Task Force Orange: 2020

Thursday 1 October 2020

The LTD non-invitational non-National TTS/TTO Trans-Tasman (plus Ireland and Canada) Tournament - LISTS!

These are the lists for the October 2020 TTS tournament, with objectives removed. I will attempt to forget the objectives, and promise to go second whenever I have the bid to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Versedhorizon

2 ISD + 2 Raider

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 396/400

Commander: Admiral Motti

[ flagship ] Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Admiral Motti ( 24 points)
- Strategic Adviser ( 4 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Quad Laser Turrets ( 5 points)
- Reinforced Blast Doors ( 5 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 169 total ship cost

Imperial Star Destroyer Kuat Refit (112 points)
- Emperor Palpatine (off) ( 3 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Quad Laser Turrets ( 5 points)
- Reinforced Blast Doors ( 5 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
- External Racks ( 3 points)
= 139 total ship cost

Raider I-Class Corvette (44 points)
= 44 total ship cost

= 0 total squadron cost

Sipon

Name: Untitled Fleet
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Sloane

Quasar Fire I (54)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
• Boosted Comms (4)
= 63 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
= 25 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Hondo Ohnaka (2)
• Comms Net (2)
= 27 Points

Interdictor Suppression Refit (90)
• Captain Brunson (5)
• Grav Shift Reroute (2)
• Targeting Scrambler (5)
• Interdictor (3)
= 105 Points

Raider I (44)
• Admiral Sloane (24)
• Corvus (2)
= 70 Points

Squadrons:
• Black Squadron (9)
• Ciena Ree (17)
• Maarek Stele (21)
• Colonel Jendon (20)
• Saber Squadron (12)
• Mauler Mithel (15)
• 2 x TIE Fighter Squadron (16)
= 110 Points

Total Points: 400

LTD - David Grounds

Name: Rieekan Six and Half Dozen
Faction: Rebel
Commander: General Rieekan

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Engine Techs (8)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
• Jaina's Light (2)
= 61 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• General Rieekan (30)
• Engine Techs (8)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 89 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Engine Techs (8)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 59 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
= 18 Points

Squadrons:
• 2 x VCX-100 Freighter (30)
• Jan Ors (19)
• 3 x X-wing Squadron (39)
= 88 Points

Total Points: 392

Mjorr

Name: OCC_1
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Motti

Onager Star Destroyer (110)
• Admiral Motti (24)
• Skilled First Officer (1)
• Linked Turbolaser Towers (7)
• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)
= 147 Points

ISD Cymoon 1 Refit (112)
• Darth Vader (3)
• XI7 Turbolasers (6)
• Linked Turbolaser Towers (7)
= 128 Points

ISD Cymoon 1 Refit (112)
• XI7 Turbolasers (6)
• Linked Turbolaser Towers (7)
= 125 Points

Squadrons:
= 0 Points

Total Points: 400

RushSGU {make me type thing out! Grrr!}

Rieekan Aces Done Right

398

Nebulon B Escort
Flight COmmander
Fighter Coordination Team

Yavaris
68 points

AF2B
General Rieekan

Walex Blissex

Flight Controllers

Boosted Comms

ECMs

TRC

131 points

GR75 Medium

Torryn Farr

Comms Net

Boosted Comms

31 points

GR75 Medium

Adar Tallon

Bomber CC

Boosted Comms

Bright Hope

42 points

Luke Skywalker 20

Dutch Vander 16

Wedge Antilles 19

Jan Ors 19

Gold Squadron 12

4xYwings 40

126 points of Squadrons

Spartan

Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Screed

Interdictor Suppression Refit (90)
• Admiral Titus (2)
• Auxiliary Shields Team (3)
• Disposable Capacitors (3)
• G7-X Grav Well Projector (2)
• Targeting Scrambler (5)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
• Interdictor (3)
= 117 Points

Interdictor Suppression Refit (90)
• Admiral Screed (26)
• Auxiliary Shields Team (3)
• Disposable Capacitors (3)
• G7-X Grav Well Projector (2)
• Grav Shift Reroute (2)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
= 135 Points

Onager Testbed (96)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Veteran Gunners (5)
• Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6)
• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)
• Cataclysm (5)
= 121 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Hondo Ohnaka (2)
• Comms Net (2)
= 27 Points

Squadrons:
= 0 Points

Total Points: 400

LargePackage

Name: Screed's Raiders
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Screed

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Minister Tua (2)
• Suppressor (4)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
= 36 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Commander Woldar (4)
= 27 Points

Gladiator II (62)
• Admiral Screed (26)
• Captain Brunson (5)
• Ruthless Strategists (4)
• Engine Techs (8)
• Assault Proton Torpedoes (5)
• Demolisher (10)
= 120 Points

Raider II (48)
• Iden Versio (6)
• Disposable Capacitors (3)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
• Corvus (2)
= 68 Points

Squadrons:
• 2 x VT-49 Decimator (44)
• Maarek Stele (21)
• Colonel Jendon (20)
• Morna Kee (27)
• Dengar (20)
= 132 Points

