Preview in Signs & Portents 86

[Ben2]

The thing is in the Noble Armada background ships are full of very expensive equipment that is far too valuable to destroy, so boarding makes a lot of sense in order to loot that.

Think of the age of sail and taking prizes. The British went in to the battle of Trafalgar not dreading going toe to toe with the combined Spanish and French fleets, but overjoyed at how much money they'd make from taking so many prizes.

Previous to that cast bronze cannon were one of the most valuable pieces of gear on a ship, and under Elizabeth the crown took bronze pieces taken on enemy ships.

So there is historical precedence for boarding in a period when naval artillery meant stand off firepower was sufficient to destroy your opponent.

I've been working on converting ACTA to historical naval warfare 1500-1650 at the moment (though I might slide a little on that and include the Anglo-Dutch war under the Commonwealth). I was working out a boarding system based on locations (fore and aft castle, deck and gun deck) and had also rejigged the way damage worked (a bit more like B5W but without the additional dice rolling) in order to combine the boarding and damage diagram in one graphic.

It makes me very curious to see how boarding was done in ACTA3, as I was thinking of putting together a decent set of playtest rules, focusing either on Lepanto or the wars between the Engish and French in the first half of the 16th century, and seeing if Matt wanted it for S&P.

 

[Da Boss]

I was waiting for ACTA 3 only to discover boarding actions taking over another space-combat game.

I would assume that it would be the simplest house rule ever, full VPs for each destroyed ship, dump the boarding rules. I don't know for sure, but it shouldn't really impact the other rules (the only thing it might impact are the points costs of the ships).

Maybe not - as we already know that crew scores have been dropped from ACTA 3 - as you will not be able to slaughter the crew (or occassionaly be shot back) / inflict crits need to either put in a new table (or similar) or reinstate crew scores............

 

[Scipio]

I got into ACTA because of the B5 theme and it would have had to be something spectacular for me to get into ACTA3 as long it were not B5 themed which I do not really see at this point.

But so long and happy gaming to you all who take the plunge into NA.

 

[AdrianH]

I was waiting for ACTA 3 only to discover boarding actions taking over another space-combat game.

I would assume that it would be the simplest house rule ever, full VPs for each destroyed ship, dump the boarding rules. I don't know for sure, but it shouldn't really impact the other rules (the only thing it might impact are the points costs of the ships).

Maybe not - as we already know that crew scores have been dropped from ACTA 3 - as you will not be able to slaughter the crew (or occassionaly be shot back) / inflict crits need to either put in a new table (or similar) or reinstate crew scores............

You can't slaughter the crew if there isn't one - Shadows and Vorlons are already in this position in B5:ACTA. In fact, ACTA:NA minus boarding would probably be similar to a B5:ACTA battle involving Shadows or Vorlons in this regard - boarding can't happen, neither side can get double score for capturing, troops can't run around looking for things to blow up. (Incidentally, boarding and capturing a ship scores twice as much as blowing it up in both versions of ACTA. The only difference is that "normal points" is destroying it in B5 and capturing it in NA.)

I got into ACTA because of the B5 theme and it would have had to be something spectacular for me to get into ACTA3 as long it were not B5 themed which I do not really see at this point.

But so long and happy gaming to you all who take the plunge into NA.

To some extent that is true for me as well. Certainly I got into ACTA because of B5 and have no intention of dumping either the books or the fleets. (A lot of my ships were originally bought as display models of ships from the show and only became playable when P&P introduced the Army of Light fleet list, so the worst case scenario is that they go back to being display models.) There were a few possible settings which would have got me to buy CTA3 right off, but Noble Armada isn't one of them. However, if any of the players in our club buy it, I'll join in. Otherwise there's no point in me building new fleets and learning a new setting; if I were to do that I may as well go for Battlefleet Gothic as I know I can find opponents for that. The other possibility is when people who have both versions produce the conversion from CTA3 to B5; if comments on the forum on such a conversion are favourable, I'll get the rulebook at least...

 

[Poi]

I got into ACTA because of the B5 theme and it would have had to be something spectacular for me to get into ACTA3 as long it were not B5 themed which I do not really see at this point.

But so long and happy gaming to you all who take the plunge into NA.

Me too. I know nothing about Faded Suns, and nothing in the preview makes me inclined to have a better look.
I may get the rules, but I'll use another manufacturer's models.

