Federation Commander

Yup.

A lot of folks come to FedCom (or SFB) and set out to fly Klingons "the way they saw on tv" (which often means TNG and [especially] DS9). The kind of berzerker charges Klingons make on those shows is not what SFU Klingons are built for and will just lead to gutted ships.

SFU Klingons are all about maneuver and oblique shots (thus those interesting weapon arcs). They can dish out the pain with the best of them, but aren't really designed to slug it out, nose-to-nose. For that kind of boxing match, Feds will fair better, as will the Gorns (tailored to getting repeatedly raked by more maneuverable foes). It's the Hydrans who truly excel at "close and hose".

Klingon ships are built to circle around and plink their enemies to death, not rush in for the kill in one big blast. The 9-15 range bracket is especially nice, as they retain a decent chance to hit, while staying out of range of overloaded photons and such.

I agree...as I play mostly Federation ships, I just like to approach the enemy ship, take their best shot on my forward shield and then send four overloaded photons right up its nose.

What is the Federation Commander Starship Reference Book that is coming this year?

I don't know if the "this year" timetable is still good, but the book will presumably be a compilation of the ship descriptions from the various products. The "Master Starship Books" for Star Fleet Battles do something similar, although in the case of SFB there is quite a bit of rules-content in the ship descriptions, which all have rule numbers because of it.

That's cool, I like having pictures and descriptions to put to the ships I use.

One more thing, the Newsletter says CL 52 is available, but it's not on the store. Does it usually take a while?

It can take a few days. I think they said it'll be on the cart early next week.

Cool, looking forward to ground combat.

I don't own any of the other games, but it's still a good read.

Ground Combat seemed confusing at first, but after rereading the Marines rules in the main book, it's pretty cool and simple.

How often do you all get to play? I've been playing about once or twice a week. About half the time that is solo.

I've had two groups fall apart in the last 10 years, so right now I'm not getting to play at all (all my other commitments are also a big factor in that). Once I dig myself out of the hole I'm in for things I owe other people, I'm hoping to grow a new group.

Does anyone know where I can find the Federation Commando Frigate for the scenario in Communique 135?

djdood - I'm pretty much the only person in my play group who loves Trek starships, and the SFU. We mostly play RPG's, so a regular play group is probably out of the question for me right now.
I love RPG's as well, and Conan the Barbarian is my main hobby, so its all good. It would just be nice to get in more FedCom as well.

The commando frigate doesn't show up in the Master Ship Chart current-to CL51, so I got nothing. (it's also not in any of the pdf ship card packs).

Grimmshade wrote: How often do you all get to play? I've been playing about once or twice a week. About half the time that is solo.

Basically never... yet. But after I move probably.

No one to play with here, plus the people I live with cover every horizontal surface with everything they can get their hands on so there's basically no room.

Grimmshade wrote:Does anyone know where I can find the Federation Commando Frigate for the scenario in Communique 135?

Looks like a mistake was made. I'll ask Steve to put the Commando Frigate in the next Communique. Sorry about that. I thought it had already been done.

ElizabethB wrote:No one to play with here, plus the people I live with cover every horizontal surface with everything they can get their hands on so there's basically no room.

Heh. My family had this problem when I was growing up. I called it "horizontalisis": the compulsion to cover every horizontal surface available with junk to the point they are no longer functional. We got better after we started making fun of ourselves for doing it.