Captain's Log #28 Now Available from Multiple Sources

"Is this a deception or have the Tholians really created such a monster?"

Released in April, 2004, this Stellar Shadows issue (the information is fun, but not historically accurate) supports Star Fleet Battles, Federation & Empire, Star Fleet Battle Force, and Prime Directive, albeit through the lens of Stellar Shadows. From an alternate timeline come the Paravians who destroyed the Gorns and made war on the Romulans, Federation, and Inter-Stellar Concordium.

If you thought the Paravians made the Early Years dangerous, just wait until you see what their new ships can do to the General War. A full range of ships from dreadnought to frigate rampage across the galaxy, returning to the huge mothership only to deposit their loot and reload for further battle.

History includes "Step into My Parlour," by Loren Knight. Do the Tholians have a battleship or is it smoke and mirrors? Commander Korgan, accused of cowardice, must uncover the truth in order to save his career, and even his very life. A lost Federation memo exposes the real cause of the General War and the law of unintended consequences. And check out the history of these Federation destroyers!

Fifty new ships include bomber barges, Federation multi-engine warships, gunfighter frigates, the four-engine Klingon BC8 dreadnought, Romulan assault cruiser, Gorn base buster and destroyer-dreadnought, Tholian conversions for a D7 and C8, WYN conversions of just about every lost frigate that they could get their hands on as well as conversions of lost Andromedan ships, and Seltorian penal ships.

Workshop of the Mad Scientists includes these concepts: plasmatron, accelerated plasma, plasma launch while cloaked, plasma-B (125 points!), armored fighters, Gorn modular bombers, and warp gearshift.

GURPS Prime Directive discovers the deadly tribble launcher! How much havoc could tribbles wreak when lobbed amongst Klingons?

Star Fleet Battle Force suggests you play a no-limit, Klingon Hold 'em game. Go all in with a pair of dreadnoughts as the High Energy Turn card doubles your drone strike.

Federation & Empire gets all the data it needs from this issue and Stellar Shadows #1.

And of course, there is more in each section than we have space to list.

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5728

DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/270373/

Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/270373/

It is also available from your local game store or direct from ADB: https://www.starfleetstore.com/issues-1929-c-17_19/captains-log-28-ssj2-p-304.html

Good gaming to you!

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Wednesday, April 03, 2019 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Nexus #11 Is Released in PDF

"If you find any Klingons, don't go heroic on me. Keep that ship intact until you get her overhauled. Don't run; the Klingons will smell blood and hunt you down. Instead, show a good front and hope they'll take the hint and leave."

It is 1985 and Nexus #11 has just been released. This issue focused on the Star Fleet Universe, Starfire, Musketeers, and History of the Second World War.

The Star Fleet Universe section starts with "First Command" which is about Lieutenant Commander Scofield's first command, an aging light cruiser being sent in for refits. There is a page each of Term Papers and The Academy along with another page to explain why certain things are the way they are. Gorn ship names are the subject of the Shipyard Report. There is a scenario that follows the setup from the fiction and a campaign (The Bargantine Campaign). Finally, there was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of errata.

Starfire has a good number of articles. There are articles on the Corsairs of Tangri, including their military services and a timeline. There is both fiction and a scenario. Also included are some new systems.

There is an article on the behind-the-scenes development of History of the Second World War and a scenario (The Finnish War) for it. Musketeers has a scenario (The Brawl) and the story, "Milady's Ghost Sleeps Poorly" and accompanying scenarios for it. Battlewagon has the Surigao Straits scenario. Finally, there is an article for variants of games produced by People's War Games of Oakland, California.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1985; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM11

DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/271860/

Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/271860/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Captain's Log #46 Now Available from Multiple Sources

"This is Commander Sanchez of the USS Mallory. We are under attack by two BattleHawk-class Romulan ships and are falling back under heavy fire."

Join us for Captain's Log #46 and see what happens in "For Duty, All Things." It is the untold story of the USS Mallory, a frigate lost without a trace on the Day of the Eagle, the first day of the Romulan Invasion. Captured by the Romulans and sent on a mission to sabotage a Federation base, the ship's only hope is a badly injured Vulcan technician who awoke under a pile of wreckage.

