Long time reader, first time poster of this forum. I need the communities help in resolving a dispute among our group with pivotal battles. We are about to have our first and cannot agree whether or not the defending player gets to use base defenses when the assaulting player chooses “Conquest”. There is a bit of ambiguity on the descriptions that could be interpreted differently.

Evacuation clearly states to use this objective WITH Base Defense objectives

Conquest says to the battle is treated as a base location, when can be interpreted differently than evacuation.

Thematically, it feels like they Should be able to use Base Defenses.

If they can’t be used, why would the assaulting player ever NOT CHOOSE Conquest? It would be the easiest of the three as it gives NO benefits to the 2nd player ( something that armada strives for). Unless this is the point to keep the campaign self balancing.

How have your groups been playing these pivotal battles?

In our run, we completed a Conquest pivotal battle using the base defense present at the system.

5 hours ago, Back Seat Admiral said:

Long time reader, first time poster of this forum. I need the communities help in resolving a dispute among our group with pivotal battles. We are about to have our first and cannot agree whether or not the defending player gets to use base defenses when the assaulting player chooses “Conquest”. There is a bit of ambiguity on the descriptions that could be interpreted differently.

Evacuation clearly states to use this objective WITH Base Defense objectives

Conquest says to the battle is treated as a base location, when can be interpreted differently than evacuation.

Thematically, it feels like they Should be able to use Base Defenses.

If they can’t be used, why would the assaulting player ever NOT CHOOSE Conquest? It would be the easiest of the three as it gives NO benefits to the 2nd player ( something that armada strives for). Unless this is the point to keep the campaign self balancing.

How have your groups been playing these pivotal battles?

It is played with the base defense objective of that location, as you are playing on that location and there are no specified rules to change that (like you can see on the other objectives where there are specified rules for setup and special rules).

Welcome to posting @Back Seat Admiral!

While i haven't played the campaign yet, for me i can't understand what 'this battle is treated as a base location' would mean except that you use the base defence cards.

OK, so it could refer to what the outcome of the battle is. But they go and explicitly detail what the two outcomes are anyway so this doesn't seem likely.

11 hours ago, Back Seat Admiral said:

If they can’t be used, why would the assaulting player ever NOT CHOOSE Conquest? It would be the easiest of the three as it gives NO benefits to the 2nd player

This seems like a good argument to me.

11 hours ago, Back Seat Admiral said:

If they can’t be used, why would the assaulting player ever NOT CHOOSE Conquest? It would be the easiest of the three as it gives NO benefits to the 2nd player ( something that armada strives for). Unless this is the point to keep the campaign self balancing.

How have your groups been playing these pivotal battles?

The principal reason to not choose conquest is based on your strategic play of the campaign.

Conquest: replace the opposing team's base, gain a minimum of 2 campaign points.

Demonstration of Force: gain presence in an area and a minimum of 2 campaign points. Additionally, you gain rewards you may need for your fleets.

Evacuation: Move one of your bases (great if you don't gain any benefit from it) and 2+ campaign points. Additionally, you get the strategic token for the new base location.

I am on the fence. It makes sense to use the base defense, however the only mention of "Base Defense" is during the "Determine Battle Effects" step, which occurs as standard after the battle. The rules for pivotal battles also say that Conquest, Show of Force and Evacuation are the objectives and it seems odd to me that Conquest doesn't say for Setup to use the Base Defense, but evacuation mentions to use the base defense with modification.

We played a two player campaign and didn't use the base defense for Conquest. That allowed both of us a chance to come back from behind during the campaign. I our situation if we didn't play it that way it would have snowballed and one side would have the advantage.

I think as a group, before you start the campaign this is something that you could decide how it works. For me, the next time we play we will try it with the base defense.

There's a post in the Rules sub-forum where we're debating this. I suggest we all follow it there where it belongs: