And combat is over

Fair to say - the Eastern Map both sides rolled well and the Western map the Coalition (other than 1 battle) rolled poorly.

Last 7 battles saw the Coalition roll an average of 1.33 v 3.00 for the Alliance.

The mugging of a battered Kzinti fleet... didn't happen!

William even got a successful pursuit with 2 ships, after getting a good roll in the main battle to get an extra cripple in that battle (so what should have been 1 cripple v 0 cripples was 3 v 0)!

Average for the turn was 3.4 (Coalition) v 3.6.(Alliance).

Atleast Romulan Cloaks did roll average (4 of 6 being successful) - which is a long time since I can say that.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 07:35 pm: Edit

Alliance turn 29 is done.

Both Feds and Gorns went for field repairs in a big way this turn. Feds spent 22EP and Gorns spent 16EP. The Fed field repairs were all in the Earth region on the Klingon front. The Gorns used their field repairs to improve the threat against the Romulans.

This will likely hurt next turn's Fed build. Gorn build may still be OK.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 07:49 pm: Edit

Deadcounts for turn A29. Big ships are noted.

R 7 incl. SUP, FH (captured)
K 10 incl. C8
L 7 incl. carrier TGC

Z 3
H 0
F 10 incl. DN
G 6 incl. 2DN, BCH

Totals are Coalition 24 and Alliance 19. Only +5 net for the Alliance. Unsurprising as the Romulan front included an SB assault and also Remus.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 09:25 pm: Edit

Because I am incorrigible, here are the fleet counts at the end of turn A29. Changes are from ONE turn ago:

	U	C	Total
Z	51	2	53 (-4)
H	51	0	51 (+5)
F	257	49	306 (+11)
G	106	4	110 (+1)
Alliance	465 (+28)	55 (-14)	520 (+14)

	U	C	Total
L	146	44	190 (-5)
K	176	141	317 (+1)
R	77	18	95 (-5)
Coalition	399 (+21)	203 (-30)	602 (-9)

The Alliance is still behind by 82 ships. The net was +23, which is not bad. But the net uncrippled was only +7. The gain was mostly due to higher builds, which in turn was due to exhaustion. The Feds will enter stage 1 exhaustion next turn. That may keep them from doing full builds.

The Kzinti escort situation is brutal. Last turn they built just 1FF as they needed to do a lot of repairs.

The Coalition has managed to improve its repair situation quite a bit. This is likely to be particularly important for the Romulans, as they are under heavy pressure from the Feds and the Gorns.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, May 12, 2022 - 10:18 am: Edit

As William clearly doesn't have enough to do, those numbers might be of

C29 had 7 Coalition and 10 Alliance die (so +3 to me, with no captures IIRC)

A29 had 24 Coalition and 19 Alliance dice (so -5 to me, but 2 hulls were captured, so -7).

Turn change is therefore a net 4 hulls in Williams favour?

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Thursday, May 12, 2022 - 11:15 am: Edit

It would be a miracle if they were always right. That said, builds can also impact the numbers. Alliance had a lot of those. As you say, gains from ships killed were pathetic.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 - 03:13 pm: Edit

T minus 5....

and turn 30 has started.

Lyrans build 2 x CW, 3 x FF a MB and a VP Pod set.

45.5 Eps are spent on repairs.

Klingons build D5V, 2 x D5, 7 x F5 and 3 x E4.

42.5 Ep's are spent on repairs.

Romulans are very very very poor and build SKB, SK and SN.

They repair 13.5 Ep's of ships.

With the loss of Remus and the Western half of their empire - things are looking very tough for the Romulans!

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 - 03:17 pm: Edit

Operational Movement has started.

The bulk of the Kzinti forces are pinned and the South Western Federation front is pinned.

Modest Coalition forces in the core and North West Federation space are yet to be deployed, so we do have some options.

Alas for the Romulans - the Alliance Field Repair has pretty much stopped any chance to get round the 'flanks', like they did on C29 or sneak in to kill FRD's.

We will see what they can do!

By Graham Cridland (Grahamcridland) on Monday, May 23, 2022 - 02:45 pm: Edit

Paul:

Curious why the Coalition are building ships this close to the end with so many cripples left on the sidelines. Given that the Coalition is unlikely to run out of cripples before C34, shouldn't they just repair as many ships as possible on the theory that repairs are just as good as builds (and of course much cheaper)?

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 - 03:19 am: Edit

Hi Graham

Good question!

Fair to say at this stage, any crippled D6's will never be repaired.

But there are two relevant points

1) Crippled ships are worth 'full VP' value - so 2 crippled an 3 uncrippled ships are worth less than
5 crippled ships and 1 new ship at the end of the game.

2) Repair capacity. Most of the cripples are occurring in effect in Central/Western Federation space - and so Coalition repair capacity is pretty much at 100% on the front line - and crippled ships worthy of being repaired do get sent behind the lines to get repaired.

Alas for both sides - some battles have gone longer than expected and so there are more cripples than expected!

