The Feds bungle negotiations at Bezwel Index and they join the Klingons. They'll be sorry!

Other DIP and rebellion type rolls do not yield results.

The Kzintis do no raids, preferring to ready the maximum defense against the incoming turn three attack. They do blockade run 4EPs to the WYN and recover 4EPs from their WYNCOVIA account.

The Kzintis go and fight the Lyrans at 1001 (more react in) resulting in 40ish Lyrans fighting one round and running away against a superior force. The Lyrans lose an HDD, the Kzintis an FFK.

The Kzintis then reorganize their defense, putting a battle force on Duke's Starbase (about 12 ships), two CVL groups and an FF joining a POL and MON at 1502 and send the rest to 1401.

After strategic movement, the Kzintis end with two strong reserves offmap.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, January 10, 2021 - 11:23 pm: Edit

*Hydrans: DIPs to Lyrantan and 0714.

*Reserves:
*Kzintis (offmap):
1st: DN CL 2CV TGC(2VP) 2MEC FKE 2EFF DF SF
2nd: DNL CC BC BF CL FFK FF DDV TGT(2VP) CVE SF
*Feds:
2nd: (2004) PT TG(BP) DNL(ADM) CC 2CA CF 3DD 3FF SC


*Record keeping:

*Kzinti Treasury at end of Eco phase: 8.75EP
*A2 midturn income: 4EP(Wyncovia) + 10EP(Ship sales) + 0.75(Salvage FFK+14.75EP
*A2 midturn expenditures: 4EP(trade with WYN), 12DBB(stockpile).
*A2 field repairs: cle(3)(1401)
*End turn treasury: 16.5EP
*End turn drone stockpile: 28.
*End turn CPs: 1.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - 10:31 am: Edit

CT3 Eco and Raids.

Diplomacy: Klingons bungle negotiations at 1910 (Bezwell Index). So far, Feds and Klingons are flipping more planets by bungling negotiations than by succeeding at negotiations....

Klingon Eco:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2o3ea6citfu8t96/Coalition%20Klingon.xlsx?dl=0.
--Highlights: built convoy in 2308. Repaired 5 small ships. Built D5S and E4R. Converted ships to following: D6M, D6S, D6D, D6V, FD7.
--Klingons pay off their national debt of 17 with help the Lyrans sent on CT2. 34 EPs in bank.

Lyran Eco:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zxceqh9pz8d0a8g/Coalition%20Lyran.xlsx?dl=0
--Highlights: Built 2*KTP, FRD, and built Convoy in 707. Converted CA->DN and 2*DW->DWS by CDR. 23 EPs in repairs (SB assaults are costly). Built CF and 10 more APTs (30 in all over 3 turns).
--Still no ADS; 10 EPs in the bank.


I'm done with building Lyran APTs I think. I spent 30 EPs to have them, which is a chunk of change. However, now I have sufficient transports to move 20 EPs as well as (eventually) KR parts to the Romulans without using more valuable transports and without using up free strat. For the rest of the game. Worth it, I think.


RAIDS:
No normal or special raids, other than BR runs. Lyrans BR a PT to 707. Klingons BR LTT to deliver and pick up EPs at the WYN cluster as part of "doing the WYN shuffle."


Operational to follow as I get time.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, January 18, 2021 - 03:49 pm: Edit

Operational movement done.

I attacked remaining BATS 1004 and 1805 with BATS busting forces. I attacked abandoned planet 1001 with 4 ships. I attacked planet 1202 (with PDUs and MON) with a small force that easily could be repulsed with a reserve. I merely pinned the Kzinti forces at SB 1304; so it is safe this turn.

I put a major force on 1502; enough so that one reserve could not save it - it would take both to save it. The remainder of my ships (enough to pin everything in 1401, but not much more than that) went to 1401. It's certainly sufficient to strip a bunch of PDUs, but not enough to take 1401 this turn.

