ACTA Tournament -Saturday 20th Feb 2010

[AdrianH]

How long must I drive from Stanstead Airport to the B.-House? And where can I stay over night from 20/21.2.? Is there any Hotel in range?

The nearest hotel is probably the Travelodge in Kettering:
http://www.travelodge.co.uk/search_and_book/hotel_overview.php?hotel_id=138

If you go there, it has the advantage (for me, anyway ) that I can hitch a lift with you, since you're probably headed in the right direction at the right time...

Format suggestions: 3 point X, at least one ship at PL X, is a good way to limit fleet sizes without specific ship limits. We've been having fun at our club with 3 point Battle including one ship at Battle. Maybe game 2 could be Raid, game 3 Battle, game 4 War?

Planetfall could work for Shadows if the Shadow Shuttle proposed as a Skirmish ship is allowed to carry one or more troops - it is a personnel transport, after all. Vorlons are still stuffed unless they can "borrow" a troop transport from one of their minion races...

I'd suggest not publicising scenarios in advance. That prevents more experienced players from bringing fleets tailored to those scenarios, gives less experienced players a bit of a chance, also balances out the fact that some fleets can't be so tailored... (However, if Planetfall is going to be involved at all and the Shadow Shuttle is allowed as a troop transport, anyone playing Shadows will need to know in advance, and I'll need to knock up some counters! I'll put them on line somewhere so any Shadow player can print and use them, I'm not trying to give myself an unfair boost here. )

Using strict rules, if a scenario permits so much as one ship to start in hyperspace, Shadows' hyperspace mastery means they can start with the whole lot in hyperspace. Will this still be allowed in games 3 and 4? For the Assassination one, maybe make the compromise that the highest PL ship has to be out of hyperspace the same turn as the first ship to exit - it can't stay in hyperspace if any other Shadow ship is on the table.

 

[Da Boss]

@ Adrian

Format suggestions - good idea re the ship restrictions - let me have a think about that.

re game sizes - I'd rather not incease the game sizes because of time concerns.............

Despite my massive Shadow bias - I will veto Shadows special Hyperspace rule allowing the whole fleet to be in hyperspace for the tourney They will have to have just the one - although their ability to enter without a Jump Point counter remains in force.

I understand what you mean about the scenarios but there are only a limited amount of scenarios that fit the tournament format and at least less expereinced players can think about without bringing fleets that are at a disadvantage from the start. My view (but happy to be convinced otherwise) is that as much information as possble should be available as possible?

re Shadow transport - again not unhappy to see it included..............but its not tested as far as I am aware so could be an issue.

 

[H]

I have to say i'm not a huge fan of fleet restrictions that then let one race have more. Yeah I know there is a reason, but some of the better ships to build a fleet in other races get similarly hamstrung by the boresight curse. And it's not like Drazi don't have any non boresight weapons. I'd also prefer 3 battle to two but I can deal with it
just wanted support for my warship!

 

[Burger]

it's not like Drazi don't have any non boresight weapons.

Oh, the Darkhawk, yes... what a quality ship that is! It wouldn't blow up if you breathed on it heavily, would it? That's the only Drazi ship with any non-boresight weapon until you get to Battle level.

However I don't see a point of ship limits either in these games. 5 Skirmish, well you'd be hard pushed to make a competitive fleet of more than 8 ships. You'd have to go all-out patrol, or use twofers which don't count as init sinks anymore anyway. At 2pt Battle to have over 8 ships you'd have to go right down to patrol, without using the optimal 1-1-2 split, so you'd lose out. At 3pt War with 1 war ship, again you'd have to miss out on the optimal 1-1-1-2 split so you'd be disadvantaging yourself.

Ship limits are only needed in 5pt games IMO, where the optimal split is to get 10 of the level below, or 5 of the level below and 10 of the level 2 below.

 

[KennyBoy]

How about if we make the 3rd game a 3pt Battle - but you have to take at least one Battle PL ship?

In regards to keeping the scenarios a secret, I agree with Charles (Da Boss) that inexperienced players will be at a bigger disadvantage if they have to plan "on the fly" rather than planning ahead.

Of course, if they face me then no amount of planning wil help... cos I is ace! :twisted: :roll:

 

[H]

of course MAKING me take a battleship renders my Narn obsolete!

 

[Da Boss]

Not so much obsolete - you can still tend the fields, clear drains, throw youself into puddles to allow our ladies to walk across in the dry...........you know be useful

so ongoing debates:

Ship limts - maybe not needed not doing any harm to have them.
Game sizes - am happy as is but........
Pre-defined scenarios - I prefer - presently 2 for 1 in favour
Shadow transport - include or not
Planet Fall - change to Rescue?

 

[McKickaha]

Hey Hiff,

I've heard the Narn are good at ironing.

 

[Star-Lynx]

well then I declare a rematch to Kenny, because I never got it in Aldershot (thanks to Digger, glad I beat the doo-doo out of him in game 2, stopping my vengence how dare he lol) :twisted:

so Kenny boyo are you up for it or are you chicken!

 

[KennyBoy]

Well, between you and - if he can make it - Katadder, thats my first two games sorted then... 8)

Right, i'll let you two decide who gets to lose first or second

Speaking of Digger, i'm surprised we haven't heard from him concerning attendance... anyone know what he's been up to?

