Man Battlestations Forum
Community => FACO => Topic started by: Dakkar on January 15, 2015, 01:21:57 pm
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I'd like to runa few more games and scenarios before Genghis Con. Time and scale means Saturdays though - so let me know which days are better for any interested:
Sat Jan 31st ?
or
Sat Feb 7th ?
as with last day, might cap this with some Planetfall games. I'm eager!
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I should be able to make the 7th.
S
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Cool - works for me better too. Once I cna guarantee tables, I'll post more details on the Haven site later, and repeat them here.
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As of right now, I could make either day.
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I can make both as well. Looking forward to it.
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I'll hopefully have my second squadron of Oroshan frigates painted up by then!
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If we're meeting to game on the 7th, would anyone be interested in catching a late afternoon showing of Jupiter Ascending at Southlands AMC? They have beer......
http://www.movieinsider.com/m9619/jupiter-ascending/videos/10795/ (http://www.movieinsider.com/m9619/jupiter-ascending/videos/10795/)
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Would this be at Haven? I might be able to go, and I'd love to see Jupiter (finally). Maybe we could pile in one car and head down.
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I assumed 7th at the Haven. I'd love to see JUPITER ASCENDING, but I doubt we'd all need to drive to Southlands AMC :-) The new Carmike at Chapel Hills mall is quite nice and just up the road from the Haven.
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I'm in for the 7th, and I'd love to see the flick. I wouldn't have an issue carpooling down there either, good idea. We could roll a command check (with fleet bonuses, of course) to see who gets to drive. :D Who all from up here is going? Me and Stephan and (possibly) Mark, anyone else?
Yeah, you're right, FINALLY. I think the movie got delayed a year or so, didn't it?
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I am there if they have beer....
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I am there if they have beer....
The Carmike at the mall serves beer...
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oh... really?
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I'll have to double-check with the Mrs if we do this in the Springs, at least the Jupiter Ascending part since she'll want to go see it with me.
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I have no issues with going up and watching in Denver, I will just need a ride, cuz if there is beer I am going to be drinking.
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Are we still doing this? Did we nail down the Haven for the location? If we're gonna see the movie, I'd recommend a late-morning start time for dice rolling. I'm up for whatever.
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I'm still game, just need a confirm Dale of time and place (Haven or Collectormania). Movie is good after as well.
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I'm still planning for the 7th, but I have to verify tables available that day. Start time at 10 am.
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Sounds good to me. Looking forward to the game and the movie!
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We may only have a few tables, but we'll pile in for multiplayer if needed. :-)
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Looks like I won't make it, though I'm going to try and get a couple games in between now and the con.
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Sorry to hear you won't make it down. Multiple tables are confirmed!
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Poor Stephan, well whatever took you away, I hope you still have a good day.
As for the rest of us, I look forward to get a game or 2 of FA and maybe a game of Planetfall.
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I'll be there with my Terrans!
I'm open for a movie also.
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Movie times are looking ...odd:
Either 4Pm or 7PM in the giant 4DD screen at the mall
or
Either 4:30PM (in 3D) or 7:30PM (in Digital) at the Cinemark on Powers Blvd.
We're starting early so we have options :-) I still have to ask my SO if she wants to go as well, which may define which showtime for me.
Meantime, ther's a useful review here:
http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-the-wachowskis-bring-mad-style-to-the-ya-genre-in-jupiter-ascending?hf_headline=218
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At the Chapel hills Mall Carmike, the big screen has a 3D show at 4, but the 7PM show is normal 2D. The film was digitally filmed, but not in 3D native, so conversion results may vary.
Powers Cinemark has regular digital shows, 2 types of 3D, and IMAX. :-)
Not sure which show Machelle and I will do yet, so we might just plan our own thing.
I'm planning 1000pts or 1200pts depending. If I can get assembly done, I'll bring Ba'Kash :-0
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I'm really not a fan of 3D movies, to be honest, so I'll just play it by ear on Saturday. Will bring an 800- and a 1200-point list for my RSN.