Other highlights:
Lyarns setup MB in 1506. Klingons setup MB in 1403.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, January 18, 2021 - 03:53 pm: Edit

Reserve movement for CT3:

Both Kzinti reserves were very strong. One goes to BATS 1004 and saves it. The other goes to 1401.

Combat for CT3:
1: Planet 1001 is resolved pro-forma.

2: I conquer planet 1402, crippling an E4 and an E4A for my efforts.

3: The Kzinti reserve eats a CW and a FF. No captures. Kzinti stay at 1004. Setting up to threaten deeper Coalition targets or try to meet up with the Hydrans for an expedition?

4: Kzinti BATS 1805 goes down for fighters (LAV, 4*E4 against BATS).

5: 1502. Battle is ongoing. Round 1 saw boxcars for the Kzinti at BIR 8, so even with a weak force he did 45 damage. I rolled a 2 with a superior force, so I only did 30. He crippled MON and lost all 24 fighters on the PDUs. He direct killed the D6S in the scout box. C'est la guerre. Round 2 to come later.

6 and 7 are 1401 and 1304; to be determined.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, January 22, 2021 - 11:46 am: Edit

1502 didn't go a second round, the Kzintis retreated to 1401, taking 9 fighter factors with them (notable two intact CVL groups).

1401 has finished two rounds so far. The Coalition hit the minor in the Kzintai system and the three major planets, stripping 12 PDU total (the lone major system still has 2 PDU). The Kzintis retaliated (defending all four systems with full lines) destroying 3D6M and an F5L and crippling a eight or so ships.

On the second round, the Coalition hit two other minor planets and return to finish the major planet's PDUs and destroy 5 PDUs and fighters. The Kzintis kill a D6D and F5L(autokill) and cripple a few Coalition ships in return.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, January 31, 2021 - 08:31 pm: Edit

A3 eco has started.

A3 Other Alliance ecos

*Federation:
*Initial treasury: 5 DIP EP
*Income: 3DIP EP(3415) 3DIP EP(1910) + 2DIP EP.
*Treasury: 13 DIP EP.
*Production(PWC) to 6th:
DN
*Conversions:
9 DIP EP(2908) CA->GSC(5) CA->TG(4)
*Final treasury: 4 DIP EP

*Gorn:
*Initial treasury: 3DIP EP.
*Income: 2DIP EP.
*Treasury: 5DIP EP.
*Production(PWC) to 2nd Fleet:
HD 2BD
*Conversions:
4 CL->SR (4402)

*Tholians:
*Production: 2919:
PC
*Conversions: 2919:
PC->DD

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, January 31, 2021 - 08:32 pm: Edit

A3 ODM Hydran eco

*Survey: 14

*Previous Treasury: 4 DIP EP

*Income: 74 EP + 3DIP EP = 77EP.
*Borrowing limit 15.4EP.
*Current Treasury: 81 EP

*Production:
15 2DE(3FFF) 2CU (sub UH group)
6 TG(0.75FFF)
16.5 TR 2HR(2.25FFF)
15 3CU 3FFT(sub 3HN) one CU at each of 0215 0716 1017
16 MON-V
21 3PDU
5 CP
0 Callup PT MON ENG MMG
----------------------------------------------------
94.5 EP

Borrow 13.5 EP.
Treasury at end eco: 0EP, 0FFF, 1CP, 13.5EP debt.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, January 31, 2021 - 08:43 pm: Edit

A3 FY169 Kzinti eco:
*Start survey total: 25.
*Survey roll: 5+1(HR survey)+2(PT).
*New total: 33.


*Treasury 16.5EPs, 9FFF(end of A2).
*C3 Salvage: 5.875 (2MON FFK SF LAS).
*C3 DBB costs 28DBB(stockpile) 52DBB (-5.2EP).
*Treasury 17.175 and 9FFF(end of C2).
*Drone stockpile: 0.

*CPs: 0.

