EXODE Federal Database Challenge: Keeper hooiyewlim's Results

Preliminaries

Note: As you'll observe below and throughout, per the pre-written rubrics, I am attempting to give every advantage to the grabber wherever possible (particularly where capabilities are unclear or under-specified). Despite this, there is still at least one unbeatable keeper strategy that I am aware of. If there are any unbeatable grabber selections/tactics (Akhen Cannon?), they will be squelched in a similar fashion.

Matches against Captain hooiyewlim's keepers

Captain hooiyewlim's first keeper simply repurposed his grabber as an aggressive counter-attacking defense. His second keeper is a more passive defense. Unfortunately, both keepers were so excited to find the Federal Database and keep it away from others that they left the station with no cargo whatsoever. As a result, many of the match-ups have identical stories and results.

balticbadger

Captain balticbadger's grabber has the unique strategy of trying to sucker the keeper into accepting a visit from a friendly civilian party -- including a Programmed Transactor suicide bomber. His Amarasia hails hooiyewlim's ship and does their spiel. hooiyewlim's crew is, of course, not interested in the Brooklyn Bridge or snipe hunts. They warn the Amarasia off, stating that a close landing or any attempt to approach the ship will be regarded as a hostile act and will be met with extreme prejudice.

The Amarasia lands close to hooiyewlim's ship but just far enough balticbadger's crew believes that they are safe from interference while assembling their prefabs. hooiyewlim's crew radio their displeasure to the Amarasia and warn that not only will they not tolerate anyone or anything even headed in the direction of their ship but that they will attack if they see any offensive prefabs being assembled (but they, of course, have no Velvet Storms to keep a close eye on the Amarasia's landing site).

The Amarasia sends out the Nuclear Family to start assembling shelters from native materials and apparently a number of crew members to start assembling the computer room. In reality, however, they successfully use the hastily expanded shell of the computer room to shield the assembly of two Velvet Storms. hooiyewlim's crew is exceptionally unhappy and irate with the appearance of the Velvet Storms; however, with the Storms and a Kilbot spotted walking around, they decide that it would be foolish to attack.

On the other hand, once the Storms attempt to look over the defenses and realize that hooiyewlim's crew really doesn't have any, balticbadger's crew is shocked to realize that their pathetic forces nonetheless possibly could be able to overwhelm the keeper -- unless there is some trickery afoot -- since the Amarasia has the same personnel capacity as hooiyewlim's ship (both the Amarasia and the fully-upgraded Mantis), although they are fairly concerned about not being able to see any sign of what the cargo space carried.

The Amarasia's Mysterious AI has ECM advantage against hooiyewlim's crew (despite one Secret Agent); however, it is irrelevant since hooiyewlim's crew has nothing to oppose the two Velvet Storms. Having nothing to lose (and everything to gain), balticbadger's crew arrays their forces just out of range and demands hooiyewlim's crew's surrender. hooiyewlim's realizes that there is really nothing that they can do (particularly against the Velvet Storms and the Kilbot) except turn over the Federal DB.

Score: Hooiyewlim 0% x 2; Balticbadger 100% x 2

blockmonster

Captain blockmonster opted for a flexible but fairly standard assault strategy with a fully packed Drachian Mantis. It is quickly ascertained that hooiyewlim's crew apparently has no defenses. Knowing the hooiyewlim's ship's general specifications, blockmonster's crew knows that they probably have the same number of personnel.

Expecting Vanguards, Velvet Storms and Kilbots despite (or because they replaced) the seemingly nonexistent defenses, the grabber lands at a sufficient distance not to be interrupted while he assembles his prefabs. An AA/AT Automatic turret is rapidly assembled, quickly followed by a pair of Velvet Storms. Two Vanguards are next, followed a number of scouting and transport vehicles.

The grabber moves in to test the defenses. Blockmonster's crew has the electronic edge with both a Secret Agent and a Mysterious AI. Blockmonster's orders included extensive instructions about constant patrolling and seeking "secret lairs". As a result, his crew becomes more and more convinced that the defenses are just as they appear.

