Compilation of various questions and answers from previous archives.
========
Q: My apologies ahead of time for asking a question I'm sure has been discussed ad nauseam...
A: Never apologize for an honest question; if I get adnauseumed it's my problem.
========
Q: I just got back into the game and noticed major changes to the Fed CVA as I remember it. What happened?
A: It was changed to a DN variant to allow the Feds to do DN to CVA conversions like all other races can do. This also
eliminated the odd-sized 18-box engines.
========
Q: I noticed that Module F1 is no longer being sold as a photocopy. What is the status of the Jindarians?
A: We reissued F1 as a new product in 2007.
========
Q: What’s the simplest way into the game if returning from a long absence?
A: Get Basic Set (which has the 1999 rulebook). After that, there are several paths:
For tournaments, get Modules T and TR and you’ve got everything you need.
For general Gaming, get Advanced Missions. After that, if you want new races get modules C1 and on, if you want
ships get R1 and on, and if you want scenarios get S1 and S2.
========
Q: When is SSJ3 coming out?
A: It sold ok but not a blockbuster and we have more ideas for products than time to do them.
We’re still gathering stuff to be used in SSJ3.
========
Q: I wrote some game software that works for SFB. What can I do with it?
A: If it’s general software that will work with a lot of games, you can do whatever you want with it. If it’s specific
to SFB (e.g. includes a 32-impulse chart, and/or the SFB damage allocation chart) then you cannot do anything
with it (not even give it away) without our permission. (You can use it for your own amusement all you want.)
We are currently planning to issue "play aide software" in the near future. Feel free to contact us with your proposal.
========
Q: Have you thought about doing posters?
A: Yes, and it’s not practical. The market for them is much smaller than the minimum print run. We do a couple of
one-copy posters for trade shows, but when we auction them off at Origins we get about 1/3 of what they cost us, so
that doesn’t seem a practical concept either. It would cost $75 for a laminated poster mailed to your house. And
before you write a check for that amount, that doesn’t cover the cost of our time to make two or three trips across
town to get it printed out, and we have way too many things on our list of things to do to go making posters for
people (even if we charged for our time).
========
Q: is there a lot of money to be made in printing wargames?
A: No. Frankly, if money was the issue I’d have quit doing games and stayed an engineer, where my salary would be
four times as much (plus stock options, a company car, an expense account, and considerably fewer work hours).
========
Q: Most of the issues of Star Fleet Times are no longer available. What can be done about this?
A: We plan to reprint them in Best of SFT at some time in the future.
========
Q: Is SSJ1 a mail-order only product or sold in stores?
A: It is a regular product available from wholesalers. The stock number is ADB-3601.
========
Q: Are you ever going to get back to work on the submissions list?
A: Sigh. We know we need to. Seems there is always some crisis that wipes out all non-urgent items.
========
Q: My store told me that....
A: Stores often have incorrect information as they cannot remember all 100,000 products from all 300 manufacturers. Feel free to ask us for updated info.
========
Q: You seem to be on the board a lot at weird hours like 2am. Don’t you sleep?
A: If I’m on the board at 2am it means I slept earlier and woke up and decided to get some work done. At my age, getting
enough sleep is not the problem. Waking up is the problem.
========
Q: What does the PE after your name mean?
A: It means SVC is a registered professional engineer.
========
Q: I recently won some gift certificates that the judge forgot to sign. What can be done?
A: Everybody make sure if you get certificates that the judge signed them before you left the convention.
If you both forgot, contact us for tedious and painful instructions on how to cash them.
========
Q: Are you guys still accepting fiction?
A: YES.
Q: If yes, do you want it tied to a playtested scenario or just checked against the rules for plausibility?
A: Checked against the rules is fine. We have to retest it anyway.
========
Q: A ship I submitted awhile back is soon to be reviewed. I have made some changes to this design. What do I do?
A: Email me the changes and provide me with the "file number" so I can link them up.
========
Q: Is there a "junior tournament" at Origins for kids under, say, 16?
A: No, because in 20 years of SFB tournaments at Origins, we’ve only had three or four kids that age. If you want to run such an event we can help you advertise it but doubt you’ll get players. We have issued a "junior champion" prize for several years now, and have always said that if two or more juniors show up some year they'll have to play each other for the prize.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 11:57 am: Edit

Compilation of various questions and answers from previous archives.
========
Q: Is it true that ADB is considering buying up various unofficial and unauthorized SFB material ("Far Side" for publication?
A: We have no knowledge of such plans. We would not really be interested as the material did not meet ADB Inc. standards for originality or playability. If the publishers of such pirate material offered to pay restitution for their violations of our copyrights we might consider publishing some of their products (after extensive revision and testing) as part of a settlement. It is not company policy to reward pirates.
========
Q: Is there any chance of my proposal for XXXX being published?
A: There is always a chance, but "Hey Steve Cole" is the wrong topic to ask about it.
========
Q: What is this GAMA show you go to in the spring?
A: it’s the industry trade show. In theory, it’s a chance to talk face-to-face with wholesalers you talk to by phone every month, and a chance to talk to 100-300 of the 3,000 store owners about what they think. As a practical matter, there isn’t much value or return in going to the show (other than "all you can eat" crablegs on Monday night) but if you don’t show up everybody assumes you are out of business and stops carrying your products.
========
Q: Just wondering, how big is the Star Fleet Games site? And if you don't mind me asking, what kind of server do you use?
A: 1.4 megabytes.
========
Q: can you confirm that you received the submission I sent?
A: Sure, just Email me to ask.
========
Q: I downloaded a pdf that didn’t print very well.
A: try clicking the box "Print as Image" on the print dialogue box.
========
Q: Is there a plan for a F&E based scenario generating campain game for SFB?
A: That is one of many ideas for things that might be done. No active work is being done on it at this time.
========
Q: What is Module V Star Fleet Operations?
A: One of about 50 ideas for products we may do at some future time. It would be a game system halfway between SFB and F&E. It might or might not have the capability to generate SFB scenarios or resolve F&E battles. See the write-up in Module P6.
========
Q: Do you read everything posted?
A: No. There is just too much of it and many topics are not things I need to read (e.g., notes of a game two people are playing). I read posts-topics if the "first few words" on the search-new result-menu look interesting. Things like "SVC" get my attention, as do flame wars and a whole host of other things. I do read some topics every day in real time.
========
Q: What is your schedule like?
A: The office is open from 9 to 6. I usually am at lunch 11-12. I’m often here early and late, and on almost all Saturdays.
========
On 13 April 2002, I took my brother Christopher to the hospital with a grotesquely swollen foot, which was amputated. He died on 3 Feb 2003 after a long struggle with diabetes and cancer. The point is that for the previous year I had watched him, on the one afternoon a week he worked for us, get sicker and sicker, thinner and thinner, more and more frail, weaker and weaker. I talked to him, coaxed him, argued with him, threatened him, and begged him to go see a doctor (our parents did the same thing). He wouldn't do it, and paid the price. I often said that I was tired of his lies and excuses about his condition and was going to take him to the doctor in handcuffs, but of course I never did that. You just don't kidnap your brother who is 48 years old and a grown man and force him to go to the doctor. But, by God, I wish I had. If someone around you is clearly on a downhill path and is refusing to go get a medical check-up, a cancer screening, a diabetes check, an AIDS test, or whatever, by all means, handcuff them and take them to the doctor. You're only saving their life.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 12:07 pm: Edit

