The author starts the scenario thusly:
"A reconnaissance element of two RL Destroyers entered the Shorta System on 9 SEP 6833 with the goal of assessing TOG military strength. Last report had the TOG operating a Naval Raiding Sqdn (98790th) an Interceptor Group (44244th). These assets operated in and around a Orbital Station orbiting the only planet in the system (Skate).
As a precursor to a future RL incursion, these destroyers were detached for a high speed pass through the system to obtain critical information and pinpoint defensive systems. As luck would have it, the two RL destroyers exited T-Space and immediately began to experience mechanical complications. Whether due to poor maintenance or just the age of the RL ships it did not matter, they were forced to stop and abort their high speed pass of the system on the outer edge of the system. Although initially caught off guard, TOG forces immediately dispatched its destroyer on patrol, along with two others from the Naval base along with some fighters for protection. Wary of a RL feint, the system Prefect chose to hold his heavier ships and fighters in reserve, anticipating a subsequent T-Space event closer to the planet. Only a small spike had registered on the T-Space Doppler prior to the RL Destroyer's entry into the system and the fact that there was no indication of any follow T-Doppler waves was a bit nerve racking as this was the tactic for invasions. Ships would make long jumps to points near systems, exit into N-Space shed some of their shimmer and then make the quick jump into the target system, giving the defenders little to no time to react. So the TOG Prefect sent his sacrificial lambs to investigate..."
Please follow the link above to see the rest.
So RL: Leviathan is a game I acquired maybe 9 years ago. Using the original rules, I tried one of the scenarios laid out in the rule book: a battleship vs. 72 fighters. The fighters wiped the floor with the battleship. Then I used the hex mats to try out Wooden Ships and Iron Men. Finally I used hex mats and ship counters trying out the conversions of the ships to Full Thrust, but I found it didn't work too well.
While searching Leviathan scenarios, I stumbled on the SFSCT scenario and it looked easy enough to try. On top of that, I downloaded modified ship status displays from BGG, meant to make ship strengths more comparable to ship sizes, though this scenario only uses destroyers.
My random rolling for position actually placed the RL ships facing away from where the TOG ships came in. However, the TOG ships came in facing the same direction. I rolled for TOG starting speed and they got 5. I decided not to have them deploy fighters, though I probably should have.
Turn 1:
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| Both RL ships rolled clean to accelerate their full thrust rating to speed 4. Accelerating to speed 9, TOG ships close the gap. Only the TOG Serpens class, Cannae, and the RL Ajax class, Longula, are able to fire and only at each other and only missiles. |
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| The RL ship turrets reduce the TOG salvo to almost nothing and the Longula's shields absorb the rest. The return fire from Longula is reduced to half strength by TOG point defense turrets and Cannae's shields, leaving a gaping hole in the destroyer's armour. |
Turn 2
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| The pursuers close even more. Longula experiences difficulties in Engineering (rolled a -1 reduction of thrust) and falls behind her partner, Prometia. Longula receives another salvo of missiles, some of which get through this time, but nothing penetrates her armour. Having fired her only salvo, Longula can't return the favour. Prometia, however, sends some over to Cannae. Cannae loses all frontal armour a salvo of missiles, her spinal mount weapon, and other non-combat systems. The other TOG destroyers' missiles are a different type and are still out of range. |
All ships then fire beam cannons. Cannae is ravaged and suffers severe structural damage and losing life support systems. She is effectively out of the fight. Longula suffers minor damage as most of the fire is absorbed by her shields and armour.
Turn 3
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| Prometia makes speed 12 and jumps away from the system into T-space, meaning Longula is left behind at only one speed point away from doing the same. The twin TOG Fulgur class destroyers close to missile range and let loose a salvo each. Tapae's salvo is reduced to 40% strength by turrets and shields and is absorbed by rear and port-rear armour. Massada's salvo is also reduced to 40% strength and takes a small chunk of the starboard plating. Tapae's front beam cannons carve out more armour from Longula's rear. Massada, though, is able to train port side weapons on the RL destroyer, obliterating armour and damaging her power plant (thrust points reduced to 1/2), destroying some point defense turrets, rear beam cannons, a flight deck and damaging FTL drive. |
Turn 4
Longula barely manages to jump into T-space to escape the system, but only just. This ends the game with a RL victory as all they had to do was survive. Had I had TOG fighters out, Longula is not likely to have made it out.
Damage reports
Prometia (RL), Tapae (TOG) and Massada (TOG) did not take any fire.
Longula (RL)
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| I realized afterward that I marked Massada's beam damage on the wrong side of the ship and with that chunk of armour missing where I should have been marking, she would likely not have survived to make the jump out of the system, giving the Terran Overlord Government a minor victory. |
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| A very bad day for Cannae. |
I think I have to try a couple more times before I'll get the hang of this game. But I don't know when I will play again. Looking back at pictures from the WS&IM posting is making me think about running some Full Sail again. I guess we'll see where I actually go next.
A side note: I laminated a bunch of the sheets (not Cannae's though). The pen I tried to use did not stay on too well, but I read that using a wet erase pen should work really well, so trying to get one of those.
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