Had a chat with Jean today about hex maps, particularly doing 1.25
inch hexes and long-grain sheets. Not THAT hard, but not zero work,
and I have other things to do, but I can spin one up every now and
then. Jean doesn't want to put up more than one PDF a week and with
14 more issues of Nexus to do that takes half of the slots for the
next seven months. Maps might be given one slot a month, assuming
there is demand. If not many buy the pack we already did, then
there's really no point in doing a bunch more.

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Thursday, April 12, 2018 - 06:25 pm: Edit

I bought the hex map pack and would buy 1.25 inch hex maps when you got around to it. In the future I would like to the old terrain maps and other weird map in both sizes.

By Jay gustafson (Jay13) on Thursday, April 12, 2018 - 08:37 pm: Edit

What about counters

By Nick Samaras (Koogie) on Thursday, April 12, 2018 - 08:43 pm: Edit

Yes the old terrain maps so I can blow them up in size would be a definite buy.

By Jay gustafson (Jay13) on Thursday, April 12, 2018 - 09:36 pm: Edit

Love the maps what about ship counters

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, April 13, 2018 - 06:37 am: Edit

Jay, I cannot say I know of a way to sell die cut cardboard by PDF, so just what did you want?

By Jay gustafson (Jay13) on Friday, April 13, 2018 - 08:11 am: Edit

Like basic set advanced missions

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, April 13, 2018 - 10:37 am: Edit

Why would you want a PDF you have to print, glue, and cut out when real counters are available?

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Friday, April 13, 2018 - 10:56 am: Edit

The only benefit that I can think of is more one inch counters.

By Ken Rodeghero (Ken_Rodeghero) on Friday, April 13, 2018 - 11:45 am: Edit

I make my own counters for lots of stuff and would do the work to print, glue, and cut them out. I recognize that I am likely in a vast minority there but I would buy SFB/FedCom counter sheets in PDF form.

I would also like to see the maps from Captain's Module B as well as 1.25" hex maps.

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Thursday, April 19, 2018 - 01:39 pm: Edit

Nexus #4 Is Released in PDF

Jardine crawled out of his lifeboat, his head still reeling from the impact of the landing. "Guess I better check out this vacation paradise," he said aloud.

It is the start of 1983 and Nexus #4 has just been released. It focuses on the "The Savage Jungle" which combines Ultra Warrior and Survival to create a new solitaire game.

Of course there is the Star Fleet Universe section. This issue has SSDs of Q-ships and provides a scenario to fly them in. Richard Kerr also lets people know how how to assemble their Kzinti ships.

There is an article with modifications for Starfire and a piece of fiction set in that universe. You'll find reviews of Berserker, "recent" American Civil War games, Norway 1940, Soldier King, Cradle of Civilization, Traitor, and Axis and Allies. There is also a look at the "new" Hayden Software line of games for the Apple II+. Fitting in with the opening article, the closing article focuses on solitaire gaming.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1983; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM04

DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/240076/

Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/240076/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, April 27, 2018 - 02:43 pm: Edit

Ship Pack for 2018 April Fool's Ships Released

On April 1, Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. released four "April 1" ships in our shop on Shapeways. These are the Gorn Bubble Dreadnought, Kzinti Tri-Maran, Tholian "Crown of Tholia" Hexagonal Battleship, and WYN Heavy Auxiliary Mauler. People started asking for the information to play the ships. This ship pack is the answer.

In this pack are the ship descriptions and history, as well as information for games. You will find Star Fleet Battles SSDs in both color and B&W along with the Master Ship Chart for the ships, Federation Commander ship cards in both fleet scale and squadron scale, A Call to Arms: Star Fleet ship cards, Star Fleet Starmada Unity cards, Star Fleet Battle Force card images, and the Federation & Empire Ship Information Table. We included half-inch and one-inch counter images for Star Fleet Battles, Federation Commander, and Federation & Empire. Playtest mauler rules are provided for Federation Commander, A Call to Arms: Star Fleet, Federation Commander, and Star Fleet Starmada.

April Fool's Day Ship Pack 2018 is available online from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB9400

DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/240741/

Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/240741/

Don’t forget to check out the ships in our shop on Shapeways: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/amarillo-design-bureau-inc?section=April+1+Ships

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Thursday, May 03, 2018 - 04:53 pm: Edit

Star Fleet Battles: Kzinti SSD Pack #1 Available

When we were working on the Kzinti Master Starship Book, we discovered records for some ships that had never before been published. Six of these are included in this pack, which is available with either the traditional B&W SSDs or color SSDs.

Six Star Fleet Battles SSDs for the Kzinti Hegemony, including:

Improved Warp-Refitted Dreadnought
Improved Warp-Refitted Command Cruiser
Improved Warp-Refitted Commando Destroyer
Heavy Carrier with Heavy Fighters
Strike Carrier with Heavy Fighters
Medium Carrier with Heavy Fighters

The pack also includes the ship descriptions as they appear in the Kzinti Master Starship Book, including the illustrations, the Master Ship Chart for the six ships, and counter images so you can fly them.