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Agreed on the 3D. I stay away from them.
I'll be bringing my Terrans with everything I can muster. Lists for 800 or 1200.
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So assuming John is still coming, that's 2x RSNs and a Terran. I'll prep Aquans in case we got multiplayer, or Ba'Kash if we don't care about in-faction fighting :-)
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So assuming John is still coming, that's 2x RSNs and a Terran. I'll prep Aquans in case we got multiplayer, or Ba'Kash if we don't care about in-faction fighting :-)
My RSN don't mind killing Ba'Kash. Death to the heretic, alien, and mutant. Oh, wait a minute...wrong IP, sorry... :D
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It would be easier for Ba'Kahs to engage in trash-talk if we even had an idea what they look like... ;-)
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Whenever I look at Ba'Kash ships I think of The Predator. The hinged "mouths" full of guns...
Dale I don't know if you have a plan or schedule for the day. But if there isn't one I am really hoping to buckle down and run through a full 1200 point game and then try to squeeze in an 800 point game. It seems like the group movie idea has been scrapped so I am going to be available for the long haul Saturday.
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I think we'll have plenty of tables, so a big 1200pt game makes sense; followed by either smaller games, a multiplayer, or some Planetfall.
I'm still going to the movie, it just morphed into a date-night for me :-)
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Whenever I look at Ba'Kash ships I think of The Predator. The hinged "mouths" full of guns...
Dale I don't know if you have a plan or schedule for the day. But if there isn't one I am really hoping to buckle down and run through a full 1200 point game and then try to squeeze in an 800 point game. It seems like the group movie idea has been scrapped so I am going to be available for the long haul Saturday.
You running goats or humans? :D Yeah, same here, I'm in it for the long haul on Saturday. Would like to get in at least an 800 and a 1200 point game. See if my Cerberus can redeem itself after the poor showing against Stephan's Tarakians last night.
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Are you pairing your Cerberus with the Battleship? Aside from a full Cerebus Squadron, I'm starting to think tht's the best way to field both Cerberus AND the BB.
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Yeah. Gives me 10 kinetic and 10 torp dice at 48". Unfortunately, if the dice don't work for you, tactics and strategy don't matter. I had one of my rolls last night--10 dice--come up all 3s, 2s, and 1s.
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I'll be bringing the humans. That's what I've decided to run at the con so I want to get some practice with my lists.
It remains to be seen if I will be taking goat allies...
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I can't do much for dice curses (though if you can find a goat...)
But for RSN strategy and tactics, here's my quick Primer:
- Spooks : Spook Cruisers (x3) should deploy in the middle, maybe back, but not needed. Turn 1 and 2 they should be over 20" from the enemy. So they start turn 1 on full stop, turn 2 remove FS, still stay Cloaked. Turn three, remove Cloak and full speed into the enemy for a 16 die Beam blast on top of the 10 die spooked torps. They MUST leverage their other firepower to start real casualties.
- Phoenix Destroyers (x3) : Put them (or their tokens) in a corner or side edge of the board. Make sure they have Torp Spook. When fleets close in Turn 2, and they appear, they should have *something* in range to get a 14 die beam, and another 10 die of Torps. If maintaining same aim as the Spook Cruisers, and squadron of Tier 2 is GONE. And like with the Spooks, there'll be very little damage in return until Turn 3-4.
- 2x obligatory Frigate Squadrons, at only 3x each. These guys should not "lead" but can run up the flanks, then dart in to make the most of their 2-arc firing: 10 dice fore, and 10 dice broadsides. Since the Cruisers are hard to hurt, these guys should ALWAYS activate first to get a strike in before they're hit themselves.
Let's see, that
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The Ba'Kash stand ready!
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Thanks to all who showed on Saturday!
We had RSN fight ba'Kash in a Take the Station Scenario; RSN versus Terrans in straight battle; RSN versus Terrans in Ambush (RSN doing the Ambushing); and RSN versus Sorylians in Escalating Engagement.
Dindrenzi and Aquans also faced off in a small PLANETFALL game.
Observations:
-- RSN didn't win all day, though they came close ! (see below)
-- Regan's Sorylians look amazing, with the coolest basing solution I've seen in a while. (Can't recall the company that makes them...)
-- Terrans are horrible bad people, and Chris is a Dice-witch.
-- In Planetfall, entering CQB with models placed just right so the return dice are minimized is a viable legal tactic, and very nasty.
-- Other key Planetfall things "we always forget":
===Moving Flat-out allows neither CQB nor Firing
===Sky Drop deviation is still random on a 1-die, unless the deviation roll is a 1 with a reroll.
===Skimmers are Hard Targets if not already
===Overwatch and Focus Fire is a thing to remember to use.
-- Also, do NOT tangle with Dindrenzi Infantry!
To the Space Station match... (account subject to my hazy memory banks)
John's RSN were defending the station. My Ba'Kash were attacking. First round, Ba'Kash go hell for leather forward with the Karrak Battle Carrier and Escorts zipping 12" ahead. Heavy and standard Cruisers on either flank, Frigates further out.
RSN had carrier, frigates and Battleship deployed left of center (per Ba'kash POV) to cover the station, with Spook cruisers and Works Raptor Cruisers behind for a Torp gunline. More Frigates on the right.
Both sides had Destroyer Ambush tokens on either far flank.
Turn 1:
Everyone kept fore plating shut for the extra +1/+1. Even with that, RSN Spooked torps scored a crit on a cruiser, and put damage on the Battle Carrier (BC). Ba'kash made a critical mistake in forgetting to launch their own Interceptors, while the RSN BB deployed a squad of 3 that kept all Trop salvoes from being effective. RSN Frigates end up moving first, giving Ba'kash frigates the alpha strike and losing 2 each.
Turn 2:
Destroyers from both sides turn up on the far right, either side of a planetoid as if chasing each other.
Ba'Kash Battle Carrier takes it right in the pants with a Bomber run from the Carrier, a full crit. The Ba'kash BC waits though, hoping the RSN BB will attack, and be unable to counterboard the station. Ba'kash Destroyers swoop ahead from ambush, and finish off the right side Frigate squadron. Spooks open fire, putting another crit on the Battle Carrier, which is now half dead! BC can't wait, moves up to the station. BC decides better to bomber the RSN BB than deploy its own interceptors, and gets a solid crit, near double crit. Scatter weapons completely whiff against a WR Cruiser, despite needing just 4+'s. Beam fire helps finish off frigates. BC boards the station handily, though the nearby Interceptors ensure only 5AP are on the station. To add suck, the obligatory Crit roll on the Station takes out Point Defense!
RSN battelship counter-boards handily. And puts ANOTHER crit on the BC, and mauls the cruisers a bit. Ba'kash frigates swoop in, put a crit on the BB. Works Raptors rake the cruisers, spreading out damage. Crusiers finally move in, open up, and do...nothing. Ba'Kash frigates on that side nearly punk a WR cruiser (1 pt from double crit.) RSN Destroyers move around the planet with slingshot, shoot up the kilt and crit one BK Destoryer.
Heavy BK Cruisers move up, open up and take names. RSN Battleship is reduced to 1HP. Carrier takes a bruising from one broadsides, and the WR Cruiser is finished on the other side!
Turn 3:
Big Init roll, and Ba'Kash LOSE! Battleship activates, kills the Battle Carrier! RSN pull way ahead on the log!
BK activate their mauled cruisers, which put minor damage on the Spooks, and crit a Works Raptor. RSN Carrier swoops across, and bombs the hell out of one medium crusier. Its broadsides faiil to hurt the heavies though. BK heavies move in, and counterboard the station, killing it for +3 log points. their fore scatters also destroy the Battleship. Sadly, only a 3 crit roll not a blow up! Spooks advance, open fire, and vaporize what was left of the medium cruisers. BK Destroyers hang a right and kill a 2nd WR Cruiser. RSN Destroyers kill one BK destroyer. BK frigates pound the Spooks and Carrier. The log is swinging back in Ba'Kash favor. WR Cruiser starts to make a run for it, using FSD.
Turn 4:
RSn win Initiative, and the Carrier moves to beat on the Heavy Cruisers, does almost nothing. The undamaged cruisers hang a full U-turn through the debris cloud that used to be a Battleship, and blow-up the carrier.
And game is basically called at this point as the mauled Spooks and RSN destroyers can't possibly match the Heavy cruisers and remaining Frigates/Destroyer. Battle log is like 16 to 7.
Chief observation: The scenario balance is that the station can only change hands twice - the third time means a third crit, means dead station.
Also:
-- RSN do MEAN duty on approach damage, and having to fly into their interceptors and double bomber wings is a tough road. Forgetting their interceptors meant the death of the BK Battle carrier.
-- Even Ba'Kash, with their increased DR/CR, took heavy damage on approach. But once in knife-range, their firepower suddenly takes a quick toll. Choosing whether to kill cruisers, heavy cruisers, or battle carrier is a no-win decision. You have to hurt all three!
I didn't get much detail on the other matches, save that RSN dice universally disappointed them.
But I hope all still had fun!
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Great synopsis.
As far as Greg and my game (RSN vs. Terrans) I can speak up. Scenario was defend the waypoints. Pretty close game all in all. Waypoints were deployed diagonal opposite of each other. Destroyers were both deployed directly behind the corresponding waypoint. The bulk of the RSN deployed on the other flank. The bulk of the Terrans deployed in the middle with cruisers opposite of the RSN waypoint and destroyers.
Can't remember the turn breakdown but I can give turning points.
RSN heavy cruiser took damage early, the RSN carrier also took light damage early. One Terran battlecruiser took damage early as well the Tyrant battleship. First blood to the RSN with a dead Terran frigate.
Eventually one Terran battlecruisers went down with damage on the second, the Tyrant went down to half hull. Once the RSN got to grips with the Terrn destroyers they were focused apart quickly. Terran cruisers were able to get stuck in with RSN destroyers. Carrier took heavy damage, eventually going down along with its cruiser escorts. RSN heavy cruiser was felled as well and the RSN battleship got down to 2 or 3 hull points.
The game was called with both battle logs at 11. Assuming that the RSN battleship was about to die and swing the board. Besides the first turn the waypoints were negated throughout the battle.
Takeaways:
Terran shields are frustrating for their opponents, destroyers make great defensive gun platforms when holding an objective, Terran battlecruisers (while relatively low armor) are bruisers when the lasers and torpedoes start flying.
I won't comment on the second match...
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Chris is a Dice-witch. I can confirm this. I have caught him waving crystals over his dice. We'll burn him and his dice at the stake after the con.
Ugh, not much to add really. I felt like I got a little traction against the Terrans, but I just could not make anything work against Regan's Sorylians. My RSN have a hard time dealing with factions that can run 4 cruisers to a squadron. I'm trying to rely more and more on long-range weaponry, as my ships are pretty fragile, but pumping 10 torpedo dice into a 4-ship cruiser squadron is just a non-starter.
Plus, Chris and Regan both went after my Cerberus with a vengeance--probably because it was new. If my dice would help me out on occasion, the combination of the Cerberus and the Spectre battleship would be killers--10 kinetic and 10 torpedo dice at 48". Unfortunately, I just couldn't get the dice to cooperate.
Ah well. At least both my opponents were gracious winners. Maybe next time.
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Thanks for the writeup Dale/Chris/Greg. Interesting read, sorry I missed it.
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Chris is a Dice-witch. I can confirm this. I have caught him waving crystals over his dice. We'll burn him and his dice at the stake after the con.
How exactly do you know that Chris is a witch? Does he have a wart? Did he turn you into a newt (and you obviously got better)? Does he float on water like a very small rock?
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How exactly do you know that Chris is a witch? Does he have a wart? Did he turn you into a newt (and you obviously got better)? Does he float on water like a very small rock?
A DUCK!!!