Paul's strats and reserves are done. There is some Southern emphasis, but it's not as heavy a weighting as I had imagined. Of the seven reserves, three are in the North, three are in the South, and a small one is in the middle. The Southern ones are a little stronger, including the new C8 for instance. He sent 2FRD South but still has 5 in the North (stacked with a big pile of crips). So at this point, I can't be sure if his next main emphasis will be Hydrans or Feds.

Of the two remaining Coalition BATS within range of Hydrax, the Klingon one (1214) is heavily defended. The Lyran one isn't.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Friday, May 24, 2019 - 09:25 pm: Edit

Kzinti economy, turn 4. The Kzinti have four supply grids, one for each SB.

Barony:
Survey roll 7
Survey total 45
Survey EP 4
Offmap 17
Capital
Planets
Provinces
Income 21
From last turn 0.2
Total Money 21.2

Repairs
Barony
5CVS 12.5
CM, 2MEC 4.5
TGCBB 2
SF 1

Subtotal 20

Conversion
CM > MEC 1

Total spending 21

Money after Econ 0.2

Partial grids:
Count's 2EP saved + 1 received, spent 2.5 on FF, leaving 0.5EP
Duke's 1EP saved + 1 received =2EP, spent to convert BC > CC.
Marquis 7EP, spent 5.5 on repairs, leaving 1.5EP

Command points: 0 saved + 1 received = 1.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Friday, May 24, 2019 - 09:27 pm: Edit

Hydran economy, turn 4

Survey roll 16
Survey total 27
Survey EP 2
Offmap 17
Capital 24
Planets 11
Provinces 13
Income 67
From last turn 9.5
Total Money 76.5

Repairs
Hydrax 4.5
1st SB 2

Subtotal 6.5

Builds
PAL 16
TG 7.5
2HR 10
3CU 7.5
2HN 5
AH 3.5
TR 5
2PDU 14

Subtotal 68.5

Total spending 75

Money after Econ 1.5

Also:
Exp SB 2EP, spent on HN>AH and HN>SC, none left

Command points: 1 saved + 1 received = 2 available

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Friday, May 24, 2019 - 09:31 pm: Edit

Incidentally, I know people were asking about the BC-> CC conversions I did earlier. For much of the Kzintai battle, the Kzinti line included 6CC. I think that justifies the expense. The one I did this turn was a sub-optimal use of the 2EP. The problem is that it's unclear whether or not the Kzinti will hold that SB for another turn. They could use Orion smuggling to get 1EP out. But I think that even though the Kzintai battle is over, converting BC>CC is worth more than the 1EP they would get that way.

In a non-basic game, I would definitely be converting to EW units instead -- CD or CLD, for example.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, May 24, 2019 - 11:03 pm: Edit

Are the Kzinti, ya know, not starting a new shipyard?

That seems a sub-optimal plan...

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 05:55 am: Edit

Although the Lyrans massively gain from the multi SB conversions - the Kzinti have done well with BC>CC conversions.

For example, over 1401 - 3 x CC is better than even a CV+MEC+EFF group (and there isn't many MEC's!) and 6 CC's probably averaged 1 more damage a round than 6 hull other hulls would have.

On Coalition reserves - 2 reserves were formed in the North form existing ships which didn't move - and I ran out of Strat Move points

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 06:02 am: Edit

Peter -- My philosophy on that subject is different. The early game for the Alliance is all about slowing down the Coalition offensive. Therefore, the top priority needs to be repairs.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 07:55 am: Edit

Well, do the thing that works for you, but getting 7 extra hulls repaired this turn is permanently eliminating 6 or 7 extra hulls from existence in the long run (as you have one less turn of ship construction when you have the full economy that you have), and the cripples will all get repaired eventually.

But, well, you be you and make it work!

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Monday, May 27, 2019 - 09:59 am: Edit

A4 op move is well underway. The most important Coalition positions are Kzintai and two FRD parks, one in the North and one in the South. All are sufficiently well-defended that the Alliance are attacking elsewhere instead. The Kzinti are trying to retake three captured planets. The Hydrans have a significant attack on BATS 413 (the Lyran BATS that is within range of Hydrax) and are also attacking nearby BATS 214. Both Kzinti and Hydrans have also picked multiple open-space fights in locations where they can get superior forces. However, some of these fights could be reserved.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 - 07:18 pm: Edit

A4 op move is done. In addition to the above, two Klingon BATS on the Kzinti border are under attack -- 907 and 1107. 1107 is defended by a now-pinned reserve, and 907 could be reserved.

Paul I sent a file to your AOL email.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 02:37 am: Edit

Thanks - looking at my reserve options

Alas the Coalition can't be everywhere....and where I am not in strength, the Alliance have attacked.

Probably overdefended 1401.....

