Archive through January 26, 2022
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Archive through January 26, 2022
Well, the Alliance reserves are on their way.
On the Kzinti front - a reserve goes to each battle (replace the previously killed Light Escorts in effect) - which will not alter either battles result.
2609 will not be saved, but 3210 may be.
3612 will be saved, but 3706 and 4309 probably will not be.
2910 sees the first battle...with Coalition forces being back in supply (and have a retrograde point in range) - so perhaps the smashed Dark Shadow Fleet will get repaired to see normal combat again!
"The pair of D7C's had lined up the Federation FFE in their sights and was about to vaporised, when the DE 'Intrepid' closed in on them - Intel has said the Intrepid was escorting the NVS Dieppe - what was it doing there?
Both captains did a hard bank to the left to re-align on their target yet the Intrepid closed with them still.
Again they tried to jinx, but the Intrepid remains between them and the FFE. Other reports then started to come in - the Federation carriers seemed to be operating as a pair?
Unable to complete their mission, the D7C's crippled the NCL Tokyo in anger and returned to cover the retreat westwards."
The first battle of C26 and the Federation have been able to use a CVBG!
Alas for history (and reporters), there is a tad of fantasy in the first reported use of it - as the dice didn't roll well for anyone (nothing could be killed!) - but worse for the Federation.
Net result - was the Klingons crippled a D5 and the Federation crippled a NCL and FFE!
Feds was unable to kill any of the battered Klingon fleet - and it does indeed get to live another day! (The 10 fighters sent by the Western rescuers made a huge difference).
Elsewhere - dice are a bit better - with the Romulans losing a SPF, SPH and a SKE. The Gorn have lost a HD and DE - but do have 20 odd ships now out of supply in 4408 
It's down 18 fighters (out of 24) and only has 1 crippled ship - but thats better than nothing.
(I could have attempted a persuit - but the Romulan fleet wasn't strong and it would have faced a strong Gorn fleet - swopping a crippled DE for a fresh SKE wasn't going to get me much!
One of my other secondary objectives has though been achieved!
We are about half way through the battles - and it would be fair to say, the dice are being fair!
Both sides have averaged 3.57.
William rolled poorly in an important pursuit battle - and I rolled poorly in an attempted mugging of a soon to be out of supply Federation force.
We have also had our first potential CVA being killed - and I declined it.
The unescorted Tholian CVA could have been direct killed - but as it's going home in 3 turns - I declined to waste the damage (probably a mistake - it still can use up to 72 fighter factors I suppose over both player turns).
Dead so far are
Coalition SPF, SPH, SKE - plus 1 Klingon PF
Alliance HD, DE, NAC, 3 x FFE (1 captured) and a FFS.
Alliance has taken less cripples, as I have been directing alot.
Another 18 or so Federation ships will be out of supply (although 6 could Tholian supplied- alas overlooked 1 hex in the net).
2610 and 2715 have been captured - and 3210 was successfully defended.
Battles rage - and dice are perhaps been slightly unkind to the Coalition - couple of battles has seen the maximum rolled to do nothing and the Alliance got the minimum to do something.
Saying that - the Alliance did roll poorly in a persuit (141 was rolled) and got 5 damage... not even enough to kill a crippled SK (but they did get lucky and killed a crippled SKE earlier!).
But combat has now been completed.
Losses are
Lyrans : CW and DWE
Klingons : D6M, D7C, D6 and 1 PF
Romulans : SPF, SPH and SKE
Kzinti - MEC and 2 x FF
Hydran - Nil
Federation ; CC, NCL, 6 x FF, NAC, 3 x FFE (1 captured) and, 2 x FFS
Gorn - HD and DE
Lots of rubbish and couple of good hulls a side.
The Southern Front 'trap' didn't fully work - a Federation reserve scupped part of the plan, but
Gorns have about 22 ships cut off and the Federation has about 25 ships cut off.
7 minor planets was recaptured - Kzinti were evicted back off map (so there are abou 45 Kzinti ships OOS, but most have either Base supply or can be homeless supply).
A scattering of Coalition ships does remain OOS - deep in northern Federation space (which does mean the Federation Off Map Area is cut off) - but the rest of the Coalition is back in supply.
Overall, I am happy with tbe overall result.
Coalition Retrograde and SM has been done.
Sufficient forces to cover the Western True Patriach area have been dispatched to 1202 - and two reserves cover the Eastern True Patriach area.
In central Federation space - large forces have been left guarding 2509 and 2610.
Large reserves (4) cover this area.
In the south, modest forces cover the 2318 SB area (1 reserve).
The Romulans remain forward deployed around 4111 and 4309 - and the modest reserve forces cover a broad front area.