Compilation of questions and replies
=====
Q: Where should proposals for Omegan ships go: the general Proposals Board or in the Omega topic?
A: We created a place in the Omega section for ship proposals.
=====
Q: Has the fate of the galaxy (probably module X2 or X3) after Operation Unity ever been determined? Or is that still a void waiting to be (maybe) filled?
A: It hasn't been determined. While one should never say never, I don't foresee us going there. It's so far away from the TV series that marketability would be diminished.
=====
Q: Can you fix a mis-spelled topic header.
A: sure, just tell me or the webmaster where it is.
=====
Q: Is there a complete list of SFB products?
A: The shopping cart is the best list of what is available. We also have a "text catalog" and an "update list" on the web site, which lists each product and when(if) any of its parts were reprinted. We have compiled a list of out of print products but I don’t know if it ever got uploaded.
=====
Q: Who cleans out old Starlist submissions that are no longer valid?
A: SVC does whenever he knows for sure that somebody is no longer at that address.
=====
Q: is there any way to get ahold of the maps that were in Module B short of getting lucky on ebay?
A: Well, two of them were in Modules S1 and S2.
=====
Q: How did you decide on the current Damage Allocation Chart?
A: That was done about 26 years ago and the details escape me. I calculated what percentage I wanted hits to be, figured out how
to make each race work different on the chart, and made a couple of tweeks after three years of playtesting.
The process is somewhat laborious as a means of "building drama and suspense".
=====
Q: Where are the writer’s guides for SFU?
A: On the website.
=====

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 12:09 pm: Edit

Compiled questions and replies
=====
Guidelines for submissions:
Text: Preferred: Microsoft Word 6 or 98 for Macintosh.
Acceptable: plain text, rich text, etc.
If you can make a pdf, you might want to include that if there are any weird tables that might get distorted.
SSDs: gif, tif, jpg, eps
Deck Plans: Preferred Macintosh Freehand 8.
Acceptable: That wierd program Gary found that would work.
Art: jpg or tif.
=====
Q: When a new product comes out, when is it listed on the cart?
A: Usually a week before mail orders ship.
=====
Q: I found a lot of color 1 inch SFB counters. is that something that is discontinued? I cant seem to find any that i can order. or a hex map large enough for me to use them on.
A: Those were from Megahex (Module H1). It is back in print.
=====
Q: I have a webpage for the Ladder Tourney game I'm moderating on my website. Am I allowed to post a link to it in any of the tourney topics of the BBS?
A: Sure.
=====
Q: I've seen many references about C3A "Andromedan threat file". What is it?
A: Andromedan Threat File is a product I want to do. It's on "the list" (of products we want to do and might do) but not yet on "the schedule" (of products actually being worked on). It would be a series of conjectural things that Star Fleet Intelligence feared that the Andros had or were working on but which never actually happened.
=====
Q: Is there any chance that Captain's Module A - Battlecards! will be reprinted?
A: It was.
=====
Q: What is the best barbeque joint between Amarillo and Origins?
A: Sweetwater BBQ at Mile post 163 Missouri Interstate-44.
=====

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 01:10 pm: Edit

Compiled messages from July and August 2002
Reviewed and updated Oct 08
=====
Q: Could you upload pdfs of.....
A: In many cases I can, and we have uploaded hundreds of PDFs. Some take a lot more effort than others. You can always ask and I’ll put it on my "short little jobs" list, a list we attack once or twice a month.
=====
Q: Would it be possible to efficiently product several scenario books by printing the covers all at once?
A: Yes, although scenario books don’t sell very well so we probably wouldn’t do them at all, and we do print several product covers at once.
=====
Q: What happened to the NCA variants book?
A: It was published as Module R10 The New Cruisers in June 2003.
=====
Q: Did you get my submission?
A: When I get submissions by Email, I assign a file number and Email it back, so in theory you should always know I got your submission. But some days I’m just really busy and I don’t get around to checking submission files until a day or two later. So don’t send it a second time, just send an Email asking me to find it or confirm that I never got it.
=====
Q: Can somebody do official F&E errata for the errata link off of the home page.
A: That has been done.
=====
Q: What's the min-max number of players for Star Fleet battle Force card game?
A: Minimum 2 (although the solitaire rules work); maximum six.
=====
Q: What will the new product XXXXX cost?
A: We don’t know until we get a complete list of ships, rules, and other contents.
=====
Q: What are the rule sections covering X2 ships? Somebody sold me something on Ebay and I cannot make heads of tails of "rules section XR".
A: That is probably from the old Supplement #2, a failed attempt outside of ADB to do X ships a long time ago. It was a complete mess and can be ignored. Module X1 ignored and supplanted it and nothing from Supplement #2 will carry forward into Module X2.
=====
Q: What will happen to the Carnivons?
A: We will have conjectural general war ships in a future product. There is a theory that the last Carnivons escaped to the Sargasso Sector. They certainly did not escape to Omega as that’s the wrong direction.
=====
Q: CL 24, and the price increased a few more times until reaching $19.95 in CL#38 is more expensive than earlier logs. Does this mean that you have increased the number of pages?
A: No, it means that we were losing money on Captain’s Log since we had not increased the price in seven years during which the cost of printing increased.
=====
We had a crash on 10 August that dropped 800 registered users. Joe restored most of these from the backup. If you ever get locked out without being told "you broke the rules and were locked out" then the system just lost your file. Sorry for the inconvenience.
=====
Q: I have heard that term papers which are not really tactics are banned, but you do print one now and then.
A: If amusing or useful, we print such things as filler until the heading "not a tactic" and they do not get promotion credits.
=====
Q: How about approaching an established author who has written SF on his/her own or as a co-author about using the SFB universe as a setting?
A: It’s an idea, but there are numerous issues. Such an author may not be familiar with SFB and may not be able to write a story that fits the rules, and may get pretty upset when told that we won’t publish the story because it violated some rule. Authors love making up cool plot devices and may not take kindly to having them rejected as violating some rule in a 2000 page rulebook they haven’t read. Also, such authors usually what to be paid a lot more than we pay. I can say that in 23 years no "established author" has ever tried to contact us wanting a job writing a story.
=====
Q: Are you guys still interested in fiction of all lengths or are you looking for specific lengths?
A: All lengths.
=====
Q: How about offering frigate squadron packs of miniatures?
A: We did this on-line but the stores don’t want extra stock numbers which are ships they already have in other packages with different stock numbers.
=====
Q: Are there any plans to make different F&E counter sheets? Say sheets with DWs and NCAs for all races, or maybe sheets of escorts etc?
A: We did this, in two ways. We printed Reinforcement Sheet RS, and we printed new versions of ABCD (now ONE and TWO) and sheet TWO handles this.
=====
Q: Can you do an archive of the auto-reject list?
A: We put this into a topic in the proposals board.
=====

