'Cause Jason and I don't know what is good for us, and having just finished the previous game, we are starting a new one!

This time, I'm the Alliance, Jason is the Coalition, Richard Eitzen is going to be the support Coalition, although I'm not 100% sure how the two of them are going to manage that.

We will be using a similar rules set to SCD2, which is most of CO, FO, and AO, but removing a few rules (as well as a couple from the base rule set). Looking at them all:

-From Base 2K10: Remove ship captures (don’t like having to remember). Add “you can always sub an FF” (i.e. you can always build an FF instead of any ship on your production schedule). Only Klingons get BBs (using B10 construction rule), except for Federation Reaction (from AO). No Orions in any capacity other than abstract smuggling.

-From CO: Remove SFGs, 77th PF Division, 23rd FiCon Division, Monitors, SAF, Ground Combat (replace all G ships with base hull; ignore G Aux ships), Prime Teams, Police Ships (except to react to raids; all POLs are compot 3).

-From FO 2016: Remove Swarms, Wild SWACs. Long Term Capture (mostly to avoid having to figure out map status).

-From AO: Ignore Admiral Quality (use regular Admirals); remove Logistics Task Force (Feds can build FDX like Klingons); Penal ships; use Fed Reaction (opting to use optional rule).

-Ships: Anything in any of these expansions; no ships not from these expansions (which mostly include FFTs, most NCA variants, a lot of weird late war stuff; I’m pretty sure that rues for HDWQ survey ships are not in these expansions and only are available in an expansion we aren’t using).

In the name of the Alliance getting a minor boost due to the 2 vs 1 situation, I'm getting the following options:

-Kzinti Mothball Fleet (2DD, 2FF, activate 2 per turn).
-Hydran Quest for Methane (+2 survey dice).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, February 17, 2020 - 02:05 pm: Edit

As per last time, the rules selected for removal were done so based on:

A) Avoiding extra fiddly steps for the purposes of making PBEM a little more streamlined (i.e. ship captures, SFGs, Ground assault, Penal Ships, PTs).

B) Balancing out things that were taken out to streamline (Monitors and Police Ships which are not particularly fiddly but mostly Advantage Alliance; LTF is pure Advantage Fed).

I suspect that the deleted elements are a little kinder to the Alliance than the Coalition, but history has indicated that this is probably for the best.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 07:48 am: Edit

CT1

We are setting up currently and doing econ.

The Lyrans are setup like one would expect; most of the Red Claw fleet (except for 3CA, which are at SB 0404) is at BATS 0705; there are 6 ships at BATS 0707; the rest of the Home Fleet is at SB 0608.

The Kzinti have the whole Count's Fleet (including a full reserve) at SB 0902; the vast majority of the Duke's Fleet is in 1003, there is an FF at BATS 1004 (he'll protect it!) and a 3 ship +3 AUX reserve at SB 1304.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 03:20 pm: Edit

CT1

*Lyran C1 Econ
*Survey roll: 15

*Income: 115 EP, 6IFF.

*Production:
10 BC
6 TGP
20 4CW
14 2DW DWS(SUB)
7.5 3FF (404 OM 608)
15 LAV(3FFF)
10 FRD
5 CP
=========================
84.5

*Conversions:
3 (0404) 3CA->3CC
6 (0408) CL->BC
3 (0608) 3CA->3CC
3 (OM) CA->CF
3 (0411) 3CA->3CC
========================
18

Currently 4+1 Command Points
Total EP spent: 105.5 (3FFF)
Treasury: 9.5

----------------------------------------

Klingon Eco:

142 EPs

Builds:
D7C - D7C - 9
D7 - TGA - 8
D6 - D6M - 10
D5 - D5S - 8
8xD5 - 8xD5 - 40
2xF5L - 2xE4 - 5
4xF5 - 4xF5 - 12
3xE4 - 3xE4 - 7.5
FRD - FRD - 10

Sub-total - 109.5

Activations:
2xD6 - 2
2xF5 - 2
3xE4 - 3

Sub-total - 7

Conversions:
(1411) D6 -> D6M - 5
(1411) D6 -> D6S - 4
(1411) 3xF5 -> 3xF5S - 3
(1509) F5 -> F5V - 1 (4FFF)
(1509) F5 -> F5V - 1+4 (2FFF)
(1716) D6 -> D6D - 3
(2318) D6 -> D6D - 3

Sub-total - 24

Total - 140.5

Treasury - 1.5

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 05:54 pm: Edit

OH now my year is safe. Good luck to You both. Perhaps this time the Alliance will take a Collation capital

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 06:47 pm: Edit

*Ahem*. This time the Coalition will take 3 Capitals !

