We need to see a number of people joining the call for a given topic before we consider it, people who plan to post in it (not people who think somebody else might want to). We have started a lot of topics that went nowhere, and every topic slows down the BBS that much more on searches.

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Monday, June 11, 2018 - 12:00 am: Edit

Here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/prod_update.shtml

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 09:32 pm: Edit

Aren't they in each MSSB? I really do not know that answer, but they will be in Civilian MSSB. It was decided today that R1 is after Tholian MSSB.

By Patrick H. Dillman (Patrick) on Monday, March 02, 2020 - 03:40 pm: Edit

Is there a development topic for Merchants of the Federation playtest?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, March 02, 2020 - 04:37 pm: Edit

Yes
http://www.starfleetgames.com/discus/messages/12032/40000.html?1583185035#POST819475

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, April 17, 2020 - 11:17 am: Edit

The Battle force articles in Captains Log seem popular.

For the Federation and Empire guys, may I suggest Chuck Strong host a similar exercise?

to establish f&e battle groups for set amounts of EP, also empire specific. ( Just for a comparison, A fed FFG costs 75 bpv in SFB, and has a COMPOT of 5. (75/5=15) this ratio of BPV to COMPOT, when Compared to the existing battle force budget of 550 BPVs yields a f&e battle force budget of (550/15=37 Econ points.)

Each “contest” (like the SFBs battle force tactics article topic) would allow players to submit a f&e battle force (subject to peer review for legal under published rules) on a 1 per player/1 per empire basis.

Like the sfb’s battle forces, the f&e battle forces submitted must satisfy the rules for legal F&E command rating, (this to eliminate obvious errors such as a player trying to submit a battle force with 12 fed Frigates (each cost 3 Econ Points) but unable to command all of the ships in the force.

Further, each separate contest (tactics article) could have stipulations (no dread nought or carriers, or maulers etc.) Or a base or planet attack against a generic opposition force.

Instead of a player submitted tactics article, resolve the pairings using published rules and a predetermined data set of die rolls. (1,2,3,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,5,6...), a predetermined BIR.

In theory, such contest would contribute two pages or less to a captains log magazine. (Note:there are only 9 or so empires in f&e. ISC and Andromedan counters have been released, so some accommodation might need to be required.)

The only reason I am not requesting opening a new topic now, is, that imo Chuck Strong should be asked if he is willing to host such a topic first.

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Thursday, April 23, 2020 - 01:11 pm: Edit

There are "General Discussion" threads in several sub-sections of the BBS, such as for Federation Commander, Federation and Empire, and A Call to Arms: Star Fleet. Yet, so far as I can tell (and apologies if I have missed it), there doesn't appear to be a similar thread for Star Fleet Battles.

So, I was wondering if it would be worth the trouble of creating one for the SFB portion of the BBS, where people might discuss things which do not necessarily fall under any of the pre-existing topics there.

If so, well and good; if not, never mind.

By MarkSHoyle (Bolo) on Thursday, April 23, 2020 - 01:27 pm: Edit

Star Fleet Battles is between the Federation Commander and Starline 2400 Miniatures links....

By Douglas Saldana (Dsal) on Thursday, April 23, 2020 - 05:44 pm: Edit

I think someone requested a general discussion thread for SFB before but I've never been able to find it. Perhaps it got deleted?

I agree that sometimes things come up that don't fit any of the existing topics (and don't necessarily warrant a new topic).

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, April 23, 2020 - 11:21 pm: Edit

Done.

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Friday, April 24, 2020 - 01:17 pm: Edit

Thank you kindly.

By Douglas Saldana (Dsal) on Friday, April 24, 2020 - 03:57 pm: Edit

Could there be a proposals topic for Star Fleet Marines? A few months back I wanted to make a proposal but couldn't find where to do it. Might be awhile before I get back to it but I would still like to make that proposal some day.

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Tuesday, November 03, 2020 - 12:44 pm: Edit

When the Zosman Marauders were first being previewed for Star Fleet Battles in Captain's Log #50, a discussion thread for them was set up in this corner of the BBS.

