Federation Commander

[mattruh]

I just had a good game tonight. I taught two friends of mine to play Federation Commander. I used the Planet Killer, with me controlling the monster and each of them running a Fed CA. Between the talking and them going out for a smoke during turn breaks we got about 3 turns done. It was an interesting manuver game, with both sides trying to find a good opening. They used both overloaded photons (fired from range 8, which was a mistake) and hit and run raids against me. We called the game after I caught one of the CAs at range 2 and nailed it for 95 points of damage.

I have noticed two things that have caused trouble with new players. The first is using batteries for prearming at the start of the game. It confused both of my players tonight, and took a lot of extra explaining to set them straight. I have also noticed that using skips on the Damage Allocation tables really slows things down. My players have asked to just turn skips into frame damage instead, to speed up damage resolution a bit. What do you guys think of that?

[Mike]

If you want to really speed up battle results, try the Alpha Strike optional damage system found on p. 13-14 of the CL #41 Supplemental File. It was designed for handling lots of hits quickly, but can be used for results of 1 hit at a time if you desire. There is literally no dice rolling after rolling for the amount of hits done by weapons. The skips you referred to as causing confusion to the new players are handled easily.

Some have been a little reluctant to try Alpha Strike because they think it takes away some of the random element of what might be spectacularly good shots (or bad ones). On average, however, all those extreme probability cases even out. Alpha Strike does that from the get-go.

If I recall correctly how Starmada works (or at least used to work), damage progressed down a very specific track for each ship. There was no question as to what would be damaged next; the next thing damaged would be the next box on the damage track. I'm guessing Klingon Armada works the same way. So there is precedent for an alternative, easier, faster system even in FC games.

Yeah, I know I'll probably hear, "But you invented Alpha Strike and would naturally push for it." True, but I stand behind it. It is a good alternative system that can simplify and speed up things in FC.
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Mike

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Sandpaper gets the job done, but makes for a lot of friction.

[mjwest]

[storeylf]

[mattruh]

Hmmm. Very good point storeylf.