F&E Lite
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F&E Lite
Basically do for F&E what FedCom did for SFB.
Do an 'Axis & Allies' style version that is MUCH simpler, faster, and (IMNSHO) more fun to play.
You could even have the cheap little plastic counters ala A&A....
Mike,
I built a "Lite" F&E based upon Shogun. The basic unit is a fleet (which come in Small, medium or large). I used an old cribbage board to track damage points (each fleet had a row)... each race gets a cribbage board. You can build normal fleets, carrier fleets and PF fleets. Fleets are built around an admiral. If the admiral is lost... a fleet is immobilized. If an admiral is given up as damage the fleet is destroyed. Drone Bombardment and command points are just pegs you add to a fleet as expendable AF. Logistics are completely abstracted. Bases/Fortifications are done just like Shogun... battle stations (counts as small carrier fleet) and SBs (counts as a medium carrier fleet). EW is purchased as a separate fleet add-on and can be given up as damage. It negates opposing EW or opposing AF if they have less EW. Prime teams are purchased separately and are expended to kill an admiral,used defensively against a another PT or used to blind EW, negate the blocking effect of a base or steal EP. Everyone does EP at the end of their turn like A&A and purchases at the start. More detail about fleets... in addition to the types (standard, carrier, PF) there is fleet speeds... slow, normal and fast. Slow fleets (move 1) are cheaper and are ideal for small races, normal speed fleets move 2, and fast or X-fleets move 3. Until X-fleets fast fleets can only be small or medium with no DB or CP.
Movement and attack by the phasing player is conducted by fleet. Each fleet moves then attacks before the next phasing fleet is moved.
The GW scenario has a turn order of Lyran, Kzinti, Klingon, Hydran, Fed, Rom, Gorn, Tholian. You can play a free for all on an axis and allies map. Each area counts as one pount and the capitols count as 5.
I have to dig this out. I wrote it up after a few conversations with Garth Getgen.
Sounds neat.
This would be neat to try and introduce non-gamers to the SFB/F&E world without risking their heads exploding when they see the rulebook(s).
That's the idea.....
guys, SVC has already anounced such an idea, its called Klingon Invasion (Romulan Invasion etc). He hasn't decided on the format yet but you can read his announcement here
I still think it should be called
Federation Admiral: Klingon Invasion
in keeping with the FC motiff
Not a bad idea, Joe.
Actually, the game I'd like to see it based on is A House Divided.
I like Joe's idea for the name, too.
I submitted an idea I've been tossing around for a simpler F&E version to Steve Cole. Have to see what he thinks of it.
What about an F&E lite that does everything at a more zoomed-out scale?
Max movement of 4. No extended reaction. Fewer ships, BATS, EPs, and starbases. Bloodier combat rounds. Try to set it up so that the general war can be played in a month.
I now own F&E for the fourth time. The game keeps dragging me back in even though I eventually get upset with the steep curve of the rulebook and teaching the game. This generally results me in dumping it and moving on, only to come back to it again a couple of years later.
In an effort to break this viscous cycle I've tried to boil F&E down to the very basics; rules that will essentially fit on a single 2-sided page. This should reduce the 'teach the opponents how to play' problems and mitigate the shock & awe of seeing the rulebook and counter quantity for the first time. I recognize the value of the integrated 2010 rules and of the chrome, as well as the need for the more in-depth language. But I just want to play the game.
My goal is to edit this basic doc to simplified language that explains how to play the basic game. I'll add some paragraphs (half page/third of a page each?) on to the end to expand on the rules and bring them closer in to line with F&E. A section on Directed Damage. A section on tugs. A section on Fighters. A section on Planetary Defenses. A section on 'off the map', etc.
This is where I am right now. I need to beef up the supply sections, as well as bases, at a minimum. I _THINK_ it should pretty accurately represent the core of F&E with the exception of the planetary rules. That seems to be a pretty big change.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4wpCwKDa4dCSm42aXVkam1NaDQ/edit?usp=sharing
There are a bunch of these F&E Lite threads floating around. idk if I'm supposed to create a new one or not; please excuse my ignorance.
An interesting synopsis. Needs a sequence of play. The abbreviation for starbase should be SB, not STAR. You do need to talk about PDUs being at planets I think.
I assume you aren't trying to write new rules, just a short synopsis of the existing ones.
Right, my goal (which I may break for a good reason) is no new rules, just simplifications and omissions. I can include the omissions with the "paragraphs expansions" and, of course, the full rules are always available if needed prior to a player 'growing in to them.'
I was going to add in PDU's as one of the "paragraph expansions." Are you saying you think I should do that or that I should include them in the 'Basic rules?'
Oh, this is not a synopsis but meant to be complete set of rules.
I don't think they work then. When I was reading through it I thought to myself at many places that it was only ok because you could consult the rules for more specific details.
Without the actual F&E ruleset, your rules are much too vague in many places to serve (imo).
Well, there are many definition of 'vague.' If you are still interested could I ask you to reference some?
I'm aware of the length of the 2010 rulebook and why it's that way. What I'm trying to do is ignore the legal language. So if it's vague because of that then it may be a feature. 
Or maybe it's it's vague because I forgot something or used a foreign term or something like that.
My intent here is a beginners game that can be expanded through the use of the "paragraphs" and then further in to the full rules. Hmmm, expanded is the wrong word. Maybe a "player growth timeline" or something like that.
Are you saying my use of the word 'vague' is vague in this context? Because I don't think so!
Anyway, I am saying that I don't think you can make F&E into a 'two pages of rules game'. I do think you've made a good two page synopsis of most of the main rules. If you hand such a thing to a new player he will (hopefully) understand the gist of things and can use the actual rulebook at that point with much less trepidation.
You still do need a sequence of play and rules for PDUs.