The pack is only available as an e-pack and is available from the following sources:

B&W
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB9101
DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/241309/
Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/241309/


Color
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB9101-C
DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/241317/
Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/241317/

We hope you enjoy it!

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Wednesday, May 09, 2018 - 03:38 pm: Edit

Nexus #5 Is Released in PDF

Actually, there is a kind of magic in a historical game. It's not the blatant kind: no thundering giants are summoned, no demons appear, and no dragons spit fire. Instead, it's the subtle magic of being transported across time to stand in another man's shoes.

It is 1983 and Nexus #5 has just been released. It focuses this time on historical boardgames, starting with an interview with Keith Poulter. There are reviews of Broadsides and Boarding Parties, Warsaw Pact, and Armor at Kursk. One article focuses on Battlewagon. Then there are two historical articles of interest to wargamers. One focuses on naval ships; the other, on Gettysburg.

Of course there is the Star Fleet Universe section. This issue has SSDs of the Lyran Jaguar, Klingon D7C, and Kzinti Command Cruiser. There is also a master weapons chart and a scenario. Richard Kerr also lets people know how to make conversions to their Kzinti ships.

There is a new scenario for Boarding Party and an expansion for Operation Pegasus. There is also a look at the "new" Epyx/Automated Adventure line of games for the Apple II+, TRS-80, and Atari 400/800.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1983; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM05
DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/241780/
Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/241780/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Thursday, June 07, 2018 - 04:50 pm: Edit

Nexus #6 Is Released in PDF

Not all of the drama nor all of the heroes are on the Bridge. -- Stephen V. Cole

It is 1983 and Nexus #6 has just been released. It focuses this time on Star Fleet Battles, with the lead story of "Behind the Glory of the Heroes" by Joseph McCarthy. (The story was reprinted in Captain's Log #13.) Play by mail was arriving for Star Fleet Battles players and an extensive article explains how to do that. The Commander's Edition Rulebook was being released. Lyran space is described. Richard Kerr tells you all you want to know about painting Kzinti ships and there is a page of Kzinti emblems. SSDs of the Tholian destroyer, Lyran Cougar fleet tug/Puma transport tug, Hydran Caravan tug, and Gorn battle destroyer are included.

Other games are covered with a timeline for the universe of Starfire, a scenario for Battlewagon ("The Battle of San Bernadino Straits," released in PDF as "Battlewagon Article #2"), and a review of Epyx's Armor Assault.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1983; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM06
DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/244002/
Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/244002/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 04:35 pm: Edit

We have released in PDF only for now Alien Armada Unity, the third book in the new edition. (Hardcopy will be released after any feedback happens,) This edition unifies the previous Nova and Admiralty editions, so there will no longer be Starmada fans who cannot game together. The new rules preserve the best of both previous systems, and add dynamic seeking weapons rules that do what seeking weapons are supposed to do: force the enemy to move out of key areas or shoot his way through a swam of drones. Next year, the sixth book in the series, RUMORS OF WARS, as well as the seventh and eighth books, will appear in the Unity format only.

Because we want to bring all Starmada players together, we're making Unity a free PDF upgrade for anyone who bought the Nova or Admiralty editions of this book. Nothing was wrong with either edition, other than the fact that it was harder to find opponents who played by the same rulebook. That problem is now solved.

If you bought a PDF of either the Admiralty edition or Nova edition through Warehouse 23, DriveThru RPG, or Wargame Vault, then your PDF library now contains the original older Nova or Admiralty edition you bought AND the new Unity edition we're giving you. (If you want the Starmada Logs, then you need to purchase them promptly as they will not be updated nor will they remain on sale after the last of the old books is taken down.)

Get your copy of Alien Armada Unity from the following sources:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB6133

DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/244926/

Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/244926/

Anyone who bought a hardcopy of Alien Armada Nova or Alien Armada Admiralty can get a free PDF copy by contacting us at marketing@starfleetgames.com.

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, July 13, 2018 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Nexus #7 Is Released in PDF

However, not counting playtest sessions, I can count on both hands the number of times I have played an adventure game with an opponent. The point of this is that I am not alone! -- Allen D. Eldridge

It is 1984 and Nexus #7 has just been released. It focuses this time on solitaire gaming. Of course there is a section on the Star Fleet Universe, too. In that section you will find a solitaire scenario with Igneous, a robot battle station. (A miniature of Igneous is available in our shop on Shapeways.) The first term papers appear along with a Q&A with Steve Cole. There was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of errata.

