Federation Commander

Sorry guys,

Due to an unpredictable work schedule - I conceded my game to Paul about 3 or 4 weeks ago to prevent delayign round three.

I assumed it had been reported, but alas - no. I have submitted the result and am ready to go on with round three whenever yall are.

Some interesting stats after 2 rounds:

Kzinti 6-1 (and the only loss was to another Kzinti!)
Orion 2-2
Fed 1-4
Lyran 1-1
Selts 1-1
Tholian 0-2

Like I've been saying, in tourney espeically, the Kzinti are overpowered due to the limited options against drones in FC vs. SFB.

Rise, Rise my federation brothers!...

For the next online tournament, I will have a generic proposal to deal with empire strength imbalances (as well as large numbers of participants picking the same empire). It will draw off of the empire selection and empire performance from the first tournament. On a high level, it will involve applying a discount or premium to the printed point values of certain empires. It will also be able to iterate over time (as additional tournaments are played) toward providing parity between the empires for the tournament scenario. All of this can be accomplished without changing the printed point values of the ships or the rules of the game.


Also, when we get to the next online tournament, if Terry wants to bow out, I am willing to run it provided an assistant tournament director is willing to step forward such that I can play as well. Alternatively, I am willing to act as an assistant tournament director if somone else would like to run the next tournament.

pinecone wrote:Rise, Rise my federation brothers!...

I'm giving it all she's got, captain!


Anyway, I'm not effective with Kzinti drone ships, so I figured I would do better with a Fed NCD, and I'm wrong... I just gotta stay away from drones heavy tactics, I don't play them effectively...

Next time I get to pick a fleet for a FCOL tourney, I'm wondering if they'll let me take some FRA CLA at 125 pts each... Armour, plus light photons, could be interesting...

Looking forward to Round Three.

If someone wants to play a game sometime, I'll Take a Fed group against a Kzinti force. IF...IF I win it may provide some hope other Federation players. Don't despair, Feds can beat Kzinti, but I agree they are tough, tournament or not.

Well, we did read that article on how to manuver so you could avoid the drones. The problem is, the way I see that, it's not so much a "tactic" as it is relying on a "game mechanic". If that's really what the Feds have to resort to when playing a drone race, that should say something.

Just having an ADD or two, or even a pair of PG's could make all the difference.

Drew Klenotic wrote:Well, we did read that article on how to manuver so you could avoid the drones. The problem is, the way I see that, it's not so much a "tactic" as it is relying on a "game mechanic". If that's really what the Feds have to resort to when playing a drone race, that should say something.

Any tactic relies on game mechanics. It sounds like you just want winners to be decided simply by weapon comparison, "he has enough PhG to kill my drones, and enough Photons to blow me up, I can't use my move intiative to avoid the photons because that is just a game mechanic".

Out manouvering drones is not a game mechanic 'get out', no more than out manouvering a ship, or outrunning plasma. Or using the EM game mechanic etc.

I find it odd that 'plasma is weak' cos you can out run it yet drones are overpowered even though they are easier to avoid. Patricks tactic is a simple tactic that I've been using a long time with any race cos it's so 'obvious' . Accelerating past a slower missile and leaving it struggling to turn back on you is something that you should expect to do no matter what the game mechanics.

For whatever it is worth here is how I like to think of it.

First we have the rules, these tell us what we can and can't do. Ideally after reading the rules once, you'll understand how to play the game.

Next there are insights into the rules. Some things are explicitly stated in the rules as "you can..." or "You may not..." Other things are are not always so obvious to everyone. Basically, having some insights into the rules means having a deeper understanding of how the game works..this can allow a more knowledgeable player to recognize opportunities that a less knowledgable player doesn't.

Next, where I beleive you have "Tactics" in Fed com is when you find a way to link 2 or more rules (ie Game mechanics) in a way that you hope will give you an advantage in the battle.

Tactics can also come from how you maneuver and position multiple ships in relation to your enemy. No doubt there are other ways to define "Tactic" as it relates to FC.

In some of the articles I write, I am may be trying to point out insights into the rules that may or may not be obvious to everyone. I often write with the new player in mind so that they can hopefully become a competive player a little sooner. Other times we are talking about genuine tactics that require knowledge of how to combine different rules.

Anyway, as far as fighting the Kzinti go, in some situations its better to shoot down all the drones, other times you want to maneuver around them to score your damage. The key is knowing which course of action to take.

All of second round results have been posted. Are we having a third round?

A third round was part of the plan.

Yes, kzin are hard. Not invincible. If I had turned my damaged shield away like any fool would, the result of my latest battle may have been different.

Terry -- Are you going to be able to provide third round matchups (after the holidays)?

Is this tournament dead?


If so, I am willing to start a new one (which I will support to a conlcusion) provided someone is willing to be an assistant Game Master so that I can play as well.