DARKSTAR CAMPAIGN UPDATE: DUCHESS ANNABEL’S WAR IS OVER

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Project Entry by oriskany

New Factions!

August 14, 2018

Okay, maybe not quite “new” factions – but factions for nations and navies in Darkstar that haven’t got a lot of focus so far in these posts.

Entries include the Basra class destroyer of the Arab League, and the Gujarat class destroyer for the Indian Republic.

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davehawes

Nice to see other options for players, more variety for story and gameplay purposes can only be a good thing.

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oriskany

Thanks, @davehawes – these factions have been in Darkstar from the beginning, they just haven’t been in any games recently because they haven’t been covered to the new 2.0 system yet. The Indian Republic and Arab League were opponents (along with the United States and the Corporate Consortium) back in the IK Pegasi War (US + Arab League vs. India and Consortium), one of the earliest wars we had. The Arab League was also knee-deep in the Aegean Stars / “Olympian Path” War (New Roman Alliance + Consortium vs. Arab League and Holy Russian Empire). This was one of the… Read more »

7768xp

davehawes

Another fascinating aspect of a meta-game around the factions themselves, essentially winning (or losing) enough to pull out of the conflict. An interesting campaign balancing mechanic there.

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955xp

muakhah

I privately expressed a desire to see more Indian and Arab ships to Oriskany and he hasn’t disappointed. The Gujarat especially fitted my thoughts of a fast, almost sniper like, vessel. The Basra Class is also interesting but I would need to learn more about the distinctions between EPCs, Plasma Turrets and Lasers as weapons before imagining its role. Now to dig up the Valcour class sheet that was posted and see how they compare.

60769xp

oriskany

No worries, @muakhah – Indeed, a Valcour and a Gujurat would be an interesting comparison. Both are 42-point warships (40 for base destroyer cost, +2 for the standard two scouts they carry). Both carry +1 Bridge/CICs, both have standard power plants and thrust envelopes for the destroyer class. The Valcour carries SLIGHTLY more ECM and shielding, but not enough to make a difference, I would guess. The real difference it looks like is in preferred engagement ranges. With that battery of 10MgKv lasers, the Gujurat definitely wants to engage at a DISTANCE. Lasers do only a little damage, (very narrow… Read more »

7768xp

davehawes

If I’ve understood from previous rules, going off the edge of the battlefield is basically that ship done for this battle. It’s interesting to think that most of the time, in space, a ship that preferred long range, could probably keep just backing off and keeping that long distance. It’s not like there is terrain or a city that would stop them from falling back and continuing to engage at their preferred distance. I can see why it’s not preferable in terms of game mechanics to not allow such a tactic, but is there a narrative reason? I can’t figure… Read more »

60769xp

oriskany

Thanks, @davehawes – Yes, when a ship leaves the map, whether voluntarily or not, it’s out of the battle. How that effects the victory conditions depends on whether it was forced to, whether it chose to, or whether it was crippled, and what kind of scenario. It’s not the most realistic part of the game, I grant you. But games have to have some structure at times like this that keep it manageable. I will say we play on a much larger table now, and YES, it has noticeably changed how the games plays. Certain tactics don’t work anymore, other… Read more »

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4740xp

yavasa

Great 😉 More stuff is always welcome 🙂

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955xp

muakhah

We just need to see them in action, and also more ship as no vessel exists in a vacuum! Except of course spaceships… but you know what I mean. Show us more ships so we an see how they support each other like the Ostwind point defense frigate with the big battlecruisers of the prussians!

60769xp

oriskany

Thanks very much @yavasa and @muakhah ! Indian and Arab League warships are built all the way up from Gunboat class, corvette class, frigates, destroyers, and light cruisers. I don’t think I have any heavy cruiser or battleships made yet, but general design concepts are planned. It’s all about what factions are being played by the players I actually have active. Also, the Indian Navy in Darkstar favors energy-based long range weapons, but in the old 1.0 system lasers were very ineffective against very large ships because of how the damage control sheets were laid out. In the new system… Read more »

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955xp

muakhah

Any chance of seeing a design for a bigger Arab League or Indian Vessel?