SFB BACK ON TRACK!

It has been a tough battle, but by mid-August we have put SFB pretty much back on track. We have returned BASIC SET and ADVANCED MISSIONS to print (with new 1999 editions) and have also reprinted FEDERATION & EMPIRE. We have released the all-new CL18 and OMEGA SECTOR and we have two more new products, CL19 and DREADNOUGHTS AT WAR nearing the launch pad.

We have brought back to print Modules R2 and R4; we will be bringing back C1 and C2 this fall. After that, R3 and K have top priority to get back into print. A new Module T will appear about March 2000. The Campaign Designer’s Handbook, Tactics Manual, and Module R6 will return in the Spring.

SFT BACK ON TRACK?

We know, we know, this issue of SFT is only about six months late. Part of the problem has been that ADB has just been so darn BUSY getting everything up and running, and a few things didn’t get done. While we usually rely on Bruce to come through with an issue now and then when we’re busy, he has been busy with his own projects. One of the secret reasons why SFT is so late so often is that no one can think of anything to put in it. After a recent burst of inspiration, that shouldn’t be a problem. We have issues in preparation covering: tournament ships for Omega and Module C4 tweaked war cruisers and other factory upgrades the “missing” campaign ships for Tholians, Orions, WYNs more ships for the Module C4 races Paravian and Vudar playtest updates New races for the Sargasso Sector and many other new ideas. If you have an idea, share it with us. If you like (or hate) one of the ideas above with particular passion, do let us know how you feel.

BEYOND THE VOID,

BEHIND THE ISC, LIES THE OMEGA SECTOR, where mighty empires wage war, conquer vast territories, and are in their own turn destroyed. Unlike the relatively stable Alpha Sector known to SFB players, in the Omega Sector, there is no such thing as a fixed border, and the survival of races depends on the skill of a gunner, the ingenuity of an engineer, and the valor of a starship captain. It is a place of danger, death, and opportunity. MODULE OMEGA ONE is the first in a new series of adventures for STAR FLEET BATTLES players. It includes 46 new ships, 11 new races, 24 new weapons, and many new systems. The mighty MÆSRON ALLIANCE seeks to dominate the area, but is opposed on all sides by the anti-matter weapons of the Koligahr, the implosion bolts of the Trobrin Empire, the particle beams of the Vari Combine, the fireballs of the Loriyill, the bioelectric bolts of the Alunda, the energy howitzers of the Chlorophon, the kinetic waves of the Sigvirions, and the hypercannons of the robotic Drex Unity.  FIVE SCENARIOS only hint at the savage wars, titanic battles, and devastating conquests that mark the dangerously unstable Omega Sector.  Enter at your own risk!

THE RETURN OF STARLINE

By late October or early November, Star Fleet Battles miniatures will be back in your store. The new line will be titled Starline 2400, and will incorporate many of the original designs from the original Starline 2200 and the subsequent Starline 2300. The line will also include entirely new ships, the first of which were seen at Origins. These included the Federation DW, the Klingon C7, the Kzinti CM, and the Gorn BDD and BDX.  For those who simply cannot wait, we have these available by mail order in limited quantities (and not in retail packaging) at this time. A list of the available ships includes:

 ORIGINS REPORT

Things went very nicely at Origins 1999, the first Origins at which ADB, Inc. was represented in the dealer room as the official publisher of SFB. Sales were brisk, and the two Steves were kicking each other for not having brought more copies of Captain’s Log #18 (which sold out on Thursday).

The tournament went very well, with Tom Carroll winning his fifth Gold Hat championship. The judging staff is fully trained and highly professionalized, and virtually self-sustaining. Staffers Richard Eitzen, Michael Calhoon, and Patrick Abram were all able to achieve qualification as ADB Certified Tournament Judges, taking the formal oath on Sunday afternoon. Veteran judges Steve Petrick, Joe Butler, Mike Filsinger, Tony Zbaraschuk, and Jeff Laikind ably performed their duties as they have so often in the past.

Many were surprised to find that ADB Inc. brought three years of unissued Ace Cards and patches as well as gift certificates and other prizes from previous years. Even more were stunned to see ADB Inc.  honoring the old TFG gift certificates (which ADB Inc. will do only until 1 Sept).

GENCON REPORT

Certified judges Patrick Abram and Joe Butler ran the events at GenCon 99. Allen Phelps (who won last year in the KR) won again, this time in the Klingon. Ken Burnside was second in the Archaeo-Tholian; John Wooldridge (Black Shark) and Gregg Dieckhaus (FireHawk) came in third.  Kerry Mullan won the Patrol Tournament in the Lyran. Stephan Holder (Andro) was second, while Ron Mulder (Hydran) and Allen Phelps (Klingon) came in third.

Andrew Pundy won the Saturday Patrol event in the WYN Aux Cruiser, while David Beeson was second in the Romulan KR. Players who bailed out of Patrol to start with a new record in Saturday Patrol found themselves eaten alive by those two.

Ken Burnside ran an experimental tournament with 18 ships including some from the Omega Sector, Pinwheel Galaxy, Magellanic Cloud, as well as Jindarian and Vudar ships. Known as the “Wingnuts and Wierdos Tournament,” it was great fun for all. Players flew a new ship each round and never saw the same ship twice. Alex Saunders won, with Kerry Mullan second.  Jeff Laikind ran scenarios using miniatures. Dennis Surdu won “Fleet of the Moment”; Steve Damer won “Giants Among Men”.