FTFB General Question

Do many people use the national fleets presented in the Fleet Book to make up
the bulk of their forces? If so, which fleet design do you like the best, or
have the most success with?

G'day guys,

> Do many people use the national fleets presented in the Fleet Book to

When playing the GZG background (we occasionally play alternate background
scenarios), everyone I've run into down here in Tassie uses standard FB
fleets - at least at present. The guys have all opted for NSL, ESU and
NAC fleets (NSL and ESU being the most popular), I went FSE. The fleets are
pretty much used as depicted in the FB, though a couple of guys have gone
in for swapping this weapon/system for that etc. (but not to a great
extent) and so far I'm the only one who's really gone out and designed a
ship from scratch for use with one of the "GZG background" fleets - I
did up an arsenal ship. Beyond that my husband has done up some designs for
his fledgling OU fleet.

Personally I like the FSE the best because I like being fast, having the punch
of the salvo missiles and seeing the look on their faces when that carrier of
mine comes sailing onto the board. However, the guys seem
pleased with their fleets too - they like their armour etc.

As for rate of success.... I must admit to having a fairly low rate, but I
wouldn't necessarily blame that on the FSE designs I think it has more to do
with the fact I've got a much smaller fleet and I have a tendency to
just rush in and throw sound tactics/strategy out the window for a brief
moment of blood and glory:) I have seen the FSE kick some serious NSL butt
though and I think it just
comes down to the commander and their preferences/abilities. Get a fleet
that suits your style of command:)

Cheers

Beth

> Do many people use the national fleets presented in the Fleet Book to
[...]
> As for rate of success.... I must admit to having a fairly low rate,

...do you have a sister??  ;-)

> I have seen the FSE kick some serious NSL butt though and I think it

Your last thoughts here basically echo what I was going to say. Each 'race' is
suited to a different style of play, and one should find that style and go for
it. I think there is a lot of potential for the FSE if they have the right
commander (and that ain't me). I respect the ESU ships, but they hold no
interest for me to fly. I personally am partial to the NAC and NSL ships.

Of course, I happen to also *like* p-torps, even if I can't hit the
broad
side of a barn with them most of the time.  ;-)

G'day Indy,

> As for rate of success.... I must admit to having a fairly low rate,

Yes, but if I'm like Boadicea then shes one of those soppy heroines who loves
lace, flutters her eye lashes and twists her ankle at just the wrong moment:)
Must admit she has been known to play the odd game, but I'm still trying to
figure out if its because she justs wants to rattle the folks (father's a
lay preacher and all - one of the kind that has "wargaming is the
devil's spawn" kind of books). She would definitely give wargaming women a
very disreputable name;)

> Of course, I happen to also *like* p-torps, even if I can't hit the

A man after my own luck. You and I should join forces some time - see if
we can get the opposition to laugh themselves into submission:) We could
become the ultimate strike force....

"Ahhh I've got you now! What the hell do you mean I rolled 18
ones?????!!!!!!"

Cheers

Beth

P.S. I've being dying to ask, you're not named after your dog are you? (And
you've either heard that one a 1000 times or you have no idea which movie I'm
referring to. Sorry.)

Heya, Beth!

> As for rate of success.... I must admit to having a fairly low rate,

Well....that's what the rope's for.  ;-)

> Must admit she has been known to play the odd game, but I'm still

Okay. She climb?  ;-) ;-)

> Of course, I happen to also *like* p-torps, even if I can't hit the

:-)

Alright, we'll take on any and all comers! Anyone out there game to pit
themselves before our awesome p-torp might?

> P.S. I've being dying to ask, you're not named after your dog are you?

"The *dog*?? You were named after the dog??"

"...I like the name Indiana."