 

[KennyBoy]

Hey Shane! Any news from Richard, Dale and Darren concerning attendance?

 

[AdrianH]

so ongoing debates:

Ship limts - maybe not needed not doing any harm to have them.
Game sizes - am happy as is but........
Pre-defined scenarios - I prefer - presently 2 for 1 in favour
Shadow transport - include or not
Planet Fall - change to Rescue?

Suggestion:
Give the Shadow Shuttle and Vorlon Transport (but not the Frigate) Troops: 1. They still can't board or be boarded; that troop is only and specifically intended for Planetfall and Planetary Assault scenarios.

The other question about the Shadow Shuttle is which one to use - Mongoose's dodgy one or Da Boss' stealthy one?

All of which only matters if the Planetfall scenario is kept. If not, it might still be worth trying out the Shadow Shuttle anyway, but is less important.

Ship limits and game sizes: 5 points Skirmish is almost 3 points Raid, and requiring one ship to be Raid level means there are probably about the same number of ships. It also makes game 2 more different to game 1. The requirement to have one ship at scenario priority level should make ship limits redundant, except perhaps in the 3 point War game.

 

[Clanger]

I would say keep with the standard ships and not start with adding unoffical ones. If we start that everyone will want to field unoffical ships (Da Boss's Breakthrough setting and such like). Lets keep it simple.

If the Shadows/ Vorlons cannot "win" the scenario. Do not use them, use a fleet that that can. Otherwise just use the Ancients to kick the crap out of the other fleet .

 

[KennyBoy]

Easiest way is to change "Planetfall" to "Rescue" - then there are no fleets that have an inherent dis-advantage...

 

[Funbeast]

Sorry guys but i'm only working week ends at the mo, so i just can't afford to have the day of to attend
I believe Darren is considering it though. (whether or not thats good i can't tell you :twisted: )

 

[KennyBoy]

Sorry guys but i'm only working week ends at the mo, so i just can't afford to have the day of to attend
I believe Darren is considering it though. (whether or not thats good i can't tell you :twisted: )

Sorry to hear that fella

If it helps to swing Darren's decision, tell him he won't have to face my Minbari on the day... :twisted:

If this weekend work malarky continues, the next Walsall Tourney might fall to Richard to organize (shudder) which, I suspect, would lead to a certain WW2 uniform becoming mandatory attire for the day! :lol: :lol: :wink:

 

[H]

hmmm, not a big fan of allowing a load of "house" fleets into tourneys. I't fine if it's a campaign event based upon a suplement, but where does it stop? I'd quite like Katadders G'Kar but then someone wants something else and so on. And i was going to say not all fan ships are balanced, but then not all official ships are balanced either.

 

[Da Boss]

General Update
Saturday 20th February

Attendees

Greg (*)
Ken (Kennyboy) (*)
Neil (TGT)
Burger
Katadder
Hiffano
Star Lynx
G'Quan
Paul (Clanger) (*)
Shut Up Hippie
Adrian H
Alex (*)
Ben (not that Ben, call him New Ben) (*)
Darren (Possible)

(organiser / player stand in) Da Boss (*)

Will try and match up first couple of rounds a mmeber of Gregs Crew marked with (*) to vistors then Swiss Chess format for 3rd and 4th games.

Start same time as Aldershot - 10.30am gives people a chance to get brekkie on the way

Draft Format

10am -10.30am
Sign-in - time to say hi, taunt opponents - make rash statements of victory

10.30am Game 1 (5 pt Skirmish)
Call to Arms - (terrain, no hyperspace), Max 8 ships (10 Drazi)

noon - lunch break

12.30 - 2pm, Game 2 (3 pt Raid, minimum 1 raid ship (or higher PL) )
Rescue - (terrain, no hyperspace), Max 8 ships (10 Drazi)

2.15pm - 3.45pm - Game 3 (2 pt Battle)
Assassination - both players have a target ship - highest PL ship of opponent. (One other ship of their fleet may start in hyperspace, terrain)
Max 8 ships (10 Drazi)

4pm - 5.45pm - Game 4 (3 pt War, must have at least one War(or higher) ship - this ship may not start in hyperspace)
Annihilation (One ship may start in hyperspace, terrain)
Max 10 ships (12 Drazi)

6pm - awards, final taunting and depart

P+P rules amendments apply with the exception of Centauri Hunting Packs.
Triggy's Beam system in operation
Fleets and races may be different for each game - just declare at the start of the tourney (and give a list to me).
Likely VP system is the one from Wallsal boys.
Only Official ship stats - proxy ships are permissable but make sure oppoents fully aware of what they are at the start. I have a "large" collection of ships let me know if you want to borrow anything.

 

[G Quan]

^^The ISD idea are not takes effect? - Verry good! Otherwise I have only the shadows to play with and I´am not the best shadow commander :lol: . Its only my nice to build, nice to have fleet but not my favorite to play with.

The Narn (treasure) fleet is to big to carry in one case and more than one case I don´t may take with me at the aircraft.

The new ISA fleet (some ships to build unless the 20.2) is the on I wish to start with but the ISD are all above the dates you stated first. :roll:

 

[Da Boss]

In the end I made the decsion (with advice) that ISD restrictions whilst interesting is probably a bit too restrictive so you don't need to worry about it