Sunday, March 9, 2014

Galactic Kampaigns - Part 2: Who's the Enemy, anyway?

To start a campaign, first we must determine who the combatants will be. You could just choose the factions yourself depending upon what fleets you have or what match ups you are interested in exploring. Otherwise, first, choose the faction that you will play. Then roll a D10 and cross reference the result with the faction to be played on the table below to find your opposition for the campaign:


D10 Roll
Carnivoran
Terran
Entomalian
Avarian
Aquarian
1
Aquarian
Aquarian
Aquarian
Aquarian
Avarian
2
Avarian
Avarian
Aquarian
Aquarian
Avarian
3
Avarian
Avarian
Avarian
Entomalian
Entomalian
4
Entomalian
Entomalian
Avarian
Entomalian
Entomalian
5
Entomalian
Entomalian
Avarian
Entomalian
Entomalian
6
Entomalian
Entomalian
Terran
Entomalian
Entomalian
7
Terran
Entomalian
Terran
Terran
Terran
8
Terran
Rebels
Terran
Terran
Terran
9
Terran
Carnivoran
Carnivoran
Carnivoran
Carnivoran
10
Rebels
Carnivoran
Carnivoran
Carnivoran
Carnivoran

The table above is my take on the probabilities of conflict based on the size, aggressiveness, history, and stellar geography as presented in the background materials accompanying Galactic Knights and the various Fleet supplements. Feel free to modify it according to your own needs. Rebels = a Rebel faction of the same race. This only appears for the Carnivorans, who are plagued by chronic infighting, and the Terrans, where there are already multiple splinter factions including Nova Liberia and the Kmet. If you don't want to fight rebels, simply roll again until another faction comes up.

"Stop calling it Aggression; we hate that Expression"

   Our entire campaign will take place in a single star system; you should name it for flavor and reference! If desired, take the same from the star maps accompanying the rules, maps from other sources, or from the pages of History and/or Science Fiction, or just make up a likely sounding name.

Campaign Morale
This is a key number in the SN Campaign system, as when it drops to zero for either side, the campaign is over, and the side reaching zero has lost (higher is better). I've assigned each Faction a rating, and explained my rationale for them below. rating will go up and/or down in the course of the campaign. There is no maximum Campaign Morale.

Terrans           4  (Expansionist)
Avarians         4  (favor defending their existing territory, diplomacy, but have sustained prolonged conflicts)
Entomalians    4  (Hive mind - the will of the individual is all but unimportant)
Carnivorans    3  (fractious, prone to infighting)
Aquarians       3  (prefer to choose their fights and keep losses to a minimum, their watery planets are inhospitable to other factions and all but impossible for others to hold for any length of time)
Rebels           3  (lack the resources for a protracted fight)

To determine which faction controls the systrem, roll a D6 for each faction and add their Campaign Morale, plus an additional +1 if the faction is Entomalian. The higher total is Contesting the system, and the lower is Controlling the system.  Re-roll any ties.


Crew Quality and REPutation
Star Navy assigns ships a REPutation ranging from a low of 2 (merchants, some pirates) to a high of 5 (the best ships and crew). It reflects the quality of both the ship's crew and also its systems. We'll need to use this concept for the campaign, but for our GK purposes we'll make it a bit more literally just Crew Quality, as follows:

Crew Rating Rep #
Raw 2
Green 3
Veteran 4
Elite 5

We'll also use this to re-balance the fleets a bit; the Aquarians in particular are supposed to have very well trained crews, so they will tend to have better crew Qualities. The Entomalians will have the worst crews on average, initiative generally being discouraged. We'll give the Terrans slightly above average crews (the Terran Navy has been fighting somebody almost nonstop since its inception), and the Avarians and Carnivorans  more or less average.

Mission: Improbable

The first mission of a Campaign will always be a PATROL mission. The first mission will be played with a single squadron of 3 ships (4 if you are playing the Entomalians - "Quantity has a Quality all its own!"). Subsequent missions will be rolled (using a D10)  for depending upon the nature of the previous Mission, and whether it was a Success or a Failure:


LAST MISSION
SUCCESS
FAILURE
Patrol
(1-7)  Hunt
(1-7)  Defend
Patrol
(8-10)  Attack
(8-10)  Convoy
Attack
(1-7)  Attack
(1-7)  Patrol
Attack
(8-10)  Hunt
(8-10)  Defend
Defend
(1-7)  Patrol
(1-7)  Defend
Defend
(8-10)  Hunt
(8-10)  Convoy
Hunt
(1-7)  Hunt
(1-7)  Patrol
Hunt
(8-10)  Attack
(8-10)  Convoy
Convoy
(1-7)  Patrol
(1-7)  Defend
Convoy
(8-10)  Hunt
(8-10)  Convoy


Fleets, Ships and Class

    At this point, it is necessary to make a digression to look at the various kinds of ships available to the Factions, and compare them. Then we can formulate a rating system to translate that used in Star Navy 5150 into Galactic Knights terms.

