Federation Commander

[Grimmshade]

I just ordered Federation Commander last week.
Been a TOS Trek fan since watching reruns with Dad in the 70's-80's.
I used to watch my friends play SFB back then, but never really got to play. Didn't even know FC existed until a couple weeks ago. Now I can finally play!

Anyway, I ordered Klingon Border, Romulan Space (regret I didn't get RB instead of space), Boosters 1,2,3.
Then this weekend I ordered Klingon Attack, Romulan Attack, 2 more map panels, and Boosters 7,8,9.

I'll probably mostly play solo, unless I can talk my wife into some games. Should be able to get some groups together this summer though.

Anyway, excited to get my stuff, and get into this new hobby!

What should I pick up next? Should I buy more map panels?
I'm interested in the "Middle Years" book, but as it doesn't seem to come with tokens or laminated cards, I might skip it. I really like that era though.

[mjwest]

Welcome aboard!

As for what to get next, it all depends on what you are looking for. Klingon Border/Space + Attack and Romulan Border/Space + Attack give a pretty good cross section of the TOS empires. After that, it is whatever you want to focus on as you expand outwards.

For the Middle Years, it is true that it doesn't have laminated ship cards or counters. However, from the perspective of a counter, a Fed CA is a Fed CA, so just use the counters you already have. And, while the ship cards are not laminated, there are a *lot* of them for the money. You basically get the whole setting/era in one shot for a very good price. (If you do get it, you probably ought to get the Reference Rulebook, too, so that you can have all of the rules for the additional empires included in Middle Years that is not included in the Klingon/Romulan Border rulebook.)
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Federation Commander Answer Guy

[Grimmshade]

Thanks for the info!
Which civilizations are included?
I'm thinking about getting the PDF of the Reference Rulebook now, and then maybe a year from now getting a print copy to update any rules changes from my Core set that have happened since then.

As far as more purchases, I'm thinking I may pause here. I'm not a big fan of the Tholian, and I've read that those rules are pretty complex.
I might buy the Middle Years book when more Klingon Attack planetary maps become available, and then save up for a couple Border Boxes of minis.

OR... I might get Tholian Attack, and then save up for Distant Kingdoms, Hydran Attack, and Booster 92, and not worry about getting any minis.

[djdood]

Welcome, Grimmshade!

Out local admin, mjwest, has you covered.

I can't check at the moment, but it's possible that the middle years cards are available in color for print-your-own, via the pdf packs that ADB sells through carious online stores (Warehouse 23, DriveThruRPG, etc.). There are also many packs for the mainline game, some of which add fun niche ships not currently published as official laminated cards (the Fed DNW, etc.).

Adding to Mike's suggestions; The Battleships Attack expansion and its associated boosters are a nice addition that plays nicely with the core boxes, adding all the really big ships for every empire (although some you won't have rules for unless you add those empires' modules or get the master rulebook). Reinforcements Attack and Transports Attacked also fit this mold (more ships for everybody, no new rules).

[totally biased plug]
Buy minis. Buy all the minis and decals to put on them.
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[mjwest]

[Grimmshade]

Thanks again guys! Super helpful and polite forum here! I'm always dubious going into a new game community.

I think I'll skip Tholian Attack for now, so my new buy order is probably going to be:
PDF Reference Rulebook
Middle Years book
Distant Kingdoms, Hydran Attack
And then save for minis! (I really want the minis)

Where are the decals for the minis?
Should I be worried about not having enough maps since I went with Romulan Space?

[djdood]

[ElizabethB]

I don't have anything specific to add, but I basically purchased the entire game and regret nothing.

Except losing that one counter.

[ElizabethB]

Okay, I do have a thing to say: If you expect to be using the larger hexes (one inch), most scenarios call for 12 map panels instead of six. If you're expecting to do that then you'll want six more.

All of the other panels come in Federation Commander products, so buying them might mean you end up with extra - which is probably fine but say most people don't need two layer cake Tholian webs. However, there are currently only four asteroid panels available so it might be an idea to purchase another two panels if you have four already so you can fill out an entire 1/2" map with them.

At some point I imagine the asteroid map panels that come with Klingon Attack will be reprinted, though.

[djdood]

[ElizabethB]

That's definitely true.

I'm just saying, most scenarios play on 3x2 1/2" hexes or 4x3 1" hexes.

I know there's not many places they'll fit but I got the extra six just to be sure.

[Grimmshade]

Those decals are great!

I went ahead and bought PDF rules so I can get started reading them before game arrives.

Looks like I have a lot of Communiques to catch up on too.

Any other suggestions for a newbie?
(I can see this stuff becoming an addiction.)

Oh, I also ordered 2 extra $4 map panels with my Klingon Attack (because it doesn't come with any at the moment), and I'll get 2 with Romulan Attack, so I figure I'll have 10 at least.

[ElizabethB]

[djdood]

[Grimmshade]

I did grab First Missions late last week to make sure I liked this system overall. Had a blast with the first battle. I'm looking forward to seeing what the other scale plays like.