Vassal campaign

[angelus2000]

I'm not so good at the BR's but heres a go at it.

Fought the first of my 3 :shock: battles this round. First round the sole battle was blockade run Shadows(attackers) vs Vorlons(Defenders), resulting in a loss for the mighty Vorlons.

The second round, all the elder race decided to pick on the little ole me 3rd Age EA. All the other players decided to ignore each other staking out various targets with both Minbari and Shadows BOTH launching attacks on me(I've only got 2 Targets to begin with ), with me launching an attack against the Shadows (Clarkists BOOO!).

First battle was 5pt Raid Ambush scenario against Minbari. My fleet being lead by the EAS Coronado, an Explorer-class, was scouting out the various gas clouds my fleet had come into possesion, being followed by the EAS Malta, an Avenger, the EAS Hadrian and EAS Bellona, both sturdy Olympus class ships, along with the EAS Heimdall and EAS Freyr, Artemis class both, along with several escorting Starfuries and Thunderbolts(the best kind of reconnaisance is recon in force :lol: ). In the course of their duties, a Minbari Troligan and a pair of torothas launched themselves from the gaseous clouds below, with all the starfuries and Tbolts racing to intercept.

In the first salovs, Minbari gunnery proved poor, with only minimal damge to the Malta and Heimdall. The escorting Tbolts and Starfuries proved much more capable, severely damaging one of the escorting Torothas. Over the next next few minutes the other Torotha was also severaly damaged, with fighters administering a coup'de'grace to the already damaged one, causing its reactors to go critical and explore a ferw minutes later. Meanwhile the Troligan proved itself worthy of its name, destroying both the the Freyr and Bellona within seconds of one another, and rendering the Coronado incapable of even minimal movement. Its mulitiple molecular and anti-matter batteries proved devasting to the EA fighter force, continually destroying flight after flight over the course of the battle. However, fire from the remaining Earth ships reduced the Troligan to a skeleton crew and with her hull bleeding air and bodies into space. A quick decision was made by the Senior Captians, with both the Malta and Heimdall sending every available Marine to board the crippled Troligan in an attempt to salvage some information and survivors. They proved successful, capturing the ship and nullifying the first probe by the Minbari forces in the Sago system.

Summary:
Troligans rock at AF, and theri ability to defend themselves against fighters is far above what their AF rating would suggest. I lost roughly 16 fighters in this fight; fully half of those were from the Troligans short range guns. Tbolts having Dodge+3 sucks btw, I want my Arma Tbotls back (take that with a grain of salt, I'm more annoyed about having to replace them than anything else).

I'm really suprised I a was able to board the troligan, I almost killed it before I realized I could score double XP dice for capturing a near ship.

It was a great fight, looking forward to my battles against the Shadows next.

 

[Gunnvaldr]

wow, so far so good, I wish I didn't had work and got to watch the game unfold :/

Glad to hear the GROPOS earned their pay

just 2 more battles aimed against you, good luck

 

[Frankvas]

That was quite the butt kicking I received from the EA. I think my choice of ships was sub optimal for fighting EA fighter hoards. The Torothas just provided target practice for the Thunderbolt pilots. Won't make that mistake again though. The Troligan was ok, it just wasn't able to kill the opposing frigates fast enough, plus the f'ing interceptors took away most of its firepower. Should have chosen ships with longer range weapons and more beams/minibeams.

Fun game though.

Frank V.

 

[Gunnvaldr]

BR: While most of the Drazi Fleet were exerting control over the Sago Trade route, the Brakiri Syndicacy launch a blockade upon the Drazi held planet Sago 4, squishing it dry to submission.

Battle Level 5 (Attacker: Brakiri) v. 2 (Defender: Drazi) Bloackade Run
Shishsha & Jakar, Kama & Zanar)
2 squadrons of paired Firehawks (attempt to break through a section of the blockade that was held by 2 Kaliva, 1 Takata, 2 Haltona. (think that was it)

Game lasted 2 turns, the Shishsha & Jakar were light up by the opening e-mine shot from the Takata, substaining 1/3 dmg each. The Jakar was througher CAF'd and continue onward off the board as a burning wreck.

Zanar from the other squad was heavy under suppressed fire valiantly dodge a deadly beam attack until 1AD that made through crited and cripple the ship to a sluggish pace.

The Shishsha and Kama continue off the board were the Zanar bore upon the nearest Kaliva and rammed it.

But the Kaliva's hull held and lived through the trail.

Due to the Drazi fleet being spread across the trade routes, the Drazi command determine that the Brakiri blockade was too strong to break and the planet was left to eventually surrender to them.