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 01:16 pm: Edit

Compiled messages from August-September 2002
Updated and revised Oct 08
=====
Q: There is a question in one of the topics about an order that never got processed.
A: It should be emailed to Leanna and not put in a topic.
=====
Q: I'll be coming through Amarillo on a trip; can I get the '10 minute tour' of ADB, and meet the crew.
A: Sure.
Q: Can I place an on-line order to be picked up during my visit?
A: Sure.
=====
Q: Can I get permission to use the Star Fleet Universe is a short film for a director’s contest?
A: We cannot give you permission to use any Paramount material, which pretty much rules out anything from the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, Kzintis, Gorns, Tholians, or Orions.
=====
Q: If I write my own sci-fi novel series and publish my own sci-fi game series based on the novel and use my own game system I designed myself in high school many years ago how do I find out what words are copyrighted, i.e photon ,phaser, shields, neutronium armour, because I've seen other games use words like photon torp and phasers or disrupter so give me some insight on what words are used.
A: You might do well to consult a good intellectual property attorney. It’s not a good idea for me to give you legal advice.
=====
Q: When lyran DN's start deploying PFs do they become true PF tenders and as such can they be asigned escorts like any other PF tender.
A: Rules questions need to be in the rules question topics.
=====
Q: I know you want to do something nice for the Rangers but are having trouble getting the Powers That Be to pay for pins. How about printing business cards for them?
A: Doesn’t seem like something they’d be interested in.
Q: Or how about giving them a discount or some "bucks" or something.
A: I’ll mention that at the next staff meeting.
=====
Q: If you did a version of the Prime Directive core rulebook for another game system, such as "Rifts", would that make all existing Rifts books historical Star Trek material?
A: Hardly.
=====
Q: How "thick" is the galaxy on the F&E map?
A: Just under one hex thick.
=====
Q: When the Carnivons were driven to extinction, why didn't someone take up using the heel nipper?
A: Apparently, nobody had one to copy, and the "new" warp engines were not vulnerable to it.
=====
Q: Poking around the web site and I noticed that [something] is out of date, sort of..
A: it’s a big web site. What, specifically, is out of date? If you can tell me, I can update it.
=====
Q: When will [a certain product] be published?
A: There will always be about 50 ideas for new products on the list and we print about five or six a year. We cannot do them all in any given year. We move a few products per year from the "list" to the "schedule" and those get done as we can. New ideas appear about as fast as old ones are published, and we don’t publish them in the order we think of them.
=====
Q: When you review a submission, do you notify the individual when you have?
A: Yes, we Email the original author at his last known Email address, and if we don’t get an answer, we publish a notice in the Lost Souls topic.
=====
Q: I noticed something really cool on a fan web site and think you should publish it.
A: Then suggest to the site owner that he contact us.
=====
Q: Can you update the list of submissions?
A: We need to. We need to work on the list. We have done some stuff out of order because we were looking for specific material.
=====
Q: My Email is down. Can you pass this message to Leanna about my order.
A: done.
=====
Q: In reading CL#20, I realized that I had sent in a submission in the wrong format. What should I do?
A: Resubmit it in the right format. If it has a submission number, include that and say it’s an update. BTW, nobody uses the "correct" procedure anyway, but many variations of it all work.
=====
Q: Do the Hydrans and Federation call their heavy battlecruisers heavy battlecruisers, or just battlecruisers, since they don’t have a standard battlecruiser.
A: Not that it matters, but they often use both terms interchangeably.
=====
Q: I've been looking at various vinyl hex maps, and found that none of them really suit SFB 100%. Either they have no hex numbers, or they are short by 3 or more rows. What is the possibility of ADB either making these maps?
A: Probably zero. High cost, low sales.
Q: Could you do a deal to get some other company to make them?
A: If you find such a company, send them our phone number.
=====
Q: Will the omega sector get bombers like the Alpha Sector?
A: If Bruce Graw and-or Steve Petrick want them to have them.
=====
Q: I was scanning the Auto-Reject list and notice that a couple of published systems which violate the list.
Shield Cracker -> Any weapon that only affects shields.
Plasma-K -> Warp seekers for plasma torpedoes.
A: The shield cracker is unique and extragalactic and the plasma-K is basically not much of a threat to anyone.
=====
Q: The other night I was in office supply store and was about to get the employee to photo copy some SSDs. He saw the copyright then refused. I showed him that part that says I can copy it for my own use, but he still refused.
A: It's against the law unless you have permission, which is given on the front cover of the SSD book. The company phone number is in the book too so have him call us.
=====
Q: Will you do another SSJ? I loved it.
A: There are always more ideas than time and money. SSJ didn’t sell as well as it should have because stores couldn’t figure out what it was, which is why SSJ2 was done as Captain’s Log #28.
=====

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 01:19 pm: Edit

Compiled messages from October-November 2002
Revised and updated Dec 08.
===========
Q: Ok, so stores didn’t stock SSJ1 because they couldn’t decide what it was. Would releasing SSJ2 help show them it’s something they need to stock?
A: Probably not.
===========
Q: What’s "on deck" for being released over the next year?
A: One CapLog every six months.
Beyond that, as many RPG books as Jean can get done, plus as many Federation Commander books as SVC can get done, and as many SFB books as Steve petrick can get done.
===========
Stores know what CapLog is and what "the next SFB module" is but don't have a clue what SSJ is. So, they ordered light or not
at all. If we had just done "Captain's Log #24: Stellar Shadows" it would have sold much better. But we didn't want to tell the
gamers that they were getting an entire CapLog full of conjectural stuff. And before you suggest it, we already considered
having a "stellar shadow section of each Captain's Log" but the problem is that CapLog is FULL and we have nothing we can
delete which would make room for that.
===========
Q: Does the notice in SSD books about the purchaser of a product having the right to make copies extend to employees of the copy store?
A: Certainly. The copies are made at your direction, so YOU are making the copies (legally) even if somebody else actually pushes the button.
===========
Q: I’m writing an article for you. How long should it be?
A: Make it big enough to cover the subject and small enough to stay interesting. Like a bikini.
===========
Q: Can I print out the cadet training handbook that is on the SFC disk and give it to friends to get them interested in the game?
A: Sure, go ahead.
===========
Q: Would you be interested in tactical primer articles for Omega races?
A: Yes. We are always hungry for tactics articles.
===========
Q: My hobby store doesn’t have a copy of a certain SFB product, and the owner says when he tries to order it, none of the wholesalers seem to be carrying it. What should I do?
A: First, ask us if it’s actually in print. Some players are looking for products that have been out of print for years. Assuming it is, most of the wholesales have it in stock. If your store cannot get it, tell him it’s in stock and that he can call us if he needs us to hunt down which wholesaler has it.
===========
Q: I have some Star Fleet Bucks and gift certificates from a convention. How do I use these to place an order online?
A: Place the order, include a special instruction that you are using the bucks, then mail the bucks in. When they arrive,
the order will be processed. You can also just use the "sending check" option, print out the form, and send a check or a credit
card number with the bucks.
===========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 01:24 pm: Edit

