From:           	jtc1@chrysler.com
To:             	jcoleman@a2t.com
Date sent:      	Thu, 18 Jun 1998 09:34:34 -0400
Subject:        	battle report

Scenario:
Two AoL WhiteStars bounce a pro-Clark Omega Destroyer.  Only one Starfury
flight was present for defense, the other three being sent off on patrol
missions.

Rules in effect:
House rules for dropout and suppression.  Each fighter rolls to hit, double
damage and armor.  Pulse guns and jammers run as in core rules.

Synopsis:
Forces started out in opposite corners, heading towards each other, Omega
at velocity 4, WhiteStars and Starfury flight at v 12.  Turn 2 saw the
Omega open up with laser cannon and heavy pulse cannon, WhiteStars firing
neutron cannon at the Omega, 2 pulsars at the Omega, and 3 pulsars at the
Starfuries.  Starfuries returned fire and hit WhiteStar 3, damaging a
pulsar.  The Omega missed with everything and lost a retro and about 1/3 of
the forward structure.  The next couple of turns had the WhiteStars
circling in on the Omega, which was turning for all it was worth to try to
get some main batteries to bear as the range continued to decrease.  The
Starfuries continued in pursuit, usually staying out of the WhiteStar arcs
except for 1 turn when 3 pulses hit the flight, destroying 1 fighter with 2
hits and forcing another to drop.  One of the WhiteStars had shut down
three pulsars for extra energy to get off a sustained shot.  Turn 5 got
interesting.  The WhiteStars flew past the Omega, pivoted, and engaged the
Omegas starboard side at range 4.  Several particle beams ripped into
WhiteStar 1, coming within a single damage point of taking out the neutron
cannon.  By now, both WhiteStars were not putting any EW into defense, and
the Omega was ripped by a sustained blast from a neutron cannon and five
pulsars.  The other neutron cannon missed a piercing shot (rolled a 19
against an 18 to hit!).  Turn 6 saw the range open up as the WhiteStars
drifted backwards at v12, the Starfuries continued to nip at the flanks,
and the Omega vainly tried to get out of arc and present another side.  The
next couple of turns were spent with the WhiteStars again closing the range
and trying to hit the chewed up starboard side of the Omega.  The Omega was
doing a ballet trying to bring main batteries to bear, and succeeded in
firing the laser cannon and heavy pulse cannon again on turn 8.  Miserable
die rolls!  Turn 9 saw the WhiteStars race in on the starboard side, again
closing the range to four.  Nothing fancy this time, just opened up with
everything (except the neutron cannon still recharging from the sustained
blast).  The pulsars finished stripping off the starboard side, chewed into
the primary structure, and then the neutron cannon put a 29-point rake into
the primary structure.  No boom yesterday, boom today.

Observations:
First, the Omega did a good job of maneuvering.  Used extra thrust several
times to cut down turn delays and was able to use that to some advantage.
Got raped with lousy die rolls on the main weapons!  Usually the Omega had
to fire main batteries at ranges around 20 hexes.  Closer than that, the
WhiteStars were able to avoid the arcs.  The particle beams did better than
I thought.  The Starfuries were always able to get off shots and stay out
of the WhiteStar arcs, but had to roll 11 or 12 to do any damage at the end
of the game.  Very maneuver oriented battle.

The WhiteStars, what can I say but Wow!  I thought the adaptive armor
mechanic worked well.  It's not too much, but served to take a little more
edge off of damage.  The EM shields were a bigger factor, especially from
dead astern.  The Starfuries hit from there once, and since both shields
covered that arc, I applied both factors.  Never tried to attack from there
again.  There's so much EW available that piercing mode shots could be the
norm (except the main batteries were afflicted with the same miserable die
rolls the Omega suffered with.  At least the defective dice were defective
for BOTH sides :) ).  The sustained mode shot was probably a mistake
because of the power drain - just not enough extra power.  But the first
hit was made from range 4 and was automatic (21 to hit) so I let the ships
separate, knowing that most of the WhiteStar weapons were going to be
charging and I still had an automatic hit if I could keep the Omega in arc
- much easier to do from further back.  I got to the point where I just
ignored the Starfuries, didn't put any EW into defense (why with 3 EM
shield factors?) and let 'er rip at the Omega from any range.  And the
agility!  I think the agile ship rules may need to be toned down just a
touch - maybe a -1 or -2 if you fire while pivoting.  Also, not sure if I
like the pivot like a fighter bit.  It's almost too much.  OTOH, it IS a
WhiteStar and that agile ship bonus goes a long ways towards making that
bugger special.  Almost have to allow called shots against the jammer of
shields in order to start peeling the skins off this thing.  Maybe 750
points is a little more appropriate.

Last Nights Ep:
Wow!  I think JMS has been reading Graves' posts.  "Delenn, the WhiteStars
are being asked to do everything, but they aren't big enough to do
everything.  We need a destroyer sized WhiteStar.  Go ask the Grey Council
if they will supply the specs and materials.  President Luchinka has said
Earth will pay for the project and build the prototype."  Can you say
Excalibur?  I missed the very beginning - turned on the T.V. in time to
catch the opening credits.  But I saw the rest.  Looks like the Narn feel
heavy laser cannon make good planetary bombardment tools.

JTC