Klingon eco: 160 income all sources. Borrow 31 more. Discover colony offmap, but bungled diplomacy sends yet another NZ planet to the Feds. Worst diplomacy rolls in any game I've had - diplomacy going to Feds due to my 6's!

Pay 2.7 interest.

Pay 5 EP for the Invicible, roll a 6 (woot!)

Build D7C, FD7, D6M, D5H, D5V, AD5, 6*D5, F5E, 5*F5, 3*E4. Activate 2*D6, 2*F5, 3*E4.

Convert D6->D6M, 2*D7->D7C using CDR. Convert BATS 1009 to SB (no additional fighter) for ComCon duty.

Work on 3*F5 Mi_SY using 2*COE (built one last turn) and a Convoy for 5 EPs total.

Repairs: 39.5 EPs for 28 hulls.

Wyn trade: Lyrans transfer 3 to Klingons. Klingons pick up 8 with TGA (including 5 they already had) and deliver 6.


Lyrans:

126.8 income all sources. Borrow another 24.

Pay 2.5 interest

Build BC, TGC, LTT, 3*CW, 3*DW, 3*FFT.

2*COE Continue 2*FF Mi_SY and a convoy pays 5 EPs and works on a Major CF.

Convert BATS 1202->SB (no fighter). Convert CA->DN, CL->CLV, DD->SC (CDR), CL->CLS (CDR).

Repairs: 49 EPs for 31 hulls.


Raids: 6 normal raids plus one E&S mission (Lyran) to attempt to disrupt Hydran economy.

All raids but 1 succeeds. I blow up a Kzinti POL in 1101 and blow up an impertinent HN attempting to disrupt a Lyran province. The E&S mission fails, but the PT survives.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 - 01:57 pm: Edit

My cripple backlog is very light.

Klingons: 2*D7, 2*D6, 3*F5L, F5, 2*E4, E4A, E3A

Lyrans: CL, DW, 3*FF

Of those, the D6/D7 were deliberately held back (or not on a repair point) so I can convert them using CDR on C6. So, really, my actually unresolved backlog is only 13 hulls (vice 17).

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 - 02:23 pm: Edit

Well, light right now. You haven't laid siege to 1401 again yet this turn. I expect that to change!

And yeah I released the East Fleet. It's Turn 5, they'd only sit for one more turn unreleased, and I had a shot to bag 1807 on the cheap, so I took it! Honestly even if he moves those ships to the HTO, he'll have to move them right back in a turn unless he wasn't going to attack the Feds, in which case I just bought the Feds three more turn of breathing room. Yeah they'll be at Limited War, but the East Fleet could head to the HTO anyway, this way I got something for it.

By Thomas Mathews (Turtle) on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 - 06:21 pm: Edit

I'm of the opinion that releasing the East Fleet on Alliance Turn 5 is not a bad thing. Mostly because you need them at the Klingon waist to help discourage the Hydran Expedition. I'm sure most of the coalition experts can stop the Hydran Expedition with a combination of the West, Southern Reserve and Home Fleet, plus new construction. But it is easier wtih the Klingon East Fleet in the way too.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 - 06:39 pm: Edit

I always make sure to send a few East Fleet ships to defend the NE BATS or so, just to keep the Kzintis honest (and they'll be useful there on turn 7). If I am alliance and the Coalition DONT do that, then there's a good chance I'll kill BATS up there on turn 5 or 6.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Friday, August 09, 2019 - 05:47 pm: Edit

C5 movement: I attack Duke's SB with enough force it will take both reserves to save it. I attack 1401 with enough force that nothing can save it. I also attack a few other minor targets.

In the HTO I pin SB 716 and attack two more BATs (including the hinterlands one) as well as the capital and major 718. I also attack a few other minor targets, especially the upstart Hydrans claiming Lyran provinces.

Combat: I destroy the two Hydran BATS. A reserve saves the major planet. No actual fighting over 716 as I shove off. I go into the capital and burn 8*PDU off of the major planets (other than the capital itself) and then leave with the following damage:

KIA: D5, F5L, D6M (PURSUIT)
WIA: D7C, D6M, 5*D5, F5L, 4*F5, D6J, CC

West fleet is in 318 and cannot retro, with D7 and F5G crippled. They're dead on A5. I also took crippled D7, F5, and E4G due to lucky rolls in 614.

Hydrans lose HN, CU, POL in the process. At 718 the Hydrans had a RN direct crippled (that or fighters!)


In the ZTO, Duke's SB goes down after 4 rounds, while I eat EFF and 3*FF. Cripples: Mostly fighters here, and I have only D5 and 6*F5 crippled.

He loses another FF in a small pinning battle. In 1701 his reserve stomps a D5 into the dust and opens supply for the Marquis for A5.

The capital combat is ongoing, but it is seeing monster lines from the Coalition. On round 7 I field my "weakest" line of 139/11.

