CT Only: Finally - fixes that tame HG2 starship combat!

[Amber Chancer]

Well ... they work!!!

The fixes are:

1. Armour does NOT reduce the number of rolls a spinal weapon gets
2. Armour DOES still reduce the critical hits caused by oversize weapons, including those caused by meson guns, but an oversize weapon will always get at least 1 critical hit
3. Each weapon strike can only cause one hit to any one ship system (crew counts as a "ship system" for these purposes). If a number of hits are scored, apply the one that does the most damage and disregard the others.
4. If a meson gun hits and penetrates, the target ship's meson screen factor nevertheless acts as a DM on the damage rolls on BOTH damage tables.
5. Switch the damage table results "Fuel Tanks Shattered" on the interior explosion table, and "Hangars / Boat Deck Destroyed" on the Critical Hit table

For the play test, I designed a Solomani TL15 200 KT J-4 dreadnought, as follows:

Hull: 200,000 tons. Needle/Wedge
Performance: Jump-4; 6G; Power-Plant 8; 16,000 EP; Agility 6
Fuel Treatment: Scoops & Purification Plant
Electronics: Model/9 fib computer
Hardpoints: Spinal weapons mount; one 100-ton bay; forty six 50-ton bays; 461 hardpoints
Armament: Spinal meson gun (factor-N); one 100-yon particle accelerator bay; forty five 50-ton missile bays; 10 triple beam laser turrets organized as 1 battery; 1 single fusion gun turret organized as 1 battery
Defences: Armoured Hull (factor-E); Meson screen (factor-7); Nuclear Damper (factor-9); one 50-ton Repulsor bay; 450 triple sandcaster turrets organized as 45 batteries
Craft: none
Crew: 183 officers, 1,086 ratings. 330 Marines (33 officers, 297 troops). Frozen Watch of 800
Cost: MCr 183,519.9 singly; MCr 146,815.92 in quantity

At fist I thought to match a pair of these, on a ton-for-ton basis, against two Imperial Plankwell class dreadnoughts. However, on a credit-for-credit basis this made the Solomanni force a far more expensive force to put in the field. So I balanced the value of the forces by giving the Imperial squadron a brace of Ghalalk class cruisers, too.

The Imperial squadron therefore consisted of the Dreadnoughts Beauregard and Lee, and the cruisers Mandela and Luther-King; whilst the Solomani squadron consisted of the Dreadnoughts Shovell and Harrison.

I fought the engagement twice: the first time with standard HG2 combat rules; and the second time playing with the four modifications set out above.

Combat reports follow.

 

[Amber Chancer]

FIRST ENGAGEMENT: STANDARD HG2 rules

I allowed a certain amount of naval intelligence - assuming that the Imperium would be aware that Solomani dreadnought would be very heavily armoured; and that the Solomani were aware that Imperial cruisers are not.


FIRST TURN

All ships in line. Solomani initiative. Long range.

The Imperial forced split their meson fire between the two opposing dreadnoughts and concentrated everything else on the Shovell, using nuclear missiles as this gave them their only chance of damaging the Solomani dreadnoughts with non-spinal weaponry.

The Solomani divided their meson fire between the Beauregard and the Lee, and fired everything else at the Luther-King, using conventional rather than nuclear missiles as they knew the Imperial cruisers had minimal armour, but were probably well protected with nuclear dampers.

The Shovell was hit by a factor-H Particle Accelerator and 17 nuclear missiles. It lost 1,920 tons of fuel and suffered 18 weapon hits, reducing its meson gun to factor-K.

The Harrison was hit by a factor-T meson gun. It suffered 4 critical hits, destroying its computer, M-drive and nuclear damper. It suffered 3 crew hits, reducing its crew to factor-1. It suffered a 4-point hit on its spinal meson gun, its meson screen was reduced to factor-2, its jump drive was reduced to factor-0, as was its power plant, and its fuel tanks were shattered.

The Lee was hit by a factor-N meson gun. It suffered 2 critical hits, destroying its bridge and disabling its M-drive. Its computer was reduced by 6 factors, its jump drive was reduced to 0. Its meson screen and nuclear damper were both completely disabled. Its entire crew was killed, and it suffered a 3 point hit on its meson gun.

The Luther-King was hit by one factor-9 particle accelerator and 42 HE missiles, causing the loss of 3,920 tons of fuel and 16 weapon hits - 3 to each of its 5 weapon systems, and a fourth on the Particle Accelerator which was thus reduced to factor D.


SECOND TURN.

The Imperial Lee, Mandela and Luther-King screened the crippled Beauregard, whilst the Solomani Shovell screened the crippled Harrison.

Solomani initiative. Long range.