Star Navy 5150
SN Class
Hull Points
Point Cost (for Rep 4)
3
4
4
4
8
12
5
12
48
6
18
188
Name wise, Class 3 ships are basically Frigates, Corvettes, and Destroyers; Class 4 are Heavy and Light Cruisers, Class 5 are Light Carriers and Battle Cruisers/Battleships, and Cl;ass 6 (rare) are Attack Carriers and Dreadnoughts.


Galactic Knights
Ship Type
Size
Critical Hits
Build Pts
Hull
Star Bomber
3
2
30-40
5-8
Armored Pursuit Ship
3
3
35-45
5-10
Destroyer
3
4
45-60
7-15
Destroyer Leader
4
5
61-100
10-18
Cruiser
5
6
101-150
16-26
Battlecruiser
6
8
151-230
22-36
Attack Carrier
7
8
200 - 300
30-46
Dreadnought
7
9
221 - 350
30-46
Galactic Dreadnought
7
10
351-500
36-50
Super Galactic Dreadnought
8
12
501-700
40 - 70


Here are the ships of the various factions (standard designs as in the rule books)

TERRANS
The Terrans (or properly, the Terran Trans-solar Federation originated on Earth and the earliest worlds coloninized by humans. Like humans often will, there soon developed political divisions and separatist movements, most prominently Nova Liberia and The Khmet. Terran ships are more or less the baseline agaist which other races's navies are compared. The humans developed shield technology, but it was only months into the unexpected war with the Avarians before they managed to steal and/or copy it.
Terran Ship Type
Class
Points Cost
Star Bomber SB
Mars
104
Armored Pursuit Ship SAPS
Dauntless
86
Stellar Destroyer SD
Swiftsure
124
Stellar Destroyer Leader SDL
Samurai
186
Stellar Cruiser SC
Ranger
336
Galactic Battlecruiser GB
Formidable
580
Galactic Dreadnought GD
Invincible
754
Galactic Dreadnought GD-2
Valiant
988
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC
Constellation
996
Super Galactic Dreadnought
Victory
1522
Also  Havoc  class Galactic Transport (GTP), no stats provided


AVARIANS
The Avarians (again, more properly the Avarian United Worlds, or  "Tweeties" in the slang that Terran spacers use) are a race of birdlike creatures somewhat smaller than humans in size.They fought a bitter war  with the Terrans based upon mutual misunderstandings following First Contact. Aty present, there is an uneasy truce between the Terrans and the Avarians as a result of the much greater threat posed by the Entomalioan Invasion. That is not to say that no conflict occurs between them, but such fighting as occurs now is usually limited to jockeying for advantage  in uninhabited border systems. Natural pilots, the Avarian Carriers and fighters are decidedly superior to the Terran equivalents, and they rely heavily on Fighters and Missile combat, plus their powerful but short ranged Rail Guns.

Avarian Ship Type
Class
Points Cost
Star Bomber SB
Buzzard
91
Armored Pursuit Ship SAPS
Sparrow
94
Stellar Destroyer SD
Hawk
158
Stellar Destroyer Leader SDL
Screech Owl
242
Stellar Cruiser SC
Falcon
426
Galactic Battlecruiser GB
Eagle
682
Galactic Dreadnought GD
Condor
848
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC
Vulture
1110
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC-2
Nest
1256
Super Galactic Dreadnought
Gryphon
1664
Also, Turkey Class GTP, no stats provided. 


ENTOMALIANS
Properly the Entomalian Empire, but "Bugs" or "Maggots" to Terrans, this race of advanced insectoid creatures is rigidly heirarchical, the social structure being reinforced by short range telepathy on the part of the Queens. Entonmalian Technology stagnated centuries ago, and thus they lack shields and electronic countermeasures. However, their ships are heavily armored and durable, and are produced in seeminmgly limitless numbers by a process part biological and part mechanical.

