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AT23

Most of the above fights are finished. The Kzinti took back 1502 in a single round, in 1504 the Kzinti rolled hot and scared me off (I could have fought for a while if I wanted to take a bunch of cripples, but not worth it), 1506 I scared the Kzinti away after a round; 2509, the Feds took back after a round. None of those planets were worth fighting too hard over for either side, and the Alliance was advantaged in most of those fights.

At 0416, we are 3 rounds in, trading small ships and fighters. The Hydrans have a lot more ships and fighters in the hex, so the Coalition will probably leave after another round or two.

3 or 4 more combat hexes left to resolve.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 07:00 pm: Edit

I have been following this game from turn 1. I have enjoyed your game reports and have learned a lot about F&E because of it.

I want to see who wins.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, March 16, 2019 - 08:35 am: Edit

AT23

Combat is winding down. At 0416, the Coalition spooked the Hydrans with a 3rd round 6/1 split, allowing the Coalition to blow up a protected PGS; the Hydrans decided they had had enough and left the planet in Coalition hands.

2 fights left to go--planet 2103 (advantage Coalition due to a reserve showing up), planet 2603 (about a wash between to huge fleets; the Feds could be persistent and push me off the planet if they wanted and rolled well).

As of press time, the Coalition have lost 22 ships, a BATS, and a PF flotilla; the Alliance have lost 22 ships.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, March 18, 2019 - 04:51 pm: Edit

AT23

Combat is over!

In Hydran space, the Hydrans continue to grow in threat, and they killed numerous ships. They did not take back planet 0416, however.

In Kzinti space, the Kzinti took back planets 1202, 1502, and 1504. They also recaptured most of their space.

In Fed space, the Feds took back a lot of provinces and liberated planets 2509, 3306, and 2811.

The Gorn liberated 5004, a lot of space, and killed some province raiders.

The Tholians killed Romulan BATS 3319.

Ships Killed:
LYR: SC, FFE, 3FF, (6PF)
KLI: 3D5, 3F5E, 6F5, 2E4, (3PF)
ROM: SPC, 4SP, 2SN, SEH

ZIN: 3FFK, 3FF
HYD: PGS, LN, KN, 2CU
FED: 2NSC, NCL, 10FF
GRN: 2DD
THA: NCA

27 ships killed on each side for a total of 54; the Coalition also lost one and a half PF flotillas and a BATS. And a lot of held space.

Dice were mostly even, with the Alliance averaging 3.39 and the Coalition averaging 3.42, but the Coalition did get a freaky lucky kill, where due to rolling a 6 on combat and a 6 on VBIR, I got to shoot down a formation Fed NSC with exactly 36 points.

The Romulans also rolled a little up on cloak evasions, with 8 of 10 evasions making it.

Overall, I think the Alliance did well here; the Feds can have local ship superiority anywhere they want at this point, the Hydrans are taking up a lot of ships from being in other important places, as are the Tholians.

On to Turn 24, which is y180; the Klingons get X-ships (and X-money) on my next turn, the Feds get the same thing on their next turn. Exciting!

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Monday, March 18, 2019 - 05:38 pm: Edit

This one is going to the wire it seems.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Monday, March 18, 2019 - 06:34 pm: Edit

Looking at the maps you've posted, I find it amazing that the Alliance is making a comeback.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, March 18, 2019 - 06:45 pm: Edit

>>Looking at the maps you've posted, I find it amazing that the Alliance is making a comeback.>>

I'm not sure why--I've never set foot in the Fed capital; the Tholians showing up takes 75+ ships out of important areas, just to keep them from going berserk. The Kzinti still have their shipyard, and never lost their homeworld. The Alliance makes a *lot* of ships.

