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March 2018
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Star Fleet Universe News BIG NEWS: RECORD RELEASE! 101 NEW ITEMS!
Our store on Shapeways continued to expand with 101 new ships released on 1 March.
Ships released for both 3788 and 3125 scales include: Federation New Scout Cruiser, Franz Joseph Dreadnought; Klingon T7B and T7K tugs; Romulan KE, KR, Pioneer Eagle, FireHawk-C, FireHawk-C+; Kzinti FH; Gorn CL and BC; Tholian HCW and PFT; Hydran Traveller, Mongol, Chausseur, Tartar, Horseman; Lyran LTT with pod; WYN ZFF frigate and PBB pocket battleship. Omega was not forgotten and received the Vari FF and CA, Drex Hex Cruiser, Koligahr PFT, Maesron PFT, Probr PFT, Trobrin PFT, Alunda DD, Chlorophon CA, DD, and FF.
Omni scale ships included in this release are: A sprue of Skiffs; a sprue of heavy shuttles; Federation B25, B26, and heavy shuttles; Klingon fighters (Z-1, Z-H, Z-D); Kzinti PF; Tholian PF Pinwheel (two versions), Spider-IIP fighter, Spider-H bomber; Seltorian Nest Ship (two sizes); Juggernaut CL. Omega got a horde of PFs including Koligahr, Probr, Maesron, Trobrin.
Ships released for 3788 scale: Lyran Aztek CA and CW; Frax DWD, SCW, MGL.
You can check out the store (over 500 ships!) here:
WEBSITE:
Our website, www.StarFleetGames.com, continues to grow and improve. You are welcome to send us your requests, comments, and suggestions. Simone Dale, our graphics director, continues to update the website, do covers for the new products, shut down pirate websites, help out around the company, and learn more about the game business.
TWITTER: VIDEOS: Star Fleet Marines Part 1 DOING VIDEOS OF THE SFU
A customer asked about posting "tutorial videos" for our games. We like it when people do that (and even give commendation medals) but you need to have us check the videos to make sure you aren't violating something somehow (or that you didn't make a rules error). Doing such videos to make money is not cool. Please drop us an email before you post the videos.
STARBLOG: STAR FLEET'S LEGIONS EXPAND: This month we feature Battle Group KLINGON SABER DANCE ACADEMY located in Plano, Texas. CO Eamon Wentzel reports that this group is active, playing Star Fleet Battles, Federation Commander, and Prime Directive PD20 Modern. Check them out here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/battlegroup/battlegroup_KlingonSaber.shtml or on their page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/268952860211837/
Do you have a battle group? Be sure to report your activities here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/battlegroup/report.shtml
Do you want to see if there's a battle group near you? Check out the map here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/battlegroup/gather.shtml#US
Facebook Fan Pages
So join us on Facebook and get a fix of your favorite game there, too!
JAGDPANTHER
Custom Decals for Starline ships Tenneshington Decals continues to provide custom decals for all currently produced Federation Starline 2500 miniatures. For more information or to download the order sheet, check them out at www.tenneshington.com. Or if you prefer, email Will McCammon at: will@tenneshington.com or Tony L. Thomas at: scoutdad@tenneshington.com.
Jupiter IV Decals is a source of decals for the 2400 line and will do custom decals as well as all official SFB names. In the near future Jupiter IV will move into the 2500 line and will work to get every listed name on the Starfleet registry completed in both scales.
Their website is: JupiterIvdecals.com
ONLINE TOURNAMENTS Our seventh Internet SFB International Championship Tournament is underway. This is a single-elimination tournament using a standard tree. All but one of the first-round games are completed. All but one of the second-round games have been finished.