Captain's Log #46 includes fiction and information for all of our games including updates, new ships, an update about "Marine Captain" Ketrick, information about Worb castes, and new scenarios.

Star Fleet Battles: This game gains seven new scenarios, information on the Orb (reportedly an item of "The Masters"), Mallaran Empire primer, Proposals Board, Ask Admiral Vanaxilth, Battlegroup, Term Papers, Background Questions, and new ships (Lyran light cruiser variants, LDR transports, Qari variants, a Federation X-destroyer, Klingon stasis dreadnoughts, and a Kzinti carrier).

Federation Commander: You will find three new scenarios, destroyer leaders for the Romulans and ISC, and war destroyer leaders for the Hydrans and Lyrans. Anthony Cutcliffe wrote an article on tractor tactics. There are also Command Notes and Battle Group tactics by players.

Federation & Empire: This game has F&E Why, Tactical Notes, Q&A, and playtest materials for the Lyran Democratic Republic.

Starmada: The Klingon and Federation battleships are added.

A Call to Arms: Star Fleet has playtest rules for combat escorts, four new ships, a tactics article about terrain, and a new scenario.

And there are still more articles: Ten Questions, Awards, Command the Future, Input Guide, Why, The Secret Order of the "F" and the "E," Background Questions, Galactic Conquest, Prime Directive, Star Fleet Marines (Assault Notes), and six new special action cards for Star Fleet Battle Force.

Supports Federation Commander, Star Fleet Battles, Federation & Empire, Prime Directive, Star Fleet Battle Force, SFB Galactic Conquest, Starmada, A Call to Arms: Star Fleet, Star Fleet Marines, and Star Fleet Warlord.

The colorized SSDs from this issue are sold separately; the Supplemental File (which includes background information) is free.

Get Captain's Log #46 from the following:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5746
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272690/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/272690/

Also available in print from your local game store or from ADB: https://www.starfleetstore.com/issues-3052-c-17_45/captains-log-46-p-888.html

Available separately is the Captain's Log #46 Supplemental File which is free as a PDF!

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5746-S
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272693/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/272693/

Print version from ADB for a nominal price: https://www.starfleetstore.com/supplements-c-17_57/cl-46-supplement-p-899.html

Also available separately (and only as a PDF) are the Star Fleet Battles SSDs and Federation Commander ship cards (both in color) and Starmada (in B&W) ship cards from this issue:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5746-3C
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272692/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/272692/

Good gaming to you!

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Thursday, May 09, 2019 - 02:08 pm: Edit

Module G3 and Module G3A now available in PDF

"What is this thing, Lieutenant? A Dominator?"

"Negative, Admiral, wrong weapons configuration. Checking database now. Phasers, tractor-repulsors … not a Dominion. Not a Dominatrix. Not a Destructor. Got it! This thing is a Demolisher!"

Long requested by fans, Module G3 - Master Annex File and Module G3A - Supplementary Annexes are now available as PDFs. Fully keyword searchable, these annexes have all sorts of useful information in them. Particularly valuable is the Master Ship Chart with all the ships from Basic Set; Advanced Missions; modules C1-C4, F1, F2, J, J2, K, M, P6, R1-11, C, X1R, Y1, and Y2; and Captain's Logs #1-#38.

Released in 2009, the Module G3 - Master Annex File includes all of the key annexes (except #5) from all of the Alpha Octant products (including the "previously missing" ISC gunboat data, now inserted at the end, along with information about Vudar and Hydran fighters) for Star Fleet Battles. It indexes Basic Set; Advanced Missions; modules C1-C4, F1, F2, J, J2, K, M, P6, R1-11, C, X1R, Y1, and Y2; and Captain's Logs #1-#38.

