Sure, but some things more than other things.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, July 04, 2020 - 07:10 pm: Edit

Thomas wrote:
>>Peter, The Klingon Border SB can convert a CA to a CVS and a CL or DD to a ECL or DE. A FFE can also be built there. Getting you a Carrier much closer to the front where you need it.>>

Yep. But they also need to convert DNs to DN+'s on AT8. And that is where the DN's are.

>>FV groups are very helpful as you can hide your FCRs in them and then have 9 fighter factors to replenish the heavier carriers.>>

Yep. We have had this exact discussion recently; I have no need to hide FCRs with the rules I'm using (2K10+CO+FO+AO), and for the same cost, an FCR is vastly more effective.

>>If you are playing with Advanced OPs then I hope you "activated" the CLVs on turn 7 as well to give you more fighters.>>

Yep. T7 saw 2CLVs get activated for free, plus paying for fighters over an above the 8FFF I had to use.

I'm not concerned about the lack of Fed carriers on AT8. They'll build more. My comment on "There aren't enough carriers to fight major planets right now" was simply a statement of fact that explains why all three attacks the Feds made this turn saw no actual combat. Not enough carriers to be worth the fighting.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, July 04, 2020 - 07:16 pm: Edit

Paul wrote:
>>I agree the FV is garbage - but it's better than nothing>>

Heh. FVs are terrible. And I don't actually think that they *are* better than nothing. If I'm going to build one FV for FF+1+6 which I'm not ever going to put on the line? I'll build an FCR instead. If I'm gonna build 2FV for 2FF+2+12? I'll build a CVS instead :-)

Like, for the sake of clarity, I'm not *complaining* about the lack of Fed carriers on AT8. The Feds aren't going to have a lot of carriers on AT8 (see: it's AT8); this turn, the Feds attacked 2BATS and a major planet in Klingon space. Mostly to pin ships and draw/distract/pin reserves (the only thing I planned on actually succeeding in taking was planet 1910, and I totally did that. So win!). They had no actual plans to try and kill 2BATS and a major planet (with 130+ compot), given that they have so few fighters and carriers on the front currently. As it is AT8.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Sunday, July 05, 2020 - 04:38 am: Edit

"By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Saturday, July 04, 2020 - 05:06 pm: Edit


Just one more thing it seems about F&E. So many choices. What will work best? Buy this buy that? Every one has there own idea about what is best.. That means You must know who you are playing and counter what they do?"

Gregory - that's half the fun of F&E - there is several ways to play the game - and what works in one game, many not work in another!

About the only thing we can probably agree on - is the Romulans never need to build SNB's and Hydran never build CR's!

(Which are expensive Frigates which are not efficient to repair).

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandar) on Sunday, July 05, 2020 - 05:15 am: Edit

What No SNB? The shame.. they can not load weapons and move... might cloak and load but move nope.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, July 05, 2020 - 07:38 am: Edit

SNBs exist, but building any more than the ones that start on the board is a terrible idea, just like the Hydran CR, as Paul points out. Both of those ships are 5 uncrippled, 2 crippled. Which is bad--most 5 point ships are 3 crippled, which means they absorb 5 damage but only cost 1EP to repair (repairs cost .5EP per point of repair done). The SNB and CR absorb 5 damage but cost 1.5EP to repair. So you don't ever want them getting crippled. Generally, they get used in places where they are just going to get vaporized (as ad-hoc escorts or cloaked province raiders).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, July 05, 2020 - 07:41 am: Edit

AT8

Combat is more or less done; the only hanging combat is over Lyran SB 1403--in 2 approach rounds, the Coalition soundly outshot the Kzinti but let them come to the base after the 2nd round, in the 3rd round over the SB, the Kzinti rolled a 1 (in the face of a -1EW shift) and the Klingons rolled a 6. The Kzinti shot down the FRD in the hex (which was their plan, and could have gone way better...) and are going to get shot for 52 damage.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, July 05, 2020 - 08:24 am: Edit

AT8

Combat is over!

