If you want your assault to succeed, you need to plan for the worst.

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Wednesday, June 09, 2021 - 01:20 pm: Edit

Perhaps I'm looking at it wrong; I usually throw in a fleet that has a reasonable chance of succeeding, and then let the winds of fate determine if plans go through or not. I feel like taking in a force so large is has no chance of failure is over-committing, especially in the HTO where a lot of those ships are going to have to change fronts once the capital is captured...
But then, the larger your force the fewer ships you lose so maybe it's just a difference of opinion.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Wednesday, June 09, 2021 - 09:11 pm: Edit

I think I agree with Karl, for the most part. However, I think that it's generally better to overcommit on one target than undercommit on two. So if you've got one important target, you can risk not taking it down. But if you've got two important targets, you really should pin one and hit the other hard rather than risk neither of them going down. On C7 there were a lot of ships on 0215, but not enough to take it barring really good dice. Similarly it was quite unlikely that 0617 would fall. I think the right call would have been either:

- Pin 0215 and run after an approach, at least devastate Hydrax.

- Put enough in 0215 to kill the SB, and the rest in 0617 to kill the rest of the non-Hydrax PDUs.

By Graham Cridland (Grahamcridland) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 12:33 pm: Edit

I think I agree with Sam, in that I always treat operational movement as an exercise in stretching defenses. You pin what you can, overkill what you can, and avoid as much as possible any hexes where the result will be other than "Lose an FF and retreat after one round." or "I win even if the dice hate me."

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 02:37 pm: Edit

I agree with Mr Johnson!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NaQxUEfxt0

By Douglas Lampert (Dlampert) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 04:26 pm: Edit

Nobody move or the ***** gets it!

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 06:29 pm: Edit

I don't think that's quite what I meant, though. Taking risks is a good thing if they pay off frequently enough (which they do if you calculate them right). IMO, the ideal situation is that you take one calculated risk per front per turn. One sure thing is better than two risks, and usually two risks near to each other can be converted into one sure thing. If you're not making those risky plays, though, you're being too cautious.

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 08:25 pm: Edit

I mean, as long as you're hitting the nail on the head, Sam, I'll just say it: I like to take risks

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, June 11, 2021 - 10:56 pm: Edit

A8 was very quiet.

The Hydrans kept their heads down, not moving at all and just setting reserves in 0215 and offmap.

The Kzinti attacked 1001, pinned a reserve in 1202, and the Feds fought the Klingons off 1802. In 1001, the Lyrans spent a command point, so the Kzinti just kill 2PDU and left.

Kzinti dead: FF 2EFF
Federation crippled: 6NCL DD 7FF

Lyran dead: 2PDU DWE
Klingon crippled: D6 D5V AD5 2D5 F5S F5E 3F5 4E4
Klingon dead: E4

The Kzinti have a reserve offmap and one in 1704. The Federation's only released reserve is in 2008.

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Monday, June 14, 2021 - 10:57 pm: Edit

Y172 Fall, Coalition turn 9
Lyran Economy
Survey
Prev Total: 73
New Roll: 9
Total: 82 (+1)

Command Points: 9-1+1=9

Prev Turn:
0 Field Repair C8
6 salvage (2STT, DW, DWE)
1.55 old treasury
7.55 remaining (end of A8)

Income
Maj Planets(9):45
Min Planets(10):30
On-Map Provinces(16):32
Off-Map Provinces(7+1):16
Captured NZ(10 hexes):2
Captured Provinces:8 (0701, 0901, 0803, 1104, 1203, 0316, 0318, 0714)
Captured Planets (3min, 1maj): 5 (1001, 1105, 0416, 0718)
Total: 138

New Treasury: 145.55

Production [68.5]
10 BC
8 TGC sub CA
7+6 CVL sub CW (3fff)
6 CWE sub CW
10 CWx2
10 DWEx2 sub DWx2
4 DW
7.5 FFx3