 

[NX_Phoenix]

I got into ACTA because of the B5 license and relatively low cost, but I'm staying for the rules and gameplay...and the cost again. The setting has me interested enough to look into it further and I'm eager to see the rules changes from 2E to 3E.

 

[H]

I got into ACTA because of the B5 theme and it would have had to be something spectacular for me to get into ACTA3 as long it were not B5 themed which I do not really see at this point.

But so long and happy gaming to you all who take the plunge into NA.

Me too. I know nothing about Faded Suns, and nothing in the preview makes me inclined to have a better look.
I may get the rules, but I'll use another manufacturer's models.

this has become the I'm not interested post. I may have to go to the train station and not buy a ticket to get in the not bothered club.
if you arean't interested, thats great, move along, this is the Noble armada forum, not the not noble armada forum.
I'm not hugely impressed as i think the setting is naff, but I like some of the ships, and the ACTA rules were sound enough so i may buy a small fleet to try it out.

 

[BraveSirRobin]

Over at SCN most of the posts in regard to the new setting have been pretty apathetic.

But we get fleet starters for $30. Part of that is going to be the scale of the models, but at least part of it is going to be a distinct lack of Hollywood accounting driving up the license cost. See> http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated/msg/05fd343142ac9f65?dmode=source
I think an affordable entry into a new iteration of the ACTA system is a good thing, especially since some of the ships I can knick for proxies (half the Decados would make good Centauri stuff and the other half would be great for Paks).

That said, the preview itself was a little bit rough looking. We all probably didn't help things by all the begging for hints etc, but I could have waited another day or two for a bit more polish. First impressions are important.

 

[Clanger]

http://www.redbrick-limited.com/cms/index.php?categoryid=12&p13_sectionid=4&p13_fileid=40

This a basic primer for the Fading Suns setting.

As a Fading Suns fan with the page constraints Matt has, the basic taster in S&P is not bad. I wish people would get over the Wah Wahing. The setting background is much more indepth and rich. Read the Primer / Quick Start rules and you will get a better idea.

 

[H]

http://www.redbrick-limited.com/cms/index.php?categoryid=12&p13_sectionid=4&p13_fileid=40

This a basic primer for the Fading Suns setting.

As a Fading Suns fan with the page constraints Matt has, the basic taster in S&P is not bad. I wish people would get over the Wah Wahing. The setting background is much more indepth and rich. Read the Primer / Quick Start rules and you will get a better idea.

I think the issue is, that unless you are a bit of a fanboy, people aren't taken with it. It's not a get up and grab you licence, it's a "oh that" or, "what?!" kind of licence. Most people will wonder why their wasn't a new setting written, as FS was always a bit of a specialist setting for an RPG, certainly didn't capture the imagination that much for most people.
you are right, it is in depth, but depth doesn't make in interesting. I am sure harry Potter has a lot of depth , but I wouldn't bother with it.
I think Mongoose should concentrate on ensuring the minis are top notch, and offering the best support to a well tried ruleset, and not rely on the setting to sell it

 

[Burger]

Ya, I got bored on page 3 of that primer LOL.

I do quite like the ships though so I may give it a go. Just tell me which race has the most guns and I'll buy them :lol:

 

[H]

Ya, I got bored on page 3 of that primer LOL.

I do quite like the ships though so I may give it a go. Just tell me which race has the most guns and I'll buy them :lol:

careful, the Narn had lots of guns, they were just pants!

I like um, rats forgotten the fleet name, the ones that were greeny and some cylon type ships.

 

[Clanger]

Decados Hiff

 

[H]

Decados Hiff

ta, need to check out their playstyle.

 

[Burger]

careful, the Narn had lots of guns, they were just pants!

Oh yeah, well change that, lots of good guns :lol:

Decados definitely look the best.

 

[Renny]

I think Mongoose should concentrate on ensuring the minis are top notch, and offering the best support to a well tried ruleset, and not rely on the setting to sell it

Well said. I think this is spot on. Take the time to get the minis right, polish the rulebook to the nth degree and that is all you can do.