*Income:
*On map (outside capital hex): 44 - 3 (disrupted) - 12(cap prov) - 17 (cap planets) = 12.
*Off map: 17+2.
*Capital: 32 - 3(1 Maj dev) - 4(2 Min dev) = 25.
*Captured nz: 0.
*Captured provinces: 0.
*Captured planets: 0.
*Other income: 2(DIP).
*Total income: 58EP.

*National debt: 0.
*Borrowing limit: 11.6.
*Interest: 0.
*Interest payment: 0.
*Current treasury balance: 75.175,9FFF.

*Production:
12 CV(6FFF)
8 TGC(sub BC)
18 3MEC
7 FFK FKE (sub CL)
15 5FF(one in 1704, one in 1304) FFG
5 CP

0 Activate PT
Callup POL (1003).
----------------------------------------
65 Total


*Conversions:
4 (1401) CVL->CV(3FFF)
1 (OM) EFF->FKE
3 (1704) CL->CLD
-------------------------------------------
8 Total

*Repairs: None.
1 (OM) EFF
Depot CVL CLE FFG enter depot
-----------------------------------------------------------
1 Total

*EPs Borrowed: 0

*New Borrowing Limit remaining: 11.6.
*Current debt: 0.

*Treasury: 75.175 + 9FFF - 74 - 9FFF = 1.175. 0FFF.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, February 18, 2021 - 03:58 pm: Edit

AT3 is over.

It was mostly... forgettable. The Hydrans turtled up and attacked nothing in order to keep Coalition reserves rearward. He left SB 716 "undefended" - though his wily ways don't fool me given the HUGE fleet he has at 617. Very small fleets left at 1017 and 215.

The ZTO was somewhat more active. He kicked me off some minor planets, and one reserve in range managed to "... And Settle Their Hash". Otherwise nothing very big.

One powerful and one moderate Hydran reserve at 617. The vast majority of Hydran ships are at 617.

In the ZTO, he has one moderate and one weak reserve (9 SEQ total). 25 SEQ (carriers) defend Duke's SB to exact a pound of flesh. The bulk of his ships are turtled up at 1401.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, February 18, 2021 - 04:20 pm: Edit

CT4 Eco:

Klingon: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2o3ea6citfu8t96/Coalition%20Klingon.xlsx?dl=0

Lyran: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zxceqh9pz8d0a8g/Coalition%20Lyran.xlsx?dl=0

Romulan: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4dpleqr6nunxave/Coalition%20Romulan.xlsx?dl=0

Roms have enough EPs to convert a WE to PE and buy a survey slot.

Highlights:
Lyrans convert a DN and start national debt (16).
Klingons stay out of debt. First and second B10 rolls are both "2", greatly disappointing the emperor. Lyrans build another FRD.

Klingons start minor conversion facility at 1112. Lyrans start major conversion facility and FF yard offmap.


Raids:
The raids were remarkable this turn. 3*CW types raided. All three failed, and two of the raiders were crippled by POLs.

The captains of the raiding ships were executed for incompetence.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, February 18, 2021 - 04:23 pm: Edit

CT4 Operational:

This is ongoing. I take planet 1001, BATS 1004, planet 1202 with enough force that his weak reserves can't save them. I put some 50 SEQ into the capital - enough to devastate some planets. Everything else dogpiles Duke's SB in 1304. It will die, but with 25 Kzinti defenders and likely 9 more on the way he will have his pound of flesh.

In the HTO: Klingons send fleets to 915, 1116, 1217, and 1219. Home fleet hits up 1017. Enemy's blood goes to 315, but is still moving and likely to hit up SB 215.

Only West fleet and new con are left to move, with the exception of some miscellany.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 - 01:45 pm: Edit

CT4 operational complete.

In the ZTO: I attack SB 1304 in force; a reserve cannot save it. I put enough ships in 1401 to devastate a few more planets, but the capital is absolutely safe even without reserves. There is one non-Marquis BATS left and a few minor planets being taken - all get enough ships so that the two moderate Kzinti reserves are not enough to save any of them even together.

