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[NAV]

+1 vote for Hestr please.

[Strongpoint]

QS-UV-02 "Hestr" (2) strongpoint, Nav

[NAV]

I am also skeptical about how effective that tank will be against infantry since it lacks any auxiliary rapid fire weapons as far as I can tell. Either it shoots them with the main cannon, runs them over, or the crew shoots out the hatch with shitty plastic pistols.

[Strongpoint]

I am also skeptical about how effective that tank will be against infantry since it lacks any auxiliary rapid fire weapons as far as I can tell. Either it shoots them with the main cannon, runs them over, or the crew shoots out the hatch with shitty plastic pistols.

Modern tanks are dead against infantry unsupported. WW2 tanks were dead against infantry unsupported. This tank have additional problems of not having a dedicated anti-infantry weapon and having every enemy damned infantrymen armed with a weapon that can damage its armor.

I really prefer this tank on A, were it won't be swarmed by enemy infantry so much.

[Madman198237]

Yeah, but a true MG, according to NUKE, would have stepped up the difficulty.

Also, I did forget to even specify the inclusion of a Hayk, sorry. Regardless, the tank does fire 50mm high-explosives, and a railgun hit will demolish emplacements. The biggest thing, however, is that it gets our forces closer to the enemy. It can kill them at long range, they can't kill it.

OK, so, tanks vulnerable to infantrymen: No, no, no not really. In modern times the average infantry needs something like a Javelin or stationary ATGM-launcher to have serious effect against modern tanks, and even then the most advanced Western designs (i.e. the British Challenger or the most modern versions of the American Abrams) are generally not going to get outright destroyed no matter what you do to it (Especially the Challenger, those things are absolute beasts when it comes to soaking damage). They'll lose tracks and machinegun mounts and it might tank months to pound the dents out of the things, but you aren't actually going to kill the crew, and there are cases where the crew is still capable of fighting (From inside the vehicle) under ridiculous fire until the ammo runs out and the fuel tank runs dry.

In WWII, things were a bit different (Medium tanks weren't actually meant to bear the brunt of enemy fire, and HEAT rounds hurt non-composite armor schemes), but an infantryman with a Bazooka or, heaven forbid, the ridiculous British PIAT (Spring-powered antitank launcher), against a Tiger? Unpleasant, to say the least. Until we design a true APC we won't be the most mobile army, but if you've got armor (Which can also serve in the direct-fire artillery role) you can cover up a lot of problems.

QS-IU-02 'Stalker'
The Stalker Infantry Uniform combines a nearly form-fitting pressure suit/spacesuit with very light ceramic armor plates on the front of the torso. The plates can be almost-instantly dropped by yanking a release cord, which means the heat from a laser hit probably won't have time to bleed through. The helmet is built to be small and lightweight for comfort and ease of use, and is, regrettably, unarmored. It comes in many camouflage colors, but is primarily meant to increase the speed and combat capability of our infantry in the field.

This allows us to load up 3TC of tank into an ITC for use on D, and some new somewhat-armored uniforms (Will stop a center-of-mass laser hit, probably) to everyone.

Or we can do something more...interesting, like:
QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine'
A cut-down 30mm Hayk system, intended to reach Medium range at most, serving as an infantry grenade launcher, this system is used to deploy smokescreens (Or chaff-screens) using the same laser-dispersing smoke or chaff canisters (In a Hayk-rocket format) on the Hrungnir MBT. Can also fire high explosives like standard Hayk explosive rounds, but bigger.

EDIT: What's a person without conviction of their beliefs, anyway? Voted for the option with 100% more explosions.

QS-UV-02 "Hestr" (2) strongpoint, Nav
QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine': (1) Madman

[Jilladilla]

I'll be honest, I don't like the Hestr, I don't really see what exactly it brings to the table other than a lightly armored car, and then you say that they'll chew through our tank.. If it was dedicated to scouting, then I'd consider it more, but it's not, it's a civilian car with some ceramics and smoke launchers and a Hayk strapped on.
Anyway, infantry armor is probably best served with a design, although maybe not; either way, the 'Fog Machine' provides protection for our infantry with greater utility as well.

I will admit that I did strongly consider the Skathi though.

QS-UV-02 "Hestr" (2) strongpoint, Nav
QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine': (2) Madman, Jilladilla

[Maximum Spin]

QS-UV-02 "Hestr" (2) strongpoint, Nav
QS-GL-02 'Frog Machine': (3) Madman, Jilladilla, Maximum Spin

I agree with Lorf Jilladilla on most counts.

[Madman198237]

The only issue with the Skathi is that a coilgun and a rocket launcher (The two firing options on a Hrungnir) are not really suited to long-range fire, the coilgun's trajectory is too flat (And it's just generally too powerful) and the gun can't elevate far enough regardless, I suspect. It wasn't specified in the design.

