Author Topic: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.  (Read 3972 times)

Ulric the Grey

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B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« on: October 17, 2018, 11:26:37 pm »
So a friend of mine at work decided to do a campaign after work and early in the morning. So we went through the lists and I went with ISA and my opponent went with Brakiri Syndicracy. I liked the ISA Ships and have always loved the White star fleet idea. While my Opponent was attracted to the Fluff of the Brakiri, Money tons of Money. Also maybe the walmart corporate life got to him I dont know. Anyway, I will post a small story from both points of view and set up the narrative for why these two forces are fighting. Small Disclaimer, it is fan fic in that none of it is cannon. Also I am using naval titles so people are not confused about who is who in each fleet. Also the ISA will have Human Rangers who retain more culture from their human side than the Mimbari side. This is to make each character memorable in some way and not a carbon cut out of other ranger officers. (Did you know that Brian Cranstan played as Ericcson in B5, the ranger who willingly died to trick the shadows.)


December 21, 2271

Vice Admiral Vidarson sat in the command chair as he reviewed the reports printed out for him. He enjoyed the old ways of paper to reading a computer screen all day. He stroked his braided beard in deep thought, sighing he placed the reports in his lap as he looked at the bridge view screen. "In deep thought, Sven?" A male voice rang out. The Speaker stepped into the light, wearing the robes of a ranger and the spiky head bone plate marking him as one of the Mimbari.

Sven Chuckled slightly as he turned to look at the captain of the Zuikaku, a White Star Carrier named after an old earth warship from prespace days. Sven's fleet was interesting in that he gained all the odd ball Rangers and ships. The naming conventions made it clear that his group of rangers thought outside of the norm, though all of them would die for each other and for the ISA. Sven was of Scandinavian descent. Sven smiled slightly. "Yes" was the simple answer he gave.

"I was wondering, why our allies would hide this from us. For wealth? For knowledge?" He tapped the arm rest with his right hand, his robes the same as the Captains, only the pendant over his right chest slightly different. "Though with the Drakiri, the answer is relatively simple." He stood from the chair as he crossed his arms.

"Wealth and knowledge." Replied Mikal. Mikal's arms where held behind his back as he stood next to Sven. "The Drakiri learned of the shadow tech and have since started to try to reclaim it. This is foolish as it will only draw the attention of the Drakh. Peladias 4, a leisure world in an otherwise unremarkable system, will be caught in the cross fire."

Sven nodded his head. "The Drakiri have sent a Fleet under Admiral Ve'kir to secure the system. He is a well known and respected admiral from the shadow war." He turned and command deck crew and smiled. "Still their tech is outdated and their crews not as well trained as ours." He patted Mikal on the shoulder, Despite the strange look Mikal gave him at such a jesture. " Tell Captain Yukio to get the Takao, Shimekaze, Huuya, and the Prinz Eugen ready for Battle. I want to send in her group with the Black Sun Squadron to take the Research station around Peladias 8. I want to keep this fight away from Peladias 4 if possible."

