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[USEC_OFFICER]

So you've shown us ship-to-ship combat, how will ship-to-planet combat work?

In exactly the same way, though planetary installations will have a high defence to counteract their static nature. If you're specifically talking about invading an actual planet, that'll could happen as a result of a mission, as a kind of epilogue.

Also, will we have boarding parties? I really like the idea of being able to board another person's ship, especially if we can have an actual floorplan of the ship, the only video game I've played that did this well was FTL, and thier ships are really to small for my liking, and with too few people involved.

Boarding parties will be in the game, but it'll be heavily abstracted and not follow in the footsteps of FTL, highly temping though it may be.

I know you've said that our ships will be premade, but will we eventually, after you've gotten a better feel for this, possibly let us design our own ships?

Oh, speaking of which, although we will have stock ships, can we make minor modifications to them? Nothing major, just slight tweaking.

If people are interested I'll probably allow you all to design some ships, since you probably will get a better feel for what works and doesn't work than me. In some scenarios you'll be able to tweak the stock ships a bit, mostly depending on the background/story of that mission. For instance, one mission will involve combat between a partly destroyed fleet and their pursuers. Obviously the damaged fleet will have the option of repairing the damaged ships, or salvage their parts to distribute among the other ships. Things like that.

Additionally I've been toying with a more RPG-style game based on these rules. If that ever gets off the ground, large options for customization and designing will definitively be possible.

Also could you show us some examples of the ships you've got written up? I know you'll most likely want to keep most of them a secret for when the two sides branch off when the game starts, but could we see, maybe, a low-ranking ship? Or a generic pirate vessel?

If you give me five minutes to post the threads, I can get the first mission started and you can take a gander at some of the ships.

I'll give it a try

Perfect. You'll be fighting for the Union in the upcoming scenario, since they start with more ships than the USEC.

[USEC_OFFICER]

Scenario 1

April 21st - 4213

For the past several week the USEC First Norma Fleet and the Union First Norma Battle Group have been heading on a collision course. While the actual battle between these two fleets is still five days away, their scouting forces have just met. While incredibly minor, the skirmishes these forces fight will help forge the careers of later commanders and legends.

Admiraal-van-die-Vloot Darkuk Voncourse is in command of the USEC forces. His critics call him a 'jumped up drillmaster', referencing how his superiors were all dismissed for incompetence and corruption early on in the war. While he would be quickly overshadowed by later, more daring leaders in the war, Darkuk's contribution to the war in its early stages should not be overlooked. His determination and stubbornness denied the manufacturing facilities in the Norma arm to the Union, which would have greatly strengthened their position.

Captain General Adrew Hamck is one of the many USEC veterans who joined the Union to combat the corruption deep in the USEC's heart. While an excellent commander, Adrew was hampered by the frequent in-fighting among his crew, as well as distrust from his superiors due to his background before the war. Despite his best efforts, Adrew was unable to break the stalemate in the Norma arm, leading to his dismissal in 4214. Adrew, along many other USEC veterans serving the Union, grew disillusioned and retired to the planet of Nuvo Tourita, eventually overseeing its surrender to USEC forces later on in the war.

This skirmish takes place in the Norma-27294 system, its resources long stripped out by the Westar Intergalatic, and its planets too unsuitable for habitation. Only the skirmish that took place there earns it a footnote in the pages of history. The USEC and Union forces that fought here were roughly equal, making it a good introduction for new commanders. The system contains only is red dwarf star and two small, rocky planets, forming an uncomplicated if dull battlefield.

***ORDERS***

As both fleets are on scouting duties, the orders on both sides are the same, to inflict maximum damage on the enemy while minimizing losses to your own. The side that has lost the largest percentage of integrity points will lose. The use of hyperdrives to save damaged ships is recommended, but pulling the entire fleet out as soon as you pull ahead is not encouraged. This first mission is primarily a training exercise, after all.

Since nobody has picked a specific side they want, the commanders for both sides have been randomly decided.

Lenglon, Doomblade187 and GreatWyrmGold will be commanding the USEC forces for this scenario. The USEC Orders thread can be found here.

Persus13, mastahcheese, +!!scientist!!+ and scapheap will be in charge of the Union forces for this scenario. The Union Orders thread can be found here.

Best of luck to both sides.

[mastahcheese]

Thanks for all those answers! I'll be shipping out to the Union thread, then.

[Radio Controlled]

I wonder how important 'real life' things like scouting ahead, position play and traps will weigh against the strategy that is common to these types of games, namely 'clump together in a big pile for maximum usable firepower, while letting the most armored ones in front to minimize damage taken'. Mines could play into this, though I'm not entirely sure how they are employed yet.

