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 keeper proto26's "On The Defensive"
After having some trouble with their new ship and hiring a Sniper (problems resolved when the Syndicate Hacker advised installing a Syndicate chip), Captain proto26's crew are hurtling through space (as the shoddy pilot they randomly hired on the station tries to get used to the beast that is a Black Lotus). The Syndicate Hacker sounds like Eeyore ("We're doomed. We're all going to die.") as he constantly whines about not having Sh4rken or a Mysterious AI along. The rest of the crew is unhappy that two of the three equipment set slots are unused when they could have, like, a MEDICAL BAY.Captain proto26 has designed a fairly standard defense with no usual strategies or tactics and the crew is able to quickly set up once they've landed on a nice Earth-like planet (despite also having to repair some minor damage to the Black Lotus because . . . the pilot . . .). They are disgruntled to find that the Defensive Bunker's AA turrets are nowhere near as good as the AA/AT Automatic Turret -- which shouldn't be a surprise since the Turret eats up more energy that the entire Defensive Bunker including the Neutron Gun
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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 proto26's base and does their spiel. Proto26'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 base will be regarded as a hostile act and will be met with extreme prejudice.The Amarasia lands close to proto26's base but just far enough balticbadger's crew believes that they are safe from interference while assembling their prefabs. Proto26'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 base but that they will attack if they see any offensive prefabs being assembled (but they 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. Proto26'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 look over the defenses and ascertain that proto26 has fortified one location with only a Defensive Bunker, an AA/AT Automated Turret and a Generator behind Protective Walls, balticbadger's crew is shocked to realize that their pathetic forces are nonetheless likely to be able to overwhelm the defense. The Amarasia's Mysterious AI is able to ensure that the Velvet Storms' Electronic Counter-Measures are effective. They stand off at maximum distance, drop chaff and use missiles to destroy the AA/AT Automatic Turret and the Bunker's Neutron Gun. They chew up the Defensive Bunker itself a bit but don't have enough ammunition for it to be fully destroyed.
The Storms then land inside the walls on the side where the Bunker has been most damaged. Ayumi, the KB-119 Kilbot, the Programmed Transactor suicide bomber and The Kumicho sprint from the Storms to the Defensive Bunker. The Transactor gives up its existence to blow a hole through the wall where a missile has heavily damaged it. The Kilbot charges through, quickly followed by The Kumicho and Ayumi.
A fully upgraded Good Morning is pretty good, particularly with fully upgraded Party Ammo -- but, still, less than a third of its damage will get through Kilbot armor. The three attackers over-match the Syndicate Squad Leader and Security Officer and while the Kilbot is damaged, it is still functional. The Triskan Fighter's Syndicate Autoblaster is not upgradable and less than a fifth of its damage will penetrate the Kilbot's armor. Worse, the attackers push the poor Communications Officer in front of them as they come down the stairs. The KB-119 is on it's last legs when the Triskan Fighter is killed, but that is irrelevant as the three attackers are now in a defensible position with superior firepower and five hostages (the Comms Officer didn't survive the assault).
Proto25's crew loses another member when the pilot decides that using one of the Velvet Storms against its owners is a brilliant idea. The booby trap kills him before he can realize just what a bad idea it truly was. Balticbadger's Propaganda Specialist then negotiates the keeper's surrender.
Score: Proto26 0%; Balticbadger 100%
blockmonster
Captain blockmonstermonster opted for a flexible but fairly standard assault strategy with a fully packed Drachian Mantis. It is quickly ascertained that proto26 has fortified one location with a Defensive Bunker, an AA/AT Automated Turret and a Generator behind Protective Walls. Having some idea of the Black Lotus's personnel and cargo capacities, blockmonster's crew are pretty sure that they easily overmatch Proto26's crew in both. Further, despite believing that they have accounted for a majority of the cargo space. they don't see anything particularly threatening or problematic.Expecting at least one Vanguard, Kilbot and/or Velvet Storm, 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. He has a Secret Agent and a Mysterious AI while the keeper has nothing so the Velvet Storms' Electronic Counter-Measures are almost guaranteed to protect them against nearly anything. They stand off at maximum distance, drop chaff and use missiles to destroy the AA/AT Automatic Turret and the Bunker's Neutron Gun. They chew up the Defensive Bunker itself a bit but don't have enough ammunition for it to be fully destroyed. The two Vanguards, four Kilbots and half a dozen personnel easily finish the job and blow a hole in the side of the Defensive Bunker. The Syndicate Sniper recognizes overwhelming odds and wisely does not draw fire down upon himself.