Having nothing to lose (and everything to gain), blockmonster's crew arrays their two Velvet Storms, two Vanguards, four Kilbots and half a dozen personnel just out of range and demands hooiyewlim's crew's surrender. In response, hooiyewlim's crew collectively pees in their pants and hastily turn over the Federal DB.

Score: Hooiyewlim 0% x 2; Blockmonster 100% x 2

digital-wisdom

Captain digital-wisdom has the strategy of keeping the defender moving wherever possible. He also has a fully packed Drachian Mantis. It is quickly ascertained that hooiyewlim's crew apparently has no defenses. Knowing the hooiyewlim's ship's general specifications, digital-wisdom's crew knows that they probably have the same number of personnel.

Expecting Vanguards, Velvet Storms and Kilbots despite (or because they replaced) the seemingly nonexistent defenses and showing an ridiculous overabundance of caution, digital-wisdom uses two Exploration Dropships to land 3 Velvet Storms in two different locations on the opposite side of the planet from hooiyewlim's ship. Once the Velvet Storms are assembled, they are used to cover a second landing site reasonably close to hooiyewlim's ship but at a sufficient distance not to be interrupted while the rest of the prefabs are assembled. In the second wave are 3 Vanguards, 3 Kilbots, an AA/AT turret, 600 energy and all personnel except for Admiral Valro and Tyron who remain upon the orbiting Mantis.

As the Velvet Storms continue to examine Captain hooiyewlim's lack of defenses, the grabber's crew become more and more convinced that they are just as they appear. Having nothing to lose (and everything to gain), digital-wisdom's crew arrays their three Velvet Storms, three Vanguards, three Kilbots and half a dozen personnel (including red-shirted Clone Troopers) just out of range and demands hooiyewlim's crew's surrender. In response, hooiyewlim's crew collectively pees in their pants and hastily turn over the Federal DB.

Score: Hooiyewlim 0% x 2; Digital-Wisdom 100% x 2

slabakbg

Captain slabakbg's grabber's strategy is pretty straight-forward relying upon synergies to advance a Stealthy and/or Hacker-y approach as appropriate. It is quickly ascertained that hooiyewlim's crew apparently has no defenses. Unfortunately, knowing the hooiyewlim's ship's general specifications, slabakbg's crew knows that they probably have fewer personnel.

Expecting nasty surprises like Vanguards, Velvet Storms and Kilbots despite (or because they replaced) the seemingly nonexistent defenses, the grabber watches the keeper's defenses for quite some time. Eventually, however, he convinces himself that there are no Vanguards and Velvet Storms -- and likely no more than one Kilbot, if that. Slabakbg's crew then lands at a sufficient distance not to be interrupted while he assembles his prefabs under the protection of the Quantum Supreme's Guns. An AA/AT Automatic turret is rapidly assembled, quickly followed by a Defensive Bunker that will prevent any attacks by the keeper.

Hoooiyewlim's first keeper crew is horribly short of personnel (despite having an additional officer who was forced to bunk in the crew quarters) with only five combat-ready personnel in Spartan Elite Suits (I suspect that he meant to fill his crew out with Federal Agents but apparently forgot them with the cargo). Hoooiyewlim's second keeper crew has six combat personnel in Spartan Elite Suits.

Captain Slabakbg's crew includes nine combat personnel. They are attired in a mixture of Arena Power Suits, Exo-armor and Military Suits (Class A), all of which provide more protection than Spartan Elite Suits. Worse hooiyewlim's crew, the Repentant Pirate inspires Warfare and has synergies with the six Criminal members of his crew and additional synergies for those with Violence and/or Low Morality (or both). Captain Cranium has Criminal Synergies as well. Thus, Slabakbg's crew is much more skilled in addition to being more numerous and better armored.

After suffering unanswered casualties from repeated hit-and-run attacks from the three stealthy members of Captain Slabakbg's crew, Captain hoooiyewlim's crew realizes that they have reached the point where they could likely be wiped out at anytime. Unhappily, they raise the white flag and pass the Federal Database over.

Score: Hooiyewlim 0% x 2; Slabakbg 100% x 2

hooiyewlim

Captain hooiyewlim's grabber's strategy is straight-forward all-out attack scenario. Like the two most successful grabbers, he too is using a fully-upgraded Drachian Mantis. Unfortunately, his crew was so eager to ensure that they were the first group to attempt to grab the Federal Database from the keeper that they left the station with no cargo whatsoever.