The Rainbow force in 3706 remains forward deployed, as there is no Retrograde point in range.
0 Ep's spent on Strategic Movement, Field Repair or Replacement PF's.
Onto A26.
Kzinti economy, turn 26
Survey roll 14
Survey total 275
Survey EP 20
Offmap 17
Onmap 0
Total 37
Percentage 0.5
Income 18.5
From last turn 10.5
Total Money 29
Repairs
CMV, 2MEC 4.5
Builds
CMV 7
MPF 10
3FF 7.5
Subtotal 24.5
Total spending 29
Money after Econ 0
Hydran economy, turn 26
Survey roll 5
Survey total 227
Survey EP 18
Offmap 17
On map 0
Total before exhaustion 35
Percentage 0.5
Income 17.5
From last turn 1
Total Money 18.5
Builds
RN 6
2CU 5
Subtotal 11
Conversions
PAL>LP 5
2HR>2NEC 2
Subtotal 7
Total spending 18
Money after Econ 0.5
6CP available
Federation economomy, turn 26
Survey roll 22
Survey total 397
Survey EP
Offmap
Capital 59
Planets 13
Provinces 49
NZ 3
Income 124
From last turn 0.85
Total Money 124.85
Repairs
Earth 23
Near Earth 10.5
6th 1
9th 6
BATS 3
Subtotal 43.5
Builds
10FF, 2FFE, FFS 42
2NAC 12
BC 10
NVS 7
TG 6
Subtotal 77
Conversions
3NAC 3
Total spent 123.5
Remaining after econ 1.35
Offmap grid:
34EP available
repairs 8
build FF 3
convert NAC+2FFE 3
remaining 20
Command points: 1+1=2
Gorn economy, turn 26
Survey roll 3
Survey total 100
Survey EP 10
Offmap 12
Capital 24
Planets 8
Provinces 25
NZ 3.4
Conquered 1
Income 83.4
From last turn 30.5
Total Money 113.9
Repairs
SW 2
Gdhar 2 9
Gdhar 3 3
Offmap 5
3801 1.5
Subtotal 20.5
Builds
DN 18
2HD,HDE 16
2DE, 2DD 14
Activation 2
Subtotal 50
Conversions
SW FH => Gorn FH 3
Offmap HD > HV 2
Subtotal 5
Total spending 75.5
Money after Econ 38.4
Earmarked for Feds 20
Remaining 18.4
Command points: 9+1=10
Tholian economy, turn 26
Balance 2.7
Income 26.8
Percentage 0.75
Exhausted income 20.1
Total 22.8
Repairs 9
PFT 7.5
Remaining 6.3
3CP available
Just noticed the Hydrans did too many conversions with 1 SB
Gorn seem to still be mega rich - atleast they drop to 75% next turn.
Well, it looks like the Romulans will suffer the brunt of the Alliance anger - although the Federation and Kzinti have a lot of forces still to move.
Op movement has been completed.
Alliance has a broad offensive across the bulk of the front - with several planets again going to change hands.
The only partial failed Alliance Offensive was on the Coalition FRD park in 2012 - which was pinned out of the hex by two reacting reserve fleets (1 ship was left in each) - which is probably what William wanted anyway???
(The FRD attack might have seen the Fed forces out of supply and outside retrograde range).
Reserves have been dispactched - and other having a mismatch of Escorts and Carriers for Coalition (which doesn't make a difference).
About the only major surprise is a Kzinti CMV might die (on a 9+ under SSC) - which was mugging a DW (reserves unpinned other reserves in 2 hexes).
Onto combat.
Bulk of Romulan front has been done.... and again we have had some 'wierd dice'.
3 most important persuits - have all failed on 6's being rolled (2 Alliance, 1 Coalition).
3706 and 4309 have been re-captured by the Alliance.
Cloaks so far haven't worked very well - and where it did work, the poor SK got fighting retreated over (any chance of it living vanished when I failed the pursuit!).
Some Gorn ships found themselves Out of Supply for a battle - but the forces which cut them off, will probably be out of supply after retrograde.
2 captures so far (a Fed FF and a Rom SK) - and the biggest hull to die is a HD so far.
Gorn did mug two Romulan patrol ships - and used ships to reduce the chance of them escaping (i.e. cloak into another bigger Gorn ship hex) - as both failed to escape the initial battle!
Well, combat rages and we having some interesting battles.
1910 is successfully defended as the Feds retreat... all due to a minor battle (I missed killing the CMV**) in 2304.... which results in the only supply line to the Fed fleet being cut AND 2306 currently becomes not eligible to retrograde to (Coalition next to it and no Alliance force in 2306 or adjacent to it).
