VBAM Games Forums

The New Beginning follows the adventures of a union of two powers, the Wessex Alliance and the Welsh Union which is known as the Wessex-Welsh Union. Prior to the campaign start they conquered an IND-2 power known as the Imperial Dacanari Union.

The first seven turns of the campaign revolved around the WWU attempting to include the IDU into the WWU, by increasing the Productivity at Daca'Nuri to its current level. In 3000.08, the WWU finally got back to the job of exploring, constructing four Tor-class hyperspace probes, and struck it lucky in 3000.10 when they found a massive raider supply cache, netting them 56EP and allowing for the expansion of New Exmoor and New Cardiff's productivity.

The Ikhanx Clans were encountered in 3001.03, as was the Devenarii Commonwealth who the IC activated prior to first contact with the IC. The Varanz Clan was activated in 3001.04, and has been inactive with a zero-growth economy until 3001.12 when public-spirited businessmen provided the resources to improve Productivity by 1. The Lelovran Alliance was encountered in 3001.06 by the IC, which both sides didn't like and ended with the conquest of the LA in 3001.09, the LA bases wiped out in 3001.07

The WWU activated the NE in 3001.08, and have been fairly friendly.

No sooner had the IC defeated the LA, the Lenanx Clans was discovered and war was declared (Maybe the IC doesn't like the letter L?). The IC defeated the LC forces in a battle over Lenanx in 3001.11, subsuming the LC in 3001.12 when the LC sued for peace.

The TA was discovered in 3001.11, and for once there was no war between the IC and a newly-discovered power (some WWU anti-Ikhanx groups suggest that its because the TA are a powerful entity like the DC and WWU, but that talk has been hushed since the alliance). Kinda ironic considering the TA really doesn't like the IC. Thus far, no war between the two.

The NE got lucky in 3001.12 when a random event caused the Adjudicators to jump in and provide them with the ability to travel interplanetary distances (IND-2 to IND-3).

The WWU was busy the whole of the year, laying the foundations for the colony of New Wessex.

3002.01 saw another round of colonisation by the WWU, this time creating the colonies of New Somerset, New Glamorgan and Va'Nuri, which lasted until 3002.06

The DC, having unlocked the secrets of FTL drives, were also busy creating the colony of Novae Devenar, which finished when the third census landed in 3002.04.

The IC decided, in 3002.07, to improve the Productivity on Lekhanx, Lelovra, Lenanx and Leninz, about the time the WWU was stabilising their trade routes and patrol fleets.

Current turn (3002.08 ), the NE finally got the funds to increase their Productivity up to 6. Two raids in WWU space occured, both beaten off easily (one in Daca'Nuri featured one Brigantine and two Xebecs with six Bolt flights against two Severns and three Lundys, and the raid in New Glamorgan featured the same forces for the WWU against one Brigantine and her fighters)

Thats the campaign up to date, now for up-to-date campaign reports!

3002.09

The WWU decides to embark on a fleet expansion project. As well as planning the construction of two new classes, they will also double the number of line units in the main fleet plus add an extra Owain Glyndwr. The number of hulls laid down includes 2 Alfred the Greats, 4 Exmoors, 8 Severns, 6 Lundys, and 3 Caridwens, with 18 North Pethertons and 36 Imps.

The IC offers the WWU a Partnership. This is accepted by the Union Parliament, who sees this as a new era of peace in the region

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the WWU and LE, who both declared war this turn. Neither side kept the declaration secret.

No raids occured this turn, which the WWU can be thankful for.

The IC discovers a new jump lane linking both of their pre-contact colonies.

3002.10

The WWU constructs 2 Wurzels and 2 prototype Cardigan Bays. Both roll 1's on their prototype rolls, so the WWU can construct any additional units without any surcharges. The LE, realising they require an enlarged command base to control additional units for the defence of Lagaskon, prototype the Vozhalaak war base, which also rolls a 1 (however, the LE only wanted one of this type)

In diplomatic news, the Ilvani Union finally tire of their mother power and declare hostilities. The Devenarii Commonwealth is most upset by this turn of events, especially as they liked the Union.

No raids occured this turn.

Explorers were lucky this turn, the WWU explorers encountering the Free Staffordshire Union (a small splinter colony) and the DC links into New Cardiff.

3002.11

The Ilvani Union calls all combat ships to defend Ilvani, and dispatch one Valconi to co-ordinate the fleet of 16 Kinuris. Meanwhile, the DC dispatches their war fleet to Ilvani.

