Ken Lin

U.S.S. Illinois

The Oblique Attack described in the Tactics Manual is one of the most basic and important maneuvers in the game. In the Oblique Attack, the two ships arrive at firing range where each ship is on the hexline to the opponent’s oblique shield (for example, #2 to #2). This situation is called the Oblique Option Point. From this point the game may evolve into a Head On Pass, a Disengagement, or a Chase Scenario.

However, as important as the Oblique Attack is, it is not the optimal approach for all ships. In cases where one ship (“The Hound”) desires a firing range closer than the other ship (“The Rabbit”), the Hound should strive to achieve the Semi-Oblique Attack. In contrast, the Rabbit should strive to achieve a pure Oblique Attack. Some typical examples of Hounds are Feds, Hydrans, LDRs, and other ships who intend to absorb an opponent’s alpha before closing for return fire at closer range. A direct fire ship facing an armed plasma opponent can sometimes be considered a Hound, as the goal of the direct fire ship is generally to approach as close as possible while maintaining an escape vector for launched plasma.

In the Semi-Oblique Attack, the Hound should approach along or close to the #1/#2 spine such that the Rabbit is hitting the #2 shield. This approach preserves two of the most important advantages of the Oblique Attack. First, it protects the Hound’s important #1 shield. Second, it maintains an escape vector for seeking weapons launched by the Rabbit.

However, for ships that act as Hounds, the Semi-Oblique offers three advantages over the pure Oblique:

1. The Semi-Oblique allows the Hound to close the distance, even if the Rabbit turns off.

EXAMPLE 1A (R7 Pure Oblique, Hound=Fed 2620F, Rabbit=Klink 2613C): If the Klink fires here and turns to B, (at equal speeds) the Fed will not be able to close the distance, even if the Fed turns in to A.

EXAMPLE 1B (R7 Semi-Oblique, Hound=Fed 2620F, Rabbit=Klink 2315C): If the Klink fires here and turns to B, the Fed will close the range if it turns to A.

2. One of the favorite tricks of Selts, Feds, Lyrans, Neo-Tholians, and Klinks is to fire the offside phasers through a pursuing opponent’s down shield after an oblique strike. Unlike the pure Oblique, the Semi-Oblique protects the Hound from this effect.

EXAMPLE 2A (R4 Pure Oblique, Hound=LDR 2620F, Rabbit=Selt 2616C): Here the LDR wishes to absorb the Selt’s R4 strike and turn in for an overrun. If after the Selt fires at R4, the Selt turns to B and the LDR turns to A to pursue, in several impulses the Selt will be able to bring his LS P1s to bear on the LDR’s down #2.

EXAMPLE 2B (R4 Semi-Oblique, Hound=LDR 2620F, Rabbit=Selt 2417C): In this situation the LDR’s down #2 is protected, after the Selt turns to B and the LDR turns to A.

3. The Semi-Oblique allows the Hound to close and maintain FA, while preserving an escape vector from launched seeking weapons.

EXAMPLE 3A (R8 Pure Oblique, Hound=Lyran 2620F, Rabbit=Rom 2612C): In this situation, the Lyran cannot maintain FA and threaten R4 without turning in, which would eliminate his escape vector for launched plasma.

EXAMPLE 3B (R8 Semi-Oblique, Hound=Lyran 2620F, Rabbit=Rom 2414C): In this situation, the Lyran can threaten R4 without turning, which preserves his escape vector for launched plasma.

It is interesting to note that the Semi-Oblique can easily evolve into the pure Oblique. A R8 Semi-Oblique approach can easily turn into a R4 pure Oblique, which may be the Hound’s desired firing range.

There are two additional items worth mentioning:

1. Since this approach involves maneuvering along a shield spine, it requires the Hound to have sufficient speed during the attack run to control the shield facing. If the Hound is not careful or not travelling fast enough, the Rabbit will get the Hound’s #1 and shoot it off, making pursuit by the Hound difficult.

2. The Hound’s escape vector for seeking weapons launched by the Rabbit is not as good with the Semi-Oblique as with the pure Oblique, for exactly the same reasons as advantage #1 listed above.