The Shovel directed its meson gun fire at the Lee, and everything else at the Luther-King. The Imperial ships only had one target, and so concentrated all of their fire on the Shovell.

The Shovell was hit by 12 nuclear missiles, causing a loss of 960 tons of fuel and inflicting 13 weapon hits. These reduced its meson gun to Factor-H.

The Luther-King was hit by 21 conventional missiles and a factor-6 Particle Accelerator, resulting in loss of a further 1,470 tons of fuel and 12 weapons hits, which degraded its Particle Accelerator to Factor-B


THIRD TURN

The Imperial Lee, Mandela and Luther-King continued to screen the crippled Beauregard, whilst the Solomani Shovell continued to screen the crippled Harrison.

Solomani initiative. Long range.

The Solomani continued to divide their fire as before, whilst the Imperial ships again had just the one target.

The Shovell was hit by a factor-T meson gun, a factor-H particle accelerator and 14 nuclear missiles. It suffered 6 critical hits which destroyed its bridge, computer, power plant and jump drive. Its fuel tanks were shattered, its nuclear damper and meson screen were both reduced in efficiency by 3 factors, its entire crew was killed and it suffered 9 weapon hits of varying severity.

The Lee was hit by a factor-H meson gun. It suffered 2 critical hits which disabled its M drive and destroyed its hangars and boat deck. Its J-drive was reduced by 2 factors and its power plant by 6 factors. Its meson screen was rendered impotent and its nuclear damper reduced to factor-3. Its crew was reduced to factor-1, its fuel tanks were shattered and it suffered two weapon hits, one of which reduced its meson gun to factor-P.

The Luther-King was hit by 21 conventional missiles and a factor-4 Particle Accelerator, causing the loss of 735 tons of fuel and 18 weapon hits, which divided 3 on each weapon type with a fourth to each of the energy weapons, sandcasters and missiles.



After three turns, the battle was over. All four dreadnoughts were totally disables. The two Ghalalk class cruisers remained in the line, with the Luther-King reduced to little more than a missile-hurler.

The cruisers survived, not because they were more "survivable", but because no major spinal weapons were ever turned on them.

Had it been the Solomani, rather than the Imperium, which scored the sole first turn meson hit, the cruisers would probably have been torn apart by Solomani meson fire in fairly short order.

 

[Amber Chancer]

SECOND ENGAGEMENT: HG2 rules modified as above

FIRST TURN

All ships in line. Solomani initiative. Long range.

As before, the Imperial squadron divided its meson fire between the two Solomani dreadnoughts, whilst concentrating everything else on the Shovell; and the Solomani divided their meson fire between the Beauregard and the Lee, whilst concentrating everything else on the Luther-King.

The Shovell was hit by a factor-H Particle Accelerator and 20 nuclear missiles, causing loss of 4,800 tons of fuel and a total of 21 weapon hits which, between them, reduced the Shovell's meson gun to factor-N.

The Beauregard was hit by a factor-N meson gun which destroyed its hangars and boat deck, reduced the power Plant factor by 2, reduced both the meson screen and the nuclear damper by 3 points, inflicted 1 crew hit and caused 7 weapon hits, including a 4-point hit which reduced the spinal meson gun to factor-P.

The crew hit meant that, because the Beauregard lacked a frozen watch, it was effectively out of the action; but it was still in fighting trim (albeit with reduced potency) in all other respects.

The Luther-King was hit by 32 conventional missiles, causing a loss of 2,205 tons of fuel and 21 weapon hits which were divided 4 to each weapon system and a fifth to the Particle Accelerator, which was thus reduced to factor-C.


SECOND TURN

The Imperial squadron put the Beauregard in reserve, with the Lee, Mandela and Luther-King in line to screen it. The Solomani kept both of their dreadnoughts in the line.

Imperial Initiative. Long range.

The Beauregard used its emergency agility and declared that it would be breaking off by acceleration. At an effective agility of 7, it was bound to escape to fight another day, once the lost crew had been replaced and other systems repaired.

The Solomani fired on the Lee with the Harrison's factor-N meson gun; on the Mandela with the Shovell's reduced factor-K meson gun; and on the Luther-King with everything else.

The Imperial squadron fired all its missiles at the Shovell, and all its spinal weaponry at the Harrison.

The Mandela was hit by a factor-K meson gun which caused a 1 point hit to its J-drive, a 2-poitn hit to its power plant, a 1-poitn hit to its computer, a crew hit, 2 points of damage to each of its screens, and 3 weapon hits which included a 4-point hit to its Particle Accelerator, reducing it to factor-D. As with the Beauregard, if there had been a frozen watch it would have been possible to retire the ship to reserve, revive the frozen watch, and return the Mandela to the line to continue fighting. However, with no frozen watch to revive, the cruiser was now effectively out of action.