 

[angelus2000]

Played both of EA vs Shadow Raid PL games last night, resulting in 2 losses for the EA. Losses were relatively light for my EA, losing an Omega and 2 Hyperion from the fleet list over both battles. SHadow losses were nil, however.

First battle was a 5pt Raid CTA scenraio set in a Planetary Ring. My EA's initial fleet consisted of an Omega, an Explorer, and a pair of Hyperions, thinking I would see a mix of a Stalkers/Scouts. Much to my suprise, my opponent dropped only a single scout, and then he plunked a Young Shadow Ship right next to it.

The next three turns saw both my Hyperions destroyed, including a 6*6 crit against one of them(totally cored it). THe shadow player made optimal use of terrain, using the asteroid files in the middle of the board to keep the Omega out of boresight until turn 3 (whose fire managed to knock down shields with no damage to the ship itself). At that point I opted to bug out the remaining Omega, Explorer and fighters.

Second battle was 4 pt Space Superiority. My fleet consisted of my other Omega, an Avenger, a pair of Hermes(the thought with the Hermes was to capture table quarters), and a patol point Each of Tbolts and Starfuries. Once again I expected to see a mix of stalkers and scouts,, and was suprised to see 2 stalkers plunked down on the board, both of which elected to stay in hyperspace for the firsrt turn, which basically consisted of moving EA ships slightly forward and launching fighters.

This battle was over even quicker. Both stalkers popped out of hyperspace on turn 2 on the Omegas port side, with the Omega failing its CA roll to swing onto boresight and a mass of EA fighters swaming one of the Stalkers. Once the attack began, the Hulls 6 of the Stalker proved its worth, as despite getting fired on by over 10 fighter flights, they managed to score only a single damage point to the stalker (and thats with what I conside a decent to good roll for huitting hull 6 too.) With no EA ships in range to fire (both Hermes had come out on the far side of the table in an attempt to capture table quarters), both stalkers fired, knocking the Omega down by nearly half and most tellingly, inflicting a 2*6 critical forcing the ship adrift and a No SA crit as well.

With no Omega (effective), and fighters proving near useless, I essentially conceded the game, salvaging the Avenger, Hermes and fighters for use in later battles.

Summary: Well, that pretty much blew. I might have had a shot in the first game, I borked my initial deployment up a bit and left the Omega out of position to fire on the Young Shadwo ship or the first 2 turns. Then again, I REALLY wasn't expecting to see a War PL ship in such a low PL game. With both my Hyperions getting vaped withotu getting a shot off, a lone Omega isn't going to diddly to a Shadow ship. I failed to use CBD, but against the sort of power a Shadow Ship can put out, it wouldn't have made the slightest bit of difference.

Fightes proved near useless in both games as well. Getting past regenrating shields and self-repair is doable, but at that level i simply can't field enough to make it an apprecialbe attrition, nowhere close to the amount of damage I'm suffering in return.

Losing 3 ships that never managed to fire a single shot in both games was especially disheartening. To be blunt, I probably should have just hypered once the table was setup for gmaes 1 and 2, and just conceded both the targets.

 

[Frankvas]

Posted the updated campaign sheet for turn 4. (http://home.pacbell.net/frankvas/Campaign.htm).

Next meeting will be on Sunday November 25th, 2100hrs pst.

Frank V.

 

[LaranosTZ]

I got lucky this turn, I'm having a religious observance, and no one wanted to disturb me.

 

[dennisharlien]

ok first battle report.

The drazi empire decided to ambush a moderate sized vorlon fleet guarding the trade station. They ambushed them in an asteroid field (5 Random asteroid fields generated plus those in the ambushing deployment zone). 2 vorlon Destroyers and 2 transports. vs. Strikehawk,jumphawk,warbird,skyhawk, darkhawk,guardhawk and a swarm of fighters.

First turn both vorlon Transports mad there CQ check of 10 and were able to turn to face the oncoming Drazi fleet. 5 hawks got bore sight on one destroyer. The hawks were able to give 14dmg after deductions to the destroyer and it destroyed the Drakhawk with its opening beam shot with 12hits after dodges.

Turn 2 started with Eyehawk Screaming through the density 9 Asteroid field at movement 14, failed its CQ check and suffered 12 hits dodged 5 but 7 left at TD destroyed it. the drazi continued the assault on the destroyer causing enough dmg to take it to 20 dmg out of 35. each destroyer took out another ship both the jumphawk and guardhawk went down

turns 3 and 4 saw more dmg being handed out with nothing else getting destroyed.

turn 5 saw a 6/6 crit on the Warhawk causing it to explode and take out some fighters.

