Archive through December 22, 2020
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Archive through December 22, 2020
Sorry - looks like I didn't move the CLE and TGT in the Barony back to being crippled (as had to pay for the Expedtionary Stuff as it may not be able to get out of Fed space).
Have corrected it.
Well two modest to major blunders in s many turns.
1) Don't record your secret plan as a file in Cyberboard - and fail to clear it before saving a NEW file which is e-mailed to your enemy.
Ooops - big error for me.
2) Remember activation zones - I remembered 6th Fleet is released if the Coalition go within 3 hexes of Sol....
(So the FRD went to 3 hexes from Sol to repair cripples).
I then forgot this rule.... and so the reserve fleet didn't move on C7 - but William totally forgot about the rule - so the Fleet atleast was able to do a surprise attack.
A8 Op moves are completed.
No attacks in Hydran space.
In Kzinti space- the Kzinti breach the outer defences and reach 1407 (Lyran MB) and 1507 (BATS+FRD).
In Federation space- the Federation spread out and attack what they can, while avoiding the 52 ships near Sol.
1 Lyran reserve has nothing in range and 2 are pinned.
1 Klingon reserve is pinned leaving the 3 in 2106 to go to several battles of their choosing.
Part 1 of the Alliance strategy has actually worked.
All 3 mobile Klingon reserves went back West into the Kzinti theatre - so that's 26 less ships the Feds need to worry about.
However, 1504, 1506 and 1507 are now all likely to hold.
Finger crossed, the dice will give the Alliance a fighting chance.
Combat is ongoing - and Part 2 of the Alliance strategy has also worked (or rather will work - as the trap door battle is about to finish).
Although the release of the Sixth fleet helped, the plan (based on the reactions that did occur, prior to the first 6th fleet ship moving), the main objective of the turn will succeed.
Over 100 Klingon ships will be out of supply in the 'Novorosibirsk/Antares' pocket.
52 are within range of Sol though - and getting them back into supply will be fairly easy on C9 - so perhaps a heavy raid on Sol will become a light raid. (and 2708 and 2808 are within range of the bulk of the rest).
Very few fighters have been burned up - so the Klingon Admiral will keep the bulk of his offensive firepower.
The key battle of the entire offensive, was planet Arcturus (2715) - which has just fallen.
The Federation spent a Command point, to increase the chance of success - and the initial combat round was 85/EW v 67/EW (without it, it would have been 83/EW - but William could have spent 2 Cp's and got to 75/EW (including cripples) - closing the advantage I had.
And I wanted to minimise the chance of the dice destroying the entire plan (I think I could be outrolled by 1 each round and win - 2 or more though would have been a challenge) - and after the first 4 battle rounds* - anything could happen.
2 v 4
1 v 2
3 v 5
5 v 1 - Hurrah - finally won a roll!
The vital roll was nice - VBIR went down 2, I rolled a 4 and William rolled a 1.
William then ran (4 v 6 in the pursuit - so pretty much honours even in dice) - losing a crippled D6 and self crippling his Mauler - but did kill a FFE.
With the Southern route into the pocket destroyed - the outflanking forces deep into the Coalition rear cut the Northern route off.
Ideally, I would have loved to have used a large fleet (23 ships, including a CVA) to help one of the two of the flank battles - but William by reacting everything off one of the two planets he held, could have altered the retreat priorities to allow him to break the northern screen.
I couldn't find a way which guaranteed the plan would still work - so he was able to mug two smaller forces.
Losses so far are
Federation FF, 2 x FFE, 1 x CP used (3 left)
Klingons D6 (was already crippled), E4A and 2 x E4 (which were both captured!).
8 battles remain (2 will see an E4 die in each - as the expected Coalition reserves never arrived) - which the Coalition have an edge in most.
Yes, Panzers besieging Moscow ships in the Earth region are lacking supplies. Fortunately in this game one doesn't starve from that. Does cut down on our options, though a bunch of unsavory pirates are already offering to supply them for the low price of 40EP. If we choose not to spend the money, there is still a major planet they could beat up, and maybe even a starbase if they are bold. Killing a lot of the encircling forces is also an option.
Yes.....
Just put your Credit Card details in here and personal details there.
All for one low low price - with the added benefit of pay now, nothing to pay later (well not much....).
Your friendly Orion Syndicate.
Dear Admiral K'Ang
We attempted to deliver the recent order for 'various supplies', to your Fleet Headquarters, but you was out.
Please therefore contact us for re-delivery of the said items - which you will be charged for.
Please do not make the mistake of being out again - we would hate to see a similar accident* which recently occurred to the Federation Seventh Fleet Star Base Commander.
* - Brutually cut his own head off while shaving.
Your sincerely
D'Ouble Ya Money
UPS Shipping Manager
(United Pirate Service)
P.S. The repeat order for Pink Super Soft Toilet Paper (you know, the one with cute Puppies on it) is currently on back order and will be delivered, 'nearly free of charge' once it is in stock
And so Alliance turn 8 combat is over.
Part 3 of the plan was a partial success, no BATS or FRD killed, but 1 Kzinti front planet was liberated.
I did also escape the trap William set on the Kzinti front to cut 30 ships off out of supply.
Total dead for the turn
Kzinti, CL, FF, DF, SF, MEC and CLE killed plus the most crippled I think.
Federation, CA, FF and 2 x FFE killed - plus 1 CP spent
Klingons, D6, 3 x D5, 5 x E4 (2 Captured), E4A
Dice was still in the Coalition favour 
(alas the Kzinti got the brunt of it and so took several more cripples than the Coalition) - 3.25 v 3.625 - atleast William did fail a pursuit though.
Alliance turn 8 is over.