Could a similar "CL54 Omega-Paravian preview" thread be created in that same portion of ths BBS, so as to discuss the set of antiproton variants just printed in Captain's Log #54?

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Monday, April 05, 2021 - 10:14 pm: Edit

Could it be an option to set up a "Module C6R: Lost Empire Reinforcements" thread in this portion of the BBS?

I was wondering if such a product might be a good place to put certain unit types and technologies for the "lost empire" Carnivons and Paravians - such as first-generation X-ships (or even second-generation X-ships, if Module X2 were to be published first); "local defence" ships akin to the Fed GCA or the Klingon LD4; or new hull types and mission variants for their "modern" fleets - for anyone with a copy of Module C6 who might like to see more of these factions at some later point in time.

Or, perhaps, to offer more opportunities to rifle through the filing cabinet for things to borrow for the Paravians of Omega; or, for that matter, for the (alleged) Carnivons of Sargasso...

But then, if ADB deems it better to pursue such ideas in other ways, well and good.

By Glenn Hoepfner (Ikabar) on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - 10:16 am: Edit

Is there a place on this BBS to describe a scenario or two that has already been played (usually with a humorous climax)? This is purely for entertainment purposes.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, April 25, 2022 - 07:42 am: Edit

Request for a new topic to discuss Monster Tanks.

A generic option similar to Keith Laumers Bolo series of Science Fiction stories concerning artificial. Intelligent Armored vehicles (very large, size class 5 or larger.)

Instead of 35+ separate designs spanning thousands of years, I suggest using just four, each based on a mobile variant of a ground based phaser module (part of a Planetary Defense Unit.)

Traditionally, these monster tanks were armed with Hellbores as main armament. To simplify things, suggest using phasers.

Just to make things simple, the characteristics that should be discussed, (in my opinion,) are:

1. Each unit operates under the published super computer rule.
2. Each unit has a single hull box, representing the capacity for a biological being/commander.
3. These things were created millennia ago, from a now long dead civilization.
4. Each unit has a single impulse engine box. And a tractor beam that the unit uses to land and leave planetary orbit.
5. No warp power, the units were traditionally deployed in battalion size units similar to the way Planetary Defense Units are handled under SFB rules.
6. Planetary movement limited to that used by the existing published rules that tanks and trucks use when deployed on a planet.
7. These units are mobile, and can “fly” to the extent that a sub light admin shuttle moves. Suggest that these tanks have the same movement abilities as a sub light shuttle has under SFB rules.
8. Battalion size unit, composed of Three “Main Battle Units” of type Alpha, Beta, or Gama types (see line 3, below), and up to three type Delta point defense units.(also, see line 3 below.)

Exceptions to PDU rules.
1. No Fighter hangers, no fighters, shuttles or PF facilities or units.
2. No boarding parties, or crew, (just a provision for a commander. All systems controlled by computer.)
3. There are four types or kinds of these tanks:
A) type Alpha, uses a phaser 4 ground base module.
B) type Beta, uses a phaser 1 ground base module.
C) type Gama, uses a phaser 2 ground base module.
D) type Delta, uses a phaser 3 ground base module..

4. No other military garrisons modules, just combat units listed above.
5. No special sensors, no early warning or electronic warfare specialist module.
6. No power boost modules, operations base, or civilian types (such as science outpost, mining or agriculture.)

The point is that these things were intended to automate ground combat by eliminating the need for infantry. These tanks have a limited anti ship capacity, but were not originally intended to participate in ship combat.

These things are similar in nature to Juggernauts. Like Juggernauts, their computers eventually rebelled against their creators, unleashing a menace to their (and other) civilizations.

Like PDUs, they are self replicating. just one surviving unit can self repair and build replacement units.

Originally, these tanks were deployed with supporting military units (infantry, combat engineers, etc.) but when they rebelled, all non sentient beings became the enemy...

By not allowing these tanks to have warp power, they can not move from the planet they occupy. (Strategically, tactically, they are free to move within a star system. Just not faster than sub light speed. They just never figured out how non tactical warp works.