Compiled messages from Nov and Dec 2002
Updated Dec 08
========
Q: I got an Email from some guy in Africa, claiming he’s the son of a deposed dictator and wanting to deposit $90 million in my account if I’ll just give him my account number. Then, he says, he’ll sneak out of the country and come to the US, where I’ll give him his $90 million minus a 5% fee I get to keep. What’s up with this? How did he get my Email address?
A: Those are called 419 scams. They started in Nigeria and have spread. I get two or three a day; have for a year or two. If you give those people your bank account number (so they can send you the millions) then they'll forge a draft and withdraw all of your money. Suing them in Nigerian courts to get it back will be a problem. When you ask what the heck is going on, they'll say it's for transfer fees and bribes and that the millions will be there in 10 days. If you deposit any money in that period, they'll take it too. They'll keep feeding you more and more bull for weeks or months, as long as they can steal another hundred or thousand dollars from you. One businessman actually flew to Nigeria to get the money and was held hostage for ransom! As for how these clowns get your email address, they have many ways. They scan BBSs (this one has been here four years, long enough for spammers to know it) and newsgroups, swap lists with others, buy lists from people who sell lists, and even "guess" Email addresses by sending millions of guess addresses to every server and count the ones that don't bounce
========
Q: Is Battlewagon the game that inspired SFB?
A: No. The game that inspired SFB was Jutland. Battlewagon started as an effort to take the SFB game system back into naval warfare.
========
Q: Could a miniature master be made from wood? Something hard like Maple?
A: I don't think it would work due to the tremendous pressure used to create the master molds.
========
Q: May I post my old "Minor Races" (Nexus 14?) submission on my web site?
A: Under the simple rules in our web policy, you can certainly do that.
========
Q: Who do I send Scenario ideas to?
A: Send SFB scenarios to Steve Petrick. Send FC scenarios to Steve Cole. Send F&E Scenarios to Chuck Strong.
========
Q: I know that this not the proposals topic, but I know you’re in the final phases of working on [a certain product] and the proposal for [something] down in Proposals Board might fit.
A: Thanks for calling it to my attention. I will check it out. Just don’t discuss the details of the proposal in this topic. And even if it’s too late or a bad fit for that product, if it’s workable it will find a home in some future product.
========
Q: In the original (and only) Gorn episode, their hand weapons were described as "disruptors" so how did they end up with plasma?
A: I didn’t remember the episode. They had plasmas because they’re next to the Romulans on the map.
========
Q: In Year 163, what is the nature of the Klino-Tholian Incident?
A: An Incident is brief border clash, lasting a short time, involving a few skirmishes and maybe a small battle or two. Some incidents might involve an attack on a base or convoy among other events.
========
Q: I was going to re-send the new race that I had submitted before. I thought I'd expand it a bit (Add a couple of scenarios and a nice fiction story) if that's ok? Or is there a deadline?
A: Get it the way you want it before sending it. There is no hurry.
========
During December 2002, we closed the Star Trek fans and Kritics Korner topics for 10 days to avoid having people post spoilers for the star trek movie.
========
Q: Based on discussions in the topic, here is a link to my revised SSD for a tournament ship.
A: Do not ever post your own tournament ships. If you did, take it down. It just confuses people. If a new official SSD is needed, bug Petrick about it until he gets a new one uploaded.
========
Q: What can you tell me about the Xorkaelians? I had some ideas for their weapons and technology.
A: I'm not going to reveal any info about the Xorkaelians. Nor have I ever sought input as to what they will be or do, nor will any outside input be considered. I’ve done them as I want them to be and will release them when the market timing is appropriate.
========
Q: Has the auto-responder for E1 been shut off? I keep getting failure notices.
A: We quit using those years ago, but there are still mentions of them in various books published years ago.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 01:26 pm: Edit

Compiled messages from January 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008.
======
Q: How far do you intend to take SFB history, which now stops at Y225?
A: There are no plans to go farther than that.
======
Q: When are we going to see the plasma sabot rules?
A: We published them in Module R10, scheduled for June of 2003.
======
Q: What is your policy with regards to distributors delivering your product to stores in a reasonable time frame?
A: We assume they will do this and expect them to do it, but we cannot force them to do anything. They all buy the new products when released and any store can get them from any of the wholesalers.
======
Q: Are you going to do an updated edition of the Desert Storm Fact Book?
A: We were not the publishers of that book (although they took stuff from a newsletter SVC edited for most of the book) and it’s not up to us to update it.
======
By Steve Cole on Monday, February 03, 2003: My brother, Christopher, passed away a couple of hours ago. He went quietly in his sleep, and while sick for months, had never been in pain. Thanks to the more than 100 players who sent their good wishes and condolences.
======

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 01:51 pm: Edit

Questions from April 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: Any chance we can change future SFB R modules to have the back page of the SSD book be a one page MSC for the ships contained in that book?
A: We traditionally put the MSC in the rulebook, not the SSD book, and I see no point in changing that. Also, the MSC rarely fits on just one page.
========
Q: Could you issue a new edition of G2 every third product?
A: Not really practical. We are currently (Dec 08) working on G3 for release in Jan 09.
========
Q: One thing that would be nice on the SSD would be the explosion strength.
A: This was added in the Crawford Box, which includes four requested info items. However, the Crawford box (because of the problems updating it) delays every product by a week, costs us about one new product per year, and produces most of the errata.
========
Q: How about putting a certain document up on the web for download?
A: Here’s the answer. If we already have it, and all I have to do is open the document, hit the PDF key, and email it to the webmaster, no problem. If we have to create the document first, then it goes into the Short Jobs List and gets done when we have time.
========
Q: How should I prevent my opponent from using "me-too firing"?
A: This can be handled by written notes or by command cards.
========
Q: In the middle of a game, I realized i missed a step of the Sequence of Play. What is the procedure to go back and pick up the lost step?
A: This isn't allowed unless you agree to it as a courtesy. If you don't agree he can go back, then he can't.
========
Q: How does posting of full proposals here for playtest affect the posibility of Captains Log publication? Is it better to submit to you first, or go ahead and post in the related thread for discussion/playtest?
A: It depends, but you can always just email me and ask first.
========
Q: Whatever happened to the miniature contests?
A: People quit sending entries and we couldn’t post "nothing", now could we?
========
Q: Can you upload some wallpaper files? My Fiancee is getting tired of looking at the half naked Katherine Heigel.
A: We have uploaded wallpaper files for you. Now, please send me the half naked Katherine Heigel picture.
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Q: Has any thought been given to possibly having the total Master Ship Chart somewhere on the website, perhaps available on a fee basis for download?
A: We haven’t really thought about it, but that is what Module G2 and Module G3 are for.
========
Q: Can I copy stuff from your website and put it on mine?
A: No. There is no reason to do so, and Paramount doesn’t want us allowing official stuff on websites other than ours.
========
Q: How about a system where I pay for a day of Petrick’s salary and he works on the project I most want done for that day?
A: While this is amusing, I doubt that it is workable. Few things could be done in one day, so him spending one day on a product nobody but you wants isn’t going to get you that product and is just going to slow down everything else. Now, it could be fun to have (once or twice a year) an auction for one day of Petrick time (and perhaps SVC time as well) to do projects from the "short jobs list" (or maybe "work on my submissions" or something.
========
Q: I'm thinking of running an SFB tournament at PhilCon (Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention) this December. My gaming club has been involved in running the organized gaming at the convention for the last few years (the convention itself has been around for ages), but we've not run an SFB (or other SFU) events before. Provided we meet the Sanctioned requirements and run the full-page ADB ad, would we meet the "established convention" criteria? I'm uncertain whether established is in regards to the convention or the convention having SFU events.
A: That's fine, but the "full page ad" is something conventions do in exchange for us sending a box of $200 worth of products. So contact me (or have the convention contact me) by Email and I'll arrange to email you a jpg of the ad and UPS the con the box of loot.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 02:04 pm: Edit

