toltesi wrote:Hello, as I'm looking through the rules I have some questions about the basic setup of the campaign.
1. What do you use for a strategic map? The F&E hexagon-based map? I'm going to continue my comments based on this assumption.
The map was started on 4 blank hex manps, to be exact I used 4 FC star maps and laminated them, then I designated them map A,B,C,D or alpha, beta, cetta, delta.
2. Is each hexagon on the F&E mapped separately on an as-needed basis by the players (I will call each hexagon a "sector" from here on")? Based on my reading it looks like the answer is yes.
does not apply, I was goingt o use my huge 6x4 fe map but I did not want traditional lines or neibhors, and i wanted expllorataion and expansion.
3. Where do you put these lines on the front and back of each box to indicate defensive capabilities? The strategic or sector map? I'm very confused, an example for people who have not seen your setup would be most helpful.
it is assumed from only one direction, and it reflects the overall defensive capability and organizatioon within a sector of a system. this concept is very similiar to the admirals game if SFB.
4. How do you translate the sector map with all these lines front and back into board setups for a tactical FC battle?
if a system was attackd that had a BATS, then the attacking player and the defending player secretly assinge ships to each sector, then each battle is fought out on the large tabel we use. each sectors terrain and or stations are placed on the table. the table is a huge 7x5 table with a black velvet cover we use miniatures.
5. How do the results of a FC tactical battle translate back to the sector and strategic map level? Can you actually loose a hexagon from the strategic map or are you simply fighting over the parts of a sector?
if the enemy disengages you win the system, in mulit sector battles in a system fight you have to win all the way back to the farthest sector to win the hex once this is doen the hex and it PV value are immediatly given to your empire.
What I would love to see if some digital photos taken and posted of your map setups. A photo-based tutorial of the setup and first turn of the campaign portion of Empire would be most helpful.
done
Given that the Prime Directive RPG game seems to be making a comeback with the upcoming release of PD:Federation, might I suggest the following to help with the scalability of this campaign:
1. Since each hexagon in the F&E map (west
http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/west_map.shtml and east
http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/east_map.shtml ) contains some 50 or so unexplored but habited/habitable worlds that make interesting RPG settings, can you create a sheet that allows you to catalog worlds within each hexagon as it is explored and subsequently "fortified" with lines at the front and back. This would allow your campaign to integrate with the RPG, bringing more people into the fun.
I like this idea and will look into, we have alraeady tentativly decided to have a rpg element and it already exists, but we want to hav characters that are immersed in this campaign.
2. Please consider organizing your rulebook using the same numbering system that FC uses. I have a Microsoft Word Document already setup with the system if you'd like a copy so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
one of th players is currently reorganizing the rules to reflect this.
3. Please add a section to the rulebook whose focus is the base setup and the introduction of the campaign tools (forms).
yes that is being added to version 1.5 along with the new legendary officers expansion, code of war.
4. Please create separate player visual aids much like the laminated sheets in FC that allow players to not have to have the rulebook open during play.
done
5. Please make more use of actual digital pictures of your setup so the players can actually see what it looks like.
will do
Thanks so much for reading! It looks like a great campaign, I just can't figure it out yet unfortunately. I look forward to your responses so I can playtest it!
Funny how things work out. Ok, some of it is the coincidence of geography (neighbours either ally or fight) but I wonder if to some extent players of particular races seek out certain other races as preferred opponents? chuckle. In our campaign we definitely have certain players who are determinedly trying to find particular other players to beat up. The fact that these two very old friends are at opposite corners of the map has led to to some interesting strategic manoeuvring.
). I have the impression (not going back to check!) that the Gorns and Roms in your campaign have certainly fought in the past, but I've lost track of who's allied to whom at present.
