Starbase assault?

Just wondering if anyone has tried to play a starbase assault? Would you add
mines of the automatic or remote control type? How would you balance point
values?

Let's see, what about a universe where warp points are the order of the day,
how about a warp point assault?

Well, I've never tried a starbase assault in any game system, but I'll tell
you, I have tried the warp point assault in the old Starfire system. If you
point has no limit on how many ships can come through at once, you have your
basic open space combat. Mines make it still somewhat dangerous, you'd want a
4 or 5 to 1 superiority to assure a win. Now, if you have limits on the warp
points ability to pass ships, like Starfire did, its a whole new ball of wax.
We tried it once, the defense had a mixed fleet of heavies, with a couple of
large bases to guard the point, with a minefield around all. The offense came
in with a 10:1 superiority, almost all very heavies, superdreadnoughts and
such, as well as assault carriers. They still got whacked, badly. Think Wolf
359. Wreckage everywhere. And we still didnt take the point. The limitied warp
point is probably the deadliest assult of all time.

> you have limits on the warp points ability to pass ships, like Starfire

Assume that your warp points are based on lines between stars (e.g. Alderson
points). Attacker's Star and Defender's Star both have slight variations in
their nuclear reactions and as a result the jump points
move--not by much, on an interstellar scale, but that could easily mean
thousands of kilometers. You could predict where the point would be if you
had real-time data on both stars, but in order to get that you have to
carry
the data through the jump point on a ship--the four-year-old light that
comes through normal space won't be useful. This isn't all that important to
the attackers, but the defenders need to know where the attackers are going to
arrive in order to lay out their minefields and defense stations. Attackers
may even be able to influence the location of the jump point by profligate use
of nukes or antimatter (defenders might do this too, if they knew when to do
it). Therefore: Jump point defense forces will tend to be fleets rather than
battlestations, unless the attack is coming from an unusually stable star or
the defender has money to burn. (Battlestations will still be useful around
planets). Defenders may try to send scouts to observe the enemy star and jump
back with astrophysical data; or they may try to send it through with merchant
traffic, if the point isn't completely cordoned off. Scenarios: a) Defenders
send scouts through and try to get at least one back through Attacker's
patrols of frigates and destroyers. Alternately, defender could have blockade
runners start off in the Attacker's system (e.g. by going around another
route) and try to make it through ahead of the assault fleet. b) If attackers
reinforce their patrols and keep a few capitals nearby, Defender may try a
spoiling attack. c) warp point assault: the attackers have to predetermine the
order in which their ships will come through, without knowing whether or not
they're coming out in the defender's lap. The defender will have to try to get
from their assembly point to the actual location of the jump point, fast
enough to kill the vanguard before too many of the main body arrive.

That improve things?

In a message dated 6/29/99 3:33:41 PM EST, journeyman2000@juno.com
writes:

<< Well, I've never tried a starbase assault in any game system, but I'll tell
you, I have tried the warp point assault in the old Starfire system. If you
point has no limit on how many ships can come through at once, you have your
basic open space combat. Mines make it still somewhat dangerous, you'd want a
4 or 5 to 1 superiority to assure a win. Now, if you have limits on the warp
points ability to pass ships, like Starfire did, its a whole new ball of wax.
We tried it once, the defense had a mixed fleet of heavies, with a couple of
large bases to guard the point, with a minefield around all. The offense came
in with a 10:1 superiority, almost all very heavies, superdreadnoughts and
such, as well as assault carriers. They still got whacked, badly. Think Wolf
359. Wreckage everywhere. And we still didnt take the point. The limitied warp
point is probably the deadliest assult of all time.

> [quoted text omitted]

I've always like the idea of jump entry points being balanced by the gravity
wells around the star ala BattleSpace. Here 99% of traffic comes in at the
zenith and nadir jump points, but there is always the chance that an
especially good navigator can find a jump entry point that is "fleeting" in
nature based on Trojan points in planetary orbit. Therefore sometimes your
back door is open and you did not know it.

Costing minefields would depend on the density & type of mines. If you use
the old FT/MT mines, then you could give it to them for free & it still
wouldn't make a major difference to the battle.

If you use SML type mines, then it gets more interesting. I would cost this
type of minefield at 10-15 points per mine (standard SML salvo
equivalent), with a density no greater than 1 per 6" (to avoid mines setting
each other off). This forces the use of minesweepers or ships with large
numbers of point defence.

'Neath Southern Skies - http://users.mcmedia.com.au/~denian/
Commodore Alfred K Hole - RNS Indy's Folly [CB]
Captain Nicolette O'Teen - RNMS Golden Spear [CB]
EBD Medusa

> -----Original Message-----

In a message dated 99-06-29 16:33:41 EDT, you write:

<< Well, I've never tried a starbase assault in any game system, but I'll tell
you, I have tried the warp point assault in the old Starfire system. If you
point has no limit on how many ships can come through at once, you have your
basic open space combat. Mines make it still somewhat dangerous, you'd want a
4 or 5 to 1 superiority to assure a win. Now, if you have limits on the warp
points ability to pass ships, like Starfire did, its a whole new ball of wax.
We tried it once, the defense had a mixed fleet of heavies, with a couple of
large bases to guard the point, with a minefield around all. The offense came
in with a 10:1 superiority, almost all very heavies, superdreadnoughts and
such, as well as assault carriers. They still got whacked, badly. Think Wolf
359. Wreckage everywhere. And we still didnt take the point. The limitied warp
point is probably the deadliest assult of all time. >>

Untile<drum roll please> Warp Capable Missiles, sent say 200 at the same

time, loose about 60 to them comming out in the same spot and then destroy any
valid targets. Once that is done send in a little scout to take the

point:)
-STephen