Howdy,
Backstory: The storyline for the scenario is tied in with my ongoing Mecha Decision Project.
The Colonial Development Union (CDU) is intervening in the Musketeer System, after shipments of fusion metals have been disrupted by civil unrest. The Musketeer System is a smaller frontier system planned to be highlighted in the ultimate Mecha Decision scenario book.
The Musketeer System has a star, Constance, very similar to Sol in mass and stellar output. Four planetary bodies and an asteroid belt:
Porthos is a large gas giant with an orbital radius of about 6 AU. 3 moons --- Jume, Brebis, and Beuf.
The asteroid belt, the Rapier Belt, is located between about 4 to 5 AU. One mining station --- D'artangan. The output from the asteroid mining is the primary reason for settlements in the Musketeer system.
Aramis is small dry planet with thin atmosphere and an orbital radius of about 1.5 AU. One moon --- Bazin. A small Rescue Service station is in orbit around Aramis.
The habitable world is Dumas and is earthlike with two continental areas (Minerva & Athena). It has an orbital radius of about 1.03 AU. 1 moon --- Anne. Recent mineral discoveries of "fusion metals" on Dumas – drive outside interest and conflict.
Athos is a small hot rocky planet with an orbital radius of about 0.5 AU. No moons.
Minerva is an island off the "western" continental mass on Dumas. Initial settlement of the island was made along the eastern coast. With growing populations, more rugged individuals moved inland seeking land and fortune. Yet, the administrative heart of the area remained on the coast.
This has caused conflict, as the uplanders did not feel represented by the coastal centered government. What would have stayed, a low-level pseudo conflict was escalated by the discovery of fusion metals inland, and CDU intervention. Ham-handed CDU peace-keeping unified a significant portion of the Minervans. The wealth from the mining has allowed the Minervans access to high-quality military equipment.
The Minervan Defense Forces (MDF) have small planetary defense squadron, consisting of the Destroyers Ajax and Hector, and the Light Cruiser Priam. The CDU has sent a Task Force to manage the situation. The CDU TF consists of a Heavy Cruiser, a Strike Cruiser, a squadron of 6 Destroyers, and several freighters carrying an Expeditionary Force.
The initial "Exploding Spaceships" scenario addresses the MDF defense as the CDU TF approaches the planet. The CDU squadron for the encounter includes the Heavy Cruiser Cataphract, and the Destroyers Javelin, Spatha, and Mace. The remainder of the TF remains in the outsystem, beyond the Jump Limit, until the space around Dumas is secured.
"Exploding Spaceships" uses the same type of basic system (i.e., action cards, command chits etc.) as the rules, So Convenient for Hewing. Action cards are:
1) Movement of ships
2) Shoot
3) Missile launch
4) Damage control
5) Free choice of action
6) End-of-Turn
Fighters have two hull boxes.
Escorts have 4 hull boxes.
Cruisers have 6 or 9 hull boxes.
Capital Ships have 18 or 36 hull boxes.
Ships are built by assigning capabilities to the hull boxes. For comparison, consider:
The MDF destroyers in the game had FTL, Acceleration, Screens, and a Beam weapon hull boxes. They were also purchased with Veteran crew (6 pts each).
While the CDU destroyers had, FTL, Armor, Screens and a Beam weapon hull boxes. These ships had Regular rated crew (4 pts each).
I believe all of the players had fun yesterday. The game was played at Saga Games in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, 2/19. We will replay this scenario again.
The Dark Age skirmish rules, So Convenient for Hewing are available from lulu.com. Search by title.
Photo 1 – At start location of the MDF squadron, near the planet Dumas. The black spheres represent the locations of unspotted ships. The MDF squadron consisted of two destroyers and a light cruiser.
Photo 2 – At start location of the CDU squadron, on approach to Dumas. The CDU squadron consisted of three destroyers and a heavy cruiser.
Photo 3 – As the squadrons close, the CDU heavy cruiser, Cataphract, launches missiles against the MDF flagshit, Priam.
Photo 4 – The MDF spoofs the missile, and the ships close to beam range (12").
Photo 5 – Pass through.
Photo 6 – The more mobile MDF ships turn in pursuit.
Photo 7 – Pursuit
Photo 8 – The MDF mousetraps the CDU cruiser.
Photo 9 – The Cataphract fails morale. All of the dispersed CDU squadron maneuver to leave the table.
The next game is tentatively planned near the end of March at Saga Games in Frederick, MD.
Ponder on,
JAS