Damage so far (6 rounds). Coalition has pushed their BIR selection to 5.

Klingon KIA: D6S (directed and captured).
Lyran KIA: DW (self kill).
Kzinti KIA: CLD (directed), FFK (self), 2*SAD (directed).

Klingon WIA: TGA+AA
Lyran WIA: 2*TGC+AA, 16*CW, 5*DW, DWS
Kzinti WIA: BC, FFK, 6*CVS, BCE, 4*MEC, CLE, 4*FKE, 2*EFF, D6S (captured).

Kzinti major was devastated (self) on round 6. The SB has yet to take a SIDS.

At this point he only has two CVS groups left, and then he's down to taking cripples on normal ships. In my estimation he has 1-3 rounds of fight left in him before he runs, and I'm guessing 1 because he's already taken a lot of cripples.

Kzinti have 48 fighters left, but a full line takes 30. Again, 1 more round probably. Coalition has 44 fighters, but haven't taken any yet in order to field those monster lines.

Combat to pick up with round 7 later.

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Friday, August 09, 2019 - 08:54 pm: Edit

Klingons lost 2 D6S', one of which was captured.

By chris upson (Misanthropope) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 - 12:29 am: Edit

were the D6S on the line when they got popped?

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 - 12:54 pm: Edit

Sure were!

Only way the Coalition can get a 14÷ EW line. I shot into a -2 shift the first two rounds because of those D6S'.

By chris upson (Misanthropope) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 - 04:34 pm: Edit

you can hit low 130s/ low teens relying on D6Ds or D5Ss (with drones and maybe prime teams, anyhow), which is just kind of what i was envisioning.

the absolute best coalition lines dont have battle-groups in them of course but i love me some D5S anyhow.

I think I'd need to have a half dozen D6S (in total, i mean) before I started offering them up, but got to admit, whatever the long term consequences ted sold those D6S for a pretty high price.

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 - 07:20 pm: Edit

I don't think he can build D5S' yet, but they're coming. Ted also hasn't built very many D6Ds.

It's worth bearing in mind that there is absolutely nothing the Alliance can do about losing a capital in the 1st seven turns. Either 1401 or 617 goes down at some point. And Ted started hitting 1401 from T2. So 4 turns of constant assault led to the fall of Kzintai. And I can accept that. I've taken my toll on him, and honestly couldn't have defended it much better, if at all.

The Kzinti being unchained from 1401 can be a very dangerous thing. Which is why Ted is setting up a SB over 1202, and I'm sure another will be started at 1502 at some point, or maybe 1802 if he wants to wait a turn or two.

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar2) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 - 09:51 pm: Edit

D5S YIS = Y168 !!!

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 - 11:07 pm: Edit

Oh well in that case, I don't know why he's not building them. The Klingons haven't needed them though!

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, August 12, 2019 - 04:52 pm: Edit

Kzintai has fallen on C5 after 9 rounds of combat (and one round of slow pursuit). Rob fought hard and well, but the dice clearly favored the Coalition, with several 1/6 splits in my favor and a few 1/5s or 2/5s as well. Of course, me having monster compot/EW lines helped a lot.

Klingon KIA: TGA+AL (expensive), D6S (captured), both directed.
Klingon WIA: TGA+AA

Lyran KIA: DW (self kill), SC (directed).
Lyran WIA: 2*TGC+A, 19*CW, 5*DW, DWS

Kzinti KIA: SB, CLD (directed), FFK (self), CLE (dir), EFF (dir), LAV, SAV, LAS, MON, 2*SAD, FHL, FTS
Kzinti WIA: BC, DD, FFK, 6*CVS, BCE, 5*MEC, CLE, 4*FKE, 2*EFF.

Coalition stays and raises the Lyran Emperor's flag over Kzintai.

I'll do the end of turn (retro/strat/reserves) later.

At this point, the Kzinti only retain the Marquis provinces (though 1701 and 1702 are disrupted due to the presence of Kzinti ships).

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, August 12, 2019 - 04:53 pm: Edit

As for D5S's I've been husbanding resources, and only want to use CDR to build D5Ss, and it hasn't been convenient yet. And I haven't needed them so far. However, these units are bound to start appearing as the war drags on.

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Monday, August 12, 2019 - 05:25 pm: Edit

ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE KZINTI HEGEMONY.
ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE KZINTI HEGEMONY.
ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE KZINTI HEGEMONY.

THE COALITION HAS ASSUMED CONTROL.
THE COALITION HAS ASSUMED CONTROL.
the coalition has assumed control...

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 - 12:22 pm: Edit

C5 is over.

