D/FW Mechwarrior's Guild: The endless struggle of brains versus bleach!

[whistler]

sevengates, just wanted to let you know i will not be coming by tomorrow. not feeling very well :/ 

and also, thank you SO much for handing my jacket over to Mike. i would have been pissed if i had lost it. appreciate it!

[sevengates]

yeah.....I found it just after you left the shop. If I had remembered Terence's phone number, I would have called you back.

 Today, Sam and I played the Axis & Allies naval game; torpedos are EVIL }:)

[sevengates]

WELLLLLL I finally did it.....

I just put in an order from GHQ for some Chinese ships: 1 carrier, 2 Type 52D destroyers (just added to their catalogue), and a 1 Taizhou Project 956EM; the carrier comes with choppers and fighters; the 52s come with 3 choppers each.

[Weirdo]

Nice! I think their carrier might come with deck marking decals.

[Weirdo]

So Alpha Strike this weekend? I've got a 400-point force ready to go. :)

[sevengates]

HUZZAH....just got an e-mail from GHQ that my order has shipped O0

[AchanhiArusa]

I'll have to find the force I made last time.

[Weirdo]

A thought for this weekend's Naval Command scenario: Should I stick with a USN defending force, or try to build a Chinese group and we'll just use US minis?

[AchanhiArusa]

Just in case I have the Naval Sitrep issues with China scenarios:

#41 October 2011: "The Wisdom of Shi Lang"
China is worried about disruptions of oil supplies and wish to expand into the South China Sea.  They are going to seize and establish a base on Thitu Island (Chinese name:  Zhongye Hao) from the Phillipines which will allow them to consolidate their holdings to allow them to make earnest oil and gas exploration.  The newly commissioned Shi Lang is to spearhead this new "exercise" under the cover of night, but a Vietnamese Patrol plane spotted it.  The Taiwanese and Vietnamese governments have caught wind of this, also believing they will include the Pratas Islands in this claim.  The Chinese want to complete the drill and prevent any foreign naval vessel within 20 nm of the carrier.  The Vietnamese and Taiwanese want to inflict as much damage as possible in a hit and run, preferably on the carrier.

PRC Forces
Shi Lang (Ex Russian Varyag) with 6 J-15s, 6 Ka-28 ASWs and 3 Ka-31 AEW helicopters
Taizhou (138), Russian Pr. 965EM DDG
Lanzhou (170), Type 052C {Luyang II} DDG
Guangzhou (168) Type 052 B {Jiangki II} FFG
Ma'anshan (525), Type 054 {Jiangkai I FF}

Vietnamese Forces
Dinh Tien Hoang, Ngo Quyen (both Russian Pr. 11660 Gepard FF)
HQ 379, HQ 381, HQ 382, HQ 384 (all Russian Pr. 124.8 {Tarantul V] PGG)

Taiwanese Forces
Strike Group I
Makung, Ex-US Kidd DDG
Pan Chao, Tien Tan, both Kuang Hua I FFG

Strike Group 2
Si Ning, Di Hua, Chen Te, all Kuang Hua II FF

#27 October 2004:  "Taiwan Tripwire"
A Taiwanese push for full independence "inspires" PLAN to conduct a large-scale missile exercise.  Both countries believe that China is poised to attack and Taiwan believes it doesn't have time to lose and decides to act on its own.  Six CSS-6 are "accidentally" fired over Taiwan.  The The PLAN missile monitoring ship Yuanwang I is placed just outside Taiwanese waters with an SAG on patrol about 25 nm away.  Taiwan dispatches the Dragon SAG to sink the ship but they must do it within 12 nm of shore to give it legitimacy.  Once the ship is attacked the PLAN SAG is to protect it and if necessary avenge it.

Ships (ROC)
Chi Teh, Ex-US Kidd DDG
Cheng Ho, Kuang Hua I FFG (Modified OH Perry class)
Cheung Kung, Kuang Hua I FFG (Modified OH Perry class)
Kang Ding, Kuang Hua II FF (modified French La Fayette)
Chi Yang, Ex-US Knox FF

MD 500MD/ASW helicopters and S-70 Thunderhawk helicopters (unspecified numbers)

Ships (PLAN)
Wuhan, Type 052B [Luyang I] DDG
Ma An Shan, Type 054 [Jiangkai] FF
Tonqing, Type 055 [Jiangwei] FF

#35, October 2008:  "Taiwan Skirmish"
Tensions between the ROC and PDR have lead to war.  PLA amphibious forces are gathering at ports to conduct "an internal test of China's ability to defend against foreign aggression".  US aid is about 5 days away.  Civilian shipping has had a variety of responses, but both sides are Identifying and Inspecting all civilian shipping and disabling any ship that is heading for a hostile port.  Both are attempting to create an opening to make a surprise missile attack on enemy units.

ROC Forces:
Search Group I
Kang Ding (Kuang Hua II FF)
FABG 14, 15, 16, 17 (all Hai Ou PGGs)

Search Group II
Hsi Ning (Kuang Hua II FF)
FABG 18, 19, 20, 21 (all Hai Ou PGGs)

Support Group:
Cheung Kung (Kuang Hua I FFG)
Chi Yang (Ex-US Knox FF)
FABG 32, 33, 34, 35 (all Hai Ou PGGs)

Air Support:
Four F-5Es, E-2T Hawkeye, MD 500MD/ASW helicopters (one per Kuang Hua II and Ex-Us Knox), S-70 Thunderhawk helicopters (unspecified numbers),  and USAF E-3 Sentry

PLAN Forces (forces haven't been fully mobilized)
Haibing 722 (Yanha class AGI), masquerading as a tug.

