Because I wanted to steal another Excelsior for Task Forces and the Defense requirement actually went down this year. Probably because with the Seyek-Cardassian Border Zone in effect, and it now has less coverage responsibility.
EDIT: We decided not to do anything, so there's no reason the CBZ should be specially hot. The Cardassians are very occupied; this is actually a pretty good "moment in history" to take an Excelsior out.
You know, this thing where you post in faux-outrage and incredulity is kind of annoying.
Because I wanted to steal another Excelsior for Task Forces and the Defense requirement actually went down this year. Probably because with the Seyek-Cardassian Border Zone in effect, and it now has less coverage responsibility.
You know, this thing where you post in faux-outrage and incredulity is kind of annoying.
It's not faux. It is absolutely a terrible mistake in the plan. There are worse places to take an Excelsior from, but they can be counted on less than one hand.
It's not faux. It is absolutely a terrible mistake in the plan. There are worse places to take an Excelsior from, but they can be counted on less than one hand.
As I edited above, the Defense requirement actually went down this year. I took that as a signal that the CBZ has become less hot, that the Event tables are now less likely to produce anything earthshaking. Probably partially as a result of the S-CBZ taking some of the pressure off. Probably as a result of Cardassia being busy with the Chrystovians and unlikely to have energy for border shenanigans.
Can you imagine the optics of that decision? The Cardassians demonstrate that they are horrible and aggressive, and we respond by removing the lynchpin of the primary defense zone against them? If we chose to do that, I'd scream to fire us. It's that bad a mistake. It's like, say the Chinese invaded Taiwan, and in response the USA both did nothing and just up and removed a carrier battle group from Japan. What does that say about their commitment to defend Japan?
Plus, the Excelsior in the Cardassian Border Zone has been what we rush in to accompany their envoys when the Cardassians decide they want to complain about something. Like, say, us pushing five explorers around the outskirts of their territory.
Not to mention, we're busy doing a colony rush in the Adazzi Gulf. The area will have increasing traffic, Starfleet, Apiata, and civilian.
As I edited above, the Defense requirement actually went down this year. I took that as a signal that the CBZ has become less hot, that the Event tables are now less likely to produce anything earthshaking. Probably partially as a result of the S-CBZ taking some of the pressure off. Probably as a result of Cardassia being busy with the Chrystovians and unlikely to have energy for border shenanigans.
Had a small emergency where I accidentally edited out my vote, but it's been retrieved.
In deference to SWB's concenrs about the optics, I pulled the Excelsior from the KBZ to the CBZ, even though mechanically, I'm pretty sure it wasn't necessary.
it is not that i do not understand that ambassadors are better, i get that part.
the question was why not let them be a part also? if the argument is crew i find it weak but understand
my some what argument is, sure it is a weaker ship but that doesn`t mean they couldn`t still do the job.
maybe not at well but still do it.
if your argument is we need her for garrison duty it is a more logical sell but whats one ship on that level really?
i`m asking for the argument for it. i understand its a weaker ship.
it is not that i do not understand that ambassadors are better, i get that part.
the question was why not let them be a part also? if the argument is crew i find it weak but understand
my some what argument is, sure it is a weaker ship but that doesn`t mean they couldn`t still do the job.
maybe not at well but still do it.
if your argument is we need her for garrison duty it is a more logical sell but whats one ship on that level really?
i`m asking for the argument for it. i understand its a weaker ship.
The problem is that we are suspicious that the event table for EC missions has had it's difficulty increased. As a result, ships that used to breeze through events may struggle and failures on the event table can kill EC ships easily.
Ambies have higher stats than all but the highest vet Excelsiors, and once they Blood (which happens fast) they're better than even an Elite Excelsior. It's better for us to maximize the number of EC Ambies at the expense of Excelsiors so we can vet the Ambies and not "waste" the XP on ships that soon won't cut it.
it is not that i do not understand that ambassadors are better, i get that part.
the question was why not let them be a part also? if the argument is crew i find it weak but understand
The problem is that we are suspicious that the event table for EC missions has had it's difficulty increased. As a result, ships that used to breeze through events may struggle and failures on the event table can kill EC ships easily.
Task Force: Beyond
Mission: Resolve [Horizon Influence: 147/300] tag on Licori, [Horizon Influence: 164/300] tag on Felis, and [Horizon Influence: 282/300] tag on OSA. If a [Horizon Influence] tag emerges on the Bolians, resolve that tag as well.
