If you'd like to be able to jump right in to see if you like this game, you might want to try a few rounds of Simple Combat. The Simple Combat Game is a way for you to quickly resolve combat between vessels, or fleets of vessels. This is useful if you are playing a scenario or campaign that involves more than a few ships. Otherwise a simple scenario could take weeks to play through.
It is useful to keep a copy of the Simple Combat Template. This makes it possible to copy and paste the basics of your bit of 'paperwork', add however many ships you may need to, and change or insert ship names. Here is a very basic template (there are more in the files):
IKS rolls: o/d
USS rolls: o/d
Result:
IKS damage /15
USS damage /15
The first section is for points rolled (1d6 result times the appropriate multiplier), and how the points are allocated (offense/defense). The second "Result" section shows the calculated damage. In the case of basic AI ships, the damage potential is 15.. so you would indicate 5 points damage with 5/15. Pretty simple.
If you are playing a single player game, roll a 1d6 to see who 'wins the toss'. If you roll a 1-3, you do. Then you roll the 1d6 for your opponent first. Allocate available points according to this multiplier chart:
2 (DS) Defense Sat/(FR)Freighter X1
3 (FF) Frigate X4
4 (DD) DestroyerX6
5 (CL) Light Cruiser X8
6 (CA) Heavy Cruiser X10
7 (CC) Command Cruiser X12
8 (BCH) Heavy Battlecruiser X15
9 (DN) Dreadnought X20
10 (BB) Battleship X22
11 (CV)Carrier X25
12 (STB ) Starbase/ (BS)Base Station X50/75 (reroll, 50/50)
Here is an example of simple combat between the Klingon heavy cruiser Perseus and the Sha'kurian heavy cruiser Count: In this case, I won the toss, playing as the Perseus. That meant that I had to roll and allocate for the Sha'kurian first. (The point of all this 'coin tossing' is to add randomness to the gameplay in the single player game. It puts the luxury of being able to react to your opponent's first move on a totally random footing. And of course, whoever rolled second first time rolls first the next. Compare it to the coin toss to determine who receives the kickoff in a football game ) That first roll was a 6 (on a 1d6), for 60 points. Acting for the Shakurian, I decided to play it safe, putting it all on defense. As it turned out, the caution was unnecesary. The Klingon only rolled a 1.
IKS Perseus rolls:10 0o/10d
SRS Count rolls:60 0o/60d
Result:
IKS Perseus damage 0/25
SRS Count damage 0/15
For the next volley, the Klingon ship took its turn rolling first. It rolled a "3", for 30 points, and put them all on defense. It didn't save him, because the Count rolled a 6.
IKS Perseus rolls:30 0o/30d
SRS Count rolls:60 60o/d
Result:
IKS Perseus destroyed
SRS Count damage 0/15
You'll note that the Perseus is able to take 25 points of damage. That is because all of my play has given me a "Elite" rating. The increased available points is one of the benefits of that. For details, see "Experience Points: How to Get Them and What They Get You". If you want to take it a step further, you can capture ships using Simple Combat. You have to cause 10 points of damage to lower the enemy shields, then transport over. Ah, but to so that you have to lower your own shields. Do that by giving yourself (just for the 'transport' volley) 10 points damage. A bit tricky, with careful timing involved, but a great tactic. And of course, as new races are added to Fantasy Trek, there will be a few necessary variations to these rules (i.e. Tholian Webs).
So what to do with all of this? As I said, the Simple Combat Game is ideal for extended scenarios involving many ships in combat. For example, Head to Head Sector Assault was written with Simple Combat in mind:
Rules
The goal is to conquer and hold all 5 systems.
In order to do this, you must conquer (in order, 1 through 5), and sufficiently defend all systems while denying your enemy access to those same systems. Reduce the enemy fleet sufficiently to prevent them from building a shipyard, and stop/destroy enough enemy convoys to deny random reinforcements sufficient to threaten your shipyards. You must also attain a minimum of 13 points (see 'Victory Conditions' below)
System Conquest:
Regardless of whether a system has been taken by enemy forces, you will face a random-sized enemy fleet upon first arrival in a new system. Roll 1d6 for size of enemy fleet, then subtract any applicable random fleet disadvantage (see below). If the size of the enemy fleet is less than the random fleet disadvantage, then there is no contact. Then use appropriate simple combat template. All surviving ships retain damage but can move and fight until destroyed. They can only be repaired by remaining in place for two turns (subject to random enemy attack each turn-50% chance of random attack. 1d6:1-3=no contact. 4-6=attacked) or by docking at shipyard for one turn (subject to random enemy attack, same odds as above). The system remains yours once you've defeated the initial fleet, but if left undefended, any attempt to conquer it will only be countered by a randomly generated fleet. You can (and should) choose to leave any combination of ships and/or a shipyard to defend it.