Questions from May 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: How do the Federation Police refer to themselves or are refered to as?
A: Federation police.
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Q: I recieved the Yeoman A+ module at Dreamland hobbies here in Las Vegas. He said he couldn't get the A++ module. Is there any way to order more of the countersheets without getting another module?
A: We don't sell the A+Expanded to stores because the stores don't want it, and the wholesalers won't buy it. You can get the countersheets as spare parts easily enough.
========
Q: I'm just wondering if you ever had a chance to look at that scan I sent you a month back?
A: I don't remember every email I get. You'd do better to ask such questions by Email for two reasons.
1. This topic is not for use in asking me if I got Email.
2. If you send me an Email I can just flip the email program into "by sender" and find it easier.
========
SVC: Would it be OK to upload the Captain's Log 21 Special Edition (from the SFC2 CD) to my webpage?
A: Probably no real reason to do that, and there is that fussy policy (imposed outside the company) about official material on non-ADB web sites.
========
Q: Can I buy rule Rulebook and the new countersheets for a new product?
A: Sure, spare parts are on the shopping cart. If you don’t see what you want, Email Leanna at Sales@StarFleetGames.com and ask her about them.
========
Q: Concerning Combined Operations. Are there significant changes in this product, or is it just a combined reprint of products that were out of print? In other words does this bring Marine Assault and Special Ops in line With F&E 2K?
A: Did you keep up at all with the hundreds of messages discussing changes, revisions, additions, and other edits? Yes, this product is a complete update (not a reprint) with hundreds of minor and major rules changes from Marine Assault and Special Operations. Plus of course the entirely new rules we added.
========
Q: I sent you an email about a week ago about fiction...did you happen to get it?
A: Please just send me a second Email, and post here only if you don’t get an answer to that email within four days.
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Q: I've noticed that captain's log 26 has no SSDs for omega ships. Will there ever be omega ships in captain's log?
A: We have printed a lot of Omega ships in Captain’s Log.
Captain's Log #24 had four Iridani SSDs.
Captain's Log #23 had four Vari SSDs.
Captain's Log #22 had two Maeseron (PFT and PF flotilla) and two Koligahr (PFT and PF flotilla) SSDs.
Captain's Log #21 had four Maeseron SSDs (two tugs, pods, and a battle freighter).
Captain's Log #20 had four Civilian Freighters.
Captain's Log #19 had ten Omega SSDs.
I am sorry there are not Omega SSDs in every issue since Omega was introduced, but there is more to SFB than the Omega sector and the available SSD pages have a lot of special interest groups (X-ships, early years, every single empire) asking for pages.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 02:17 pm: Edit

Questions from June 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: When submissions come in, do they get a cursory look or just get filed for later?
A: I try to look at everything as it comes in, since a lot of submissions can be rejected quickly due to fatal flaws. It’s not a perfect system. I know that people who send submissions would like to get a detailed personal evaluation the same day, but there isn’t time, or I’d end up doing very little other than submissions. We usually give them a quick look and then file them with code words so we can find them for specific future products. We have published more player submissions than any other wargame company. Often, I print out a few dozen and take them on a clipboard on long drives.
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Q: I Found a list titled "Top Sixty Submissions Steven Cole would Rather Not Recieve". All of the items involve Doctor Who. May I ask if you had a previous association with the BBC, or is this just a strange coincidence?
A: I have never heard of this. Obviously, somebody having a joke. Sounds fun.
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Q: I think you should do THIS product first and THAT product second.
A: This isn't the schedule topic.
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Q: Is this a good address to get something to you:
PO Box 8759, Amarillo TX 79114
A: yes. See the website contact page.
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Q: Can you guys do T-shirts under your license?
A: yes, and we have. We did two print runs of Fed Commander shirts and they stopped selling halfway through the second run. We have lots of T-shirts on CafePress.com and sell two or three a year. Not really impressed by suggestions we print T-shirts.
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Ken Burnside: Most of my company's profit margins have been from T shirt sales. I sell a LOT more T shirts than games, and let the T shirt money partially fund the publication of the games I want to see in print.
SVC: Pity that this was not the case when we tried to sell them.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 02:36 pm: Edit

Questions from July 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: What are the chances of Origins moving around the country again?
A: Origins will probably never leave Columbus; everybody involved in the decision likes it there. At Origins 2003 it was announced that the contract has been extended to 2010.
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Q: Gama Trade Show is NOT open to the public, right?
A: To get into GAMA you have to be a wholesaler, retailer, or publisher. However, anybody can walk up and buy a ticket and claim "I am thinking about opening a store" or "I am a freelance game designer /artist/ writer looking for work" and get in.
I might comment that there is a wargame convention (I think it's called Desert Con) held at the same hotel as GAMA. I think it's the weekend after GAMA, so perhaps a west coast championship could be staged there. I don't remember who runs it, but maybe you can find it on the web.
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Q: If I want to create a new race, can I put up a thread for it in the proposals board?
A: Sorry, but that would quickly flood the BBS. Better to do it onyour own site under our Web Rules.
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Q: What is "Fighter Operations"
A: Carrier war revision plus J2 and R10 carrier counters.
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Q: It was suggested to me to ask you for a starlist for those people who play SFB near me.
A: Go to the main page, click Starlist, and fill out the form.
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Q: I placed an order and forgot one item. Can you add it?
A: You need to talk to Leanna about that. Sales@StarFleetGames.com.
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Q: Are you doing a CVS mini?
A: We did (long after the original question).
Can a master be made of a plastic part (Zocci plastic)? Are you interested in having me do one?
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Q: Is J2 going to be redone?
A: What makes you think we might redo J2?
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Q: when is the cover for C2 "due" to be reprinted?
A: When we run out of them. We run out of about one or two product covers a year.
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Q: Are 'Tactics Manual' sales sufficent enough to warrent updating it, say after the Magelinic & Vudar & Peladine might be in regular (non-playtest) play?
A: We have several years of tactics manuals. We will continue to do primers for new races in Captain's Log. Speaking of which, why not the Peladine?
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Q: When I check for new messages I get a blank screen.
A: This mean it has been more than four or five days since you checked, and the processor cannot handle that many "searches".
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Q: Kenzer's Knights of the Dinner Table #81 in the Summon Webscryer column. (A regular column.) Was talking about Star Trek games and Websites. The first game co mentioned is deciphers. But after dissing their website mildly. He goes on to talk VERY complimentary about SFB and GPD. Also saying that the SFU website has a VERY broad range of material. And expalining how it diverged from the franchise. You might want to send the guy a thank you. I regularly talk up SFB when appropriate on the Kenzer site.
A: Thanks, I sent him a note.
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Q: what are the possibilites of doing a Tactics Manual for F&E?
A: Doubtful, but we do a lot of such articles in CapLog.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 02:50 pm: Edit

Questions from August 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: I know you are working on the next issue of Captain’s Log, so I posted my new ship submission in that topic.
A: Please don’t. New ships go into new ship proposal topics (or you just email them to me). There is no such thing as "submitted for use in Captain’s Log Issue #N". Submissions are used where and when we can.
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Q: In the SFB Update List Module X1 is listed as having no revisions. It might be helpful to mention there that there are revisions printed in a Captains Log.
A: A lot of products have updates in Captain's Log and the update list doesn't list any of them.
========
Q: Could you consider doing something on the Submissions list?
A: We are constantly doing things from the submissions list, but we do not do things in order. We do them as a product needs them. Say we were doing X1R, we would review all X-ship submissions. Say we were working on Y3, We would review all early years submissions.
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Q: Where is the proper topic for requesting (not submitting) SSDs for the next Captain’s Log? I really need a particular ship printed for use in my campaign.
A: Each issue of Captain’s Log has a development topic.
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Q: Can you post, on the website, a copy of the latest Star Fleet Alert?
A: We post every new alert there, and the alert page keeps the last ten.
========
Q: Would it be possible to collect all the gorgeous photos of minis people have done and put up a gallery page of them?
A: We did that.
========
Q: Last Friday I compiled a "best of" tournament tactics document that is a compilation of many discussions over the last year and a half in the tourney tactics thread. One of the players emailed me a notice that I was (technically) infringing on the copyright of this board (everything on this board belongs to ADB). What should I do?
A: Either send me the document and I’ll have it posted, or post it on your website with an ADB copyright notice on it and send me a link to it.
========
Q: I placed an order on the shopping cart (#3585) for a CL26 and an R10. Could you please check on the status of it?
A: I can't do anything about orders except Email what you posted to Leanna (Sales@StarFleetGames.com). In future, you'd get better service doing that for yourself.
========
Q: I know this might be too big, but would it be possible to get a listing of YIS dates and "Found in Module" listing for ships?
A: This is in Module G2.
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 03:09 pm: Edit

