The problem with Kzinti first is you must still stop the expedition and you must still fight the Hydrans and at the very least take away most of their economy.

It's gonna be tricky to balance that.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Friday, September 03, 2021 - 10:03 pm: Edit

>> The problem with Kzinti first

That's what makes the game so interesting. The Hydran/Kzinti/Fed decisions the Coalition makes over the first part of the game sets the tone for the entire war. It's a fascinating set of multi-dimensional problems filled with fine details.

--Mike

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 04, 2021 - 08:09 am: Edit

AT6

Moves are done and reserves have been deployed!

In Hydran space, 3 battle hexes; two of them are solid Hydran lines killing a province raider (the lines were big enough to dissuade the Klingon reserve). One of them is an approach over SB 0411. It isn't impossible that the Lyrans will fight a round of approach, but unlikely.

In Kzinti space, 4 battle hexes; three of them see solid lines just killing a province raider. Over planet 1504, the Kzinti have a significant fleet (about 40 SEQ) facing a huge Coalition force (about 115 ships) where all the Coalition reserves showed up. So unlikely the Kzinti will liberate the planet.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 04, 2021 - 09:59 am: Edit

AT6

Combat is over!

As expected, nothing surprising happened. In Kzinti space, the Kzinti liberated planet 1001, they killed a few province raiders, and then they fought for 3 rounds over planet 1504, trading FFs and burning fighters for a marginally better trade in ships (the Kzinti rolled bad, and my line was lower than it should have been; I was overstuffing my CV groups to avoid the Coalition gambling on a mauler crippling a whole group to try and kill in pursuit, forgetting, as always, that I had 3FCRs in the hex, and you can just plug an FCR into a crippled CV group to save the CV in a pinch...).

In Hydran space, the Hydrans just killed a few province raiders and offered an approach over SB 0411, which the Lyrans declined. As noted, the only real options the Hydrans had for combat this turn were try (and fail) to get to the FRD park in 0812 or kill a few province raiders, pin 0411, and capture some Lyran provinces. So they did that.

Ships killed:
-ZIN: 3FF
-HYD:

-LYR: CW, 3FF
-KLI: 3F5, E4

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 04, 2021 - 01:06 pm: Edit

AT6

The turn is over!

On the Kzinti front, the Kzinti have about 80 ships at 1401 (including a full, significant reserve); 50 ships at SB 1401; a few ships at planet 1001 and BATS 1902, and a moderate reserve off map.

On the Hydran front, the Hydrans have about 65 ships (and most of the Auxes) at 0617; about 35 ships (and a few Auxes) at SB 0215; a few ships in the back field, and two fairly feeble reserves off map (about 4 ships each, mostly FFs), and a group of ships holding Lyran provinces. Most of the Hydran cruisers (6RN, 6DG, 3CC, 8HR) are at 0617.

The Feds are set up in a completely unsurprising manner; most of the 4th Fleet is on SB 2204 (about 22 ships, including a full reserve); most of the 3rd Fleet is on SB 2211 (about 35 ships, including a full reserve). There are a few CLs and/or FFs on border BATS. The 7th Fleet on SB 2915 (12 ships) feels confident about their chances (spoiler: that SB will die this upcoming turn).

Map:
http://www.lightlink.com/pdb6/SCD4AT6end.html

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Monday, September 06, 2021 - 09:20 am: Edit

(That Kzinti Battle Fleet sitting in Lyran space in hex 0605 was just a misplaced fleet marker, not an actual deep space incursion force :-)

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, September 06, 2021 - 09:54 am: Edit

You mean the Coalition doesn't know about the Kzinti Cloaking devices?

Romulans wanted Drone Technology and the Kzinti wanted Cloaks - seemed like a fair swop?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 07, 2021 - 03:38 pm: Edit

CT7

The Lyrans start the turn with about 137 EPs. They build BC, STT, 4CW, 2DW, DWS, 3FF, VP+ pallet, extra command point; convert CW>STJ; spend 17 EP on repairs; end econ with about 36 EPs in treasury.

The Klingon start the turn with about 243 EPs. They build D7C, TGA, D6M, D5V, AD5, D5S, 6D5, F5E, 3F5, 5E4, extra command point; activate 2D6, E3, 2E3A; convert D6>D6M, 2D6>D6D, 2F5>F5S, 1D5>D5S; spend 30 EPs on repairs; end econ with about 84 EPs in treasury.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, September 07, 2021 - 04:38 pm: Edit

243 Eps?

Wow - what haven't they been building (saved a stack of Eps) or captured?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 07, 2021 - 04:47 pm: Edit

They have been pretty conservative in taking cripples and salvage adds up. And the Lyrans keep giving them money.