In the HTO: I attack SB 1017 and 215 in force. All border BATS except for one in the far NW corner are attacked. I do not attack the capital CT4 (he has too many ships there, I couldn't get in - which also means SB 617 is effectively safe even though he put no defending ships on it).


CT4 Alliance Reserves:
Both Kzinti reserves go to SB1304. They won't save the SB, but they will exact a bit more of a price for the butcher bill.

The Hydran reserves split between SB 215 and 1017. The stronger reserve went to SB 215 and will likely save that SB this turn. The weaker reserve went to 1017 - it is not enough to save the SB, but again he will exact more pain for my efforts.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 - 01:49 pm: Edit

CT4 Combat:

ZTO:
The sole remaining Kzinti BATS goes down for a swan song (DD crippled). All non-Marquis planets (but for the capital itself) are now captured.

SB 1304 (the last non-Marquis base outside the capital) goes down for some casualties. Only 2*D5 and 2*CW and F5G crippled over 4 combat rounds, because he directed all other rounds - killing D5S, D6M, D6G, JGP+V. I killed 1*EFF on round 4. Due to two rolls of "6" he had to self-kill 2 more FF, but BOTH made depot!

The capital assault is next. Richard declines approach, but we need to run it still. I anticipate devastating the 3-4 remaining non-devastated planets (outside the capital planet) in exchange for a few more directed ships.


HTO: TBD

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 - 02:32 pm: Edit

Re-checked above, and forgot to mention a couple of notables I did do at Eco time. Namely, the Lyrans convert MB->BS (3 ftr) with a COE at Zursk (1505). Klingons convert MB->BATS (no ftr) using a tug in hex 1403.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 09:12 pm: Edit

The battle in 1401 is over, the Klingons devastated the four remaining undefended planets (Kzintai has 16 PDU and wasn't attacked). This came at significant cost as the Coalition did not have lots and lots of big or specialty ships.

Combat went for seven rounds or so.

The Coalition lost D6M 2D7 D5 2F5, the Kzintis lost CL FKE EFF if I recall correctly.

The Kzintis ended up crippling something like 3CL BCE MEC, the Coalition D7 4D5 4F5. The Kzintis expended 7.2 EPs in DBB if my memory serves. The Kzintis retreated a significant force offmap which may complicate Coalition defense.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, March 02, 2021 - 11:18 pm: Edit

In addition to the above, all planets in Kzinti space (other than the capital and the Marquis) are now conquered.

Duke's SB was destroyed this turn.

Hydran SB 1017 was destroyed. All Hydran border BATS, but for one on the far NW Lyran border, are now destroyed.

Total Coalition ships killed:
JGP+V

3*D7C, 2*D6M, 2*D7, 2*D6, D5, F5L, 2*F5, D6G

All of them were directed. Richard never let the damage fall, except for once when autokill was in effect against me.

As a result, my cripples were very light.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, March 02, 2021 - 11:21 pm: Edit

Alliance dead ships include something like

Kzinti CL 2EFF
Hydrans LN SA, maybe a second LN.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 11:52 am: Edit

He also had a few cripples (8 Kzinti for defense of Duke's SB and 1 Hydran LN for defense of 1017).


CT4 is now complete. Reserves are a bit thin as I used most ships this turn.

CT4 EoT highlights.

-Mostly I stay forward deployed in an aggressive posture, giving him several openings to cause damage if he so chooses, but threatening both capitals heavily.

-Lyran 1st reserve (1 ship) in 705.  Lyran 2nd reserve (1 ship ) in 1506.  Lyran 3rd reserve (10 ships, 2 AUX) in 411.

-Klingon 1st reserve (12 ships) in 1403.  Klingon 2nd reserve (1 ship) in 1505.  Klingon 3rd reserve (9 ships) and 4th reserve (7 ships) in 1013.

