Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Jan 31, 2015 17:28:03 GMT
...currently available for free on Wargame Vault. This is the updated, playtested and proof-read version issued by Amarillo Design Bureau after Mongoose made such a spectacular hash of it. You'll need the ship cards in order to play (just over £3.00 a faction) and there are cards currently available for Federation, Klingons, Romulans and Kzinti. More to follow I hope, but I've already got my 2 favourite factions (Feds and Kzintis) The only problem is that the minis were another example of Mongooses bespoke scales and they made such a botch job of it that the rights to produce were pulled by ADB and manufacture and distribution is now solely in the US. ADB's website is not the friendliest to navigate if you are a Yank, and is downright hostile if you have the nerve to live outside their quaint little continent. They are rare as rocking horse sh!t on Fleabay which means I'll probably go down the Shapeways/Micro Machines/card counters/Not-a-Trek-mini rout for this game. So far I've not made a very good job of convincing anyone to try this game, have I? So what are the pros and cons? Pros:It's Star Trek Jim! It's set in the ADB Star Fleet Battles universe, which has been sculling around for decades and is rather lovely. It's fleet scale combat, not cruiser duels, unlike SFB It's fast paced, unlike SFB You don't need a PhD in Higher Mathematics to play, unlike SFB It's a pdf only publication, so Management won't know you've bought yet another rulebook you'll never get around to playing Cons:The minis are only available from ADB in 'Murica, which will cost you It's a pdf only publication, so you'll need an iThingy or access to the works printer to run a copy off. The free pdf is a limited time offer, so even if you don't think it's your cup of tea today, grab a copy just in case you want tea tomorrow! Dave W
|
|
|
Post by nemesis on Jan 31, 2015 17:35:29 GMT
Unfortunately i bought into firestorm armada already asi will work with planetfall. And one spaceship combat system is enough for me.
|
|
|
Post by madphil101 on Jan 31, 2015 17:39:34 GMT
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Jan 31, 2015 18:37:22 GMT
Not those then!
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Jan 31, 2015 18:38:58 GMT
TBH, I think this will be one of those 'supply both sides' games as it may be too niche for most people to get into. Just thought people may want to download the rules while they are free as I think ADB intend to start selling them again soon...
|
|
|
Post by madphil101 on Jan 31, 2015 19:02:18 GMT
Wasn't sure if the minis were transferrable...
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Jan 31, 2015 19:09:09 GMT
Like I said, I'll be looking for alternatives as the 'proper' ones are hard to come by over here and cost a small fortune to get shipped over from the states. The Star Fleet Universe has hundreds of differnet ships, so a range with a bit of variety is really needed.
DW
|
|
|
Post by chillatbmth on Feb 1, 2015 10:16:56 GMT
I have downloaded a set of the rules and a Romulan card set.
Never been that grabbed by Ships in space as a game - tends to read better in a novel. But happy to give a go and I can't rig 74 gunners like Rory does.
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 1, 2015 10:38:43 GMT
Happy to oblige sir.
I find that most spaceship games have their roots in naval wargames and suffer from the same problems: Poor scenarios, bugger all scenery to fight over which then ends up in a line 'em up and shoot each other dice-fest, with the victory going to the chap with the best stat lines and weighted dice.
Best results we've had with naval stuff is to use more scenarios that have victory conditions that don't involve just wiping the floor with your opponent. I'll see what I can dig up as I've got plenty of SFB stuff sculling around that we can use as the basis of a scenario.
DW
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 1, 2015 16:32:05 GMT
This might serve as a cheaper option than buying metal from America, certainly for dipping a toe in the water on a new rules system. Counters are for another ADB rules sytem, but the pretty pictures give a feel for what's on the table. DW
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 1, 2015 18:26:57 GMT
|
|
|
Post by comstar on Feb 1, 2015 22:14:26 GMT
Somewhere I have a lot of micro machine ships that will work Definatly in the mood after that Dave nice find
|
|
|
Post by chillatbmth on Feb 1, 2015 22:37:09 GMT
so who is taking the Klingon side?
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 1, 2015 23:07:04 GMT
I currently have a Kzinti squadron box of minis and a 'Klingon vs Orions' squadron box from Mongoose. Also, plenty of Fed/Klingon/Romulan micro machines stuff to get us going. For more Mongoose minis and their smaller ADB cousins, I found a few shops in the US that use the Ebay international seller programme. This means the price you see for the item and postage is the price you pay - no hidden customs/Post Office 'handling charges', but I think they're only selling second hand/clearance kit.
DW
|
|
|
Post by comstar on Feb 2, 2015 11:06:19 GMT
Ill take the klingons if no one else wants to
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 2, 2015 15:17:11 GMT
Further to my last post: Those stores in the US charge about £20 for a figure (including postage) so, while HMRC and the GPO won't shiv you for handling fees, I think the USPS already have!
And anyone playing against a Klingon force will be dragged out to behind the shed and shot of they start referring to Klingons off of ANY bow!!!
|
|
|
Post by comstar on Feb 2, 2015 16:24:30 GMT
Star trekking across the universe .... "Bang!" I have downloaded rules plus Klingons and Fed's so someone just needs to get the Gorn
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 2, 2015 16:39:39 GMT
Mate, they're like Pokemon - you gotta get 'em all!
|
|
|
Post by comstar on Feb 2, 2015 16:57:32 GMT
Yeah your right rest downloaded!
|
|
|
Post by chillatbmth on Feb 2, 2015 17:28:20 GMT
they're like Pokemon - you gotta get 'em all! but that costs real money
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 3, 2015 22:12:47 GMT
OK, just bought some stuff from ADB. They charge a random number for postage at the till, and then refund the difference between what you're charged and what it actually costs. About $50 of kit cost over $60 in postage (total $111), but they then refunded about $45 in a few hours. So about $20 postage all in.
So, 2 cruisers, a destroyer and 2 frigates cost about £45.
Just need to see what HMRC have to say about it...
DW
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 3, 2015 22:15:30 GMT
Oh, and some of the ship cards have been updated recently. Check your 'My Library' section on Wargamevault.com to download the latest versions. They seem to be a few typos/glitches which are flaged up on their forum/Facebook and then sorted the next day, so no-one can fault them for being responsive to their customers.
That said, I'd give it a week or so before you print them out and laminate them, Chaz.
DW
|
|
|
Post by chillatbmth on Feb 3, 2015 23:10:11 GMT
just download the Orion cards - love freebies
|
|
|
Post by chillatbmth on Feb 3, 2015 23:23:07 GMT
Alien Dave which of the scales are you buying -- does it matter?
|
|
Alien Dave
Friends of the Wyvern
I don't like snipers!
The Dave
Posts: 1,843
|
Post by Alien Dave on Feb 3, 2015 23:32:12 GMT
just download the Orion cards - love freebies The works printer is going to be busy this week!
|
|