2106 probably will not fall either - as the Alliance has get a ship next to 2306 so it can be retrograded to.
Coalition are finally getting some modest combat rolls in 'normal combats' - which results in the Alliance having to cripple a ship here or there.
In exchange, the Alliance remains lethal in Small Scale Combat - with pretty much a 100% success rate in killing Coalition hulls.
Where the Alliance rolls badly in small battles - pursuit has generally worked for them.
About the one area where below average luck remains is Cloaks - 2 for 4 on Successful withdrawal cloaks (and those that fail die in SSC) - which is pretty much the story of Cloaks in the game.
About a dozen battles remain to be resolved.
** - Coalition have rolled 2 good SSC's rolls - or middle of the road (average is 7.7) - Alliance have had 5 good rolls (out of 8 rolls) - or low - so average is 8.3.
SSC really hurts the side which only rolls average - rolling high/low (and lots of highs help!) is far better for doing damage (i.e. rolling 10 or higher is where things die generally - rolling average might just get a retreat - and that is very much what has happened this turn - i.e. die, Williams retreats).
Looking at it - I think I have lost a ship in every Single SSC - bar 2 (which was +1/-1 in my favour and 1 had no ships involved - just fighters) which is 10 battles in total - so 8 Coalition ships killed and zero Alliance. 
Even noting most were +3 or +4 in Williams favour, that does show the level of damage done.
With average rolls - perhaps 2 Coalition ships would have lived, rather than 0.
So - William remains king of SSC - and Cloaks are a massive disappointment.
Well, what can we say.
Dice are still wierd - normal combat rolls - William isn't rolling too good (or when it's not critical) - and I am generally rolling well.
Due to 2306 - a poor crippled Klingon TGA found a retreating Federation force over it's head (the lucky SSC roll William got was partially nullified - as the TGA could be normally retreated over!).
2106 currently rages... and William can either Withdraw (which gets 2306 back as a supply and retro point) - or continue to fight - and hope I don't retreat.
Which probably leads onto - Supply - wow - we have had some head scratchers!!
2715 being a good example - Retreating Klingon forces can't go to 2814 (where the Supply Tug is) as that in effect has become a Partial Supply Grid... but can retreat to 2714 or 2815 - which keeps it in supply!!!
Alas the fighting retreat over 2714 failed - rolled a 1 when 3 or higher would have crippled the BC or killed the FF.
Combat in all but the Hydran front has been done.
Cloaks - still remain terrible another WE died when it failed to get the average for the turn result (took it to 50/50).
Elsewhere - a fighterless Romulan fleet (OK, it had 1 less) avoided heavy damage by withdrawing and getting enough ships to cloak to allow the already crippled SP to bravely fight and die (got it down to 4 ships, with the SP being 3rd highest CR).
Alas, that did allow the Feds to fighting retreat over a SNB (which did cloak) and then fighting retreat over another Coalition force - killing the already crippled SPH.
Shame SVC didn't bring in the 3 retreats and die rule (I think William has now done it twice v nil).
Dice remain equal ish - with just cloak rolls remaining silly.
Alas for the Coaltion - one fleet will be cut off (should have retreated the Supply Tug - which would have got both back into supply) - messed up on the 2715 retreat as I assumed I would go to 2615 which would have kept the Tug in Supply (and so fleet).
About the only good news for the Coalition was 2 planets was saved by the 2305 battle - plus the Kzinti in Federation space end the turn Out of Supply.
Losses are horrible on the Coalition though :-
6 Dead Lyrans, 16 Dead Klingons and 9 Dead Romulans - plus a crippled BATS died and another BATS was crippled.
Alliance has lost 3 Kzinti, 9 Fed, 1 Gorn.
This turns SSC and Cloaks dice have hurt the Coalition alot
Some good retreats by William did increase the number dead - but better initial dice might have seen some still live (certainly the SSC really hurt).
News Flash - urgent annoucement.
The Hydrans have breached the Fire Wall!
After 11 rounds - the Hydrans broke through the Coalition defences in 117.
But at what cost?
5 x RN's, a DE, HR and 3 x CU's all died.
The Coalition lost 2 x BC (1 captured), a STT, a CC, E4 and 2 x CW's was killed in the pursuit round.
14 Coalition ships were also crippled.
Both sides killed over 90 fighters and the Coalition used up some valuable PF's too.
Both sides 'nearly' did enough to kill a DN/Pal... but never quiet enough.
The Hydrans have spent the last several turns trying to build perfect battle lines. While still imperfect, their battle lines had made considerable progress. They therefore turned their fleet over to Adm. Pyrrhus, who is pleased to report that the operation succeeded, at the cost of merely 19% of the fleet. On the bright side, it was also expensive for the Coalition.
