Author Topic: Star Fleet Universe  (Read 130586 times)

Nerroth

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Star Fleet Universe
« on: 26 January 2011, 20:54:03 »
Once again, I wanted to start a thread covering ADB's alternate take on trek, and the games which take place therein.


In the interlude between boards, I started to work on the base coats for these:



Time will tell if anything much comes of them, though...
« Last Edit: 27 January 2011, 13:51:05 by Nerroth »

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #1 on: 27 January 2011, 07:44:53 »
Planning some Fed-Lyran joint ops there? Or is the odd one out a capture?

Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #2 on: 27 January 2011, 10:53:58 »
Not quite.

The CS and NCF I'll probably paint up as Star Fleet ships, but the OCA I intend to try and do up as an Armored Cruiser from the Federal Republic of Aurora.

The Lyran is meant to represent the CL which was transferred to Aurora in Y173; it's not been formally identified, but I like to think of it as a Fire Squadron ship (hence the colour scheme).

Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #3 on: 29 March 2011, 16:21:27 »
The new ground combat game, Star Fleet Marines: Assault, is set for an April release; there have been new posts showing how the game is shaping up.

« Last Edit: 29 March 2011, 16:58:17 by Nerroth »

Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #4 on: 05 April 2011, 00:03:37 »
GURPS Federation is now up on e23!

Now to wait for the print version this summer...

Lore

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Re: Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #5 on: 05 April 2011, 20:27:15 »
GURPS Federation is now up on e23!

Now to wait for the print version this summer...

Unfortunately, I'm having trouble accessing this link from my present location.

Can you share any further details about it?
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #6 on: 06 April 2011, 00:00:15 »
Sure.

I posted this over on another forum, but no-one's replied to it over there yet...

Quote
Hi.

The United Federation of Planets, as represented in the Star Fleet Universe, is distinct from that seen in the Franchise. It draws from many elements in the on-screen source material covered under ADB's licence with Paramount, along with others derived from the Star Fleet Technical Manual; but over three decades' worth of new stories, empires, and technoligies have seen this version of the UFP go its own way.

Recently, ADB put together a Federation sourcebook for its RPG series, Prime Directive; the D20M version was released in print form last year, while the e23 (online PDF) version of the GURPS edition went up yesterday. The D20M version will presumably end up on DriveThruRPG sooner or later (ADB upload their D20M books there, but send their GURPS stuff to e23 instead) while the print edition of GURPS Federation should be released later this year.


I got the e23 version of GURPS Federation (I like collecting the GURPS material over the D20M stuff, personally) and if you have an interest in the SFU take on trek, I would definitely recommend it.

It's got a series of planetary surveys for various major and minor member worlds (Earth, Mars, Vulcan, Andor etc; some of which are different than they are in the Franchise, though some of them have a couple of interesting nods here and there). It also looks at some of the ship classes used by Star Fleet (i.e. in games like Star Fleet Battles and Federation Commander) and details other branches of the Federation government. One of the most useful sections (from an RP perspective) are the deck plans it includes for the Burke-class frigate; one of the many ship designs indigenous to the SFU.

What you won't find are any direct references to a cerain on-screen ship or crew; the terms of the licence require those events to be seen from a half-step away, at best. Still, there are plenty of other ships in the fleet to endeavour with, as well as no end of civilian hulls to take out for a spin.


Oh, and for gaming purposes, it's not a stand-alone book; it works with the GURPS Prime Directive 4th Edition Core Book. (The D20M Federation book requires PD20M, which itself needs the D20M core rules to play. For GURPS users, GPD4e comes with a version of the basic GURPS rules included, so you don't need a third book.)


It might be a little different than what many at home with the Franchise might be familiar with; but if you want to see how things go along that other fork on the road from TOS, it's as good a way in to the setting as any... from a Federation perspective, at least.
« Last Edit: 06 April 2011, 00:02:17 by Nerroth »

I am Belch II

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #7 on: 06 April 2011, 00:50:00 »
I always wanted to try this game, but there is like 20 or 30 books and expansion packs to play the game, its a problem sometimes. I do want to read that GRUPS Federation Book. It looks like a good read, and info book.
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #8 on: 06 April 2011, 01:15:36 »
None of the tabletop games actually need you to dive in to get all of the books for them.

SFB itself can get up and running with Basic Set and Advanced Missions; from there you can take stock and decide where you'd like to go. (There are a lot of books for the various Alpha empires, but you can pick and choose which ones you want to try out. The other settings are more consolidated; the LMC only needs Module C5, while Omega has five modules, the first four of which are covered by the Omega Master Rulebook. Triangulum is still in playtest form right now, though.)

