Topic: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..  (Read 6146 times)

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Offline Panzergranate

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I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« on: June 12, 2022, 03:08:46 pm »
Today, at the South Dorset Military Society's monthly meeting (at Entoyment, Alpha Business Centre, Fleets Bridge, Poole, Dorset, England), I played my first Star Fleet Battles game since 1982.

It was a Cadet 16 impulses per turn, basic rules, introduction with a friend who's always wanted to play SFB, but didn't know anybody who had the game or any ship models. I use Micro Machine models kit bashed into Federation DD, BC, CL & Tug & Klingon C7 kit bashed from a D7.

In the scenario he played a Fed CA versus my D7. I wasn't allowed to use drones, to make it easier as my friend is a newbie..... and he wiped the floor with me, after 6 turns.

He's now hooked on SFB and wants the next game to include the 32 impulses per game turn movement, with the full rules in play.

« Last Edit: June 16, 2022, 01:56:02 pm by Panzergranate »
The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Nemesis

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2022, 06:33:35 am »
You need to use your maneuverability and those 60o firing arcs.  Also don't forget you don't have to arm every weapon every pass. 
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
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Offline Starfox1701

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2022, 12:44:27 am »
Saber dance man saber dance

Offline Nemesis

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2022, 10:28:45 am »
I just realized he said cadet rules.  I never used them so it is hard to say how much of the strategy of the full rules and full ships applies to the cadet cruisers.
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2022, 01:53:40 pm »
Cadet rules = 16 impulses per turn, all turn mode A, no lock-ons, no shield reinforcement, no damage control repairs, no shuttles, no ECM or ECCM, no overloads, no transporter use, no transporter bombs or mines, no shield cost, no life support cost, no mutiny, no HET, no tractor use, etc.

The energy allocation form is very simple. Just fly, manoeuvre & shoot.

What's annoying is that I had a perfect Alpha strike shot, at range 2 hexes, into his number 2 shield...... and threw 3 x 6's (Disrupters) & lots of 4's and 5's with the phaser 2's.

It went downhill rapidly from there.

The Cadet rules F-CA SSD has aft Ph-1, the SFC one doesn't. I didn't notice this until he used them after I'd manoeuvred my D7 for a shot into his aft shield with my aft facing Ph-2's.. 

The SFB F-CA is OP compared to the K-D7.

 
« Last Edit: June 17, 2022, 09:55:38 am by Panzergranate »
The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Nemesis

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2022, 11:15:26 am »
Did you use the Cadet Cruisers or the full ships?
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2022, 04:08:45 pm »
Full ships: NCC-1017 Constellation F-CAR versus a very basic pre-General War / Four Years War era original K-D7. These are the basic SSD sheets that come on the SFC CD ROM "Introduction to SFB" manual.

I played a game, on Tuesday, against my son, who's visiting for the week. He flew the D7 & I flew an NCL+. Same beginners Cadet rules. It was touch & go, but on turn 5 I scored a crippling Photon salvo, despite 50% of my phasers being shot out, leaving him with only emergency bridge control, 17 Warp, 3 Impulse, but all but 1 Disrupter nailed of his weapons. My son opted to disengage 7 the game ended on turn 6 as my NCL+ was too battered to give chase.

 
The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2022, 03:15:52 pm »
I played a full game, on 7th July 2022, using a CX to attack a Klingon BS defended by a K-D7C. Lots of drones, a transporter bomb, boarding parties & shuttles dogfighting each other.

A very intense & enjoyable game.

I managed to wreck the BS before withdrawing with only a chewed up number 2 shield.

The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Starfox1701

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2022, 03:01:04 am »
nice

Offline Nemesis

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2022, 03:45:59 pm »
An X ship versus non X does make it easier but still fun.

Try the Planet crusher mission with 3 F-Pol or a R-WB+ as your ship.  The planet crusher will get to the planet before the WB+ is in range so your victory levels are limited.
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2022, 06:32:25 pm »
We play SFB on a 1.25 inch hex 6 x 4 foot rubber space nebula background mat, with models, not counters.

The current 1/3300 scale models that I have available are:

2 x F-FS (scratch built small freighters).
1 x F-TUG (kit bashed from a Micro Machine USS Enterprise).
1 x F-FF (scratch built).
1 x F-FR (kit bashed from a Micro Machine USS Enterprise into a Makeshift class frigate).
2 x F-DD (kit bashed from two Micro Machines USS Enterprises).
2 x F-CL (ADB resin).
3 x F-CA (Micro Machines).
1 x F-CX (Micro Machines).
1 x F-BC / F-BCF / F-BCG (kit bashed from a Micro Machine USS Enterprise).
1 x F-BS (Micro Machines K7 space station).

1 x K-E3 (ADB 3D printed).
1 x K-E5 (Mongoose "Call to Arms" metal model).
9 x D6 / D7 (Micro Machines).

7 x R-WB / R-BH (Micro Machines).

1 x G-DD (Mongoose "CTA" in metal).

1 x Z-BC / Z-CVL (Mongoose "CTA" in metal).

Scenarios need to be based around these models.

At the moment, we're operating on a 1 player 1 ship basis, due to keeping track of the paperwork & learning the rules.


 
The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline TAnimaL

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2022, 06:38:05 pm »
Great stories - it's making me want to pull out the old SFB binders. My last SFB was probably 98 or 2000...

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2022, 04:48:50 pm »
Just added:

One more D6 / D7 (Micromachines).
3 x D5 War Cruisers (Starline 2400).
1 x Kzinti Medium Cruiser
2 x Federation NCL (One Starline 2400 & one Mongoose "Call To Arms").
1 x Federation CA (Starline 2500).
1 x Federation Star Base (Starline 2400).

And for planets, I'm using these:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rWkAAOSwa85ig2ME/s-l400.jpg

So that the Federation can defend Uranus from Klingons!! :laugh:

The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Starfox1701

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Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #14 on: August 29, 2022, 01:12:08 pm »
Yep, I have seen the ADB website models.

The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Starfox1701

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #15 on: September 03, 2022, 11:37:55 pm »
Interesting to see how they have evolved over the years.

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2022, 06:11:05 pm »
I still have a few 1980's 1/4000 scale cast metal models, that I bought in 1983, at a local wargaming convention. I had the intention of playing the game, back then, but availability & cost, in the UK, was prohibitive. I was & am still very heavily into WW2 wargaming (all theatres) & I was the hub of my local wargaming club's WW2 group, where I created, play tested & developed the Panzergranate wargames rules system, released in 1996.

The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Starfox1701

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #17 on: September 05, 2022, 12:36:26 pm »
I could never afford the minis growing up and when I finally had money everyone was playing 40k so that's what I bought. I need to geet the newer books though. R7 and C4 are about where I stoped buying

Offline Panzergranate

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #18 on: September 07, 2022, 03:14:29 pm »
I had the opposite situation, back in the 1980's, where SFB rulebooks & boxsets were a rare wargames convention find, plus very expensive. However 1/4000 scale miniatures were cheap & available.

I have, in 1/4000 scale, the following ships:

1 x F-DD/F-DDG/F-DDL
1 x F-BC/F-BCF/F-BCG
1 x K-F5
1 x K-D6/K-D7
1 x K-T6 Tug

I've had these since 1983. I've no idea who made them, but they're UK made.
The Klingons have many ways to fry a cat. I prefer to use an L7 Fast Battlecruiser!!

Offline Starfox1701

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Re: I played my first SFB game since the early 1980's today..
« Reply #19 on: September 08, 2022, 06:13:16 pm »
My understanding that tug is pretty rare these days