Part of the reason I decided to go for it this turn was that the Feds are gaining. Another part was that one might question the value of a perfect fleet that isn't actually fighting much.
That said, I find myself wondering if it would have been better to wait for more good (NEC) escorts and a few more CA. We started the battle with 11CA, which is obviously more than enough. But now we have only 6CA, which seems less than adequate.
We did at least win the battle. If the Hydrans are going to go a lot of rounds, they definitely want to win and get the pursuit. But the other big bonus from winning comes if they can stay on the map through the Coalition turn. I'm not sure they can.
Alliance turn 26 is done. Here are the deadcounts:
Kzinti 3
Hydrans 10
Federation 11 (1 captured)
Gorns 1
Tholians 0 <=== BIG FAIL AS THE COALITION RAN AWAY!!!!!!!
Lyrans 12 (1 captured)
Klingons 17
Romulans 10 (1 captured)
Alliance total 25. Coalition total 39. So +14 net for the Alliance.
The Feds and Gorns both made considerable progress on the map. Only one Fed planet is in Coalition hands (2106). Both the Feds and Gorns currently hold neutral zone planets within range of Romulus.
The Romulans can probably retake one of those two NZ planets. Their choice. But retaking both would be a tall order.
The Klingons can probably take something back from the Feds. But the number of planets they retake may be smaller than in the past. This is due to a combination of the third way and the fact that a lot of the attackable planets are strongly defended.
Fleet counts coming up.
Here are the fleet counts. Changes are from ONE turn ago.
| Uncrippled | Crips | Total |
| Z | 60 | 0 | 60(-1) |
| H | 42 | 0 | 42(-6) |
| F | 248 | 26 | 274(-8) |
| G | 91 | 19 | 110(+7) |
| Alliance | 441(+14) | 45(-22) | 486(-8) |
| Uncrippled | Crips | Total |
| L | 136 | 52 | 188(-14) |
| K | 203 | 138 | 341(-3) |
| R | 77 | 40 | 117(-8) |
| Coalition | 416(-17) | 230(-10) | 646(-25) |
Every single race that is at 50% exhaustion saw their fleet shrink. The Feds also managed to shrink their fleet while at full economy. But their uncrippled ship count grew.
The Alliance gained +17 net. That's the same as last turn. I think this mainly shows that turn-to-turn fluctuations can be significant. Last turn, the Alliance got a big boost from the Tholians. This turn they didn't, and 20 Fed EP were cut off in their Survey region.
Furthermore, the Hydran choice to fight and stay on the map may (or may not) have made strategic sense. But it unquestionably hurt the Alliance in ship count terms.
The Alliance also gained +31 net uncrippled. That could prove to be significant. However, I suspect the current Alliance crip counts may be unsustainably low.
CORRECTED fleet counts for the Coalition:
| Uncrippled | Crips | Total |
| L | 132 | 66 | 198(-6) |
| K | 203 | 139 | 342(-2) |
| R | 77 | 40 | 117(-8) |
| Coalition | 412(-21) | 245(+5) | 657(-16) |
So the total for the Alliance is +8, not +17 as I erroneously wrote above. But the uncrippled net is +35 for the Alliance. Overall, the +8 is frankly lousy, given that the Coalition economy is at 50%.
On the bright side, the +35 net uncrippled is obviously significant.
Also, all four Alliance powers hold more of the map than they did at the end of turn A25. The Coalition will be collecting no EPs from Gorn space this turn, and maybe half of an EP from Fed space (but considerably more than that denied the Feds and Gorns).
Lastly, the Alliance is still building big ships (Gorn DN, Fed BC, Kzinti PFT, and Hydran RN), while the Coalition built none last on their turn. And the Feds built a lot of escorts, while the Coalition built very few.
Still, I think we need to do better.
William,
Do you happen to have your fleet counts going back through the turns? It would be interesting to see what the eclipse turns were.
--Mike
Yes, every other turn plus turn 25. Check the old posts. May have skipped a few early turns. What is an "eclipse turn"?
Eclipse turns are when an empire or side or some subset of empires eclipses the fleet size of another in an area (usually due to construction and/or losses), so that pinning out becomes possible and offensive action in that area (could be a whole theater) grinds to a halt.
A good recent example was Graham's game where the Coalition was driving toward the Federation capital, then new Federation construction (the frigate printer!) got rolling and Federation ships in that area eclipsed the Klingons -- the offensive in that area then stopped. The turn that happened was an eclipse turn.
Also William, do you calculate all those ship numbers by hand or does Vassal or whatever add that up for you?
--Mike