The Alliance pushing back at this point is inevitable. Like, if I took the Fed Capital or something, sure, the Alliance is done. But I never got there. And now it is too late, unless the Feds do something drastic and dumb.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Monday, March 18, 2019 - 07:22 pm: Edit

I guess because of the economic disparity. It looks like the Alliance is collecting Capitals, offmap, and very little else. I'd have thought that would be insufficient. I am interested to learn I was wrong. It will be interesting to watch the combined impact of X-ships, the 3rd way, and Tholian exit.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 05:33 am: Edit

Yeah, their economy is generally pretty bad, but between Commercial Convoys and Salvage, the Alliance has generally enough money to scrape by, and now that the Federation has enough ships to fight back (i.e. they can pick an area, pin everything there, and then attack targets with impunity in that area) and also keep the Coalition out of the Capital, they are pushing back.

If this was a basic rules game? Yeah, the Alliance probably would have died a long time ago. But the expansions prop up the Alliance a lot (more ships, more money, raids give them more room to move and do things, etc.).

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 09:56 am: Edit

I'm not understanding how the Tholians could go "berserk". Aren't they limited to two hexes outside their territory? Sure, they'll kill some border BATS and occupy a major planet, but it's not THAT big of a loss.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 10:07 am: Edit

Plus one expeditionary fleet.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 11:50 am: Edit

Well, ok, "berserk" is probably an overstatement most of the time. They can kill a few BATS, capture a major planet, and have a 12 ship detached fleet (which can go a full 6 hexes from Tholian space) which can go kill a couple star bases if you leave them undefended. You can completely ignore them other than a dozen ships on a couple star bases, and then you lose 3 or 4 BATS, a major planet, some provinces, and a lot of NZ hexes. Or you can put a chunk of ships down there, and make it harder to lose those resources, which is probably a better idea than not.

In my particular case, I shot myself in the foot on Turn 8 or so, when the Klingons decided to build a SB in hex 2916 (which was then followed by a paired Romulan SB), which is conveniently exactly 2 hexes from Tholian space (so the whole Tholian fleet can land there if it wants), as that was the safe place to build a SB. So I got more to worry about from the Tholians than most folks probably do in general. But even without those SBs sitting there, if you just ignore the Tholians, you lose a significant amount of stuff. Even if it is only 2 hexes from Tholian space.

And within 6 hexes of Tholian space (where they can send a 12 ships fleet), there are upwards of 5 Klingon BATS, Klingon SB, Klingon Major Planet, Klingon Minor Planet, 3 Romulan BATS, Romulan SB, 2 neutral planets that are probably held by the Coalition.

The Coalition need to keep an eye on them, have enough ships there to prevent them from killing anything important too easily, and then probably a reserve or two to go anywhere that the detached fleet can make it to.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 01:53 pm: Edit

Ah, now THAT makes sense.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Heh, yeah, even without the "I accidentally build a couple star bases in range of the whole Tholian fleet..." issue, they still can wreak some significant havoc. By T22, when they come out, they have a very significant fleet and the Neo Tholians. If you don't have a not insignificant number of ships down there, they can easily vaporize a few BATS, capture that Klingon major planet, and the 12 ship detached fleet has a lot of targets to hit. A Klingon Reserve on planet 2715, and then a dozen ships on the Klingon and Romulan BATS in the neighborhood will significantly defray their ability to kill things, but that is *still*, like, 3 dozen ships. And with those, the Tholains are Still gonna kill a bunch of stuff.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 06:09 pm: Edit

AT23

And the turn is over!

In Hydran space, most of the Hydran fleet is still on the map, spread out over hexes 0316 and 0317. They have two modest reserves off map, and then another dozen ships off map (most of the Fast ones).

In Kzinti space, most of the Kzinti fleet is split between 1401 and 1704, with about 20 ships on planet 1502. They have two moderate reserves off map.

In Fed space, most of their ships in in and around the Capital, with other significant fleets in 2505 and 3005, and then numerous groups of small groups of ships all over the place, but no significant fleets south of the xx08 line. They have have 4 reasonable reserves in 2908, the bulk of which are FFs.

