RE: FT III, BIg ships and such.

Date sent:  9-DEC-1996 09:24:22 

>As I have been watching these two threads, I've noticed what I consider
to
>be a disheartening effect to make the game more COMPLICATED.  I see
that
>there are problems with mass vs points or with big ships vs small ships
but
>I personally like the game AS IT STANDS.  I have DS II & SG II but I
would
>rather play Full Thrust based on it ease to play.  If I want a complex
game,
>I'll dig out my 50 pounds of Star Fleet Battles.  The direction seems
like
>Car Wars.  It started out as a fun, easy to play, yet extendable game,
then
>it became "Car Fleet Battles" with way too much stuff (optional rules,
rules
>revisions, and such).	
>Let's not take FT there.

I must admit that when I play, I normally play the Core rules only. Even
though I have several variant rules knocking about, and MT, I play the
basics, simply because it is simple.

Having said that, FT is great because it is so adaptable. Easy to tinker
with. I think some of the variants are great fun. The only problem with
them would be if they became 'official' in any way. Then the core rules
may become diluted. As it stands, with no 'official' rules changes, all
these ideas floating around form a pool of take it or leave it ideas.
Nothing wrong with that. If anything it enriches rather than detracts
from the original.

If GZG were ever to use any ideas as expansions, then I would certainly
like to see them clearly labeled as OPTIONAL. This doesn't really work,
as
the Kra'Vak rules are labeled OPTIONAL, but are used extensively by
people who want to 'win'. The core rules are great, but does that mean
there is no room for improvement, or even random tinkering? So long as
they remain 'unofficial', there should be no problem.

And last time I spoke to Jon (Saturday before last) he was still
undecided
as to wither or not to rewrite or reprint, so drop him a line at his
snailmail address saying which you'd prefer. He may decide just to
reprint
afterall.

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