Open Space:
Enemy convoys will only be encountered in open spaces. Roll for encounter (1d6:1-3=contact). Then roll 1d6 for enemy escorts. 1-3= 1 CA escort. 4-6= 2 CA escorts. The random fleet disadvantage does not affect this. Random enemy convoy(s) must be stopped=at least 3/5 freighters destroyed or captured (5/15 damage and successful boarding party action), escorts destroyed or disabled (10/15 damage) in 5 volleys or less. Every convoy that is stopped decreases random enemy fleet size by one. This is the random fleet disadvantage. For every three freighters captured, your random fleet disadvantage is reduced by one. You will not encounter convoys in open spaces when you have conquered both adjacent systems
Shipyard:
Shipyards are recommended. They can only be built in systems that you hold (by destroying an initial assault fleet). Three starships must remain in system or open space area for three turns to build shipyard. During each turn 50% chance of random attack. (1d6:1d6:1-3=no contact. 4-6=attack, then roll 1d6 for size of enemy fleet. If the size of the enemy fleet is less than the random fleet disadvantage, then there is no contact.) LOS (line of sight) must be maintained to use or attack shipyard. Shipyard has X75 multiplier. Shipyard can construct replacement ships in 3 turns. While your fleet can not exceed 6 ships, additional ships built at shipyards do not count against this total. They cannot fight with full-sized fleets, but can supplement diminished fleets. The same rule applies to surviving random reinforcements. Since you must have a minimum of three ships to build a shipyard, it is recommended that you build at least one shipyard and at least two reserve ships just in case of unforseen losses. A fleet reduced to two ships and no shipyard to fall back would have little chance of victory.
If you want to register as a player, notify me through a comment on the
blogsite. I recommend keeping a record of your games played, as they add up to experience points that enrich your gaming experience.
Victory Conditions/Points-
Shipyards 5 (max)
Fleet size 6 (max)
Reinforcement capacity 6 (max)
You must conquer 5 systems and attain 13+ VC points
Templates (it is recommended that you keep a master copy of these, making working copies to modify suit your needs):
Klingon fleet vs Federation Fleet
KCA IKS Kandido rolls: o/d
KCA IKS Kurry rolls: o/d
KCA IKS DuranQo rolls: o/d
KCA IKS Ok'ran rolls: o/d
KCA IKS D'Han rolls: o/d
KCA IKS Glommer rolls: o/d
FCA USS Washington rolls: o/d
FCA USS Roosevelt rolls: o/d
FCA USS Cleveland rolls: o/d
FCA USS Detroit rolls: o/d
FCA USS Abraham Lincoln rolls: o/d
FCA USS Guadalcanal rolls: o/d
results
KCA IKS Kandido damage: /15
KCA IKS Kurry damage: /15
KCA IKS DuranQo damage: /15
KCA IKS Ok'ran damage: /15
KCA IKS D'Han damage: /15
KCA IKS Glommer damage: /15
FCA USS Washington damage: /15
FCA USS Roosevelt damage: /15
FCA USS Cleveland damage: /15
FCA USS Detroit damage: /15
FCA USS Abraham damage: /15
FCA USS Guadalcanal damage: /15
Klingon fleet versus Federation convoy with two escorts
KCA IKS Etlh rolls: o/d
KCA IKS Dk'tagh rolls: o/d
KCA IKS Bertaa rolls: o/d
KCA IKS BortaS rolls: o/d
KCA IKS Chang rolls: o/d
KCA IKS tIQ'etlh rolls: o/d
FCA USS Komack rolls: o/d
FCA USS Nogura rolls: o/d
Fr rolls: o/d
Fr2 rolls: o/d
Fr3 rolls: o/d
Fr4 rolls: o/d
Fr5 rolls: o/d
results
KCA IKS Etlh damage: /15
KCA IKS Dk'tagh damage: /15
KCA IKS Bertaa damage: /15
KCA IKS BortaS damage: /15
KCA IKS Chang damage: /15
KCA IKS tIQ'etlh damage: /15
FCA USS Komack damage: /15
FCA USS Nogura damage: /15
Fr1 damage: /15
Fr2 damage: /15
Fr3 damage: /15
Fr4 damage: /15
Fr5 damage: /15
Sample First Turn:
Turn 1)
(1209.13)
System 1: FCA USS Essex FCA USS Challenger FCA USS Tahir FCA USS Robau FCA USS Abrahms FCA USS Orci form Fed 1st Fleet (FF1). Contact: 4 KCA's *won toss. (1209.13) FCA USS Essex FCA USS Challenger FCA USS Tahir FCA USS Robau FCA USS Abrahms FCA USS Orci vs KCA IKS D'Qu KCA IKS NaQjej KCA IKS Ej'QuD KCA IKS Qaw'lu: Klingons destroyed. No damage to FF1.