FC has a Reference Rulebook which has all the rules you need to fly any of the published Alpha ships, though if you want a boxed set instead (with counters, map sheets and laminated Ship Cards) either Klingon Border or Romulan Border work as ways to get started.

There's a Starmada conversion, too; there are only three books for it right now, and two of those (Klingon Armada and Romulan Armada) come with the basic Starmada mechanics in the books themselves (i.e. you only need one of them to start with).

And the upcoming Star Fleet Marines: Assault should have all you need to get up and running in the initial release.
« Last Edit: 06 April 2011, 01:21:40 by Nerroth »

Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #9 on: 14 April 2011, 12:29:39 »
The D20M version of PD Federation is now online, too; with a different style of cover art to that on the GURPS version.


Also, the Omega Playtest Rulebook for Federation Commander has a version 2 file uploaded to e23.

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #10 on: 14 April 2011, 13:02:49 »
Damn if I pick up yet another collectible wargame to spend my time and money... and time is the more restrictive resource. But just out of curiosity, what it takes to play Starfleet Battles? What do equivalents of Introductory Box Set have? How thick are the equivalents of BattleTech's Introductory Rulebook and Total Warfare?

Can we include Starfleet Command computer games to the discussion? I still have SFC2: Orion Pirates with lots of mods installed. Some might be in need of updates... and I might do the updates just to get to play some decent multiplayer again. Does anyone in here have any interest for such?
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #11 on: 14 April 2011, 14:01:25 »
Unfortunately, it looks like Star Fleet Marines: Assault may be delayed until later this year; still, if the finished product is that much better for it, well and good.


Damn if I pick up yet another collectible wargame to spend my time and money... and time is the more restrictive resource. But just out of curiosity, what it takes to play Starfleet Battles? What do equivalents of Introductory Box Set have? How thick are the equivalents of BattleTech's Introductory Rulebook and Total Warfare?


Before you decide which game (if any) to jump into, there are a couple of things I would suggest looking at first.


For SFB, there's the Cadet Training Manual; pdfs with rules, Cadet SSDs and a sample game are on this page. Cadet ships are at a different scale to "full" SFB SSDs, but they are enough to help ease you into the basic game mechanics.


For FC, there's Federation Commander: First Missions; which has the rules needed to dust off a couple of Fleet Scale intro ships.

(To clarify, Federation Commander Ship Cards present units in two separate scales. Squadron Scale is the same as that seen in an SFB SSD, while Fleet Scale is closer to that used in SFB for the Cadet ships.)

Plus, there are a number of free Ship Cards (in both scales) in the online Commander's Circle.


The Starmada adaptation uses the standard rules for that system, albeit with a few setting-specific edits; you can see the basic rules (without the SFU-specifc details) here, while a few sample SFU-specific ship pages can be found on this page.


Quote
Can we include Starfleet Command computer games to the discussion? I still have SFC2: Orion Pirates with lots of mods installed. Some might be in need of updates... and I might do the updates just to get to play some decent multiplayer again. Does anyone in here have any interest for such?


While I don't mind talking about the SFC computer games, it is worth bearing in mind that they are a half-step removed from the "true" Star Fleet Universe; some things that work a certain way in the games are, at times, liable to go in a different direction in the likes of SFB or FC.
« Last Edit: 14 April 2011, 14:08:30 by Nerroth »

Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #12 on: 11 May 2011, 00:13:59 »
Check out the cover art for the upcoming SFB Module C3A Andromedan Threat File!

Both it and the print version of GURPS Federation should be out later this month, fingers crossed.

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #13 on: 11 May 2011, 00:24:08 »
I want to someday pick up the RPG sourcebooks covering the Klingon and Romulan empires, if only for the fluff. Does it make any difference which system's books I get, or will the fluff be the same in each one?
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #14 on: 11 May 2011, 00:37:27 »
The fluff is pretty much the same for the Klingon and Romulan books; though I personally like the cover art from the GURPS version of the Romulan book a lot better (ditto for the Feds; not so much for the Klingons).

If you want to go with a D20 system, I'd recommend going for the D20M versions, as they are more up-to-date (and will be more heavily supported going forward) than the older D20-3.5 ones.

If you want GURPS, a couple of the older sourebooks were done for GURPS version 3; make sure the books you get are designed for v4. (It won't be an issue for the Romulans and Federation, or for any books they may produce later on.)

« Last Edit: 11 May 2011, 00:46:24 by Nerroth »

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #15 on: 11 May 2011, 00:50:38 »
I'm not interested in either system, though I do have lots of friends that play D20 games like Pathfinder, DnD 3.5, and M&M. It might be worth it to get the D20 versions in case I get them to play something in that universe.

Which system has the Klingon book with the giant gorilla in Imperial uniform on the cover?
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #16 on: 11 May 2011, 01:07:41 »
That would be the D20 (3.5 and D20M) version; again, of the two sub-types, I'd advise making sure you get the one for D20 Modern.