Commander: Rear Admiral Michel Thuir- Reroll first event failure each quarter Attachments:
Free FDS Diplomatic Team attachment
Starfleet Tactical Brass: 0pp per year. Enables coordination events with other powers
Molchenek-Danashad: 3 pp per year. Effect: +1 to the first diplomatic roll involving a capitalist society each quarter
Sam Jones: 10 br on purchase, 10 br per year. Effect: Gain both sr & relations on trade summit missions for this task force.
Harbind-Attu Institute Research Team: 40 rp on purchase, 20 rp per year. Effect: Receive a bonus to a technology related to the Task Force's activities each year.
Cpt. Wolfe's Analysis Team: 20 pp on purchase, 10 pp per year. Effect: +1 on opposed rolls
I grabbed a Little Queenship and two Stingers to go to TF Righteous when it was revealed they would be allowed, since it was a very cheap way to boost the TF by 3 ships. 22 - 3 = 19
Bolian isolationist was going back and forth in the Discord chat, and the GMs seemed unsure about allowing it.
I grabbed a Little Queenship and two Stingers to go to TF Righteous when it was revealed they would be allowed, since it was a very cheap way to boost the TF by 3 ships. 22 - 3 = 19
Bolian isolationist was going back and forth in the Discord chat, and the GMs seemed unsure about allowing it.
That would be a pretty hilarious fleet battle to be run.
Scouting - A Stinger gets beat up.
Skirmishing - 2 Stingers get beat up
Vanguard - 2 Stingers and a Little Queenship get beat up.
Heavy Metal - 6 Explorers warp in. BLAM.
I grabbed a Little Queenship and two Stingers to go to TF Righteous when it was revealed they would be allowed, since it was a very cheap way to boost the TF by 3 ships. 22 - 3 = 19
Bolian isolationist was going back and forth in the Discord chat, and the GMs seemed unsure about allowing it.
I really like the idea of the first deep space starbase to be built over by the Allupi. It'd be the Federation hub for all the new FCs in that area and be our version of Starbase Yorktown.
Omake rewards: @Zerohour , for SEES and Proof of Concept, pick two:
[ ][ZERO] If Constitution-B class cruisers are retired, one option for the disposal of the ConnieBees will be for one to be converted into a SEES.
[ ][ZERO] +0.05 OET throughput
[ ][ZERO] +2 pp
[ ][ZERO] If a second Argus Array is an option at snakepit, it will cost 2 pp less.
Think I'm gonna go with these awards for now. More crew is the gift that keeps on giving, and I like the idea of a Space Hotel when the Connies go away, and we might get some sort of reward for it too.
[O][ZERO] If Constitution-B class cruisers are retired, one option for the disposal of the ConnieBees will be for one to be converted into a SEES.
[O][ZERO] +0.05 OET throughput
I have added several attachments that increased cost by 33pp. These were:
1. An Intelligence Team for Righteous, since they're far from home (5pp)
2. A Yan-Ros Raid Team for Royal, since the Cardassians are kidnapping people we might need to rescue (18pp)
3. An Aerocommando Raid Team for Liberty in case they need to raid to rescue slaves. (5pp)
4. An Amarki Genarmes team for Righteous, since they add +1C to Away missions and as Knights they can act as the personal Bodyguard of our TF commander. (5pp)
If you're unhappy, feel free to copy my plan and repost your own version, but I thought long and hard before making those additions. This is the year of "Fuck Cardassians" and we spend pp like water to fuck Cardassians.
TL;DR:
Deployment: Core sectors by major worlds, Keplers in all BZ but GBZ, 1-ship Theatre Reserve, RBZ KBZ and Sol Excelsiors moved
Task Forces: Dreamer yes, Hishmeri only after Ashidi finished, rest similar to BV
[X][EC] Assign Courageous
[X][ODY] Withdraw from Explorer Corps
[X] [SQUAD] 2324 Major World, Theatre Reserve, and Kepler Outward Deployment
The core sector deployment was started by formula (major worlds), then adjusted by hand. 123 major worlds = 2 ships, 456 = 3 ships, 789 = 4 ships, 10+ = 5 ships, with a limit of no more than 1 of those ships being low-level support (Miranda, Oberth) and a bias towards higher quality ships the more worlds in the category or the more present problems.
Based on last year's events I'm not worried about Federalization. The O4 sectors got among the fewest events, even Sol (2322:0031, 2323:1122). There are still usable Federal fleets, also.
Border Zones... we know less about event drivers. I attempt to put Keplers in border zones, the GBZ being the only zone missing one, getting an Oberth instead. That is something we should keep/rectify in future years, having a mobile listening post and mapping specialist in every BZ seems handy.
