Captain's Log USS Guadalcanal Stardate 1008.07 (And Lessons Learned on Orbital Combat)

Captain's Log
USS Guadalcanal
Stardate 1008.07
In orbit of Oshionion 6

It was my intention to disable the Romulan warbird and beam a specialized combat team to download the computer core, but in the act of defending ourselves from a fully-charged
and ready to launch plasma torpedo (at nearly point blank range), we launched a photon torpedo that hit the unshielded enemy and blew it apart. There were no survivors, and no recoverable computer components. I don't think the the Praex was here by herself. I think that we will find another warbird, and with it, another chance to learn what part the Romulans play in this mystery. I personally don't think the Romulans built the artificial planet, but they are certainly interested in it. There was word recently that the warbird Decius had launched from spacedock recently. If they come looking, we'll have a second chance to gather intelligence.


(Moderator's Note: I learned a lot during this playtest, and made a few changes. Cloaking ships are not limited to how many turns they can be cloaked, but they are limited to being cloaked for ten consecutive turns. That satisfies the power consumption requirement of the cloak, as well as keeping ships from cloaking and staying that way to annoy others. One point is required each turn to remain cloaked. Only 'Experienced' rated and above can 'flash detect' a cloaked ship and they still require ten points to devote to sensors. I actually thought about getting rid of that ability altogether, but everyone knows how a cloak works, and should therefore be capable of countering its effect. I'm assuming that you could flood a close area with tachyons and detect a cloaked ship. Plasmas require a single point to maintain their charge if they are held in a fully charged position. The plasma is a fantastic weapon, but it also needs to be expensive to operate if game balance is to be maintained. The 'speed' notation in orbital combat doesn't work at the moment. Honestly, I had an interesting enough time accurately tracking the position of the two dancing ships without grasping the nuances of adjusting speeds. The 'orbital position' system is absolutely vital to tracking the position of ships in orbit once they change target selection to a ship. The five 'experience points' an 'Experienced' rated ship is allowed per engagement needs to be well-defined, but could be a game winner if used properly. I was a bit concerned about that as a balance issue as well, but if it is properly defined, it would help to highlight the value of taking on and completing missions, and properly reward hard working crews. It looks like I'm going to rewrite the heavy combat rules about a hundred times before I get it right, but that's how you get a good rulebook and a working game. At the same time, you notice, if you look at these notations included here, a bobble or two. For instance, towards the end, the warbird (cloaked at the time) breaks orbit enough to turn around and drop in alongside the Guadalcanal. It was my intention to have the Praex decloak and unload with a plasma torpedo at close, killing range. So what I did was actually steer the ship around and have it drop forward momentum to allow the Guadalcanal to catch up and pull up alongside. That was when the Guadalcanal came up with the roll it needed to flash detect the Romulan and lob a photon at an absolutely deadly range. Now, you might say, well, you knew the Romulan ship was there. I did, obviously, having put it there. But I couldn't do anything without A) firing blind (which I didn't want to) or B) Flash detecting (which I needed the roll of 11 (10 to detect plus one to fire the photon). Think of it as solitaire with starships. Sure, you could cheat, but what would be the point?)

Here are the combat logs

A=USS Guadalcanal

B=RIS Praex



Orbital Position One: 000-45
Orbital Position Two: 45-90
Orbital Position Three: 90-135
Orbital Position Four: 135-180
Orbital Position Five: 180-225
Orbital Position Six: 225-270
Orbital Position Seven: 270-315
Orbital Position Eight: 315-000

A Orbital Position Four (135-180)
Roll [8]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [000]
Init Bearing [180]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [000]
Proj Bearing [135]
Proj Range [5]
Defense/ECM [6(3)]
Offense []

B Orbital Position Seven (270-315)
Roll [11]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [000]
Init Bearing [270]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [000]
Proj Bearing [315]
Proj Range [4]
Defense/ECM [cloaked/10(5)]
Offense []

Result: tie
Damage to A:
Damage to B:


A Orbital Position 3 (90-135)
Roll [8]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [000]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [5]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [45]
Proj Bearing [90]
Proj Range [6]
Defense/ECM [initial 3/add8(4)]
Offense []

B Orbital Position 8 (315-000)
Roll [6]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [000]
Init Bearing [315]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [000]
Proj Bearing [000]
Proj Range [4]
Defense/ECM [cloaked/initial 5/add 6(3)]
Offense []

Result: tie
Damage to A:
Damage to B:


A Orbital Position 2 (45-90)
Roll [15]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [000]
Init Bearing [90]
Init Range [6]
Proj Target [Planet]
Proj Course [315]
Proj Bearing [45]
Proj Range [6]
Defense/ECM [10 pts sensors flash detect Praex at bearing 315 range 8/initial 4]
Offense [4pts phaser/1pt photon rolled 2(X2)]

B Orbital Position 1 (000-45)
Roll [8]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [90]
Init Bearing [000]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [135]
Proj Bearing [45]
Proj Range [4]
Defense/ECM [begin decloak/initial 3/add 6(3)]
Offense [1/4 charge plasma]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B: 2/4 damage to Praex fore hull


