Federation Commander

We have been experimenting with playing FC 2-player over MSN. So far we have done quite well; we have found a virtual dice server that emails dierolls to each player, we use graphic editing for damage records and so forth.

However we are wondering if anyone knows if there's a sort of online 'email escrow' service where we can submit our speed declarations [and written move declarations] so that they are secretly submitted and simultaneously revealed?

Any tips gratefully received

Tony:
We have used YIM sucessfully for playing FC. We typically set-it up with voice chat active.

Here's the way we do it:
Both players have the map, counters, and ship cards in front of them...
When it's time to declare base line speeds, you type your speed but do not hit "send"...
instead, you announce "ready" over the voice chat...
Once both players are ready, you hit send simultaneously.
(yes, it takes a bit of trust... but it works)
Then, most of the other stuff is in simple order of precidence, unless you both pick a ship with the same turn mode and go the same speed...
If that happens, use the same type then talk procedure...
Fed Comm makes the damage allocation procedure even easier at two discreet locations. Since each weapon is ID'ed on the ship card, when you lose a phaser and declare, "mark phaser #5 damaged" - there's no question which to mark...
Same with weapons fire. If you declare which weapons are firing at your opponent, and he marks them on the Weapons Used track... there should never be an issue...

I hope this helps.

It does, Tony, thanks

When playing over MSN, we too use voice-over. The 'both hit send' idea is s imple one and I don't know why I didn't think of it - although it is the 'trust' thing I guess; we've been after a foolproof system but we do trust each other really

You may be interested to hear of what we use to roll our dice.

It's a website called dicelog, found at https://dicelog.com/dice - there is an email dice service there that you have to register for but once in it's simply superb. Secure dice rolling, sent to all interested parties by email simultaneously. Nice.