Entomalian Ship Type
Class
Points Cost
Star Bomber SB
Sting
97
Armored Pursuit Ship SAPS
Louse
80
Stellar Destroyer SD
Wasp
112
Stellar Destroyer Leader SDL
Mandible
243
Stellar Cruiser SC
Hornet
354
Galactic Battlecruiser GB
Roach
569
Galactic Battlecruiser GB-2
Scorpion
616
Galactic Deadnought GD
Mantis
882
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC
Hive
963
Super Galactic Dreadnought
Swarm
1663
Also  Locust Class GTP, no Stats provided

CARNIVORANS
The Carnivoran Republic is composed of "Priodes" of varying degree of influence. There is constant jockeying for power both within and between Prides. The Carnivorans resemble large Lions in appearance, although Terran spacer slang for them is "Kitties". Most contact with them has been raiders, but it is belied the Prides will likley unite if their core worlds are seriously threatened. Their space faring technology is relatively new and ppoorly developed, including a lack of Shields. They make up for this by using especially strong polyphase armor, and shield stripping missile technology. Carnivoran ships generally mount large numbers of relatively short range weapons, favoring close in combat.
Carnivoran Ship Type
Class
Points Cost
Star Bomber SB
Snarl
97
Armored Pursuit Ship SAPS
Kitten
98
Stellar Destroyer SD
Cheetah
144
Stellar Destroyer Leader SDL
Puma
215
Stellar Cruiser SC
Panther
366
Galactic Battlecruiser GB
Lion
565
Galactic Battlecruiser GB-2
Tomcat
517
Galactic Deadnought GD
Hellcat
809
Galactic Deadnought GD-2
Tiger
876
Galactic Dreadnought GD-3
Jaguar
1053
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC
Den
866
Super Galactic Dreadnought
Polecat
1597
Galactic Transport GTP
Cub
119


AQUARIANS
The Aquarian Alliance is an enigma in many ways. They have the been in space the longest, and have the most advanced technology. They prefer to maintain a neutral stance, and thus may be aiding a faction in one sector and opposing it elsewhere. The Aquarians ("Fishies" to Terran spacers) resemble rather short, bipedal fish and are water breathers.  There ships are relatively lightly armorted, but their use of Nannite technology allows it to "shift" to the most threatened area of the ship. Their fighters use launch tubes and thus the fighter bays are much better protected than on other ships. They use their Harpoon missiles to dampen the energy of all weapons employed by the targeted ship. Finally, their specialized Pulse cannons tend to strip off armor and superficial systems without damaging jump engines or life support. All of these support the Aquarian tactical doctrine which calls for limiting loss of life on target vessels.

Aquarian Ship Type
Class
Points Cost
Star Bomber SB
Wahoo Mk 1
86
Star Bomber SB-2
Wahoo Mk 2
90
Armored Pursuit Ship SAPS
Dolphin
90
Stellar Destroyer SD
Pihana
128
Stellar Destroyer Leader SDL
Tigershark
245
Stellar Cruiser SC
Baracuda
334
Galactic Battlecruiser GB
Shark
501
Galactic Deadnought GD
Leviathan
728
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC
Stingray
886
Galactic Attack Carrier GAC-2
Behemoth
908
Super Galactic Dreadnought
Typhoon
1558
Galactic Transport GTP
Sea Horse
120


Summary of Ship Designs by Faction
Ship Type
Max Hull
Terra
Avaria
Entoma
Carnivora
Aquaria
SB
8
104
91
97
97
86-90
SAPS
10
86
94
80
98
90
SD
15
124
158
112
144
128
SDL
18
186
242
243
215
245
SC
26
336
426
354
366
334
GB
36
580
682
569-616
517-565
501
GD
46/50
754-988
848
882
809-1053
728
GAC
46
996
1110-
1256
963
866
886-908
SGD
70
1522
1664
1663
1597
1558
GTP
20



119
120


Comparison of Ship Design stats by Faction
(the details of the configurations are far more diverse than these stats can indicate)
Class
Avg
Terra
Avaria
Entoma
Carnivora
Aquaria
SB
96
+5%
-5%
+1%
+1%
-6%
SAPS
90
-4%
+4%
-11%
+9%
even
SD
133
-7%
+19%
-8%
+8%
-4%
SDL
226
-18%
+7%
+8%
-5%
+8%
SC
363
-7%
+17%
-2%
+1%
-8%
GB
589
-2%
+16%
+5%
-4%
-15%
GD
900
+10%
-6%
-2%
+17%
-19%
GAC
997
even
+26%
-3%
-13%
-9%
SGD
1600
-5%
+4%
+4%
even
-3%
GTP
120



119
120
Fleet
-
-23
+78
-12
+14
-53
Avg *
-
-3%
+10%
-2%
+2%
-7%
* Not including SGD or GTP’s.



