of his reserves went there. If only one went to the capital and the other went to save a SB he is more likely than not fine. If neither went to the capital and I was willing to take a lot of cripples and maybe kill some ships, then it might be at risk.

I'm not going to commit to how long I'm going to stay, but I am likely to devastate all the outer planets then we'll see how long I stay at the capital. Next round isn't going to get better in quality of ships for me, 1 more DN at best, and the Kzintis will add 4 PDU's, only thing I would get could be quite a few more CW's. I expect a Kzinti line first round of 340 ish. Maybe I need to include some TG's as rescue to handle self killed CC's or BC's in case he gets a good roll.

C4 is a ahead of my timetable and might involve more cripples than I want. But C5 looks doable right now to take the Kzinti capital. The number of cripples I take this round will essentially determine how many new builds transfer to the Kzin front (to protect the FRD's) versus transfer to the Hydran front. And really, per my plan C5 is fine. I just need enough time to repair and transfer ships to the Fed front.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Friday, November 16, 2018 - 12:51 pm: Edit

Note that only rescue tug can operate on a given battle line at a time. Just FYI.

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Friday, November 16, 2018 - 01:29 pm: Edit

(537.21) Rescue Tug Rule Extract: "...No more than one rescue tug can be assigned to a given battle force, and each rescue tug can only rescue one ship per player turn."

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 09:15 am: Edit

T3 Coalition movement is complete.

SB 0902 has been attacked by 18 ships. The Kzin have 13 ships defending it. The Lyrans have higher quality ships but the Kzin have a SB. The Kzin could probably win if they want but would take a number of cripples which they may not want.

Planet 1105, BATS 1205 and SB 1304 are mostly undefended and being attacked by forces just big enough to win. A reserve could save any of them.

Planet 1502 is being attacked by 17 ships, kzin have 10 ships, MON and 4 PDU.

131 Coalition ships are attacking 1401 plus 40 fighters. 70 of the ships are CW or better. Kzin have 46 ships defending plus auxes plus 84 ftrs not counting PDUs. They have 2 good reserves. I expect at least one Resv to go to 1401, I'm not sure if both will.

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 12:06 am: Edit

Combat has started.

1502 was devastated. Klingons lost E4A, 2xF5, and then a E4G when he conducted a fighting retreat across it in 1601 on his way off map (1401 was not available as a retreat option due to a mass of coalition ships). Klingons had D6, 3xF5, E4, F5S, F5G crippled. Kzinti lost FFK, MON and crippled a DD, BC.

Combat has started in 1401. 4 systems attacked, minor in capital and then 3 majors in other systems (Keevarsh has 3 PDU, Vielsalm has 4 PDU, and Vronkett has 1 PDU). Dice completely even, in 2 systems I beat him by 1 and he beat me by 1 in the other 2. Klingons lost a D6M, TGC/AP plus took 8 cripples. Kzinti devastated minor in capital system and lost a LAS and BC to directing plus took 5 cripples. No PDU's killed.

By Karl Mangold (Karlsolomon) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 10:03 am: Edit

How many PDUs on Kzintai? And both reserves went to the capital, then?

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 11:29 am: Edit

16 PDU right now on Kzinti. I intend to spend at least one round there this turn with a mauler before I leave though.

Both reserves went to the capital.

Second round of fighting coalition took 9 cripples (D6M, CC, D7N 3xD5, 3xF5). Dropped damage at Keevarsh and Vielsalm so Ted killed PDUs and devastated the majors plus crippled 2 FF'S. He let homeless PDU fighters flow back into his fleet filling it up again. At Crockett I got a great roll and did just enough to pop the TGT+SP.

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 01:11 pm: Edit

D7N? What's up with the diplomatic ship in the capital battle?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 01:25 pm: Edit

They gotta bust that Ambassador to the Kzinti Capital by any means necessary!

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 02:32 pm: Edit

D7C, not sure how I got an N on that. Keyboard on my phone.

Dice are inbound for first round over the capital.

Kzin at 327/8 vs 165/6 (just about all the Coalition big guns are out to play)

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 03:13 pm: Edit

So in one of those crazy moments the Lyrans and Klingons argued about who was really in command and what the plan was. Ie I rolled a 1 and Ted got a 6.

The joys of eating 123 damage.

Well, 4 PDU'S are dead.

By chris upson (Misanthropope) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 03:45 pm: Edit

"incoming drone wave! shatter packs blossoming, counter-drones away!"
"incoming drone wave! ESGs up in 2, 1..."

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 04:02 pm: Edit

Only 12 to go!

By Thomas Mathews (Turtle) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 04:28 pm: Edit

Ouch. 123 = about 1/2 of the battle line being added to the dead pile. I'd love to drop that on a C8V group.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 05:43 pm: Edit

Ouch

What died?

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 06:06 pm: Edit

D7C (satisfy the autokill)

crippled, D6M, D6S, C8, 2xDN, 2xTGA/BP, 2xTGC/BP, BC.

If you start with a big enough line. We'll just see how bad the pursuit is.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 08:19 pm: Edit

D7C was rescued.

The good news: with all heavies on the line he could actually take 123 without killing anything (rescued ship satisfied that).

The bad news: He only has a few heavy ships left. He can afford one more round at the capital, but doing so will certainly overwhelm his repair capacity (probably already is). However, there is value to taking out 3-4 more PDUs (only facing -10; after all, he put up a 165 compot line!).

