Aldershot Tourney Battle report
As defending champion I set out with Greg and his crew to do battle, hoping for a good breakfast, some fun games and lots of destruction – these were all achieved.
Given the Isds and my variety of fleets I decided to play a different one in each game – choosing each of the “misunderstood” races – Dilgar, Centauri and Shadows.
5pt Skirmish – Space Superiority
Game 1 – I played as Dilgar – 1 Garaosh (5 Thoruns, 5 Torp bombers), 1 Ochlavtia Command Destroyer, 3 Jashakra torp frigates and 1 Jashakar Scout. All but 1 Torp Frigate start in a Pentacon.
Vs Vree – 2 Vaarl Scout saucers, 1 Xeel Carrier, 2 Xixx torp saucers.
There was limited terrain and my opponent decided to await my approach behind the safety of one Asteroid field in the corner of the table. By the 4th turn my Pentacon, fighters and lone Torp Frigate had reached the edge of the field. The fighters and 1 frigate were ordered to flush them out and as the fighters raced through the rocks the Frigate cruised round the edge to engage the Carrier. Although the Vree fighters defended their craft they were too few to prevent several topr bombers hammering into one Torp saucer, causing heavy damage. The Xeel was pounded by the Frigate and lost its guns. In return the Firgate was heavily damaged. The Vree emerged en masse trying to get behind the Dilgar pentacon whilst the damage frigate swept round the other side of the asteroid field. The Vree continued to win the fighter war through the rest of the game but were quickly whittled down as the pentacon of frigates chased them round the asteroid field. The Garaosh was finally killed by the but the last saucer was destroyed by long range torp fire and only the Dilgar remained.
Loses – 1 Garaosh, all fighters, 1 Jashakar Torp Frigate
Kills – Vree Fleet
The Vree hardly scored any good criticals and whilst they won the fighter war – the ship war was eventually lost (we went to the full 12 turns) through attrition. The +1 Command gave me a 3pt Initiative advantage which proved extremely important in the pivotal turns as I could fire first with the whole pentacon.
A good victory and start to my campaign
5 pt Raid – Planetfall
Game 2 – Centauri (ah my Glorious Republic)
Primus (2 Sentri), Balvarin (4 Sentri, 4 Razik), Vorchan, Vorchan, Maximus, Kutai, 2 Rutarian,
Vs Earth – Omega, Avenger, 2 Artemis, 2 Olympus,
Despite a significant Initiative advanatge, I seemed to keep losing the roll – this was however pretty much the only luck Paul had in the whole game. Both fleets advanced towards the central planet with my Maximus maintaining a defensive posture in the centre. The Omega opened the hostilities at the pair of Squadroned Vorchan who had swept ahead of the fleet and scored a minor beam hit. In reply the Vorochans inflicted light damage on one Olympus who had moved forwards ahead of the other EA ships. Both fleets carriers hung back and launched fighters which swept towards the central battlefild. The Third turn was where the game was won. A huge fighter furball erupted but the Maximus assisted in keeping the Centuari fighters ahead. The Omega again fired first and its beam glanced off the armour of the Centauri ship with minimal damage (this time it fired at the Primus) but the Primus unleashed a nasty beam hit on its opposite number ( a 6,5 crit) and vaporised one of the Olympus, damaging the other. The remaining Olympus did manage to penetrate the borrowed inteceptors of the maximus and hurt the Vorchan but the two replied and again damaged both the Omega, casting it adrift and also destroyed the last Olympus. The next turn would decide if Paul could retrieve anything. Fighters again clashed as the two Artemis swept into the centre of the field – desperate to try and retrieve the situation. The Omega fired its beam and all front guns at the Kutai (only viable target) and barely scratched it. The lead Artemis had suffered damage from the two Rutarian but still managed to unleash its railguns at the Primus to very little effect which replied with a devastating hail of fire – crushing the small ship, before tearing the Omega apart for good measure. The remaining Vorchan had swept round to engage the Avenger and began to batter away at its defences. Paul (unsurprisingly) conceded with 1 lightly damaged Avenger and 1 battered Artemis remaining- also being outnumbered in fighters. He had hardly scored a crit in the game and those shots that had hit had often been dinks
Loses – 1 Vorchan
Kills – The Earth fleet
Another victory put me a in a strong third place behind Ken and Burger (who were fighting it out as I went an old friend – Digger!