Module G3 includes the Master Ship Chart, Master Fighter Chart, Master Gunboat (PF) Chart, Sequence of Play, Commander's Option Items, Data on Ships, Weapons Data, Cost of Repair Chart, Tactical Intelligence, Experience Points, Monster Data Table, Index of Play Aids, Symbols on Fighter SSDs, Mech-Link Symbols on SSDs, Shuttle Decks on Bases, Base Rotation Change Costs, Technology Timeline, Master Weapon Charts, Compilation of Convenient Charts, Damage Allocation Chart, and Impulse Chart. It also has an index to Star Fleet Battles.

Module G3A includes even more indexes and annexes to help flesh out your Star Fleet Battles "master book" series. It has the SFB Master Table of Contents (including the rules number and module for any rules and scenarios in the Alpha Octant that appeared in Basic Set; Advanced Missions; modules C1-C4, F1, F2, J, J2, K, M, P6, R1-11, C, X1R, Y1, and Y2; and Captain's Logs #1-#39); Annex #5 (an alphabetical listing of all the abbreviations used in Star Fleet Battles); the Carrier Escort Chart, Master Scenario Index (in order by the scenario number); Master Scenario Chronological Scenario Index; and Index of Scenarios from Omega, Magellanic Cloud, and Triangulum Galaxy. The end of the book has maps of the two halves of the Alpha Octant.

Any serious player of Star Fleet Battles or the SFB Galactic Conquest campaign games needs these modules. Many people have used theirs until they fell apart and have asked for an e-version. We listened to them and here it is!

Get yours now from these vendors:

Module G3
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5423
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/275175/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/275175/

Module G3A
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5424
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/275179/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/275179/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 - 03:57 pm: Edit

Nexus #12 Is Released in PDF

"Go out there and take a look, Brian. If it's a Klingon, kill it; if it's natural, study it; if it's dangerous, cut and run back here."

It is 1985 and Nexus #12 has just been released. This issue focused on the Star Fleet Universe, Starfire, and History of the Second World War.

The Star Fleet Universe section starts with information about the company. It progresses on to an article on Hydran ship names. There is a page of Term Papers and two pages of The Academy. The fiction is "A Warrior’s Death" featuring the Klingons and the Federation. There are two scenarios that follow the setup from the fiction. An early version of the Federation & Empire campaign map is the "centerfold" of the issue. The SFB Cadet Training Module is introduced. Finally, there was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of addenda.

Starfire has a good number of articles. There are articles on the Protectorate of Rigel, including their military services and a timeline.

There are errata for part 2 of History of the Second World War and a play aid. Also included are alternative German invasion plans.

Battlewagon has errata and gains information on battleships and battlecruisers.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1985; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM12

DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/283665/

Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/283665/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, July 26, 2019 - 06:16 pm: Edit

Just in time for your weekend reading! The Gorn Master Starship Book is out in PDF.

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5436
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/284002/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/284002

The print edition will probably be released in three months, after any mistakes are caught and corrected and the PDF is updated.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Friday, July 26, 2019 - 06:19 pm: Edit

You mean the Print Edition?

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, July 26, 2019 - 07:26 pm: Edit

Yep. Print. Sorry.

By Jack Anthony Jones (Designered) on Friday, July 26, 2019 - 10:28 pm: Edit

Isn't that an unusually long delay? I thought this was going to be available this month in print. But perhaps I just haven't been following the usual pdf-release times? Thanks

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 01:08 am: Edit

Jack, it usually takes about three months for us to be sure that all the problems have been found. We do that so the book doesn't have errors.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 04:35 am: Edit

We said this month in PDF, three months later in hard copy.

All of the earlier ones were this way.

By Jack Anthony Jones (Designered) on Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 12:20 pm: Edit

Thanks to both, I was unaware of the usual lag time. Something to look forward to in October!

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 04:12 pm: Edit

yup are for X-mass

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, August 09, 2019 - 01:39 pm: Edit

Merchants of the Federation Is Available as a Playtestable PDF

Merchants of the Federation is a trading game for two-to-five players that is based in the Star Fleet Universe. The United Federation of Planets has just opened development of a new sector of space right on the Klingon border. Here you will find unexplored worlds, many of which contain resources for which the Federation will pay top credits. You run a recently charted trading company with one small ship. You boldly go into the new sector, exploring these strange new worlds. While you might meet a new civilization, you're more likely to find an empty world full of something (precious metals, fuel, biomatter, or mineral ore). Harvest the resources and take them to the base station, where the Federation will give you cash for them. Use the money to buy more ships (to explore more planets and transport more resources) and to plant colonies (mining, industrial, agricultural) on the new worlds so you can reap even more resources.