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Friday, November 23, 2018 - 11:40 am: Edit

Put up a second line over the capital, last of the good stuff including fast DN's. Was still 150/6 with DB. Kzin dropped to just under 300. This round they rolled a 1 and killed a TGA/DP. I got enough to kill 3 PDU and then I ran losing a TGA/BP in pursuit. A few minus points and a F5J helped out there. So 3 Tugs and a mauler died in the capital this turn, not too bad actually.

The capital is down to 9 PDU and the rest of the planets are devastated. All his on map planets are currently captured although I'm not sure if I will hold 1001 if he retreats of the Count's SB in the fight coming up.

I have definitely exceeded my repair capacity, 5 FRD'S just aren't enough yet. Will likely need to turn some repair tugs on to make sure I can come back next turn and kill another batch of PDUs.

You overall, I'm on track to kick the Kzin off map T5.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, November 26, 2018 - 06:21 pm: Edit

A3 underway. The ZTO is quiet. Zin build 3*CM, call up POL, repair 2*BC, CVL, 2*CLE, convert 2*BC->CC (CDR) and EFF->FKE. They also build an LAD (12 EP!), 4*PDU at Kzintai, and replace their lost scout pods (lost due to Coalition direct on scout tug in scout box during last turn's capital assault). Zin borrow 10 more EPs, national debt now at 24.5.

Zin have partial grid in Counts. With 2.5 EPs repair a crippled CVS there and with 1 EP convert a DD->DDE.

Movement in the ZTO is limited to non-reactable stuff. I do use a blockade run to move a FF to Count's SB in 902; otherwise, it's establishing offmap reserves (two really good ones) and then hunkering down for the thunder that will be C4.

The HTO is MUCH more interesting!

Hydrans build 2*DE, 5*FFT, TG, TR, FCR, 2*CU. The put 3*PDU and 1 PGB at Hydrax, and build a second scout pod.

The FCP is assigned to the 2nd fleet tug (though the Expeditionary fleet tug must remain the expeditionary fleet tug and cannot have any other pod - we checked on this thoroughly in rule and rulings). Battle and FSP and scout tugs are assigned their roles.

Hydrans setup both of their MB at Hydrax using FFTs.

The Hydrans study the Coalition reserve patterns and note a critical weakness. All available Hydran ships are given orders to implement Operation Lyran Spank under the command of Admiral VanSpanksAlotTix.

Ignoring the Klingons, the Hydran Home fleet pins the bulk of Lyran forces at BATS 413. First fleet then sends in forces to Enemy's Blood starbase and pins it (mostly). Some reactions form pinning battles at 513 and 313. 2*LGE and a CU hit undefended BATS 212. First fleet is reinforced, resulting in 33 SEQ (mostly cruisers) hitting EB starbase in 411 defended by 16 Lyrans. The SB is likely to go down...

Worse, selected elements of 2nd Fleet deployed at 515 make a line drive, extended deep plunge all the way to Skagmark! (including the FCP tug an FCR, a couple of cruisers and small ships led by a LB and accompanied by an HNG and the Marine Major General of the Hydran Royal Marines). Admiral VanSpanksAlotTix personally took command of this daring raid.

The desperate Lyrans, seeing that no reserves were in range of the vulnerable planet, sent waves of fighters from Formark Starbase in 608 and from Homeworld Starbase in 408. The D7N Dictator offered to lend support, but the Lyran Emperor did not want to risk the lives of the diplomats on board and thus the Dictator stayed at Lyrantan.

After chewing through many defending Lyran fighters, the fleet finally reached the ground bases, where they were quickly decimated by the seemingly never ending supply of replacement Hydran fighters from the FCP. A major planet of the Lyrans has fallen - captured by the Hydrans!

The Lyran Emperor has sworn a terrible vengeance upon the Hydrans!

The other battles still rage...

By Jason E. Schaff (Jschaff297061) on Monday, November 26, 2018 - 07:04 pm: Edit

That's one of the risks the Coalition runs in adopting a Kzinti-first strategy. If they aren't very careful about reserves and releasing at least a few forces to the South, the Hydrans can do great quantities of grievous harm to the Lyrans by completely ignoring the Klingons on A3.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Monday, November 26, 2018 - 07:29 pm: Edit

LAD? I'm kinda baffled.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Monday, November 26, 2018 - 07:42 pm: Edit

Large Aux Drone. Free drone bombardment.

By Dana Madsen (Dfm330) on Monday, November 26, 2018 - 07:58 pm: Edit

I wondered as well. But, Ted thinks he'll get enough rounds of shooting with it over the next 2 turns, to pay for itself. I'm unlikely to direct on the LAD's while there are PDU's left, and I'm not sure if I would direct them when I'm still fighting the SB, I have to think about that. Also, there is a chance that he has enough slow units here that some of them get away. But at the cost he's giving up a number of ship builds this turn, as well, not all the ships sitting on repair were fixed. He still has a reasonable backlog.

I knew that I was risking the Lyran EB SB and it may very well fall although the Hydrans will take some damage taking it down. I was surprised that he went in as far as 0509 but those ships haven't retrograded yet, and if they do they'll only make it back to 0515 (also the FCP is almost empty). BATS 0212 is going down cheap, but 0413 may get saved by they Klingon reserve, or, the D7A and mauler should have fun defending the BATS anyways versus the TG/FSP.

The only hydran reserves will be the Old Colonies sqd and maybe a LAV/SAV resv out of the capital. So he needs to be careful about how many cripples he is willing to take.