System 5: KCA IKS Kandido KCA IKS Kurry KCA IKS DuranQo KCA IKS Ok'ran KCA IKS D'Han KCA IKS Glommer form Klingon 1st Fleet (KF1). Contact: 4 FCA's *won toss. (1209.13) KCA IKS Kandido KCA IKS Kurry KCA IKS DuranQo KCA IKS Ok'ran KCA IKS D'Han KCA IKS Glommer vs FCA USS Washington FCA USS Roosevelt FCA USS Cleveland FCA USS Detroit: Feds destroyed. No damage to KF1.
Games in Play:
"Fifty Points" (see Dev notes for rules)
Turns 1 through 38.
The opening of Fifty Points hasn't been really really exciting. That is just because the fleets had to move through the corridor, move by move, turn by turn. The trip through the corridor was boring this time, but in the future, convoys will no doubt come under attack. Anyway, the Federation fleet encountered a Kabul.Class Federation-derived pirate heavy battlecruiser, (read the log entry after the turn logs), but the Klingons and Romulans didn't. They moved in and started installing shipyards, while Admiral April on the Fed DN USS Tiberius opened scanned for duranium/dilithium resources and opened negotiations to install a shipyard.
Turn 1)
0210.18
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) launches (z,39)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet launches (z,42)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) launches (ae,41)
Turn 2)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) moves to (aa,39)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet moves to (aa,42)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) moves to (ad,41)
Turn 3)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) enters neutral entrance (ab,39)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet enters neutral entrance (ab,42)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) enters neutral entrance (ac,41)
Turn 4)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,38)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in neutral entrance (ab,41)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in neutral entrance (ac,40)
Turn 5)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,37)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in neutral entrance (ab,40)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in neutral entrance (ab,40)
Turn 6)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,36)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in neutral entrance (ab,39)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in neutral entrance (ab,39)
Turn 7)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,35)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,38)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,38)
Turn 8)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,34)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,37)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,37)
Turn 9)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,33)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,36)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,36)
Turn 10)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,32)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,35)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,35)
Turn 11)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,31)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,34)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,34)
Turn 12)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,30)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,33)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,33)
Turn 13)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,29)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,32)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,32)
Turn 14)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,28)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,31)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,31)
Turn 15)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,27)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,30)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,30)
Turn 16)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,26)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,29)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,29)
Turn 17)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,25)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,28)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,28)
Turn 18)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,24)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,27)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,27)
Turn 19)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,23)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,26)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,26)
Turn 20)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,22)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,25)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,25)
Turn 21)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,21)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,24)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,24)
Turn 22)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,20)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,23)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,23)
Turn 23)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,19)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,22)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,22)
Turn 24)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,18)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,21)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,21)
Turn 25)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,17)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,20)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,20)
Turn 26)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,16)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,19)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,19)
Turn 27)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,15)