The Luther-King was hit by 42 conventional HE missiles, a factor-9 Particle Accelerator, and a factor-9 beam laser battery, causing it to lose 3,675 tons of fuel and inflicting a further 27 weapon hits which were divided 5 to each weapon system, with the additional 2 hits allocated to the missiles and lasers. These hits effectively reduced the Luther-King to a missile flinger, and were beginning to reduce its ability to do that, too.

The Shovell was hit by 12 nuclear missiles which caused it to lose 960 tons of fuel and inflicted 4 weapon hits, which were taken by the sandcasters, repulsors, meson gun and missiles.

The Harrison was hit by a factor-H Particle Accelerator, which caused it to lose 2,880 tons of fuel, and inflicted 9 weapon hits, including a 2-point hit on the spinal meson gun.


THIRD TURN.

The Imperial Lee and Luther-King formed the battle line, screening the damaged Mandela. Both Solomani dreadnoughts remained in the battle line.

Solomani initiative. Short Range.

The Imperial commander announced that the Mandela would break off by jumping at the end of the turn.

The Imperial ships threw all their missiles at the Shovell, and turned the Lee's spinal meson gun on the Harrison.

The Solomani fired their spinal meson guns at the Lee, and everything else they had at the Luther-King.

The Shovell was hit by 7 nuclear missiles which only caused 2 weapon hits, taken by the Particle Accelerator and lasers.

The Harrison was hit by a factor T meson gun. This caused a critical hit which disabled the M-drive as well as causing 1 point of damage to each of the J-drive, power plant and computer, 2 points of damage to each of the ship's screens, a crew hit and 12 weapons hits, the largest of which was a 3-point hit which reduced the Harrison's meson gun to factor-H.

The Lee was hit by a factor-J meson gun and a factor-L meson gun. It suffered 2 points of damage to its J-drive, 4 points of damage to its power plant, 4 points of damage to its computer, 2 hits to its crew, its meson screen was reduced to factor-0 and its nuclear damper to factor-3, its hangars and boat deck were destroyed and it suffered a total of 7 weapon hits which saw its meson gun reduced to factor-Q.

The Luther-King was hit by 34 conventional HE missiles, causing it to lose 2,450 tons of fuel and inflicting a further 21 weapon hits, reducing it to just 19 functional missile bays and no other weaponry whatever.

The Imperial squadron was in a bad way; but its line wasn't broken, and the Mandela was able to jump to safety.


FOURTH TURN

The plucky Luther-King stood alone in the line, screening the damaged Lee. The Shovell stood against it, screening the Harrison while it revived its Frozen Watch.

Solomani initiative. Short range.

The Imperial player announced that both of his ships would be breaking off by jumping at the end of the turn.

Both sides had only one target, and they threw everything they had at it.

The Shovell was hit by a single nuclear missile, causing 1 weapon his which was taken by the sandcasters.

The Luther-King was saved by its meson screen from a hit by the Shovell's factor-J meson gun, but it was hit by 17 conventional HE missiles. These cuased it to lose a further 490 tons of fuel and inflicted a further 15 weapon hits, reducing it to just 4 functional missile bays.

The Imperial line held - just - and the Solomani did not get a chance to fire on the stricken Lee before it could jump.

Both Imperial ships jumped safe, albeit in very sorry condition.


CONCLUSION: Inevitably, with such a small action and only two large meson guns on each side, the outcome of the engagement is going to be more or less entirely dependent upon who scores the first big meson hit. This time it was the Solomani rather than the Imperium, and the action went the other way.

However, what is important is not who won or lost, but what happened when they did.

In the first engagement, both of the Solomani dreadnoughts suffered complete mission kill (along with the two Imperial dreadnoughts). In the second engagement, all four of the Imperial ships successfully broke off and escaped, albeit with varying amounts of damage. (Had the Luther-King's meson screen not saved it from a fourth-turn meson hit, however, it is doubtful whether either it or the Lee would have escaped ...)

The rule that only one hit can be scored on each system by any one weapon strike does much to alleviate the viciousness of Meson hits. The rule that the meson screen acts as a DM for damage rolls following a Meson hit also helps. They're still nasty - but they are very far from guaranteed mission kill. Ships with a Frozen Watch can survive them, and return to the line, albeit at reduced effectiveness.

The rule that armour does not reduce the number of hits scored by spinal weapons means that spinal particle accelerators are now useful weapons for burning off your enemy's weapon systems and wearing them down by attrition; but the rule that no system may suffer more than one hit from any one weapon strike means that there is still a place for those massed missile batteries.