[evilcherry]

QS-UV-02 "Hestr" (2) strongpoint, Nav
QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine': (4) Madman, Jilladilla, Maximum Spin, evilcherry

[Strongpoint]

I'll be honest, I don't like the Hestr, I don't really see what exactly it brings to the table other than a lightly armored car, and then you say that they'll chew through our tank.. If it was dedicated to scouting, then I'd consider it more, but it's not, it's a civilian car with some ceramics and smoke launchers and a Hayk strapped on.

It is an utility vehicle, aka boring but practical thing. Logistics, scouting, keeping infantry not too far behind tanks. Also, it is a revision to get a better fuel for internal combustion engines and future designs. I try to have some new useful tech in every revision

I don't care that their lasers can make a short work with Hestr it because it is made mostly for out of combat duties first, minor battlefield support second

I am sad, that we are going to not use GPP and transport capacity of one of ICTs...

Yeah, but a true MG, according to NUKE, would have stepped up the difficulty.

Yeah, that is why we should have waited few turns till we have more technologies and more experience in doing military vehicles.

OK, so, tanks vulnerable to infantrymen: No, no, no not really. In modern times the average infantry needs something like a Javelin or stationary ATGM-launcher to have serious effect against modern tanks, and even then the most advanced Western designs (i.e. the British Challenger or the most modern versions of the American Abrams) are generally not going to get outright destroyed no matter what you do to it (Especially the Challenger, those things are absolute beasts when it comes to soaking damage). They'll lose tracks and machinegun mounts and it might tank months to pound the dents out of the things, but you aren't actually going to kill the crew, and there are cases where the crew is still capable of fighting (From inside the vehicle) under ridiculous fire until the ammo runs out and the fuel tank runs dry.

Tell that to Iraqi army. Also, we haven't seen combat of American level tanks vs American level infantry for quite a while.

Also, imagine that every AK-47 would be able to damage armor and slowly chip it away. It is our situation here.

[SamSpeeds]

QS-UV-02 "Hestr" (2) strongpoint, Nav
QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine': (5) Madman, Jilladilla, Maximum Spin, evilcherry, SamSpeeds

[NUKE9.13]

QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine'
A cut-down 30mm Hayk system, intended to reach Medium range at most, serving as an infantry grenade launcher, this system is used to deploy smokescreens (Or chaff-screens) using the same laser-dispersing smoke or chaff canisters (In a Hayk-rocket format) on the Hrungnir MBT. Can also fire high explosives like standard Hayk explosive rounds, but bigger.

QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine' (Easy): (2+1)+1=4: Below Average
Could be worse. The Fog Machine is basically just an upsized Hayk with the barrel shortened. It gets slightly more interesting when it comes to ammunition; smoke/chaff, or explosives. It's just... we shortened the rockets as well as the barrel, which in hindsight might not have been the best idea. So its range is a bit disappointing. Forget about long range entirely- the rockets just don't have the necessary momentum. Even at medium range, accuracy suffers. And it's not exactly the weapon you want at short range.
Still, it works, and it gives our infantry a way to deliver a bigger punch when needed- provided they don't mind needing to take a few shots.
The Fog Machine is Cheap, and does not require any TC.


It is now the Tactics Phase of SY102.

Spoiler: Tech List (click to show/hide)

Ships
ITC (Interplanetary Transport Craft): The ships that carried colonists to your homeworld, now repurposed as military transports. They use rocket shuttles to ferry things to and from the surface. These shuttles have a limited capacity, meaning that with the exception of troops, the ITC cannot carry any equipment of a size greater than 1TC. It has 4TC. It uses chemical engines for propulsion. It has no armour or armaments. It is Very Slow, and quite large.
Cost: 2SPP
  QS-RAS-00 'Dove': A heavier shuttle for the ITC, powered by a Loki-class Stardust reactor and fitted with Apollo thrusters. It has light armour and two 30mm Hayks. Can carry 3TC. Adds 1SPP to the cost of an ITC.

QS-CA-99 'Odin': A heavily armoured medium-sized spaceship. Her hull is all slope, the front being a point, from which slopes lead up to the widest point, then slopes lead down at the same angle, before being cut off, leaving a large flat area in the back, where the main thrusters are. Aforementioned main thrusters are three Apollos. She has five smaller thrusters mounted pointing in other directions, providing excellent manoeuvrability. Her powerplant is a Stardust reactor. She is armed with four Mjolnir turrets providing excellent coverage, and a single spinal-mount extra-long Mjolnir. Her weapons are aimed by the Huginn System, which automatically collects data from her improved radar. Her armour consists of a layer of Heavy titanium with faraday insulation, with a layer of Light ceramics mounted a full three meters away from the main hull. Despite her bulk, she moves at a Moderate pace.
Cost: 3SPP

QS-SF-00 'Loki': A small-ish fighter, capable of independent operation for a few days before needing to resupply. A substantially downsized Stardust reactor provides power to the Apollo thrusters, as well as the singular Mjolnir coilgun. Has light armour, and a radio capable of same-orbit communication. Requires a transport to act as 'mothership'- two Lokis take up 1TC
Cost: 1SPP for two.

