Best way to start?

[JohnDW]

Nothing wrong with collecting that many ships, I just wonder about using that many! I bet even if you had one of every different varient of federation ships form SFB, you might still have less than 150, I havent played SFB so I don't know how many varients there are, but I cant imagine there being THAT many.

It would still be cool though... one of every ship, duplicates of some that you'd be more likely to use more than one of.

I'd have to guess northwards of 1000+ ships and variants in SFB, EASILY.

Total, or just for one faction like federation? I could understand getting all varients for one faction, but for all of them, you'd really have to be a fan!

 

[billclo]

Nothing wrong with collecting that many ships, I just wonder about using that many! I bet even if you had one of every different varient of federation ships form SFB, you might still have less than 150, I havent played SFB so I don't know how many varients there are, but I cant imagine there being THAT many.

It would still be cool though... one of every ship, duplicates of some that you'd be more likely to use more than one of.

I'd have to guess northwards of 1000+ ships and variants in SFB, EASILY.

Total, or just for one faction like federation? I could understand getting all varients for one faction, but for all of them, you'd really have to be a fan!

Sorry, all of the main Empires, not just the Federation.

 

[Nerroth]

There'll be a good way to get a sense of exactly how many Star Fleet hulls and mission variants there are in SFB, once the Fed Master Starship Book volume is published.

(But then, I dunno if the Fed MSSB will only list the TL 12 ships, or will also cover the W, Y, and X-hulls.)

 

[Nretnimoc]

Thought I had a decent 'fleet' of 25 federation ships. Apparently just a Taskforce really. Though, I get dirty looks from my wife with the current ship count I have.

:lol:

 

[billclo]

Thought I had a decent 'fleet' of 25 federation ships. Apparently just a Taskforce really. Though, I get dirty looks from my wife with the current ship count I have.

:lol:

25 ships is decent. I plan to have about that many Gorn, Kzinti, and Rom ships each. They are "minor" Empires, to me.

I have around 40 for each of the Feds and Klingons.

 

[Focke-Wulfe]

25 ships is decent. I plan to have about that many Gorn, Kzinti, and Rom ships each. They are "minor" Empires, to me.

:!:
you take that back!

I have around 40 for each of the Feds and Klingons.

oddly enough the exact opposite of that is my ultimate goal for myself. I consider my Romulans my main fleet, I have a special place in my heart for the kzinti regardless of the universe they are in and i love the gorn ship designs.

klinks and feds are mostly to try to get more people into the game.

 

[scoutdad]

It's probably closer to 55,000 points now.
There's just over 100 Klingons...
90 some odd Federation...
60+ Romulans
40+ Kzinti
30+ Gorn
16 Orions
11 Small frieghters, 5 Large Freighters, 6 APTs

And 1500+ of the Starline 2400 minis.

And they are all WSIWYG.
No proxies allowed!!! :shock:

 

[Focke-Wulfe]

you are the man all avid collectors should aspire to be.

adding on to the topic, i thought about starting a new thread but reconsidered.

for those of you who have demo'd or introduced other people to the game, what fleets did you use and was there any rules you ignored or a special scenario you made?

 

[kyrolon]

you are the man all avid collectors should aspire to be.

adding on to the topic, i thought about starting a new thread but reconsidered.

for those of you who have demo'd or introduced other people to the game, what fleets did you use and was there any rules you ignored or a special scenario you made?

When I ran demos at a local con, I did Fed vs Klingon with three ships per side. I ignored drones for the first game (since using basic ships it's essentially just Fed drone cancels Klingon drone). I also spotted the feds 20-30 pts. That was partially because of what I had collection wise for multiple 3 vs 3 engagements, and partially because I wanted someone other than the Klingon player to have fun. Particularly in a first game the Klingon advantages are harsh, and I have had other people play the game once and give up because of it claiming "that's just stupid." Those were people familiar with the SFU though who I thought would really like the game.

I also cut way down on available special actions. I kept the essential ones like Overload weapons, All Power to Engines, All Hands on Deck, and the damage reducing ones. I cut out shuttles, marines, and a couple others I don't recall. When doing this be sure to let them know though that you have simplified a few things for the game. Some players will desire the additional complexity that those things bring, and will be glad to know they can add them in later.

Good Luck!

 

[billclo]

I used to run 2 cruisers per player, either Fed CA, NCA, or NCL vs Klingon D7, D5W, D5, up to 6 players in a game. I left out drones/Adds/Combined Drone Racks. Also left out Tranport Marines, Tractor beams, shuttles, cloaks, evasive action, Intensify Defensive Fire, Max Warp. Mainly left for special actions: All Power to Engines, All Hands on Deck, Boost Shields, Close Blast Doors, Overload, Reload.

I was finding that in 4-hour convention games, it was hard to fight to a conclusion with 12 cruisers on the map, and after feedback from players, switched to 1 cruiser/player. If the game wraps up too fast, switch sides and play it again. If you have no time limit, you can use 2 cruisers per player, but the game may go longer than you want it to.

For new players, I think 1 cruiser per player is fine, or maybe 2 frigates. Second game, if they are absorbing the rules okay, move up to 2 cruisers or 3 frigates (make sure they are identical).

If you can, switch sides and play again; otherwise the Feds, who almost always LOSE the first game, will get disillusioned with the Klingon advantages (perceived or actual is very debateable) and not want to play again. It's a STEEP learning curve for the Feds, who have to be really good or the Klingons make mistakes, if they want to win.

 

[scoutdad]

While I've run several demos in the preferred Mongoose format (2 Fed cruisers versus 2 Klingon cruisers)... on a 2' x 2' map... with no special actions... and over in 30 minutes...
[and believe it or not, you can crank a lot of people through like this, and the format does work...]

I much prefer to run introductory level games and let new players team up with experienced players.
This works a little better for our local group as we have several players that like to teach the game, not play the game for them and let the newbies "roll the dice"

Our favorite, convention format intro level game is "The Battle for Kh'rtis Rock!"
This is a massive game featuring 29 Klingon ships, 31 Federation ships, one Battlestation, and 5 freighters.
The last After Action Report can be found here:
http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5017
http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5018

It usually takes about 6 to 7 hours to play.
One experienced commander takes the Klingons and one takes the Feds.
Each turn, the commander merely selects the order in which squadrons move and fire.

For example, when its the Klingon turn to move, he may say something like, "D7 squadron Alpha, move along the left flank and target the largest Fed ship in range!"
The player controlling that squad then moves his squad as he sees fit.
Later, when its the Klingon turn to fire, he may say, "Target the fed cruisers and fire for effect!", or... "Fire at Will!!"...

It works really well. Everyone has a blast and lots of ships blow up!!!