Federation has been the only side able to do 'full repairs' and near a full build schedule - but this turn will see them drop to 75% and so will be interesting to see if repairs drop or new builds drop.

Do you want short term firepower (more uncrippled ships) or better end of game VP's?

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 - 08:27 pm: Edit

The Klingons and Lyrans are making what appears likely to be an effective attack on the Feds this turn. The Feds are feeling the absence of the forces that are concentrated on the Romulan front. They are likely to lose some planets that would otherwise be at full production (i.e, not devastated).

On the other hand, the Romulans are surely feeling the presence of those same forces. We'll have to wait to see how it all works out.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Saturday, May 28, 2022 - 10:29 am: Edit

Coalition turn 30 op move is close to done. The Western Coalition is going to take probably 3-5 EP-producing planets from the Feds, including 1-2 majors. By "producing" planets, I mean planets that have been producing EPs in past turns. This is in addition to the usual "trade-back-and-forth" planets that they would have been expected to take.

This is partly a result of the Alliance having so many forces on the Romulan front, and partly the result of my leaving the Alliance forces on the Klingon front further forward than I should have.

There are bright spots for the Alliance. Ship attrition could easily be in our favor. Also the Kzinti will probably get half an EP from an on-map minor for the first time in ages.

The Romulans are trying to retake the major planet South-East of Romulus (4716). If successful, which it might easily be, this will remove the forward-most Fed supply point, thereby making attacks into the deep South-East more difficult.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Sunday, May 29, 2022 - 05:13 am: Edit

Alas the Alliance spy network seems to be working well.

In Kzinti space - all three 'rebel' planets are under attack and reserves might save 1 or 2 of them.

3 other pinning battles are also taking place.

In Federation space - both in theatre reserves are pinned - with 2 Major's and 5 minor planets are under attack - as is the 1903 SB.

At least 4 of the planets should fall - possibly 5 - but the 6th or 7th would be be unlikely.

Several pinning battles are also taking place.

On the Romulan Front - 3415 and 4716 are under attack - and the single reserve will not save 4716.

One Federation Reserve Fleet and 2 Gorn Reserve Fleets are out of range of battles.

No battles again take place on the Hydran Front.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Sunday, May 29, 2022 - 10:40 am: Edit

Reserves have been dispatched. The Fed reserve on the Romulan front went to major 4716. This will improve the Fed position in the battle, but the Romulans can still take it.

Both Kzinti reserves went to Fed SB 2103 to unpin two ships from the Fed reserve there. Those two ships in turn went to save Fed minor 2705. Not sending the reserves to Kzinti space may lead to more Kzinti losses. Pretty good chance it will cost a carrier. This was a rare case where I felt the minor was more important.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Sunday, May 29, 2022 - 11:54 am: Edit

Paul pointed out that my last plan was total cheating. The reserves would have been partly pinned out of the SB. Therefore, they instead went to Kzinti space after all. 2705 will likely be lost.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, May 30, 2022 - 04:02 am: Edit

Yes, either the Kzinti reserves were X-Ships/Fast Ships to go 7 hexes all the way round.... or had Cloaks and could sneak through pinned hexes.

(1 Reserve could get to 2103, but it wouldn't have unpinned, the Fed reserve and the 2nd reserve would have to open a route to 2103).

Dice - well after 12 battles rounds.... average was 2.4 v 4

William had passed 3 pursuits with 2,3 and 4 ships.

Dice did then alter at least - William failed a 6 ship pursuit (after absolutely smashing a fleet with a good roll and not directing - which caused me several concerns and it meant I would have had to either self kill 4 ships or retreat into another evil fleet with battered fleet).

After 22 rounds - it's 3.27 v 3.27!

4 of 5 successful pursuits for William and 0 of 1 successful for me though.

Couple of silly mistakes by me cost me a ship or two (could have had a DW as the outer escort and forgot to update the line and so the FF was directed on in a Fighting retreat), but overall we are doing just about OK

Coalition has lost so far a D5, 2 x DW and a FF..

Alliance has lost a CMV*, 2 x MEC, Kz-FF and 5 x Fed FF's - plus a Major (had recovered) and 4 minor planets (2 of which had recovered).

Kzinti reserves did save 1 minor planet and I rolled poorly over 1802 which meant it didn't fall (I had 20% more defensive compot, marginally higher Offensive compot - but roll was 2 v 5 and I didn't want to have to burn through Williams 20 fighters in a slug fest).

* - Kzinti are now even worse than Romulans on a lack of escorts - CMV was naked and was crippled while on the line and then killed feeding fighters forward.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Monday, May 30, 2022 - 06:16 pm: Edit

Well, 2 battles to go (the big two) and dice continue to hurt the smaller side, but a failed persuit or poor roll then kicks in and 'saves them abit'.

4716 was liberated - dice not too nice and so a Romulan FH died in exchange for a Fed FF.

3415 was also re-captured - a Fed FF and FFS was crippled for fighter losses (and I just found 1 Romulan Fighter alive there!).

Good news is the main plan so far has worked - but alas full supply does NOT reach 3210.

What wasn't expected was two Fed Fleets are now out of supply in 2511 and 2611.