Question, is there any sort of mechanic involving the flanking of ships? Or are all the vessels armored equally in the front and back?

[USEC_OFFICER]

Thanks for all those answers! I'll be shipping out to the Union thread, then.

No problem. It's what I'm here for.

I wonder how important 'real life' things like scouting ahead, position play and traps will weigh against the strategy that is common to these types of games, namely 'clump together in a big pile for maximum usable firepower, while letting the most armored ones in front to minimize damage taken'.

Hmm... Yeah... I've been thinking about having mines/torpedoes hit multiple/all the ships in a stack, to prevent clumping. Or at the very least, having the clumps surrounded by screens of other ships. We'll see how the first scenario goes, and then I'll make the adjustments.

Question, is there any sort of mechanic involving the flanking of ships? Or are all the vessels armored equally in the front and back?

Later ships will have various extras that increase their defence when attacked from a certain angle, but for now Defence is the same no matter where the enemy attacks from.

Mines could play into this, though I'm not entirely sure how they are employed yet.

After combat is resolved, but before acceleration is factored in, a ship can deploy a mine/torpedo. The mine/torpedo is placed on the same hex as the ship, has the same initial acceleration as its launcher, and gets a free point of acceleration from being launched. Therefore if you want to deploy mines (or torpedoes!) so that they stay stationary in a hex, the launching ship has to have no more than one acceleration (which can be cancelled out). Otherwise the mines would shoot off into space, which would allow them to shot at enemy vessels. Really, the only difference between torpedoes and mines is that torpedoes can change their course after being launched, while mines cannot.

Does that help a little?

[Radio Controlled]

Why yes, yes it does.

However, and sorry for criticizing before the first turn is even up, what's the point of having mines if they're just unmanouverable torpedoes? I thought they would have some sort of stealth aspect to them, like having to roll to detect them, or only detectable from 3 hexes, or only scout ships being able to detect them. Not saying you shouldn't do it like this, but mines being shitty torpedoes feels kinda redundant. Still, really looking forward to watching this!


One last question though (for now, heh): what, on mission like this one, where there is no clear attacker/defender, would you do if both sides bunker up somewhere? Because often, the defending side has a big advantage. Just wondering really.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Presumably, mines are cheaper.

[USEC_OFFICER]

However, and sorry for criticizing before the first turn is even up, what's the point of having mines if they're just unmanouverable torpedoes? I thought they would have some sort of stealth aspect to them, like having to roll to detect them, or only detectable from 3 hexes, or only scout ships being able to detect them. Not saying you shouldn't do it like this, but mines being shitty torpedoes feels kinda redundant.

Yes, mines are shitter, but they're also cheaper and more plentiful than torpedoes. Plus it's still early in the war, after all. Later versions will definitively have more features and extras. Who knows what those eggheads will come up with.

One last question though (for now, heh): what, on mission like this one, where there is no clear attacker/defender, would you do if both sides bunker up somewhere? Because often, the defending side has a big advantage. Just wondering really.

I'd probably yell at both sides to hurry up and attack, and eventually end the scenario in disgust if they keep camping.

[mastahcheese]

One last question though (for now, heh): what, on mission like this one, where there is no clear attacker/defender, would you do if both sides bunker up somewhere? Because often, the defending side has a big advantage. Just wondering really.

I'd probably yell at both sides to hurry up and attack, and eventually end the scenario in disgust if they keep camping.

Well, don't worry, this is the blood-hungry Bay12 community, after all.

[USEC_OFFICER]

I'd appreciate it if we could get all the organizational stuff finished and ready by Monday. Just a head's up. If you're having any difficulties or problems, tell me about them so that they can be resolved and we can get playing!

[mastahcheese]

Woo! Can't wait for this to start.
Also, you may wish to change the OP where it has the Organization spoiler now that the thread has split off for the two sides, and post links instead for readers.

[Persus13]

Can you make a tiny sample battle turn so that we can better understand the mechanics? If possible.

[USEC_OFFICER]

Also, you may wish to change the OP where it has the Organization spoiler now that the thread has split off for the two sides, and post links instead for readers.

Done.

Can you make a tiny sample battle turn so that we can better understand the mechanics? If possible.

Sure thing. It'll be up tomorrow, hopefully at the same time as turn 0. I'll also be writing some background fluff as well, because why not?

[Nerjin]

Is it too late to In?

[USEC_OFFICER]

It's probably a bit too late, but if you haven't peeked into the Union thread yet you can always ask the USEC folks if you could command a few ships. Otherwise you'll have to wait for scenario 2, which hopefully won't be too far away.