Fleet Captain Bill Schoeller (winner of the 2016 tournament) is the judge for this tournament. As we did in Platinum Hat 2016, Tournament Marshal Steven P. Petrick will also "ride herd" on the tournament to ensure that games are played on schedule and the event does not drag. There will, inevitably, be some delays near the end when re-entries have to "catch up" to the initial entries. A firm hand on the helm will ensure that these are as minor as possible. People who do not get their next game completed in a set number of days will be disqualified and the player they beat (or a wildcard selected by the judges) replaces them. Deadlines may be adjusted by the Judge or Marshal to allow for a player's serious real life unexpected problem or issue. Rated Ace Tournament 47 is in the final round with the game in progress. Lee P. Graves flying an Archeo-Tholian cruiser will face Clayton Krueger flying a Gorn cruiser. Bill Schoeller is the judge. Masters 2018 is in signups. You will be randomly assigned a ship in the first round.. Use the ship selection box on the tourney signup sheet to indicate which ship you do not want to fly in Round 1. (This is for Round 1 only, in subsequent rounds you may end up stuck in that ship.) Round 1 Assignments will be made accordingly. If you advance, you will next play the ship you just defeated. Good times! You can sign up here: https://www.sfbonline.com/tourn_signup.jsp
Andy Koch is the judge in this "just for fun" tournament.
DEMOS AND CONS WITH SFU GAMES
StratCon 2018 will be in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, July 7-15 at the Clarion Inn. The cost will be $75 for the whole event, or $15 a day for part time attendance. There will be at least two Federation & Empire games, with room for one more and some minor room for other gaming. Respond here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/discus/messages/37/37078.html?1520623855 for more information. Check out their page on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/151297821607520/ Star Fleet Battles games are held weekly in Tempe Arizona each Friday at Game Depot from 2:00 -7:00 pm. Eric Phillips is the person to contact.
Star Fleet Battles games are held regularly in Indianapolis, Indiana at Family Time Games. Anthony Harding is the contact person. For more information see: http://www.meetup.com/Star-Fleet-Battles-Indy/. Star Fleet Battles games are played regularly in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday afternoons at the Soldiery. Lee Hanna is the contact person. Games are held in Spokane, Washington on an irregular basis. Contact them to see if there's a game scheduled. They meet at The Gamer's Haven, 2114 N. Pines St., Suites 1 & 2, Spokane Valley, WA 99206, (509) 443-5992 http://store.thegamershaven.net/ Download Transmissions HAILING FREQUENCIES: This is our newsletter and will let you know all the news for all our games. You can subscribe here. Have you missed an earlier newsletter? Click here to get caught up! COMMUNIQUE: The latest Communique brings you more Ship Cards, scenarios, and more news from the Star Fleet Universe! It can be downloaded from the Commander's Circle. FC Forum Recent Posts
F&E Strategy of the Month The Romulans are unique in that they have an off-map area which does not include a base. This means that they cannot use Strategic Movement to get there, or store Economic Points off the map. The old way to solve this problem was to build an operations base as soon as possible and send it off map. This provided a repair facility for the survey ship doing high-risk survey (542.27) and a Strategic Movement Point. Rules changes in F&E 2010 allowed you to build a single mobile base there instead of sending an operational base, but the operational base may still be your best bet because it doesn't tie up a rare tug to build it.
If you do get cut off from your off-map base, you can use a blockade-runner to collect and return the money to your main grid in a manner similar to what the Kzintis do with WYN trade. While this may or may not have an effect on the General War scenario(s), it is definitely something to consider for the ISC War. A Call To Arms: Star Fleet Tactic of the Month ASTEROID OR DISASTER-OIDS? Many players of A Call to Arms: Star Fleet use terrain to control their opponent's movement or to provide coverage to their flanks. This is all well and good, unless your opponent happens to be a Romulan (or an Orion Pirate with cloaks). Most types of terrain completely block line of sight and some have potential penalties for passing through that are so severe that many people will spend turns going around rather than one turn going through. So if you are on one side and your opponent is on the other, you can relax and take heart that you are relatively safe from enemy fire, right? Wrong! While asteroid fields and dust clouds can be of any size (up to and including the size of the entire map), most of us have created terrain pieces that are a few inches wide and about twice that many inches long. If your opponent is on one side of the terrain and cloaked, he may decide to uncloak on his next movement. When uncloaking, units may move up to six inches in any direction and make one turn in lieu of making a standard maneuver. If the terrain separating you is less than 6" wide, you may suddenly find yourself facing an unexpected opponent who has suddenly crossed an entire asteroid field without having to face the risk of shield damage from collisions with wayward rocks, or has crossed a Tholian Web you thought would protect you for another turn or two. So if you have a cloaking device, remember this tip and you will rarely have to worry about that bothersome terrain again. If you do not have a cloaking device, then make sure your terrain pieces are at least 6.1 inches in each dimension, and you will never have to worry about those pesky cloaking devices again!!!