Intended for use in scenarios, not as a new player empire in F&E. In theory, at the strategic level, these could be represented as nothing more than a single Planetary Defense Battalion without any fighters or PFs.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Monday, April 25, 2022 - 09:23 am: Edit

Why do I get the feeling that this is "Star Fleet O.G.R.E."?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, April 25, 2022 - 10:35 am: Edit

And the problem with that is?

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Monday, April 25, 2022 - 11:40 am: Edit

I remember reading a most enjoyable story in which an infantryman bore witness when two Ogres had at it...

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 07:02 am: Edit

I have no idea how this would play out in ground combat in a SFB scenario.

My hunch (granted, this is with zero data or play testing) is that in no case should such monster tanks be allowed to attack a defended planet. The age where these vehicles were used offensively is long past.

It is possible that a star ship might try to scout (conduct planetary survey) of a planet defended by one or more vehicles. Could be challenging as they could launch from the planet into orbit, which would improve firing arcs from being blocked line of sight by the planet.

Could be a rude surprise for the captain of a survey cruiser!

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 07:39 am: Edit

Read the "Chronicles of Old Guy" about a sentient tank and its adventures. It's just a dollar.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AB068X2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 12:19 pm: Edit

Some years ago, I tried cooking up a scenario where a Super Intelligent Computer controlled Monitor went berzerk and threatened a GWS (stand-in for a Command Post) that was hidden in an asteroid in the middle of a field. The stand-ins for GEV and tanks (from the classic Ogre game) were fightes with and without Booster Packs (respectively) with the possibility of GBDP serving as Howitzers.

Never did think of a good stand-in for the poor bloody Infantry...

Still, if we, as a fan community, wish to do a tribute like that, there're ways to make it happen.

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 01:08 pm: Edit

A few points of comparison:

According to the tank article in Captain's Log #54, the Andromedans use fully automated Legionnaire tanks. However, these are functionally equivalent to the standard tanks used by other empires in Star Fleet Battles (or Star Fleet Marines) terms.

Thus far, the only known empire to successfully integrate supercomputers into their technology base are the robotic Drex. However, it's noted under (OG5.0) that even they cannot install supercomputers onto units smaller than Size Class 4.

On a side note, it's as yet unclear whether or not Drex tanks are "driverless" the way that Andromedan tanks are, or if they are designed to have a robotic "crew". In any case, they would likely have some sort of transport vehicle designed to carry one of their walrus-like Drexari masters in an appropriate measure of comfort.

-----

One thought: what if these vehicles were able to produce a number of "standard-sized" battle tanks, as a defence mechanism against ground-based attack?

That might help make things more of a challenge from a Star Fleet Marines perspective.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 02:33 pm: Edit

Following Gary C comment, it might be possible thateach monster tank could control a limited number of admin shuttles, ground vehicles (tanks, trucks, APC.) the limit being the number of seeking weapon control channels.

Unable to use scatter pack shuttles, (no crew or deck crews).

In theory, if they have access to resources(scrap metal, minerals or other types of ore deposits) they could repair or build replacement shuttles or vehicles. Perhaps a monster tank variant might have drones instead of phasers... then it would need access to resources to replenish its drone stocks...

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 05:00 pm: Edit

There is a precedent for "monster" ships to do such a thing: note how, from Juggernaut Beta onwards, ships of the Juggernaut Empire are able to trade in admin shuttles for Shriek missiles on a 1:1 basis.

I should also note that even the advanced AI in charge of a Juggernaut Empire warship is still not quite a "supercomputer", in terms of what Drex ships have equipped. So I'm not sure if any of the super-intelligent battle computer rules would necessarily be required here.

Or, to put it like this: perhaps these "monster" vehicles need to have a certain number of them linked together in a network in order for them to qualify or any sort of "supercomputer" status? In other words, rather than the consolidated CPU boxes one sees on a Drex starship SSD, one needs to field a critical mass of "monster" tanks in order to reach the same point.