Actually, 2 is certainly the goal. 3 is really only likely if Peter makes a number of mistakes.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 02:23 pm: Edit

CT1

Moves have happened at combat is underway. The Lyrans sent their home fleet to attack undefended BATS 0803 (nothing responded). They then sent the Red Claw fleet towards SB 0902, got to hex 0802, and then doubled back to BATS 0703, so no reaction possible. The Kzinti sent their reserves to BATS 0703, and there is a little open space fight in NZ hex 0704 between a Kzinti fighter squadron, a Lyran fighters squadron, and a Lyran FF.

Not much will happen this turn. The Kzinti will lose a couple BATS, maybe a few ships will get crippled.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Ah, yes. The squall before the Hurricane.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 03:48 pm: Edit

And just like that we are off and running !


Having seen the Alliance up close for 2 or 3 years I can comfortably say Vive La Coalition !!

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 09:40 pm: Edit

Combat is over. Kzinti BATS 0703 and 0803 destroyed (Lyran fleets occupy both hexes). Kzinti reserves went to 0703 where things went poorly for them. Overall the Kzintis lost a BC EFF and 2 BATS, the Lyrans lost an HDD and overall crippled 4DDs.

The Lyrans move up strong reserves to 0705, an FRD goes there, one went to the Klingon-Lyran NZ around 0809 or something and the other Lyran TG is taking a MB to the Klingon-Lyran border.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 09:41 pm: Edit

*Lyran reserves:
*1st (0705): 2BC 3CC 4CW 2DW DD DWS
*2nd (0705): CC 3CW JGPK TGC 2FF 2LAV


*Command points at end turn: 5.
*Treasury: 8.5 EP.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 02:12 am: Edit

Klingons have been stuck in meetings all day, but can confirm that they will most likely send all the new ships to join the North fleet for peacetime exercises, and a Tug with an MB towards Lyran space to set up the Klingon - Lyran School for Friendship and Enemy Crushing

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 08:02 am: Edit

>>Combat is over. Kzinti BATS 0703 and 0803 destroyed (Lyran fleets occupy both hexes). Kzinti reserves went to 0703 where things went poorly for them. Overall the Kzintis lost a BC EFF and 2 BATS, the Lyrans lost an HDD and overall crippled 4DDs.>>

Well, to be fair, things went badly for the Kzinti mostly due to a combination of aggressive intentional overcrippling for minus points, the Kzinti picking a low BIR the second round due to trying to be efficient and picking BIR before seeing the aggressive intentional negative points and new line that was based on there being significant negative points, and then terrible dice.

That'll teach me.

CT1

Ships killed:
-ZIN: BC, EFF

-LYR: HDD

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 10:05 am: Edit

In this case, minus points minus points did not actually cost you anything, as you've stated elsewhere that you'd have gone higher BIR on the second round if circumstances differed,, which would not have scored you enough points (given the die rolls) to damage more ships on round two). I'd have had fewer minus points against you for round three (if you had stayed).

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Friday, February 21, 2020 - 12:55 am: Edit

Stop the press !
We have another rule we are introducing.
Voluntary minus points are capped at -3.

Pursuit rules and multi systems unchanged.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 21, 2020 - 08:43 am: Edit

AT1

y168 FA T1

Kzinti Econ:

Command Points: 0+1=1

Exploration: 0+8=8 (+0)

Treasury: 2.625

On Map Provinces (24): 22
Off Map Provinces (6): 6
Captured Provinces: 0
On Map Planets: (52): 52
Off Map Planets: (11): 11
Captured Planets: 0

Total EP: 93.625

Construction T1:
-6 TGT (BC)
-5 2FF (CL)
-2.5 FF (DD)
-3 FFK
-9.5 FCR
-28 4PDU (Kzintai; 12)
-5 Command Point
-2 DD, FF (activation)

Construction Total: 61

Conversions:
-5 BC>CVS (1401, 6FFF)
-3 CL>CLD (1304)
-2 2CL>CLE (1704)
-1 FF>FFK (1704)
-2 2CL>CLE (off map)

Conversion Total: 13

Repairs:

Repair Total:

Total Spent: 74

Treasury: 19.625

FFF Left: 0

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, February 21, 2020 - 11:35 am: Edit

Big spender! Look at all the CLEs!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, February 21, 2020 - 02:01 pm: Edit