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New Releases Communique #147 has been posted to the Commander's Circle Click here to see our previous issues of Hailing Frequencies. Recently Released To be released in 2018
A new Starmada book for both editions.
Federation Commander Reference Starship Book
Traveller Prime Directive Core Rulebook
New starships for the 2500 (1/3125) range including Klingon B10
New starships for the 2400 (1/3788) range including heavy war destroyers and the jumbo freighter.
SHAPEWAYS:
We’re now offering some of our miniatures and some new designs on Shapeways. You can check out the store here: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/amarillo-design-bureau-inc?sort=newest
PDF and EBOOK SALES: RECENTLY RELEASED ON Warehouse 23
Bridge, Star Fleet Auxiliary Ship Wichita Falls
"Approaching Remote Warning Post K62," the XO said. "I have the post commander on the line," the commo technician said. "He sounds rattled." "He's rattled?" the XO asked. "We should have given up this idea and run for it." Crawford's glare warned him to shut up. "Lieutenant, this is Wichita Falls," Crawford said. "I am going to make one pass. Prepare to evacuate by transporter." "Eight crewmen ready," the voice of the lieutenant said. "Don't be a hero, lad," Crawford said. "You may as well all go. Your job is done, and there is work for you elsewhere." "Those aren't my orders," the voice replied. "Screw your orders!" Crawford snapped back. "You had to stay to keep the place running for a week until the Klingons stopped by to collect you. Well, they're right behind me, so be ready and I'll take you all." "Is that an order?" the voice asked. "If you want it to be," Crawford replied. Both knew that the captain of a small auxiliary ship had no authority to cancel orders issued to a remote warning post. Crawford was sure that a court-martial would clear the lieutenant. Well, it should. "Very well," the voice said, "by your order, Station K62 is standing down." Moments later, the XO reported that all 12 crewmen had been picked up. "Now can we leave?" "Scans, anything?" Crawford asked. "Nothing coming our way," the scanner technician said, "but K61 has gone silent, and I may have a trace back there." Crawford thought about that. The lieutenant at K61 had rejected the suggestion that he and his skeleton crew leave their posts. The practicalities of the situation made the orders to do so obsolete, but then, the practicalities of the situation made the pre-war orders to pick up the surplus crewmen obsolete. No one would condemn Crawford for taking an armed transport off the front line and running for Starbase 15. "Head for K63, best speed you can make," Crawford said, then turned to glare at his XO. "I don't want to hear it," he said. The tiny ship continued to move, heading along the border, at right angles to any Klingon invasion, bending on all the speed it had to reach the next warning post. "On the line," the commo technician said. "Post 63, this is Wichita Falls," Crawford said. "I am going to make one pass. Prepare to evacuate by transporter." "We saw you coming," the voice said. "Eight crewmen ready for transport."
"I'll take you all if you want to go," Crawford said. "Thanks just the same," the voice of the lieutenant said, "but my orders are to stay here until relieved, and I'm staying." "Suit yourself," Crawford said. Moments later, the XO reported that nine crewmen were on board. Crawford didn't even ask about the discrepancy. "I have a Klingon on scanners," the technician said. "Looks like a corvette or something small, but definitely military. Range under a million and headed this way." "I suppose now we're going to arm a suicide shuttle and go head-to-head with him?" the XO asked. "Wrong," Crawford said. "Helm, hard right, emergency speed. Nav, give us a course for K1. Comms, send my regrets to K64." Ask Admiral Vanaxilth Peter Bakija asks: What happens with Gorn carronades in Gorn X-ships? Do Gorn plasma-L torpedoes still have the carronade ability? And do they get the increased damage bonus from the L torpedo costing 2+2+3 (giving a +6 damage to a fully loaded plasma-L torpedo carronade as opposed to the +4 damage from a fully loaded plasma-F torpedo carronade)?
