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newbie - where do i start with basic tactics

 
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skippy01
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Joined: 26 Nov 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Germany

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:39 pm    Post subject: newbie - where do i start with basic tactics Reply with quote

Dear SFB/FC veterans

as a newbie (well played some games in high school 25 years ago) where is the best place to start with basic tactics? just look through this forum or is there a good place to start?

thanks
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mjwest
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Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 4069
Location: Dallas, Texas

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, looking through these forums should give some ideas on tactics.

In addition, I would suggest just taking equally sized Klingon and Federation ships (e.g. Klingon D7 and Fed CA), line them up and just wail on each other. That will give the Fed CA an advantage, but it will show you the base mechanics of combat. Then try attacking at different ranges (this is where you can work to start taking advantage of the D7's strengths). Initially, just use disruptors, photons, and phasers. Ignore drones, ADDs, and shuttles.

Once you gain familiarity with the game, you will rarely just "close-n-hose". However, there is no shame in doing that to get a feel for the game at the beginning.
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djdood
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Joined: 01 Feb 2007
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Like Mike the answer-man said; for entry-level guidance, this forum is indeed the place to be.

The Captains Log magazines have lots of tactics discussions, but they are aimed more at players past the "newbie" stage. However, the free (for now) online "Supplements" often include entry-level tactics papers that were deemed too "elementary" to print. They may be too elementary for the center-chair gurus, but they're perfect for you (and slow-learners, like me).

The Briefing #1 FC book had some good entry-level articles by Patrick Doyle.

Also, the SFB Tactics Manual is applicable in many ways to FC (it's valid more often than it isn't).
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Kang
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Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Posts: 1976
Location: Devon, UK

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

djdood refers to the Captain's Log Supplemental files - these can be found here:

http://www.starfleetgames.com/documents/CL38_Supplemental.pdf

http://www.starfleetgames.com/documents/CL39_Supplemental_File.pdf

http://www.starfleetgames.com/documents/CL40S_Supplemental_File.pdf

and look for the section called 'Coma Notes'. These are basic 'everyone knows' tactics, although from personal experience I must say that sometimes the tactics are not as 'obvious' as the judges seem to think; someone still has to invent them and great minds certainly do think alike Wink


btw, Welcome to the forum Smile
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Kang
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mjwest wrote:
Once you gain familiarity with the game, you will rarely just "close-n-hose"

Unless you're a fusion-armed Hydran. (skippy, for your information, Hydrans are a race armed mainly with close-range weapons, one of which is called the 'fusion beam')
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Kang
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

djdood wrote:
The Captains Log magazines have lots of tactics discussions, but they are aimed more at players past the "newbie" stage.

Some of the Captain's Logs (see http://www.starfleetgames.com/captainslog.shtml#Documents for tables of contents), particularly the editions containing early commentary on Fed Commander when it was first published (editions 32 onwards), have some elementary tactical articles too.
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Scoutdad
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Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 4754
Location: Middle Tennessee

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Skippy: Mike West, Will, and Tony beat me to any posting about basic tactics, so I'll just jump in and say, "Welcome Aboard!"

Try a few games... try a few different strategies/tactics... have fun and blow things up. Then, once you get a feel for the flow of the game you cna begin to specialize in tactics for you preferred race...errr, Empire!

And by all means, feel free to ask questions. You'll soon find out that we love to (as my lovely wife says...) go on and on and on and on and on about our game! Laughing
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djdood
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Joined: 01 Feb 2007
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pontificate? Us!?! Embarassed
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Kang
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Joined: 23 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scoutdad wrote:
... have fun and blow things up.


...and get blown up yourself, of course. It's the only way to learn Wink
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skippy01
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Joined: 26 Nov 2009
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thx guys for the great advice and the warm welcome, going to work on the suggestions and try a CA D7 battle tomorrow. Tell you how it went

thx again
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USS Enterprise
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Joined: 27 Feb 2009
Posts: 376
Location: Vulcan

PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

With the Federation, the best tactic is usually to close-n-hose against a Klingon. The Klingon should try to keep a range of 13-15.

I'll leave the rest to somebody else, haven't played in a few months at all!
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