Equipment
Printed Pistol: Issued to security guards before the war, the only real weapon both colonies started with. They are 3D-printed out of plastic, a process which is not entirely reliable, meaning the gun has a tendency to break after prolonged use... or any use, really.
Cost: Cheap

X100 Space Suit: A civilian space suit, totally unarmoured and cumbersome to walk in. At least it works well enough, and has a self-sealing lining meaning a single shot isn't an immediate death sentence... most of the time. Necessary for deployment to worlds without breathable atmospheres.
Cost: Cheap

Interplanetary Radio: Essentially just a very big radio set, capable of reliable communication between planets. Too big to fit on an ITC. Currently only useful for taunting Ertex.
Cost: 2GPP
Weight: 2TC

QS-IRW-99 'Hayk': The Hayk is a micromissile-firing rifle. It is magazine fed, has a reasonable rate of fire, and is accurate at a surprising distance- theoretically out to Long range, although few are capable of such superhuman feats. There is an ammo variant which explodes on contact, though it is less accurate and in shorter supply.
Cost: Cheap

QS-GL-02 'Fog Machine': The Fog Machine is a simple grenade launcher, basically nothing more than an oversized Hayk with a shortened barrel. It fires either smoke/chaff or explosives. Range/accuracy is a bit of an issue.
Cost: Cheap

Vehicles
QS-MBT-02 'Hrungnir': The Hrungnir is a big tank, with fairly heavy armour in the form of a layer of ceramics atop a layer of titanium (all sloped). It is powered by a Stardust reactor, basically the same one used by the Loki. The energy is used to drive electric motors which in turn drive the treads upon which the Hrungnir sits. It is equipped with a 50mm stabilized auto-loading Mjolnir coilgun, the barrel of which can also be used to fire upsized explosive Hayk rockets. It has an electronics package that handles fire control and sensors. It also has smoke/chaff dispensers, which automatically cloud the vehicle in smoke/chaff (for atmosphereless planets) when sensors detect unusual heating.
Cost: 4GPP
Weight: 3TC


Infrastructure

Colony Defence Grid: The reason you can't instantly invade the enemy homeworld. A series of surface-to-orbit missile launchers, the only real concession to self defence the planners of the colony made. How they work is a mystery, and no one wants to risk taking them apart to find out.

QS-CPP-96 'Stardust': A fusion reactor, copies of which can be found across Quillus, powering industry. Utilises powerful niobium-tin superconductors, cooled by liquid helium, to contain plasma in a Tokamak-style. The "Brokkr's Forge" improvements have made it slightly more effective, to the point where it reaches ignition. Grants 2GPP and 2SPP. A smaller version designed for use in spaceships also exists.


Loose Parts
QS-MAC-97 'Mjolnir': A coilgun (and definitely not a railgun) capable of firing 150mm slugs at considerable speeds. Requires a substantial power supply. Ground installations cost 1GPP for four. Ship mountings cost 1SPP for  eight.

QS-MHD-98 'Apollo': A magneto-plasma-dynamic thruster of exceptional efficiency. Uses hydrogen plasma by default; heavier elements can be injected into the mix for a boost in thrust.


Misc Tech

QS-PMP-96 'Auto-Forge': A 3D-printer that prints using metal. Not astonishingly accurate, but QC weeds out any pieces that aren't of acceptable standards.

Spoiler: Observed enemy tech (click to show/hide)

Ships
ITC (Interplanetary Transport Craft): No differences noticed.

ESC-FS 1 'Cuttlefish' laser corvette: A medium-sized spaceship. The Cuttlefish's hull vaguely resembles its namesake. The 'beak' is a "Hermes" variable-water-injected fusion thruster, which draws plasma from the Helios-S reactor. It has very light armour, and has three AX4-Spear laser turrets, which are automatically (albeit poorly) aimed. Its speed is Moderate, though it can inject extra water into the thruster for a temporary speed boost.
Cost: 2SPP


Equipment
Printed Pistol: No differences noticed.

X100 Space Suit: No differences noticed.

