Federation Commander

While I really don't want such a rule to be included, I can see why some players might.

In SFB and indeed the PC game 'Starfleet Command', it is possible gradually to batter a ship until its resistance to boarding and capture is minimal - the two Marine units Mike mentions above.

It can be frustrating to have a more-or-less intact ship approach a wrecked enemy warship which has more Marines still alive than you had on your approaching ship in the first place.

However the window dressing is far more trouble than it's worth. I seem to remember a motto for Fed Commander which went something like 'Keep it clean!'

Let's keep it clean, then

For our campiaigns, where we wanted some reasonanle ability to capture enemy ships, we had a rule that when a ship was crippled its marines were halved and left it at that. That allowed a few boarding actions to occur.

I just wished the ship cards had put on how many boxes they had for cripple purposes so you didn't have to count them all first. Much more useful info during a game than the BPV value.

Now that is a good idea.