The Kilbots have no problem slicing through the rest of the defenders like a hot knife through butter. Fortunately for most of Proto26's personnel, they have been programmed not to fire upon anyone who doesn't fire upon them. An amiable surrender (at least, on blockmonster's part) is quickly negotiated.
Score: Proto26 0%; Blockmonster 100%
digital-wisdom
Captain digital-wisdom's grabber has the strategy of keeping the defender moving wherever possible. He also has a fully packed Drachian Mantis. It is quickly ascertained that proto26 has fortified one location with a Defensive Bunker, an AA/AT Automated Turret and a Generator behind Protective Walls. Having some idea of the Black Lotus's personnel and cargo capacities, blockmonster's crew are pretty sure that they easily overmatch Proto26's crew in both. Further, despite believing that they have accounted for a majority of the cargo space. they don't see anything particularly threatening or problematic.Showing a 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 blockmonster's base. Once the Velvet Storms are assembled, they are used to cover a second landing site reasonably close to blockmonster's base 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 digital-wisdom stupidly left his Mysterious AI at home, only his Special Agent can help the Velvet Storm's ECM capabilities. Fortunately, proto26's crew apparently has no SRT capabilities whatsoever on their side. The three Storms stand off at maximum distance, drop chaff and use missiles to destroy the AA/AT Automatic Turret and the Defensive Bunker while three Vanguards, three Kilbots and half a dozen personnel (including red-shirted Clone Troopers) observe from just out of range. The Syndicate Sniper recognizes overwhelming odds and wisely does not draw fire down upon himself.
The Kilbots have no problem slicing through the rest of the defenders like a hot knife through butter. Fortunately for most of Proto26's personnel, they have been programmed not to fire upon anyone who doesn't fire upon them. An amiable surrender (at least, on digital wisdom's part) is quickly negotiated.
Score: Proto26 0%; Digital-wisdom 100%
slabakbg
Captain slabakbg's strategy is pretty straight-forward relying upon synergies to advance a Stealthy and/or Hacker-y approach as appropriate. Unfortunately, his build has the often fatal flaw of having no Velvet Storms and absolutely no long-range transportation. It is quickly ascertained that proto26 has fortified one location with a Defensive Bunker, an AA/AT Automated Turret and a Generator behind Protective Walls. Seeing no visible Velvet Storms or Vanguards and having some idea of the Black Lotus's personnel and cargo capacities, slabakbg's crew are pretty sure that they are in luck as far as that goes -- but the Defensive Bunker and Walls are still a major problem.The Quantum Supreme could try to land on top of the defenses with guns blazing but a Mysterious Robot and a Security Drone are patrolling which means that the odds of Kilbots are high (though, in reality, there are none). The Black Lotus basically guarantees The Kumicho, Ayumi, Camouflaged Snipers and combat drugs galore (again, except for the Sniper, NOT!). The Black Lotus can also carry more crew than the Quantum Supreme and they will have the advantage of being in covered defensive positions.
All-in-all, doesn't look like a winning match-up so slabakbg's crew orders fuel from the Interstellar marketplace and moves on to greener pastures.
Score: Proto26 100%; Slabakbg 0%
Recap
Captain proto26's "On The Defensive" keeper's last match barely ekes out a tie with the explosive last-place Captain balticbadger -- mostly because Captain proto26 left so many things at home that he should have brought.On the offensive side, Captain balticbadger's grabber has finally broken onto the board. Captain blockmonster's win means that balticbadger gained no ground on him and Captain slabakbg can no longer catch him (unless he scores serious negative points, which is highly unlikely). With only two match-ups left, Captain blockmonster's lead is nearly insurmountable. Thus, the burning question becomes "Will Captain slabakbg's grabber somehow manage to avoid the great big goose egg?"
| balticbadger | blockmonster | digital-wisdom | slabakbg | KEEPER TOTAL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| apshamilton | 100/0 | 100/0 | 0/100 | 100/0 | 75% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| balticbadger | 100/0 | -50/40 | -50/50 | 100/0 | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| blockmonster 1 | 100/0 | 0/100 | 50/50 | 100/0 | 62.5%
| blockmonster 2 |
100/0 |
100/0 |
0/100 |
100/0 |
75% |
digital-wisdom |
100/0 |
100/0 |
0/100 |
100/0 |
75% |
proto26 |
0/100 |
0/100 |
0/100 |
100/0 |
25% |
raudell |
slabakbg |
GRABBER TOTAL |
12.5% |
30% |
62.5% |
0% |
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