Fleet Engagements (was: Battle of Neu Bremen)

The talk of ambush reinforces the point that most fleet engagements will
be
around a specific objective (planets, space stations, jump points,
convoys).

And it provides insight on how the different forces would use their
fleets.

Consider an engagement between the NSL and FSE fleets. 

If FSE is the attacker, the NSL fleet would have to fight close to the
FSE
objective. Otherwise the FSE fleet (MD 6 and 4) would have the
maneuverability to fly around the NSL fleet (MD 4 and 2) to strike the
objective.

Likewise if the NSL is the attacker, to engage the FSE fleet, they would
have to threaten a valuable FSE resource (less mobile than the NSL
fleet) or
the FSE would avoid the NSL fleet.

Also, NSL ships have to be built tougher as they do not have the speed
to
flee an engagement. FSE fleets can choose to stand and fight, make
running
attacks, or disengage from battle at their discretion.

Because of the inability to make an escape, the NSL would probably be
more
prone to allow their ships to be reduced to scrap than the FSE who would
value retreating to fight another day. With the difference in hull
strength,
it might make a very big difference in the play (for example if a FSE
ship
withdraws when the 3rd damage row starts to be checked off while the NSL
waits until the 4th row).

Game play is so different when campaign issues are taken into
consideration.

I'm probably stateing the blindingly obvious, but there it is.

-----
Brian Bell
bkb@beol.net   
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/ft/	
-----