We both direct ships all the time, so there aren't scads and scads of cripples all the time (there were a lot after the 1st attack on Hydrax, but last turn, the Coalition took not that much damage in scouring PDUs from the other planets), and then, on top of that, the salvage from all the dead ships accumulates. The Klingons also haven't overbuilt anything yet (although they are going to need to pay, 40 EPs for 16xE3s in a few turns, which is a lot, but also less than overbuilding 16xE4s). And they also also haven't built any new bases yet (the Lyrans built a SB in 1407; the Klingons are yet to invest in a new SB anyway yet).

Between attacking the Feds, paying for E3s on T10, and building some bases soon, presumably, they'll likely bottom out their account soon.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Tuesday, September 07, 2021 - 06:53 pm: Edit

Just to confirm I'm reading the reports correctly, it looks like the Coalition has adopted the "Fed First" strategy, and has elected to not engage in very expensive full assaults on the Kzinti and/or Hydran capitals?

That may be part of the reason the Coalition has significant EP reserves at this time?

--Mike

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Tuesday, September 07, 2021 - 08:03 pm: Edit

I dunno--I fully expect to lose the Hydran capital on T7, which is historically accurate. The Kzinti are pretty safe from losing their shipyard immediately (unless, say, the Coalition just decide to not attack the Feds at all till T10, but that seems unlikely).

The Coalition killed all the PDUs on the Hydran homeworld on T5; stripped all the other PDUs in the capital on T6. The only defense left in the Hydran capital is the SB and a fleet. The Coalition can drop, like, 150 ships and almost 100 fighters (if they want to commit the AuxCVs) into 0617 this turn. Even if they take 50 cripples taking the capital, they'll still be fine.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Wednesday, September 08, 2021 - 12:05 am: Edit

The Klingons have decided not to build any B-10 which is currently saving 5EP a turn and maybe 10EP if they would have gone ahead and tried to build 2.

As Peter said, we do direct a lot so there is a lot of salvage and often not much to repair.

With the Hydrans I was very tempted to take out SB 0215 before having the Capital fall, but Ive sent Peter my most recent moves where a HEAP of Klingon ships went in to 0617 so I clearly have plans for the Capital...

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, September 08, 2021 - 04:03 pm: Edit

CT7

Moves are underway!

In Hydran space, the Lyrans have parked 48 SEQ on top of SB 0215, where the Hydrans have 47 SEQ; they attacked the province raiders in the south of Lyran space, and the Klingons just poured about 100 SEQ (95 ships, 32 fighters) into 0617. There are still about 40 ships and then 3LAV and 2SAV in range of 0617.

On the Kzinti front, The Coalition have moved on the Marquis zone, dropping about 54 SEQ of Lyrans on SB 1704 (where there are currently 59 SEQ of ZIN); the Lyrans put half a dozen ships each on BATS 1803 and planet 1802, moved a battle line to planet 1001 again (where a brave CVE, CL, and FF keep being stationed; that is a terrible place to be an FF captain...). No significant number of Klingons in Kzinti space have moved yet.

To no surprise, the Klingons have attacked the Federation. So far, only BATS 2010 an 2012 have been hit (with half. dozen ships each), and a lone E4 tried to move in the direction of the Orion Enclave, but it got pinned by some BATS fighters (I suspect that was the plan, but I'm ok with that trade off). There are still more than 200 Klingons that can reach Fed space this turn, but that includes the new builds in the Capital (the 1st IWR squadron already crossed the border), and as previously noted, about 30 of those can hit SB 2915, 35 of them can hit SB 2204 or 2211; and another 25 can hit SB 2211, so over half of them can really only hit border BATS, and planet 2106 isn't looking real safe either.

Plenty left to move.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, September 08, 2021 - 06:56 pm: Edit

What about the quadrillion Klingons ready to attack the border?

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Wednesday, September 08, 2021 - 08:13 pm: Edit

200=Quadrillion. Effectively.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Thursday, September 09, 2021 - 03:37 pm: Edit

>> 200=Quadrillion. Effectively.

The Klingon ambassador has clearly indicated that this is just an exercise, and those ships will return to their normal patrol areas once the exercise is completed.

--Mike

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Thursday, September 09, 2021 - 04:33 pm: Edit

Seems fair.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Friday, September 10, 2021 - 10:18 am: Edit

CT7

Moves continue!

In Hydran space, the Coalition moved all the possible ships left in range, including all the AuxCVs, to 0617. Seems very much like they are planning on moving in. They also sent some ships to recapture planet 0718, so likely no intent on forcing the Hydrans to retreat there.

In Kzinti space, planet 1803 is under reasonably significant attack, as are both BATS (1803 and 1902); SB 1704 is still just pretty much exactly pinned, and numerous devastated planets are under attack by token occupation forces, giving the reserves a lot of choices.