In Hydran space, the Hydrans liberated planets 0416, 0519, 0718, and captured some Lyran space.

On the Kzinti front, the Kzinti liberated all captured originally Kzinti planets (but then 1504 accidentally got recaptured by a couple retreating Coalition ships), a lot of space, and killed (at a ridiculous cost; they saw TGS, 2MSC get shot down for their trouble) an FRD over the Lyran SB on 1403.

On the Fed front, the Feds liberated planet 1910, but otherwise just pinned things and fled.

Ships killed:
-ZIN: TGS, 2MSC, FFK
-HYD: RN
-FED: NCL

-LYR: STJ, DD, 2FF
-KLI: D6D, F5S, 9E4, (FRD)

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, July 05, 2020 - 11:05 am: Edit

AT8

The turn is over!

The Hydrans have about 50 ships in the Capital, about 50 ships at SB 0215 (although over half of those as FFs). 2 moderate reserves off map. Small groups of ships in the Hydran backfield, and a group capturing Lyran provinces in Lyran space.

The Kzinti have 165 SEQ in 1401 (including base and AUX fighters; ignoring PDU fighters), including 2 moderate reserves. They have a few other small groups of ships on a couple planets, and the Feds left a 3 ships force defending planet 1802.

The Feds have about 30 ships on SB 2204 including a solid reserve; about 30 ships on planet 2306 including a weak reserve; about 50 ships on SB 2211; a strong reserve on planet 2509, and a few ships spread around at various spots, including a few holding planet 1910.

Map:
http://www.lightlink.com/pdb6/SCD3AT8end.html

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, July 06, 2020 - 08:07 am: Edit

CT9

LYRAN ECO

Old Survey: 90
Survey roll: 9
Survey total: 99

Transfers: -10
Convoy: 0
Salvage: 10.25
Treasury: 53.835

Sub-total: 54.075

Capital: 1 - 5
Major: 8 - 40
Major(dev/cap): 0 - 0
Minor: 10 - 30
Minor(dev/cap): 0 - 0
Province: 9 - 18
Province(off): 8 - 16
Province(dis/cap): 5 - 5
NZ hexes: 7 - 1.4

Sub-total: 115.4

Total EPs: 169.475

Production:
BC - BC - 10
CA - CV - 10+12
CW - CWE - 6
CW - STJ - 7
CW - CWS - 8
DW - DWE - 5
2xDW - 2xDW - 8
3xFF - 3xFF - 7.5 (0404 0411 1403)

Sub-total: 73.5

Overbuilds:

Sub-total: 0

Conversions:

Sub-total: 0

Repairs:
(0411) - stt, cw - 4.5
(0502) - cl - 1.5
(0504) - 2ff - 2
(0815) - stt, 2d6m, 4d5, 3ad5, 3dw - 24
(1403) - d6m, ad5, f5e, bc - 8

Sub-total: 40

Total spent: 113.5

Treasury: 55.975

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

KLINGON ECO

Old Survey: 59
Survey roll: 8
Survey total: 67

B-10 (1)
Old total: 25
B-10 roll: 2
B-10 total: 27

B-10 (2)
Old total: 3
B-10 roll: 4
B-10 total: 7

DBB: -10.8 (108)
Convoy: 0
Transfers: 10
Salvage: 12.25
Treasury: 16.65

Sub-total: 28.1

Capital: 1 - 5
Major: 8 - 40
Major(dev/cap): 0 - 0
Minor: 15 - 45
Minor(dev/cap): 2 - 2
Province: 24 - 48
Province(off): 3 - 6
Province(dis/cap): 11 - 11
NZ hexes: 42 - 8.4

Sub-total: 165.4

Total: 193.5

Builds:
D7C - D7C - 9
D7 - D7V - 10+12
D6 - D6M - 10
D5 - D5S - 8
D5 - AD5 - 6
7xD5 - 7xD5 - 35
3xF5L - 3xE4 - 7.5 (in 1509, 1716, 2318)
F5 - F5E - 4
5xF5 - 5xF5 - 15
E4 - E4 - 2.5
B-10 - B-10 - 5
B-10 - B-10 - 5