I think I've only heard it 998 times. Two more to go...  :-)

> Do many people use the national fleets presented in the Fleet Book to

        For convenience's sake, I'll use pre-generated ships in a
one-off
scenario; I wouldn't be thrilled with any of them for my own fleet. If I had
to stick to FB fleets, I'd probably go in order of: ESU; FSE; NAC; NSL. If I
were going to change something (which, oddly enough, I am), I'd probably take
FSE hulls and engines, tear out the weapons, and mount
torpedoes (I am the anti-Indy, in that respect--I roll sixes) or Class 3
beams plus more PDS and ADFC. Each ship would have a primary weapon rather
than a mix--someone has to re-invent the Dreadnought concept, it may as
well be me. I'd probably keep a regular FSE squadron of missile cruisers plus
a carrier, to generate a salvo of missiles and fighters, but it wouldn't
operate independently. FSE also looks the best, of course. I'd like to hear an
explanation of those NAC ships with their "Shoot Me HERE" necks; NSL is only
slightly better, with the skinny midsections plus lots of surfaces designed to
give a good radar return.

G'day Owen,

> As for rate of success.... I must admit to having a fairly low rate,

Something for me to aim for. Maybe aim was a bad choice of words. Make that
something for me to aspire to. There much better:)

Seriously though SML/SMRs are very effective once you've got the knack.
That's why I created this arsenal ship of mine - SMRs galore.

Cheers

Beth

[quoted original message omitted]

Just to sidle in on this, for the fun of it. Or was that to poke fun at
Mark? ^_^

> At 07:09 PM 11/24/98 -0500, you wrote:

Gee, Mark.  Subtle. ^_-

> Of course, I happen to also *like* p-torps, even if I can't hit the

What's scary is, I've almost seen that out of Mark... though it's more like
1's and 2's, maybe a couple 3's if he needs more than a 3+.  And what
does
hit, goes "tap!" ^_^

> Alright, we'll take on any and all comers! Anyone out there game to pit

Yo!  Just lemme get these beams revved up for the rerolls. ^_-

> P.S. I've being dying to ask, you're not named after your dog are you?

That, and his quest for the Ark. No, not that one, the other one. Finding the
Ark of the Covenant wouldn't involve scaling rock faces, just digging
through red tape to find and get into the warehouse. ^_-

> I think I've only heard it 998 times. Two more to go... :-)

...

Nah, nevermind. ^_^

> Aaron Teske wrote:
Finding
> the Ark of the Covenant wouldn't involve scaling rock faces, just

Or as I've put it to Indy in private email, throwing yourself against a rock
formation and praying you stick.

(8-)

J.

G'day Aaron,

> "Ahhh I've got you now! What the hell do you mean I rolled 18

> What's scary is, I've almost seen that out of Mark... though it's more

When this happens to me I get my kids to roll for me - they take after
their father... he needs a 6 he'll get a #%$@!! 6 (or 10 of them)!

Have fun,

Beth

> A man after my own luck. You and I should join forces some time - see

And some of you guys always thought I was joking about my torp hits...or
not-hits. I think Noam is the one of a rare few who has seen me actually
hit with reasonable force.

> Alright, we'll take on any and all comers! Anyone out there game to

NO!!! I've seen the 'Teske Phenomenon' way too often in the past.

Aaron: [rolls 8 dice: 2 fives, 6 sixes]

Indy: <groan>

Aaron: rerolls 5 sixes and a five Aaron: rerolls 4 sixes and a four

Indy: "You can stop now, Aaron..."

Aaron: rerolls 3 sixes and a five

Indy: [tears up ship sheet]

Aaron: rerolls 2 sixes and a four

Indy: "Aaron..."

Aaron: rerolls 2 sixes Aaron: rerolls 1 six and a five

Indy: "AARON!!"

Aaron: rerolls a four

Indy: [throws ship sheet away]

Mk

...Snip...JTL
> NO!!! I've seen the 'Teske Phenomenon' way too often in the past.

Make Note: Teske, Aaron. Do not become deceively enguaged with the above. His
Karma might overrun my Dogma!!

Bye for now,

> ...Snip...JTL

Whaddyamean, do not become deceived? This really happened, man. Repeatedly!

Mk

> On Tue, 24 Nov 1998, Laserlight wrote:

command section can separate if engineering has a core breach? increase length
of baseline for interferometers?

