SFB PBEM Game HR3.302 Analysis

 Game HR3.302, Moderator:  Scott Moellmer 

   John Hanna "Gnaarl" in his Lyran White Tiger TCC Purrcy (Email Gnaarl) 
       vs 
   Steve Rushing "Tesuji" in his Archeo-Tholian TCC Email Tesuji)

 My Lyran TCC defeated Tesuji's Archeo-Tholian TCC on Turn 3, Impulse 20.

   Turn 1:  We circled
            Lyran raised ESGs at range 3 and
                  attempted to close the range

   Turn 2:  Lyran attempted to close the range
            Archeo-Tholian set up a web block
                           fired phasers from behind web block
                           dropped 1/2 the #6 shield
                           HETed to avoid any retribution
            Lyran dropped ESGs having no chance of getting ESG ram
            Ended turn at range 7 with ships on either side of web block

   Turn 3:  Archeo-Tholian passed through web block
            Lyran closed and fired at range 4
                  scored light internals, killing 4 power
                  got a 1 phaser Mizia, killing 4 power
                  later got a 2 phaser Mizia, killing 6 power
            Archeo-Tholian was going too fast to close with tightly turning Lyran

 Analysis:  I was really concerned about this game because both Tholians have
            very flexible and dangerous options to play.  They can knock the socks
            off your ship in a direct fire exchange or they can play the "I can
            shoot at you and you can't shoot at me" game.  

            I decided on the IronJaw for turn 1.  We maneuvered and ended up outside
            overload range.  I raised my ESGs near the end of the turn and attempted
            to close the range, inviting an attack so I could counterattack and 
            overrun him the following turn.  He declined range 8 and dumped his 
            overloads at the end of the turn.

            Turn 2 saw me chasing him with my ESGs while he formed a cast web wall.
            He then fired his phasers from behind the web, missing my IronJaw'd 
            #1 shield and wrecking my #6.  I worried that he would enter the web to
            then fire disruptors on my weak #6, but fortunately for me, that was not
            his plan.  He HET'd away with the web between us to prevent any return
            fire.  Since I couldn't close the distance, I dropped my ESGs early so
            I could raise them faster on Turn 3.  I then chased the Tholian toward 
            the edge of the board.  At the end of the turn, he cast a web to give
            himself some cover.  We ended the turn at range 7, on either side of his
            web.

            With the Tholian moving at speed 28 and my starting speed of 24 
            (guaranteeing a range 8 shot and downshifting to 14 to provide energy
            for weapons), I saw that the Tholian would emerge from the web into my 
            firing arc, no later than Imp 3.04, unless he attempted a 2nd HET and just 
            delayed the inevitable.  He emerged from the web and cast another web in 
            an attempt to provide some cover for his ship.  I waited until I could shoot 
            at his #3 shield which would most likely be facing me for the rest of the turn.
            At range 4, I took my shot with 3 OL UIM Disruptors and 5 phaser-1s, doing
            17 internals including 4 power hits.  I followed this up next impulse with
            a range 5 one Ph-1 to Mizia him for another 4 power hits and then moved to 
            keep the Tholian as far away as possible and to force him to keep his down 
            shield facing me as much as possible as well as staying out of his FA arc.
            Later in the turn, I got a final 2 ph-1 Mizia, stripping an additional 6
            power.  At this point, the Tholian resigned, not being able to turn tight
            enough to counterattack this turn and not having enough power to effectively
            continue the battle.

 Analysis:  If the Tholian had entered the web at range 7, forcing a fire decision out
            of me (fire at range 7 and risk getting overrun at range 0, or not fire and
            have the Tholian fire OL disruptors on an already weakened shield and then
            HET away), it is likely that the results would have been different.  
 
            Another factor was that the Tholian allowed himself to get trapped by the 
            edge of the board and then choose to escape the situation rather than by
            fighting his way out.  His high speed during the final turn proved to be
            his undoing as he couldn't turn tight/fast enough to counterattack.


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