While all of that is going on, Random Event cards may offer new opportunities or warn of new dangers. Even better, the Federation will issue contracts to do them small favors for which you will be paid big credits!

Meanwhile, the Klingons (who think you're in territory that rightfully belongs to them) are getting increasingly annoyed with the whole situation. Tensions build every turn, although player actions and Random Event cards can affect just how fast it builds and might even cause brief cooling-off periods. But sooner or later, the Klingons will have had enough and will come across the border in force. You'll need to be ready to evacuate your ships and colonies before the Klingons take them away from you.

The game is played in turns, during which you can move ships, accept and fulfill contracts, explore planets, and harvest resources. Every turn, the tensions with the Klingons will get a little better, or a whole lot worse.

This is a playtestable PDF prototype including everything you need to print a functional copy of the game. (The board is a jpg, included in your library.) Please let us know what you think and if you'd be willing to buy a full-production boxes game with a mounted map, plastic miniature starships, decks of cards, and physical resource tokens.

Get Merchants of the Federation from these sources:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5100
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285170/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/285170/
DriveThru Cards: https://www.drivethrucards.com/product/285170/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, August 30, 2019 - 02:23 pm: Edit

GURPS Prime Directive 4e Is Revised and Available as a PDF

Currently this only available as a PDF. After we get reports and make any typo corrections, we will release it also in paper. This usually takes about three months.

What has changed? Well, the old 200-page book is now 365 pages long!!!! Because of its length, it is available as one big PDF or as two different volumes: Volume 1: Creating a Character and Volume 2: Playing the Game.

The story didn't change except for proofreading corrections.

Chapter 1: The empire information was moved to be with the species. There the information for the ISC was expanded.

Chapter 2: There is more GURPS information on creating a character and it is presented more along the lines of what GURPS players expect in the way of formatting and tables. Point values changed for Cygnans, Andorians, Ethnic Klingon warriors, Hilidarians, Kzintis, Gorns, Orions (the background information changed to be for the species, not what they did as for a job), Andromedan (no point change, but descriptions of the robots were enhanced), Ranel, Phelen, Veltressai (no point change, but background was greatly enhanced with two total paragraphs becoming seven), Q'Naabians (background corrected and enhanced with one paragraph becoming four), Pronhoulites (and background expanded from a paragraph to six), Rovillians (and background expanded from two paragraphs to seven), Korlivilar (and background expanded from one paragraph to three), Seltorian Queens (and background expanded from two paragraphs to four), Seltorian Sages, Seltorian Experts, Jindarians, Vudar, Paravians, and Carnivons. Height and weight table was added. Templates were corrected (Star Fleet Academy, Federation Marine Academy, Federation Marine Boot Camp, and Merchant Marine Academy) or added (Star Fleet Basic Training, Galactic Intelligence Agency Academy, Federation Marshals Service Academy, and "Shake and Bake School") The only one that was untouched was the Merchant Marine Basic Training.

Chapter 3: Advantages and Disadvantages reflect GURPS move away from classifying them by type. The chapter grew from 31 pages to 65.

Chapter 4: Skills. This section grew from 14 pages to 38. All skills mentioned in the templates are included. It also includes GURPS information about skills.

Chapter 5: How to Play. This section includes most of the rules you need to actually play the game. It expanded from 25 pages to 64. The section on Interspecies Medicine was moved to this chapter from Technology.

Chapter 6: End Game Awards. More GURPS information was added about developing the character. Medals were included with the text about them. Defender of Life was added.

Chapter 7: Technology. The list "Technology Availability by Empire" was greatly expanded from about half a column to over a column. The non-standard Technical Skill Specializations disappeared with the description of the technology now explaining what skill is needed to operate it. Shipboard equipment expanded from three pages to over seven. Weapons tables now look like GURPS tables and include weapons that adventurers might encounter that are more primitive.