> NSL is only slightly

the surfaces are flat, so you only get a return from certain angles. mind you,
there are many such angles for the NSL ships.

Tom

> At 19:52 24/11/98 -0500, you wrote:

SNIPPAGE
I almost always win, 'cos I almost always play solo. :-(
I only recently got my first GZG ships (an NSL fleet pack- I got a BB,
BC
(Max.), 2 CE,
2 DD and 3 CT,= 1478 points) having mostly used Micromachines in the past. My
3 MM Sulacos fit in pretty well to boost the squadron. I chose NSL as I liked
the look of the models, as well as the "beams and armour" style of play.

My main fleet is Scottish, using my own designs and mainly prehistoric
Garrison models I've had since I was at school. My heavy units mainly use
Pulse torps and Class 2 batteries; mobility tends to be medium; most ships of
superdestroyer size and over feature ADFC and large PDS installations. The
fleet also will include a single monster dreadnought (Mass 300), the Great
Michael, as a reminder that we once had the world's biggest warship.
I also have a large heavy cruiser\escort, with Class 2 beams, ADFC and
PDS, and superdestroyers (of WW2 Italian inspiration!) for salvo missile
strike.

An example: SDN William Wallace System Mass Cost
========================================================================
=
Mass 200 0 200 Hull Integrity 60 120 FTL 20 40
Thrust-4                                         40                   80
Screen-1                                         10                   30
3 FCS 3 12 ADFC 2 8 2 PT, 2 arc (PF,F) 10 30 2 PT, 2 arc (SF,F) 10 30 5 PT, 1
arc (F) 20 60 3 Class 2, 3 arc (PA,PF,F) 6 18 3 Class 2, 3 arc (PF,F,SF) 6 18

3 Class 2, 3 arc (F,SF,SA) 6 18 7 PDS 7 21

> At 07:47 AM 11/25/98 -0500, Indy wrote:
Repeatedly!

I think he means, decisively engaged, but I'm not sure. Besides, Mark, you're
exaggerating a bit. I think the most rerolls I've ever gotten is six, not
seven, and most of 'em drop out in the second and third tiers anyway. Though,
admittedly, usually with fours and fives, so they do a bit
of damage. ^_^

What was really scary was when I demonstrated Full Thrust to a friend of mine
up here... we each took a NAC light cruiser and two destroyers. We closed
pretty evenly, and I had initiative... my first shot was four sixes and two
fives, which popped one of his DDs off the bat. His return fire was six
sixes... I was amazed, and *very* gratified he fired on one of my
DDs instead of my cruiser! ^_^;;  I'm hoping to get Jason to come to
GZG-ECC II.... ^_^

Later,

Aaron
...Snip...JTL
> >> Make Note: Teske, Aaron.
Repeatedly!
> I think he means, decisively engaged, but I'm not sure. Besides,

Ya, thats what I wanted to say.   I really hate it when I mess
up a joke!   I was up past my bedtime, and that does not help
my already poor spelling.

Bye for now,

> On Wed, 25 Nov 1998, Beth Fulton wrote:

> >Of course, I happen to also *like* p-torps, even if I can't hit the

I'd like to volunteer for that team. Mark and I have worked together before
and have managed pull defeat from the jaws of victory.:)

> Chris Lowrey wrote:

> Do many people use the national fleets presented in the Fleet Book to

I don't use the Fleet Book designs at all, although some of my designs for
smaller ships are (by necessity) very similar to the FB ones. The GZG universe
ships don't fit in with my playing style (or background
histories for my fleets) - they're either far too slow, lack broadside
armaments or lack needle beams <g>

> If so, which fleet design do you like the best, or have the most

Difficult question. Have to go on the "like" criteria; the only times I've
used FTFB designs were during the playtest, and even then I preferred to use
my own (more extreme) designs to try and break the
design system :-/

If I have to choose, I think I'd go with the NAC. I like high speeds far too
much to use NSL or EDU, and I'm not good enough with the SMs to dare
using the FSE :-/

Later