In Gorn space, the Gorn are mostly held up in Capital 4402, with a modest fleet in 5004, and small groups of ships spread around various hard points. They have 2 full reserves in 4402.

The Tholians are all hunkered down in their Capital, with a solid reserve.

On to X-Ship economics!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 08:13 pm: Edit

CT24

y180 SP T24

The Romulans finished a SB in 3711. The Klingons now have a SBX over their homeworld, are converting a second SBX in their capital. This is the first time I have ever used X-ships and X-ship money, so it is possible I made an error somewhere. The Klingons build 2DX, converted a D7>DX, built an FRX, and are converting a capital SB>SBX.

Lyran Econ:

Command Points: 2

Exploration: 223+13=236 (+9, 250 next)

Treasury: 46.4 (AT23)

On Map Provinces (32): 30 (.75)= 22.5
Off Map Provinces(8): 26 (.75)= 19.5
Captured Provinces: 2.4+8=10.4 (.75)= 7.8
On Map Planets: (59): 59 (.75)= 44.25
Off Map Planets: (16): 16 (.75)= 12
Captured Planets: 7 (.75)= 5.25

Total: 157.7

Construction T24:
-21 SCS (6FFF, PF free below)
-10 STT
-6 NCA
-6 CWE
-10 2CW
-6+1 HDWE
-5+8 DWV
-12 3DW
-3.5 FFE
-6 2KSP (scout pods)
-3+2.5 CPF (5/6PF)
-0 1PF (free)

Construction Total: 100

Conversions:
-8 CL>BCP (-PF from pool, 0408)
-2 DN>DNH (0411)
-3 3BC>BCH (1407)

Conversion Total: 13

Repairs:
-1.5 (CWE 0404)
-3 (2DW 0608)
-4.5 (CW, 2DW 0617)

Repair Total: 9

Pay To Supply Ships:

Total Spent: 122

Treasury: 35.7

FFF Left: 0

Pool:
1 4/6PF, -1PF= 4/6PF
-----------------------------------------------

Klingon Econ:

Command Points: 5

Exploration: 147+8=155 (+6, 160 next)

Treasury EP: 73.425 (AT23)
Treasury XTP: 0

On Map Provinces (52): 50 (.75)= 37.5
Off Map Provinces(0): 12 (.75)= 9
Captured Provinces: 7.2+16=23.2 (.75)= 17.4
On Map Planets: (90): 90 (.75)= 67.5
Captured Planets: 16 (.75)= 12
XTP Conversion (20%, +10)= (38.68)

Total EP: 178.145

XTP from Conversion: 38.68
XTP from Planets (40%): 42.4
XTP Bonus: 6

Total XTP: 87.08

Construction T24:
-21+3 C8S (6FFF, PF)
-26 2DX (XTP)
-8 DWV (6FFF)
-10+3 D5P (+1PF)
-8 D5S
-7 MD5
-12 2AD5
-15 3D5
-6+1 HDWE
-8 2F5W
-12 3F5E
-7.5 3E4 (sub F5)
-2.5 E4
-3+2.5 (CPF+5/6PF)
-3 PF (to 0617 PDU)
-12 FRX (XTP)

Construction Total EP: 132.5
Construction Total XTP: 38

Conversions:
-36 SB>SBX (1411 Kangor) (18XTP, 18EP)
-7 D7>DX (1411) (XTP)
-3 D6>D6D (2916)
-3 D5>D5S (1411)

Conversion Total EP: 24
Conversion Total XTP: 25

Repairs:
-3 (AD5, F5W 1407)
-7.5 (5D5 1411)

Repair Total: 10.5

Adopting Lyrans: (12 Lyrans adopted CT17):
-Currently 7 adopted; 5 spare lines.