Basically they block full Planet supply to 3210 - but don't stop Klingon Tugs Supply to Klingon forces in the area (they was in full supply so can retro to 2611...which might have a few cripples in it as they can't retro).

2509 was defended well by the Federation - a Twin CVA force is not nice!!!

Dead so far is

Lyrans - CW, 2 x DW, FF
Klingons - 3 x D5
Romulan - FH

Kzinti - CMV, 2 x MEC, FF
Hydrans - Nothing
Federation - 8 x FF, 2 x FFE
Gorns - Nothing


Crippled - Probably close to even, but probably a couple of more Coalition got crippled.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 08:31 am: Edit

Well, pinch me - dice actually rolled nicely for me in a big battle.... but I ran out of steam at the end.

Over the 2103 SB, both sides crippled everything - I self killed a CW and F5L and William self kllled 2 x FF's - plus I mauled a cripple Fed CC.

With 6 SIDS on the SB (2 self taken by William in the battle) and I think 5 Fed Fighters still alive = time had come to run.

Probably should have run the round earlier!

Over 2708, the Feds bombed their own planet, directed on the best target (a D7) and ran.

So for the turn we have : -


Lyrans - 2 x CW, 2 x DW, FF plus 1 CP spent
Klingons - D7, 3 x D5, F5L plus 0.4 Eps on Drones
Romulan - FH

Kzinti - CMV, 2 x MEC, FF - 1 Minor planet Liberated
Hydrans - Nothing
Federation - CC, 10 x FF, 2 x FFE - 2 Major Planets and 3 Minor Planers (plus a Neutral Planet) Captured and Minor Planet Liberated (Romulans)- plus 0.1 Ep's on Drones.
Gorns - Nothing


(Note for 'historians' to investigate - the Kzinti and Romulans have a shortage of Escorts and Feds have a massive surplus!!)

The modest Kzinti forces in Federation space will once more have to eat Federation food - as supplies to the Barony are once more cut.

13 Ships (includes 1 Cripple and 2 Fighters) in 2511 and 6 ships (including 1 Cripple and 0 Fighters) in 2611 are Out of Supply.

Mars Fleet....finally has got back into supply.

The Force which helped another Federation fleet.... paid a heavy price for it's success - only 3 uncrippled ships and 7 crippled ships makes it back to Federation lines.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 07:25 pm: Edit

Paul has it all wrong. He rolled big numbers at the SB, and we rolled small numbers. But this was actually bad for him. They were tempting him to continue the assault. Then at the end, when it started to get close, we had an equal roll, which forced him to retreat. The "good" rolls were actually bad as they prolonged the punishment.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 08:53 pm: Edit

The 3rd way might possibly have something to do with that Fed escort surplus. Just maybe.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, June 02, 2022 - 03:23 am: Edit

Cheers

Thats all I wanted to hear - "I rolled well, drawing myself more into the Federation trap".

I would guess though, you would have self killed another ship or two if the last round had higher rolls (and to be fair, I would have had to self kill another ship or two, as we did both roll 1's on the 'final round' over 1903).

Easy to say...I needed probably 4 more Medium ships (F5L/DW) or bigger there to get the SB crippled.

Which I don't think was possible - other than using even more cripples in some of the pinning battles - but capturing the two Major Planets allowed 2 of the 3 turn objectives to be met.

Escorts - certainly the Feds need more Escorts, as often, thats all that can be directed on (or crippled, rather than letting the damage go to waste).

Certainly - a 'good' CVBG has shown it has a lot of staying power - having to spend say 21 Damage to kill a FFE AND then seeing the Escorts replace the half a dozen killed Fighters has maintained Federation compot far more than the couple of Coalition PFT's dotted around the map.

Again, easy to say, probably needed more PFT's - but the are just so expensive i.e. 5 Ep's plus the Hull cost) and the Lyrans don't have many PF's they can steal from Bases still.

Next time I play - certainly worth looking more closely at 'non Federation Third Way' options.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, June 02, 2022 - 04:40 pm: Edit

Coalition Turn 30 has finished.

Klingons spend 4 Ep's on Field Repair and Lyrans spent 0.5 Eps on a PF replacement.

Two strong reserves remain in Hydran space - with a strong reserve in 1401 and two other reserves in Northern Klingon space covering a wide front.

Two Reserves are in Central/Southern Federation space.

In Romulan space, two large reserves are in 4613 and a small reserve is in 5215.

Due to the use of cripples in this turns operations - several formations of crippled ships remain on the front line.

Only other thing of note is a Lyran MB is being deployed in 617.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, June 02, 2022 - 05:26 pm: Edit

Lyrans actually spend 4 Ep's on field repair - a CV may be useful!

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Thursday, June 02, 2022 - 11:36 pm: Edit

After a few turns of full or nearly-full builds, the Feds appear likely to build 19 hulls (14FF, 5NCL) this turn. Details to follow.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Friday, June 03, 2022 - 03:35 am: Edit

Alas, thats still too many

19 Hulls is nearly what the entire Coalition built!