The Hydrans could 100% make a run for either 0617 (which would probably go poorly for them, as there are 2SB and 6PDUs on the Hydran homeworld, all with PFs already) or SB 0411 (which is much less scary). I think they'd get kind of mangled doing so, and be shooting uphill into a -2 EW shift most of the time, but I think if they put their minds too it, they could totally kill SB 0411 with SIDs attacks.

Which is something I'm constantly concerned about :-)

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 12:09 pm: Edit

The Kzinti also have their whole fleet in range of the Lyran SB in 1407 (also with 6 Klingon PDUs and a lot of PFs); the Kzinti could hit that at any time as well, but it might start a catastrophic chain reaction of destruction.

With some aggression, the Kzinti could also realistically threaten Lyran SB 0404 and 0608, which would probably result in Lyran forces pulling back to protect them, until they get pushed away again.

Give them time.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 02:08 pm: Edit

Well, perhaps a little pain for the Kzinti and Hydrans is needed - the Gorns seem to be under a lot of pressure.

Whats the Hydrans chance of 1 shot crippling a SB - with the FSP (or normal damage for the Kzinti)?

Wth luck - 3 Rounds to kill a SB might be worth it (Approach/Cripple/Kill)!!!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 02:11 pm: Edit

The Hydrans have limited EW support at this point, and not much in the way of density. They have a *lot* of FF hulls, and a significant carrier force, but their ability to to put up a line bigger than 110 is limited, at best, and if they do that, they'd still have a -2 EWs shift, probably.

The Hydrans could 100% survive a 9/10 round SIDs fight if they had it in them, but they'd get messed up pretty badly.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 02:19 pm: Edit

Maybe they could lose one ship directed per round and take the rest on fighters? It would depend on their total fighter strength, whether they can SIDs every round, and how much compot the Coalition would have against them or somesuch.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 02:41 pm: Edit

Oh, probably, sure, although I don't think they even have that many cruisers left at this point. As noted, they have a ton of fighters, and could certainly survive the 9 or so rounds of SIDs-ing. They'd just get pretty mangled in the process.

Most of Hydran production since they got their shipyard back on line (T11?) has been CUs and carrier/escort conversions. I don't think they have built a ship bigger than maybe a TR in a dozen turns.

By Timothy Linden (Timlinden) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Even with a top tier line (e.g. 2 PAL, FSP tug and 10 cruisers) the Hydran compot would only be in the 160ish range, which needs a 6 on BIR7 assuming no EW shift. Given they'd have a 1 or more likely 2 shift, no chance of a one shot on a SB.

I'd never SIDS any SB other than the final one on the Fed/Gorn capital when going for the third capital. And SB 411 is not worth getting wrecked over blowing up with SIDS.

Now, if the Hydrans can show up with enough strength and just let all the damage fall, leaving the Lyrans to blow up their fleet to save the SB (or let it die for 'cheap'), then that would be the way to go. But it does not sound like they'd have that. You really need a good core of cruisers (or really tooled up CV lines) to consider doing any sort of offensive against such coalition hard points with the Hydrans.

I'm kinda surprised the B10 lines were so weak - I'm used to coalition lines being in the mid-high 120's before DBB (lines with an admiral), without a B10. But then, I'd have 40 odd Lyran DN's around this time to do that with.

Tim

By Thomas Mathews (Turtle) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 04:48 pm: Edit

Smart coalition players kill Hydran cruisers anytime they can. The Hydrans are down to a combined total of 5 LB, LM, DG, and RNs in the Empires of the Dead game. They have lost, in 8 1/2 turns, a combined total of 11 LB, LC, LM, RN, and DGs.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 05:13 pm: Edit

>>I'm kinda surprised the B10 lines were so weak - I'm used to coalition lines being in the mid-high 120's before DBB (lines with an admiral), without a B10. But then, I'd have 40 odd Lyran DN's around this time to do that with. >>

The difference between 115 compot and the mid 120's in compot is minimal at best, if you aren't attacking a hard point or something.

Like, a generic line of something like:
B10+ADM (c/f), [C8V, 2AD5, 2F5E], [3D5, 3F5W], D5 (D6S) or something is, what, 114/4, and not risking anything important, and can maintain the line for a while (swapping out CV groups as needed).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 05:19 pm: Edit

CT23

The turn is over!

Ships killed:
-LYR: 2DW, 2FF
-KLI: 2D6S, 2D5, F5L, F5W, 2F5E
-ROM: 2FHF, 4FAL, SEE

-ZIN: FF
-HYD: AH
-FED: NSC, NCL, SC, 3FF, (BATS)
-GRN: CC, 2BC, CL, DDE, DD, SAS, (SB, BATS, 2PDU)

19 Coalition and 14 Alliance down (not counting auxes and bases). The Romulans also took a significant number of cripples (about 27EPs to repair), as did the Gorn (less than that).

The Klingons have solid reserves in 0617, 1910, 2812, 2916.

The Lyrans have solid reserves in 0708, 1407, 2318.