Chapter 8: The Star Fleet Universe. Let's Play Federation Commander is added. Standard Planetary Classes now include Class T. Circle Trigon is now accurately placed on the Romulan-Gorn-ISC Neutral Zone. Using SFB for Space Combat is expanded to include Federation Commander. A short section titled Commercial Passenger Service was added.

Chapter 9: Space Combat actually has the GURPS statistics for and rules on fighting. Descriptions and stats for the standard large freighter, Free Trader, security skiff, Federation heavy cruiser, Klingon D7 battlecruiser, Romulan War Eagle, Kzinti command cruiser, Gorn Allosaurus Battlecruiser, Tholian patrol corvette, Orion Pirate light cruiser, and the standard administrative shuttlecraft are included. To help people visualize where things are on the ship, Federation Commander ship cards are used. A section on "Customized Civilian Ships" was added.

Chapter 10: The sample characters now have the skills they should and the point value has been adjusted accordingly.

The index now has an additional section that is titled SELECTED TABLES, MAPS, AND CHARTS that should be useful for players and GMs. Since the book is longer, the index is also longer.

Get your PDFs here:

GURPS Prime Directive 4e Revised, Volume 1 and Volume 2
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB8405
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/287222/

GURPS Prime Directive 4e Revised, Volume 1: Creating a Character
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB8406
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/287223/

GURPS Prime Directive 4e Revised, Volume 2: Playing the Game
Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB8407
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/287224/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Monday, December 09, 2019 - 07:28 pm: Edit

A Call to Arms: Star Fleet Christmas Ship Roster Pack Available

Back in 2006, ADB decided to produce a Federation Commander ship card for Santa's Sleigh. New Christmas ships became an annual tradition and scenarios were created for the "ships." All these appeared in various Communiques until eventually we suddenly had ten ships and one base. We decided to convert the ships and base to A Call to Arms: Star Fleet and added two scenarios written especially for this pack. Then we decided to give it away as a present to our customers. Happy Christmas!

This pack includes 11 A Call to Arms: Star Fleet ship rosters for the North Polar fleet, including:

• Candy Stripe-class Scout
• Candy Stick-class Missile Destroyer
• Candy Sprite-class Destroyer
• Candy Drop-class Commando Cruiser
• Candy Cane-class Light Cruiser
• Sleigh-class Medium Cruiser
• Gingerbread-class Attack Cruiser
• Tree-class Heavy Cruiser
• Snow-class Command Cruiser
• Star-class Strike Cruiser
• Wreath-class Battle Station

The pack also includes the two newly written North Polar scenarios, "North Polar Delivery" and "'Twas the Nightmare before Christmas."

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

Warehouse 23: https://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBM30001-Chris
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/296759
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/296759

We hope you enjoy it!

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Monday, December 23, 2019 - 07:06 pm: Edit

Federation Commander: North Polar Ship Card Pack Revised

Back in 2006, ADB decided to produce a ship card for Santa's Sleigh. This became an annual tradition and scenarios were created for the "ships." All these appeared in various Communiques until eventually we suddenly had 11 ships and 11 scenarios. We talked it over and decided to create counters for the ships. We gathered up all the ships and all the scenarios (all newly edited for this pack), and added the counters. Then we decided to give it away as a present to our customers. Happy Christmas!

Eleven Federation Commander ship cards for the North Pole, including:

Sleigh Cruiser
Star-class Strike Cruiser
Christmas Tree Heavy Cruiser
Candy Cane Light Cruiser
Candy Drop Commando Cruiser
Wreath Battle Station
Destroyer
Scout
Guided Weapon Destroyer
Snow-class Command Cruiser
Gingerbread Attack Cruiser

Each ship is presented in high resolution in both fleet scale and squadron scale.

