From: adrian@hades.ic.cmc.ca (Adrian Earle)
Subject: Re: DF&E: Hydran or Kzinti Graveyard ?
Keywords: F&E
Organization: Canadian Microelectronics Corporation
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:39:12 GMT

In article <1993Jan22.121916.27728@st-andrews.ac.uk> ccjm@st-andrews.ac.uk (Colin Charles James MacDonald) writes:
>In article <1993Jan21.173121.2993@dct.ac.uk> mcsbc3maw@dct.ac.uk writes:
>>
	What to do question deleted.
>
>All IMHO): I have only ever played one full game of F&E, as the Lyrans. We
>did not engage the Kzinti heavily enough, so that they were still a threat
>when the Hydrans entered the game. That left us fighting heavily on two fronts,
>and things went downhill pretty rapdily. The Klingon (against my advice) built
>a B-10 and lost it in its first engagement. They make *wonderful* targets. If
>you are *really* winning and want a high density unit for, say, a capital
>assault, then I suppose it might be useful, but only if you *really* don't mind
>losing it, 'cause you will.
>The Romulans attacked the Gorn in our campaign. Again, this was probably a 
>mistake, as it left the Fed's clear to come and mop up us Western races. As
>far as I can see, the Roms are going down anyway, so you may as well use them
>to force the Feds to ease up on the Klingons until you can well and truly
>paste the Hyrans and Kzinti, and consolidate the Fed border. You may as well
>just ignore the Tholians.
>
>Our problem was that all the races were controlled by individual players none
>of whom wished to take 'do-or-die' gambols by engaging decisively.
>I, for instance, re-enforced my Hydran border pre-emptively, which meant that
>I could not paste the Kzinti's on turn 1. The Rom claimed that there was no
>point in him engaging the Feds because he 'could not win'. All sensible and
>I suspect realistic, but if you are going to be the aggressor, be aggressive.
>

It has been a while since I looked at DF&E but:

The B10 is practically invulnerable:  Can't you place it in the box on 
the tactical display :  the one that makes each directed damage point
only worth 1/3 point actual damage.  This means that 60 points of 
damage are required to cripple the B10 (a 20 point ship).   This is 
only going to happen if you attack something with 240 compot with 25%
damage.  That's two starbases, a defense regiment and a fleet.  If 
you face this situation send in lesser ships to strafe the planet and 
remove the defense battalions.  Then commit the B10 to the slugging
match to reduce the starbases.  

Some general advice:  NEVER allow the Kzintis to build another 
starbase in their capital:  the Klingons will wreck their fleet 
trying to take it out.  Conversely the Kzintis should try for 2
additional starbases in the capital system.  

Never remove ships as losses, just cripple them.  This game is a long 
term (economic) slugging match.  Never use repair ships unless critical.

Why:  consider 6 damage points:  
	you could remove a E4  (4 to cripple 2 more to destroy)
	or you could cripple a D5?  ( 5 points, last one ignored)
	to replace the E4 is 4 (or 3?) Econ Points 
	to repair (at a base ) the D5 is 1EP
Economic efficiency is gained.

As the Klingon/Lyran player I would concentrate on the Kzintis.  The 
hydrans can attack you but that releases several fleets.  Just make sure
no hydran ship reaches the federation.  The hydran fleet is small and can 
only effectively attack on one front.  They are not strong enough 
to do much damage to a proper setup.  Then the other ally can go on the 
offensive and do more damage as the hydran bases won't be defended.

One last note:  learn how to attack (and defend) battle stations 
and starbases (with and without maulers).

adrian


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