My feel was that the RBZ and KBZ were overgarrisoned. And the SBZ could be undergarrisoned, it could use a support responder or even a fifth event ship (good candidate for a "spare" Excelsior now that all the SBZ polities are affiliates and calling to us for help all the time). It's definitely gone from our quietest BZ to in the top three most active. The LBZ has been surprisingly active, so the garrison should be closer to normal BZ levels. The HBZ is hard to tell, on one hand we're cutting it in half, on the other hand it has been so active that even our 5-ship garrison hasn't been enough.
And finally, I start on a theatre fleet reserve by placing a single Renaissance in each Theatre Fleet. It's not much, but this is something we should start doing to catch missed events.
[X][TASK] Plan Dream Big
-[X] Call up 32 points of ships (120 pp, call up four cargo ships)
- Explorers: 1 Starkin Basilica of Lakhept [Basilica of Lakhept], 2 Riala-A, 2 Caitain Excelsior-A [Nisharr, Hrvass]
- Cruisers: 3 Apiata Little Queenship, 2 Rigellian Turtleship, 2 Orion Nelhiar Savings & Loan Enforcer Cruisers, 1 Gaeni Tech-Cruiser-A, 3 STO Audacious Cruisers, 1 Risan Heavy Corvette-A
- Frigates: 6 Apiata Stingers, 4 Amarkian Centaur-B (Leaniss adds +1 Amarkian Centaur-B for free), 1 Gaeni Centaur-B, 2 Indorian Centaur-B, 2 STO Centaur-B, 1 Caldonian Centaur-B, 3 Orion Molhane Patrol Escorts, 1 Oda-Gach Cutters
- In 2324.Q3, release one Risan Heavy Corvette-A and call up one STO Kepler and one Gaeni Kepler.
-[X] Maintain the following PP attachments:
Starfleet Tactical Brass: 15pp per year. Enables coordination events with other powers – 15pp [BEYOND]
Molchenek-Danashad Consulting: 3 pp per year. Effect: +1 to the first diplomatic roll involving a capitalist society each quarter – 3pp [BEYOND]
Ambassador Sarek: 8pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: Reroll the first failed diplomatic roll each quarter; add +1 to the reroll. [GOODFOOT]
FDS Diplomatic Team. Cost: 5 pp per year. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter – 5pp [SECURITY]
Langa Mbeki: 5 pp per year. Effect: +2 to the lowest diplomatic roll each quarter - 5pp [ROYAL]
Ambassador Nikael Dalera: 8 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: Double progress on the first passed Diplomatic event each quarter. [RIGHTEOUS]
-[X] Maintain the following RP attachments:
Yoyodyne Research Team: 10 rp per year. Enables reroll on first failed D-Test each quarter. – 10 rp [RIGHTEOUS]
Pallas-Abat Institute Ship Design Team: 20 rp on purchase, 10 rp per year. Effect: Ships in this task force get +1 to shield and hull checks to resist damage. [RIGHTEOUS]
Harbind-Attu Institute Research Team: 40 rp on purchase, 20 rp per year. Effect: Receive a bonus to a technology related to the Task Force's activities each year. [BEYOND]
Kedaia Naar Institute Doctrine Team: 20 rp on purchase, 10 rp per year. Effect: +1 to the first space combat roll each quarter. [SECURITY]
Hallad-Wel Institute Computing Team: 10 rp on purchase, 8 rp per year. Effect: Reroll the first failed Science test of this task force each quarter, but at -1 to the roll. [DREAMER]
-[X] Maintain the following BR attachments:
Sam Jones: 10 br per year. Effect: Gain both sr & relations on trade summit missions for this task force. [BEYOND]
-[X] Purchase the following attachments:
Starfleet Intelligence Field Intel Team: 5pp on Purchase, 5pp per year. Effect: Enables extra event types. [SECURITY]
Starfleet Intelligence Field Intel Team: 5pp on Purchase, 5pp per year. Effect: Enables extra event types. [RIGHTEOUS]
Starfleet Intelligence Joint Operations Team: 5pp on Purchase, 5pp per year. Effect: Enables Raid Events. [SECURITY]
FDS Diplomatic Team attachment. Cost: 5 pp per year. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter [CHORUS]
Starfleet Intelligence Ship Analysis Team: 5 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: Increased intelligence on foreign ship designs active in the task force's area of operations. [ROYAL]
Starfleet Engineering Team: 15 pp on purchase, 15 pp per year. Effect: Fulfills an Engineering requirement. +3 on Distant Stars tags each year. [RIGHTEOUS]
