Starfleet Advanced Tactical Training

[FLTCAPT Savar]

This is the place to find all things pertaining to Space based PvP tactics.

I will shortly be posting the Starfleet answer to my earlier post on Klink tactics. Please feel free to add what you can about tactics you have seen, and how they succeeded or failed, but leave this thread free of other chatter.

[FLTCAPT Savar]

As I described in the loadout section, I will basing this tactics page on the assumption that we will have the following fleet composition.

3 Engineering Healers
3 Science Officer (preferably in Nebula Class Starships)
4 DPS Tactical Officers

As you know, the most expedient was to defeat a player controlled fleet in PvP is to target a single ship and focus fire until they are destroyed. This tactic, however, has proven ineffective against our more aggressive Klingon enemies (even when carried out with organizational success). In fact, by the time we had destroyed a single BoP three of our own ships had been eliminated.

This is due to a couple of factors, including the lack of tractor beams/ snaring powers in our fleet. However, intelligence reports indicate that the extreme toughness of the Klingon vessels originated with the core of healing crusiers in the center of their formation. It has been learned that once our focused target had been ascertained, the healing vessels immediately placed no less than two extend shields and two transfer shield strength on that ship. This had the effect of making that vessel almost impervious to our damage dealing, leading to frustration and switching of targets.

This situation, compounded by the fact that we had no way of detecting the klingon vessels before their initial attack (which always eliminated at least three of our ships) lead to our defeat.

I believe, however that our fortunes on the battlefield can be changed with the proper organization and equipment.

To that end I will begin a series of post, beginning with this one, detailing my plan.

1) Develop new tactics and Strategy to deal with the Klingon threats
2) Develop a core of officers dedicated to improving our PvP abilities
3) Develop new ship loadouts for both PvP and PvE engagements


To this end I would like to begin the first part of discussing number one on the list, developing new tactics and strategy.

I believe that with the new nebula class we will be able not only to take the fight to our enemies.

Although, undoubtedly these science vessels will be the first targets of our Klingon friends, I believe with a core of healing ships we can carry the fight to them while they are cloaked. One of the main advantages the Klingons have our us is their ability to move into position while we have no choice but to "circle our wagons" and wait for the first ship to decloak. With the new tachyon defense grid I believe it will be possible to move while in formation and hunt for cloaked ships.

This will be two things to our enemies. Hurry there movements and negate their advantage of proper staging of their vessels. It will also force them to spread out their forces over a larger area to avoid detection.

To this end I put forth the following formation (this will be difficult without illustration, but please bear with me)


In the center spaced approximately 4 km apart in a line abreast will be the Engineering Crusiers.... it will be up to every captain not to get out of range of these life saving ships.

The science vessels should be in a formation that will provide the largest area of coverage while not over extending themselves to attack. I believe this would best be accomplished by placing these ships in a triangle/ rectangle (depending on number of ships) approx. 3 km out from the Engineering ships.

All other vessels will be placed as picket ships surrounding this core formation. (Cloaked vessels should be on a higher Z axis to provide some coverage from above and possible disruption of enemy lines once battle is joined)

As I am sure you are all aware, formations never last once shots are fired... however, if the general form is maintained all vessels should be within healing range of at least one cruiser and one science vessel.

In my next post I will be detailing what I believe the make up of the engineering and science vessels should be.

That will be all gentlemen


Dismissed

[FLTCAPT Savar]

Reading my last post I find that I neglected to mention a very important point. The Tachyon Detection Grid.

This power will be very important if we are to succeed. As most of you are aware, this grid will allow our vessels to detect cloaked enemies at a distance (we must test this feature to determine exact distances). The grid also passes from one ship to another within a certain radius. When this is combined with the afore mentioned formation, the detection grid will cover a large area. This will allow us to herd the Klinks. Placing pressure on their formations and organizational time.

I believe a slow advance across the map at appox 3/4 speed will provide a sufficient pace to keep the formation intact while manuvering. As I said before, I don't expect the formation itself to last once the shooting starts, but I do expect everyone to have enough situational awareness to stay in range of the healing vessels and cover the science vessels.

More to come...

[FLTCAPT Savar]

This post will constitute the beginning of my discussion on proposed Starfleet tactics.

I have discussed these tactics with a few of you, and now I believe it is time to speak to the fleet as a whole. I would like to add a disclaimer to this post, however, and state that there must be much more play testing on the following before we can adopt it as sound... with that said I believe the following ideas will work (but they will require a coordinated team who works together often, and well)

Attack Pattern Lambda I
This attack pattern centers around the idea that the healing ships of the opposing force are often the hardest to bring down. If a group of ships finds themselves in a match where the enemy is comprised of more than one of these "healing" platforms, it becomes imperative to destroy at least one of these ships quickly and decisive. To this end focused fire is not usually enough to do the trick (since the ship itself turns it healing powers on itself.. and often get immediate aid). Due to this fact a large amount of burst damage is needed to quickly kill these vessels.

The weapons that have the highest burst damage is also the slowest firing and is vulnerable to counter battery fire, the Tricobolt Torpedo.

This tactic would require that most of the vessels in a formation (at least 4 out of 5) place a tricobolt torp in their ship loadout.

As battle is joined and targets are determined, focus fire still applies with the same basic rules: escort, science vessels, etc.... However, our formation stays tight and continues on course straight for the enemy "healing" ship. Once within less than 1 km all ships would fire their tricobolt devices at said healing vessel... no other weapons fire for a warning. This would serve not only as a high burst of damage, but also shut down all their BO powers for a few seconds in which the hole in their shields could be exploited.

Attack Pattern Sci I
This attack pattern involves the science vessels in a formation. It require at least 2 science ships to be effective (the more the better). This attack pattern will be suited for dealing with massed groups of enemy ships and fighters. The goal will be to place two Tyken's Rifts (preferably TR III) that overlap one another thus draining power at a prodigious rate. Whatever ships are found to be in the center of the anomalies should be the first vessels to be targeted. With no power they should go down fairly quickly (any aoe would also be of use here, as there will probably also be at least two vessels caught in the power draining field).

This tactic not only provides a significant tactic advantage it is also a space denial weapon. The ships of the opposing team will try and avoid the power draining effects thus breaking up any formation they previously maintained.

Attack Pattern Sci II
This attack pattern will require a great deal of coordination between teammates. Use of this tactic will require at least 3 of 5 vessels to be equiped with scramble sensors. The goal will be to constantly have a scramble sensors on the enemy fleet (each ship firing their sensor probes just as soon as one wears off). The escorts/ tactical officers should be the first to fire the sensor probe, followed by the engineers, and then lastly the science officer (whose should be the strongest).

Although this one sounds quite simple, teamwork is key to success.

I believe this tactic will be of great significance against the now carrier heavy klink force. Scramble sensors ensures that their support fighters etc.. are attacking each other and not our formations.


That is all for today gentlemen.... more to come