Repairs [50]
1.5 (0104) DW
2 (0502) TGC
1.5 (0504) CW
1.5 (0705) CW
8 (0404) 2BC, 2CW
6 (0906) CC, CW, DWS, FF
8 (0608) D6D, 2D5, 2CW
5.5 (0411) 3CW, F5
8 (Far Stars) 3CL, DW, 2FF
8 (0408) CL, FF, 3D5, F5E

Conversions [7]
6 CL to BC 0408
1 CW to CWE 0608

Overbuilds [0]

Other Production [20]
20 transfer to Klingons (tribute payment)

145.5 total expenses
0.05 remaining

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 12:34 am: Edit

Klingon Economy Y172 Fall
Survey
Prev Total:65
New Roll: 4
Total: 69

B10
Prev Total:31
New Roll: 2
Total: 33

Command Points: 10+1=11

End CT4 Treasury: 24.275
Field Repair C7: -6
Salvage: 16.825 (3D6M, 6D5, E4)
Drone Bombardment: -1.6
Allied delivery: +12
Start treasury: 45.5

Income
Maj Planets(9):45
Min Planets(15):45
On-Map Provinces(26):52
Off-Map Provinces(3):6
Captured NZ (28 hexes):5.6
Captured planets (4 min): 4 (1202, 1504, 1506, 0519)
Captured Prov(9):9 (1101, 1503, 1504, 0515, 0716, 0719, 0917, 1015, 1118)
Total C3 income:166.6

Total: 45.5+166.6= 212.1 new treasury

Production [108.5]
9 D7C
12 D6S sub D7
10 D6M sub D6
7 D5V sub D5 (6fff)
6 AD5 sub D5
35 D5x7
8 F5L x2
8 F5E sub F5x2
6 F5x2
7.5 E4 x3

Repair [30]
6 (0906) TGA, 2 D5, E4
2 (1107) F5, E4
2 (1307) D7C
8 (1707) D6, 2D5, 2F5, F5S
1 (1807) E4
1 (1411) F5
1 (1011) E4A
1 (1813) E4A
2 (1716) 2F5
6 (0511) 3D6

Activate [2]
2 D6 x2 (6 remain)

Conversion [21]
3 D6 (repaired) to D6D 1707
5 D6 (activated) to D6M (major) 1411
3 D6 (activated) to D6D (minor) 1411
1+8 F5 (repaired) to FV (minor) 1411
1 F5 (repaired) to F5E (minor) 1411

Other Expenses [29]
5 B10 work
10 FRD
14 2PDU

190.5 total expenses
212.1 - 190.5 = 21.6 EP Treasury

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Thursday, June 24, 2021 - 10:08 pm: Edit

Moves are complete, battle is underway.
In the ZTO, most coalition fleet ships in the theatre dumped into 1401, where both Kzinti reserves were also sent. A small covering force went to the Marquis SB, mostly to allow evacuation of several crippled ships that had fought at 1802 in A8. Fighting there is finished, with an approach and a pursuit round; interestingly no Kzinti ships participated, it was only Klingon vs. Federation.
In the HTO the only two targets, 0215 SB and 0617 are being dogpiled as well, with a primarily Klingon force attacking Hydrax and a Lyran one attacking the SB. The Hydran reserve from the Old Colonies went to try to save the SB, but since the SB already has 5 SIDS, Sam either is tryin to make it a more even fight, or just make sure the Paladin gets out of there safely.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Thursday, June 24, 2021 - 11:17 pm: Edit

No Kzinti ships participated in 1704 because they're all in 1401! :P The lone CVE that was there - the only non-crippled Kzinti ship that's not hauling EPs or in 1401 - withdrew from combat to secure supply for 1704.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Monday, June 28, 2021 - 11:57 pm: Edit

Battle in 1401 was fierce, lasting 14 rounds (but the Coalition managed to evade pursuit)! First, casualties:

Kzinti cripples: 5CC BC 3CM 8MEC 2CLE EFF 8FF 2SIDS (44.5EP)
Kzinti dead: FF
Federation cripples: CA 3NCL FF FFE (8.5EP)

Lyran cripples: DN CC CA 5CW 2DWS 2DW 3DD SC 6FF (30.5EP)
Lyran dead: DW
Klingon cripples: C8 D7C D7 D6S 3D6D 4D5V 3AD5 D5S 9D5 2F5L 2F5E 15F5 12E4 (72.5EP)
Klingon dead: D7C F5L F5E E4

The only time anything was directed was the C8 in R2 (crippled in form) and the D7C in R10 (the flagship, but the Lyran DN was in formation) - both to reduce the Coalition's command, as the Klingons and the Kzinti both spent 2CP. Dice were essentially even, though the superior Alliance compot meant that I got autokills and Karl didn't.

Either side might have been served by killing scouts on the line, but the Coalition had quite a few scouts and the Alliance could still hit 10 EW with only one scout in formation. The Alliance ran out of DBB in round 10, so that was an additional reason for the Coalition to not direct kill anything.

However, there were quite a few Alliance cripples in the hex - I think it would have been worth it for the Coalition to just kill a cripple each round (I would have retreated cripples to the Barony after the first one, but it would have denied me most of the repair capacity from the 1401 SB).

In any case, the Coalition has a little over 100EPs in repairs from this battle and a lack of repair facilities in theatre means that none of the ships are being repaired on C10 (unless they displace ships already sitting there). There's an assault on Hydrax coming up, plus a battle that will likely see SB 0215 destroyed, and none of those ships are going to be repaired C10 either.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, July 02, 2021 - 10:54 pm: Edit

10 rounds in Hydran space was enough to take down 0215 and kill all 11 PDUs in 0617.

Hydran cripples: TR HR
Hydran dead: 3DG HN SB 11PDU

Lyran cripples: 4CW (6EP)
Lyran dead: STT BC CC DWS
Klingon cripples: C8 D7C 4D7 2CVT D6V 2D6D D6 10D5 2AD5 2F5E 2E4A (47EP)

The Lyrans just shot cruisers over 0215 (unsurprising) while the Klingons took down PDUs over 0617 (also unsurprising). This leaves the Hydrans with just PAL LC 4RN 2DG TG-B as heavy cruisers, so we'll see whether the Coalition feels like killing the rest of the scary ships on C10.

The Coalition probably has enough ships to take 0617 next turn - though that will, of course, depend on Hydran willingness to cripple.

The Hydrans do manage to keep the fleet from 0215 in supply by withdrawing an HN to 0518 - which is good, as they used up all their fighters.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, July 03, 2021 - 03:22 pm: Edit

Didn't the Klingons lose some ships? I think some D6Ms and an F6E were killed at the very least.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Sunday, July 04, 2021 - 05:30 pm: Edit

Oh yeah - missed that line for some reason. The Klingons lost 3D6M D5 F5E.

Alliance Economics:

Kzinti had -9.975 EP and got 40. Built CV MEC EFF and repaired 7MEC CL EFF SF 8FF between 1401 and offmap.

Hydrans get just 14EPs but smuggle in another 4.5. They build DG TG and repair HR. They've got about 19.5 EP offmap.

Federation had 155.9 EP and receive 166.15. They build DN+ CVS 6NCL 5FF FFE, activate CL FF, and convert CL=>LSC, NCL=>NCD, 2xDN=>DN+, CA=>CVS, 2xDD=>DE. They pay for all 12 fighter factors and still have 183.55 EP left over and 30EP stashed offmap for the Kzinti.

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 12:46 am: Edit

No updates in a while...AT9 is over.
Nothing notable really happened. Several pinning battles in Kzinti space, with frigates getting jumped by larger Fed fleets in eastern Zin space mostly. Surprisingly, 1802 was attacked, but only with an NCL, (which did not survive when I sent a reserve.) Also several crippled NCLs got cleaned up by a mauler in pursuit from a pinning battle. Nothing major though. Mostly positioning fleets (especially the Feds.)
Hydran space saw a single battle, with the remnants of 0215's fleet (including the sole PAL in the Hydran fleet) hitting a picket in SW Hydran space. This was saved with the two reserves that were sitting in the area.
Similarly this this move was just to get the stranded Hydran ships to retrograde back into the capital. I'm sure Sam will post stats, as I can't remember what all died this turn.
Overall I'm not happy with my situation, though. Too many ships are in Hydran space still, and although Hydrax will probably end up falling this turn, it will be of course at least 2 turns before those ships can help reinforce the Fed border. Which, by the way, is "not" stocked with the fearsome fleets I would have liked. But, it is what it is, and CT10 coming up the invasion is happening whether I like it or not. At least the Roms are joining, but it remains to be seen if they have much of an effect.
In happier news, a B10 should be born in the next year...

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 12:50 am: Edit

Y173 Spring, Coalition turn 10
Lyran Economy
Survey
Prev Total: 82
New Roll: 15
Total: 97

Command Points: 9-1+1=9

Prev Turn:
0 Field Repair C8
8.5 salvage (BC, STT, CC, DW, DWS)
0.05 old treasury
8.55 remaining (end of A9)

Income
Maj Planets(9):45
Min Planets(10):30
On-Map Provinces(16):32
Off-Map Provinces(8):16
Captured NZ(10 hexes):2
Captured Provinces:10 (0701, 0901, 0803, 1104, 1203, 0214, 0316, 0318, 0714, 0718)
Captured Planets (4min, 2maj): 8 (1001, 1105, 0416,0519, 0718, 1502)
Scrap captured ships (CU, 0408):1
Total: 144

New Treasury: 144+8.55=152.55

Production [76.5]
16 DN
10+6 CV sub CA
6 CWE sub CW
15 CWx3
10 2DWE sub 2DW
6 DWS sub DW
7.5 FFx3

Repairs [52]
2 (1502) 2FF
2 (0504) 2FF
2 (0705) 2FF
8 (0404) BC, 2CW, DWS, FF
6 (0906) DN, 2CW
8 (OM) CW, 3DW, DD, FF
1 (0707) SC
1.5 (0809) DW
7.5 (0608) D5x4
6 (0411) 3CW
8 (0408) 2CA, 2D7

Conversions [7]
6 CA to DN
1 CW to CWE 0608

Overbuilds [0]

Other Production [17]
17 transfer to Klingons (tribute payment)

152.5 total expenses
0.05 remaining

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 12:51 am: Edit

Y173 Spring, Coalition turn 10
Klingon Economy
Survey
Prev Total:69
New Roll: 6
Total: 75

B10
Prev Total:33
New Roll 5
Total: 38

Command Points: 10-3+1=9

End CT4 Treasury: 21.6
Field Repair C7: 0
Salvage: 2.7+7.2+1.5+1.2+1.8+1.875=14.475
Drone Bombardment: -18.8
Allied delivery: +20
Start treasury: 36.275

Income
Maj Planets(9):45
Min Planets(15):45
On-Map Provinces(26):52
Off-Map Provinces(3):6
Captured NZ (28 hexes):5.6
Captured planets (3 min): 4 (1202, 1504, 1506)
Captured Prov(9):8 (1101, 1504, 0515, 0716, 0719, 0917, 1015, 1118)
Total: 165.6

Total: 228.875 new treasury

Production [131.5]
16 C8
10 D6M sub D6
12 D6S sub D6
7 D5V sub D5 (6fff)
6 AD5 sub D5
35 D5x7
4+8 FV sub F5L
4 F5L
6 2F5E sub F5x2
21 F5x7
2.5 E4

Repair [57]
6.5 (0906) D5, 2F5L, 2E4
8 (1107) C8, D5S, D5V, 2F5E
2 (1307) 2E4
8 (1707) D7, D5V, D5, 2F5, F5S
1.5 (0908) F5L
2 (1009) D6
2 (1209) D6D
2 (1011) D6
17.5 (1411) D7C, 3D6, 2F5L, 4F5
1.5 (1417) F5L
6 (1511) C8, 2D5

