Re: [GZG] Federation Commander is out, and it's gunning for FT.

[dean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

> > For those as lazy as moi:
> > http://www.star-ranger.com/Home.htm
> > http://www.star-ranger.com/FedCom.htm
> >
> > Well, not exactly gunning for FT, more a nod at, but I'd like a look the
> > game.
> > $60 startup?!?!? *cough* *choke* *gurgle*

Well, they say the box is full, there is no air space and if you shake it,
nothing moves.  They could have gone the classic SFB way with black and white
printing and no lamination but they are also targeting the RPG and 
German Games
market who expect high quality components and are currently buying 
games just as
expensive or hardcover rulebooks for $50.

> Dunno. I'll reserve full judgement until I see it out. But the SSDs scream
> "SFB!" to me. And while it's been nigh 10 years - no, over 10 years - since
> I played SFB, I found it scary that I could remember the Fed CA and Klingon
> D7 SSDs so vividly when I looked at the sample ones from the link above -
> same number of warp boxes, shield boxes, phasers, photon torps, etc.

They wanted to allow the use of SFB SSDs in the game and each ship comes in 2
scales, Squadron which are pretty much SFB SSDs and Fleet scale which has half
the number of boxes.  One of the FC laminated SSDs has the Squadron scale of a
ship on one side and Fleet on the other. They also plan to have the FC SSDs
available for download on their website.

The SSDs are not the complex part of SFB, it is rules, and they have attempted
to fix that. Most of the obscure rules are not includes and will not be added
later.  The FC rulebook is 52 pages with illustrations on every page, so about
40 pages of just rules text.  They have also cut down on a lot of the decision
points to speed up play.  The following is from their website:
- A typical duel takes one hour, not four hours.
- The largest fleet battles take four hours, not four days.
- Energy is spent "on the fly" via a marker on a sliding scale.
- Damage allocation involves 95% fewer die rolls.
- Each turn has 75% fewer decision steps.
- Ship diagrams are laminated (multiple use, no photocopies!).
- The rulebook is 5% as big; they can learn it in 30 minutes.
- Expansions include more fun, not complex new rules.

I have not played FC yet, I have just been watching the development online.  I
don't think it will replace FT in general due to the lack of 
construction rules
and being tied to one universe, but they are trying to expand their 
markets and
there are people using FT to play classic Trek games right now who might move
to FC.  They are planning a big debut weekend with demo games on 
November 26-27
so check your local store if intersted.

Dean Gundberg

Starship Combat News
The latest information on Space Games and Miniatures
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dean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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