I still want to test this suite of fixes in a variety of other situations - but I think that they represent a vast improvement.

I'd be grateful for some combat reports from some other players who have tried them, and feedback on whether or not they think it represents an improvement on standard HG2.

 

[Amber Chancer]

The time has come to play-test this on a much larger scale. And that means a clash between two Trillion Credit Squadrons. I decided that they must all be J-4 capable, and I assembled the following Imperial squadron from Supplement 9 designs:

5 x Plankwell @ MCr 120,494 = MCr 602, 470
5 x Atlantic @ MCr 47,504.71 = MCr 237,723.55
5 x Ghalalk @ MCr 27,927.88 = MCr 139,639.4
6 x P. F. Sloan @ MCr 3,334.526 = MCr 20,007.156

TOTAL COST OF SQUADRON: MCr 999,840.1

I was pretty pleased with that pricing. But then I designed my Solomani squadron to oppose it. I designed a BB-Me, a CA-P, a CL-Mi, a DD and a 1.3 KT boarding ship. And then I assembled the following squadron:

4 x BB-Me @ MCr 146,815.92 = MCr 587,263.68
8 x CA-P @ MCr 39,613.008 = MCr 316,904.06
8 x CL-Mi @ MCr 10,893.048 = MCr 87,144.384
6 x DD @ MCr 1,338.64 = MCr 8,031.84
1 x Boarding Ship @ MCr 655.52 = MCr 655.52

TOTAL COST OF SQUADRON: MCr 999,999.484

Now THAT'S what I call designing to budget!!!

Details of the Solomani ship designs follow. I have not yet fought the engagement. When I have done so I shall report back - but I shall only fight it with the "fixed" rules.

 

[Amber Chancer]

Solomani TL15 J-4 200KT BB-Me

Hull: 200,000 tons, Needle/Wedge configuration
Performance: J-4; 6G; PP-8; 16,000 EP; Agility 6
Fuel Treatment: Integral fuel scoops & on-board purification plant
Electronics: Model/9 fib computer
Hardpoints: Spinal weapons mount; one 100-ton bay; forty six 50-ton bays; 461 hardpoints
Armament: Spinal meson gun (Factor-N); one 100-ton particle accelerator bay; forty five 50 ton missile bays; 10 triple beam laser turrets organized as 1 battery; 1 single fusion gun turret organized as 1 battery
Defences: Armoured hull (factor-E); Meson screen (factor-7); Nnuclear Damper (factor-9); one 50-ton Repulsor bay; 450 triple sandcaster turrets organized as 45 batteries
Craft: none
Crew: 183 Officers, 1,086 ratings. Marines 33 Offocers, 297 troops. Dual occupancy throughout save for captain, 3 section heads and Marines CO. Frozen Watch of 800
Cost: MCr 183,519.9 singly; MCr 146,815.92 in quantity



Solomani TL15 J4 60KT CA-P

Hull: 60,00 tons, Needle/Ewdge configuration
Performance: J-4; 6G; PP-9; 5,400 EP; Agility 6
Fuel Treatment: Integral fuel scoops and on-board purification plant
Elecronics: model/9 fib computer
Hardpoints: Spinal weapons mount; eight 50-ton bays; 82 hardpoints
Armament: Spinal mount Particle Accelerator (factor-P); six 50-ton missile bays; 20 triple beam laser turrets organized as 2 batteries; 2 double fusion gun turrets organized as 1 battery
Defences: Armoured hull (factor-9); Meson Screen (factor-6); Nuclear Damper (factor-9); two 50-ton Repulsor bays; 60 triple sandcaster turrets organized as 6 batteries
Craft: none
Crew: 57 Officers, 337 Ratings. marines 15 Officers, 135 troops. Frozen Watch of 272
Cost: MCr 49,516.26 single; MCr 39,613.008 in quantity




Solomani TL15 J4 15 KT CL-Mi

Hull: 15,000 tons Needle/Wedge configuration
Performance: J-4; 6G; PP-7; 1,050 EP; Agility 6
Fuel Treatment: Integral fuel scoops and on-board purification plant
Electronics: Model/9fib computer
Hardpoints: eleven 50-ton bays; 34 hardpoints
Armament: ten 50-ton missile bays; 14 triple beam laser turrets organized as 2 batteries
Defences: Armoured hull (factor-E); nuclear Damper (factor-9); one 50-ton Repulsor bay; 20 triple sandcaster turrets organized as 2 batteries
Craft: none
Crew: 20 Officers, 110 ratings. Frozen Watch of 65
Cost: MCr 13,616.31 single; MCr 10,893.048 in quantity




Solomani TL15 J4 1.8KT DD-Mi

Hull: 1,800 tons Needle/Wedge configuration
Performance: J-4; 6G; PP-8; 144EP; Agility 6
Fuel Treatment: integral fuel scoops and on-board purification plant
Electronics: model/9 fib computer
Hardpoints: one 50-ton bay; 8 hardpoints
Armament: one 50-ton missile bay; 7 triple beam laser turrets organized as 1 battery; 1 single fusion gun turret organized as 1 battery
Defences: Armoured hull (factor-A)
Craft: none
Crew: 10 Officers, 17 ratings
Cost: MCr 1,672.58 singly; MCr 1,338.64 in quantity




Solomani TL15 J4 1.3 KT Boarding Ship

Hull: 1,300 tons, flattened sphere
Performance: J4; 6G; PP-7; 91EP; Agility 6
Fuel Treatment: integral fuel scoops and on-board purification plant
Electronics: Model/4 computer
Hardpoints: none
Armament: none
Defences: none
Craft: none
Crew: 9 Officers, 9 Ratings. Marines 12 Officers, 102 troops.
Cost: MCr 819.4 single; MCr 655.52 in quantity

 

[SpaceBadger]

I have not played any fleet battles by any version of HG, so cannot really comment on your fixes or results, but wanted to thank you for taking the time to post this, and especially the AARs and analysis. I'm sure if the time comes when I need to consider these, I'll be checking this from my bookmarked threads.

 

[Amber Chancer]

Many thanks for that, SB.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who is interested in what I have to say :rofl:

 

[Citizen Lefty]

Many thanks for that, SB.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who is interested in what I have to say :rofl:

I'm a nobody on this board - just another old Traveller fan rediscovering a love of the game after almost 30 years away - but I love your recent posts regarding your HG rule tweaks and how they've fared in actual playtesting. Given that I am still re-reading and digesting all the core CT rules and haven't even done more than glance at HG2 since probably 1986 or so, I haven't so much as designed a single ship let alone playtested a squadron skirmish like this. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and all the details of the battles that went into them.

 

[Carlobrand]

Enough people have suggested the "meson screen acts like armor" idea that it would be a very good idea to enshrine it in errata as a canon fix.

Nice analysis.

 

[Amber Chancer]

Combat Report: Trillion Credit Squadron engagement, using the rule fixes discussed above. First round of action.

The Imperial squadron comprised the Plankwell class Dreadnoughts Potemkin, Perry, Halsey, Spruance and Naismith; the Altantic class cruisers Kara, Adriatic, Baltic, Biscay and Tranquility; the Ghalalk class cruisers Norseman, Hussar, Lancer, Hoplite and Legionary; and the P. F. Sloan class escorts Davy Jones, Marco Polo, Martin Frobisher, Francis Drake, Richard Grenville and Fletcher Christian.

The Solomani squadron comprised the Meson Battleships Thunderer, Terrible, Superb and Armageddon; the Particle Accelerator Cruisers Firestorm, Lightning, Typhoon, Tornado, Tsunami, Mistral, Gregale and Whirlwind; the Missile Light Cruisers Courageous, Intrepid, Daring, Pioneer, Forceful, Insistent, Assertive and Endurance; the Destroyers Banshee, Valkyrie, Reaper, Siren, Argonaut and Calypso; and the Boarding Ship Fagin

The Imperial attack appeared, on paper, by far the more impressive, consisting of 5 x factor-T Meson Guns, 5 x factor-N Meson Guns, 5 x factor-H Particle Accelerators, 25 x factor-9 Particle Accelerators, 130 x factor-7 Particle Accelerators, 552 x factor-9 missiles, 153 x factor-9 beam lasers, 5 x factor-9 energy weapons and 50 x factor-6 energy weapons.

Against this the Solomani deployed 4 x factor-N Meson Guns, 8 x Factor-P Particle Accelerators, 4 x factor-9 Particle Accelerators, 242 x factor-9 missiles, 20 x factor-9 beam lasers, 22 x factor-8 beam lasers, 8 x factor-6 energy weapons and 10 x factor-5 energy weapons.

The Imperium clearly had a heavy gunnery advantage, therefore; but it came at a cost. The Solomani ships were all agility-6, whereas the only agility-6 Imperial ships were the P.F Sloans; all the rest were agility-5. The Solomani ships enjoyed heavier armour protection, and better meson screening, too. They were also all needle/wedge design, conferring additional survivability against meson weaponry.

In the first turn, the only battlefield intelligence either side had was the size order of the ships in the opposing line.

All ships on both squadrons were in line of battle, except for the Solomani Boarding Ship Fagin.

With the Solomani having the faster fleet, and the greater number of ships in the line of battle, it was perhaps unsurprising that the Solomani won the initiative roll; but as this was the first turn of action, the range had to be long.

The Imperium concentrated the fire of their spinal weapons on the largest of the Solomani ships, but ensured that their secondary armament was divided so that every ship in the Solomani line was fired upon, with the unfortunate consequence that the secondary Particle Accelerator fire was all wasted against the heavily-armoured Missile Light Cruisers, which it was unable to harm.

The Solomani, by contrast, having concerntrated their spinal weaponry on the larger ships in the Imperial line, concentrated their secondary armament on the next couple of ships in line, leaving all of the P.F. Sloan class unfired upon.

The Imperial meson attack was divided between the ten largest ships of the Solomani line; but not a single meson gun scored a hit and penetrated both the target's meson screen and its configuration (although the Spruance, firing on the Armageddon, failed to score a hit only because it rolled a 2 to penetrate the Armageddon's configuration).

The Spinal Particle Accelerator attack of the Ghalalks fell on the cruisers Gregale and Whirlwind, and the Light Cruisers Courageous, Intrepid and Daring. Only the Cruisers were hit. Gregale lost 882 tons of fuel and suffered 15 weapon hits which reduced its Particle Accelerator to factor-M and its missiles to a single functional battery. Whirlwind suffered a M-drive hit, lost 1,176 tons of fuel and suffered 10 weapon hits, reducing its Particle Accelerator to Factor-L and its missile attack to 4 functioning batteries.

The Imperial missile attack fell on the ships at the smaller end of the line - where there were least likely to be Nuclear Dampers. Three of the Light Cruisers, and all of the Destroyers, came under heavy missile attack.

Insistent was hit by 4 nuclear missiles, causing a loss of 71 tons of fuel and 3 weapon hits. Assertive was also hit by 4 nuclear missiles, causing a loss of 71 tons of fuel and 2 weapon hits. Endurance was hit by 5 nuclear missiles, causing 2 weapon hits.

Banshee was hit by 17 nuclear missiles, causing the loss of 35 tons of fuel, and 16 weapon hits which took out its fusion guns altogether and reduced both its missiles and lasers to factor-3.

Valkyrie was hit by 18 nuclear missiles which caused 2 hits to its M-drive, the loss of 78 tons of fuel and 13 weapon hits.

Reaper was hit by 18 nuclear missiles, causing the loss of 61 tons of fuel and 17 weapon hits.

Siren was hit by 16 nuclear missiles, causing two M-drive hits, the loss of 44 tons of fuel and 15 weapon hits.

Argonaut was hit by 17 nuclear missiles, causing 1 M-drive hit, loss of 35 tons of fuel and 19 weapon hits.

Calypso was hit by 17 nuclear missiles, causing loss of 44 tons of fuel and 16 weapon hits.

All in all, the Solomani squadron suffered very little appreciable damage in the first turn of the action. The Destroyers were a spent force; but they had always been there as little more than a makeweight in any event. The loss of their 6 missile batteries did not blunt the overall Solomani attack to any appreciable degree.


On the Imperial side of the battle, it was a different story altogether. Of the five Plankwell class Dreadnoughts, the Perry, Halsey and Spruance were all hit by factor-N meson guns.

Perry suffered 2-point hits to its J-drive, PP and computer, a crew hit, a 4-poitn hit to its spinal mount and one further weapon hit.

Halsey suffered 2-point hits to its J-drive and PP, its hangars and boat deck were destroyed, its crew suffered a hit, it suffered a 4-point hit to its spinal mount and 5 other weapon hits.

Spruance was the worst damaged of the three. It suffered a 3-point hit to its meson screen which disabled it totally; 2-point hits to its J-drive, PP, computer and nuclear damper; a crew hit; and a 4-point hit to its Meson Gun.

All three dreadnoughts were out of the action, as all had suffered crew hits, and none carried a frozen watch. Had they carried frozen watches, then it need only have been the Spruance which retired permanently from the engagement, as its damaged computer and disabled meson screen would have made it exceedingly vulnerable to further meson fire.

The Naismith, Kara, Adriatic, Baltic, Tranquility, Norseman and Hussar were all hit by Factor-P Particle Accelerators.

Naismith lost 2,880 tons of fuel, suffered a 3-point hit to its Meson Gun, and 21 other weapon wits.

Kara suffered a M-drive hit, lost 1,470 tons of fuel, suffered a 3-point hit to its Meson Gun and a further 21 weapon hits.

Adriatic lost 1,103 tons of fuel, suffered a 2-point hit to its Meson Gun and a further 23 weapon hits.

Baltic suffered a M-drive hit, lost 1,838 tons of fuel, suffered a 2-point hit to its Meson Gun and a further 20 weapon hits.

Tranquility lost 1,838 tons of fuel, suffered a 3-point hit to its Meson Gun, and suffered a further 21 weapon hits.

Norseman suffered a M-drive hit, a crew hit, lost 3,185 tons of fuel, took a 4-point hit to its spinal Particle Accelerator, a 4-point hit to its fusion guns, and a further 5 weapon hits.

Hussar suffered a M-drive hit and a crew hit, lost 1,960 tons of fuel, suffered a 4-point hit to its spinal Particle Accelerator, a 3-point hit to its fusion guns, and a tool further 14 weapon hits.

Lancer was hit by 29 nuclear missiles, which completely disabled its M-drive, caused a loss of 3,185 tons of fuel, inflicted a 3-point hit on its spinal Particle Accelerator and caused a further 34 weapon hits, which reduced it to just 13 functioning missile bays.

Hoplite was hit by 8 factor-9 beam lasers and 8 factor-8 beam lasers, causing a loss of 245 tons of fuel and 6 weapon hits.

The damage inflicted on the Imperial squadron was significant. 3 of the Plankwells (Perry, Halsey and Spruance) and 3 of the Ghalalks (Norseman, Hussar and Lancer) were effectively out of action for the rest of the battle. To a certain extent this was due to lucky rolling by the Solomani; but to a far greater extent, it was a reflection of the inadequacies of the Meson Screen on the Plankwells, and the armour protection on the Ghalalks. The Atlantcs, which had better screens than the Plankwells and better armour than the Ghalalks, had taken a battering; but all five were fit to stay in line.

 

[Amber Chancer]

Second turn.

The Imperial line now consisted of the Plankwells Potemkin and Naismith; the Atlantics Kara, Adriatic, Baltic, Biscay and Tranquility; the Ghalalks Hoplite and Legionary, and the six P. F. Sloans Davy Jones, Marco Polo, Martin Frobisher, Francis Drake, Richard Grenville and Fletcher Christian.

The Imperial reserve consisted of the Perry, Halsey, Spruance, Norseman, Hussar and Lancer

I ruled that crew from the Lancer could transfer to the Norseman in a "friendly boarding action" in order to return the Norseman to action, given that they were both of the same class and the Lancer's crew was intact.

The Solomani line consisted of the Meson Battleships Thunderer, Terrible, Superb and Armageddon; the Particle Accelerator Cruisers Firestorm, Lightning, Typhoon, Tornade, Tsunami, Mistral, Gregale and Whirlwind; and the Missile Light Cruisers Courageous, Intrepid, Daring, Pioneer, Forceful, Insistent, Assertive and Endurance

The Solomani reserve consisted of the Destroyers Banshee, Valkyrie, Reaper, Siren, Argonaut and Calypso, and the Boarding Ship Fagin.

It was announced that the Perry, Halsey, Spruance, Hussar and all of the Solomani Destroyers would attempt to break off by jumping at the end of the turn.

Although the Imperial squadron had fewer ships in line and was the slower fleet, they nevertheless won the initiative (rolling a 4 to the Solomani 1) and closed to short range.

Now it was the Solomani who spread their fire through the whole of the opposing squadron, whilst the Imperial squadron concentrated its fire on the largest of the opposing vessels.

The Potemkin was targeted by Thunderer's factor-N meson gun, Tsunami's factor-P Particle Accelerator and Gregale's factor-M Particle Accelerator.

The Naismith was targeted by the Terrible's factor-N meson gun, the Mistral's factor-P Particle Accelerator and the Whirlwind's factor-L Particle Accelerator.

The Kara was targeted by the Superb's factor-N meson gun; the Adriatic by the Armageddon's factor-N meson gun; the Baltic by the Firestom's factor-P Particle Accelerator; the Biscay by the Lightning's factor-P Particle Accelerator; the Tranquility by the Typhoon's factor-P Particle Accelerator; and the Hoplite by the Tornado's factor-P Particle Accelerator. The Legionary was targeted by the whole of the Solomani squadron's secondary armament apart from its missiles: 4 factor-9 Particle Accelerators; 16 factor-9 beam lasers; 14 factor-8 beam lasers; 6 factor-6 energy weapons; 4 factor-5 energy weapons and 2 factor-4 energy weapons. Each of the P.F. Sloans was treated to 38 factor-9 Nuclear Missile salvoes.