ANSWER: The rules in the Master Rulebook (2012 revision) provide that all X-ships armed with plasma-L or plasma-F torpedoes (the latter more likely a hasty repair rather than an X-plasma-F) can use carronades. As nothing else is provided, I would pretty much assume that you use the plasma-L launcher under the rules for carronades, i.e., if you fire it with one turn's arming (two points of power) you would add one to the damage. Two turns arming, you add three to the damage, fully armed, you add six. Gary Carney asks: Can the banks of rear-firing plasma-L torpedoes on an ISC X-ship be used to fire carronade shots at multiple cloaked fast patrol ships in the same turn? ANSWER: Yes. Seth Shimansky asks: A Romulan King Eagle starts Turn #1 with the plasma-R torpedo held as a plasma-G torpedo for one point of holding cost. Can two points of reserve power be added to upgrade the torpedo from a plasma-G to a plasma-R? ANSWER: Yes, it would take one point of reserve power to increase the held plasma-G torpedo to a plasma-S torpedo, or two points to increase it to a plasma-R torpedo. Note that you cannot change a held torpedo to an enveloper or shotgun. Follow-up question: Would this reserve power have to be applied during Turn #1, or could it be applied on a later turn? ANSWER: Under rule (FP1.961) a held torpedo can be increased [up to the limits of the launcher, but not if the held torpedo is a plasma-F (FP1.962]). It does not matter if the torpedo only began being held in the just completed Energy Allocation Phase, or if it has been held for several turns. You provide the required reserve power and the warhead is upgraded, but you are then committed to launching the torpedo by the end of the turn in which the reserve power upgrade was done (FP1.961) because such torpedoes can't be held. (End of Admiral Vanaxilth) F&E Q&A
SPECIAL CASES Q: Is blockade-running an acceptable substitute (or concurrent with) Romulan limited war raids (314.14) and (314.3) to move KR parts (320.512) from Klingon space to Romulan space?
A: No, by rule (314.32) the Romulans can conduct raids into the Federation (only). They cannot raid Tholian, Gorn, or other territory. Rule (314.32) is a specific rule that allows for pre-war raids into the Federation only. Q: According to rule (521.81) a battle force cannot buy extra G factors without a valid supply path during its combat. Does this prevent a partial grid from buying extra troops? For example, if a SB is cut off from the main grid and has EPs available, can it buy extra troops? A: A battle force can purchase GCEs from a partial supply grid so long as the purchasing unit has a valid supply path to a valid supply point in the partial grid and there are available funds to purchase the GCE within that partial grid. Q: What pods can the Lyran NTG in Special Ops use? I haven't seen anything in SO to say whether it can use Lyran-style pods, or just K-pods (presumably in pairs). A: The NTG along with the NSR can use the both the Klingon pods and Lyran pallets. This is from (R11.97) and (R11.75) respectively in Star Fleet Battles. Q: The rules say: "The four-turn requirement for long-term capture is counted from Economic Phase to Economic Phase." Is the Economic Phase always the capturing player's phase? For example, if the Klingons captured a Federation province on Coalition Turn #10 and kept it captured without interruption, would Long-Term Capture occur on the Klingon Turn #14 Economic Phase? If Klingons capture a Federation province on Alliance Turn #10 would the Long-Term Capture also occur on the Klingon Turn #10 Economic Phase? A: The long-term capture process begins at the very start the very next Economic Phase of the upcoming player turn. If player A is the phasing player and captures province Q, then at the start of player B's Economic Phase the long-term capture process clock begins for province Q. However, if player A is phasing but player B somehow captures province P from player A, then at the start of players B's Economic Phase the long-term capture process clock begins for province P. Q: The rules make no mention of needing to be in supply to be declared a supply point. There are numerous situations where one would want to declare a tug that is out of supply at the start of a turn as a supply point that would become a valid supply point as soon as a few ships were moved during