51 replies to this topic

[Aodr Arnarson]

I was big time pro-Steiner for a long time. That only changed because, for some reason, Steiner has a slight ******* culture going on. And I hadn't known FRR even existed before.

[Morang]

I think you should assess political situation before making alliances. If FedCom would agree to stay one and operate together, only insane would ally with Steiners to help them crush their enemies and then be devoured in turn. It would be natural to form anti-FedCom pact in this situation, and Dragons would be tame, so they may have their Alshain flank protected. But if CapCon and FWL would not join the pact, perhaps it would be better to side with winners and help FedCom to strangle the Dragon and then unite the IS.

In case of FedCom splitting it would be acceptable to ally with Steiners, but perhaps better to stay neutral and friendly for a while waiting for greater powers to decide their attitudes.

In either cases trying to push rimward to Terra would exaggerate the weakness the Rasalhague is already flawed by. Your fronts are overextended because your state is small and oblong-shaped. You should try to minimize your border to area ratio - by expanding (more area - less border to area ratio) and by aprroximating the shape of your area to circle (this figure has minimal border to area ratio). Trying to extend thin "finger" rimwards, you're asking your neighbors to cut this finger off.

If operating against Steiner, obvious primary target is Tamar. You can cut it off by pincer movement from Moritz and Weingarten. By this, you're disorganising enemy by taking Tamar March capital and protecting yourself from similar move by Steiner from Tamar and Kobe to Memmingen. It's necessary to strike first. Plan B is to strike at Shaula and Bessarabia, simultaneously cutting off the Kobe, or just to take Kobe... You have to cut off these protrusions and make your Steiner front flat! In case of alliance with Kurita, similar, but joint operation is possible against Ryde operation area of Skye march, flatting front here by taking Port Moseby, Aubisson and Accrington. It would be wise not to participate in encirclement, but only to serve as an anvil for Draconis hammer, threating Dalkeith and Sakhalin. And even if you take them, cede them to Combine, so that Rasalhague front line would not extend.

Kurita border...it's hard to determine primary concern here. Garstedt is scarcely populated, but from here Dragons may launch assault on Rasalhague. By advancing there, you may reduce a threat to your capital, meet little opposition and keep your front almost straight w/o danger to be flanked. Rubigen have greater planet density and contains Alshain District capital. It would be hard to advance here, defence forces should be left on Radstadt and Skandia to check possible Kurita attack. Buckminster is of most concern in case of Rasalhague alliance with Steiner, here Rasalhague should connect with Lyran forces and enjoy mutual flank protection, keeping Kurita from cutting of Port Moseby, Aubisson and Accrington by a move I mentioned before.

I don't know what "clans" are you talking about. Some Jacobites from Skye March, or perhaps Davion-sided Northwind Highlanders? In either case, it's strange to see these in one list with IS Successor States bordering the Rasalhague.

Edited by Morang, 12 September 2012 - 12:55 AM.

[Gattling Fenn]

Morang, on 12 September 2012 - 12:49 AM, said:

I think you should assess political situation before making alliances. If FedCom would agree to stay one and operate together, only insane would ally with Steiners to help them crush their enemies and then be devoured in turn. It would be natural to form anti-FedCom pact in this situation, and Dragons would be tame, so they may have their Alshain flank protected. But if CapCon and FWL would not join the pact, perhaps it would be better to side with winners and help FedCom to strangle the Dragon and then unite the IS.

In case of FedCom splitting it would be acceptable to ally with Steiners, but perhaps better to stay neutral and friendly for a while waiting for greater powers to decide their attitudes.

In either cases trying to push rimward to Terra would exaggerate the weakness the Rasalhague is already flawed by. Your fronts are overextended because your state is small and oblong-shaped. You should try to minimize your border to area ratio - by expanding (more area - less border to area ratio) and by aprroximating the shape of your area to circle (this figure has minimal border to area ratio). Trying to extend thin "finger" rimwards, you're asking your neighbors to cut this finger off.

If operating against Steiner, obvious primary target is Tamar. You can cut it off by pincer movement from Moritz and Weingarten. By this, you're disorganising enemy by taking Tamar March capital and protecting yourself from similar move by Steiner from Tamar and Kobe to Memmingen. It's necessary to strike first. Plan B is to strike at Shaula and Bessarabia, simultaneously cutting off the Kobe, or just to take Kobe... You have to cut off these protrusions and make your Steiner front flat! In case of alliance with Kurita, similar, but joint operation is possible against Ryde operation area of Skye march, flatting front here by taking Port Moseby, Aubisson and Accrington. It would be wise not to participate in encirclement, but only to serve as an anvil for Draconis hammer, threating Dalkeith and Sakhalin. And even if you take them, cede them to Combine, so that Rasalhague front line would not extend.