Total Points: 383

Andrew B

Name: Starhawk II and CR90s
Faction: Rebel
Commander: Kyrsta Agate

Starhawk Battleship Mark II (150)
• Kyrsta Agate (20)
• Defense Liaison (3)
• Gunnery Team (7)
• High-Capacity Ion Turbines (8)
• Linked Turbolaser Towers (7)
= 195 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 51 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Comms Net (2)
= 20 Points

Squadrons:
• Shara Bey (17)
• Tycho Celchu (16)
• Hera Syndulla (28)
• Gold Squadron (12)
• Y-wing Squadron (10)
= 83 Points

Total Points: 400

avngd

Name: Dont hate me
Faction: Rebel
Commander: Kyrsta Agate

MC80 Star Cruiser (96)
• Kyrsta Agate (20)
• Walex Blissex (5)
• Weapons Battery Techs (5)
• Engine Techs (8)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
• XI7 Turbolasers (6)
• Mon Karren (8)
= 157 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Toryn Farr (7)
• Boosted Comms (4)
= 29 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Slicer Tools (7)
• Quantum Storm (1)
= 26 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Intel Officer (7)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 58 Points

Squadrons:
• Shara Bey (17)
• 5 x A-wing Squadron (55)
= 72 Points

Total Points: 400

Marzaums

Name: Mars Fleet
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Screed

Onager Testbed (96)
• Admiral Screed (26)
• Intel Officer (7)
• Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6)
• Veteran Gunners (5)
• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)
• Rakehell (4)
= 149 Points

Interdictor Suppression Refit (90)
• Captain Brunson (5)
• Auxiliary Shields Team (3)
• Disposable Capacitors (3)
• Targeting Scrambler (5)
• Grav Shift Reroute (2)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
• Interdictor (3)
= 120 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
= 25 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
• Suppressor (4)
= 32 Points

Squadrons:
• Maarek Stele (21)
• Colonel Jendon (20)
• Tel Trevura (17)
• Valen Rudor (13)
= 71 Points

Total Points: 397

Kaiser1977

Name: Tis It!
Faction: Rebel
Commander: Kyrsta Agate

Starhawk Battleship Mark II (150)
• Kyrsta Agate (20)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Walex Blissex (5)
• Caitken and Shollan (6)
• Advanced Transponder Net (5)
• SW-7 Ion Batteries (5)
• H9 Turbolasers (8)
• Magnite Crystal Tractor Beam Array (10)
• Unity (10)
= 223 Points

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)
• Ezra Bridger (3)
• Veteran Gunners (5)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
= 87 Points

Pelta Command Ship (60)
• Leia Organa (3)
• Disposable Capacitors (3)
= 66 Points

Squadrons:
• 2 x Y-wing Squadron (20)
= 20 Points

Total Points: 396

Alexi

Name: Battlegroup Avarice
Faction: Rebel
Commander: Kyrsta Agate

Starhawk Battleship Mark II (150)
• Kyrsta Agate (20)
• Walex Blissex (5)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Boarding Troopers (3)
• Leading Shots (4)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
• Unity (10)
= 203 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
• Jaina's Light (2)
= 53 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 51 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Comms Net (2)
= 20 Points

Squadrons:
• 2 x A-wing Squadron (22)
= 22 Points

Total Points: 400

Turtlenator

Name: 400p Mon Cal Regen
Faction: Rebel Fleet Total 399 Points
Commander: Kyrsta Agate

MC80 Battle Cruiser (103)
•Kyrsta Agate (20) •Walex Blissex (5) •Gunnery Team (7) •Auxiliary Shields Team (3) •Leading Shots (4) •XI7 Turbolasers (6) •Spinal Armament (9) •Mon Cal Exodus Fleet (5) = 162 Points

MC80 Assault Cruiser (114)
•Major Derlin (7) •Engine Techs (8) •Electronic Countermeasures (7) •Advanced Projectors (6) •Leading Shots (4) •H9 Turbolasers (8) •Mon Calamari Exodus Fleet (5)
= 159 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18) • Comms Net (2) = 20 Points

Squadrons: • 3 x X-wing Squadron (39) • Biggs Darklighter (19) = 58 Points

Total Points: 399

Beefcake4000

Aus Nats - Steve Gibb

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 391/400

Commander: Darth Vader (com)

[ flagship ] Onager-class Testbed (96 points)

- Darth Vader (com) ( 36 points)
- Strategic Adviser ( 4 points)
- Gunnery Chief Varnillian ( 6 points)
- Auxiliary Shields Team ( 3 points)
- Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons ( 5 points)
= 150 total ship cost

Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 points)
- Centicore ( 3 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Reinforced Blast Doors ( 5 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 73 total ship cost

Raider I-Class Corvette (44 points)
- External Racks ( 3 points)
= 47 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 25 total ship cost

1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points)
1 Ciena Ree ( 17 points)
1 Maarek Stele ( 21 points)
1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)
= 71 total squadron cost

Tuesday 30 June 2020

An Actual Real-Life Honest-to-Goodness game of Armada

For the first time in months I was able to put some plastic on the table and have a game. Social distancing has been easing in Queensland for a few weeks (2 active Covid cases in the state at the time of writing), so games have been happening. But Tuesday night was the first time I made it to the FLGS.