Klingons: IKF1 (Imperial Klingon Fleet) Black Fleet in corridor (ab,18)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,18)
Turn 28)
0210.19
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in corridor (ab,14)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in corridor (ab,17)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,17)
Turn 29)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in neutral exit (ab,13)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in corridor (ab,16)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan Imperial First Fleet) in corridor (ab,16)
Turn 30)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in neutral exit (ab,12)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in corridor (ab,15)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) in corridor (ab,15)
Turn 31)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in neutral exit (ab,11)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in corridor (ab,14)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) in corridor (ab,14)
Turn 32)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in neutral exit (ab,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in neutral exit (ab,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) in neutral exit (ac,14)
Turn 33)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in open space (aa,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in open space (aa,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) in open space (ad,14)
Turn 34)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in open space (z,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in open space (z,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) in open space (ae,14)
Turn 35)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in Federation zone (y,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) in Klingon zone (y,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) in Romulan zone (af,14)
Turn 36)
0210.20
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in Federation zone (x,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) begins construct KSY1. No pirate activity (y,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) begins construct RSY1. Pirate activity reported. No contact. (af,14)
Turn 37)
0210.21
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) in Federation zone (w,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) Construct KSY1 turn 1/3. (y,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) Construct RSY1 turn 1/3. Contact? No contact (af,14)
Turn 38)
0210.21
Federation: FF1 (Federation First Fleet) arrives Planet Blue.17 Pirate activity. Contact? Federation based- 1 vessel BCH Kabul Class ISC (Independent Star Cruiser) Maddoff. ISC Maddoff appears and retreats.Begin survey of system. (see log entry) (v,10)
Klingons: KBF (Klingon Black Fleet) Construct KSY1 turn 2/3. (y,13)
Romulans: RIF1 (Romulan First Imperial Fleet) Construct RSY1 turn 2/3. Contact? No contact (af,14)
Fifty Points Log Entries:
FDN USS Tiberius Admiral April
Stardate 0210.21 Arrival
System designated Blue 17 in Federation Control Zone of Triangle region. As we dropped out of warp at the edge of the system, a Federation Kabul Class Heavy Battlecruiser appeared on short range sensors. Detailed scans showed that it was not the standard heavy battlecruiser load out. The forward sensor dish had been fitted with a plasma torpedo emitter, and the photon torpedo launchers had been replaced with packet disruptor emitters. There was also structural changes to the aft quarter, suggesting that special weapons had been installed there. As soon as the ship, designated ISC Maddoff, according to hull markings, detected us, it warped out of the system. It is interesting to note that the Maddoff's warp trail dissipated unusually quickly. We were unable to track it. We can only assume it is a pirate craft. At that point, we conducted a scan of the system, looking for duranium and dilithium, but found none. Our next move here is to contact the local population and negotiate for permission to build a shipyard here.
Fifty Points Updates:
Stardate 0310.01
Klingon Black Fleet reports Federation civilian distress signal from neutral corridor exit. Retransmitted to Federation fleet at coordinates (v,10).
Klingon ambassador Khemara protests presence of civilian Federation craft in area.
Heavy Combat Games Played: (see Dev notes)
0210.20 KCA IKS Etlh (A) vs FCA USS Constitution (B) (Advanced Test)(2nd test)
0210.21 KCA IKS Etlh (A) vs FCA USS Constitution (B) (Advanced Test)(3rd test)
0210.23 KCA IKS Etlh (A) vs FCA USS Constitution (B) (Advanced Test)(4th test)
"What Are Your Orders, Captain?"
(TNG Era) "Troubled Waters"
Captain Ritchie of the Galaxy Class USS Andromeda discovers a refugee Suliban community living inside of an abandoned colony ship of unknown origin. Standard orders regarding Suliban refugees dictate that they be protected but kept hands-off. No starfleet officer has met a Suliban face to face in more than a hundred years because of a catastrophe involving the crew of the USS April. The problem is that the colony ship is approaching a region of space heavily populated by space-borne life forms that are attracted by impulse emissions.
----------------
Despite his curiosity about the Suliban, Captain Ritchie follows the regulations concerning Suliban. He closes with the colony ship, and rather than attach a tractor to the fragile craft, Ritchie encases the ship in a warp bubble and pulls it out of the area. Then he turns it loose at half impulse in a 'star desert', a large area of space devoid of star systems.
For next time...
(Ent Era) "Edge of Empire"
Challenger NX-07, on a mission to circumnavigate the Romulan Star Empire, encounters a world that threatens to expose its covert mission. Odinas IV is a world rich in natural resources that could give the Romulans an edge in the war, but doing anything to stop the Romulans could bring the weight of the Romulan war machine down on the.lone ship. What should Captain Sam Carpenter do?
Post your solution here for a Command College Point. Feel free to discuss this with the 'comment' feature
"Captain's Log"
"...out of character..."