In Fed space, lots of BATS are under attack so far; no SB have been hit yet, and the Orion Enclave is still yet to go into revolt (2xE4s have been pinned by BATS fighters trying to get there so far). Still lots of ships left to move as the Coalition decide what SBs to attack.

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 08:11 am: Edit

CT7

And moves keep continuing!

On the Fed front, there are currently 8 border BATS under attack (2201, 2414, and 2615 are currently not being attacked, but this could change); planet 2106 is under attack; SB 2211 is currently exactly pinned (locking down the reserve there). SB 2204 is still untouched. SB 2915 is under attack by about 23 SEQ, but the Feds only have 12 ships there, so it is virtually certain that the SB will go under.

The Coalition have moved more ships to ZIN SB 1704; currently, there are 80+ Coalition SEQ pinning down 60 ZIN SEQ there; it's unclear if this is an attempt to actually take down the SB, or to draw available reserves to defend it.

There are still about 20 Klingon left to move on the Fed border; it is unlikely that they'll move to SB 2204 (they can't pin the reserve in any case at this point). Most of them could go to ZIN SB 1704 if they were so inclined.

Still some ships to move!

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 09:23 am: Edit

CT7

Moves are done and reserves have been deployed!

In Hydran space, there are 4 battle hexes. SB 0215 sees about 50 SEQ on a side, with the Hydrans having marginally more ships due to the arrival of the 2 pitiful reserves (mostly a handful of FFs that aren't going to help at the capital). Hex 0312 sees a mob of Lyrans beating up province raiders, where a CR will probably die (due to me doing something dumb with command ratings). Planet 0718 will be recaptured by some Lyrans. In 0617, the Hydrans have about 65 ships, a bunch of Auxes, and lots of fighters. And the capital SB. The Coalition have about 150 ships and also lots and lots of fighters, as they moved in all the AuxCVs in range. Seems likely the Hydrans will vacate the capital this turn.

In Kzinti space, there are 6 battle hexes. Planets 1001 and 1105 will be recaptured (and an FF will die over 1001). BATS 1803 and 1902 will probably die (and a FF will probably die over BATS 1902, as there are a few ships there). Planet 1803 *might* get saved by a reserve--the Kzinti have 9 ships and the 2PDUs; the Coalition have 11 ships. SB 1704 now has about 75 SEQ of Kzinti and then a dozen of their new friends, the Federation who showed up from SB 2204. The Coalition have about 100 SEQ. It seems likely that if the Coalition want to kill the SB via SIDS attacks, they can probably do so.

On the Fed front, there are 15 battle hexes. 9 BATS will all certainly die; only BATS 2201 and 2414 are spared (the CL at 2414 clearly looked scary!). Planet 2106 will be captured (the Feds could have saved it with their reserve, but they sent it to the Kzinti instead. The Deianians will be registering their discontent with the council). SB 2915 will likely be destroyed by 20+ Klingons. SB 2211 is clearly just being pinned. There are two random hexes in the south where BATS fighters pinned E4s trying to make it to Orion, and then the E4s were reinforced by a bigger ship, so probably the E4s will escape unharmed. The Klingons did manage to get an E4 into the Orion Enclave, which has seceded.

Lots of Fed bases will explode. The Hydrans will likely lose their capital. The Kzinti might lose the Marquis SB. Exciting!

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 02:32 pm: Edit

This is what happens when the Klingons have a quadrillion ships.

Quadrillion is such a good word, I am thankful to Peter for giving me so many chances to use it in a sentance.

Not a quadrillion chances, at least not so far.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 02:53 pm: Edit

>> This is what happens when the Klingons have a quadrillion ships.

It's almost like the Coalition sensed that their neighbors had chronically underinvested in their fleets, and decided to take advantage of the situation.

--Mike

By Peter Bakija (Bakija) on Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 03:36 pm: Edit

Or something!

So it looks, currently, like, the Klingons took the easy route against the Feds this turn, killing 9 BATS, a SB, and taking a minor planet for limited losses (lots of fighters will die, probably some F5s will be crippled; some actual ships will take hits over the SB, not many), and are investing in taking the Hydran capital and killing the Marquis SB (a not insignificant number of the quadrillion Klingons were diverted to SB 1704); I suspect they'll have to SIDS the Marquis SB, and will take a lot of damage doing so.

By Jason Langdon (Jaspar) on Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 06:29 pm: Edit

I could maybe have taken 3rd SB if I threw everything at it but it wasnt guaranteed. I have far from gazillions of ships. So instead I went on a cleanup.

But the 3rd and 4th will be tough to take out next turn - as the Feds add 60 ships or more to the theatre.