Archive through December 20, 2019
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Federation & Empire: F&E INPUT:
F&E Tactical Notes:
Archive through December 20, 2019
Quote:By Karl Mangold (Karlsolomon) on Saturday, November 30, 2019 - 09:07 am: Edit
Thomas-
The limitation to colony development is what you're building them with. Realistically its Tugs or Convoys, and tugs are valuable and convoys expensive for the purpose. While I agree with you in principle, the logistics of pulling this off are difficult.
Just my (devil's advocate) 2 cents.
Don't forget you have those FFTs or other small theater transports that can do mission X (509.1-X) using (509.23). I wouldn't build more of those theater transports unless you have 2 of the required 3 to fully do said mission. Remember that you only need a maximum of 3 colony building capable units unless you are the Federation, Romulans or ISC as they can start 2 colonies per turn and would need a maximum of 6 such units.
Hmmm, 3 TTs for 1 EP/turn and 3 turns, 2 TTs for 0.67 EP/turn and 4.5 turns (the fifth turn with one TT @ 0.33 EP) or one TT for .33 EP/turn and 9 turns.
Could save the cost of a convoy if there are two 'spare' TTs but at it does take more time, still might be useful...
To Convert A Ship to a Larger Hull Or Not?
Where is the decision point for not doing this (or when does the cost make it not worth doing)?
Stewart
I was going to ask the same question
When not to convert?
When a ship will always die per battle hex.... the cheaper the better.
Occasionally a battle might not generate enough damage to kill a DW (when 12 would kill a FF) - but that will true with a FF when less than 12 damage is done.
The other time is cash.
With so many toys in the game (some adding eps - Convoys and Colonies for example - others taking it away - Patrol/Interdiction Carriers for example) - mass conversions of smaller hulls to bigger hulls will only ever occasionally be done.
(Noting the one off per turn things generally- Lyran CL and CA to BC/DN, Romulan WE to KE and Gorn CL to BC).
Paul, that depends on one's personal production direction as well as their (perceived) needs …
I'll fix it this weekend.
"When a ship will always die per battle hex.... the cheaper the better."
I once saw a player convert every one of his Lyran FF into DW, being absolutely certain it was worth the cost, as the DW was so much better.
Sure enough, later on he's putting DW's out as garrison duty, losing them to alliance attacks, and skipping builds due to lack of funds.
Sometimes it's better to keep those little ships little.
Like every little ship, it dies unless supported …
...I would expand that further - every ship can die unless supported.
If a CC gets caught by a 45 compot force - it will probably die.
Frigates are needed to stop more expensive ships dying - yes, occasionally a DW might live when a FF would have died - but every chance of that failing, costs you several Ep's!
Of course, you could decide to NOT Garrison enemy space to avoid losing expensive DW's and up hulls....but then the Enemy wins anyway.
Fun Games that Star Fleet Can Play in the Early War
Rob Padilla
USS New Jersey
The Federation in the early war does not have a whole lot that they can to to really mess with the Coalition. While the Klingons and Romulans are busy flipping Neutral Zone planets, all the Federation can do is send their own Diplomats to make it a bit harder on them, but this can cost the Federation and their Allies some extra income in the early game. But there is something that the Federation can do to help even out the income gain the Coalition can get from these actions. If you look at the map closely, you'll notice that any Strategic Movement path that can connect the Klingons to the Romulans (and by default the Lyrans) must go through or adjacent to hex 3116. This is assuming the Klingons hold Minor Planet 2715. If the Federation places one or more ships in hex 3116, then any potential Strategic Movement path is cut thus denying the Coalition any diplomatic income for at least three turns (7, 8 and 9) that could be gained by having Diplomats in each other's capitals. Leaving the ships there after Turn 9 will be risky since they will be vulnerable during the Romulan invasion, but Turn 10's Diplomatic income could be denyed as well.
This gives the Coalition the choice of either accepting the loss of the extra income, or they activate the 6th Fleet early and clear the Strategic Movement path. They could also setup a MB closer to the Romulans to re-establish the path, but the time that will take means the path would not be re-established before Turn 9 at the earliest, and is probably not the best use of a MB.
