Have to say - C5 wasn't good for the Alliance.

Minor error in the north meant a DF died when it didn't need to (reserve went to the wrong hex to re-open supply)

….. but the major error was should have killed a C8 on the final round over Hydrax rather than enforce the Autokill (F5S died).

Probably would have done 19 Ep's of damage rather 13 Ep's that occurred.

The grand strategy which continued from the A4 blunderers to save the FRD's also failed on C5.

I did think about using two carrier groups and a DG (so enough 7 DC ships to pull the 2 x FRD's) , but with probably a 130 compot line to slow pursuit (Command Points etc are useable), I worked out I would lose a DG, the FRD it was part towing and probably 20 fighters I would need on A5.

On a good horrible - could have lost a whole 4TGV group (and a FRD).

The 2nd FRD would then be cut off and probably wouldn't escape on A5.

So self killed the lot.

All in all, a very good Coalition turn.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, November 16, 2020 - 02:37 am: Edit

Alliance Turn 5


Kzinti build everything
Survey Roll 11 (total 46/2)

BC, CVS, 3 x MEC, SF and 7 x FF and repair 18.5 Eps of ships.

2 ships are not repaired, balance 0.2 Eps and 7 Command Points


Hydrans built not a lot
Survey Roll 9 (23/1)

Build a CU and Command Point
New Ship Yard 4 (4)

7 Ep's spent on repairs.

Balance 0.5 Eps and 3 Command Points.

Old Colony Ship Yard (Turn 1, 3 HFF stored)

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, November 16, 2020 - 02:49 pm: Edit

Operational movement has been completed.... and the Kzinti commence a broad offensive in the north, with 4 BATS and 4 Minor planets (1504, 1506, 1105 and 1407) under attack.

A large Coalition force remains in 1001 untouched though.

In the south, the Hydrans attempt a fighting Withdraw, with major battles in 416 and 119 and 2 minor battles elsewhere.

The Hydrans used the Expeditionary Supply Tugs 20 turn of supplies to allow the assault on 416 - although, other Hydran forces have currently being able to restore supply to all Hydran forces, by breaching the Coalition Fire Wall in 117, 118 and 119.


Coalition Reserve Fleets are being dispatched to key areas, at high warp.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 02:48 am: Edit

As suspected, William did the reserve shuffle in the north - I wasn't able to CR pin everything* and a D5 escaped from 908 which allowed a DN to hex to 1407.

* I gambled on there being no reaction in to a move, which would have allowed me to pin everything on numbers and CR - but William reacted and pinned the high CR fleet which was trying to get to 908!

(There was no way to get ships in to 908 without William being able to react something else into it, so it would have taken a non-reaction to achieve the plan).

1407 will be close.

In the south, the Lyrans went to 416 (making it also close) and the Klingons to 119 - making that also close.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 09:06 am: Edit

The first few battles have been done.

On the Kzinti front, a D6 died and a SF died over 1504 and the Kzinti withdrew.

On the Hydran front, 416 was liberated by the Hydrans and 2 CW's died.

In 316, the very weak Hydran fleet elected to self kill 2 CR's and an already crippled KN, to avoid a pursuit (with no fighters remaining against a modest Lyran pursuit force) and the potential risk that it will be cut off on C6.

(Half a dozen (or more) crippled Hydran ships at high risk of death next turn was far worse then 3 dead ships).

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 02:13 am: Edit

Well, the two key battles for A5 have been done.... and they are both wins for the Coalition.

In 119 both sides used 2 command points and after a single round, which saw a Hydran DE (on the line) die in exchange for a D6M.

With Hydran compot only marginally more, I suspected William was happy to self kill to stay in the hex - and I wasn't, so I ran after burning all fighters in the single round.

It will mean no replacement fighters for the on map forces and only those in 416 will be in supply for C6.

In the north, the Lyran DN getting to 1407 brought the Compot difference too close (I burnt a Kzinti Command point too) to the Kzinti one - so after a single round which saw the 2 PDU's die, in exchange for several cripples (William let fall and avoided killing a Kz CC or BC)- I ran.

I knew it would b a tough turn with both fronts stretched - and it very much will be!

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 08:18 am: Edit

Well, the Kzinti offensive was not a success.

We have found out the Coalition Dice gods live in 906 (126 and 126 was the first two rounds... - so pretty much the worst dice possible for the Kzinti….to follow on from the worst dice possible last turn in 906).

Kzinti lost a DD, 2 x EFF, FF and a SF, plus have 19.5 Ep's of repairs - plus 1 CP was used and 0.8 Eps in Drones
Hydrans lost a DE, 3 x CR and a KN (CR and KN was already crippled) and have 3 Ep's of repairs - plus 2 CP was used

Lyrans lost 2 x CW plus 5 Eps of repairs

Klingons lost a D6M, D7C, D6, F5, E4, E4A and 2 PDU plus 21.5 Eps of repairs plus 2 CP's was used.

