Matthew:
I'm getting slow, I had to think about it for a bit before the reason for the daja hit. I've had this conversation with a British rules writer, (who's name shall not be spoken), before. Without using too broad a brush, (i.e. exceptions are the rule), British players tend to think piling on to be unsportsmanlike and the rules are written and playtested without this being even considered. The previous ruleset issue I mentioned earlier arose when my son sat off and generated about 30 fighter groups then swarmed one starship after another. The starship would destroy one fighter group and the 30 fighter groups would distroy one starship. It was unstoppable. When I posted the problem I was told by multiple players that should not be a problem in a real game. Then I guess someone used the tactic at Salute and cleaned house. The forum uproar was hysterical and a knee jerk rule change ensued. And was modified again, and again. The game never played right with fighters.
Maybe I'm just a nasty person and hang with fellow evil minded folks but if in a game of LI a high value target moves first I'm going to move every piece I can to engage it. Classic example - playing against Martians. Unless fielding a mega army they break the first downed Tripod. They have to move and shoot first. I will then move everything I can get to move to engage a single Tripod. (Gretchens are incredibly nasty at this tactic.) The Tripod can't escape because I always get to move after him and because damage is only assesed at the end of the round he can't decrease my strike before I pound him. One, two max, rounds I have them routed. He may have gotten two Gretchens. I can now move in my heavies, I still can react to his moves, he never gets to react to me with out facing a round of damage.
Sorry to be so long winded. My brother in law is British and it never ceases to fascinate me how two so similar cultures can think so differently in game play. Our games are interesting.