AT1

The Kzinti 1st turn is a short one. They successfully raid a Lyran province, and then studiously avoid all Lyran units, pulling ships back to the Capital and their two SBs, including using some strategic moves to get their AUXes from 0902 back to the Capital as well. They end up with 10 ships on SB 0902, 15 ships on SB 1304, and 50+ ships in the Capital. They have solid reserves in 1401 and 1704.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 08:05 am: Edit

CT2

y169 SP

Klingon Econ

Survey roll: 11
Survey total: 11

B-10 roll: -
B-10 total: -

Treasury - 1.5

Income:
Capital - 1 - 5
Major - 8 - 40
Major(dev/cap) - 0
Minor - 15 - 45
Minor(dev/cap) - 0
Province - 26 - 52
Province(off) - 0
Province(dis/cap) - 0
NZ hexes - 0 - 0

Sub-Total - 142

Total - 143.5


Builds:
C8 - C8 - 16
D7 - TGA - 8
D7 - D6M - 10
D5 - D5S - 8
8xD5 - 8xD5 - 40
2xF5L - 2xE4 - 5
4xF5 - 4xF5 - 12
3xE4 - 3xE4 - 7.5
E4 - E4 - 0

Sub-total - 106.5


Activations:
2xD6 - 2
2xF5 - 2
3xE4 - 3
E4A - 0

Sub-total - 7


Conversions:
(1411) D6 -> D6M - 5
(1411) D6 -> D6S - 4
(1411) 3xF5 -> 3xF5V - 3 (12FFF)
(1509) D6 -> D6D - 3
(1716) 3F5 -> F5S - 3
(2318) D6 -> D6D - 3

Sub-total - 21

Total - 134.5

Treasury - 9

------------------------------

*Lyran C2 Econ
*Old Survey total: 15
*Survey roll: 11
*New Survey total: 26

*Old Treasury: 8.5 EP
*Income: 115 EP, 6IFF.
*Captured NZ hexes (12): 2.4
*Income lost: 1 EP (disrupted province)
*Survey income: 2
*Salvage from C1: 1.5
*Total EPs: 128.4 EP

*Production:
16 DN
8 TGC
21 3CW CL
14 2DW DWS(SUB)
7.5 3FF (404 OM 608)
12 LAV(6FFF)
10 MB
5 CP
=========================
93.5

*Conversions:
2 (0404) DD->SC
6 (0408) CL->BC
3 (OM) CA->CF
2 (0411) DD->SC
========================
13

Repairs:
1 (0404) DD
1 (0502) DD
2 (0604) 2DD
========================
4


Total EP spent: 110.5 (6FFF)
Treasury: 17.9

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 02:48 pm: Edit

Wow - good survey rolls and the Lyrans got lucky finding a new province on turn 2.

On aspect I don't like from CO is that is allows the Lyrans to build Aux Carriers and so use up their free fighter factors - 2 years or so before they would otherwise get Carriers.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 03:19 pm: Edit

That's like, what, 15 years? 20 years since aux carriers were added to the game?

Live in the now.

In any case the Lyrans also get JGPVs early, as well as CL carriers, so even without aux's, if you're otherwise using full rules they get the free fighters.

Average die rolls for turn 1-2 for Lyrans total at 21, so more often than not, the Lyrans get a new province on turn two. I don't use the adjective 'lucky' for that, but YMMV.

Now if the Lyrans get a second province by turn 3, I'd agree that one could call that lucky

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 04:33 pm: Edit

Yeah, the Lyrans (or Kzinti or Hydrans) getting a province in 2 turns of exploration early in the game is, well, average. 3D6 generate 10.5 points of exploration on average per turn. I mean, yeah, the Lyrans are certainly ahead with 26 exploration on T2, but the basic province is totally sound. *Not* getting a province on T2 is specifically *unlucky*. The Lyrans getting a second province on T3 would certainly also be lucky. But they also might roll a total of 5 next turn.

I'm pretty sure Aux Carriers hit the game with the original Special Ops expansion in, IIRC, 1994. Of all the things I can be irked by in regards to what the Lyrans are capable of doing early in the game, getting some extra Aux CVs by overpaying their FFF onto (quasi) vulnerable, slow ships? That's not even on the radar :-)

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 05:34 pm: Edit

Overcrippling DDs for -4 points on the other hand...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 06:05 pm: Edit

Are you *trying* to get me started? 'Cause that's how you get ants.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 06:21 pm: Edit

Well, at least it wasn't crippling a 3CW Tholian Pinwheel for -30 points.