Other games are covered with a maintenance cost of ships for the universe of Starfire along with an article and scenarios on the Drolian Conquest 2068-2070, how to play a shorter version of TSR's Iwo Jima, looks at Operation Pegasus and Boarding Party, and a two-player variant for Intruder. There are reviews of the computer games Gwendolyn, Zork I, The Vaults of Zurich, The Cranston Manor Adventure, NATO Division Commander, The Return of Hercules, The Dark Crystal, Star League Baseball, Capture the Flag, and Odin.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1984; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM07
DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/247168/
Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/247168/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, August 10, 2018 - 04:37 pm: Edit

Nexus #8 Is Released in PDF

Silence. I remember the silence the most. -- Dennis R. Ricketts, "Patrol."

It is 1984 and Nexus #8 has just been released. This issue has "History of the Second World War" which is background for a game of the same name and Starfire with a history of their Orions. Of course there is a section on the Star Fleet Universe, too. In that section you will find "Patrol" by Dennis R. Ricketts, an article on names of Federation ships, some scenarios, term papers, and the Academy. These appear along with a Q&A with Steve Cole. There was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of errata.

Starfire has a good number of articles. There is one on the Khanate of Orion, one on Khanate Military Service, and one on incidents from the first interstellar war. There is also an interesting pair of articles examining balanced design.

For the historical gamer there is the aforementioned background on the forthcoming game History of the Second World War and a timeline of events in the Russian campaigns. There is also a scenario for Battlewagon ("The Last Sortie of the Yamato," released in PDF as "Battlewagon Article #3"). There are reviews of the computer games Computer Football Strategy, Telengard, Cyborg, and The Pharaoh's Curse.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1984; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM08
DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/249429/
Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/249429/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, October 05, 2018 - 04:24 pm: Edit

Nexus #9 Is Released in PDF

"A Klingon warship is not something that fights an enemy, but something that happens to an enemy." - Commander Mizia, DSF

It is 1984 and Nexus #9 has just been released, with an additional eight pages more than the last issue. This issue focused on the Star Fleet Universe and also on Starfire.

There is a list of Klingon ship names. An excellent article on painting battle stations is included. There is also a list of Federation frigate variations and war cruiser conversions for many empires. Origins 1984 had its report. There are the previews of then-forthcoming titles and of course, the Academy. Term papers and "Why" showed up in this issue. There is a story and scenario by Michael Bennett. Finally, there was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of errata.

Starfire has a good number of articles. The boxed set had just been released and there is an article that explored the changes. The third part of a series of articles on incidents from the first interstellar war shows up. Carrier rules that are new to Basic Starfire are published. Of particular interest is a one-page short story by David Weber. A series of scenarios by Mike Baker look exciting. There is also an interesting pair of articles on the Ophiuchi Association. The Starfire section winds up with an article on painting minis.

Finally there is a preview of the boxed game Musketeers and new torpedo rules for Battlewagon.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1984; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM09
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/254171/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/254171/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Monday, December 03, 2018 - 05:51 pm: Edit

Nexus #10 Is Released in PDF

"A large part of any game's flavor is a product of the game system's inherent realism (or the appearance of the same)." -- Michael Anderson

It is 1984 and Nexus #10 has just been released. This issue focused on the Star Fleet Universe, Starfire, and History of the Second World War.

This issue starts with variants for Germany's Eastern Front in History of the Second World War.

The Star Fleet Universe section accidentally focused on Romulans. There is a list of Romulan ship names, The Academy has lots of good advice for Romulan commanders, and even the fiction and scenario are Romulan-based. There is a page of Term Papers and another page to explain why certain things are the way they are. There is the introduction of the rules for advanced boarding party combat. Finally, there was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of errata.

Starfire has a good number of articles. There are articles on the ion engine drive room, the Terran Federation including their military services, and incidents from the first interstellar war. There are both fiction and a scenario.

Finally there is a scenario for Battlewagon and a look at the history and future of Autoventures.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1984; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM10
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/260205/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/260205/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Wednesday, December 05, 2018 - 05:21 pm: Edit

Captain's Log #27 Now Available from Multiple Sources

"Commodore, we have intercepted and decoded a message from a Rimworld patrol. They have encountered an Andromedan ship, Dominator class, in the system. The colony is now broadcasting a distress message and is requesting our assistance."

Released in November 2003, this issue supports Star Fleet Battles, Federation & Empire, Star Fleet Battle Force, Star Fleet Warlord, SFB Galactic Conquest, and Prime Directive and includes the classic story "Rimworld."

HISTORY includes "Rimworld," by Randy O. Green. The General War is over, but a new conflict is set to begin as the deadly Andromedan invaders attack the planet Rimworld, home to both Gorn and Federation colonies. As a squadron sacrifices itself to buy time, a fast cruiser and even Romulans race to the scene as commandos, including a Kzinti, board the Dominator. There is also a class history on Federation fast cruisers and light dreadnoughts. An article on Hydran military decorations and a map of the Milky Way Galaxy round out the section.

