Federation Commander

[Andromedan]

I talked to Tony Thomas last night about Federation Admiral and one of the questions that I had was about logistics.

According to Tony depending on the optional rules used an FA campaign can abstract out the logistics to a great degree or have the player have to worry about logistics.

My question is: does FA support have the level of detail where you are ships "EPs" from point A to point B? For example, a star system/planet produces 10 EPs and that needs to be shipped to the construction facility for the ships.

[mwaschak]

[mwaschak]

[terryoc]

I'm somewhat familiar with VBAM. I'm curious to know how the various encounter types in VBAM will be translated into FC scenarios. IIRC you can generate various encounter types, like approach battles, raids, etc. Can you give us any insights into how this will be handled?

BTW, I'm really looking forward to Federation Admiral. It's given me a few ideas for campaign scenarios already. One I'd like to try is based on the Seltorian-Tholian conflict in this galaxy. The Seltorian objective is to destroy the Tholian NBB Sword of the Holdfast to convince the Klingons to commit major resources to finishing off the Tholians. The Tholian objective would be to take out the Seltorian Hive Ship. Either of these major objectives achieved is an instant win. (If the Selts lose the Hive Ship, the Klingons decide that the Selts are no longer useful and declare a ceasefire with the Tholians.) Otherwise, the game would last a set number of turns and a winner declared on other objectives. That might be small enough for a Regional campaign.
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"Captain" Terry O'Carroll, fourteen papers published including six best of issue
"Man, Terry, you are like a loophole seeking missle!" - Mike West

[mwaschak]

Hello Terry,

Sure, I would be happy to give you an overview. Scenarios are essentially resolved the same at any level of campaign but are all based on a few decisions before the scenarios begin. Remember that an enounter can be several engagements over the entire campaign turn, so we try to emulate the intensity of those engagements based on detection and commitment to action.

Once units are in the same Map Hex (which I will be happy to summarize as well), an engagement may occur. Each side attempts detection against the other forces present in the encounter, where they may learn the owner, number, and type of force, depending on how successful and prepared they are. This is where cloaking and stealth forces tend to have an operational advantage.

Players have a chance to communicate at long range, which includes some short rules about how to handle this. But at this point they must decide their commitment to the encounter. Are they going to be cautious, or aggressive? Based on those decisions, a number of scenario intensity points are generated for the encounter. As the encounter is resolved, players spend these intensity points to decide scenarios.

Like regular VBAM, there are four scenario types: Interception, Deep Space, Defensive, and Pursuit. The players will accept or reject these scenarios, spend intensity points to create them, and thus the constraints of the scenarios are created. These constraints may be required civilian traffic, or a number of fixed positions the player is protecting. The more intensity is spent, the "bigger" the scenario can get. So you can have a few pocket battles leading to something grander, or just one quick deep space engagement where the picket ships fire on each other and withdraw, which may result if both players react cautiously when they started the encounter.

I would very interested in developing your ideain to a complete FA scenario.

-Jay

[Scoutdad]

[Wolverin61]

Last night I listened to the podcast of the Talkshoe episode that Andromedan and Scoutdad did when they discussed FA. Made me want to know more details about it and how it's all going to work. Still can't wait to get my hands (and eyes) on it!
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"His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking."

[mwaschak]

While we have some time I think we should talk about some possible scenarios you might want to see in Federation Admiral. The main book will have a variety of pre-built scenarios, plus the scenario generator. Since then I have finished The Expedition (Hydran vs Klingon in anticipation of Hydran Attack), and The Dissenter, which focuses on a group of Orions undermining the Klingon Invasion. I am still playtesting the latter and have a mountain of fiction to edit.

I am planning to run at least one Federation Admiral campaign here (Play-By-Forum/Play-By-Email) so it might be a good time to get some of the ground work done for that as well. I am curious how "big" do you interested players want these games to be. Do you want something grand and diplomatic, or something straight-forward and conflict driven? Do you want a quick game, or something bigger in scope? This will help me figure out how to design the PBEM scenarios (assuming we don't just use something from the book itself). We are also going to need captains and commodores to help fight out any engagements.

Here are the two games I am considering anyway.

1) First Campaigns - In the spirit of First Missions players will be able to learn about Federation Admiral before they take the plunge. It includes a basic Fed vs Klingon scenario and all the basic rules of the game. I am thinking about running an open game for new players who might want to give it a try. All information will be open so everyone can observe the game in progress.

2) Federation Admiral (scenario to be determined) - Built for 2 to 7 players I am thinking of a Local Scale campaign that takes full advantage of the objective rule system. Depending on how big players want this game to be, it could be a quick 3 month campaign or something grander.

All the best,
-Jay

[pinecone]

I want it to be grand and diplomatic, and long, but not ludicruosly long.
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Doomed to live in secret since discovering that the Air Force Tapes were a fantasy...

"Your knowledge of my existence must be punished"

[Savedfromwhat]

Oh good to know. So sub question here, is briefing 3 going to be bundled with Federation Admiral or is it going to be a seperate product? If it is to early to tell just ugnore the question

[Steve Cole]

They'll be sold as two separate books, but they have to be done together so that all of the ships FA needs are in B3.
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The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander

[Paul B]

So any word on this getting released sometime???

Back when I was more regular and I followed SVC's blogs, I noticed that the FA draft was in ADB's hands BEFORE Klingon Armada, now 2 or 3 years later Alien Armada, the third product in that line is on the release list and FA is STILL no where to be found so far as I can tell.

Formatting issues aside, VBAM looks like a proven game system, just checking out their website it looks like they got 8 or so books in print already. What's taking so long? There shouldn't be that much playtesting required when the mechanics are already in place.

I thought Catalyst games was taking long, when their hardcover, full colour 200-300 page RPG book has been delayed for a year. But when a 40-50 page softcover B&W book doesn't get released for 2+ odd years it takes the cake.


EDIT:
And the last mention of this in the daily blog, so far as I can tell, was Sept 25th which was two full months ago. Campaign books are unique in that they give added value to all the products that came before them. Give people a reason to play with old ships way back from Klingon Border as well as new layers of depth and enjoyment to the game. And more importantly, it can give a group of players a reason to play consistently and on a regular basis rather than the odd one off pick up game.

I don't understand why it's (apparently) not more of a priority. People want it. This forum has 1000 posts for a reason.

[Steve Cole]

The problem is the sheer massiveness of the project. it's BIG, and takes a long time to do. It will get worked on after CL42 and probably be released in the first half of next year.
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The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander

[Paul B]

Well that's good to hear. Hopefully it doesn't get bumped by any more projects. I know my opponent in particular has been waiting for a campaign system since pretty much day one. And now that he's got the last few factions that hold interest for him (those in W&P). He'll probably want it even more.

[Steve Cole]

We already have two campaign systems (F&E and CDH) and this will be the third, if not the fourth (since SFB is chock full of campaigns).
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The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander