Squadron News
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- The Big News this week was the release of the EHBL (Emperor's Hammer Battle Loader) software. All battle files have now been converted from .ZIP to .EHB format, so the only way you can play battles is to download and use the software. Already, several problems have showed up, most notably the lack of support for Macintosh pilots and the patch needed to get the software working correctly on Win2K and WinXP. Also, access to mission files through TIE Fighter Workshop or other programs is apparently now prohibited, since we have no way to access them -- the EHBL handles all of that for you. This may help to crack down on cheating, but it's a huge blow to anyone trying to plan a competition, or even to look at how a mission was setup in order to further your own mission-creation skills. I've already seen several instances of higher ranking officers opposing this transition ... personally, I do not care for the EHBL software at all. In my opinion, it only serves to alienate a good portion of our fleet by keeping them from flying the battles, and I also find it a little insulting that a basic operation like installing a battle / mission has been automated, apparently because we can't be trusted. I also feel that the "increased security" reasoning behind this move is somewhat questionable. We will just have to wait and see how this situation evolves. For now, the battles should (in theory) be playable by anyone running a Windows operating system.
- COL Ixion Deathbringer has disembarked on a small leave of absence until October 9th. He should have limited email access, however. Ixion, wherever you're going, bring me back some Ewok steaks!
- COM/AD Proton has announced the creation of the SSSD Sovereign Killboard. This is a fairly large change for operations aboard the Sov, as all intra-ship competitions will now be tracked and, where appropriate, awards will be made. Everyone should have the full email that Proton sent in their inboxes, but here is an excerpt :
I have a new and ongoing challenge for you, your wings and your
squadrons. I am creating the SSSD Sovereign Killboard. This board will
track and chronicle victories by Sov wings, squadrons, flights and
pilots.
What do you (as a WC, CMDR, FL or individual pilot) need to do to gain
recognition on the Killboard?
1) Challenge a non-Sovereign wing to a competition.
2) Challenge a non-Sovereign squadron to a competition.
3) Challenge a non-Sovereign flight to a competition.
4) Challenge a non-Sovereign pilot to a competition.
5) Challenge a non-EH unit or EH subgroup unit to a competition.
Set up the comp as usual, and cc: me with all results. I will also be
happy to serve as judge of any comp, although I would greatly appreciate
the help of the WCs in leading this. I want you to know that I will not
be sitting on the sidelines. I will help you with your comps, and I will
be challenging non-Sovereign pilots to battles myself.
We are the aggressors (what else is new?). The other ships won't know
what hit them. We will use the Killboard to generate ongoing flight,
graphics, fiction, mission-building, trivia (or whatever!) activity on
our ship, and of course demonstrate our superiority and dominance of all
opponents. Pretty much anything goes. I will recognize any Star Wars- and
EH-related event, including Galactic Battlegrounds, JK or SWG combat or
contests, wargames, etc. Also, if an opponent refuses a challenge you
make, let me know of that too, so the non-event can be registered as an
"emergency enemy retreat."
You all are already conducting comps like this. Now you will get "extra
credit" for them. At the end of each month, Killboard leaders will
receive SovCOM's Own recognition and free monthlong cantina passes!
The Killboard website is currently forthcoming, but you can be sure that a link will be prominently displayed on the Sov Site as soon as it is completed.
Squadron Orders
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- Opening moves are commencing for ImpStorm IV : "The BGs Attempt to Strike Back". Lots of good news has been posted at the Sov's IS IV website, which you can find here : http://www.imperialmight.org/sovis/html/index.php.
Looks like almost 4 turns have passed already, and the Sov has still evaded confrontation. The BGs apparently tried to spring a trap and bring all of their combined forces to bear on us ... but they succeeded in trapping not the Sovereign, but a lone corvette that we had out on recon duty. I'd say we're definitely going to lose that corvette, but the Sov is safe, and we now know where the BG forces are ...
- AD Proton has put out a call for graphics to accommodate the creation of the new Sovereign Killboard website. Here are the details, straight from him :
I will need a standard banner, a splash banner, and any other images that
creators think might be useful on the Killboard. The best graphics
presented will earn their creators an Iron Star-GR, SR and BR. Deadline
is Oct. 20; e-mail all entries to me at hullbreach@warpmail.net.
Activity Reports (09.30.03 -- 10.05.03)
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CMDR/GN Sasquatch
No Activity -- Bah!
FM/GN Compton
No Activity
FM/COL Ixion Deathbringer
No Activity
---
FL/COL Brian
No Activity
FM/LC Yoman
No Activity
FM/MAJ Manijak
No Activity
---
FL/LC Brandon
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 28
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 30
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 33
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 35
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 36
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 38
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 39
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 40
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 42
09.30.03 - Completed FREE-XWA # 46
FM/LC Todbringer
No Activity
FM/MAJ Artyis
No Activity
Misc.
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- Whoa ... now that's what I call a "slow week". I can't say anything, since I've been just as inactive myself ... RL is hammering me, and it's not going to let up anytime soon. Beyond that, I choose to blame this newfangled EHBL software.
- SWG Ground Operations : Conscarr Chonchulak did not make an appearance in the SWG universe this last week, which is bad, because the rent on his house is probably way overdue. His continued existence in that universe is still very much in jeopardy ...
Okay, that's gonna wrap us up for this week. Kind of a short report this week (I thought so, anyway), so enjoy ;-)
Fly high and watch your six!
CMDR/GN Sasquatch / Omega / SSSD Sovereign
[GS] [SS] [BSx5] [PCx12] [ISMx11] [MoT-GH] [IS-2BW-BR-GW-GR-2PW] [CoLx2] [CoB] [LoAx2] [OV-5E]
[IWATS] [CBX] [GFX] [IIC/1] [M/1] [SM/1] [TM] [TT]
T/G 'Silhouette II'
Omega Squadron -- Sentinels of the Fleet Commander
"We Bring Death!"
Shameless Omega Squadron Merchandise - http://www.cafeshops.com/omegasquadron