COMMUNICATIONS includes information about new products, 10 questions for Paul Scott, after-action reports, proposals, why, ask Admiral Growler, input guide, and Starline 2400 miniatures.

VENUES include Star Fleet Warlord, Star Fleet Command, SFB Galactic Conquest, Prime Directive, Play by Email, and SFB Online.

DATABASE remains the place for new material. Battle Group Carrier Group, Brothers of the Anarchist, and an article on DefSats support Star Fleet Battles. Lyrans come to Star Fleet Battle Force. And GURPS Prime Directive gets deck plans for the Federation Burke-class Frigate and the Klingon G1 Gunboat.

SCENARIOS include two new ones for Star Fleet Battles (SL223-SL224).

TACTICS include Victory at Origins by Paul Scott, an article on Auroran tactics, and ten pages of Term Papers, including sections on tractors and plasma.

The FEDERATION & EMPIRE section includes official rules and rulings along with the Origins wish list, proposals, after-action reports for Combined Operations, tactical notes, and some playtest rules.

The NEW SHIPS for SFB section has 16 new ships including Federation modular light dreadnought and fast fleet scout; the Gorn destroyer-battlecruiser and destroyer-cruiser; the ISC contingency ships: dreadnought, cruiser, strike cruiser, light cruiser, and destroyer; Frax heavy dreadnought, light dreadnought, fast cruiser, and patrol carrier; and the Anarchist ships: Federation King Eagle, Federation FireHawk-K, Romulan captured heavy cruiser, and Romulan captured light cruiser.

Get Captain's Log #27 from the following:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5727
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/260719/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/260719/


It is also available from your local game store or direct from ADB: http://www.starfleetstore.com/issues-1929-c-17_19/captains-log-27-p-291.html

Good gaming to you!

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Saturday, December 08, 2018 - 01:24 pm: Edit

McPherson's Ridge Released as a PDF

Two brigades of Brigadier General John Buford's First Union Cavalry Division had been bivouacked on McPherson's Ridge, northwest of Gettysburg, when Heth's Division of Hill's Corps (Army of Northern Virginia) approached from Cashtown on July 1st. Realizing that this was the first element of the entire Confederate Army, and that the commanding heights of Cemetery Ridge (1.25 miles behind him) was the best defensive terrain for a hundred miles, Buford knew what he must do. With fewer than 3,000 troopers, he must hold the van of the Confederate Army until the Union infantry could arrive. He knew his casualties would be heavy, but he also knew there was no one else to do the job.

Return to 1980 and try this regimental simulation of the first hours at Gettysburg. The Union player must hold and delay the Confederates on a series of ridges until the First Corps can arrive. The Confederate player must attempt to take Gettysburg and secure the heights of Cemetery Ridge. Three scenarios for two players are included in this game.

This was scanned from the best available copy and contains the rules and images of the counters and map.

McPherson's Ridge is now available as a PDF from these sources:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB-T5003
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/260888
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/260888

Good gaming to you!

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, December 21, 2018 - 04:09 pm: Edit

Battle Damage: Code Red Available in PDF

Finally an end to the tedious die rolling to resolve damage in Star Fleet Battles! Now you can use this fast and easy card system to resolve damage in a fraction of the time it took before. A deck of cards, using a one-hit per card system, provides an innovative damage allocation procedure which includes eighteen different critical hits.

Battle Damage: Code Red is a play aid for Star Fleet Battles, Designer's Edition. You must have Star Fleet Battles to use this play aid. While the cards do not reflect the actual damage your ship would receive if using the Damage Allocation Chart, some players have found this an interesting, faster addition to play.

The instructions have been retyped. There are images for either color or B&W card backs, along with the front of the cards.

Battle Damage: Code Red is available from these sources:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB-T3001
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/261948
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/261948

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 06:41 pm: Edit

Federation & Empire ISC War Chart Book Now Available in PDF

Keep the peace!
Or else!
-- The Inter-Stellar Concordium

At the end of the General War came the ISC War. The Inter-Stellar Concordium concluded that the rest of the Alpha Octant was criminally insane and had to be protected from their own dangerous ideas and violent impulses.

The chart book includes:
Three (different) ISC Fleet Charts.
One ISC Capital Chart.
ISC Depot Repair Track Chart (with other charts).
One ISC Battle Board.
One Standard Battle Board.
One Economics Form.

This chart book is designed to accompany the ISC War Rulebook. You must have that expansion to use these charts.

Federation & Empire ISC War Chart Book is available from these sources:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/federation-and-empire-isc-war-chart-book
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/262155/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/262155/

Or order it in print: https://www.starfleetstore.com/other-c-22_36/fe-isc-war-charts-p-1263.html