operational movement and opened up a supply path to the tug in question. Does a tug need to be in supply at the start of a turn to be declared a supply point? A: Based upon (412.21), (411.1), (411.2), (410.1), and (411.31) a tug is allowed to assume Mission D at the start of a turn. Then at various times throughout both player turns, the supply tug may find itself out of supply and back in supply depending of the various player actions through the full turn cycle. If the supply tug itself does not have a valid supply route open after a given supply check is made, then it may not perform its supply mission until a valid supply route is reestablished (after a given supply check is made) to the supply tug. All other supply rules apply normally. (End of F&E Q&A)
ASK AUNT JEAN
Dear Aunt Jean, Can you give us some specifics on what you've enhanced for the ISC? You have done the Veltressai and Q'Naabians; would you do the Pronhoulites this month? A: I always felt badly about the Pronhoulites. It seemed to be an afterthought in Prime Directive: "The ISC has lizards, too!" Even the original Prime Directive book had little information. So using some of the Early Years ship names, I reconstructed some of their history, which gives us a political background. The Time of Cleansing was mentioned in Josh Spencer's story and that is fleshed out. If they weren't as technologically advanced as the other ISC species, how did they have the Early Years ships they had? Did that part of the tapes get misunderstood? It turns out they shunned frivolous or recreational technology in favor of doing things themselves when practical. Attitudes toward the "barbarian species" are spelled out. Careers they tend to follow in the wider ISC are mentioned. You should now have enough information to actually roleplay Pronhoulites.
Send questions to Jean at marketing@StarFleetGames.com and she will answer as soon as she can.
(End of Ask Aunt Jean ) Cool Stuff on the Website In this section we will provide links to various web pages and items that we think you will find "cool". We have also uploaded new Xander wallpapers to our Wallpapers section on the website: Wallpapers STAR FLEET ALERTS These are the press releases we send to the wholesalers, retailers, and media. You can get on the mailing list for them by asking Marketing@StarFleetGames.com to add you to the list. (Obviously, they are free.) They are uploaded to the Star Fleet Alert page FC Tactic of the MonthTHE RANGE 8 RUBICON Range 8 is significant in Federation Commander, because it's the range where most direct-fire heavy weapons can be overloaded. Thus there is a tendency for players to try to dance at that range, dipping in to fire and dodging back out. However, if you compare the Range 8 "bracket" to the next-closest bracket, you will find that most weapons are significantly improved by being closer. Also, if you compare the Range 8 bracket to the next-further bracket, you see that many aren't too badly off and that bracket often extends all the way to Range 15. (This is particularly apparent for disruptors and is the key to the Klingon "saber dance.")
So don't hang about at Range 8; either cross it on your way in or don't get near it. Sitting in the river at Range 8 just leaves you all wet.
A ship cannot fire at a small ground base until it reaches Range 5, and some players will advocate refusing to fire a small ground base's weapons until the target reaches this range.
This makes your fire plan highly predictable and lets your opponent maneuver freely. It also prevents you from destroying the opposing ship's weapons before they can fire which is a very important advantage for the ground defenses. Some weapons are just as effective at longer ranges as they are at Range 5 (e.g., photon torpedoes) so if it makes sense to fire these at Range 5 it makes sense to fire them at a longer range in the same bracket. If you think you can score damage that will make a difference, fire away! (End of SFB Tactic of the Month) Facebook Highlight of the Month Kent Ing has posted a series of how-to videos to the SFU Miniatures Painting and Kitbashing Tips group. Drop in and watch them!
Mini of the Month Kent Ing painted this 3125 Scale Federation Heavy Cruiser (Frosted Ultra Detail material).
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show our games and to teach potential players some basics. 