I've been active online (Big Dumb 24 hour tournament and follow-up Grand Championship, Anzac Day Open, and the Australia New Zealand TTS League) but there is something wonderful about the ships and the dice and not having to fight the lag or dysfunctional magic maneuver tools.

I played a Madine Seven Activation List, with 3 TRC90s (Madine on Jaina's Light), 2 Torpedo Frigages with H9s, ACMs, and Ordnance Experts (no titles), and two GRs - Quantum Storm with Slicer Tools, the other with Comms Net and Hondo.

Simon played a six activation Vader list with Testbed, Demolisher, two Raiders (Vader on one) and two Goz. Neither of us could be bothered with Squadrons. He had the bid and chose to go second. I picked Hyperspace.

This photo is (I think) the start of round 2. My deployment was to one side, his to the other, so the first few rounds were just moving up and into position.

This is part way through turn 3. My Torpedo Frigate jumped out last in 2, failing to double arc a Raider (I'm out of practice!). Demo dropped at the start of 3. My Frigate blasted the Raider bringing it to one hull, shot demo out the front, then used Madine to jump behind Demo (to hunt the Raider flagship entering the photo from the left). I then used Madine to push one of my CRs to ram the Raider, knocking it out. Demo jumped forward to kill the CR, ending it with a ram from Engine Techs.

Start of Turn 4, and the other Torpedo Frigate was last in 3, jumping to double arc demo. Simon has a Testbed shot on Jaina's Light Flagship (top right of photo), so I go first with the Frigate, end Demo, and jump in front of the testbed to obstruct the shot. Jaina's light takes the test bed shot, but lives with shields and redirect gone (Intel Officer).
The Vader Flagship raider has to move and ends up in black front of the other Frigate. Frigate goes first in 5, fails to kill the flagship, leaving the other frigate in the front of the Test bed - but thanks to lots of shields, it survives a point-blank shot.

This is sometime during turn 5. The Frigate top left has gone, shot the Raider, and then swung hard to come after the Test Bed - but not in range. The test bed goes, but doesn't kill the Frigate in the front. My CR goes next, finishing off the Vader Flagship.
Jaina's Light and the Torpedo Frigate do their thing, with the H9s coming in handy to stop the Test Bed's Salvo from destroying the heavily damaged frigate.

Start of turn 6, and Jaina's Light puts the final nails in the Test Bed's coffin, resulting in a tabling. I lost a CR90.

It was good to put ships on the table again - we were both rusty, and Simon was unlucky to bring six activations and a bid when I had seven. I don't think he should have given me first player - he could have really chopped me up with that demo and test bed (and raiders) by going first.

I like Madine, but I don't think he's competitive. Perhaps I'll fly him (and this list) again on a table soon!

Thursday 7 May 2020

Defenders of the Gelron Sector - updated rules

Kezzamachine (Kerry Logan from NZ) recently mashed my AI rules with those of Crabbok to create another system for play...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iuph1t70mpuujkc/Armada%20AI%20System.pdf?dl=0&fbclid=IwAR32gAGAWMt8ggSaQUQl0Uy0FVJKoEoc2DAT9AIaV2Csu12q2q0COealJAs

And nicely formatted as well.

Friday 31 January 2020

Ackbar Corvettes and How to Fly Them (close!)

I've taken a set of Ackbar TRC90s into the Vassal World Cup, and along with 8 YT2400s, I've done quite well in the pod stage, going 10/1 in three games (two of the opponents were squadless, the other was Bomber Heavy with only two escorts and a Dengar, so that helps).

I've been flying the TRC90s in pretty close formation, so I got to thinking - "How close can these things get?"

The joy of vassal is that you won't bump ships like on a real table, so this kind of precision driving is very possible.

Ackbar wants overlapping side arcs, and for all the ships to be able to focus down a single enemy.

Here are some demonstrations on how to deploy ships in a line abreast, and what they can do at different maneuvering options...

Deploy the ships like this - the front of one should line up with the front of the shield dial of his forward partner, and have the far side of his base just out of range one of the forward partner. Vassal makes this easy by putting hull boxes on the base. IRL, I would definitely make it range one to the left edge of the front shield dial to buy myself some extra millimeters.
If you deploy your CRs at speed 3, they can jump up to 4, or down to 2, or stay at 3 and take a token.
In this example they make a speed 2 double double to the left, and end up in a beautiful line astern.

Same ships, turning right. Again, they fit snugly into a beautiful line.

Same formation, making a turn 4 speed to the left. DO NOT double on the last yaw, as tempted as you might be. That will result in multiple collisions.

And the same to the right.

What if you don't want to end up facing the short edge of the board? This maneuver sets you up to flank them on the right and swing around behind them in a turn or two.

Or just a simple rapid advance to set up a forward gun line - go for it!

If you Ackbar and CF with TRCs, you can expect an average damage of 5 from every CR. Not Bad! (floor of 2, max of 8).

If you practice your formation flying, you can achieve great things!*

* Actual achievement of great things does depend partly on the action of others. While you might be a creature of freewill, so are others, and their actions will impact on your outcomes.