Sub-total: 129.0

Overbuilds:

Sub-total: 0

Activations:
2xD6 - 2

Sub-total: 2

Conversions:
(1411) D6 -> D6M - 5
(1411) D6 -> D6D - 3

Sub-total: 8

Repairs:
(0815) - 2d6m, 2ad5, 4d5, 3f5s - 18
(1013) - d7 - 2
(1214) - d7 - 2
(1107) - 2f5 - 2
(1307) - d5 - 1.5
(1411) - 2f5 - 2
(1507) - d5 - 1.5
(1509) - d6m, 2d5, 2f5 - 8
(1716) - e3 - 0.5
(1809) - d5 - 1.5
(1811) - d6 - 2
(1803) - d5 - 1.5
(2014) - d7 - 2
(2215) - d5 - 1.5
(2318) - d5 - 1.5
(2416) - f5s - 1
(2517) - 2e4 - 2

Sub-total: 50.5

Total spent: 189.5

Treasury: 4.0

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, July 06, 2020 - 08:12 am: Edit

CT9

So the Coalition spent 90EP on repairs, fixing 56 ships this turn. It looks like they have a backlog of about 45 cripples currently. The Klingons have two B10s under construction. The Klingons are scraping up change from under the sofa cushions, but the Lyrans still have a healthy treasury.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, July 06, 2020 - 10:59 am: Edit

Interesting. JUST looking at the map, it seems the Alliance is doing pretty well. No capitals have been captured, Hydran SB 214 still threatens Lyran space, and the invasion of the Federation appears to have been very anemic.

Curious as to the Coalition player's perspective, without giving away strategy of course.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, July 06, 2020 - 02:36 pm: Edit

I think the Alliance is doing ok at this point; the Hydrans are still on the map (although I expect that they'll lose the Capital this turn); the Kzinti capital system is about to recover from devastation, and the Coalition can't get into the Kzinti capital hex this turn (not enough ships), although the Kzinti are now bottled up in their Capital. The Fed have a strong economy (although I expect it to take a significant hit in the south this turn), but the Romulans are coming next turn, which I suspect will change things significantly.

The Feds can hit targets in Klingon space currently, but again, they can't realistically kill any of them (unless the Klingons over extend) without taking excessive damage doing so.

Seems likely that the Romulans will make a significant difference to the situation.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 05:52 am: Edit

Kzinti have a 30 ship advantage in Kzinti space so there really isnt much the Coalition can do for at least a couple of turns.

Which means the Kzinti will be building full schedules for at least a couple of turns, which makes getting in to the Capital even harder.

I dont think the Romulans joining the war will do much to help Kzinti or Hydran space.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 09:25 am: Edit

I can't see 1401 falling now - the opportunity cost of re-directing so many Coalition hulls to the North, would cripple the Coalition in Hydran and Federation space.

The Kzinti - with Federation Ep's could even build a second SB over a different major planet.

The Coalition at best I think can just try to bottle them up (which is the hardest to do due to the Barony)

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 09:43 am: Edit

Trying to build a second starbase as the Kzinti (at least prior to Fed involvement) is silly as the Coalition will have plenty of time to stop it. Better to spend such EPs on ships or carriers or other things.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 11:16 am: Edit

Conveniently, the Federation are now involved, and have delivered money to the Kzinti. Who have a BATS over the homeworld already...

I think at this point, the Kzinti capital is likely safe from all but the most absurdly determined assault. The Hydran capital should fall soon, and once that happens, the Coalition can likely work on pushing the Feds inward.

Like, I'm not going to claim that things are going smashingly for the Coalition currently, but they are in a not unreasonable position.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 02:10 pm: Edit

Richard

Currently the Kzinti can pin out the Coalition - Jason mentioned they outnumber the Coalition by 30 in Kzinti space...