Ignoring the PDU's about pretty much close to a wash on Ep damage - but at least I did do marginally more damage than I took.

However, the bulk of the Hydran Navy is cut off and about 1/3rd of it is Out of Supply - but a modest Klingon force in 119 is also out of Supply.

In the far north, 22 Klingon ships will be OOS in 1001 unless I retrograde the ships to reopen supply to them.

A Kzinti FF and crippled FF remain OOS in 701.

2 Minor planets have been liberated.

So, not a total disaster, but not too much to positively write home about.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Thursday, November 19, 2020 - 07:19 am: Edit

Lyran Economy, Turn 6
Survey roll 9
Survey total 60
Survey EP 6
Offmap 24
Capital 35
Planets 24
Provinces 26
Conquered 3.8
Scrap captured ff 1
Income 119.8
From last turn 6.3 (discovered that conquered EP had not been added to the general treasury previously. Corrected that.)
Total Money 126.1

Repairs
Lyrantan 2
104 2
809 2
707 2
Red Claw 5
EB 8
413 19
Far Stars
608 1.5
K NR 3
Subtotal 44.5

Builds
DN 16
TGC 8
CVL, CWE, CW 18
DW, DWS, DWE 15
3FF 7.5
Subtotal 64.5

Conversion
Lyrantan CA>DN 6

Total spent 115
Remaining after econ 11.1

Command points (spent 2CP at Hydrax last turn):
5+1=6

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Thursday, November 19, 2020 - 07:52 am: Edit

Klingon economy, Turn 6
Survey roll 9
Survey total 40
Survey EP 4
Capital 49
Planets 41
Provinces 52
Conquered 16.2
From last turn 25.7

Total Money 187.9

Repairs
1009 2
1011 1.5
1214 2
1415 2
1417 2
1107 2
1507 2
Klinshai 20.5
1209 2
908 2
SR 3
1807 2
1707 2
1312 6
1013 18
Subtotal 69

Builds
C8 16
D6M 10
TGA 8
8D5, AD5 46
4F5, F5S, F5E 20
3xE4 7.5
B10 roll 5
Activations 4
Subtotal 116.5

Conversion
Klinshai D7V 2

Total spent 187.5
Remaining after econ 0.4

Command points (spent 2CP last turn on Hydran retro path battle): 4+1=5

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Thursday, November 19, 2020 - 07:55 am: Edit

The Klingons get 13EP from the Romulans this turn. Unclear is whether it is before econ or after. Paul says to assume before, but I'm not so sure.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, November 20, 2020 - 09:13 am: Edit

Is this the magic $13 for the KC9R? Seems like it should show up during econ. As there isn't really any particularly good explanation for that particular footnote rule.

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Friday, November 20, 2020 - 06:40 pm: Edit

It should show up after income as it is a ship sale (takes time for the Romulans to arrange the transfer) ...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, November 20, 2020 - 07:08 pm: Edit

The only thing that (704.2) says is "The Romulans pay the Klingons 13EPs on T6".

We can make up all sorts of rationales one way or the other, but there isn't any actual information that supports any particular timing. We know the Romulans give the Klingons 13EPs on T6.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Friday, November 20, 2020 - 10:57 pm: Edit

Turn C6 op move is well underway. In the South, The Coalition is attempting to punish the Hydran ships that have yet to escape from the map. In the North, arrivals from the Hydran front have finally given the Coalition the strength attack Kzinti minor 1202, which is not likely to hold. Other Northern moves are still developing.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Saturday, November 21, 2020 - 03:23 pm: Edit

And C6 combat is finished.

About the only main combat was over 1202 - I probably ran a turn too early - but killing a D5 in exchange for an MEC wasn't going to benefit me (the two rounds of combat has seen a F5E and D5 die plus a F5 crippled for 2 EFF's being killed).

Kzinti did lose a BC when I got a rule wrong (you can't hide Flagships in carrier groups!) - and so I did needlessly react out to create one battle.

Dice were pretty balanced (although William perhaps has now got lucky on successful pursuit numbers).

Hydrans remain on map and out of supply...

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Saturday, November 21, 2020 - 07:39 pm: Edit

Turn C6 was relatively quiet, as the main Coalition concern was repositioning their fleet. They did capture 1202, and they killed 11 H+Z ships while losing 4, all Klingons. The vast majority of the dead ships are frigates. The only exceptions are a Klingon D5, plus Kzinti BC and CLE.

For once, the Coalition came out about even on crips, or maybe even a little ahead. But it was only about 20EP for each side.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Sunday, November 22, 2020 - 05:41 am: Edit

Could have reacted more to the 1202 battle....and tried to tempt the Coalition into attacking 1401?

