From: gee7759@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Glenn Elliott)
Subject: Re: SFB: Tholian Invunerablity
Organization: Boeing Computer Services
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 20:37:22 GMT

Stephan Fassmann, Software ($stephan@sasb) wrote:

: I was looking at the Tholians and I think I can see a way to make them 
: invinsible BUT I don't think any one can afford to fight them just from a 
: BPV/S8.0 standpoint. 

Tholian SHIPS are not that hard to beat, even with the Web Caster.  But,
since the rest of your post deals with base assaults, I must assume you are
referring to an invincible BASE.

In that case, I have to agree with you.  Assaulting a Tholian base of any
sort is one of the most difficult scenarios in the game.

: All you have to do is place a base with wedding cake in the center of the 
: map. Around it you six other bases with wedding cakes. Now all you need is a 
: couple of Web Tenders to recharge the webs from the edges which are 
: protected by the center base. I guess you could do this without the center 
: base.

Even better is the Tholian Buzzsaw.  You only need one base (and a couple of
asteroids) in order to create a practically invulnerable base.

As I understand the concept, the Buzzsaw puts a base at the center of a twin
spiral of web.  The ends of the web are anchored to asteroids, and the spiral
needs to revolve far enough to provide two layers of web between the base and
any given attacker in order to be effective.  Like this:

      __    __    __    __    __ 
   __/  \__/  \__/W \__/  \__/  \__
  /  \__/  \__/W \__/W \__/  \__/  \
  \__/  \__/W \__/M \__/W \__/M \__/
  /  \__/W \__/M \__/  \__/W \__/A \
  \__/W \__/M \__/W \__/  \__/M \__/
  /W \__/M \__/W \__/W \__/W \__/W \
  \__/M \__/W \__/  \__/  \__/M \__/
  /W \__/W \__/  \__/W \__/W \__/W \
  \__/M \__/  \__/B \__/  \__/M \__/
  /W \__/W \__/W \__/  \__/W \__/W \
  \__/M \__/  \__/  \__/W \__/M \__/
  /W \__/W \__/W \__/W \__/M \__/W \
  \__/M \__/  \__/W \__/M \__/W \__/  
  /A \__/W \__/  \__/M \__/W \__/  \
  \__/M \__/W \__/M \__/W \__/  \__/
  /  \__/  \__/W \__/W \__/  \__/  \
  \__/  \__/  \__/W \__/  \__/  \__/
     \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/  \__/


The spiral, of course, can be extended as far as desired, but needs to be at
least as large as shown.  The best part is that the Buzzsaw only requires a
single base to maintain, yet keeps the base as the primary power source for
the web.

A couple of well placed mines (shown) makes it nearly impossible to penetrate
without suffering horribly.

Tholian ships within the spiral (in the correct places) can tractor their own
base to prevent movement, yet still allocate power for movement.  Then, when
an enemy ship is about to come within range, they can drop the tractor and
move behind the web again.

: As a cheaper, but less invunerable, alternative three bases can be recharged 
: from the central corner, but can be attacked if some brave (stupid) captain 
: dives his ship into the web but it will probably be a range 5 shot, and if 
: the Tholians rocky road the cake it will hurt alot.

: Too bad a Heavy Web Tender isn't allowed (a Large Ore Carrier filled with 
: APR) :-). 

Yeah, and you probably think we should just give Saddam Hussein a couple of
H-bombs, too, right?  :-)  Like the Tholians really NEED a heavy Web Tender...

Glenn
-- 
-- 
Glenn E. Elliott               | Anyone who believes that what I say or do
Computing Systems Analyst      | represents the policies or procedures of
Boeing Computer Services       | The Boeing Company has more lawyers than
gee7759@eeidf002.ca.boeing.com | they have common sense.
Newsgroups: rec.games.board