MT1 First shots

With 2 matches left, there is now no possible results that can change the rankings of the top 4, who now progress to the Semi-Final

1. toganalper 190 pts
2. Gonzo 187 pts
3. Mark-McG 169 pts
4. rjvonline 166 pts

Semi-Finals are
1 vs 4
2 vs 3
Scenario is #17: Evacuation (BD 16-0831)

I'll post the draw in a table shortly

In the Semi-Final scenario, this special rule is in play

• Support vessels are purchased in this scenario. Both faction players purchase 25 points of support vessels. In addition to its support vessels, the Confederation faction will deploy 2 transport units.

For the purposes of this tournament, the restriction on purchasing basic units (Battleships, Crusiers, Destroyers and Fighters) is still in force. 25 points can be spent on those classes of ships, and the Transports are extras.

Semi-final scenario - 1st leg

Renaud v Togan

The dice gods gave me the Confederation and the card gods TF #7 to which I added 1 cruiser, 3 fighters and 2 star tokens, while Togan got TF #12 to which he added a battleship and 2 fighters. I went first with a Probe Center to place my Flagship and a heavy cruiser on the planet. Togan had planned to go after the planet with his Heavy Battleship and battleship plus a heavy cruiser and a fighter on that flank that moved immediately. Poor shooting on my part plus Ambush, Interception and First Strike on Togan's part led to his taking a significant lead in VP. Fortunately, I was able to prevent him from entering the planet (he never scored a VP there), especially as I destroyed his heavy battleship at range. And then a warp charge allowed me to clean up my left flank with my battleship and the 2 transports. Then I was able to use Light Speed to bring these 3 on his rear line, with their flank somewhat protected by an asteroid field. I also brought my flagship forward 1 hex from his rear line. He played a center card to and a warp attack to bring his flagship against my battleship but could only scored 1 hit. Likewise he brought his heavy cruiser and a fighter against my flagship, but could only score 1 hit. The following turn, a Battleline move took my battleship and transports out (10 VP), giving me a 21 (23) to 15 victory. Return match tomorrow (Wednesday).

Semi-final scenario - 2ndleg

Renaud v Togan

As the Commonwealth, I got TF #2, adding 1 DD, 4 fighters and 1 star token, while Togan got #3 and added 1 BB and 1 fighter, IIRC. I placed 2 DD on my right, the flagship, 1 BB, 1 CL and 2 fighters in the center, and 1 BB, 1 CL and 2 fighters on my left. Togan had a bunch of CL and his transports in the center, along with 1 BB, and he had positioned his Flagship, 1 DD and 2 fighters forward on his right. We tied on cards for first play, but he got the tie-breaker and aggressively moved his Flagship, fighter and DD on his right. He eventually was able to exit 1 fighter and his Flagship took my weakened BB with a double-hit. It was the first of three capital ships to leave a trail of debris in space. I managed to stem the tide on my left, taking down some small ships and placing 1 hit on the Flagship, but then again the latter was able to double-hit my BB that came from the center to help out, leaving another maelstrom of debris in space. Still, Togan could not make any real progress on his right, so he tried to go left, with one heavy fighter making it to my last row courtesy of a Move-Fight-Move, with 2 other fighters achieving the same on his right, but I was eventually able to kill them all before they existed. My flagship rthen was able rto deliver a double hit to his weakened Flagship, and confirm the last hit, to score 8 VPs, leaving me 4 VPs from 21, while Togan was at 15. His left attac then eliminated one of my DDs to tie me at 18, but then I attacked on my left with 1 fighter (in contact) and--after much hesitation--my 1-hit CL at range 2. Phase Interception disposed of the fighter (1 hit, 2 RA, another hit going thru Asteroids, leaving 1 hit), but my CL got the kill on his CL, bringing me to 21 VPs.

Togan's bold move on my left, and his killing my 2 BBs, certainly made me sweat, but I had enough to sop him and then I got the lucky double-hit on his BB and the no less lucky confirmation hit to put him in a hole he could not come back from (as it already gave me the match decision, if not the game).

Awaiting the other finalist!

Semi-Final 1
Gonzo (Commonwealth) 12 points
Mark McG (Confederation) 21 points

Confederation set the  pace for the game pushing to exit the transports on the left. This meant the right flank was quiet, and ergo the planet control was never in jeapardy.
First transport got close to the edge but was destroyed, aalong with 3 CW Fighter units, so a net win. Then a tussle in the centre involved essentially 2 battle line blasting at each other, with the CF getting the  better of the deal, and in particular destroying the CW Flagship. 

Something to note is that when confirming hits on Capital ships, it is ONLY the hits left over after the hits used on CAPs. I got this wrong, but the die favoured me anyway.
There is a BGG FOrum response from Charlie Heckman, who is a in the Borg playtest group, so I take it as official
boardgamegeek.com/thread/2185477/hitting-a-flagship