EAF-X1 "Ranger" Laser Rifle: A big, bulky firearm, weighing in at 15kg- just barely wieldable whilst standing. Works best against stationary targets. Can fire 30 shots in pulse mode before reloading, or 15 seconds in beam mode. Beam mode has pretty good armour penetration against conventional armour. Comes with basic scope and bipod. With the scope it is accurate at Long range.
Cost: Cheap
  EAF-PX3 Raider: A variant of the Ranger, using the new Picasso Pattern. Weighs a 'mere' 7.5kg. Fires shorter pulses, and deals more damage against moving targets. Does not have a beam mode.

Interplanetary Radio: No differences noticed.


Infrastructure
Colony Defence Grid: No differences noticed.

"Helios" Fusion Reactor: A large, Tokamak style reactor. Performs He3-He3 fusion, though it does not take full advantage of this. Provides 2SPP and 2GPP.
  Helios-S: A variety specifically designed for use in spaceships. A 'twisted' plasma flow allows for plasma to be siphoned off without disrupting the reaction.


Misc Tech
NQ Cells: About 15 times better than chemical batteries. Palm-sized, weigh about a kilo each. Despite their apparent complexity, manufacture and usage is simple.

Libum-265K: A near-room temperature superconductor. Manufacture is complicated.

Spoiler: Production (click to show/hide)

Ship Production Points: 16+2
  6 points: 3xITC
  9 points: 3xOdin
  2 points: 4xLoki
  1 point: Unassigned

Ground Production Points: 16+2
  18 points: Unassigned
 
Units: 5
  2 Units on planet A (No extra equipment)
  1 Unit on planet C (No extra equipment)
  1 Unit on planet D (No extra equipment)
  1 Unit on planet F (No extra equipment)

Spoiler: The Map (click to show/hide)

Don't even worry about this looking nothing like a solar system. Its, uh, optimal transfers or something. Look, it's dumb, but what do you want from me?

Key:
A: A volcanic world. Constant eruptions and earthquakes result in a thoroughly unpleasant environment. 4SPP, 2GPP
  E:0/6, Q:1/6
B&F: Rocky worlds. (Almost) no atmosphere, no major tectonic activity, these planets are... boring. The most notable terrain features are the craters that litter the surface. 2SPP, 2GPP
C: An ocean world. Covered in 94% water, with a breathable atmosphere, and a few inhabitable islands. Prepare for lots of island-hopping. 2SPP, 4GPP
  Q:2/6
D: An earthlike world. Covered in 69% water, with a breathable atmosphere, most of the surface being inhabitable. Terrain varies wildly, from open plains to thick jungles- and of course vast seas. 5SPP, 5GPP
  E:2/6, Q:0/6
E: A frozen world. Almost entirely covered in ice, with an atmosphere too thin to breathe. Ice sheets make for treacherous terrain, with snow-covered mountains being not much better. 2SPP, 4GPP
  E:2/6
G: A desert world. With a few salty 'seas' covering a mere 12% of the surface, the majority of this planet is dry as a bone. Vast sandscapes dominate, punctured by low, rocky hills, and the ocassional oasis. The atmosphere is breathable. 2SPP, 4GPP.
Ertex&Quillus: Earthlike worlds. Capturing the enemy homeworld results in victory. Yield no Production Points. I mean, they do, but those are already accounted for in your basic industry.

[Strongpoint]

NUKE9.13
We can disband ships over Quillus, right?

[NUKE9.13]

NUKE9.13
We can disband ships over Quillus, right?

Yes, ships that are at Quillus may be decommissioned free gratis, and you may use the freed up SPP that same turn.

[Strongpoint]

I consider this turn to be very meh both short term (no real game changing designs) and long term (marginal useful experience for future designs. I can't think of any next turn design\revision that benefits from gained experience). We can't allow ourself to tie our resources to already lost battle on D. What we need to do > Compensate lose of D, by going for two planets: A and B and start playing long game from behind.

On other hand it may be worthwhile to delay the action on D, just to win few turns before they can capture the whole planet and, maybe, come with something useful.

Plan decisive battle over D
1) Disband 1 ITC and 2 Lokis (+3 SSP)
2) Upgrade remaining ITC with Dove (-1SSP)
3) Build 4th Odin (-3SSP)
4) Build Hrungni (-4GPP)
5) Load ITC with Hrungni (-3TC) and 2 Loki (1TC)
6) Send everything from Quillus to D
7) Recall transport from B to Quillus

Plan go for two planets
1) Disband 2 Lokis (+1 SSP)
2) Upgrade both remaining ITC with Doves (-3SSP)
3) Build Hrungni (-8GPP)
4) Load both ITC with Hrungni
6) Send 1 Odins + ICT to B
7) Send 2 Odin + ICT + 2Lokis to A
7) Recall transport from B to Quillus

I prefer the second one because should we lose the very likely space battle over D - we are screwed.  I do expect that our enemy will send everything to D (maybe small detachment(s) to A or B) and we can avoid their attempt to force us into a decisive battle.