Lore

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #17 on: 11 May 2011, 20:44:46 »
Query for Nerroth...

I'm looking to get back into the various SF games after several years of absence. Are there any sites that offer updates on rules and source material? I'd like to catch-up on new rules developments and story-trends that I've missed in the time I've been away.
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #18 on: 11 May 2011, 23:43:19 »
This page might help, at least in terms of detailing which printed materials have been updated (at least up to the date of last revision).

One thing not on that list is the current revision 6 of the Federation Commander Reference Rulebook; that went live earlier this year.

« Last Edit: 11 May 2011, 23:47:29 by Nerroth »

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #19 on: 12 May 2011, 02:37:29 »
This page might help, at least in terms of detailing which printed materials have been updated (at least up to the date of last revision).

One thing not on that list is the current revision 6 of the Federation Commander Reference Rulebook; that went live earlier this year.

Interesting.

Anything story/setting-related, which details events in-game?
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #20 on: 12 May 2011, 19:55:35 »
Background-wise, not that jumps out to me.

I'm not sure there's a consolidated file which gives that kind of detail, beyond what you may find in the historical downloads section of their site.
« Last Edit: 12 May 2011, 19:58:07 by Nerroth »

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #21 on: 12 May 2011, 20:59:45 »
Background-wise, not that jumps out to me.

I'm not sure there's a consolidated file which gives that kind of detail, beyond what you may find in the historical downloads section of their site.

Much appreciated.

This does help to fill in some of the stuff I've missed. Looks like I'll need to pick up a few new books and minis to really catch-up, though.
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #22 on: 16 May 2011, 16:55:44 »
Speaking of books, the print editions of SFB Module C3A and GURPS Federation started shipping today!

There's some info on what to expect from C3A in a recent blog post, too.


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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #23 on: 16 May 2011, 20:39:30 »
Speaking of books, the print editions of SFB Module C3A and GURPS Federation started shipping today!

There's some info on what to expect from C3A in a recent blog post, too.

Ah, more Andromedan-love! ;D

I was also thinking of picking up the PDF for GURPS Federation, but I may just wait until the printed version hits my shores.
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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #24 on: 01 June 2011, 19:24:39 »
Nerroth, thanks for the Cadet Rules link. Going to have to check them out.
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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #25 on: 10 June 2011, 16:55:29 »
For anyone here interested in Federation Commander, there is a file at e23 with playtest rules detailing five empires from the Omega Octant (a region of the galaxy "east" of the ISC, on the other side of a Void which makes getting to the Alpha Octant and back rather difficult; five Omega modules, and an Omega master rulebook, have been published for SFB already) at this link.

I mention it here, since the file has just been updated today (to version 2a); but also since one of the people working on it happens to be yours truly... ahem.

Lore

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #26 on: 10 June 2011, 20:55:37 »
For anyone here interested in Federation Commander, there is a file at e23 with playtest rules detailing five empires from the Omega Octant (a region of the galaxy "east" of the ISC, on the other side of a Void which makes getting to the Alpha Octant and back rather difficult; five Omega modules, and an Omega master rulebook, have been published for SFB already) at this link.

I mention it here, since the file has just been updated today (to version 2a); but also since one of the people working on it happens to be yours truly... ahem.

Awesome stuff!

I've been intrigued about the Omega Sector, and toyed with the idea of learning more. So it looks like I have some e23 products to purchase.
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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #27 on: 10 June 2011, 21:43:20 »
Are there any free quick-start rules for the various Amarillo Design Bureau games?
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Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #28 on: 11 June 2011, 02:07:16 »
Awesome stuff!

I've been intrigued about the Omega Sector, and toyed with the idea of learning more. So it looks like I have some e23 products to purchase.

Bear in mind that the SFB Omega stuff is not on e23 just yet; the five modules and the OMRB (which came out before Module Omega 5, and has yet to be revised to incorporate the data from that module) are in print edition only.

Are there any free quick-start rules for the various Amarillo Design Bureau games?

There are a few links in one of my posts on the first page of this thread that should do the trick.


EDIT: Module C3A is now on e23.
« Last Edit: 11 June 2011, 11:03:52 by Nerroth »

Nerroth

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Re: Star Fleet Universe
« Reply #29 on: 13 June 2011, 16:37:12 »
Recently, the guys at ADB have been hinting now and then about progress on a "mysterious 'U' contract", taking care not to spoil the pot by discussing it publicly until the ink had been dried on it.

Well, now that it has, the other party to this contract has seen fit to post up this!


(There should be a formal press release posted on Wednesday about the new joint venture, and the three new product lines it will entail.)