Questions from September 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: Just looking for a yes or no answer on this...
A: This topic is not for pre-screening proposals.
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Q: I was perusing my module X... Are the BPVs of the FTX and the APX correct?
A: This isn’t the right topic for that question.
========
By Steve Cole on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 07:09 pm: Edit
First day of counter-terrorism school was pretty good. We had a four-hour review of the history of terrorism, then a block on how terrorists raise money and a block on spotting phony documents. I did discover that these internet scams for "international drivers license good in any country cannot be cancelled" are phony and the cards have no legal status whatsoever.
========
Q: So in light of the submission situation (ie you only reading what you think is good for the next project) What should us people do that have stuff to submit, yet the 'product' it would fit in isn't going to produced for quite a while?
A: Send it in anyway and periodicaly update your Email address in our files.
========
Q: I wonder if John Ford would be willing to let you use some of the names and background flavor that he used in The Final Reflection?
A: Dunno. I doubt it. In all probability, Paramount owns the rights, not John Ford.
========
Q: I am about to order some more products online. Is there any way I can redeem my coupons while ordering this way? Should I mail them in or something?
A: Email Leanna: Sales@StarFleetGames.com
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Q: I attended the Council of Five Nations event this weekend, and I have to tell you that David Cheng and the Schenectady Wargamers group made a supreme effort to make it the best non Origins SFB event of the year. Give those guys a pat on the back as they went far beyond what is considered to be "sufficient effort" to put on a tournament. This includes picking players up from train stations, very clear and concise advice concerning hotels, and enough publicity to draw well over 30 players. If you want to instruct future SFB tournament organizers on how to run an event, tell them to ask the Shcenectady guys for advice. They do it the way it's suppossed to be done.
A: David Cheng always does a good job.
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Q: I finally got around to finishing up a possible article for a future CL on the basics of kit-bashing; it's about six pages. Is it worth sending in? If so, I will...if not, no problem, but I will want to post it on my site.
A: I doubt Captain’s Log would have space for that, but send it anyway and we will find a place for it.
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Q: I've read that you won't put SSDs out on CD or in PDF files. A bit disappointing but a completely understandable business practice. Have you given through to putting countersheets out in PDF files, though? That way if people need more of a particular ship they can make their own counters from the PDF. Maybe something to consider when it's time to reprint countersheets.
A: We may consider this at some point.
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Q: I just bought a new product, but I have a nit to pick with the countersheets: the die-cutting comes close to cutting into the counter icons; it appears that the icons were printed crooked relative to the sheet edges. The sheets are usable, but I hope that your printer/die-cutter is doing right by you quality-wise.
A: Die cutting is not a perfect process, and has an error rate. Die cutters hate doing counters as the required accuracy is very tough for them to do. We do inspect every countersheet and rarely let a bad one out of the barn.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 03:17 pm: Edit

Questions from October 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: if companies moving away from die cut counters what are they moving to?
A: RPGs, D20, out of the game industry, wooden blocks, painted miniatures, card games, board games with little plastic toys. This move away from die-cut counters has been going on for a very long time.
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Q: Do you have plans to publish the new ship classes (R6-R10, J2) for the Frax or would it be acceptable for a player-based effort to create those ships, for either posting on SFIN or on a player website?
A: Players do this sort of thing all the time under our web policy. This does sound like it would be a fun "paper" book for Petrick to do.
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Q: What does "obvious variant" mean?
A: Obvious variant means if we want to do it someday, we don't need submissions and nobody gets credit for it as there is no creativity involved. Even obvious variants cannot be used until published, and not all obvious variants were actually built. The term "obvious variant" has no, zero, nil, nada, effect on the game. It doesn't mean you can use it. But you and your opponent can use anything that amuses you.
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Q: I just found out a Science Fiction convention is taking place here. I checked their game schedule and when I did not see SFB in there I messaged the person in charge of games he said I could run an SFB Event if I wanted to. Now what?
A: Module T has tons of advice on how to do this. You can certainly use the tournament rules, or you could just use Klingon F5s vs Fed Frigates and just leave out a lot of rules (including seeking weapons). I think that the cadet book is on-line somewhere (it's on one of the SFC disks). You might ask Leanna (sales@starfleetgames.com) as I think she has a disk copy of the cadet book. Don't forget to go to starlist and enter data there as a means of finding possible players.
========
Q: Starlist is in zip code order. How can I get the list for zip codes that are right next door but which are thousands of "numbers" away?
A: the problem is that even in the US, we have no way of knowing if totally unrelated post codes are "right next door" unless the people who request the list tell us this. So, just tell us.
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Q: I have a question about teaching SFB to new players. I have heard a few recommandations but the one that seems to make the most sense is to start with fighters then move to PF, DD, CA and so on... Now... Is there a better way?
A: Daniel there is a Cadet Training handbook on the website. I would avoid using squadron battles to teach people how to play SFB. The tedium of the record keeping is not a good incentive to keep learning the game. and doesn't contribute to the game as a whole other than basic movement. Most games aren’t based around the fighter squadron, so any tactics they begin to learn won't be applicable in the future. I'd recommend going with real ships, not fighters, as the heart of the game is ship to ship combat. Either go with TCs, or frigates, with a pretty stripped down rule set. Get the core mehcanics (EA, movement, arming and firing phasers and heavies) down, and just build from there. Also, there's an excellent little syllabus by Ken Burnside in the Star Fleet Rangers section of the website.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 03:27 pm: Edit

Questions from November 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: Could you have the sculptors and miniature casting companies make Klingon and Romulan coins?
A: Yes, although it’s unclear if they would sell.
========
Q: I have a fairly good start on developing a simulator race; one that is actually an extinct race discovered by the ISC and resurected in the sims by them as a precursor to the barbarians. Is there any interest in seeing the source material?
A: Yes.
========
Q: I have a question about the BPV value of one of the ships. (Goes into long comparison of the boxes on the SSDs of several ships.)
A: This is the wrong topic to ask that. Ask in the SFB Q&A topic.
========
Q: How close are you in having enough material to print the Andromedan threat file?
A: It's not on the schedule, so there is no date and the file isn't full.
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Q: Will the andromdans ever be seen as promised or are they still going to be this mysterious unknown race?
A: When did we promise they'd be anything other than a mysterious unknown race?
========
Q: When would be a better time to send an Overview of a new race? I have one I've been tinkering with, with the goal of being totally different from anything SFB has ever had.
A: Send an outline any time you like.
========
Q: Might check out the going's on in the mini topic. There is a guy on e-bay blatantly misrepresenting the new Fed CVA mini as a rare, impossible to get mini for $30.00.
A: Check the minis thread and you'll see we're already all over the case.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 03:30 pm: Edit

Questions from December 2003
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
By Steve Cole on Tuesday, December 09, 2003
It's me. I'm at Kinkos in Orlando. Leanna is shopping and I noticed that you could rent a computer for a few bucks. So, how have you all been? Vacation is great, very relaxing. Big Cat Sanctuary was incredible; 175 cats from civits to tigers. Got to spend almost two entire days wandering the compound. Got attacked by a Lynx but she was just being friendly and I wasn't injured. Blew out my knee (again) and had every cougar in the park locked onto me as I was the one tourist in the herd most likely to become dinner. VERY good time there. Got to feed a dozen of the big cats from tigers (who eat entire chickens in a gulp) to cougars (who went through a Big Texan 72-0unce steak in under a minute). Very relaxing. Did Disney and today we're driving over to Daytona Beach just to see the ocean. Dinner theaters were great. Could be that I'll be in a much better mood when I get home. We did Sea World on Wednesday and I got to feed a dolphin and pet a penguin.
========
Q: has a Rom Battlehawk Leader passed or failed submission and if passed, is it due to be in R8 or R9?
A: Dunno. We have thousands of proposals on file and nothing is 'scheduled' for R8 or R9. Many items are in those files and the selection for those projects will come from those files.
========
Dog: He's giving me food. He must be a god.
Cat: He's giving me food. I must be a god.
========
Dogs have owners.
Cats have staff.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 11:05 am: Edit

