Federation Commander

I'll have to try that battle, though nobody I play is very good.

I'd like to second Kane's recommendation of Frigate actions. These have been some of my most enjoyable games to date. Each internal hit REALLY hurts in a frigate duel and yet we've had a few battles in which frigates are left limping along trying to finish off one another.

Bringing this back on topic and to Kane's point with their weaker shields even long range disruptor fire can have a significant impact on frigates. One of FC's great features is the contrast in ship fighting styles and the resulting choices available to ship commanders.

Eliminating the option of longer range disruptor fire would not make the game that much simpler while it would certainly weaken the contrast between ship and weapon types thus making tactics "generic".

USS Enterprise wrote:I'll have to try that battle, though nobody I play is very good.

Then I recommend you play the Klingon and let your less able player have the Kzinti. It will still be a challenge...

I intend to write a tactical article soon on the Klingon vs. Kzinti frigate action.

MajerBlundor wrote:I'd like to second Kane's recommendation of Frigate actions.

Thanks But it's Kang, as in Admiral Kang.....

Lol. Will do. I bet I'll still win! Muahahaha!

The F5 is no more capable than the E4, which is fewer points.

What is the E4? And besides, why is the Kzinti FF stronger then the F5 when the F5 is really a destroyer?

USS Enterprise wrote: And besides, why is the Kzinti FF stronger then the F5 when the F5 is really a destroyer?

I wouldn't get hung up on nomenclature with FC. They use "battleship" to describe a ship larger than a "dreadnought" but in historical wet navies (and other sci-fi games/books) dreadnoughts were larger ships with bigger guns.

MajerBlundor wrote:

USS Enterprise wrote: And besides, why is the Kzinti FF stronger then the F5 when the F5 is really a destroyer?

I wouldn't get hung up on nomenclature with FC. They use "battleship" to describe a ship larger than a "dreadnought" but in historical wet navies (and other sci-fi games/books) dreadnoughts were larger ships with bigger guns.

Actually dreadnoughts historically were the battlewagons of World War One. By World War Two they were largely outdated (though among the few remaining in service some still distinguished themselves to a degree, such as USS Texas).

Compare:

USS Texas (BB-35; a "dreadnought):
Length: 573'
Disp: 32k tons
Crew: 1,530

USS Iowa (BB-61; a modern battleship design):
Length: 890'
Disp: 59.3k tons
Crew: 2,858

why is the Kzinti FF stronger then the F5 when the F5 is really a destroyer?

Who says the Kzinti FF is stronger than an F5???

You have to go back even earlier in the development of capital ships. "Battleship" was the standard term for the largest warships until the introduction of the HMS Dreadnought which was a British warship.

The main difference between the two was that the Dreadnought was the first "all big gun" ship. Until that time battleships carried a greater variety of gun sizes. With the introduction of the HMS Dreadnought prior ships were considered to be "Pre-Dreadnoughts". So the term battleship pre-dated "dreadnought" (goes back to the late 19th centuryt) and indicated a ship with inferior armament. Dreadnought was considered the larger/superior ship at that time (circa WWI).

By WWII the distinction became meaningless and all big-gun capital ships were called battleships.

According to BPV and most of the members here who spoke, the FF is stronger.

The F5 should, IMO based on its place, should be stronger than all other Frigates and weaker then all destroyers.

Which is exactly why it is called out as such an odd-duck in it's flavor text. Biggest frigate, smallest destroyer. Take your pick.

Does biggest not connotate strongest?

USS Enterprise wrote:Does biggest not connotate strongest?

Not always. I can think of some BIG people who have a lot of difficulty moving around....

Interesting discussion, this. As I said above, I am currently undertaking a tactical study between the K-F5 and the Z-FF. If I get anywhere with it, I will publish my findings in the tactics section.

Ah, I see said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw.