AT3

So far the Hydrans seem to have attempted some sort of expedition, which likely is not going to accomplish much--they attacked KLI BATS 1417, pinned the ships there, and then sent a stack of 8FFs off a few hexes further to the East, which have pinned by ships from the Southern Reserve. It remains to be seen what effect this will have, if any.

Not much else has happened, move wise, but mostly 'cause I'm traveling currently.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 06:52 pm: Edit

T3A Moves are now done. The Kzinti will be recovering 1001, 1105, and 1202 with the Coalition losing only a Frigate at each.

There is a moderate battle which will happen in 1404. Just depends on what each side is willing to lose.

A modest fleet attacked 1707 but it is only defended by even worse ships so it will be interesting to see what the Kzinti are willing to give up in order to take it.

The Klingons are hoping the fighters in 1807 are able to react in to 1707 (Im not sure whether they are released or together or whatever)...

The Hydrans sent 8 Frigates deep in to Klingon space (to 1616) but they were blocked by quite a large force, and given they are in supply wont be able to move out of supply until T4A when they will be down to 4 ships, it will be interesting to see what they do.

There is also quite a large fleet attacking 1417, which had 2 moderate Klingon reserves go to. 1417 will die, its just a matter of how many cruisers the Hydrans are willing to give up.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 08:53 pm: Edit

Yeah, indications are that the Expedition is basically impossible to make headway on if the Coalition is remotely prepared for it. Like, if the Coalition completely ignore the possibility, and are fully focused on the Kzinti, and generally just critically fumble, it seems possible. But if the Coalition reinforce the Hydran front, and position ships places that are smart (like having the Home Fleet in 1212), it's not gonna come even close.

I considered the LYR/KLI NZ spine, but by stacking ships in 1013, and in a few places along the NZ (reserves in 0810 and 1011), that becomes impossible. Putting the KLI Home Fleet in 1212, stacking fleets in 1013 and 1214 makes it impossible to pin them.

The rules change on scuttling bases (so the Hydrans can't scuttle any BATS on the KLI border means that it is virtually impossible to get ships in Klingon space out of supply (for advantageous retreat). That the Hydran Supply Tug is forced to start on SB 0716 means it is useless for an attempt.

Like, I had zero belief that I could succeed in an Expedition, but I figured sending 8 ships into Klingon space could tie up a bunch of Klingons for a few turns hunting them down. But the supply situation makes even *that* not something that is going to be remotely helpful (as the ships in Klingon space can't possibly end out of supply this turn, so they are just going to have to retreat towards Hydran space anyway).

The Expedition certainly should be *very* hard to pull off. But I think the recent ruling that basically outlawed scuttling BATS made it completely impossible if the Coalition is remotely paying attention.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 09:09 pm: Edit

It would be interesting to know what % of Expeditions work and what % fail. Also, how serious the attempts are or if they are just done to create some havoc in southern Klingon space.

Ive only ever defended against one attempt where I spent 3 turns doing clever pinning tricks to force the Hydrans to retreat back towards Hydran space after each combat, and never attempted it myself.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 09:21 pm: Edit

I mean, too be fair, it isn't even clear that if I scuttled some BATS this would have worked at all anyway. But still.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - 08:16 am: Edit

AT3

Combat is over!

All things being equal, not that much happened.

In Kzinti space, the Kzinti liberated planets 1001, 1202, and 1105. They attacked Klingon BATS 1707 with a small force, met a similar defense force (it was what I had in range and he could react in), and over the BATS, I rolled exactly enough damage to kill a crippled f5 in formation on the line, so I did that, while Jason dropped damage, so I burned some fighters and left. It wasn't impossible I could have killed the BATS if I stuck around dropping damage, but with the cripple on the line, he out gunned me, and figured trading a dead F5 for nothing (he couldn't direct anything I had on the line) was god enough, and the BATS isn't going anywhere.

In Hydran space, the Hydrans attacked BATS 1417 as a cover for a group of HNs to fly into Klingon space, get pinned, lose a couple HNs, and then retreat back towards Hydran space. At the BATS, the Hydrans just offered a declined approach and retreated. As noted above, the Coalition moved a billion ships to the Hydran front (including all their possible reserves), so attacking the Lyrans seemed completely futile, and attacking actual Klingon targets seemed futile, so I tried a half conceived Expedition, that if ignored, could work. So at best, it'll tie up a bunch of Klingons for a few turns; at worst, I burn 8 Hunters (well, SA, 7HN) for not much in return.