The pack also includes the eleven North Polar scenarios that have been written to date. "Star over Frallia" pits the Orions against the North Pole. "Santa Meets the Monster" is for any empire. "The Klingons Throw out the Wreath" features the Klingons attacking the North Pole's base. The Klingons try again in "How the Elves Rebuilt Christmas." The poor Klingons never learn from their failure as we find out "How the Klingons Stole the Christmas Trees." Discover how "The Hydrans Meet Santa Claus." "Dismantle the Grinchy Base" pits the North Polar ships against auxiliary cruisers. In "Snowfall" the Kzintis are the antagonists. In "A Lonely Christmas" the Federation has some assistance from the North Polar Fleet as the Klingons try to ruin Christmas yet again. "North Polar Delivery" has the Klingons blockading a planet that the North Polar fleet intends to help. A trivideo is the basis for "'Twas the Nightmare before Christmas." All of the scenarios were written to feature at least one North Polar ship.

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

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB4830

DriveThru RPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200536/

Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/200536/

We hope you enjoy it!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - 09:11 am: Edit

This is an update of the pack done three years ago, adding five ships and five scenarios.

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Friday, January 10, 2020 - 12:11 pm: Edit

PD One: Prime Time Newsletter #1-#4 Now Available

The issues of this rare newsletter were recently found by a fan. The newsletter is dedicated to ADB's PD One: Prime Directive game system. All four issues are included. There are new skills and new equipment, along with looks at more species (most were included in the Federation Sourcebook, but the Vudar were new).

You can find these newsletters from the following sources:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5812

DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/300032/

We hope you enjoy them.

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Saturday, January 11, 2020 - 03:43 pm: Edit

A fan sent us the missing final issues: #5 and #6. We are adding these to the listings on Warehouse 23 and DriveThru RPG.

By Jay Gustafson (Jay13) on Monday, January 13, 2020 - 04:38 pm: Edit

I’d like to see R1 come out next.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 05:43 am: Edit

The warehouse guy, Mike, found that we have low stock on something (J?) and it has to come next.

Tholian MSSB is done except for art and Jean's proof reading.

I think I gave orders for the next MSSB to be General units.

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Monday, January 20, 2020 - 02:52 pm: Edit

Nexus #13 Is Released in PDF

"We are all good soldiers. But this war has gone on too long, and the Empire is consuming itself in the fire. What new Empire will rise from the ashes we have yet to see." -- Marine Major Ardak Kumerian

It is 1985 and Nexus #13 (the Holiday Issue) has just been released. This issue focused on the Star Fleet Universe, Starfire, Battlewagon, and History of the Second World War.

The Star Fleet Universe section starts with information about the company. It includes an article on Lyran ship names and clan symbols. There is a page of Term Papers and two pages of The Academy. The Lyran Democratic Republic is introduced. Two scenarios featuring the Lyrans and LDR are included as are two LDR ships. Finally, there was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of addenda.

Starfire has a good number of articles. There are articles on the Arachnid Hegemony, including their military services. Articles on high-gravity turns and an advisory article for New Empires players flesh out this section along with a story focusing on Eighteenth Fang Varnik'sheerino.

The game History of the Second World War gets an article on air power and on the war when it was merely a "European War." Also included are alternative German invasion plans for the invasion of France.

Battlewagon has four scenarios set in the Pacific.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1985; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM13
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/300878/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/300878/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Monday, March 02, 2020 - 05:41 pm: Edit

Nexus #14 Is Released in PDF

Pirates! The Scourge of the Galaxy!

It is 1985 and Nexus #14 has just been released. This issue focused on the Star Fleet Universe, Starfire, and History of the Second World War. Battlewagon, Musketeers, East Wind Rain, and 4th Reich also have materials included. And "Arrgghhhh! Here there be pirates!" is a thread running through the issue.

Starfire has an article on what is euphemistically called "commerce raiding." Added to that is an article so players can be pirates. Then there is a story and a set of scenarios involving the Tangri. Finally there is a short campaign for novice players in the New Empires setting.

The game History of the Second World War gets an article on Switzerland during World War II. Following that is the background and a scenario for Battlewagon: Convoy PQ-17, the Convoy that Died. This was written by David Weber.

Musketeers adds rules and scenarios to allow players to encounter pirates. The scenarios include a surprise boarding of a vessel anchored in a lagoon in the West Indies, a prepared vessel against a boarding party, and another of a mutiny situation. "Storm in the Pacific" includes variant rules and scenarios for East Wind Rain. 4th Reich gains some variant scenarios.

The Star Fleet Universe section starts with information about the company. It includes an Academy article based on the Orion Pirates. A page and a quarter of Term Papers also is included. There's a short article on tactics for frigate squadrons. The shipyard report focuses on Orion ships and has a map of the cartels' areas of operation. There is information on advanced drones. Finally, there was also the inevitable (at the time) collection of addenda.

This PDF is provided by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. with the kind permission of Allen D. Eldridge. It includes ads and offers from 1985; these are no longer valid.

Get your copy from these vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADBNM14
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Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/305191/

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - 04:01 pm: Edit

Captain's Log #29 Now Available from Multiple Sources

"How many Romulans will die today before we destroy this interloper?" -- Ante-Commander Raxx Casifax

Released in May, 2004, this Captain's Log issue supports Star Fleet Battles and Federation & Empire. "A Mission of Vital Importance" by Randy O. Green is the story of how tactical warp was first denied to the Romulans.

In addition to the story, History includes an article on the Romulan imperial line and another discussing the realities of what actually forms a brigade in the Star Fleet Universe.

As is usual, Communications is designed to inform readers about the company’s activities. After Action reports are on Captain's Log #27 and Captain's Log #28. The concept of "alpha gamer" is discussed; in many ways these activities support the front-line Rangers. The Input Guide is designed to help writers and other people submitting material get their ideas into print. Admiral Growler answers SFB questions; Steve Cole answers questions about the schedule. More "Why" questions get answered. This section is rounded out with photos of the new Starline 2400 miniatures, proposals that were rejected, information about the Star Fleet Rangers, and staff awards.

This issue includes five scenarios for Star Fleet Battles. SL225 A Mission of Vital Importance is based on the cover story. SL226 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Virus is set in the Omega Octant. SL227 Sitting Birds has Romulans facing Klingons. SL228 Klingons for the Defense has Klingons defending against a Federation raid. SL229 One Corner of Hell is a Gorn-Romulan faceoff.

Database articles include battlegroups designed to assault the Tholian Holdfast. There is an article defining the relationships between various Omega Octant empires. More information is provided of the fighters that Cygnus designed. There is also an article giving guidance on playing the scenario Rebel Reduction.

Some Tholian SSDs were updated to better match their miniatures including the Tholian Dreadnought, Photon Dreadnought, DPW Dreadnought, Dreadnought Carrier, Dreadnought Space Control Ship, and Heavy Dreadnought. New transports include the Klingon E4T, Kzinti Transport Frigate, Gorn Destroyer Transport, Hydran Transport Frigate, Lyran Cheetah-T, and Lyran Alleycat-T. Then there are the captured ships: Hydran-Lyran War Cruiser, Hydran-Lyran War Destroyer, Lyran-Hydran Medium Cruiser, and Lyran-Hydran War Destroyer.

There are deck plans for the Federation Express, Inter-Stellar Concordium cards for Star Fleet Battle Force, rules for Hydrans converting captured Lyran ships, and rules for Lyrans converting captured Hydran ships. Finally there is an article on the Planet Crusher, sometimes called the Planet Killer.

The Venues include Star Fleet Warlord, SFB Online, Play by E-Mail, Star Fleet Command, and Galactic Conquest. Tactics includes Victory at Origins 1995 and Victory at Origins 97, both articles by Tom Carroll. There are six pages of Term Papers.

Federation & Empire gets a draft rule for megafighters, a look at proposals for the game, and some new rules for the then future product Planetary Operations. There are five pages of Tactical Notes. Finally there are after-action reports and rules and rulings.

This issue is available from the following vendors:

Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5729
DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/306175/
Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/306175/

It is also available from your local game store or direct from ADB: https://www.starfleetstore.com/issues-1929-c-17_19/captains-log-29-p-305.html

Good gaming to you!