 

[Cergorach]

I think the issue is, that unless you are a bit of a fanboy, people aren't taken with it. It's not a get up and grab you licence, it's a "oh that" or, "what?!" kind of licence. Most people will wonder why their wasn't a new setting written, as FS was always a bit of a specialist setting for an RPG, certainly didn't capture the imagination that much for most people.
you are right, it is in depth, but depth doesn't make in interesting. I am sure harry Potter has a lot of depth , but I wouldn't bother with it.
I think Mongoose should concentrate on ensuring the minis are top notch, and offering the best support to a well tried ruleset, and not rely on the setting to sell it

What you like and what will sell well is obviously not related to each other, Harry Potter sells very well.

If you look at Firestorm: Armada (Spartan), that had virtually no background, and no known IP. Even the quality of the models was horrendous at one time (Ship halves not fitting together, poor casting). It is still doing very well, imho it's because they have a relatively simple system and some great space ship designs. But probably the biggest (most important) selling point is that they have a wide distribution channel, people want it, they can actually get it.

The models from the Cold Navy line are awesome imho, but were only really available from the producer of the models, it eventually failed (now available through Ravenstar Studios). It had a horrible distribution model, so it failed.

Mongoose has two reasons for using FS (imho): 1.) The publish the Redbrick books, so any additional sales there would also mean more profit for Mongoose. 2.) It's a 'cheap' license that already has a lot of ready made ship designs, a deep and involved storyline with lots of room to expand the miniatures range, and it comes with a ready made fan base (although relatively small). They don't need to expend resource on anything beyond the ruleset, cleaning up the already present ship designs and add a few more. It was probably cheaper to use the FS/NA license then to start from scratch.

Mongoose is better then most with distribution, although not as good as it was at the height of the D20 hype. The two game distributors in the Netherlands (just across the pond) don't carry their stuff, some of the bigger online stores in the UK don't carry their stuff (Maelstrom Games and Wayland Games). I hope that especially Maelstrom and possibly Wayland will carry the new Noble Armada miniatures, it's less about the discounts they offer (although those are very nice), but more about the ease of use and the no shipping charge.

 

[McKickaha]

Its new and improved, no doubt, CTA 3.

I like the minis. (Its icing on the cake that it looks like many of them are suitable proxies re CTA 2)

I also like the scaling through the fleets.

& From S&P new designs are in the sculpting pipeline

Only know what I have came across on the net re the previous fluff but sounds like a better pedigree than most and I am sure it will be very interesting.

 

[Arch Lector Petrovski]

I got into ACTA because of the B5 theme and it would have had to be something spectacular for me to get into ACTA3 as long it were not B5 themed which I do not really see at this point.

But so long and happy gaming to you all who take the plunge into NA.

Me too. I know nothing about Faded Suns, and nothing in the preview makes me inclined to have a better look.
I may get the rules, but I'll use another manufacturer's models.

this has become the I'm not interested post. I may have to go to the train station and not buy a ticket to get in the not bothered club.
if you arean't interested, thats great, move along, this is the Noble armada forum, not the not noble armada forum.
I'm not hugely impressed as i think the setting is naff, but I like some of the ships, and the ACTA rules were sound enough so i may buy a small fleet to try it out.

Sorry I'm picking up this quote from a while ago but I haven't been on the forums for a day or so.

Hiffano, unless I'm very much mistaken the vast majority of the posts on the forum are either pro-NA or at the very least slightly up of apathetic in regards to it. So it clearly still is a a Noble Armada forum focusing on the new release. Also any negative comments are still being aired in regards to the new release information of Noble Armada and are thereby still talking about the game; they're just expressing a more negative opinion than some of the others. If people were continually repeating their negative views every couple of hours; rather than stating their opinion of the new release quite plainly, then I might be able to see some grounds for your grumble. But those who don't like it have just as much of a rite to air their opinions about the game in the game's dedicated forum as those who don't; especially since ACTA has been a much loved game for many who were sad to see it go and have been eagerly awaiting this news since the announcement that there would be a new version/edition.

Just because it's a negative opinion about the setting doesn't mean it is not about Noble Armada; in fact as it is an opinion about NA it clearly can't be not about NA.

Also I agree that some of the minis do look pretty good; hope for all those that are purchasing them you don't suffer from warped Amu syndrome (my brother's Amu still needs a lot of remodelling to make it fit together properly).

 

[H]

i appreciate some people saying not sure, i'll consider it etc, but plain up, no i won't buy i don't like. I may as well walk into old trafford and shout i hate Man U, or go to tesco and refuse to buy cos I only want Asda, just seems rather redundant.