Adoption Total:

Total EP Spent: 167
Total XTP Spent: 63

Treasury EP: 11.145
Treasury XTP: 24.08

FFF Left: 0
-----------------------------------------------
Romulan Econ:

Command Points: 0+1=1

Spare Parts: 3, -1=2

Exploration: 115+10=125 (+5, 130 next)

Treasury: 39.3 (AT23)

On Map Provinces (62): 61 (.75)= 45.75
Off Map Provinces(0): 10 (.75)= 7.5
Captured Provinces: 7+16=23 (.75)= 17.25
On Map Planets: (51): 51 (.75)= 38.25
Captured Planets: 8 (.75)= 6

Total: 154.05

Construction T24:
-12 SUB (12 FFF)
-8 FH
-7 SPF
-20 4SP
-6+1 HDWE
-5.5 SKF
-10.5 3SK
-3.5 SEE (sub SK)
-7.5 3SEH
-10 FAL
-2.5 SN
-5 Command Point

Construction Total: 98.5

Conversions:
-3 WE>KE (4411)
-2 WE>SE (3711)

Conversion Total: 5

Repairs:
-12.5 (FAL, 2KE, 2SPM, SK, SKE 3711)
-6 (3KE 4309)
-8 (4KE 4411)

Repair Total: 26.5

Total Spent: 130

FFF Left: 0

Treasury: 24.05

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 09:05 pm: Edit

Getting the fun toys I see!

By Stefano Predieri (Preda) on Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 07:46 am: Edit

Can I ask why upgrade Kangor SB? Unless the game is already lost it will never see combat.

Given that there are at least 2/3 Klingon SB that will be at risk when the blue tide will come out again, I can't see why not gaining the really significative increase in power, EW and survivability that the conversion gives, on a SB that will see fight before the end of the game. Also that starbase-x can do any x-convesion (no cost limit, even outside capital exe), x-repair and produce x-frigates nearer the front where them will be more useful too...

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 07:55 am: Edit

IIRC - you get more X-Points if you have a SBX....

..and so keeping it safe has value!

Might be wrong though!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 08:03 am: Edit

>>Can I ask why upgrade Kangor SB? Unless the game is already lost it will never see combat.>>

'Cause it is an easy, safe conversion that already has a TG on sitting on it, and primary exists to do conversions in a location that often has ships sitting on it for repair purposes. It is not remotely impossible that the KLI SB in 0617 or 2916 could get upgraded next turn, but the second SBX in the Klingon Capital is very convenient for conversions and repairs, and I'm not particularly concerned about the use of the SBXs in combat (i.e. their combat potential is unlikely to ever actually come up regardless of where they are).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 08:09 am: Edit

>>IIRC - you get more X-Points if you have a SBX....>>

You do get +1XTP per turn for each SBX you have; sort of a long term rebate. But that is a pretty minor advantage.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, March 29, 2019 - 09:30 am: Edit

CT24

Raids have happened and moves are underway!

The Romulans successfully raided 2 north edge Fed provinces.

In Hydran space, the Coalition are currently moving to pin a big mess of Hydrans that are in hex 0316. There will probably end up just being a giant pinning mob and a single round of combat.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition have pinned everything at SB 1704 (about 99SEQ on a side), and sent a significant fleet to go retake planet 1802 (which is devastated and undefended).

In Fed space, the substantial Tholian border squadron has moved north to attack planet 2811, which is minimally defended. Two modest fleets (one Lyran and one Romulan) on the edges of Tholian space have moved back to their respective star bases. As such,clearly nothing is attacking the Tholians this turn.

In Romulan space, the Romulans have sent a fleet to attack one of the last standing Gorn BATS so far in 4203. Some Gorn have reacted in from the Capital.

Lots and lots of ships left to move.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, March 30, 2019 - 04:55 pm: Edit

CT24

Moves keep rolling.

In Hydran space, there is now a giant mob of Coalition (~120 SEQ) and an even gianter mob of Hydrans (~170 SEQ) in 0316. Now that the Coalition have done a careful count of ships and SEQ, it turns out that if the Coalition successfully pin all the Hydrans in 0316, they'll have about 6 total ships left to move in Hydran space, and the Hydrans will still have another 30 some odd SEQ in 0117. The Coalition are currently deciding what to do about this.