First Attack Squadron
528 (Honqi class AK)
618, 619, 620 (all Type 037 {Hainan} PC)

Second Attack Squadron
6 Type 022 {Houbei} PGG

Civilian Shipping:
1 Passenger ship
8 Container Ships
4 Bulk Carriers
6 Freighters
1 VLCC
9 Tankers
6 Cargo Ships
2 Ro-Ros
1 Tug
1 Heavy Lift Ship

And then last in a different vein Issue #30, April 2006:  "What's a Veritech?"

2nd Operational Situation:  Chinese naval and air units are carrying out a massive campaign against Taiwan, attacking both military and civilian Targets.  Task Forces 70 and 74 have deployed to the area, each of which has a squadron (12 planes) of Valkyrie Fighters.

[Weirdo]

Some of those cannot be played, because we don't have stats for the needed ships.

Any input on the question?

[sevengates]

I thought that the USN WAS subbing for a Chinese defense force, or did I just misunderstand the discussion?

and thanks for the e-mail; now, I just need to convince the computer to talk to the printer.

[Weirdo]

As I understand, the idea was that since your Chinese aren't in yet we'd use US ships and US stats and call it a wargames exercise. I'm asking if people would rather use Chinese stats and just proxy with US minis.

[sevengates]

AAAHHH.....I understand; the second option would be better then.

[sevengates]

Xin Sheng!!!!!! ALL HAIL HIS CELESTIAL WISDOM!!!!!!

.......my boats have arrived  }:) }:).....and that's a big carrier :o.........btw......total point value is 16pts

also...I was able to print out the ship sheets Terence sent me; looks like I may have the wrong program for printing the X-wing stuff ( I can't adjust the scale).

If I may, make a request for someone to print out some Gear boxes; I'll put them together.

[Weirdo]

Got the island attack scenario ready for this weekend:

Attacker:
Marine Nationale/JMSDF
Mistral-class x1
La Fayette-class x1
Rubis-class x1
Kongo-class x2
Asagiri-class x1
Hatsuyuki-class x1

Fleet Total 22 pts

Defender
PLAN
Air Base x1
(J-15 x8, Z-8 x2)
SAM Site x2
Type-52D Luyang III-class x2
Type-53H3 Jiangwei II-class x1
Type-54A Kiankai II-class x2

Fleet Total 22 pts
Terrain: There will be numerous islands and patches of shallow water. Shallow water does not hinder most ships, but submarines may not go deep. Water within 5cm of any island is too shallow for any warships, only landing craft may cross such water(likely heading directly towards the island in question).

Weather: Weather conditions will be Unsettled, and thus variable from turn to turn. Because so much of the PLAN's defenses rely on air power, any result that prohibits air operations will be rerolled, but the second roll will stand even if another nasty weather result is rolled. Aircraft already airborne when things get rough are not lost, but they are busy fighting to stay aloft and may not launch, land, or perform any game-useful actions until things calm down.

Both sides are under Higher Authority rules of engagement. This means that before a target can be attacked, it must first be identified visually. Once IDed, a request to that player's higher authority(the flag small for this theater, the nation's political leadership, etc) is made, and permission is granted on a roll of 5+. If the roll fails, the target cannot be attacked, but you can try for authorization again the next turn.

Submarines do not need to be visually IDed, and any unit that attacks one of yours automatically grants you authorization to return fire. Authorization to attack the airbase must be granted before the Mistral can launch any transports.

[Weirdo]

I will not be there this weekend.

[sevengates]

Just to give everyone a heads up, Mike (Gen X store manager) will be bringing his "stash" of Axis & Allies ground forces Sunday; now I just need to put a 100pt force together.

[Weirdo]

Do we want to do A&A instead of Battletech, then?

I'm up for either, just need to know in time to prep a force.

[sevengates]

I believe A&A was suggested a couple of weeks ago, so lets give it a try.

[Weirdo]

Works for me. 100 points, you said?

[AchanhiArusa]

100 points is the tournament limit.  Are we playing it strictly or am I using my Gear Krieg pieces?  I have cards printed.  If not, that is fine, I have a large Japanese force.

[Weirdo]

I'm fine with facing off against giant robots if everyone else is. :)

[AchanhiArusa]

I was thinking about 200.  I know I still have to calibrate the unit cost of my Gears since all costs were determined just like CRs were in 3e, by checking them in combat.  But I have 99 points in those four and I would like to have some infantry support as well as a chance to use my nice new A20 fighters (just one, the Zero Escort, I do have a pair of Corsairs of anyone wants to use them).

[sevengates]

I sense a Pacific theater theme here.

[AchanhiArusa]

The British, the US Army, Australia, Canadians and New Zealanders all fought alongside the USMC on the island hopping campaign.  Too bad they didn't have any Melanesian units, since many of them rebelled as Allied troops got nearer the villages.  The Dutch, French Colonial army, Indians, Indochinese, Germans, and Chinese fought in the CBI theater (the Germans lost four cruisers and 10 submarines off the coast of India).  And the Russians and the Chinese fought in Manchuria against the Japanese.

[AchanhiArusa]

And Thailand was an Axis power.

[Weirdo]

I've already set up my stuff for 100 points, and won't really have the chance to redo things before the game. I guess we'll pit two groups against your robots.

[AchanhiArusa]

If four people show up we can do two 100 point Japanese groups against two 100 point Allied groups.

[Weirdo]

I'm bringing Germans, and an American force for Whistler.

[AchanhiArusa]

I guess that makes Sevengates an ally:

Here is the army builder:  http://www.aamcardbase.com/army_builder.aspx