Turn 6 saw another 6/6 crit on the Strike hawk causing it to go 24 over and blowing up the remaining fighters.

After turn 6 a destroyer was badly dmgd and transport was 2 points from destruction, the Drazi fleet was all destroyed.

 

[Frankvas]

Space superiority: Minbari vs Shadows. Shadows had 4 raid points, Minbari had 5.
Shadows:
Scout x2
Stalker.

Minbari:
1 Tinashi
1 Tigara
1 Teshlan
1 Leshath (scout)

The shadows won initiative every turn (9 I think). 2nd turn, the Minbari Scout moves into an asteroid field, confident that only a 1 would create collisions, rolls a one and is crippled. Thankfully the added stealth of the field kept it alive for 2 more turns. One of the 2 shadow scouts got shot by a lucky beam shot with a juicy crit and got stunned for a turn, thankfully (for me, Minbari) it was facing the asteroid field and run straight into it (almost killed it, died the next turn.) Later on, the Tigara went into the same asteroid field, confidently needing a +2 to navigate safely, rolled a 1, got crippled as well.

The two asteroid collisions coupled with unlucky rolls doomed my fleet. Only the Tinashi (>1/2 damaged) escaped with 2 fighters in tow.

Just couldn't do enough damage per turn to keep the shadows down. Even when everyone fired at one of the ships, it would just hide and heal next turn. Shadows kicked arse again. At least I managed to kill one scout, if only with the aid of nature (asteroids).

Need to win the next battle or I'll be scraping for ships for next turn.

Frank V.

 

[angelus2000]

My Blocakde Run Scenario as Attacker against the shadows didn't go so well either.

Fleets
Shadows
Stalker

EA
Omega
Hyperion
2x Olympus
2x Artemis

I place all of EA ships in the center of the board, not having enough damage potential to spread out along the board edge in an attempt to stop the incoming shadow ships, thinking I would be able to swing either Port or starboard and hopefully get whatever the Shadow Player laid down.


Silly me, forgtting that double movemtn thing (Superb Manuevreability in the Shadows rules section). First turn his single stalker scoots 20 inchs across the board while my sit there, his along the extreme east short edge. Turn 2, the stalker moves another 10"s, while my ships in the middle attempt to swing around and bring weapons to bear. Turn 3, it does another 20 inchs and off the board. Nary a shot was fired the entire battle, with all of our ships being out of range the entire time.

 

[Frankvas]

7 point raid space superiority.

Shadow:
1 Young shadow ship
2 scouts,
8 fighters

Minbari:
1 Sharlin
1 Morshin
1 Leshath

Shadows jumped in on 2nd turn. Minbari set up on the bottom left corner. Scout flew towards a cloud on turn one. Everything went downhill from there. Scout didn't make a single scout roll and Shadows won the intiative on every turn. Turn 4 saw the Shadow fighters jump in around the morshin, "Advanced" antifighter only killed one. The other 7 destroyed the carrier (in one turn!) The minbari fighters managed to scratch a scout and the young ship, never inflicting any real damage. The Sharlin never got a beam shot and the minibeams didn't score any significant damage either. After 6 turns I think, only thing left were 10 nials. Lost 2 to an even dogfight 1 each vs 4 shadow fighters. Minbari salvaged some pride by destroying all the shadow fighters at least. Managed to score something like 4 or 5 criticals on the ships that affected the crew (Shadows have no crew!).

So far, 3 games, 3 terrible losses. The Vassal engine really hates me.

Frank V.

 

[Gunnvaldr]

(Shadows have no crew)

Heh, i did alot of crit to crew as well against the vorlon. Learn some mroe stuff about my fleet against vorlons. THe losses did dent my fleet list but didn't cut deep into my 10pt bnattle list yet so need to hit harder next round

 

[Frankvas]

I know we agreed to meet next Sunday at 2100 (after Thanksgiving). All the battles for this turn have been completed (got my behind royally kicked both times by the way). Just wondering if you guys want to meet again this Tuesday at 2100~2130 for a quick round, Just decide targets and then the battles can be decided, played over the long weekend. Let me know by Tuesday afternoon. Otherwise we'll just keep our Sunday date.

Also, updated the web page.

Frank V.

 

[stryve]

On the Shadow/Minbari space superiority:

Did the Shadows only take 2 Scouts? Because the list as stated comes out to 8 points raid...

 

[Frankvas]

You are right, screwed up. Fixed the previous post. Shadow only had 2 scouts.

 

[Gunnvaldr]

ok first battle report.

The drazi empire decided to ambush a moderate sized vorlon fleet guarding the trade station. They ambushed them in an asteroid field (5 Random asteroid fields generated plus those in the ambushing deployment zone). 2 vorlon Destroyers and 2 transports. vs. Strikehawk,jumphawk,warbird,skyhawk, darkhawk,guardhawk and a swarm of fighters.

First turn both vorlon Transports mad there CQ check of 10 and were able to turn to face the oncoming Drazi fleet. 5 hawks got bore sight on one destroyer. The hawks were able to give 14dmg after deductions to the destroyer and it destroyed the Drakhawk with its opening beam shot with 12hits after dodges.

Turn 2 started with Eyehawk Screaming through the density 9 Asteroid field at movement 14, failed its CQ check and suffered 12 hits dodged 5 but 7 left at TD destroyed it. the drazi continued the assault on the destroyer causing enough dmg to take it to 20 dmg out of 35. each destroyer took out another ship both the jumphawk and guardhawk went down

turns 3 and 4 saw more dmg being handed out with nothing else getting destroyed.

turn 5 saw a 6/6 crit on the Warhawk causing it to explode and take out some fighters.

Turn 6 saw another 6/6 crit on the Strike hawk causing it to go 24 over and blowing up the remaining fighters.

After turn 6 a destroyer was badly dmgd and transport was 2 points from destruction, the Drazi fleet was all destroyed.

I made a msitake and only palce 1 Sky serpent instead of 3 for a patrol choice in the game. And the Sky performed solid in the game too!

The list look like this:
2 Destroyers
2 Transports

vs.

1 Jumphawk Command Cruiser
1 Darkhawk Missicle Cruiser
1 Warbird Cruiser
1 Strikehawk Carrier
1 Guardhawk Battle Escort
1 Eyehawk Scout Cruiser
1 group of 6 Star Snakes (hoping there was some vorlon fighters to take on)
1 group of 3 Sky Serpents (which I screwed up on deployment)

 

[Frankvas]

Next meeting is set for Sunday, 25th November, 2100hrs pst. Shadows are being ganged up on so it should be an interesting turn. If they pull it off, they could end up with over 60 RR next turn.


http://home.pacbell.net/frankvas/Campaign.htm

Frank V.

 

[Triggy]

Brilliant reports so far - really giving a feel for the campaign.

Keep it up!

 

[Humbaba]

I fought my first battle of the 5 this morning. It was Skirmish level Ambush vs. the Drazi with the Drazi attacking. I chose a Stalker (I am saving the fighters for other battles this turn, so I only used 4 out of 5 points) vs. Henry's 2 Strikehawks, 1 Guardhawks, and 1 Eyehawk with 2 sky serpents from the Strikehawks.

The Drazi got a free first turn on me as I failed my QC check and moved forward 6". He let me have it with both barrels and managed to get me about a quarter down in my hps through my shields over the first 2 turns. Also on turn 2 he got an Adrift critical which put me in a bad way. The Drazi had difficulty capitalizing on my weakness and I managed to slip the noose as no real damage was mounded up while I was drifting. I then fled around an asteroid field and started the traditional game of ring around the rosy. This gave me some healing time and a chance to polish off the Eyehawk (who failed all scouting rolls to redirect against me). The Sky Serpents were able to consistently chew me down a little each turn, but the Strikehawks had trouble brining the hammer down. There was a moment of panic when one of them scored 10 hits on the beam, but I dodged 2 and my shields took all but a few points (I would have been stun bait if the fighters had not been wiffing there attacks, leaving my shields in good shape). Eventually my 3D beam managed to get some good hits with criticals and so killed the two Strikehawks over the next few turns. The Guardhawk and one surviving Sky Serpent fled the board on the death of the second Strikhawk.

I must say that I found these particular Drazi to be far more tenacious then I expected, despite many failed come about and redirect rolls. Henry did a particularly good job in finding gaps in my fields of fire and exploiting them for what they were worth, but the dice and the limitations of only having 3 points skirmish did not give him enough damage to get over a battle level shadow ship's substantial defenses.

A solid fun game with much careful maneuvering.

-Humbaba

 

[Gunnvaldr]

many failed come about and redirect rolls.

Good ol' Shopha, my last best hope. With the exception of 1 CQ test that I rolled a shocking and unexepecting 6 for, every other CQ test was a roll of 2. No half measures for that ship.

Barakar, my Drazi Admiral in charge of the campaign in Sago blames the Shadak for being timid and only authorizing him to send limited commitment (-3 to priority level) to the Sago Jump Gate due to the disaster at the ambush near the Sago Trade station against the Volorn.

Well so far no victory for my Drazi, but the battles are getting better and fun, seems like there can't be any half measures with the Drazi so can't wait for next campaign meeting and seeing how it plays.