Cpt. Wolfe's Analysis Team: 20 pp on purchase, 10 pp per year. Effect: +1 on opposed rolls [BEYOND]
Commodore Alexandria Kuznetsova: 13 pp on purchase, 8 pp per year. Increased chance of responding to unexpected events instigated by opposing task forces. [ROYAL]
Yokathi Lakhept: 8 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: Reduce the cost of all failed diplomatic events by half. [CHORUS]
Nash & Scott's Consultant Cooperative: 10 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: [CLASSIFIED] [ROYAL]
Technocracy Interstellar Ministry Diplomatic Team: 10 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: For every passed Presence event each quarter, add +3 relations to another applicable tag. [BEYOND]
Ashtarr: 10 pp on purchase, 8 pp per year. Effect: +2 to the first diplomatic roll involving the Gorn each quarter. [ROYAL]
Shar Ordey: 5 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: +1 to the first diplomatic roll involving anti-slavery efforts each quarter. [SECURITY]
Ventil Oyana: 4 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: +5 on a targeted diplomatic tag each quarter. [GOODFOOT]
Yan-Ros Ranger Team: 18pp on Purchase, 10pp per year. Enables Raid Events, adds extremely potent assault asset. [ROYAL]
Hortance: 5 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: Gain 5 pp each quarter that this task force succeeds on all events. [DREAMER]
-[X] Total Cost: 181pp, 58rp, 10br
-[X] Task Force: Beyond
Mission: Resolve [Horizon Influence: 147/300] tag on Licori, [Horizon Influence: 164/300] tag on Felis, and [Horizon Influence: 282/300] tag on OSA. If a [Horizon Influence] tag emerges on the Bolians, resolve that tag as well.
Commander: Rear Admiral Michel Thuir - Reroll first event failure each quarter Attachments:
Free FDS Diplomatic Team attachment
Starfleet Tactical Brass: 15pp per year. Enables coordination events with other powers
Molchenek-Danashad: 3 pp per year. Effect: +1 to the first diplomatic roll involving a capitalist society each quarter
Sam Jones: 10 br on purchase, 10 br per year. Effect: Gain both sr & relations on trade summit missions for this task force.
Harbind-Attu Institute Research Team: 40 rp on purchase, 20 rp per year. Effect: Receive a bonus to a technology related to the Task Force's activities each year.
Cpt. Wolfe's Analysis Team: 20 pp on purchase, 10 pp per year. Effect: +1 on opposed rolls
Technocracy Interstellar Ministry Diplomatic Team: 10 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: For every passed Presence event each quarter, add +3 relations to another applicable tag.
Ships:
Explorers: 2 Excelsior-A [Rru'adorr (B), Endurance (B)], 1 Caitian Excelsior-A [Nisharr], 1 Starkin Basilica of Lakhept [SKS Basilica of Lakhept]
In 2324.Q3: Add 1 Kepler [Nolaeis], 1 Gaeni Kepler, send 1 Centaur-B [Yukikaze (B)] to Royal, Return 1 Heavy Corvette-A to Risa.
Notes: 18 ships
-[X] Task Force: Royal
Mission: Resolve [Militarist Foreign Policy: 174/300] and [Distant Stars: 50/100] tags on Gorn. If a [Cardassian Influence: 0/100] tag emerges, resolve that tag as well. If previous tags are all resolved, move on to [The Ancient Enemy (Orions): 0/100] and [Secret Police: 0/100].
Commander: Leaniss Larai - May add one additional member fleet frigate to this task force, separate from other ships called up [adds Amarkian Centaur-B] Attachments:
Free FDS Diplomatic Team attachment. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter
Langa Mbeki: 5 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: +2 to the lowest diplomatic roll each quarter
Starfleet Intelligence Ship Analysis Team: 5 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: Increased intelligence on foreign ship designs active in the task force's area of operations.
Commodore Alexandria Kuznetsova: 13 pp on purchase, 8 pp per year. Increased chance of responding to unexpected events instigated by opposing task forces.
Nash & Scott's Consultant Cooperative: 10 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: [CLASSIFIED]
Ashtarr: 10 pp on purchase, 8 pp per year. Effect: +2 to the first diplomatic roll involving the Gorn each quarter.
Yan-Ros Ranger Team: 18pp on Purchase, 10pp per year. Enables Raid Events, adds extremely potent assault asset.