BATTLE OF ILVANI

DC Fleet (AS: 138):

2 Devenhir
4 Devorn
4 Devenkroth
2 Devenkal
6 Devenkir
6 Deventir
72 flights of Devhron

organised into 5 squadrons (1 flag--both Devenhir, one assault comprising two Devorn and all the Devenkroth, 1 carrier squadron comprising the Devenkal, and the rest of the vessels split into two squadrons)

IU Fleet (AS: 48)

1 Valconi
16 Kinuri

The DC had a Normal surprise modifier, the IU a poor (-1)

The length of the scenario was 6 turns

In a daring strike, all of the Dc fighter flights were sent to engage the Valconi. If the command unit was destroyed it would be even harder for the IU to organise a defence. Unfortunately the sheer firepower of the ship-board weapons (5 rolled for AS firepower) simply shattered the IU battleline, 13 Kinuris and the Valconi being lost. The fighters thus were unable to attack the remaining Kinuris. The return fire was ineffective, rolling a 1 and negated to 0!

The second turn saw the mopping up of the IU fleet, this time the ELINT of the Devenhir flagship throwing off the aim of the IU Kinuris.

The WWU constructed another 2 Cardigan Bays (the plan is to replace the AtGs as heavy squadron command ships and place all four AtGs into an assault squadron element). The 1st fleet including the new construction is moved to Va'Nuri in preparation for the assault into Lagaski space.

The LE meanwhile doubles its mobile fleet elements, constructing 4 Inkrists and 12 Valkrists.

The VC experiences a PIOT political shift and offers the IC a NAP, which is accepted.

No raids occur this turn.

The IC explores another route into Devena Primar

3002.12

The IU requests an armistice. Morale takes a tumble on three of the four IU worlds, Ilvani going into rebellion and Ilvenu/Liskuna into unrest. The DC accepts the armistice (automatic acception-114%). The Ilvani union will be integrated into the Commonwealth. Devenarii politicians worry about the effects of the morale shifts.

Meanwhile, the WWU sends in the fleet...

BATTLE OF LAGASKON

WWU Fleet (AS: 396)

2 Owain Glyndwr (flag)
2 Cheddar Gorge (flag)
4 Alfred the Great
2 Wurzel
6 Caridwen
4 Cardigan Bay
8 Exmoor
16 Severn
12 Lundy
90 flights of North Pethertons
72 flights of Imps

The Wurzels and Caridwens were organised into two equal carrier squadrons, also acting as AF platforms. The AtG were organised into a single assault squadron. The Cardigan Bays each took command of two Exmoors and two Severns, while the remaining Severns paired up with a trio of Lundys.

LE Fleet (AS: 94)

1 Vozhalaak
3 Maahkorisk

8 squadrons, each:
1 Inkrist
3 Valkrist

24 flights of Ilkiris

The scenario was a Defensive scenario. The WWU had a Superb modifier, the LE a Disastrous modifier

Scenario length was 9 turns

As the readiness and size disparity indicates, this was a one-sides battle. The WWU annihilated the fleet units in the first turn, and the combined AF firepower of both carrier squadrons and the assault squadron was enough to destroy the Ilkiris.

No raids or exploration attempts were made, and there was no other diplomatic actions apart from the armistice

No systems at all experienced population growth. Lenanx, Leninz, Thiloh all experienced positive morale modifiers, and the three IU colonies in unrest or rebellion amazingly rolled 11, 12 and 11 to restore their Morale.

The FSU was the beneficiaries of an altruistic gesture by private businessmen who provided heavy industrial plants for the government at New Staffordshire (+1 Prod)

The TA were aided by the Adjudicators when information pertaining to hyperdrives and basic navigation was provided to them (special random event, rolled for Adjudicators, rolled for them to assist them). The TA, however, does not have an explorer unit to use this information just yet.

The DC, however, discovers that there are actually a lot more Devenarii citizens than previously thought (+2 census)

The WWU economic outlook is positive for the next year (+25% for turn income next turn)

3003.01

The LE offers an armistice to the WWU which is accepted. The LE will become a protectorate of the WWU.

The DC scraps all IU units apart from the Transport fleet and constructs light mobile defences for each IU colony world.

Apart from this, it is a fairly quiet turn. No raids or diplomatic attempts are made.

3003.02 (current)

The WWU, with a healthy boost to its economy, constructs a defence squadron for Lagaskon and makes a significant investment in the industrial strength of the LE (+2 productivity). Plans are drawn up to construct a shipyard in the system as well, to expand ship construction facilities.

The IC, meanwhile, decides to take advantage of the Partnership with the WWU and constructs four Cardigan Bays and four Wurzels as well, with a strong force of 72 Mekhinz. The plans are to place these ships into two squadrons which will support the IC fleet.

The DC makes an investment in IU colony worlds (+1 prod at each IU colony). Not only does this make each world a supply point, it also makes their economy slightly stronger, raking in 9EP a turn instead of just 5.

The DC offers a Partnership to the IC and the IC accepts.

The FSu decides to embark on a strategy of hitching themselves to the WWU star, offering and having accepted a NAP.

No raids occured. Since the two raids in 3002.08, no raids have occured.

WWU explorers find another route into New Exmoor from Va'Nuri.

Campaign has ended. Over the last couple of days I've been ill and, although feeling better, still am under the weather. When I tried to do a bit of work on it I just lost interest and gave up. When I'm better I'll try and write up the rest of the campaign.