F&E Q&A

Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Federation & Empire: F&E QUESTIONS: F&E Q&A
PROCEDURE FOR THIS TOPIC
Ask your questions. Mike Curtis is the FEAR (F&E Answer Rapporteur) who works for GOD (Game's Overworked Designer). FEAR works with FEDS (F&E Department Supervisor) Chuck Strong.

Remember, before asking a question, it is the player's responsibility to fully research the question at hand. It is your responsibility to check past rulings for answers to your question. This is easily accomplished by a keyword search or by copying the rulings file into your computer and using "search."

If you have information (not an answer, but information) regarding a question posted here, please post it in the F&E Q&A Discussions.

FEAR may provide only abbreviated replies to questions that have been answered before. FEAR may provide abrupt replies to questions asked time and time again in a different way in an attempt to get an answer the player wants to hear instead of what has been ruled on in the past.

FEAR's answers stand with the Force of Rules unless overturned on appeal. Mike may, privately, ask for help from FERT (F&E Review Team) or Chuck or GOD. The appeal procedure is as follows:

Step 1: Direct appeal to Mike, pointing out any evidence you think he missed. (Hint: You should have mentioned this evidence when you asked.)

Step 2: Second appeal to Mike, who will send your question and evidence, his ruling, and your appeal to Chuck Strong. (Note: Sometimes staffers will send this kind of appeal to Mike even without anyone knowing the answer was challenged.)

Step 3: Chuck reviews the matter and may either confirm Mike's answer, expand or modify it, overrule it, or refer the matter to Steve Cole. Chuck's answer has the Force of Rule until SVC speaks on the issue.

Step 4: SVC may confirm Mike/Chuck's answer, expand or modify it, rewrite the original rule, or issue a different interpretation. If SVC needs help, he has the FERT (F&E Review Team) to confer with.
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By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Thursday, December 04, 2025 - 05:33 pm: Edit

Specific (can build SCS) overides general ((1 A-20 per turn in the fall...)

By Sean Dzafovic (Sdzafovic) on Monday, December 22, 2025 - 09:23 am: Edit

The Kzinti capital is captured by the Coalition. They relocate the shipyard to the offmap.

If they subsequently recapture the capital hex, is Kzintai a "capital" planet for purposes of PDUs (ie: max 20)? Or a major since it's where the capital and shipyard are currently located?

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Monday, December 22, 2025 - 06:20 pm: Edit

Once liberated, Kzintai is a major world until the Kzinti make it into a capital again [by (re)building the shipyard] … (IIRC)

By Sean Dzafovic (Sdzafovic) on Friday, January 02, 2026 - 12:41 pm: Edit

What size class does an OPB count as for purposes of removing a ship from a slow unit pursuit?

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Friday, January 02, 2026 - 10:27 pm: Edit

OPB [OAL] (R1.45A) is SC3,

By Sean Dzafovic (Sdzafovic) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 10:03 am: Edit

What size step for (537.222)? 3A? 3B?

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Saturday, January 03, 2026 - 03:31 pm: Edit

(537.22) doesn't apply to OPBs. An OPB is not a ship.

The applicable rule would be (453.22).

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 02:50 pm: Edit

Why is it that the Fed SIT has an "Operates in many ways as a PFT" note for the NVA but not for the CSV?

Perusing the rulebook, I see one costing difference between them. The "if A-20 fighters are used" below appears to refer to the NVA.

Is that the only difference?

(440.1) FEDERATION HEAVY FIGHTER CARRIERS
This rule from the original Carrier War is replaced by rule
(527.0) on a later page. As a special discount, the first two NVHs
cost seven points plus nine points for the F-111 fighters (10 if A-
20 fighters are used)

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 09:31 pm: Edit

I searched the F&E BBS for the following question under "NPF" and "502.611" (separately, two searches) and could not find an answer.

Here's my Q:

Issue Statement: (A question in two parts)
Q502.611, Part 1:

In view of the Lyran SIT read in the light of 502.611, can the Lyran NPF be built in the spring of Y178?

502.611, Part 2:

If yes to Part 1, can the Lyran NPF be built with PFs in the spring of Y178?