5pt Battle– First one to die loses
Game three
Shadows (my beloved children of Darkness)
Young Ship, Stalker, 4 Scouts
Vs Narn
G’Vrahn (worrying), G’Quan( A Relief), 2 Var’nic, 2 Thentus, G’Karith
With virtually no terrain apart from an asteroid field in each other corner and a dust cloud in my corner deployment zone I knew I would have to be very careful to avoid the beams of the Narn ships. I have lost a number of previous games with Shadows by not being careful enough and was determined I would not do it again. Despite the Narn not being the best match up for the Ancient race (and bemoaning my not playing Centauri for our usual match up), Digger gamely began to advance on my ships. I scattered one scout down one edge and Stalker and Scout down the other edge – seeking to draw his ships off to the sides whilst advancing just into range of one of the Var’nics with my Shadow Ship. I was caught a little off guard as Digger all powered his G’Vrahn just into range of my ship and set up a beam shot on it. The Shadow ship crippled the Varnic and braced itself for the Narn return fire with its shields being stripped by a L/R emine hit. The beam sliced into the tough hull of the Ship and burned out part of its momentum generating bio engines but failed to pin it. This would be the only Narn beam shot in the game!!!!
I pulled the ship back behind the cloud to regenerate and await a easier target and continued to use the lesser ships to draw out the Narn. The 2nd Var’nic chased the a Scout around the asteroid field and was ambushed by the Stalker – inflicting light damage and causing little more than the Stalkers shields to drop in return. The fourth turn was when I won. As varied Narn ships charged in different directions, I positioned the Shadow Ship so it could target a Thentus without being fired in return and cut it half – the ships numbers were now even and with my Initiative advantage I could more easily dictate the battle. The next few turns saw a Narn ship killed each turn with no real response – despite Digger trying very hard to try and get at my ships – but SM and stealth robbed him of any real damage dealing chances. The Narn fleet was picked apart and by the time the two Capital ships reached the Shadow Ship which was dodging in and around the dust cloud they were on their own. Carefully I manoeuvred my ships and began to chop them apart, sending the G’Vrahn adrift and hammering the G’Quan. Digger achieved a kill (a flight of Shaodw fighters) and then conceded with no effectively way to deal damage, surrounded by Shadow vessels and plenty of time left.
Loses – 1 fighter flight
Kills – Narn fleet.
Digger tried hard but chasing Shadows is hard and difficult for such a fleet. As ever the G’Quan was a liability and achieved previously nothing (2 more Var’nics would have be nastier).Another big victory and this put me suddenly well out in front as Ken and Burger hammered each others fleets into oblivion.
The tournament was based on the difference of Victory points, this victory with no loses gave me an unassailable lead and another tournament victory - - Nice
My thanks to Neil for organising, all my opponents and everyone there on the day for a most enjoyable day and most importantly Ken for getting us there with speed and precision and with time for breakfast.
As defending champion I set out with Greg and his crew to do battle, hoping for a good breakfast, some fun games and lots of destruction – these were all achieved.
Given the Isds and my variety of fleets I decided to play a different one in each game – choosing each of the “misunderstood” races – Dilgar, Centauri and Shadows.
5pt Skirmish – Space Superiority
Game 1 – I played as Dilgar – 1 Garaosh (5 Thoruns, 5 Torp bombers), 1 Ochlavtia Command Destroyer, 3 Jashakra torp frigates and 1 Jashakar Scout. All but 1 Torp Frigate start in a Pentacon.
Vs Vree – 2 Vaarl Scout saucers, 1 Xeel Carrier, 2 Xixx torp saucers.
There was limited terrain and my opponent decided to await my approach behind the safety of one Asteroid field in the corner of the table. By the 4th turn my Pentacon, fighters and lone Torp Frigate had reached the edge of the field. The fighters and 1 frigate were ordered to flush them out and as the fighters raced through the rocks the Frigate cruised round the edge to engage the Carrier. Although the Vree fighters defended their craft they were too few to prevent several topr bombers hammering into one Torp saucer, causing heavy damage. The Xeel was pounded by the Frigate and lost its guns. In return the Firgate was heavily damaged. The Vree emerged en masse trying to get behind the Dilgar pentacon whilst the damage frigate swept round the other side of the asteroid field. The Vree continued to win the fighter war through the rest of the game but were quickly whittled down as the pentacon of frigates chased them round the asteroid field. The Garaosh was finally killed by the but the last saucer was destroyed by long range torp fire and only the Dilgar remained.
Loses – 1 Garaosh, all fighters, 1 Jashakar Torp Frigate
Kills – Vree Fleet
The Vree hardly scored any good criticals and whilst they won the fighter war – the ship war was eventually lost (we went to the full 12 turns) through attrition. The +1 Command gave me a 3pt Initiative advantage which proved extremely important in the pivotal turns as I could fire first with the whole pentacon.