In reply, the Imperial squadron fired the Potemkin's factor-T meson gun at the Thunderer; the Naismith's factor-Q meson gun and the Baltic's factor-N meson gun at the Terrible; the Biscay's factor-N meson gun and the Kara's factor-K meson gun at the Superb; the Adriatic's factor-L meson gun and the Tranquility's factor-K meson gun at the Armageddon; the Hoplite's factor-G Particle Accelerator at the Firestorm; the Legionary's factor-H Particle Accelerator at the Lightning; 300 factor-9 nuclear missile salvoes at the Typhoon, and the balance of its secondary armament (comprising 8 factor-9 Particle Accelerators; 53 factor-7 Particle Accelerators; 118 factor-9 beam lasers; 1 factor-9 energy weapon; 1 factor-8 energy weapon and 20 factor-6 energy weapons) at the Tornado.

The Potemkin was hit by a factor-P Particle Accelerator and a factor-M Particle Accelerator. It suffered 1 M-drive hit, lost 11,520 tons of fuel, suffered 4 points of damage to its spinal meson gun and took a further 34 weapon hits.

The Naismith was hit by a factor-N meson gun, a factor-P particle accelerator and a factor-N particle accelerator. It suffered 1 J-drive hit, 1 M-drive hit, a 2-point power plant hit, a computer hit, a crew hit, a 3 point hit to each of its screens, 9 points of damage to its meson gun (reducing it to factor-F), 41 further weapon hits, and lost 5,760 tons of fuel.

The Kara was hit by a factor-N meson gun. It suffered a J-drive hit, a power plant hit, a computer hit, 2 points of damage to each of its screens, a 3-point hit to its meson gun (reducing it to factor-G) and seven further weapon hits.

The Adriatic was hit by a factor-N meson gun. It suffered a 2-point J-drive hit, a power plant hit, a computer hit, a 2 point hit to its meson screen, a 1-point hit to its Nuclear Damper, a 4-point hit to its meson gun (reducing it to factor-G) and 7 other weapon hits.

The Biscay was hit by a factor-P Particle Accelerator. It suffered a M-drive hit, lost 2,205 tons of fuel, sustained a 2-point hit to its meson gun (reducing it to factor-L) and suffered a further 17 weapon hits.

The Tranquility was hit by a factor-P Particle Accelerator. It lost 2,205 tons of fuel, sustained a 3-point hit to its meson gun (which was reduced to factor-G) and suffered a further 23 weapon hits.

The Hoplite was hit by a factor-P Particle Accelerator. It suffered a M-drive hit, lost 1,470 tons of fuel, sustained a 4-point hit to its Particle Accelerator (reducing it to factor-C) and suffered a further 8 weapon hits.

The Legionary was hit by two factor-9 particle accelerators, 6 factor-9 beam lasers, 6 factor-8 beam lasers and 2 factor-6 energy weapons. It suffered a loss of 735 tons of fuel and 15 weapon hits.

Each of the 6 P.F. Sloans was hit by sufficient nuclear missiles to eliminate its entire offensive capability, as well as suffering a number of M-drive hits and sustaining some loss of fuel.

The Imperial squadron inflicted some damage on the Solomani force - but not a huge amount.

The Superb was hit by the Kara's factor-K meson gun. It suffered a J-drive hit, a power plant hit, a computer hit, a 2-point hit to each screen, a 3-point hit to its meson gun (reducing it to factor-K) and 6 further weapon hits.

The Firestorm was hit by the Hoplite's factor-G Particle Accelerator. It lost 882 tons of fuel, sustained a 3-point hit to its spinal Particle Accelerator, reducing it to factor-L, and suffered a further 10 weapon hits.

The Lightning was hit by the Legionary's factor-H Particle Accelerator. It lost 588 tons of fuel, sustained a 3-point hit to its spinal Particle Accelerator (reducing it to factor-L) and suffered 15 further weapon hits.

The Typhoon was hit by 20 Nuclear Missiles. It sustained 3 M-drive hits, lost 1,764 tons of fuel and suffered 17 weapon hits, which reduced its spinal Particle Accelerator to factor-L,

The Tornado was hit by 1 factor-9 Particle Accelerator, 9 factor-7 Particle Accelerators, 32 factor-9 beam lasers and 3 factor-6 energy weapons. It lost 1,470 tons of fuel and suffered 18 weapon hits, reducing its spinal Particle Accelerator to factor-L.

At the end of the turn the Perry, Halsey, Spruance and Hussar jumped clear from the Imperial reserve; and the Banshee, Valkyrie, Reaper, Siren, Argonaut and Calypso all jumped clear from the Solomani reserve.

With the crew transfer from the Lancer to the Norseman complete, Norseman was free to resume its place in the Imperial line.

 

[RockyMountainNavy]

3. Each weapon strike can only cause one hit to any one ship system (crew counts as a "ship system" for these purposes). If a number of hits are scored, apply the one that does the most damage and disregard the others.

Could you please explain "weapon strike?" Not sure what you mean by the term.

Thanks in advance!