-Lyrans use COE to setup MB in 1214. 

-Klingons use tug in 408 to setup MB at Lyrantan.

-Lyrans use APTs to transfer 19 EPs to the Klingons.

-Lyrans and Klingons use APT/PTR to transfer 2*ADM and 2*MMG to the HTO (reserve fleets).

By Graham Cridland (Grahamcridland) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 12:17 pm: Edit

What is the purpose of the reciprocal MBs in capitals? Just reduction in strategic movement costs? I don't think I've ever sent a Klingon of any kind into Lyran space in my game (except repairs on the Hydran front supported by a supply tug in 0615).

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Reduction in strat moves is, of course, important (it's actually #1 by far), but there are other benefits.

Klingon supply deeper in Lyran space is sometimes quite useful. Occasionally I want to field a Klingon reserve in Lyran space. Being able to plop a Klingon reserve (with a mauler) in the Lyran capital is a good way to protect Lyran SB 411 and border BATS from the depredations of the Hydrans. The Klingon MB in 408 allows me not to use any Lyran SM capacity to do that.

Additionally, if you are using tugs to transport EPs back and forth between Lyrans and Klingons, it's easier on the SM capacity to be able to use either race's tugs.

Next, I often build a PRD at the Lyran capital, which is useful for both repair and defense. With a Klingon supply point in 408 I can move Klingon cripples to 408, which are then repaired at *Lyran* expense on the following turns.

Finally, sometimes Klingons can end up out of supply when they are in far Western Hydran space. Having Klingon supply that extends to the Lyran BATS can help Klingons retreat in the right direction and get back into supply a bit easier.


It's not needed, sure. But I typically have unused Klingon MBs until well after the Roms join the war - so why not?


[EDIT] As a side note, in most of my games I end up dismantling a setup MB and moving it somewhere more useful. It's slow, and takes a tug, but cheaper than buying another one. If I ever need a Klingon MB later in the war I just dismantle the one at Lyrantan and move it elsewhere.

By Graham Cridland (Grahamcridland) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 02:39 pm: Edit

Getting supply into Hydran space is an issue I have thought about a lot recently so that certainly makes sense. It isn't easy to set up bases on the front lines, even when you have pincount.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 03:41 pm: Edit

Sure. Also, if you have a Klingon base in 408, it's nearly unassailable. If you really need supply in western Hydran space, use a supply tug within 6 hexes of 408 and now you can extend well into Hydran space for combat operations.

By Graham Cridland (Grahamcridland) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 04:08 pm: Edit

If the Alliance is even thinking about attacking 0408, the existence of safe supply in Hydran space is not high on the list of Klingon problems...

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, March 03, 2021 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Graham, you would be surprised. A wily and determined Hydran player can usually arrange to put occasional pressure on 408 - especially after they are kicked out of 617. Because of the way supply tugs work, it is next to impossible to prevent the Hydrans from establishing a supply path (for combat purposes) between the Hydran offmap and 408.

When I play against Richard Eitzen (like I am now) I *always* keep a close eye on what he is doing with the Hydrans vis-a-vis pressure on 408. So far (talking about my prior games with him), I have prevented him from actually TAKING Lyrantan, or even devastating the outer planets of the Lyran capital, but there have been several games where he HAS forced me to put powerful reserves deep in the Lyran and Klingon hinterlands to prevent him from actually doing real damage.

The point, of course, is to take pressure off of the Federation by forcing the Coalition to defend 408 with anywhere between 20-50 ships. In this sense, he very much succeeds (occasionally) at having the Hydrans be a serious nuisance.

The Klingon MB in 408 helps get adequate defenses to 408 when this happens by providing a path for Klingon defenders.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that the Alliance doesn't have to be winning or ahead for the Hydrans to be able to force the Coalition to over commit defenses to Lyrantan.

-T