In Kzinti space, it looks like the Coalition is mostly just pinning the 100 some odd SEQ at SB 1704, retaking planets 1504 and 1802 in force (so as to foil any possible reserves that could show up), and otherwise just securing as much of Kzinti space as possible without hitting planets 1001 or 1202.

In Fed space, so far, the Klingons have hit planet 1811 with a significant force (probably enough to dissuade Fed reserves) and have sent their 100 some odd SEQ B10 led fleet to attack SB 2808. The Feds can still react and reserve a lot of ships there to bolster the 45 some odd SEQ that are on the SB.

In Gorn space, the Romulans have hit BATS 4203 with enough ships to kill it certainly, but the Gorn have a significant fleet defending it currently (a bunch of ships reacted in). The have also sent a large fleet towards the Gorn capital hexes; the Gorn have plenty of ships to react into Capital hexes and defend there, but the Romulans could hit hex 4403 to redevastate and/or 4503 to attack PDUs and or/SB if they were so inclined. The Romulans originally thought they were going to be really clever with cloaked movement, but then upon rereading the cloaked movement rules, it turns out that you can only move 12 ships in a single cloaked fleet, and if the cloaked ships enter a hex with enemy units, you can react anyway. So yeah, that didn't work out. But they'll certainly attack something.

Lots and lots left to move in Fed space.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, April 03, 2019 - 06:41 pm: Edit

CT24

In Gorn space, the, Romulans hit previously devastated capital hex 4403 with about 40 ships and untouched captial hex 4503 with about 20 ships. They don't have a ton of ships left to move, so it seems likely that the Gorn will react a lot of ships out of 4402 into these hexes.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition looks mostly done moving, with fights in 1504 and 1802, and not much Kzinti opposition but for reserves; also probably a pinning fight in 1704.

In Hydran space, the Coalition seem to have given up hope on pinning the Hydrans, and have just a fight in 0316, and then a lot of space capturing.

So far in Fed space, the Klingons are hitting SB 2808, where there were a bunch of ships, and then a bunch more reacted in (the Klingons may or may not mean to actually fight the SB), they have a significant fleet hitting planet 2610 (already devastated and lightly defended), and a significant fleet hitting planet 2811, also lightly defended. Lots of potential moves to happen in Fed space.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, April 07, 2019 - 02:29 pm: Edit

CT24

Moves seem to be mostly finishing up at this point.

Nothing has changed in Hydran space. There is a big mob fight that will probably be 1 round of combat in hex 0316, and other than that, the Coalition is just locking down as much of Hydran space as they can.

In Kzinti space, still only 2 combat hexes--undefended, devastated planet 1802 and devastated planet 1504 which has about 15 ships on it that reacted in. The Kzinti have 2 modest reserves that can back that up, but certainly, like, won't win at planet 1802 or anything.

In Gorn space, the Romulans are hitting devastated capital hex 4403 with enough stuff to redevistate it (but probably not recapture it) against the ships that reacted in; capital hex 4503 with enough ships to probably strip PDUs off of one of the planets and possibly devastate it vs what reacted in, and enough ships attacking BATS 4203 to kill it. The Romulans might get messed up in all those hexes if they direct fixed targets. The Gorn have 2 strong reserves to back up those 3 fights.

In Fed space, so far the Coalition are hitting 6 places where there are weak Fed targets with large forces, and have a giant fleet on SB 2808 which may or may not intend to tay and kill it. There is still a big pile of Klingons left to move, but nothing real important for them to hit. The Feds have 4 reserves that can move, but none of them are that spectactular (mostly a CR10 ship, a few NCLs, and then the rest FFs; not all of them have scouts). The Coalition is also choking off most of Fed space.

The Tholians are not being engaged.

A few moves left to go.