Activate [2]
2 D6 x2 (4 remain)

Conversion [14]
1 D5(repaired) to AD5 1707
2 F5 (repaired) fo F5E 1707
5 D6 (activated) to D6M (major) 1411
3 D6 (activated) to D6D (minor) 1411
3 D6 (repaired) to D6D (minor) 1411

Other Expenses [5]
5 B10 work

209.5 total expenses
228.875 - 209.5 = 19.375 EP Treasury

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 12:51 am: Edit

Y173 Spring, Coalition turn 10
Romulan Economy
Survey: 0
On-map provinces discovered: 0/5
On-map planets discovered: 0/2

Command Points: 4+0=4

Prev Turn:
0 Field Repair C9
0 salvage
0 old treasury
0 remaining (end of A9)

Income
Maj Planets(3):15
Min Planets(10):30
On-Map Provinces(26):52
Total: 97

New Treasury: 97

Production [81]
12(+12) SUP sub NH (6fff)
8 FH
8 SPC sub SP
15 SPx3
13.5 SKEx3 sub SKx3
10 FAL sub WE
2.5 SN

Repairs [0]

Conversions [16]
3+8 FH to SUB (4514)
5 WB to FAL (4613)

Overbuilds [0]

Other Production [0]

97 total expenses
0 remaining

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 11:50 am: Edit

Oh yeah, I'll post stats. A bit expensive in terms of ships lost just for positioning, but I think it was worth getting the Feds to 1704. There are now about 39 SE in 1704, including 2 CVAs.

Feds dead: LSC FF 3ncl (in pursuit)
Hydrans dead: CU

Lyran cripples: BC 3CL
Klingon crippled: D6D D6M
Klingon dead: 2E4

Honestly, there was a part of me that wanted to attack Klinshai last turn - I could pin the reserves in range and get ~40 ships into 1411. The problem was that I would lose those 40 ships and probably only kill two of the three SBs, which would not be worth keeping the Gorn out of the war. I was tempted to stack ships in 2008 A9, but as that would mean leaving the Romulan border undefended it'd be obvious and it'd be a trivial matter for Karl to just leave a dozen ships in 1411 and double the damage I'd take.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 02:21 pm: Edit

I think losing 40 ships to kill two SBs is probably bad even if the Gorns do come into the war. If you could later follow up and capture 1411 that would be different.

***

I note that the Lyrans sent 17EP to the Klingons but that the Klingons are noted as having received 20 EP. This is strange.

***
Command Points: 10-3+1=9
The above is from the Klingon eco and should be 8, not 9.


***

I note the C10 FV production. o_O
***

The Romulans build an SUP but use 6FFF. This ship only has 4 fighter factors.

The Romulans convert an FH to a SUB. It is listed as paying for 6 fighter factors. An SUB has 12 fighter factors, but possibly the Romulans meant to convert an FH to an SUP.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, July 16, 2021 - 03:48 pm: Edit

Well, it'd be ~40 ships to kill 2 SBs and devastate 8 minors and 4 majors. Which, yes, is not a great trade. But if I got the capital PDUs too, it'd make Klinshai a realistic target. And I might be able to kill the B10...

By Karl Mangold (Solomon) on Saturday, July 17, 2021 - 08:43 am: Edit

@Richard: you are totally right on Rom eco: the SUP is supposed to be an SUB and the SUB supposed to be and SUP. I have always been confused by Romulan ship designations (especially Sparrowhawk - why is the escort SPM instead of SPE? Scout is SPC instead of SPS? SPH instead of SPT? SPF instead of SPM? I could go on.)
Thanks for catching the Klingon command point thing. I'm bad at 2nd grade math apparently :/
As far as financial aid to the Klingons, 17 was budgeted this turn, but delivery (as I understand it) is in the strat phase when the tugs actually "deliver" the EPs. So the Klingons will get 17EPs next turn. (When the B10 is done, heh heh)
@Sam: Go ahead and attack Klinshai. I beg you