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 09:33 am: Edit

After reserves --

BATS 413 and 906 defenders are heavily outmatched.
BATS 213 defenders look to be in good shape.
Including the BATS, 1107 defenders are roughly equal to the attackers.
Kzinti are well ahead at one conquered minor planet and well behind at another. At a third planet, Kzinti will have an initial compot edge, but they will have all their ships on the line, while the Coalition will not.

By chris upson (Misanthropope) on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 11:18 am: Edit

what coalition cripples are on the BATS that will fall?

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 07:01 pm: Edit

Lyran CC on one and CW on the other. Paul has done a pretty good job of spreading his crips out to appropriate places. This will delay a couple of repairs, but it's not exactly Earth-shattering.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Saturday, June 01, 2019 - 06:56 am: Edit

Well, 3 Coalition BATS have died - 413, 906 and 1107.

Reserves saved 212.

I think I had too many Coalition Carriers in 1401 - as my compot on the BATS was pretty poor (lots of F5's and E4's)

With the amount of cripples - cash was going to be tight again - so the few ships retreating from their repair point this turn, I am not too concerned!

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, June 03, 2019 - 09:53 am: Edit

Well, I'll let William post the positive points from Alliance turn 4 - he did well!

Dice started off badly for me - but got better towards the end - although the Coalition stands at a 100% failure rate on pursuits - weird as it may be, the Coalition had their first pursuit attempt right at the end of Alliance turn 4....and failed in with a roll of 6 (6 ships pursued). Williams pursuits are pretty much average (I think there was 2 failures this round - although 1 was on a 1 needed and the other a 50/50 and 3 successes).

Tactically - I probably massively overdefended 1401 with Carriers - as I perhaps could have taken 30 less damage say by spreading them out. I incorrectly assumed William would pile back into 1401 just to burn up fighters and get cheap cripples on me.

It might have also allowed the new Escorts to Escort carriers - as in a few battles, AD5's and F5E's was used as normal ships!

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Monday, June 03, 2019 - 01:26 pm: Edit

Well, it's all situational. Often, the Alliance have to take what they are given. With Paul's actual setup, they were definitely not given Kzintai.

The Kzinti killed 2 BATS and temporarily kicked the Coalition off of two captured planets. The Hydrans also killed a BATS.
Dead are named below; crips are merely counted:

Lyran: STT, BATS, FF, 11 crippled.
Hydran: LM, CR, CU, HN, 5 crippled
Kzinti: BC, 2EFF, 6 crippled
Klingon: 2BATS, F5S, D5, 17 crippled.

The Hydrans weren't directing much and even passed up the chance to direct in some pursuits, because I felt that crippling Coalition forces will help the Hydrans hold out longer. I also failed to notice a chance the Kzinti had to direct on a crippled Lyran CC. As a result of all this, the Alliance actually lost more ships killed than the Coalition did, while taking many fewer crippled. Of course their fighters also helped.

The Hydrans are going to be under pressure on Coalition turn 5. They will likely give ground somewhere.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 09:53 am: Edit

Some confusion about a rules issue. A carrier is in supply as of the end of combat, then retros to a base where it is out of supply. The base itself was out of supply at the start of the turn, in supply at the end of combat, and again oos after retroes. My current impression is that the carrier does not get replacement fighters. Supply for retro is determined at the start of retro, but I'm thinking that's only for retro, not for other purposes during the retro phase. I just wanted to confirm here before running to Q&A as the answer is probably well known, at least by those who know it well.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 10:34 am: Edit

Hopefully this makes it clearer - basically after combat - all Kzinti forces are in full supply (nice wiggly line back to the Barony).

William would like to retrograde all the ships back from two liberated Kzinti planets - which cuts 1304 and 902 off from the main supply grid (I have ships next to the two planets and he doesn't) and being a nice chap, I pointed out that it would stop the replacement fighters being received

SOP has the (reduced order) of Supply/Retro/Replacement Fighters and PF's so I think I am correct.

(2K Rules might have had retro and replacements at the same 'stage'?)

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 10:44 am: Edit

I kinda think so too. I just like to get this sort of thing sorted out.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 12:11 pm: Edit

Retroing to newly liberated planets?

If they were liberated in this player turn, they aren't supply points or retrograde points at all. If so, things may need another look.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 01:03 pm: Edit

No, retroing to SB that are usually OOS but were in supply at the start of the retro phase

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 01:04 pm: Edit

Richard

No - the planets with the Kzinti ships on kept the supply lines to 902 and 1304 open.... without them it gets closed.

(i.e. the planets are actually irrelevant at this moment, the Kzinti ships that were in the hexes aren't though )

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 04:24 pm: Edit

I was answering due to a comment of retrograding to newly liberated planets.

Perhaps I misunderstood and the comment isn't as I thought.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 05:21 pm: Edit

Sorry - looks like William and I replied at the same time to your question