The ZTO is now in control of the Coalition, but for the Marquis area. I have more than enough non-crippled units remaining to pin him out of 1202 (where a Lyran BATS is growing up to a SB this turn) and out of 1307 (my FRD park and cripples). I have one weak reserve of 9 ships (D7C and small fry) in 1307 to keep him honest. I only left 8 ships in the Kzinti capital - just enough to keep it under control. I have a reserve of 9 good ships in 1813 (all East fleet ships) to make sure that his 24 ships in range of NR SB (plus the several ships on that SB) won't be able to take out Northern Reserve starbase.

Next turn Rob *could* send in a fleet to 1401, but doing so would provoke the wrath of my large fleets in 1202. I deem it more likely that he will free up 1502, 1504, and kill a few pickets, and then deposit most, if not all, of the Kzinti navy on Marquis starbase in order to become a real headache for me on C6. At least, that is the prediction. We will see if the wily kitties come up with something better.

In the HTO, as mentioned above, this turn I only killed 2 BATS (515 and 318), plus I removed 8 PDUs (the 4 PDUs on each of the two major outer planets in the Hyrdran capital systems). Casualties were light deliberately,k because at the end of the turn I could only move two FRDs from the park up north to 1213.

I left all of the fleets forward deployed this turn (most in 717, 7 SEQ in 817, and 27 SEQ in 815). I backed them up with two half-sized Lyran reserves (11 SEQ in all) and two moderately powerful Klingon reserves (23 SEQ in all). I am setting up two MB (one Klingon, one Lyran) in hex 916, with an AUX park of 11 SEQ there. In the Lyran Enemy's Blood hinterlands I left 12 SEQ in 312 as a defense against further incursion, and 6 SEQ (plus 6 POLs) in 109 to keep that BATS safe. I left a reserve of 2 SEQ in the Lyran capital "just in case".

Shockingly, the Hydrans still occupy one Lyran province (211) with a CR and SC and will gain an EP from it this turn!

The Hydrans maintain 22 SEQ of relatively weak units in 114, 213, and 215 in roughly equal measure. They have a fleet of 23 SEQ of mostly small fry in 716. Most of their fleet (some 60 SEQ plus 6 in AUXCVs) is in 617 of course.

There's a lot of potential things he can do in the HTO. However, my prognostication machine says he will body slam my 4 ships and 2 cripples in 318 (the cripples (D7, F5G) die, die, die, out of supply!). He'll probably make some more hay in the LTO, and then attack to burn up some fighters and then re-distribute ships to protect SBs 215, 716, and the capital. We shall see what he actually does!

Over to Rob for A5. It may be next week, as he is on business travel.

By Stephen Stewart (Stevestewart) on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 07:42 am: Edit

Nice 2112 reference!

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 07:51 pm: Edit

Hey! Somebody got it!

Thanks

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 08:57 pm: Edit

Your audience is a bunch of sci-fi nerds in their 40s.

We all got it :-)

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Thursday, August 15, 2019 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Actually I always assumed more in their 50's!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, August 15, 2019 - 02:17 pm: Edit

Heh, maybe? Like, I suspect that SFB was at it's early high point in the early 80's (a great deal of gaming media saturation due to the success and sensationalized AD+D at the time; SFB got a *lot* of ad time in Dragon Magazine, for example), and a lot of folks got sucked in in, like, middle/early high school (I started playing in, like, 1983 or so when I was 12 or 13). I mean, there certainly are folks older than that (and younger than that), but most of the folks I know who are long term, hard core SFB players are, like, +/- 4 or 5 years of me, age wise.

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Friday, August 16, 2019 - 11:49 am: Edit

Ted's crystal ball is very accurate for this turn. Though to be fair he's got so many •••• ships it would be hard for him to be wrong at this point. Alliance Fleets are still moving, but so far are true to form to his predictions.

By Rob Padilla (Zargan) on Friday, August 16, 2019 - 12:01 pm: Edit

AT5 Econ Phase:

Kzinti Econ:
Starting EPs: 14.7
Income Generated: 37
Total: 51.7

Ship Builds: 6.5 EP (FKE,FF)
Repairs: 25 EP (5xCVS,CVL,5xMEC,2xEFF,FKE)
Other Production: 15 EP (PT,POL, FF SY w/ENG, Major SY)
Conversions: 5 EP and 1.5 FFF
CVL to CVS
EFF to FKE

Remaining EPs: 0.2

Hydran Econ:
Starting EPs: 5.5
Income Generated: 65
Total: 70.5

Ship Builds: 44 EP (DG,2xHR,TR,LN,2xCU,HNG)
Repairs: 2 EP (DG)
Other Production: 20 EP (2xPDU,2xPGB,PT,POL, Major CF (ENG))
Conversions: 3 EP and 8 FFF
DG to LB (CDR)
RN to CV

Remaining EPs: 1

By Bill Steele (Bill83501) on Friday, August 16, 2019 - 03:14 pm: Edit

When did the original box come out? with the rulebook being a few 8.5x11 pages stapled in the middle? Ah, youth