So - that's 35 Coaliton Ship/Equivalents needed to have a slim chance of killing any upgrade (accepting if say 5 ships get into the hex, they will be high compot ships).

But say a CC, 3 x CM (so the best ships and worst ships are in the pin) and 3 x 6 IFF's (from PDU's say) against 9 big Coalition ships is not guaranteed to win the first approach round..... and that might mean they don't have the power to kill the upgrade.

So, probably worth it to me!

Ignoring the SB Compot - it also gives a lot of safe repair capacity (so the FRD's can be in the Barony).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 02:16 pm: Edit

This is all mostly academic; the Kzinti can pin the Coalition out of the Capital this turn, and the Kzinti can also upgrade a BATS to a SB this turn. So unless the Coalition can get, like, 50 more ships into Kzinti space for CT10, the Coalition can't get to Kzintai to try and shoot down the SB. And if they arrange that, they'd be giving up huge amounts of initiative and getting swathes of ships vaporized. I mean, yeah, it'd cost the Kzinti 36 bucks for the upgrade, but they can probably try again in a few turns.

I honestly think in the grand scheme here, the Coalition are best off just, like, leaving the Kzinti to their devices and continuing to focus on the Feds and destroying the Hydran shipyard. The Kzinti Capital will be mostly invulnerable, but there is only so much havoc they can wreak from 1401.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 02:44 pm: Edit

Nod, I had not noticed that the Kzinti had a BATS this turn at Kzintai. That does change things around.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, July 07, 2020 - 02:55 pm: Edit

I set up a MB early; converted it to a BATS, probably on AT6, figuring that the Coalition would be distracted attacking the Feds on CT7. With them killing the Marquis SB and getting 30 ships crippled, I momentarily have ship superiority in the area.

Like, I imagine that by T10, the Coalition will have enough ships in the neighborhood to keep the Kzinti at bay again, but for a couple of turns, I got some room.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, July 08, 2020 - 05:11 pm: Edit

Question is -

Do you want to distract the Coalition enough to attack 1401.... (and if they are distracted enough, lose it - but while they are destroying 1401, they are not rampaging through Federation space) or forget about 1401 so it is safe?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, July 08, 2020 - 06:13 pm: Edit

This turn, that is irrelevant (they can't get into the Capital; I have not insignificant numerical superiority); next turn, they'll only be able to get into the Capital if they route a significant number of ships from the Fed front to the Kzinti front; seems like a questionable move.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, July 10, 2020 - 09:34 am: Edit

CT9

Moves are underway!

On the Hydran front, the Hydran province raiders on the south edge of Lyran have been set upon (that is a rough assignment for a Hunter crew...), and the Coalition are flooding the Capital with ships.

In Kzinti space, the Coalition are mostly avoiding 2 hexes from the Capital; they have hit planet2 1001, 1105, and 1802 with probably enough to take them; recaptured a lot of space. They sent a not insignificant force (~30 ships) to planet 1202, and the Kzinti reacted a slightly bigger force on.

On the Fed front, so far the fleet at SB 2211 has been pinned, allowing some ships to start capturing provinces around it, the Klingons sent a fleet to planet 2106, which the Feds reacted a slightly smaller fleet onto; planet 1910 is likely being liberated from Federation oppression; planet 2715 is certainly being captured.

Still ships to move!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 - 09:41 am: Edit

CT9

Moves continue!

In Hydran space, the Coalition have dropped a fleet on SB 0215 (although probably just to pin things), and have attacked planets 0519, 0416, and 0718, as well as a province garrison in 0217.

In Kzinti space, the Fight in 1202 has ramped up as the Lyrans sent more ships and then the Kzinti sent more ships in response; it is still currently a mostly even fight, but the Kzinti have an edge.

In Fed space, the Klingons have now attacked BATS 2308, which is mostly undefended currently.

Probably nearing the end of moves.