Ships Killed:
-ZIN: FF
-HYD: 2HN

-LYR: 2FF
-KLI: D7, F5, E4

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - 10:54 am: Edit

AT3

The turn is over!

As noted, not a ton happened. The Hydrans just shuffled ships around and attempted a fairly anemic Expedition, which may or may not result in a bunch of distracted Klingons trying to round up a handful of FFs for a couple turns. The Kzinti just killed a bunch of small Coalition ships for nothing, and liberated most of their space for now.

At the end of the turn, the Kzinti have about 85 ships in their Capital, a dozen released ships at SB 1704 (including a moderate reserve), and a dozen ships off map as a pretty solid reserve.

The Hydrans have 44 ships (plus all the Auxes), including a solid reserve, in the Capital; most of the 1st Fleet (15 ships) at SB 1017 (they mostly couldn't retrograde to the Capital, except for the Fast ships); 15 ships at SB 0215 (mostly KN and FFs with a CC); a few ships in the back field, and a solid reserve (which is half the OCS and wont necessarily be released, but the other half can still move somewhere) off map. Oh, and the 6xFFs in Klingon space, which are currently in supply.

Map:
http://www.lightlink.com/pdb6/SCD4AT3end.html

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - 12:22 pm: Edit

>> But if the Coalition reinforce the Hydran front, and position ships places that are smart (like having the Home Fleet in 1212), it's not gonna come even close.

I concur. This is another reason for the Coalition to adopt the Hydran first strategy. It easily guards against the Expedition.

--Mike

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - 12:25 pm: Edit

>> It would be interesting to know what % of Expeditions work and what % fail. Also, how serious the attempts are or if they are just done to create some havoc in southern Klingon space.

In my experience it hardly ever works. And if it does work, it offers the Klingons an opportunity to attack the Federation earlier. So it isn't all bad for the Coalition at all.

--Mike

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - 12:35 pm: Edit

>> That the Hydran Supply Tug is forced to start on SB 0716 means it is useless for an attempt.

I concur. As a balancing factor or experimental alternative, one could allow this tug to start in 1017 (or even one of the eastern BATS), perhaps in conjunction with a few Hydran ships from the Old Colonies?. This may make the Expedition quite a bit more credible.

--Mike

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 08:36 am: Edit

CT4

The Klingons start the turn with about 175 EPs, build C8, D6M, TGA, D5V, D5S, 3AD5, 4D5, 4F5E, 5E4, FRD; activate 2D6, 2F5, 3E4, E4A; convert D6>D6M, D6>D6S, 2F5>F5S; spends 26 EPs on repairs. End econ with about 1 EP in treasury, but will get another 20 EPs from the Lyrans by the end of the turn.

The Lyrans start the turn with about 166 EPs, build DN, STT, 4CW, 2DW, DWS, 3FF, LAV; convert CL>BC, BATS>SB (1407); spend 12 on repairs. They end econ with about 20 EPs (including the eventual gain from a ComCon and transferring 20 to the Klingons).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 08:50 am: Edit

CT4

No Coalition raids.

Moves are underway!

In Kzinti space, the Coalition are rounding up Kzinti provinces, reoccupying devastated planets. They have sent a force to BATS 1605, started attacking planet 1504. Oodles of ships left to move.

In Hydran space, the Coalition have attacked the small Expeditionary force (which will be compelled to again retreat back towards Hydran space), pinned all the ships at SB 1017, and have attacked 5BATS so far. Also oodles of ships left to move.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, August 13, 2021 - 08:03 am: Edit

CT4

Op moves look to be close to finishing up.

On the Kzinti front, the Coalition have poured ships in to 1401; they are attacking BATS 1605 and planet 1504 with significant forces (to dissuade reserves, presumably), and retaking all other devastated planets. As of this second, the Coalition have about 90 ships in 1401; the Kzinti have 85, plus Auxes and countless fighter SEQs, so unlikely the Coalition seem inclined to try and take the homeworld this turn.

In Hydran space, the Coalition have hit pretty much every border BATS, all three SBs, but have avoided the Capital (one fleet moved adjacent just to lure me out to try and pin it, and then backed up to SB 0716). SB 0215 and SB 1017 both have about 15 ships at them; SB 0716 is completely undefended. The Hydrans will have about 15 more reserve ships available to bolster some defenses somewhere.

Not many ships left to move.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Sunday, August 15, 2021 - 08:18 am: Edit

T4C Op moves are now complete.