Relevant Rules:
Rule (502.611) states, in relevant part, "These free PFs cannot be transferred, and additional PFs cannot be purchased." (Emphasis supplied.)

The Lyran SIT indicates that the NPF is available in Y178. No "F" (for "Fall turn" follows that production year)

Every other Lyran PFT on the SIT that can be produced in Y178 states Y178F specifically - except - the Lyran DNLP, which is listed as a "future" unit (and therefore not officially part of the game yet).

Analysis:
The production limitation of Y178F on the other PFTs makes sense, as 502.611 indicates that no additional PFs can be built on turn PF1, which is Y178S for the Lyrans. Therefore, it may be inferred that there is a typo for the Lyran NPF on the master SIT, and that its YIS should be Y178F, like all other Lyran PFTs available that year.

However, under the strict reading of the SIT it is possible to produce the NPF in Y178S.

Equally under a strict reading of 502.611, said newly produced NPF in Y178S could not be provided with PFs.

Nevertheless, it is possible that an exception was intended for the Lyran NPF, though one was never expressed explicitly. Under the principle that nothing is allowed unless expressly allowed, this argument is deemed weak.

SFU JAG Recommendation:
JAG recommends that the Lyran Master SIT be updated so that the NPF YIS is changed to "Y178F" from "Y178." That one change makes the problem go away, and makes all Lyran PFT availability in that year consistent.

In the alternative, JAG recommends that an explicit exception be stated when updating the basic ruleset - a new rule that indicates an exception for the Lyran NPF (permitting it to buy PFs in Y178S).

With respect to the Lyran DNLP, again recommend updating the SIT to indicate a YIS of Y178F, even though it is a future unit and not yet part of the game (for players who want to experiment with it).

Prayer for Relief

Ruling on the two-part question is respectfully requested.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 10:41 pm: Edit

As the SITs guy I have updated the Y178 Lyran PF ships to Y178F.

FEDS: Concurs.

By Ken Kazinski (Kjkazinski) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 08:39 pm: Edit

Question on - Nevertheless, it is possible that an exception was intended for the Lyran NPF, though one was never expressed explicitly. Under the principle that nothing is allowed unless expressly allowed, this argument is deemed weak.

Would not the NPF have Interceptors, which have a YIS of Y176, and not PFs?

By John Christiansen (Roscoehatfield) on Thursday, April 02, 2026 - 12:15 am: Edit

Per (523.12) GENERATING XTPs, do the Tholians get 5 XTPs for their undevastated capital planet and 12 XTPs for the undevastated Tholian homeworld, or is it just the homeworld? The way the rule is written, it is arguable that they can get both bonuses.

FEDS:
The Tholians SPECIFICALLY receive 12 BONUS XTPs for their UNdevastated home world as opposed to the GENERAL rule that covers other undevastated home worlds; they don't receive both.

Note however that capital planets (either devastated or undevastated) are still counted towards the overall bonus equal to 40% of the EPs generated normally by ALL planets in the line above it in (523.12).

By John Christiansen (Roscoehatfield) on Thursday, April 02, 2026 - 06:52 pm: Edit

FEDS, thanks. It is as I first understood it to be. It was a further reading of it that it made my list of "things that make you say, 'Hmm'".

By John Christiansen (Roscoehatfield) on Friday, April 10, 2026 - 12:51 am: Edit

FEDS, another question based on the above, please. For that "bonus equal to 40% of the EPs generated normally by all of their planets", is the Dyson sphere considered a planet?

In the (753.0) Economics Chart it is listed as a major planet, but in the OOB (707.41) chart it is excluded as a planet and in (707.42) it is specified by write-in as a Dyson sphere. Do the Tholians receive the 8 XTP in that line above in (523.12)? You neither included nor excluded it in your answer above.

My apologies for being a rules lawyer.

By Sean Dzafovic (Sdzafovic) on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - 10:37 am: Edit

A military convoy has 3 escorts, so the group is [MC+AD5+AD5+FWE].

The group can be crippled for 60 points of directed damage (50 with an X-ship/mauler).

Does this destroy the milcon, since all units are flipped and the MC has no uncrippled side? Or do the escorts have to all be destroyed before killing the milcon?


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