Mikal nodded and moved to give the orders.

~~~~~~
Admiral Ve'kir listened to the Over manager for Research and Development drone on about how the loss of this resource would adversely effect the stock prices of the region. After another 20 minutes of corporate talk that went around in circles, the call ended. He rotated the chair to face the screen window of his office. He poured himself some tanna tea and sipped on it. The Pashev, a Cormumai class warship, had the small luxaries in life that made this type of duty worth it.

A buzz at his door announced his Aide Ma'yin. She came in and handed him his reports on the data pad. He enjoyed her view as was his want, he had three wives back home. Perhaps after this he would add a fourth, the bonus if he did well would make it easy to placate his other wives with gifts. He sipped his tea as he waved her away and typed out the orders for his group. He would take and secure the Leisure planet first, hopefully to draw the enemy away from the real location of the Shadow cache, which was well hidden deep in the outer reaches of the system. Even the Human research center at Peladias 8 was tempting. However he did not go for it as it did not assist his long term plans. He knew that the ISA would stay away from a heavily populated world and thus it would make the ideal location to launch out of as well as repair and replace personal at a lower cost.

He stood up and lifted his tea cup to the imaginary ISA admiral and wished him ill luck.

 
 



« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 12:48:35 am by Ulric the Grey »

Ulric the Grey

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2018, 10:56:15 am »
Ok here are the Starting Fleet lists. For those of you who know B5:A CAll to arms, or any other Table top wargame, ships die fast and as such I will be changing this after each narrative battle.

ISA-
War rating
White Star Carrier- Zuikaku Crew quality 6
Battle Rating
White Star Gunships - Takao Crew Quality 6
White Star Gunships- Hornet Crew Quality 5

Raid rating
White Stars- Sims - Crew Quality 5
  Amazon - Crew Quality 5
  Kagaru - Crew Quality 5
  Shimakaze - Crew Quality 5
  PRinz Eugen - Crew Quality 5
  Huuga - Crew Quality 5

Skirmish Rating
Nor'lo Tar Frigates- Terror - Crew Quality 6
  Erbus - Crew Quality 6
  Vampire - Crew Quality 5
  Z23 - Crew Quality 5

Patrol Rating
  8 White Star fighters of various crew qualities. 188th Night Witches Squadron.
  6 Blue Stars Various crew Qualities, Black Sun Squadron.


Brakiri Sydicracy-
War Rating
Cormumai Class Dreadnaught - Pashev Crew Quality 5

Battle Rating
-Jago – Crew Qualities 6
- Goron – Crew Qualities 5
- Wurcon- Crew Qualities 4
- Talwyn – Crew Qualities 4

Raid Rating
3 Brokadoas Battle Carrier Crew qualities
                -Blanche- Crew Qualities 5
      -Slaveniko- Crew Qualities 4
      - Gecevski -crew qualities 4
2 haltona class frigates Crew Qualities
      - Petar – Crew Qualites 4
      - Nachev- Crew Qualites 4

Patrol Rating
24 Flights of fighters of various qualities.


Dakkar

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2018, 01:54:59 pm »
Neat write up, and I look forward to battle reports.

Are we still on for the 10th? I'll get the sheets out to you NLT than this weekend.

Oh, and how are you determining Crew Quality? Just a roll?
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Ulric the Grey

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2018, 02:16:51 pm »
Yeah, still up for the game dakkar. As for the crew Quality we are using the Crew quality table on page....80. ISA gets a Plus one on their crew quality to a max of 6 for crew quality. So you roll for crew quality for ISA per norm, then increase the Crew quality rolled by one. It really helps with Skin Dancing tactic, otherwise if I had a 4 crew quality I would need a 5 or lose a ship, not worth it.

Landlubber

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2018, 12:32:23 am »
Not a big fan of the source material (although i do love the Starfury design), but this sounds like you're shaping up to have a good campaign. Looking forward to seeing how it develops. Please post some pictures too!
"Sometimes, you gotta roll the hard six."--Commander Adama

Dakkar

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2018, 12:45:57 pm »
Not a big fan of the source material

At which episode did you stop watching again?
"History is-a made at night. Character is what you are in the dark!"
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Ulric the Grey

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2018, 05:13:46 pm »
System Make up....

1. Leisure world

2. Research Center Outpost

3. Dead World (toxic) unusual EMP ( targeting sensors confused all ships gain +1 stealth while battling here, if they dont have stealth they gain stealth 2+)

4. Inner system comet ( mineral rich, -10% to reinforcement rounding up)

5. Dead world ( Ice)

6. uninhabitable world ( temperate)


Turn 1 (this turn has no narration, due to the actions being planned in the opening narration)

ISA Takes Research Center.
Brakiri Takes the Leisure world
No battles
RR gained (ISA 23, Brakiri 23)

Turn 2

December 26th, 2271

Zuikaku, White Star Carrier
In orbit around Research Center Ikoras

Vice Admiral Vidar pulled up the Video feed to the Frigate Terror, Ranger Juan appeared on screen. Ranger Juan was of hispanic descent and had shaved his head bald to mimic that of the minbari on his crew. "Juan old friend, I need you to intercept the Brakiri task force heading towards Comet Romeo Charle 3. They are not to Interfere with the mining operations that we are setting up to support our operations here."

"Not a problem sir, I and the Black sun Blue stars will give them something to think about if they wish to move forward with their plans." Juan nodded to Admiral Vidar. "Anything else sir?"

"No... Take care old friend" Vidar killed the link and as the screen blinked out, a young Japanese woman in ranger robes was across the room and bowed to the Admiral.

"You called for me Admiral?" She looked up at the admiral as she stood straight, an old Katana positioned on her left side under the robes could be made out.

"Yes. I need you to gather up your task force Yukio. I think our next move will get the enemy to commit, I need you to give them a bloody nose."

