What year are weapons available?

[Hargert]

I have just started playing the game and I see where ships have a year put in service but I am not finding when weapons are? Am I missing a table somewhere but when say are the different types of drones or say Ph-G available to Orion weapon mounts?

[mjwest]

Weapons, for the most part, either have their introduction date established in their weapon rule, or have "always existed".

For example, Pl-S weren't rolled out until Y170. However, Pl-F, Pl-G, and Pl-R have "always existed". Also, features, e.g. plasma shotgun, that get their own introduction dates also specify when they are available in their rule.

But, for reference, phasers, drones -A/B/C/D, photons, disruptors, fusions, ESGs, and Pl-F/G/R have "always existed". By "always existed" I basically mean at least from the start of the Middle Years in Y120. (Earlier is outlined it separate modules that gives much more introduction information.)

Hellbores, Pl-S, PPD, and special features (e.g. DERFACS or plasma carronade) of the above weapons will have their introduction dates listed in their rules.

Worst case, however, just look for the earliest ship that includes that weapon. That is the functional introduction date for that weapon.

[Steve Cole]

Remember that FC doesn't really have dates (SFB does) and there are SFB years way back there where plasma isn't built yet.

[mjwest]

This is the Star Fleet Battles discussion section on the Forum.

[Hargert]

Thanks that is just what I was looking for. Just wanted to make sure I was not being a moron.

[Steve Cole]

I think we once did a technology timeline thing, not sure if it's still anywhere. You could reconstruct it from the rulebooks and MSC easily enough. But if you're not back in Early Years, it's mostly all available. Some drones have set dates, plasma-S does, X-tech does. Of course, heavy fighters (and indvidual fighters) and gunboats have dates in the MSC.