Kurita border...it's hard to determine primary concern here. Garstedt is scarcely populated, but from here Dragons may launch assault on Rasalhague. By advancing there, you may reduce a threat to your capital, meet little opposition and keep your front almost straight w/o danger to be flanked. Rubigen have greater planet density and contains Alshain District capital. It would be hard to advance here, defence forces should be left on Radstadt and Skandia to check possible Kurita attack. Buckminster is of most concern in case of Rasalhague alliance with Steiner, here Rasalhague should connect with Lyran forces and enjoy mutual flank protection, keeping Kurita from cutting of Port Moseby, Aubisson and Accrington by a move I mentioned before.

I don't know what "clans" are you talking about. Some Jacobites from Skye March, or perhaps Davion-sided Northwind Highlanders? In either case, it's strange to see these in one list with IS Successor States bordering the Rasalhague.

The Skye Rangers are friendly towards Rasalhague, we are a 240+ pilot Unit. Considering the clans will be invading in a year, the Rasalhagues would do well to ally with us and attack Kurita, carving up their territory.

Don't forget we essentially granted the Rasalhagues their independence. Oh and if Rasalhague did choose to invade us, again, 240+ pilots and counting with specific orders to do nothing but **** up anyone's day who even so much as looked at the Skye March funny.

Edited by Gattling Fenn, 13 September 2012 - 09:03 AM.

[Morang]

To be true, it was Kurita who granted Rasalhague independence after arrangements with ComStar. Steiner just followed the suite.

Fourth Succession War ended in 3030. But Rasalhague worlds were only partially conquered by Steiner half or the FedCom in this war, and Duke Kelswa of Tamar planned to include them in his fief - to the disappointment of Rasalhagians who thought they were being liberated. The rest of Rasalhague worlds remained under Kurita rule, but ComStar practically bought them from Kurita. It was 3034 when Draconis Combine was first to acknowledge Rasalhague independence. Only then, despite Kelswa's objections, were Steiner-held planets allowed to secede from FedCom and join FRR (there were "objections" on the Combine side too... so intense that they're called Ronin War).

Edited by Morang, 13 September 2012 - 10:30 AM.

[ChargerIIC]

Where is the attack option for the clan homeworlds?!? I'm not stopping until we get there

[Gattling Fenn]

Morang, on 13 September 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:

To be true, it was Kurita who granted Rasalhague independence after arrangements with ComStar. Steiner just followed the suite.

Fourth Succession War ended in 3030. But Rasalhague worlds were only partially conquered by Steiner half or the FedCom in this war, and Duke Kelswa of Tamar planned to include them in his fief - to the disappointment of Rasalhagians who thought they were being liberated. The rest of Rasalhague worlds remained under Kurita rule, but ComStar practically bought them from Kurita. It was 3034 when Draconis Combine was first to acknowledge Rasalhague independence. Only then, despite Kelswa's objections, were Steiner-held planets allowed to secede from FedCom and join FRR (there were "objections" on the Combine side too... so intense that they're called Ronin War).

Kurita relinquished control of that territory unwillingly. We funded and supplied the resistance efforts of the free Rasalhague people and gladly ceded the territory that was rightfully theirs to them. Kurita was the tyrannical house that had to be forced to behave decently.

So, I'm all for a Free Rasalhague, but if you guys get greedy and come after the Lyran Commonwealth, the Skye Rangers will make it our personal business to put you down. ^.^

Edited by Gattling Fenn, 13 September 2012 - 04:47 PM.

[Morang]

Gattling Fenn, on 13 September 2012 - 04:46 PM, said:

We funded and supplied the resistance efforts of the free Rasalhague people

It could have been truth before 4th Succession War, when Kurita posessed all the Rasalhague. So Rasalhague independence movement was only Kurita's trouble. But after the war things have changed. It were now Steiners who were unwilling to give up their part. It can be proved easily: to set Kurita-held Rasalhague remains on fire after 3030 it was sufficient to arrange declaration of FRR on the Steiner-conquered territory. That was never done, and there were at least 3 causes for it.

First, Draconis Combine was exhausted and in no shape to hold a wide front against joint FedCom forces. It was Kurita who needed buffer state, not FedCom. Second, the greed of Duke of Tamar who wasn't particularly willing to cede his spoils. Third, there were concerns about Skye separatist sentiment. Kurita hoped to rouse it by acknowledging Rasalhague independence so that Free Skye would have an encouraging example of success (and his hope was somewhat justified, as the Skye crisis of 3034 has shown). Opposite is true for Lyrans - they needed no troubles in Skye.

Edited by Morang, 14 September 2012 - 07:21 AM.

[Dihm]

What Morang said. I wouldn't say Skye went totally willingly in to it, considering the Archon had to step in and beat Kelswa down.

[SakuranoSenshi]

Dihm, on 17 September 2012 - 01:46 PM, said:

What Morang said. I wouldn't say Skye went totally willingly in to it, considering the Archon had to step in and beat Kelswa down.

Shhh! Hush your lies and propaganda! ;-)

[Solis Obscuri]

Why are the Pentagon Worlds not ano option?



Those ******* wouldn't know what hit 'em...

[DaManBearPig]

CLLLLLAAAANS!!! ATTAAAAACK!!! AHHHHHHH!

[Magnus Grimm]

I'll always harbor a special hatred for the damned snakes, but the clans will be the biggest issue when they finally show themselves.