Galactic Knights Translation
Class 3 = SB, SAPS, SD   Avg Hull = 8   Avg Points = 106
Class 4 - SDL, SC              Avg Hull =  18   Avg Points = 295
Class 5 = GB, GAC           Avg Hull =  34   Avg Point = 793

Class 6 = GD, GD-2          Avg Hull =  41   Avg Points = 900
(I decided to leave out the Super Galactic Dreadnoughts due to the size and costs of the models, great as they are - those so inclined might add them to the Class 6 ship lists).

OK, if you've borne with me through all that, great; if not, here's the final results:


Ship Generation  and Task Force Tables by Fleet and Class

The Generation tables are used to generate opposition forces as they are encountered, as well as any friendly reinforcements. They should also be used to rate your own ships as far as Crew Quality. The very first (PATROL) mission of the game uses a single squadron form the task force list of the player's choice - the Flagship is the largest ship (Class 3-4-5-6) with the highest Crew Quality. 

I suggest choosing a character name for a captain in this squadron, with the campaign narrative being from his or her perspective. Any reinforcements gained would be assigned first to this squadron. This is strictly optional, of course.

For subsequent missions, use an entire Task force. Note that only a fraction of those forces will ordinarily appear in a given table top action.  If you have lost of time and ships, you can take an entire Fleet of up to 3 task forces, or  more likely, just reinforce the Task Force with the Flag Squadron of the fleet. Once again, feel free to alter your suggested forces, or even generate them randomly.

Task Force Composition (same for all fleets, except the Entomalians. For them, add an additional ship to each squadron (of the lowest down ship on the list of that  Squadron). Of course, if you feel like mixing it up more by faction, or changing them in any way to suit your tastes or collection,  be my guest! As the enemy forces are generated based upon what you are bringing to any given table top encounter, it does't really matter that much!

Squadron Primus
Dreadnought
Attack Carrier
Battle Cruiser

Squadron Secundus
Battle Cruiser
Cruiser
Cruiser

Squadron Tertius
Cruiser
Destroyer Leader
Destroyer Leader

Squadron Quartus
Destroyer
Star Bomber
Armored Pursuit Ship

Squadron Quintus
Destroyer
Armored Pursuit Ship
Star Bomber

Squadron Sextus
Destroyer
Star Bomber
Armored Pursuit Ship



D6 Roll
Class 3
Class 4
Class 5
Class 6
1
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
4
5
4
3
4
4
5
5
4
4
5
6*
6
4
5
6*
6*


RANDOM SHIP GENERATION TABLES

Terran Class 3 Ships


D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SAPS
Dauntless
Veteran
2
SB
Mars
Veteran
3
1 each
Mars/Dauntless
Green
4
SD
Swiftsure
Veteran
5
SD
Swiftsure
Elite
6
SD
Swiftsure
Elite



Terran Class 4 ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SDL
Samurai
Veteran
2
SDL
Samurai
Elite
3
SDL
Samurai
Veteran
4
SC
Ranger
Elite
5
SC
Ranger
Veteran
6
SC
Ranger
Elite




Terran Class 5 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GB
Formidable
Veteran
2
GB
Formidable
Elite
3
GB
Formidable
Veteran
4
GAC
Constellation
Elite
5
GAC
Constellation
Veteran
6
GAC
Constellation
Elite



Terran Class 6 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GD
Invincible
Veteran
2
GD
Invincible
Elite
3
GD
Invincible
Veteran
4
GD-2
Valiant
Elite
5
GD-2
Valiant
Veteran
6
GD-2
Valiant
Elite




Avarian Class 3 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SAPS
Sparrow
Veteran
2
SB
Buzzard
Veteran
3
1 each
Buzzard/Sparrow
Green
4
SD
Hawk
Green
5
SD
Hawk
Veteran
6
SD
Hawk
Elite



