I've been thinking of writing a historical mini-campaign (5-6 scenarios) based on some scenarios I did for a local gaming group a couple years ago. I also thought about writing some fiction for it. The scenarios are mostly frigate and CW squadrons, so it doesn't have to be part of a major operation.

I'm curious how much leeway there is in the history, and how much source material there is. Other than stuff in CLs (which I mostly don't have) and the "History of the General War" on this site, what other general war background is out there?

Other than some of the major operations like Cavalry, Tribune, Nutcracker, etc. I don't even know a lot of general strategy. It's hard to do something and expect it to make sense without a little bit of structure. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks :}

By Kenneth Jones (Kludge) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 07:20 am: Edit

William most of the History is actually tied up in the scenario introductions and Historical notes.

The Cheapest way to get a Timeline of the Fiction is to Buy G:PD it has the most up to date Timeline.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 08:58 am: Edit

For the General War, the file on the site should be good enough to get you going.

For non-major battles, there is an incredible amount of freedom. For the major battles that have not been done, there is not very much freedom.

The best bet is to write up a description of your idea (don't do a full writeup) and ask if the idea is viable and interesting. If it is, then finish the writeup. If it isn't, they will usually tell you why not. Many times an idea as first presented won't work, but a modification will.

But always ask.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Question: Within SFB rules, a BATS is "Battle Station" of course ... but within a fiction story, what would it called?? In a story set in the UFP twenty years before the General War??

I'm thinking that they would still say "Base Station" for the same reason the UFP never had a "Battle Cruiser" untill well into the War: they don't think of themselves as "warlike" so they don't feel they need "battle things". Yes?? No??


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 04:39 pm: Edit

That, or just "the base" or "the station" or "station 417" should work.

By Robert Herneson (Rherneson) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 08:13 pm: Edit

Another alternative is a place name as well for stations not in open space. KooKooburra VI Station for instance around a planet or Klingon listening post 4, if it was a covert thing perhaps.
The risk is that you then need to make sure it fits the existing know places, not conflicting with established things.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:31 am: Edit

Which is more proper??

I'm Sgt Smith of the Star Fleet Marine Corps.

-or-

I'm Sgt Smith of the Federation Marine Corps.

-or-

Some third choice that I didn't think of.

My vote is for the second.


Garth L. Getgen

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:54 am: Edit

SFMC

Try running to cadence;
"1, 2, 3, 4
"Star Fleet Marine Corp!"

verse

"1, 2, 3, 4
"Federation Marine Corp!"

See?

By Kent Wendel (Huskerfan) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 08:57 am: Edit

How 'bout,

"I'm Sgt Smith and I'm gonna kick your @$$! Uh-rah!"

By Robert Herneson (Rherneson) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:28 am: Edit

"I'm Sgt Smith of the Federation Marine Corps." is correct.
They are a unit of their own, even though they are under the navy auspice.

Consider, would a person say, "I'm Sgt Smith of the United States Marine Corps." or "I'm Sgt Smith of the Navy Marine Corps."?

R

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 01:21 am: Edit

SFMC has more zing value

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 01:28 am: Edit

Hmm

"1, 2, 3, 4, United Federation Marine Corp."

Hmmm

"In the heat of the night
In the dead of the night
There's a United Federation (of planets) Marine
And he's lookin' for a fight!"

verse

"In the heat of the night
In the dead of the night
There's a Star Fleet Marine!
And he's lookin' for a fight!"

What do Modual M and GURPS say about their proper name?

By Jeff Laikind (J_Laikind) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 01:21 pm: Edit

Well, of course a US Marine isn't going to be referred to as being in the "Navy Marine Corps." The Marines are the senior service .

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 05:59 pm: Edit

Yes but are the SFU Marines A) the equivalent of the USMC or ar they B) The equivalent of the Navy Seals.

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 07:22 pm: Edit

SEALs are special forces/operations troops. A regular SF Marine isn't so (23rd century equivalently) trained, if I understand correctly.

By Mark James Hugh Norman (Mnorman) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:01 am: Edit

As far as I can see, the SF marines have more in common with the royal marines (i.e. they deploy off naval ships, not their own.) They do not seem to be an independant service, and they seem to take orders from the officers of the ship they are stationed on, but at the same time they have very different set of skills from what is normal for a ship crew memeber.

By Jeff Laikind (J_Laikind) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:37 pm: Edit

I would think that some of the commando squads would be Star Fleet personnel (US Navy Seal types), while others would be Marines.
Heavy Weapons squads could also be of either type, but more likely to be Marines.

On a troop ship these specialists would all be Marines, though (see Module M, I recall).

By George M. Ebersole (George) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:43 pm: Edit

I think they're all Star Fleet personel.

By Brian J. Brusky (Killerbee) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:18 pm: Edit

I think they are still "Jarheads" in the future. And as for the senior service... *LOL*

Guess future fiction could include such things as "Flyboys", "Snipes", but alas since there are no submarines in SFB, no "Bubbleheads". Pity that.. Still have the back-aft "Nukes"?

Fiction could be a great place for some slang.. Like does anyone remember the "COB's rules"?

By Robert Herneson (Rherneson) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:26 am: Edit

Conversations in other areas have SVC making it clear they are a seperate service. The GPD rules list marine characters as 'Federation Marines'.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 01:07 am: Edit

Another questions about Marines: how do you spell their battle-cry?? "Hoorah" just doesn't seem right to me.


Garth L. Getgen

By Robert Herneson (Rherneson) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:26 am: Edit

Ahhh, another great debate.

In the real day US Army, the cry sounds like 'WHO-ya'. I have no idea why, I served in the Marines.
In the real day US Marines, the cry sounds like "OOOO-RA', expressed as a bark, harkening to the Marine nickname, 'Devildogs'. At least that is what I learned from my DIs.

How do you spell either? I'd suggest taking a marine and a soldier to a bar and listening while they discuss it. I'm sure you'll figure something out.

R

By Gary Plana (Garyplana) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 01:58 pm: Edit

Garth, think about it -- you're asking Marines how to spell. Forget about it!

By Robert Herneson (Rherneson) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 03:12 pm: Edit

We may not be the best speller, but we are great at geography.

A popular story going around now says that Secretary of State Colin Powell's response to an Iraqi diplomat's claim that only 13% of Americans could find Iraq on a map, was, "Unfortunately for you, all 13% are marines."

(Hey, I don't verify 'em, I just tell 'em!)

R

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 05:26 pm: Edit

OK, I asked a former Marine about that, and he said it's spelled "Ooh-rah!" That's what I'm going with until someone convinces me it's wrong.


Garth L. Getgen