In total there are 7 battle hexes in Kzinti space. 3 of them are 3 to 4 Coalition ships attacking vacant planets, 1605 has a CL, 1504 is just the 2 PDU, and 1502 is just the 4 PDU. And around 80 or 90 Coalition ships are in 1401 to most likely devastate the outer planets, but we shall see. Peter has 2 separate Reserves which are moderate at best (CC, avg carrier or 2, a few FFs, and a single SF) which can stop the vacant planets from being taken, make 1502, 1504 or 1605 expensive for the Coalition, or go to 1401 and guarantee the Capital is safe and maybe make the devastation effort a little tougher.

In Hydran space there are 10 combats. All border BATS except 0315 are being attacked, SB 0215 has a slightly larger than pinning force attacking it, 0716 has a big fleet attacking a vacant SB, and 1017 has a lot of ships attacking a well defended SB. There are 6 Hydran frigates in 1516 which will see 2 frigates die and end up in 1416 and out of supply.

By having only moderate fleets on 0215 and 1017 and nothing in 0716 Peter ensured that there were not enough Coalition ships in range of 0617 so he buys another turn of full production (but at the expense of 2 or 3 fairly cheap SB deaths). There is a Reserve off map and another in 0617 which can maybe wreck an attempt to destroy a couple of BATS, or shore up the SBs to make them harder to kill.

Time will tell !!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, August 15, 2021 - 08:54 am: Edit

CT4

As noted, Op moves are done, reserves have deployed.

In ZIN space, 7 battles. 3 are just retaking devastated planets that aren't defended; BATS 1605 will be crushed; planet 1504 will be captured (still has 2PDUs, but undefended). 1502 sees about two dozen Klingons (including a D6M) facing both ZIN reserves (totaling about 20 ships and the 4PDUs). In 1401, the Kzinti have 85 ships, all the Auxes, 20PDU and a SB over Kzintai, and then a bunch of undevastated, PDUless planets (except for 2 with 1PDU each). The Coalition have about 90 ships.

In HYD space, there are 11 battles. 7BATS will be killed with no defense; SB 1017 will be killed by an armada, but has 15 ships defending it; SB 0716 will be killed by another armada, but has no ships defending it; SB 0215 got both reserves, so there are about 30 (not real impressive) Lyrans facing the SB and about 36 (not real impressive) Hydrans. The Hydran Capital isn't under attack, and most of the interior of Hydran space is intact. There is also the stack of 6 Hydran FFs in hex 1516, under attack by 10 Klingons. They'll lose another HN and be forced to retreat to 1416 (as they are currently still in supply). On the up side, they aren't retreating over another stack of ships.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Sunday, August 15, 2021 - 11:17 am: Edit

Thanks again guys for posting the play by play on your game. Fun reading!

--Mike

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, August 15, 2021 - 11:27 am: Edit

Glad folks are following along!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Sunday, August 15, 2021 - 08:42 pm: Edit

CT4

Combat is well underway.

So far the Hydrans have lost 7BATS and a SB in exchange for a handful of cripples (SB 0716 was undefended and managed to kill a bunch of fighters and cripple some F5s).

In Kzinti space, the Coalition have recaptured planets 1001, 1202, 1105; captured planet 1504 (killing 2PDU for fighters), killed BATS 1605 for fighters. They have now entered the Kzinti capital; the Kzinti declined approach and fleets are split up.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, August 16, 2021 - 11:24 am: Edit

CT4

6 rounds in over the Kzinti capital. The first round, the Coalition hit the two planets that each had a PDU left, whacking those, and then have been methodically fighting 1 system at a time, generally either killng a BC when they hit the right number, or dropping damage, seeing the Kzinti self devastate and lose fighters mostly. Compots have hovered around 100 for both sides, but no one has managed to score a forced kill yet (the Kzinti got the only "6" so far, but it was over a defenseless planet, and they were below 100 compot). The Kzinti have killed a ship every round so far.

As of press time (i.e. the end of R6), the Coalition have lost 7 ships (mostly CA/CW sized) and taken a handful of cripples. The Kzinti have had 3BCs burned, 3 majors and a minor planet are devastated. In one round, the Klingons rolled hot (and VBIR went up), forcing the Kzinti to cripple a MEC and an EFF in addition to losing 18 fighters and devastating the planet, so a carrier group partially retreated off map.

