Couple of questions while I wait for my book + boxes

[Ryueokami]

Heya
So as I now know everything is coming at last^^ I'm having a few questions though so that I can prepare myself mentally

1.) Are there stats included for bases (battlebases, starbases, ....) or will they be covered in a possible future release?

2.) I remember there were a few talks about fanfiction,.... and how it stands legally.
And approvals / disapprovals, but honestly I'm not sure about the official standings there
so I'm asking beforehanded so that no troubles can arise:
I'm planing to put together an old campaign I once wrote for SFB (more a single player
campaign for me so that I get used to the ruleset). Here I got two questions:
a.) Is it approved to post such a player created campaign here?
b.) Is it approved or is it against the rules if I would put up BR's in a fanfiction style?
(if against the rules I would post BR's only in traditional style, no problem for me)

 

[billclo]

The basic rules include mobile bases and Battle Stations. No Starbases yet.

The combat values of the bases were changed, so you need to get the Errata file for the correct ones. http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/pdf/sferrata.pdf

I can't answer the other questions.

 

[Da Boss]

Fiction

There used to be a whole section on fan fiction but that was taken down at the request of the B5 Licence holder IIRC. Regarding SFU, I think Jean has said that you can do fiction associated with battles you have played but they have to be careful?

There are a number of narrative battles presently on the forum described by players for the older games with no issues.

http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=46925

 

[billclo]

I suspect it would be safest to address your questions about fan fiction in a Private Mail to msprange (Matt Sprange).

 

[Ryueokami]

I suspect it would be safest to address your questions about fan fiction in a Private Mail to msprange (Matt Sprange).

I wanted to post it directly on the forums instead of in a pm as I think that question could affect a few here (if I remember correctly there were quite a few fanfiction writers around in ACTA: B5 times)

 

[Jean]

Please, no fan fiction. Writing up your gaming experience is allowed.

 

[Ryueokami]

Tnx for the reply.

Still got a question in that regards to make sure I won't step on anybodies toes (better to ask too many questions than too few ^^), and then also a few acta questions (like I mentioned I have a small campaign in mind, but need to know a few things there.....as my books are still a while out, so that I can already think what I need to make up for a few scenarios and what I will be able to do/use when book is here):
As I'm planing on doing a small mini campaign like mentioned my question is, if introductionary
things (reportwise) is allowed there (I remember that type of writeup mostly from other
gaming franchises, but if I'm not mistaken also SFB had such a thing for scenarios:
-short story introduction (I understand that this would fall under no fanfiction part, so not asking here)
-short historical description
-historical outcome
So second and 3rd part (the "historical" parts) would such things be allowed (with or without the mini campaign being a maneuver in "reality").

Like mentioned I DON'T try to find loopholes, but I just want to know what I can do, before I write something up and then get a bump on my head for doing something not allowed.



-Rules-questions:
1.) Are there any rules in the book about targeting specific things?
2.) Are there stats for Battleships? (federation/klingon)
3.) From SFB times I know there is a description in regards to DN's how they are used
during and outside of wartimes, are also these types of descriptions there for DN's
and BS (if answer to 2 is yes) in the rulebook?
(for what I plan a BS would make more sense probably, but I can switch to DN's for
that if there are no stats. I know how DN's are used in SFB backgroundwise, but
no clue to BS there).
4.) Are there rules included somewhere for surprise attacks? (like attacking a ship
at port and crew needs to start it up,...)

 

[Da Boss]

re your quesitions:

1) There are no rules in ACTA:SF (or apparently any other SFU game) for targeting specific areas of the ship - would have thought it would have been in SFB but apparently not.

2) No rules for Battleships - only Dreadnoughts - Battleships are likely to be in first supplement

3) Nope

4) The ambush scenario may give you a good starting point.

 

[Ryueokami]

tnx.
Hmmmm ambush scenario sounds interesting. I wish my books would arrive sooner than later^^
If I may ask so far: Does it use crew quality rolls?

 

[scoutdad]

tnx.
Hmmmm ambush scenario sounds interesting. I wish my books would arrive sooner than later^^
If I may ask so far: Does it use crew quality rolls?

Yes, it does.

 

[Ryueokami]

Ideal, then I can use given rules for that part of the mini campaign plan. Then the only part I will have to improvise is how to take out a subspace radio (I think so it was called during the series?) on a ship, but already a few ideas there.


Tnx again. Helped a lot. I don't need to change as much as I feared.

 

[ErikB]

-short story introduction (I understand that this would fall under no fanfiction part, so not asking here)

Aren't stories to introduce scenarios okay? Or something? Or is that only allowed if TPTB do it?

 

[Jean]

If you have a good short story, you should submit it to SVC for consideration for Captain's Log. Remember that conflict is the name of the game as is trying to be realistic about the story. One side shouldn't have to roll all 6s while the other has to roll all 1s to make it work.

Scenarios tend to have a paragraph or so about them and are the way that much of the SFU history advances. For me, the paragraph or so is the easy part. Much harder is balancing the conflict.

Does that help?

Jean

 

[Stealth7]

Newbie question. If photons are not fired, must they be reloaded before another firing attempt? I'm thinking back to SFB, where unfired photons cost a small bit of energy to hold in the tubes.

 

[Da Boss]

Its a case of use or loose them

Although if you use an overloaded weapon you can still fire normally instead rather than just short range.

 

[Greg Smith]

Newbie question. If photons are not fired, must they be reloaded before another firing attempt?

No. There is no requirement for reloading normal photons if you don't fire them.

But overloaded ones can't be retained in an overloaded state, as Da Boss says.. They revert to normal mode if they are not fired.

 

[Captain Jonah]

Its a case of use or loose them

Although if you use an overloaded weapon you can still fire normally instead rather than just short range.

Where did that come from, that means you cannot start the battle with loaded photons???

I assumed that photons and plasmas once loaded were there till used. I realy don't want to fly Fed or Gorn where you cannot fire turn one because you must use a reload special action to ready your heavies.

Likewise I assumed you started with heavies loaded at the begining of the battle. Its a bit silly to not be able to hold them when loaded otherwise the Klinks get even more OP than they all ready are :lol:

 

[Keeper Nilbog]

Think he's talking about the 'Overload Weapon' SA - use it or lose it , but at least they can be fired as normal Photon's, or held (no holding overloads in ActA:SF)

 

[Da Boss]

Think he's talking about the 'Overload Weapon' SA - use it or lose it , but at least they can be fired as normal Photon's, or held (no holding overloads in ActA:SF)

Sorry yes thats what I meant - I must have misread the quesiton - applogies

 

[Greg Smith]

Where did that come from, that means you cannot start the battle with loaded photons???

Everything starts loaded.

I am guessing Da Boss is talking about overloaded photons. Which are either used or resort to normal mode the following turn (and not lost completely).