A good victory and start to my campaign
5 pt Raid – Planetfall
Game 2 – Centauri (ah my Glorious Republic)
Primus (2 Sentri), Balvarin (4 Sentri, 4 Razik), Vorchan, Vorchan, Maximus, Kutai, 2 Rutarian,
Vs Earth – Omega, Avenger, 2 Artemis, 2 Olympus,
Despite a significant Initiative advanatge, I seemed to keep losing the roll – this was however pretty much the only luck Paul had in the whole game. Both fleets advanced towards the central planet with my Maximus maintaining a defensive posture in the centre. The Omega opened the hostilities at the pair of Squadroned Vorchan who had swept ahead of the fleet and scored a minor beam hit. In reply the Vorochans inflicted light damage on one Olympus who had moved forwards ahead of the other EA ships. Both fleets carriers hung back and launched fighters which swept towards the central battlefild. The Third turn was where the game was won. A huge fighter furball erupted but the Maximus assisted in keeping the Centuari fighters ahead. The Omega again fired first and its beam glanced off the armour of the Centauri ship with minimal damage (this time it fired at the Primus) but the Primus unleashed a nasty beam hit on its opposite number ( a 6,5 crit) and vaporised one of the Olympus, damaging the other. The remaining Olympus did manage to penetrate the borrowed inteceptors of the maximus and hurt the Vorchan but the two replied and again damaged both the Omega, casting it adrift and also destroyed the last Olympus. The next turn would decide if Paul could retrieve anything. Fighters again clashed as the two Artemis swept into the centre of the field – desperate to try and retrieve the situation. The Omega fired its beam and all front guns at the Kutai (only viable target) and barely scratched it. The lead Artemis had suffered damage from the two Rutarian but still managed to unleash its railguns at the Primus to very little effect which replied with a devastating hail of fire – crushing the small ship, before tearing the Omega apart for good measure. The remaining Vorchan had swept round to engage the Avenger and began to batter away at its defences. Paul (unsurprisingly) conceded with 1 lightly damaged Avenger and 1 battered Artemis remaining- also being outnumbered in fighters. He had hardly scored a crit in the game and those shots that had hit had often been dinks
Loses – 1 Vorchan
Kills – The Earth fleet
Another victory put me a in a strong third place behind Ken and Burger (who were fighting it out as I went an old friend – Digger!
5pt Battle– First one to die loses
Game three
Shadows (my beloved children of Darkness)
Young Ship, Stalker, 4 Scouts
Vs Narn
G’Vrahn (worrying), G’Quan( A Relief), 2 Var’nic, 2 Thentus, G’Karith
With virtually no terrain apart from an asteroid field in each other corner and a dust cloud in my corner deployment zone I knew I would have to be very careful to avoid the beams of the Narn ships. I have lost a number of previous games with Shadows by not being careful enough and was determined I would not do it again. Despite the Narn not being the best match up for the Ancient race (and bemoaning my not playing Centauri for our usual match up), Digger gamely began to advance on my ships. I scattered one scout down one edge and Stalker and Scout down the other edge – seeking to draw his ships off to the sides whilst advancing just into range of one of the Var’nics with my Shadow Ship. I was caught a little off guard as Digger all powered his G’Vrahn just into range of my ship and set up a beam shot on it. The Shadow ship crippled the Varnic and braced itself for the Narn return fire with its shields being stripped by a L/R emine hit. The beam sliced into the tough hull of the Ship and burned out part of its momentum generating bio engines but failed to pin it. This would be the only Narn beam shot in the game!!!!
I pulled the ship back behind the cloud to regenerate and await a easier target and continued to use the lesser ships to draw out the Narn. The 2nd Var’nic chased the a Scout around the asteroid field and was ambushed by the Stalker – inflicting light damage and causing little more than the Stalkers shields to drop in return. The fourth turn was when I won. As varied Narn ships charged in different directions, I positioned the Shadow Ship so it could target a Thentus without being fired in return and cut it half – the ships numbers were now even and with my Initiative advantage I could more easily dictate the battle. The next few turns saw a Narn ship killed each turn with no real response – despite Digger trying very hard to try and get at my ships – but SM and stealth robbed him of any real damage dealing chances. The Narn fleet was picked apart and by the time the two Capital ships reached the Shadow Ship which was dodging in and around the dust cloud they were on their own. Carefully I manoeuvred my ships and began to chop them apart, sending the G’Vrahn adrift and hammering the G’Quan. Digger achieved a kill (a flight of Shaodw fighters) and then conceded with no effectively way to deal damage, surrounded by Shadow vessels and plenty of time left.
Loses – 1 fighter flight
Kills – Narn fleet.
Digger tried hard but chasing Shadows is hard and difficult for such a fleet. As ever the G’Quan was a liability and achieved previously nothing (2 more Var’nics would have be nastier).Another big victory and this put me suddenly well out in front as Ken and Burger hammered each others fleets into oblivion.
The tournament was based on the difference of Victory points, this victory with no loses gave me an unassailable lead and another tournament victory - - Nice
My thanks to Neil for organising, all my opponents and everyone there on the day for a most enjoyable day and most importantly Ken for getting us there with speed and precision and with time for breakfast.
so much so, that he treated me to a roll at the cafe opposite the game store 