Yukio gave a wicked smile, her features marking her as extremely beautiful by human standards, but her smile gave her the appearance of a deadly predator. " You Honor me, Admiral..."

BRAKIRI

The Blanche, a Battle carrier, and the Petar moved through the vastness of space. The star of the Peladias System shone behind them, making them visible to the naked eye if one was close enough to their passing. On the bridge of the Blanche Captain Nue'ok stood at the view screen with his hands behind his back. He watched as the small task force moved towards some sensor ghosts at a near by nebula on their way towards the comet, which Nue'ok had not bothered to remember the name of. It was just another ball of dust and minerals, a resource for them to use. He had his fighters out escorting the ships, their were reports of Blue stars and white star fighters... so he made sure he had the Combat Space Patrol out in preparations.  As he thought about the enemy ships, an alarm went off throughout the ship.

"What is that...." Nue'ok tried to speak out, but suddenly a Nor'lo Tar ISA frigate brust out from the Nebula firing its Mini-beams and anti fighter weapons. The Beams impacted his ship, Jarring him off his feet. The world slowed down as he fell backwards his shock turned into icy fear as 4 blue stars followed behind the Frigate firing their weapons as they hugged the battle carrier. The Ship exploded around him, crew members being sucked out into space as the bridge opened up like a tin can under the heavy fire.

ISA.

The Terror glided inbetween the two larger war ships, as the blue stars skin danced the battle carrier after the Terror had blown the fighter wings out of the void with its anti fighter weapons. The fire power of the 5 ships caused the battle carrier to burst into flames and list slowly to the port side. The other Cruiser was just being roused to action but by then, the Terror would be out of its firing arcs, of its most powerful weapons. "Blue Star 401 thru 404, make one more pass at the Battle carrier. The Terror will open a jump point and pull out. Once the Blanche is down, you are to regroup with the Terror at the designated coordinates."

"Message Recieved." replied Blue Star 401. "Squadron will return to hyperspace and met up with Terror at designated corrdinates."

The Terror opened up a tear in real space as the Petar moved to try to bring its weapons to bear on the frigate. The blue stars did one more pass, screaming by at high speeds, firing all their weapons into the crippled battle carrier, another explosion shuttered through the ship one moment before its sides split and flame and gas spilled out from it in a mighty explosion. As the gas cleared up, a damaged blue star followed behind the lead blue star to take its exit point it opened.

Ranger Juan smiled as the Terror slipped into its jump point vanishing in a sea of red.

Turn 2: ISA Won chooses to go to the comet to take it, Brakiri moved to stop. Battle rolled was ambush at the skirmish level. ISA won battle, 20 Victory points to none.
ISA gains 21 RR to 44 RR. Brakiri gain 8 RR going to 31 RR. No Ship xp used.


Landlubber

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2018, 08:45:53 pm »
Not a big fan of the source material

At which episode did you stop watching again?

Sometime early in season 3. I could see that there was a really interesting story, and I love the ship designs (especially the Starfury and the Minbari cruiser that looks like an angelfish), but I just couldn't get past the bad graphics and mostly poor acting. I know that's a subjective statement and I'm not trying to slaughter anyone's sacred cow, but it was too distracting for me.
"Sometimes, you gotta roll the hard six."--Commander Adama

Ulric the Grey

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2018, 12:58:52 pm »
will be updatin tomorrow, broke my tailbone last week and thus am not up to sitting for prolonged periods.

Landlubber

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2018, 10:14:44 pm »
will be updatin tomorrow, broke my tailbone last week and thus am not up to sitting for prolonged periods.

Eesh. Sounds painful. Hope you can recover soon.
"Sometimes, you gotta roll the hard six."--Commander Adama

Ulric the Grey

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2018, 03:42:57 pm »
Sorry about the prolonged wait. Had difficulties in sitting down to even get in the last game. Also not going to be doing the narrative part. Reason is the sitting.... so will be posting the last 3 battle reports in this post.


Call to arms. Battle 2,

5 points of Battle both sides.

ISA uses 4 White Stars, 6 Blue Stars, 2  frigate, 1 white star gunship, and the rest on White Star fighters.

Braikiri uses 2 cruisers, 3 battle carriers, and one cruiser, the rest fighters, a total of 18 to the 10 white star fighters, plus they are fleet carriers.

Game lasted 3 turns with the ISA having 2 busted frigates, 1 white star crippled and skeletoned, the White star gunship damaged, 2 blue stars, and a handful of fighters gone...

the Braikiri had one heavy cruiser gone, and 2 cruisers damaged serverely. The game was a draw after all points added up.

Game 3- blockade

Really short game here, ISA 2 white stars, one Brakiri cruiser. Brakiri cruiser got through with heavy luck with close blast door rolls.

Game 4 was Carrier fight.... we both rolled war for prioity level and over 7 war points we decided to bring everything. At the end of the fight the Braikiri and the ISA with a close draw, the ISA just 5 VP over. The fight swung in Braikiri favor with 2 lucky drift hits on the White star carrier and the Marathon class EA ship. All in all it was a fun game, Next campaign I will have pictures and hopefully will give more in depth narration, but with me having to type on my knees and not on a seat... I hope you all understand. 

Landlubber

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Re: B5 Camgaign with Co- worker using Vassal.
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2018, 08:23:23 pm »
Ulric, your devotion to the hobby is commendable.  ;) Hope you heal up soon.

Looking forward to seeing pics of this!
"Sometimes, you gotta roll the hard six."--Commander Adama