A Orbital Position 1 (000-45)
Roll [14]
Init Target [Praex]
Init Course [315]
Init Bearing [315]
Init Range [8]
Proj Target [Praex]
Proj Course [270]
Proj Bearing [225]
Proj Range [9]
Defense/ECM [6(3)ECM]
Offense [8pts phaser to Praex Port Shield]

B Orbital Position 2 (45-90)
Roll [11]
Init Target [GUAD]
Init Course [135]
Init Bearing [225]
Init Range [8]
Proj Target [GUAD]
Proj Course [180]
Proj Bearing [180]
Proj Range [9]
Defense/ECM [Complete decloak/initial 3/10(5)ECM]
Offense [2/4 charge plasma]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B:2/4 damage to Praex Fore hull


A Orbital Position 8 (315-000)
Roll [15]
Init Target [Praex]
Init Course [270]
Init Bearing [225]
Init Range [9]
Proj Target [Praex]
Proj Course [225]
Proj Bearing [180]
Proj Range [10]
Defense/ECM [3(retained)]
Offense [15 pts phaser to Praex aft shields]

B Orbital Position 3 (90-135)
Roll [10]
Init Target [GUAD]
Init Course [180]
Init Bearing [180]
Init Range [9]
Proj Target [GUAD]
Proj Course [225]
Proj Bearing [135]
Proj Range [10]
Defense/ECM [10(5)ECM]
Offense []

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B: 5/17 pts damage Praex aft shields. 2/4 damage to Praex Fore hull


A Orbital Position 7 (270-315)
Roll [9]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [225]
Init Bearing [315]
Init Range [6]
Proj Target [Planet]
Proj Course [180]
Proj Bearing [270]
Proj Range [6]
Defense/ECM []
Offense []

B Orbital Position 4 (135-180)
Roll [11]
Init Target [GUAD]
Init Course [225]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [180]
Proj Bearing [135]
Proj Range [4]]
Defense/ECM [begin cloak/8(4)ECM]
Offense [3/4 charge plasma]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B: 5/17 pts damage Praex aft shields. 2/4 damage to Praex Fore hull


A Orbital Position 6 (225-270)
Roll [9]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [180]
Init Bearing [270]
Init Range [6]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [135]
Proj Bearing [225]
Proj Range [6]
Defense/ECM []
Offense []

B Orbital Position 4 (135-180)
Roll [9]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [180]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [135]
Proj Bearing [135]
Proj Range [4]
Defense/ECM [complete cloak]
Offense [4/4 plasma charge]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B: 5/17 pts damage Praex aft shields. 2/4 damage to Praex Fore hull


A Orbital Position 5 (180-225)
Roll [7]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [135]
Init Bearing [225]
Init Range [6]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [90]
Proj Bearing [180]
Proj Range [6]
Defense/ECM [6(3) ECM]
Offense []


B Orbital Position 4 (135-180)
Roll [11]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [135]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [90]
Proj Bearing [135]
Proj Range [4]
Defense/ECM [cloaked]
Offense [maintain plasma charge]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B: 5/17 pts damage Praex aft shields. 2/4 damage to Praex Fore hull


A Orbital Position 4 (135-180)
Roll [10]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [90]
Init Bearing [180]
Init Range [6]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [45]
Proj Bearing [135]
Proj Range [6]
Defense/ECM [initial 3]
Offense []

B Orbital Position 4 (135-180)
Roll [7]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [45]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [planet]
Proj Course [000]
Proj Bearing [90]
Proj Range [4]
Defense/ECM [cloak/4(2) ECM]
Offense [maintain plasma charge ]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged
Damage to B: 5/17 pts damage Praex aft shields. 2/4 damage to Praex Fore hull


A Orbital Position 3 (90-135)
Roll [11]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [45]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [6]
Proj Target [Praex]
Proj Course [000]
Proj Bearing [270]
Proj Range [2]
Defense/ECM [10 pts sensors flash detect Praex: range 2/bearing 270]
Offense [1 photon roll 4(X8) =32 pts damage]

B Orbital Position 3 (90-135)
Roll [11]
Init Target [planet]
Init Course [000]
Init Bearing [135]
Init Range [4]
Proj Target [GUAD]
Proj Course [000]
Proj Bearing [90]
Proj Range [2]
Defense/ECM [begin decloak/initial 2/ add 8(4)ECM]
Offense [maintain plasma charge]

Result:
Damage to A: undamaged

Damage to B: (26 pts damage)  5/17 pts damage aft shields. 2/4 damage to Fore hull 3/3 starboard hull 4/4 batteries 1/1 sensors 4/4 armor 1/2 impulse 2/2 fire control 4/4 warp
1/1 bridge 2/2 cloak 1/1 aux bridge 1/1 impulse 2/2 disruptors

Catastrophic damage destroys RIS Praex


What is Fantasy Trek?
The Only 'Star Trek: The Experience' You Can Still Experience
http://fantasytrek.blogspot.com