Cruisers: 3 STO Audacious, 1 Renaissance [Justice (B)]
Frigates: 2 Amarki Centaur-B, 2 STO Centaur-B
In 2324.Q3: Add 1 Centaur-B [Yukikaze (B)] from Beyond
Notes: 10 Ships; 11 ships in 2324.Q3.
-[X] Task Force: Righteous
Mission: Affiliate Allupii, if you learn about any other species in the area, make first contact
Commander: Pavel Chekhov - Nullifies the first 2 pts of crew casualties per year, reroll the first failed Away Team Combat each year Attachments:
Free FDS Diplomatic Team attachment. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter
Starfleet Engineering Team: 15 pp on purchase, 15 pp per year. Effect: Fulfills an Engineering requirement. +3 on Distant Stars tags each year.
Pallas-Abat Institute Ship Design Team: 20 rp on purchase, 10 rp per year. Effect: Ships in this task force get +1 to shield and hull checks to resist damage.
Yoyodyne Research Team: 10 rp per year. Enables reroll on first failed D-Test each quarter.
Ambassador Nikael Dalera: 8 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: Double progress on the first passed Diplomatic event each quarter.
University of Betazed Contact Team: 10 rp on purchase, 10 rp per year. Effect: +1 to the first First Contact roll each quarter.
-[X] Task Force: Security
Mission: Resolve the "Cardassian Threat" tag on the Ashidi, reassure them of the Federation's commitment to their defense, Ally them, and fight any incursions by the Obsidian Order. Important Note: If mission is completes before 2324.Q4, begin the new mission "Resolve Slavery and Nomadic Raiders tags on the Hishmeri.", with the expectation of reinforcement in 2325.
Commander: Abigail Taggart - Successful Combat tests are worth double progress. Attachments:
FDS Diplomatic Team. Cost: 5pp per year. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter
Starfleet Intelligence Field Intel Team: 5pp on Purchase, 5pp per year. Effect: Enables extra event types.
Starfleet Intelligence Joint Operations Team: 5pp on Purchase, 5pp per year. Effect: Enables Raid Events.
Kedaia Naar Institute Doctrine Team: 20 rp on purchase, 10 rp per year. Effect: +1 to the first space combat roll each quarter.
Shar Ordey: 5 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: +1 to the first diplomatic roll involving anti-slavery efforts each quarter.
-[X] Task Force: Goodfoot
Mission: Affiliate Ur'razzi and remove Cardassian Influence if it appears.
Commander: Percival Amin - Reroll first failed Diplomacy roll each year. Attachments:
Free FDS Diplomatic Team attachment. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter
Ambassador Sarek: 5 pp per year. Effect: Reroll the first failed diplomatic roll each quarter; add +1 to the reroll.
Ventil Oyana: 4 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: +5 on a targeted diplomatic tag each quarter.
-[X] Task Force: Dreamer
Mission: Resolve [Alien modes of Communication and Thought: 0/300] tag on Dreamer Collective.
Commander: Diego Zaardmani - +1S on Flagship, Re-roll first failed Science check each year Attachments:
Hallad-Wel Institute Computing Team: 10 rp on purchase, 8 rp per year. Effect: Reroll the first failed Science test of this task force each quarter, but at -1 to the roll.
Hortance: 5 pp on purchase, 3 pp per year. Effect: Gain 5 pp each quarter that this task force succeeds on all events.
-[X] Task Force: Chorus
Mission: Resolve [Great Power Ambitions: 0/300] and [Distant Stars: 0/100] tags on Ittick-Ka, with an eye to eliminating their determination to conquer all other species.
Commander: Vol Chad - faster experience gain for ships in the squadron Attachments:
FDS Diplomatic Team attachment. Effect: Reroll first failed Diplomatic Roll each quarter
Yokathi Lakhept: 8 pp on purchase, 5 pp per year. Effect: Reduce the cost of all failed diplomatic events by half.
I feel we need to start the Dreamer task force this year. We really can't skip it! That's because the Breen have just wrapped up their war and are in a period of consolidation, sure, but the moment they're out of that they're going to look to other threats, like the Dreamers. They may not even be in a consolidation period at all, and the Dreamers may be in immediate danger. The sooner we can put them behind the aegis of affiliation and then allying, the better.
This is a Council Suggested mission too. It's not something we should leave hanging for multiple years.
Going too reactionary on the spinward front is just as bad as not taking any action at all.
[ ][EC] Assign Courageous
[ ][ODY] Withdraw from Explorer Corps
[ ] [SQUAD] 2324 Major World, Theatre Reserve, and Kepler Outward Deployment