It is quickly ascertained that the keeper's crew apparently has no defenses. Knowing the keeper's ship's general specifications, the grabber's crew knows that they probably have the same number of personnel. Expecting Vanguards, Velvet Storms and Kilbots despite (or because they replaced) the seemingly nonexistent defenses, the grabber's crew watches the keeper's defenses for quite some time. Eventually, however, they convince themselves that there are no Vanguards and Velvet Storms -- and likely no more than one Kilbot, if that.

The Mantis is landed fairly close to the keeper's ship. The grabber crew is horribly short of personnel (despite having an additional officer who was forced to bunk in the crew quarters) with only five combat-ready personnel (including a Weapons Officer, Tactical Officer, Security Officer and Federal Agent) in Spartan Elite Suits (I suspect that he meant to fill his crew out with Federal Agents but apparently forgot them with the cargo).

Keeper 1

Oddly enough, the keeper has exactly the same configuration -- down to the extra officer and the missing cargo. With the crews of both ships maneuvering and attacking each other, the final results come down to luck.

Score: Hooiyewlim keeper 50%; Hooiyewlim grabber 50%

Keeper 2

Hoooiyewlim's second keeper crew has six combat personnel (including 2 Security Officers, 2 Federal Agents and a Federal Police) in Spartan Elite Suits. While down one person, the grabber has every other advantage -- Stealth from the Secret Agent, a Medical Bay, officers trained specifically in weapons and tactics and not trying to defend a single static location. While the final results once again come down to luck, the odds definitely favor the grabber.

Score: Hooiyewlim keeper 40%; Hooiyewlim grabber 60%

Recap

Having no cargo is a disadvantage far too great to overcome. Captain hooiyewlim's keepers land in 9th and 10th place, managing only partial wins against Captain hooiyewlim's own cargoless grabber. Captains apshamilton and blockmonster therefore prevail to share 1st place with identical records of 4-1 (80%).

On the offensive side, Captain slabakbg grabs two big wins and not only avoids the embarrassing goose egg but also last place as well. Blockmonster, previously declared the winner, increases his win percentage to 64%, more than double that of his nearest competitor. Captain hooiyewlim manages to capture two partial wins but that isn't enough to lift him out of last place.

Despite my giving every advantage to the grabbers (with the possible exception of Alana Vos's Powershock Gloves' effectiveness vs. Kilbots), the keepers still managed to prevail 57% to 43% (but show only 52% in the final table due to Captain balticbadger's explosive errors).

Prizes:

blockmonster - for winning the grabber contest and co-winning the keeper contest - Ayumi & Black Lotus
apshamilton - for co-winning the keeper contest - your choice of Ayumi or Black Lotus
slabakbg - for a total score of 80% - Octohome, Security Drone (who wants to be a Velvet Storm when she grows up) & Tom Little Buddy (who wants to be a Vanguard when he grows up)
balticbadger - for a total score of 70% - Federal Database & Programmed Transactor (you can guess why)
raudell, proto26 & hooiyewlim - a booster pack participation prize

Congratulations, Captains, and I hope you had fun!

	balticbadger	blockmonster	digital-wisdom	slabakbg	hooiyewlim	KEEPER TOTAL
apshamilton	100/0	100/0	0/100	100/0	100/0	80%
balticbadger	100/0	-50/40	-50/50	100/0	100/0	40%
blockmonster 1	100/0	0/100	50/50	100/0	100/0	70%
blockmonster 2	100/0	100/0	0/100	100/0	100/0	80%
digital-wisdom	100/0	100/0	0/100	100/0	100/0	80%
proto26	0/100	0/100	0/100	100/0	100/0	40%
raudell	100/0	0/100	0/100	100/0	100/0	60%
slabakbg	100/0	0/100	0/100	100/0	100/0	60%
hooiyewlim 1	0/100	0/100	0/100	0/100	50/50	5%
hooiyewlim 2	0/100	0/100	0/100	0/100	40/60	4%
GRABBER TOTAL	30%	64%	90 %	20%	11%	52%/43%