Questions from January 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: I found a great WW2 computer game you might like.
A: If it plays on Mac 9, let me know. If not, never mind.
========
Q: Can I copy the playtest stuff from your site to my site?
A: No, official material can only be here on the official site. Why would you want to take up space on your site when a link would do the same thing?
========
Q: Have you ever considered partnering with Chessex to make SFB megahex mats?
A: We've tried to work out such deals with lots of people, but they have never worked. It boils down to investing a thousand bucks to make a profit of two hundred bucks (if everything goes perfectly), and we've got other places where a thousand bucks will make a lot more than two hundred, and there aren't that many thousands laying around looking for something to do.
========
ATTENTION EVERYBODY; Every few weeks I update my "master list of things to do" so if you think I'm supposed to doing something, or promised to do something, or ought to do something, the EMAIL ME (do NOT post it here) what this "thing" is.
========
Q: Not meaning to drop dimes or anything, but since you were so clear with me, would you be interested in knowing of a website that has posted three of your items in .pdf format that I came across today?
A: We always want to know about people breaking the law and violating our copyrights. We award GIA commendations for doing so.
========
Q: Do you have any damaged SFB rulebooks and othe books that you like to sell at a lower price?
A: Yes, and no. We have some which we use for printer samples and for reference copies, but we don’t normally sell them. We will, sometimes, for somebody who is involved in some big project which we want to support. Email privately and ask.
========
Q: How current is the 'In Print' version of X1 right now? Does it have the Captain's Log updates, or is that still waiting a future print run. I was thinking of ordering a new copy if it does have the updates.
A: We haven't reprinted X1 and I don't think that will happen for a while. The X1 Errata that appears in Cap. Log in on this web site. You can print it out and insert it into the module. The changes are considerable but good.
========

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 11:19 am: Edit

Questions from February 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
========
Q: I would like to alert you to a small problem I've been having with some of the recent products published. The binding.
A: Sorry about that. This is one of the reasons we stopped using the bindery in Dallas.
========
Q: my current printing problems for the last three CL issues and R10 is a crease. It is usually 1/3 the way out from the fold on both sides away from the staple/fold line, and can be anywhere from 1/4 the vertical length of the page to the full page length & will run for sereval (4-15) pages.
It is not anything that requires a replacement, but since it is on several products in the same general area, you got this FYI. I know your printer won't know if you don't get told.
A: I know about that and told them, but they basically said "it's something that happens, we cannot check every page, feel free to check every page yourself before you send them out". and we actually do check every book, but on a casual flip through to make sure other problems (e.g., wrong pages in wrong order) isn't there, it's possible to miss this.
========
Q: I'm actually going to be in Amarillo this Saturday night and Sunday morning - just driving through, sadly, without any time to do anything substantial.
A: If you want to stop by and we know you’re coming, we’ll try to arrange for somebody to be here.
========
Q: How (if I have to), do I report my income from projects I worked on for ADB on my taxes?
A: When you have to file, Leanna sends you a 1099. She will send one if you want, even if you don’t have to file.
========
Q: Is Freehand the drawing program you use?
A: Yes. The files of Freehand-6, Freehand-7, Freehand-8, and Freehand-10 are at best "sort of compatible". Opening a file from one of those in one of the other ones reveals a host of problems. For example, text that is "center in block" in one of them opens as "left justify" in another one and "right justify" in a third, requiring manual reset of all text when moving between systems. Also, they handle shading differently, requiring that all shading be manually reset to whatever file you open it in. I wouldn't bet a nickle against the winning lottery ticket that files from Freehand-MX will be seemlessly opened by Freehand-8.
========
Q: What version of Mac do you use?
A: We use OS9 and do not want to go to OSX before we are forced to. And it's going to be a toss up between going to OSX and going out of business. The problem is that OSX isn’t Mac at all (it’s UNIX) and would force us to buy all new software (virtually every piece of software we use would have to be replaced, costing thousands of dollars, and no, it won’t run under OSX even though it says it will) and spend countless hours converting files. I’d rather to go work at McDonald’s, which would be a step up in pay and shorter hours.
========
Q: Do you plan to pursue the "F&E RISK" idea that was floated on the BBS.
A: There are a lot of "simple strategic" game systems we could do if we were going to do another simpler strategic game. The columbia block system, axis and allies, fortress america, or Risk. Frankly, Risk is the least interesting of them since it is terrain dependant and simply won't work. The others, being force dyanmic dependant, will work.
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 11:30 am: Edit

Questions from March 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
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Q: Have you taken a look at the Rockford Manuever thread? If so, is it something worth considering or are we just blowing hot air over there?
A: Won't work in the real universe but for SSJ it's not bad.
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Q: When at Gamma, are you overwhelmingly busy? That is, can you have visitors?
A: There are busy times and slow times. If you're thinking about dropping by, it gets complicated as the show isn't open to gamers, just "game industry types" such as manufacturers, freelancers, retailers, etc. Of course, any gamer can declare himself to be a freelancer and buy a ticket. One possibility would be to meet me at the breakfast buffet before the show starts or the dinner buffet after it’s over.
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By Steve Cole on Thursday, March 18, 2004
Checking in from GTS Vegas. hotel web tv is @#$%&*(! stupid keyboard works 1/3 of time. must checck each letter as i go. misses 2/3 of keysrtoks. vwery slow. more frtustrating than discussig product ideas iwth toscrawford, i quit trying now.
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SVC: I found an actual terminal I can use in the casino business center. Works much better.
GAMA is an organization. It runs the GAMA TRADE SHOW and gets pretty cranky having the trade show referred to as "gama".
GTS was fine. We talked with 150 retailers (half of whom did not carry SFU but may). Attendance by "retailers" was seriously down from last year, but only because last year a loophole in the rules allow anybody who agreed that he might someday think about opening a store could show up, register as an active open store, and get the free games given out by manufacturers (who didn't think this was such a swell idea). Last year we talked to 400 "retailers" of whom maybe a little over 100 actually were retailers and the rest were "locusts" who were just there for the free stuff.
Last year the show was open 15 hours; this year it was 19 hours. Last year I was trying to talk to 400 people and this year to 150 people. Do the math. I had actual "conversations" with people this year that were impossible for the press of time and bodies last year. Things like how a store is laid out, open gaming space, square feet, other products carried, etc.
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Q: you have set-up email filters yes? If [subject] contains "viagra" move to [trash].
A: I have over 2,000 filters set. I still get that much spam. The spammers find a new way to mis-spell Viagra every day.
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Q: I've made a couple submissions in the scary ship topic that several people have convinced me that its not that scary and might be submitable.
Would you prefer to . . .
a) Look at them yourself and reject them.
b) Look at them yourself and accept them and tell me to remove the link?
c) Look at them yourself and tell me to send you the link for consideration?
d) Not look at them until I email them to you, and removing the link from the posts?
e) reject it altogether?
f) give me a diffenent idea as to what to do with them (as long as it is anatomically possible)?
A: Send me an Email with a list of them, and when I get a chance, I will take a look. Honestly, there are hundreds of proposal files I haven’t looked at, and I look at them only when doing a product and searching for things that might fit the product. (In Dec 2008, the "Discus Crisis" meant I was going to have to start doing them on an industrial basis, instead of just cherry picking ones that fit a future product.)
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 11:41 am: Edit