The Coalition have about 90 ships in the hex, but they are low on CW hulls and running out of cruisers and fighters.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 - 09:14 am: Edit

CT4

The Coalition have fled the Kzinti Capital after 8 rounds, having devastated all planets not in the Kzintai system (Kzintai is untouched and has 20PDUs; Kuballis has no PDUs, but remains undevastated). They lost 8 ships, killing 3BC in return. On the likely last round of combat, the Kzinti dropped damage to cripple a few more ships for pursuit purposes, but in pursuit, both sides rolled 1's (at BIR5), and with a -2 EW shift and 6 minus points, the Kzinti did nothing in pursuit but cripple an F5 (i.e. they would have been better off just direct killing one more CW or something instead of setting up a better pursuit).

Elsewhere, the Klingons attacked planet 1502 (defended by both Kzinti reserves), mauled all 4PDUs, the Kzinti vaporized the mauler, and then the Klingons left town to avoid dealing with the pile of minus points hanging over the planet.

One more fight to complete--Hydran SB 1017.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Alas...unless you have a time machine and skipped 5 mins into the future - you never know this

"i.e. they would have been better off just direct killing one more CW or something instead of setting up a better pursuit)."


The 'I should have done plan C' at least does occur fairly often

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 - 11:43 pm: Edit

SB 1017 combat has begun. Hydrans kept cruisers off the line ao the compot was similar.

BIR 7 was chosen and a 6 for VBIR meant some big damage was on the way.

Klingons rolled a 6 and did 45 damage, Hydrans rolled a 1 and did 33 damage. Klingons let the damage fall seeing a HN die (auto kill) and 5xSIDS as well as 20 of the 45-ish fighters gone.

The Hydrans opted to kill a Mauler.

Round 2 saw similar sized lines but the rolls were far lower. Klingons did 20 damage and let it fall. Hydrans are yet to decide how to deal their 17 damage. Maybe kill a F5 or let it fall and see a few cripples. Time will tell !

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 - 08:18 am: Edit

Paul wrote:
>>Alas...unless you have a time machine and skipped 5 mins into the future - you never know this>>

Nah. I certainly already knew this, and could have made the correct choice; between the minus points that I knew existed and what I had in the hex (and what the Coalition had in the hex), I should have done the math and said "Huh. I'm going to be facing 8 points of EW and 6 minus points with a line that is likely less than 50 compot".

Like, If BIR rolled up 2 and I rolled a 6, I was *still* only doing, what, 16-6=10 damage. Which kills, well, a single crippled CW and cripples another F5. Which is a bad trade, as I'd probably lose another FF in return.

Wasn't lack of prognostication. Was just a bad decision.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 - 08:22 am: Edit

CT4

Yeay, the fight over 1017 was very anti-climactic. As noted, int he first round, the Klingons benefitted from a 6-1 die split, seeing the Hydrans absorb 46 damage with a forced self kill while the Hydrans spite killed the D6M on the line; R2 was less damage on both sides (both sides picked low), seeing more damage dropped on the Hydrans, who killed an F5. R3, the Hydrans were in the low 80's (the Klingons were 100+ the whole time), VBIR rolled down, the Hydrans rolled bad, and managed to use their 14 points of damage to direct cripple a D5 (as opposed to killing 12 fighters and seeing the 2 damage ignored), see the SB get crippled, and then the Hydrans fled. R4 was the crippled SB dying for fighters.

The Hydrans declined to put any of the 3RNs they had in the hex on the line, so their compot wasn't real spectacular at any point (the Klingons out gunned them over the SB the whole time).

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 - 08:29 am: Edit

CT4

Combat is over!

In Kzinti space, the Coalition recaptured a lot of Kzinti space, conquered planet 1504, stripped all the PDUs off of planet 1502 (leaving it undevastated), and in the Capital, they devastated 6 of the 8 planets (everything outside of the Kzintai system, 3Maj and 3Min).

In Hydran space, the Coalition killed 7BATS and 2SB. BATS 0315 and SB 0215 remain intact. The Hydrans didn't lose many ships (a pair of HNs total), but also didn't do much in return, as the Coalition mostly only fought where the Hydrans weren't defending (SB 1017 was the only target with a fleet they fought, and that went terribly). The Hydran economy wasn't effected terribly, however. And there are still 5 FFs in Klingon space, that are now out of supply, but real far from the Fed border.

Ships Killed:
-ZIN: 3BC
-HYD: 2HN

-LYR: CC, CA, 3CW, DD
-KLI: 2D6M, 2D7, F5