Avarian Class 4 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SDL
Screech Owl
Green
2
SDL
Screech Owl
Veteran
3
SDL
Screech Owl
Elite
4
SC
Falcon
Green
5
SC
Falcon
Veteran
6
SC
Falcon
Elite



Avarian Class 5 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GB
Eagle
Veteran
2
GB
Eagle
Veteran
3
GB
Eagle
Elite
4
GAC
Vulture
Veteran
5
GAC
Nest
Veteran
6
GAC
Nest
Elite



Avarian Class 6 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GD
Condor
Veteran
2
GD
Condor
Veteran
3
GD
Condor
Veteran
4
GD
Condor
Elite
5
GD
Condor
Elite
6
GD
Condor
Elite



Entomalian Class 3 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SAPS
Louse
Green
2
SB
Sting
Green
3
1 each
Sting/Louse
Green
4
SD
Wasp
Green
5
SD
Wasp
Veteran
6
SD
Wasp
Veteran



Entomalian Class 4 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SDL
Mandible
Green
2
SDL
Mandible
Green
3
SDL
Mandible
Veteran
4
SC
Hornet
Green
5
SC
Hornet
Veteran
6
SC
Hornet
Veteran



Entomalian Class 5 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GB
Roach
Green
2
GB
Roach
Veteran
3
GB
Scorpion
Veteran
4
GAC
Hive
Green
5
GAC
Hive
Veteran
6
GAC
Hive
Elite



Entomalian Class 6 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GD
Mantis
Veteran
2
GD
Mantis
Veteran
3
GD
Mantis
Veteran
4
GD
Mantis
Veteran
5
GD
Mantis
Elite
6
GD
Mantis
Elite



Carnivoran Class 3 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SAPS
Kitten
Veteran
2
SB
Snarl
Veteran
3
1 each
Snarl/Kitten
Green
4
SD
Cheetah
Green
5
SD
Cheetah
Veteran
6
SD
Cheetah
Veteran



Carnivoran Class 4 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SDL
Puma
Green
2
SDL
Puma
Veteran
3
SDL
Puma
Elite
4
SC
Panther
Green
5
SC
Panther
Veteran
6
SC
Panther
Elite



Carnivoran Class 5 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GB
Tomcat
Vteran
2
GB
Lion
Veteran
3
GB
Lion
Elite
4
GAC
Den
Vteran
5
GAC
Den
Veteran
6
GAC
Den
Elite



Carnivoran Class 6 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GD
Tiger
Veteran
2
GD
Tiger
Veteran
3
GD
Tiger
Elite
4
GD
Tiger
Elite
5
GD-2
Jaguar
Veteran
6
GD-2
Jaguar
Elite



Aquarian Class 3 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SAPS
Dolphin
Veteran
2
SB
Wahoo Mk 2
Veteran
3
1 each
Wahoo Mk 1/Dolphin
Veteran
4
SD
Piranha
Veteran
5
SD
Piranha
Elite
6
SD
Piranha
Elite



Aquarian Class 4 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
SDL
Tigershark
Veteran
2
SDL
Tigershark
Elite
3
SDL
Tigershark
Elite
4
SC
Barracuda
Veteran
5
SC
Barracuda
Veteran
6
SC
Barracuda
Elite



Aquarian Class 5 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GB
Shark
Veteran
2
GB
Shark
Elite
3
GB
Shark
Elite
4
GAC
Stingray
Veteran
5
GAC
Stingray
Elite
6
GAC
Behemoth
Elite



Aquarian Class 6 Ships
D6 Roll
Type
Class
Quality
1
GD
Leviathan
Veteran
2
GD
Leviathan
Elite
3
GD
Leviathan
Elite
4
GD
Leviathan
Elite
5
GD-2
Leviathan
Elite
6
GD-2
Leviathan
Elite

We will use these tables, along with others, extensively when we come to generate the enemy forces our heroes will encounter during their Missions. Carrying out those Missions will be the subject of the next post in this series.

2 comments:

  1. Wow, this is well laid out. Hope it is a lot of fun for you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A lot of it is just "thinking out loud" to get to the actual tables. the overall concept is very much Star Navy; I am merely adapting their ideas to my rules of choice!

    At this point i plan to run some Galactic Knights (along with Filed of Battle and Pulse of battle) at Historicon, probably having each game be a "mission".

    ReplyDelete