2nd ed smoothness

[Burger]

Many times, 2e is referred to as smoother and faster to play. I don't really understand why.

Can anyone give me an actual example of a rule that is "smoother" or faster to play???
- Fleet selection is handled the same way, OK the maths changed a bit but the method is still the same
- Initiative is handled the same way
- Movement is the same but with the addition of Agile and Lumbering - making it more complicated
- Attacks are the same
- Damage is the same except Shadows/Vorlons which is like other races now (OK, this might be smoother but it certainly isn't faster than just subtracting a number!)
- Crits are more complicated (random weapons requires 2 rolls (arc then weapon), random trait loss is an extra roll)

 

[Dizzy Vree]

i agree, 2e certainly seems balanced, but quicker im not sure, CTA was always quite a smooth/quick game neway
may i also ad that i like the way that mongoose has balanced the fleets, they didnt make sum worse and sum better, they made loads of fleets better, just in different amounts(although some players may argue that)

 

[Banichi]

- Movement is the same but with the addition of Agile and Lumbering - making it more complicated

Sorry to hijack, I havn't got my book yet. How does agile and lumbering affect movement?

 

[Banichi]

Sorry, sorry I just read the review further down the forum. All is now clear.

 

[Dizzy Vree]

i havnt got the book, but i can give an answer that ive picked up

Agile helps you turn earlyer during the turn (mab a 1/4 of your way throo the turn)
lumbering means you stope once youve turned and/or you can only turn 3/4 of the way through your move

that could be wrong, but thats wat i think it is

 

[Banichi]

Thanks for the responce, I wonder how much that it will effect how the big ships play.

 

[Dizzy Vree]

well it makes omegas a bit less scary, and allows whitestars/other agile things to properly chase people behind them, not just end up in the same place, facing the other direction

 

[Da Boss]

Nope Lumbering - Can only turn at end of movement and can NEVER make another turn (apparently even in a gravity well?) for instance with Come About (can still increase degree of turn with that order or All Stop and Piviot)

 

[Burger]

Get back on topic boys!!!!!

Anyone think of a rule that is now "smoother" and faster to play?

Beams... might be considered smoother, always needing 4+ regardless of hull... but it's not faster because the re-rolls will take longer to end.

 

[Dizzy Vree]

well, the new beam rule is alot less complex, but it wasnt too comlicated to begin with, im not complaining i love the new rules, my brakiri and vree ships are dancing around the table (for different reasons obviously)

 

[Banichi]

The new way that ships antifighter fire is handled (from what I've heard) might not be smoother, but it makes a lot of sence. It sounds almost like the old overwatch rules from 40k. Not in the sence that you have to set it, but in the way any fighters that close with your ships activate it before they themselves shoot.

 

[animus]

Does it ship with talcum powder? That makes babies smooth.

Sorry, Burger, no rules yet :-(

 

[Da Boss]

Yeah It may not be quicker but I (and its an opinion) think its alot better

no more Centauri beam team - lots of cool Centari stuff though,
Anti-fighter makes sense,
ships all in one book,
rules in one book (at present?)
much better Crictical table - no more loose all weapons

etc etc

 

[Right Hand of God]

Maybe t just feels better to play, fewer niggles and imbalances which leads to a view of it being smoother and faster

 

[Dizzy Vree]

I have to agree with Da Boss, the "all fleets, one book" realy helps, hopefully we wont have more table space dedicated to books than games now,

 

[Burger]

Ah, yeah good point. Less books is less to carry around, less table space used up and less "is that in book 1 or SFOS or Armageddon?". Smoother and faster. I see now... although I think that isn't really what people are thinking of when they write the phrase in their reviews.

 

[Greg Smith]

I think the rules are clearer and better organised, which makes the obscure rules easier to find and learn, which might make things quicker and smoother in the long run.

But generally the ease and speed of play is pretty much the same.

 

[Dizzy Vree]

and making JPB's harder gets my vote any day of the week

 

[Right Hand of God]

Having an index is a nice step forward

 

[Triggy]

I think the rules are clearer and better organised, which makes the obscure rules easier to find and learn, which might make things quicker and smoother in the long run.

But generally the ease and speed of play is pretty much the same.

Yep, combine this with fewer rules disputes and all of the rules are back in one place and things become smoother (but not really faster).