16) The landing party discovers someone who desperately wants to be taken off the planet.
Class G Geocrystalline
Age: 3-4 billion years
Diameter: 10,000-15,000 km
Location: Ecosphere
Surface: Still crytallizing
Atmosphere: Carbon dioxide, some toxic gases
Evolution: Cools to become Class K,L, M, N, O or P
Life forms: Primitive single-celled organism
Example: Delta Vega
(TNG Era)
Captain April Townsend
USS Nyota
Yeager Class Patrol Ship
Few understand the potential for conflict between the Federation and the Klingons more than my crew. While the rest of the quadrant enjoys the so-called peace of the twenty-fourth century, we patrol the dangerous border of the Triangle Zone where battlecruisers never seem to stop crossing the border. They might have pirate house insignias painted on the hull, or claim allegiance to Korgath the pirate rather than the High Council, but they are still Klingons, and they still enjoy targeting saucer sections. That may not be the politically correct thing to say, especially in these days of glowing friendship between our two peoples following the defeat of the Dominion, and I believe that the Defense Force battlecruisers that fought alongside our ships did so with honor, but the Klingons in the Triangle Zone are completely different. The Korgath captain whose ship I scuttled yesterday would not have been out of character engaging the Enterprise over Organia a century ago.
But then there is D'kerr.
D'kerr was born to a warrior on a battlecruiser at the heighth of the 23rd Century conflict between the Federation and the Empire. According to our records, the warship Qui'tu was one of three battlecruisers attempting an end run around a Federation task force in this sector. The task force caught the Klingon wolf pack in orbit of this uncharted world and opened up with everything they had. D'kerr's mother put him in an escape pod and sent him down before the ship was destroyed. There D'kerr lived, alone on a barely habitable Class G geocrystalline planet. How exactly he survived, with no plant or animal life is beyond me, but he did survive. And with only a few memory banks to draw on for cultural knowledge, all D'kerr knew was the war. And for a hundred years, it's all he ever thought about. Until another ship crashed on his world. The Korgath cruiser that we brought down hit the thin atmosphere in large pieces, and mostly survived the descent. Exploring the wreckage, D'kerr found bodies of Klingons kept in shackles or physically brutalized. And since there were no non-Klingons on board, there was no question of who did it. That cut the slender thread that had been D'kerr's faith in his people (strained over a century with no reinforcement or companionship), and left him with nothing but a desire to leave what now seemed to be a hostile, solitary prison. After we convinced him that the war was indeed over, we offered him a ride. And as we traveled to Qo'noS, I found myself teaching and learning things like tolerance and acceptance from this rough-hewn but surprisingly vulnerable warrior.
For next week. write a 100+ word log entry including the phrase "...recorded message...". Post it in the yahoo group or on the blogsite's "comment" feature for a Command College Point.
Dev Notes:
There was, finally, lots of work done in Heavy Combat. Weapons have been dialed down and defenses dialed up. All that I think needs thought is maybe adjust packet (Klingon) disruptors up a bit, to make up for the three turn turnaround, and balance for the lack of phasers. But basically the heavy combat engine is a go.
I've done the March calender image. It is a conceptual, 'project' drawing of the Ab'Qaff class Heavy Command Carrier. It hasn't been scanned yet. Look for that no later than Friday.
As always, rules tend to change as a game plays out. It has in this case (hardly surprising, considering the complexity of Fifty Points. Changes mainly focus on resource management and diplomacy. Here are the revised rules:
Objectives:
Diplomatic agreement to settle unclaimed zone. Fifty-one planets in three sectors. Seventeen systems each. Each sector= 10x25 spaces.
Three powers must establish economic/material support locally.
After initial battle group (One dreadnought, three heavy cruisers, two destroyers), all ships must be built locally.
Each power must successfully transport twelve convoys to unclaimed zone and then back to friendly space.
Winning power must unite at least two sectors in order to win.
Winning power must achieve 17 experience points.
Winning power must win at least 5 heavy combat engagements
Sector Victory Conditions:
Military: 2/3 (12/17) systems conquered-see rules below.
Diplomatic/Subterfuge/Economic: 2/3 (12/17) systems cleared of pirate threat.
At least ten 100+ word logs required from each power.
Rules
Shipyards:
Initial battle group carries enough duranium and dilithium to build three shipyards. After that, shipyards require five freighters of refined duranium and dilithium. Three heavy cruisers take three turns to build a shipyard (subject to random pirate attack (each turn, 2/6 chance of attack) in systems where pirates are active).
Shipyards require one freighter shipment of duranium and one freighter shipment of dilithium to build one carrier, three heavy cruisers or five destroyers.
Shipyards build at this rate:
1 carrier= 6 turns
1 heavy cruiser=3 turns
1 destroyer= 1 turn
1 freighter= 1 turn
1 construction ship= 1 turn
Construction ships build at this rate:
1 defsat= 1 turn
1 dilithium refinery= 2 turns
1 duranium refinery= 2 turns
Each zone contains only four systems capable of supplying duranium and dilithium (for each survey, roll 1d6, 1,2= positive result, until four are catalogued)
Aside from the twelve convoys that must be transported from friendly space to unclaimed zone and then back to friendly space, convoys are required to transport refined dilithium and duranium from refineries to shipyards in order to build/maintain fleets. Powers can hijack enemy convoys, but after each such incident, the odds of it being subject to pirate attack increase. (see ROE)
ROE (Rules of Engagement)
Three powers must turn local populations to their sides. Each power will have advantages:
Federation: Diplomacy/Economic strength
Klingons: Military
Romulans: Subterfuge
Three powers can use any means, but will face disadvantages when going against their strength. (i e: Federation using military strength will weaken diplomatic standing. Klingon using diplomacy will embolden local military resistance. Romulans using diplomacy will have less chance of success)
During every turn, there is a 1/6 chance of random calamity (convoy lost, contact lost with colony)
Use the following table:
1d6 roll=result
1= convoy closest to destination lost
2= contact with random colony lost
3= power lost to all shipyards for one turn
4= pirate appears from warp and attacks random colony
5= population stages violent revolt on random colony
6= defsats malfunction, destroy random orbiting ship in random system
Every system has 1/5 chance of being dominated by pirate activity upon first contact. (1d6= '1'= pirate activity. '2-5=no pirate activity. '6'=reroll)
Each time a power hijacks convoy, there is a 1/6 (1d6) chance that one of its systems will fall under pirate attack.
Despite ROE, each power will have to use disadvantage to gain access to system at least twice
Pirate Attack:
Pirate attacks consist of attacks on planets, installations and starships. Use simple combat tables to determine number and types of craft.
Default pirate craft will be determined by 1d6 roll:
Klingons:
1-2= Klingon ship
3-4= Romulan ship
5-6= Federation ship
Federation:
1-2= Federation ship
3-4= Klingon ship
5-6= Romulan ship
Romulans
1-2= Romulan ship
3-4= Federation ship
5-6= Klingon ship
Klingons and Romulans can employ privateers that can be customized.
Capturing enemy ships:
Capture attempts/hit and run attacks can only be used during heavy combat.
System Conquest:
To conquer a system, you must conquer one controlling planet, including any defense.
System Defense:
Systems have defense ratings of 1 through 10.
1= No installations
No ships permanently assigned
2= No installations
Less than six ships (Destroyer class) permanently assigned
3= Less than six defsats in orbit
Less than six ships (Destroyer class), or one to three ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
4= Six defsats in orbit
Less than six ships (Destroyer class), or one to three ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
5= Six defsats in orbit
Six ships (Destroyer class), or one to three ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
6= Eight defsats in orbit
Six ships (Destroyer class), or one to three ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
7= Eight defsats in orbit
One to three ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
8= Nine or ten defsats in orbit
One to three ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
9= Shipyard assigned
Four to six ships (heavy cruiser class) permanently assigned
10= Starbase assigned
Four to six ships (heavy cruiser class), or any number of carriers permanently assigned
Planets have natural simple combat multiplier of x100 without any added defense, as well as 100 defenders. To conquer a planet, you must defeat it in simple combat and boarding party action.
System Negotiation:
On first turn, 2/6 chance (1d6, 1-2 required). On second turn, 4/6 chance (1d6, 1-4 required). On third turn, 5/6 chance (1d6, 1-5 required). if you do not succeed at that point, negotiations fail. You have to vacate system and wait three turns, then you can return try again. If you fight off pirates in system, you automatically have 5/6 chance of success. If you attack system and fail to conquer it, system is closed to negotiation.
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