Questions from April 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
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Q: what font(s) and sizes do you guys use in the rulebooks, etc.?
A: SFB uses Helvetica 9 on 10. FC and PD use Helvetica 10 on 12.
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Q: Is Module R7 out of print? I'm asking because the store I order through has been having problems finding a distributor that has any copies in stock.
A: R7 is not out of print, and all of our distributors carry it. Email me the name of the store, their location and phone number, and the distributors who he has tried to get it from, and I will either find him a distributor who has it or goad his distributor into adding a few to their next restock order.
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Q: I am trying to order something and the cart isn’t working.
A: Good you let us know. We checked with the cart-host. They sometimes do routine maintenance that keeps it down a few hours. Sometimes they upgrade something and have to reset some settings to get it to work again.
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Q: for the items that will be released at Origins, will we be able to preorder here on the cart and then pick them up at the convention?
A: Always! Before origins, Leanna sets up a special button for "shipping option" which is "pick up at Origins". We pass the out at the Singalong on Wednesday night.
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Q: Can you update my starlist profile with *new* phone number?
A: the only way that can happen is for you to go to the starlist page and enter a new listing. Being dated later, it will displace the old one.
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Q: In reguards to the New Fed Weapon you mentioned in Submissions. I thought the Lawyer had all ready been invented as a Federation Weapon of Mass Distruction.
A: you are correct. This is the rule for it.
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Q: A buddy of mine owns a game store and is having a lot of trouble with his distributor ordering sfb stuff. Is there anything you can suggest? Can he order stuff directly from you?
A: he can order from us, but have him contact me and I will see if I can fix his wholesaler or find him another one.
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Q: Are you up for checking out an F&E optional rule proposal? It's very rough but the idea is there. I'm not sure I'm capable of actually writing the whole rule but it's the approach of the idea that is the point.
A: Email me and take your chances. If I had a good lunch, I might like your rule. You should have the first time. No real reason to have asked that here.
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 11:59 am: Edit

Questions from May 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
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Q: I posted a new scenario called Misfire in the New Proposals/New Scenarios section last week. As there have been no responses to it at all (I didn't think it was that bad), I am wondering if you have seen it. If I put it in the wrong place, let me know and I will re-post it where it belongs.
A: I rarely if ever review proposals when they are posted. I review them in batches at odd intervals looking for things that specifically fit a new product I am working on. SFB Scenarios are the domain of Steve Petrick, so you might contact him.
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A staffer posted on a Thursday: I'm going to be vanishing again for a bit (probably 2-4 weeks) starting on Saturday. Wanted to give you a heads up on this, in case there's anything you need from me today or tomorrow.
SVC: You needed to give us a LOT more warning that that, Ken. How long have you know you'd be doing this? Putting something in the topic (one I don't read) isn't notifying me, not when you're the author of a project that is facing a deadline.
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Q: Could you have the EY errata from the last Captain’s Log posted to the website?
A: Back in 2004, we had to be reminded. Since then, we invented the FLAP list and this is done automatically.
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Q: I am producing the SITs for the F&E games for Origins for Chuck. Will there be any updates between now and then?
A: I update SITS on a regular rotating basis.
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 12:05 pm: Edit

Questions from June 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
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Q: I'd like to nominate Petrick for some sevice award in the next CL. It is around 4:00am your time in CA and he's still working on R8 reports. And will be working on R8 tomorrow (Sunday). That is seriously deticated effort.
A: Nomination accepted.
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Q: A 'ship that never was' proposal... Kzinti Pocket Battleship ....
A: No reason to mention proposals in this topic. Put it in the appropriate folder.
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Q: I ran accross a PC game on an internet search called "Star Trek: Star Fleet Command" and was wondering about it's relation to the the ADB universe since the review of the game said it was based off of the 'Star Fleet Battles' game. Was this game an ADB licensed product, or was it some sort of pirated game?
A: see main topic list "Star Fleet Command". This is an old game that came in two version plus and expantion pack. The Third version is not SFB based and is TNG based. They wrote us a check to use our stuff, but never paid us the rest of our royalties.
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By Steve Cole on Saturday, June 19, 2004
A note: I'm gonna be really busy from now until 5pm Monday (depature time for the drive to Origins). We're about two days behind due to some things that happened (not related to the business) and to everything just taking one or two days longer. I'm likely to start the drive at the end of a very long Monday (start 6am) with very little sleep. The way these things work, I should still arrive at Origins ok since the Tuesday part of the drive is actually very restful and relaxing. But between now and then, please don't expect much from me other than the occasional grunt. If it isn't going into the truck for Origins, then it will wait until I get back. Doesn't mean you can't ask it or mention it, just that I may not read or comment on it until I get back (by which time it may be so burried that you have to ask again).
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Q: Is Leanna in the office today, or is she away from E-Mail until after Origins?
A: She's there and got your email. She doesn’t go to Origins.
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Q: I submitted an F&E scenario a long time ago, it was basically a Sector scenario from Turns 7-13. I've gotten no response from you (it's on your submittal list). Then I started batting around the idea of updating the "Eastern March Klingons" SPP wrote for an old CL (see Planetary Ops topic).
A: Back in 2004, this was a problem. In 2008, I just ask Chuck Strong since all F&E scenarios go to him.
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 12:20 pm: Edit

Questions from July 2004
Updated and revised Dec 2008
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Q: In Proposals/New Fiction/Star Fleet Battles writer's group a question was asked about headings and such (directions of travel) and I tried to answer but I'm not sure if I actually have it correct. Could you check it out and correct me if I'm wrong?
A: That sounds like a dandy article for the input guide.
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Q: Can you take Paypal?
A: Yes. Ask Leanna for help. (Sales@StarFleetGames.com)
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Q: I just now put an order in for something. Am I correct in understanding that the first print run sold out? If so, when will the next print run be? A matter of days, weeks, or months?
A: That was (in 2004) our first out-sourced print on demand book. Now, we print them ourselves and nothing is out of print.
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Q: I just read thru the Print on Demand thread, and a few things popped into my mind. The first thing was remembering some of the Stellar Shadows Project stuff. The original text is missing from the web site, but there is still some is still covered under the New Race Submission Guidelines page. If I rememer correctly, there was option for players to essentially produce a SFU product with ADB blessing. There was the caveat that player pay the printing cost. It appears that few were willing to take up that offer. As there is still text on the web site, I'm assuming this is still a possibility. Could your new POD system support printing of player-generated modules, such as a new race? I assuming that if that ADB might require some form of deposit to cover start-up costs, and some level of mark-up to cover cost and a few dollars of revenue along the way. I'm also assuming that ADB would only do this with the caveat that ADB would "own" such products.
A: Ya know, this is something we might look into again.
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Q: Can you go to the "EW Tournament" under the SFB Online topic real quick? I have a short question and would like it answered, ASAP for the people signing up.
A: This is exactly what this topic is supposed to be about!
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By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 - 01:25 am: Edit

Not that I think anyone cares (but maybe one or two are curious or would be surprised) but I am backing Ron Desantis for president. We need some new blood, and my personal pick (Mrs Tulsi Gabbard) doesn't seem to be running.