Also during the early war, the Federation has a shortage of Survey Ships in the Offmap. Since the 3 CVLs and 1 COV get pulled from Survey Duty, they have 4 unused slots they need to fill. If the Federation uses their Diplotmatic Income from Turns 2 through 6 they can start converting Mothball CAs to GSCs. Converting two of the mothballed CAs will allow the Feds to replace all 4 survey ships in just two turns (1 activation and one conversion on turns 7 and 8). Otherwise it will take until Turn 12 to field all 4 missing survey slots, as we all know that the CVLs and COV will NOT be getting sent back to survey duty!
Rob
I am guessing the Fed survey ships will be covered on other tactic notes, but you may want to add some details on 3116.
A) It may well stop Klingon Diplomatic Income, but
B) It will only be stopped if the Klingons attack the Federation
C) It will not stop Romulan Diplomatic Income until turn 10 (or 11, if it can be claimed prior to war....)
Not to mention that when the Klingons invade, that force at 3116 is just another target … (though it might 'save' another target through force delusion) ...
Dilution? I will admit to be delusional on occasion.
Paul,
If the Klingons attack those ship(s), then they activate the 6th Fleet and free it's reserve. Probably not worth the cost. 3116 is in the 6th Fleet area.
When the Federation goes to Limited War I am pretty sure that cuts the Klingons Strategic Movement path to the Romulans. And trade needs the two way connection, which is why the Federation cannot get trade EPs from the Hydrans starting on T3.
As with all tactics, Rob's proposal is no silver bullet and it can be overcome. However, it's a nice little tool in many cases.
Rob
Sorry you have misread the Klingon point - it's not about attacking 3116 - its about being at war with the Feds - or not being at War with the Feds.
If the Klingons don't attack the Feds - trade will continue.
If the Klingons do attack, I don't think it would affect the Romulans - as they are not at war with the Feds - or Allied to the Klingons, so why would it stop Romulan "trade ships"?
I don't think there is anything stopping the Federation have a Diplomat in 617 and gaining Ep's for the Hydrans and Federation - same reason as above - Fed Trade ships are not at war.
I might be wrong..... but I don't think so 
interesting question. I would argue that because the KLINGONS are at war with the Federation, the KLINGON-ROMULAN supply connection is broken. The Klingon side of it doesn't work. Hence no SM path is present.
The extreme compensating strategy is for the Klingons to hold a party at the Tholian dyson sphere.
But, you are right if the Klingons don't attack, the trade will still be present.
Quote:The extreme compensating strategy is for the Klingons to hold a party at the Tholian dyson sphere.
This is what I'm going to do! >8)
Quote:The extreme compensating strategy is for the Klingons to hold a party at the Tholian dyson sphere.
Hah! The Klingons suffer from delusions of grandeur adequacy!
"
By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, December 19, 2019 - 11:10 am: Edit
interesting question. I would argue that because the KLINGONS are at war with the Federation, the KLINGON-ROMULAN supply connection is broken. The Klingon side of it doesn't work. Hence no SM path is present. "
We may be over thinking this.
In simple term - could a neutral nation cross over from the Federation to the Klingon, if both sides are at war?
(Also true for the Gorns for example).
540.23 requires there to be a valid SM route from the Diplomatic Teams Hex to their Capital.
So if there was a Gorn Dip team in 1411 or a Romulan Dip in 1411, prior to the Gorns or Romulans entering the war, they are allowed to use Klingon and Federation Strategic Movement Nodes to get back to their capitals - if several bases have been destroyed, there may not be a valid route - but assuming there isn't a 6 hex gap, I can't see why the Federation or Klingons would stop a Gorn or Romulan Dip Team working?
Clearly - a Klingon Dip Team in the Romulan Capital would not be able to be used for trade (once the Feds and Klingons are at war) unless a Coalition SMN only route was created.
Because the Feds wouldn't allow the Klingons to benefit from a Klingon-Romulan trade. Assuming, of course, the Klingons are at war with the Federation. If not, then clearly the Rom dip would work.
On the other hand, you have a valid argument. Maybe you should carry it over to Q&A.
Rob, once the Feds go to limited war, it does cut the strategic movement link between the Klingons and Romulans. I asked that question earlier in the year when Bill and I got to that point in our current game.
Thomas, I thought that was the case, thanks!