Diplomacy by Other Means rules are available here:

http://www.adastragames.com/downloads/SFB/DbOM_Rules.pdf

Blank map is available here:

http://www.adastragames.com/downloads/SFB/DbOM_Blank_Map.pdf

To clarify the 'arbitrary' EW rules:

If it's allowed in tourney, it's legal here, with the following additions:

1) Erratic Maneuvers
2) Terrain modifiers
3) Scout lending of EW.

By Fred J. Kreller (Kreller1) on Sunday, January 03, 2010 - 08:06 pm: Edit

This looks like fun. Count me in!

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Sunday, January 03, 2010 - 09:08 pm: Edit

And for those looking at a Fed CVA+

232 BPV (higher of combat or econ)
F-14A with 2xIF, 2xVIF, 2xIIIF=13+2+1+3=19x12=228
A-10 with 2xIF=12x12=144
8x1M drone for racks = +8

232+228+144+8=612 BPV.

Note that the F-14B is not available (Y183).

If you chose to make the F-14s your one squadron of Megafighters, they'd add 78 points to this - 690 BPV on the nose.

I am also assuming that you aren't taking the SWAC because its primary benefit is nerfed in this campaign.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 01:25 pm: Edit

Here's who I have so far:

Fred Kreller (Krellex)
Robert Grey (Tugger)

Pete Thoenen (Eol) (Alternate)

I will start the campaign when I have 6 players and 2 or more Alternates.

By Roger Rardain (Sky_Captain) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 02:06 pm: Edit

I'm in!

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 02:07 pm: Edit

Whether or not I do will depend on what happens in M&C. If the consensus is to keep going with Fred as Fearless Leader - and if I need to run a faction there - then I won't have time here.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 02:36 pm: Edit

One thing I will be doing is having people meet regularly for real time chats on SFBOL. Thursday nights are generically good for me for that.

CrashAndBurn is interested in playing this as well.

By Tos Crawford (Tos) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 03:48 pm: Edit

Ken, I can be an alternate. I'm buried now, but should be able to pick up the pieces later if need be.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 04:43 pm: Edit

I've updated the map file so that it has all resource centers and terrain features on it.

The clump of four ovals is an asteroid field done the normal way.

The clump of a lot of ovals is a heavy asteroid field - determine asteroids the normal way, but each asteroid represents the center of a 2 hex radius clump rather than a 1 hex radius clump.

Yes, there's a way point with two gas giants on the map. They'll be 15 hexes apart with hex 4230 in between them, and the way point in 4230.

The other icons are the same as for Master & Commander.

The two ion storms in circles each have a 1 in 6 chance of rotating one map zone clockwise at the end of each turn. On the off chance that both end up in the same zone, they combine the effects of an Ion Storm with a Heat Zone and Radiation Zone.

Rules document updated in place.

Changes:
Rewrote the second example in the sidebar on page 5.

Added a rule in 7.1xx saying that legendary officers and outstanding crews are explicitly not used.

By Roger Rardain (Sky_Captain) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 06:28 pm: Edit

Quick scan of the rule reveals a problem with (UTF4.4.41).
A reference is made to (UTF4.47), which does not exist.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 06:55 pm: Edit

Fixed - reference should be UTF5.271

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Wednesday, January 06, 2010 - 05:00 pm: Edit

I currently have the following people signed up:

Robert Grey (Tugger)
Fred Kreller (Krellex)
Roger Rardain (SkyCaptain)
Francois Lemay (princeton)

I have two slots open

Alternates are:

Tos Crawford (Fly)
Peter Thoenen (Eol)

By Dale McKee (Brigman) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 02:00 am: Edit

Ken, couple things I found:

Pg 3, under Elimination, it says there are three ways to be eliminated, but only describes two. Also, there's a sidebar reference to a Grand Admiral, but I think that's a ghost from M&C.

Pg 13, sidebar, a minor nit - it references PFs, which you've outlawed in the game.

Also, regarding (UTF4.322)... are you sure you want to use THAT date? Because I can think of some nasty ships (Klingon D5, Lyran DW) that don't especially need discounts, but will be eligable for one under this rule.

(UTF5.114) - CL #28 specified that Paravians just used Gorn starbases/BATs, replacing every Plasma Torp with a QWT. Just sayin'. ;)

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 11:12 am: Edit

Thanks, Dale. What date would you recommend for UTF4.322?

By Dale McKee (Brigman) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 11:26 am: Edit

Ken,

The earliest CW and DW I can find in a quick check of the MSC shows the Lyran CW & DW are available in Y165. If your intent is to exclude wartime production from the discount pool, Y164 would be a good year.

Otherwise, with a date of Y169, some races will get their CWs and DWs discounted, and some won't.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 11:49 am: Edit

Changed to Y164

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 11:57 am: Edit

You might also watch out for the Tholian PC. Some Tholian units have very early YIS and are extremely good for their time.

By Dale McKee (Brigman) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 12:01 pm: Edit

I doubt the Tholian PC is gonna be much of a game-breaker in Y181. Frankly, all the archeo-Tholian basic hulls *except* the CW and later will get the discount unless we force people to only discount Y-era ships (or make an exception for Tholians).

Considering how the campaign rules limit the Tholians already, I'd suggest not adding insult to injury. Just my two cents. ;)

By Michael Baima (Starsmasher) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 09:27 pm: Edit

Hi Ken,

Count me in.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 10:34 pm: Edit

Dale McKee and Jeremy Gray are teamed up and taking position number 6.

That leaves the players as:

Robert Grey
Fred Kreller
Roger Rardain
Francois Lemay
Michael Baima
Dale McKee & Jeremy Gray

Alternates:

Tos Crawford
Peter Thoenen

All players need to email me their ranked lists for major races no later than Tuesday the 12th of January.

By Dale McKee (Brigman) on Friday, January 08, 2010 - 01:15 am: Edit

Ken, how deep should our list go? Is there a limit (3, 4...)?

By Dale McKee (Brigman) on Friday, January 08, 2010 - 01:28 am: Edit

Ken, question on (UTF4.22) DRONE RELOADS. It states that "For each 50% surcharge paid, they gain an additional ‘reload’ worth of drones at the end of each turn."

I'm assuming that surcharge is on the drones. So if you paid 2 points to have a Type-IF, you'd pay 1 point for that drone to pay for an extra reload replenishment?

By Fred J. Kreller (Kreller1) on Friday, January 08, 2010 - 01:30 am: Edit

My picks are in.

By Fred J. Kreller (Kreller1) on Friday, January 08, 2010 - 01:33 am: Edit

Dale,
There are only 6 Empires, so I would say 6 picks is sufficient.

By Ken Burnside (Ken_Burnside) on Friday, January 08, 2010 - 01:50 am: Edit

Dale, go 6 deep.

Calculate your drone loadout normally, and you get one reload replenished each campaign turn.

Multiply that by 50% and you get two reloads replenished each campaign turn.

Multiply it by 100% and you get triple reloads replenished each campaign turn.