Kzinti economy atleast is fairly strong still.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, November 22, 2020 - 08:04 am: Edit

Paul wrote:
>>Kzinti did lose a BC when I got a rule wrong (you can't hide Flagships in carrier groups!)>>

Heh. I'm curious as to what you thought could happen here :-)

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Sunday, November 22, 2020 - 08:27 am: Edit

Coalition turn 6 is done.

The Klingons receive 13EP from the Romulans and another 10EP from the Lyrans.

There are three small Coalition reserves on the Hydran front, designed to give the Coalition some flexibility in case the Hydrans try to escape from the map.

The other four reserves are on the Kzinti front. They are generally bigger, as is the Kzinti threat.

The Tholian Patrol squadron has been revived for some reason, with 32 ships in 2517.

The Klingons are showing a curious obsession with defending the 1707-1807 region, which has over 60 ships. Another 20 are defending empty space in 1805, and 50 more are protecting 1811 against who-knows-what.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Sunday, November 22, 2020 - 10:01 am: Edit

Peter

I had noted a ship serving as an Escort can't be the flag..... so the hex with a DN, BC, CVE and FF could have a legal line of FF, 3F from CVE+BC....

But the 3 highest CR ratings can require carrier groups to be broken up (which is what I overlooked).


But I do think William has made a huge mistake.

About 150 Klingon Ships on the Fed/Kingon Neutral zone.

The Feds are not in the war, so no idea what they are going to do there.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, November 23, 2020 - 08:08 am: Edit

>>I had noted a ship serving as an Escort can't be the flag..... so the hex with a DN, BC, CVE and FF could have a legal line of FF, 3F from CVE+BC....

But the 3 highest CR ratings can require carrier groups to be broken up (which is what I overlooked).>>

Ah, yeah, that. That is a thing. Your 4 ship groups need to always have 2FFs in them (and--Surprise! The Kzinti SF has a Command Rating of 4!).

Like, a group of CVE, CL, 2FF is a good one for holding space. It can't get beat up in SSC, is moderately robust if fighting another 4 ship group (that is avoiding getting killed by an unexpected reserve) being able to absorb 9 damage without losing a ship and only having 1 cripple in formation in pursuit, and if it is hit by a large killing mob, you just give up an FF and run.

I imagine that specific 4 ships (DN, BC, CVE, FF) was probably attacking something (a lone BATS that was saved by a reserve?); that's where a 4 ship group of DN, CV, 2FF would have been good--more compot, more fighters to absorb damage, and only 1FF gets killed if you are set upon by a reserve. But then, mistakes happen. Fog of war! :-)

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, November 23, 2020 - 03:51 pm: Edit

A6 has started

Survey rolls are not being nice to the Alliance - Coalition sneak both provinces for both exactly and Kzinti and Hydran are still short of average overall (9 and 11 eac)

Kzinti build a TGT, MEC, 3 x CM, 5 x FF, SF and convert a BC to a CVS - plus spend 21 Ep's on Repairs (which leaves a backlog of about 10 Ep's).

Hydrans Buuld a CU(SB) and 15Eps on the Shipard (T2, 19 total).

Op moves has ended with the Count fleeing for his life and seeks refuge in Federation space.

2 BATS and 2 Minor Planets in the North are under attack and 1202 rebelled after forcing the defenders to run away.

In the south - the Hydrans try to get back into supply...

By Thomas Mathews (Turtle) on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 - 06:53 am: Edit

Deleted by author. Misread post I was replying to.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 - 08:12 am: Edit

Survey rolls are not being nice to the Alliance - Coalition sneak both provinces for both exactly and Kzinti and Hydran are still short of average overall (9 and 11 each).

To expand on the above - the Lyrans and Alliance started badly with Survey - but the Coaltiion have recently rolled some really good ones (and the Klingons are generally rolling well).

Currently, survey points are
Lyran 60 (3 Provinces) - average would be 63 and is down 2 Ep's on average - 1st province 1 turn late)
Klingons 40 (2 Provinces) - average would be 35, so they are actually up 2 Ep's.
Kzinti 55 (2 Provinces) - average would also be 63 is down 6 Ep's on average (1st, 2nd and 3rd provinces all 1 turn late)
Hydrans 34 (1 Province) - average would be 42 and is down 4 Ep's on average (1st and 2nd (at best)all 1 turn late).

That 10 Ep's would have gone a very long way to help the Alliance!

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 - 01:57 pm: Edit

Hurrah!

At great expensive (another 2 DG's plus a HN) the Coalition blockaid to the Colonies has been broken.

Full details to follow... .but streams of refuges can be seeing entering the Old Colonies.