This is something which occurred to me in the midst of a recent Talkshoe call-in, so I wanted to post it here just in case it was an idea worth considering.

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If someone were considering whether or not to delve into the "lost empire" Paravians and Carnivons from Star Fleet Battles Module C6, they have the option of downloading the free preview PDF on sites like Warehouse 23.

On the other hand, over in Federation Commander, there are playtest packs available in both print and PDF form introducing both the Omega Octant and the Lesser Magellanic Cloud. Each of those products includes two Squadron Scale Ship Cards apiece for three of the major empires in their respective regions, plus one each for two of the smaller factions. There are additional playtest Ship Cards on the Omega and LMC pages on the ADB website, for anyone so interested.

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What I propose here is to do something similar for Star Fleet Battles, as a "starter set" for someone curious about what the Omega setting has to offer.

At present, the available entry points into Omega in SFB terms involve either picking up one or more of the five published Omega modules, and/or getting the print or PDF edition of the 2011 Omega Master Rulebook.

Of course, I consider the OPRB to be an essential guide for anyone serious about getting involved with this particular region of the galaxy. But it's a lot to process all at once for someone new to the region.

As for the five modules themselves: it's long been acknowledged that Module Omega #1 offered too few ships for too many empires all at once. I would add to that by saying that the choice of empires offered was too unfocused; for example, it would have made more sense thematically-speaking to have kept the Loriyill in reserve until they could have been added to the game at the same time as the Singers and Souldra (who ended up in Module Omega #3).

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So, I propose taking a leaf from the FC Omega playtest file and offering a starter product as a print or PDF file - with no counters, but perhaps with a reference to the Omega ships available on the Shapeways storefront.

This starter product would include 8 or 16 SSDs culled from the current Omega modules, for the same five empires chosen for the FC playtest pack: the Mæsron Alliance, the Trobrin Empire, the Probr Revolution, the Iridani Questors, and the Federal Republic of Aurora.

It would also include only the weapon, system, and OR-section rules needed to fly these ships; a small selection of scenarios featuring one or more of these five empires only; a brief overview of the Omega timeline, as it pertains to these five empires; and perhaps a few tactics articles sieved out of the OMRB in order to help give new players advice as to how to use these ships.

If only eight SSDs were to be offered, I would simply choose the same ships as in the FC Omega file:

Mæsron CA and DD
Trobrin CA and FFL
Probr CA and DD
Iridani Galleon
FRA CLA

All but one of these ships are covered directly on Shapeways - and in the case of the one that isn't (the Auroran CLA), the Shapeways Federation OCA is a viable stand-in miniature.

On the other hand, if 16 SSDs could be included, how about this?

Mæsron CA, CL, DD, FF
Trobrin CA, FFL, FFB (bolt), FF (torpedo)
Probr CA, CL, DD, FF
Iridani Galleon and Caravel
FRA CLA and CR

Unlike the CL, there is no current Shapeways miniature which can be used to approximate the "hybrid" Auroran destroyer. But an Orion CR mini can be used to represent the Throne of Ozymondas.

In the case of the Iridani, I might suggest dialing back on the number of module options available to them in this proposed "starter" product. The sample modules on the respective SSDs are plenty to start off with; the rest can be kept to one side for now.

Finally (for now): historically-speaking, most "speed 30" ships start showing up in the Omega Octant from the Y170s onwards; a few sample refits of this type (including one for a Trobrin ship) have appeared in recent issues of Captain's Log. I would personally welcome taking the opportunity to offer such warp refits in this product from the outset, so as to give a new Omega player a chance to fight later opponents (such as the Andromedans) on a more even level. But, if it was deemed better to keep the "speed 30" question in reserve for a while longer, fair enough.

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So, in summary, would a "starter" product as proposed above, with a more focused set of empires and technologies to begin with, sound like it might be worth pursuing?