The Romulans have solid reserves in 3518, 3711, and 4309.

This was another good turn for the Alliance, in terms of dice, with them rolling average 3.7 over 30 recorded rolls; the Coalition rolled an average of 3.0.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 05:25 pm: Edit

CT23

Map at end of CT23:

http://www.lightlink.com/pdb6/SCD2mapCT23end.html

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Friday, February 15, 2019 - 07:57 pm: Edit

And the plotting of another turn with 30+ battles commences !!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 08:01 am: Edit

AT23

Econ is done and raids are underway.

The Feds generate 124EPs, have about 150EPs to spend. They build DNH, 3NCS (2 are converted), 5NCL, 2HDWE (1 is converted from DW built), 19FF, SWAC; spend 7.5 on repairs, end with about 12EPs in treasury.

The Kzinti generate about 46EPs, have about 57EPs to spend. They build CVH, MEC, DWE, 8FF; spend 5 on repairs, end with a fraction of an EP in treasury.

The Hydrans generate 27EPs, have about 30EPs to spend, build CV, 3AH, 3CU, free SAP; spend 1EP on repair, end with a fraction of an EP in treasury. They also are on PF1 turn, so they put 2PFs on their off map SB, and have 4PF in the pool.

The Gorn generate about 60EPs, have about 100EPs to spend, build CCH, BC, CM, LTT, 2HD, 4BD, DDE; probably convert a BDV or FCR (Jason accidentally went over the Gorn CV construction limits; being fixed), end with about 23EP in treasury.

Tholians generate about 23EPs, have about 26EPs to spend, build CWE, 4PC, convert DN>DNV; end with 2.5EP in treasury.

The Alliance successfully raid 5 Coalition provinces.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 09:14 am: Edit

AT23

Moves are underway! So far, the Hydrans have just started rounding up province garrisons, the Kzinti have started rounding up province garrisons (and sent a comparable fleet to pin a fleet at planet 1502), and the Gorn have started rounding up province garrisons.

There will likely be a *lot* of fights this turn.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, February 24, 2019 - 09:11 am: Edit

AT23

Moves continue!

In Hydran space, the Hydrans are getting all squirrelly and attacking all sorts of different hexes of province raiders, including some province garrison ships in the east side of Hydran space that have been untouched and haven't moved for, like, half a decade of in game time.

The Kzinti have sent fleets to all held Kzinti planets as well as held Fed planet 2106 and to go attack some province raiders in NW Fed space.

The Feds are sending big fleets to held planets 2306, 2509, and 2812, as well as attacking various province raiders. On the way to 2812, the Klingons reacted some ships onto planet 2811, so the Feds will probably send ships there as well.

The Gorn are rounding up province raiders, and piling ships on held planet 4705.

The Tholians sent some PCs into unclaimed NZ hexes near Tholian space, but one of them has been pinned by Klingon BATS fighters, so that will probably become something.

Moves continue.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, February 25, 2019 - 10:02 am: Edit

AT23

Moves keep coming!

In Kzinti space, the Kzinti have attacked pretty much everything they can, including planet 1506, which saw a significant Lyran force react on from 1407. The Kzinti still have about 50 (mostly small and piecemeal) units to move; the Lyrans still have about that many ships at 1407.

The Feds continue to round up province garrisons and are attacking most held planets in force, including now a significant force at Romulan held planet 3509.

The Tholians have now sent large forces to to Klingon BATS 2519 and Romulan BATS 3319 (both forces a little under 30 ships). There is a Lyran Reserve that can fight at 2519 and a Romulan Reserve that can fight at 3319 (and a Klingon reserve that can go to either), but the Tholian can certainly kill both BATS if they want.

Moves continue!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 06:53 pm: Edit

AT23

Movs seem like they are winding up.

There are 5 fights in Hydran space, and the Hydrans are advantaged in all of them; a single Klingon reserve can tip the balance in one fight.

There are 6 fights in Kzinti space, and the Kzinti are advantaged in most of them; there are 3 reserves that can be involved in Kzinti space.

There are 14 fights in Fed space; they are advantaged in most of them; there are 3 reserves that could make a difference here.

There are 3 fights on the Tholian border; Tholians will certainly win all of them if they press them, but will take some damage in return.

There are 4 fights in Gorn space, the Gorn are advantaged in 3, likely even in one.

Thats 32 battle hexes so far. Might be a few more made?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 06:45 pm: Edit

AT23

Moves are done and reserves have moved!

Only 1 extra combat hex has been generated past the above, where a bunch of Gorn ships are mugging a couple province raiders that may or may not cloak evade.

A few Coalition reserves moved to beat up small groups of Alliance ships mugging province raiders, flipping the results; a reserve went to each of the BATS attacked by larger Tholian fleets; the Tholians can certainly still kill those BATS, but at least they'll take damage in return. A couple reserves moved to planets that the Alliance are attacking, that probably swung the fight from slight Alliance advantage to modest Coalition advantage.

33 combat hexes. Lots of killing to follow!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, March 01, 2019 - 10:06 am: Edit

AT23

Combat is underway!