The Kzinti with truly huge numbers of cripples cower in terror in their core systems, but continue to support the Feds with 12 ship in NW Federation space.
The Federation take a similar approach, defending Sol and the core central area, but modest forces remain defending south of Orion.
Two more Senior Federation Diplomats are sent into Romulan and Gorn space with the offer of new trade deals, to keep them both happy and out of the War. (Three ships in the Fifth fleet are tasked to defend the long Gorn/Romulan border).
The Federation also offered very generous terms to the Klingons, for their surrender as with over 100 Klingon ships cut off, deep in Federation space, Federation Intelligence has predicted the war will be over by Christmas.
Kzinti spend 4 Ep's on Field repairs and Federation 11 Ep's on Field Repairs.
Hydrans sit in the corner, waving at any passing traders.
Lyran Economy, Turn 9
Survey roll 8
Survey total 89
Survey EP 8
Offmap 24
Capital 35
Planets 24
Provinces 32
Conquered 6.8
Income 129.8
From last turn 1.8
Total Money 131.6
Repairs
1807 12
1707 6
414 6
Red Claw 2.5
EB 7.5
SB 608 1.5
K NR 3.5
Subtotal 39
Builds
BC 10
TG 8
2CW, CWE 16
DW, 2DWE 14
3FF 7.5
VP 14
CA (overbuild) 16
Subtotal 85.5
Conversion
Lyrantan CA>DN 6
Total spent 130.5
Remaining after econ 1.1
Command Points: 6+1=7
Klingon economy, Turn 9
Survey roll 6
Survey total 57
Survey EP 4
Capital 49
Planets 41
Provinces 52
Conquered 39.2
Total before exhaustion 185.2
Percentage
Income 185.2
From last turn -3.1
Total Money 182.1
Repairs
1807 25
1707 2
1507 8
1307 2
1107 2
906 1.5
NR 8
SR
Klinshai 22
1809 2
1811 1.5
1813
2014 1
2215 1.5
1013 8
1214 2
Tholian SB
1415 1
908 2
1009 1.5
1209 2
Subtotal 93
Builds
D6M 10
F5 (for D7) 3
7D5, AD5 41
3F5, 3F5E 18
3xE4 7.5
B10 roll 5
Activations 2
Subtotal 86.5
Skipped: D7C, D5
Conversion
D7V 2
Total spent 181.5
Remaining after econ 0.6
Command points: 1+1=2
Even though the Hydran territories are expanding the Klingon income, they still don't have enough EP and have to skip a D7C build, downsub an F5 for a D7, and skip a D5. In light of this, it is reasonable to question whether or not the B10 is worth it.
What is the total for the B-10?
Prior to this turn - B10-1 (there might be more!) is up to 22.
I can't see any reason not to build it (and I'll be facing it)- even in basic F&E - it's worth having. No single ship comes close in Compot - and outside a Capital Assault, is pretty safe from death (Gorn DN's don't die too often, but they can).
As soon as the Coalition repair bill is back down to modest levels (yes, probably wishful thinking) - 5 Ep's will not be relevant, one way or the other.
The Lyran DNP (24 AF) and the Romulan ROC (25 AF) are close ...
This is a basic game.
I might build 'em for fun in a basic game, but otherwise I think they're not worth the immense cost (about 60 EPs plus fighters).
Twin SFGs are what make them worth it in full game, imo.
That is a 22 EP DN the Lyrans just bought. Gold toilets. Aged salmon humidors. Motorized bridge chairs with the fancy steering-by-tail feature...
Nothing but the best.
Graham - that's a better return for the Lyrans than just handing the Ep's over to the Klingons. 
….and who doesn't want Gold Toilets?
On the B10, I think the only choice is - do you build 1 or 2 (in the basic game)?
I don't think more than 2 is either practical or affordable (in the vast majority of battles, the B10 could fly in backwards with shields down and come out safe - but outside of the form box, 40 damage is close enough to occur a tad too often - and so you probably wouldn't risk it on the line - especially if the Alliance had captured a Mauler).
Luck does form a part to the choice too...
If you roll an average of say 2.5.... you will probably never have the funds to pay for a second B10 ship/roll - if you roll an average of 4 - and perhaps cancel a C8 build and buy the second dice
(i.e. your on 32 and get 8+ 2D6, to get the B10 a turn or 2 early), funds might be OK.
With the add on rule packs - extra Ep's and other hull variants, more can be built.
On the game - looks like the Kzinti have been noticed - as they have some unwanted visitors and 1401 is under a heavy attack.
All good, as although most of those ships couldn't deep into Federation space - some could have.
Zero B10 is also an option, possibly the best one. The fact that this is unclear is a credit to ADB. A good game should involve unclear decisions.
The 22EP DN the Lyrans keep building has the advantage of appearing with only a one-turn delay after the first 16EP are spent. The delays for the B10 are rather longer.
And yes, the Kzinti efforts to distract the Klingons from their drive into Fed space were unquestionably successful. They pulled three Klingon reserves back from Fed space with their previous move. Those three reserves are now mostly at Kzintai, together with a whole bunch of Lyrans.
Well, two huge battles in 1401 and 2708 (not sure why the Klingons went to 2708 - the Federation Presidents Summer Pleasure house is currently in 2705)…
Federation have 4 reserves available - and about 8 things need saving!
Reserves have been distpatched
2306 will be saved....
2403 and 2715 may be saved...
...and 2708 - who knows!
(80 Equivalents v 73 Equivalents plus the 4 PDU's with F15's.....I think compot wise, I have a big edge..... both Fed CVA's and 4 Fed DN's are here - plus a CVB and F14 Squadrons from the SB....
Plus the Fed CVA pod!
William does have 3 C8's and 3 D6M's though - but only 52 fighters ....)
I think I have 123 fighters (in value)....