In Hydran space, a few province raiders have been beat up. a reserve force saved a Lyran FF from destruction (killing a CU instead), and the Hydrans chased a Lyran force that reacted out to meet them away after a single round and trading dead FFs. There is still a potentially big and protected fight over Coalition held planet 0416 to go.

In Kzinti space, the Lyrans repelled a Kzinti attack over captured planet 1105; the Kzinti recaptured planet 1202, killed a few province raiders, and got mugged by a reserve in the west edge of Kzinti space. Still potentially protected fights over 1504 and 1506.

The Feds have mostly just been fighting Coalition province raiders so far, seeing a lot of little Romulans weasel away with cloaks, and crippling a few Klingons in in small fights vs province raiders (mostly 4 vs 4 fights where the Feds are advantaged, but the Klingons have enough ships to take some cripples and still survive a pursuit without losing anything; this is 100% the result of the "operate province raiders in pairs of pairs" and then the Feds attacking with exactly 4, better ships, so if a reserve shows up, they only lose 1FF; on one hex, the Feds attacked with more than 4 ships, a reserve showed up, and they had to sacrifice 2FFs to the larger reserve). There is currently a pointless fight in the NE of Fed space between a Romulan force that reacted to protect province raiders, where two 100+ compot forces both scored 45% damage (I suspect we will both lose a scout box scout and someone will retreat).

In Gorn space, the Gorn have also beaten up some province raiders, seen a bunch cloak evade, and there is a potentially protracted fight over Romulan held planet 4706 (IIRC).

The Tholians offered an approach at Klingon BATS 2519, but ran in the face of a 130 compot Lyran line over the BATS (there is a SCS on that front). They are tenaciously fighting over Romulan BATS 3319, where their webmaster advantage means the Romulan force is feeble (like, 66 compot or so after 4 units are halved in compot), but they have a mauler and will get to kill some Neo Tholian ship before they are chased off and the BATS is killed).

Combat continues!

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, March 01, 2019 - 10:43 am: Edit

I think a web caster can halve the strength of a mauler effect.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, March 01, 2019 - 12:03 pm: Edit

It can certainly, but, well, 5 points of mauling instead of 10 is still probably a dead NCL (5+4+8=17 to maul with halved mauler?)

In the fight in question, Romulans were something like:

NH (c/f), [3SP, 3SK], 3SEH, FHF+, (SPC), (BATS 18/1)=88/4

With 4 webcasters being used against NH (-5), FHF (-5), BATS (-9), and SP (-4?), the Romulans end up at 65/4, which at a high compot is still enough to get a line NCL (or possibly an NCA?).

I mean the Romulans are gonna get mangled and lose the BATS. But still a Neo Tholian explodes. Which is a minor victory.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, March 02, 2019 - 07:31 am: Edit

AT23

Combat keeps rolling along. At Romulan (ex) BATS 3319, the Tholians had to fight a single round of combat, dropping a bunch of damage on the inferior Romulan force, crippling the BATS and a few ships, at which point the Romulans ran under cover of the crippled BATS, but not before a Tholian NCA flew too close to a mauler and got vaporized (1 of 11 Neo Tholians down!). The BATS was then mopped up for some fighters.

In Gorn space, the Gorn fought a few rounds over occupied planet 4705, swapping some ship, but then ran out of fighters and left.

In Fed space, there was a titanic clash in open space where both sides scored 45% damage, resulting in, as previously suggested, two scout bonus scouts getting killed, and then the Romulans retreating.

Still about 10 battle hexes left to resolve, most of which have the potential for a long fight.

So far, the Coalition have lost 9 ships, a BATS, and some PFs; the Alliance have lost 10 ships. Plenty more to come.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, March 09, 2019 - 08:44 am: Edit

AT23

Combat is now underway over planet 2812, between the B10 fleet and the Fed SCS fleet; the Feds have more ships and fighters, and their compot isn't that far below the Klingons (both in the 110 zone); in the first round, the Klingons have an EW advantage, 'cause they put a D5S on the line (which may or may not get instantly vaporized...), and the Klingons haven't started drone bombarding yet. We'll see what happens.

Over planet 3509, the Feds are fighting the Romulans; the Romulans have more ships and more fighters in the hex (both fleets are large), the Feds have an EW edge.

Both of these fights have the potential to go many rounds.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - 06:07 pm: Edit

AT23

And those fights didn't go that long. The Feds fled planet 3509 after 3 rounds, and 2812 after 2 rounds, when in both cases, their big carriers ran out of escorts, but shot down generally bigger ships.

Now there are fights happening at:

-0416: Hydrans are advantaged.

-1502: Kzinti are advantaged.

-1504: About a wash.

-1506: Lyrans are advantaged.

-2509: Feds are advantaged.

And another SN cloak evaded, bringing the cloak weaseling away up to 8 and 2 for this turn (above average).

So far this turn, dice seem pretty much a wash.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - 10:14 pm: Edit

ahh i am glad for a update