Star Fleet Battles
 

Anyone here play Star Fleet Battles, the table top strategy game?

Yeah, but I always have to cheat in order to defeat the Kobiyashi Maru scenario...

Have played. About 20 years ago.

Ditto. Or maybe 15 years.

Just wondering if it'd be worth buying, since I'm a fan of epic strategy/combat games, and a Star Trek fan. Seems to be a nice combo.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Yeah, it's fun. You need someone to play against, and be ready to argue. That seemed to be a large part of the game ("Hey, you can't do that!...")

It's a classic game - with a lot of rules, heh. I'm not sure if you could really call it epic strategy, though, unless you include the "strategic game" Federation and Empire. Of course, the dream of playing the grand campaign of F&E, while using SFB to resolve the battles remains one of the grognard's epic quests.

I assume you're aware that several PC versions exist, under the name Starfleet Command. A pretty decent game, but I think knowing SFB to start with allows you to get a lot more out of it.

Do they make (or has any fans made) a set of solitaire rules for the game?

It seems like a I remember some way you can play by yourself (using die rolls to deteremine opposing actons), but like I said, it has been a long time. Plus, arguing with yourself about the rules is not as fun. :D

What do you mean? You telling me you've never had a debate with yourself!? Man, those are fun! :D

I remember a dozen or so years ago, FASA had a combat game out for Star Trek. I remember enjoying the heck out of that things, which is why Star Fleet Battles interested me.

I picture setting up with a group of people a campaign, with a sector being fought over -- kinda of a "risk" style game where sectors are battled over using combat rules ala Star Fleet Battles or whatever -- that's what I mean by an "epic campaign". Someone or a group of people would control a group of ships with the ability to make new ships if the right resources are controlled, and everyone's fighting over the resources, and the battles are fought strategically.

I've probably lost everyone in that description. For those that understood my ramblings, is there something that fits that sort of description?

Yeah, the problem is I always lose.

Not that I remember. This was more straight up "ship versus ship" combat. There may be much more to it than that now (as I said before, many, many years), but it was just combat that I remember.

In the Basic (i.e., non-F&E) rules there were a number of campaign scenarios, including a few that were somewhat like this. Since all ships are rated in terms of "cost" (BPV, Basic Point Value), it's easy to set up your own campaign rules too.

Note that BPV has a few flaws too, so that's also something you can enjoy arguing over. :D

But given what you're looking for, it sounds like SFB would definitely be a solid buy.

GalCiv II?

Yeah I have Gal Civ II, and it's great. I'm looking for a pure strategy game with detailed starship combat ala Star Trek Combat Simulator.

Plus GalCivII isn't multiplayer.

Starfleet Command was(is) bassed on Star Fleet Battles.
I am not sure how true it is, though.

Sure did play it. Really fun if you have someone to play with and once you figure out all of the rules. BTW The Federation ship kicks butt.

uni

woo! welcome unisol to FOFC

Used to play a long time ago (around the time of my 'Shadow Run' epic rpg games) .... very cool game imho.

You played shadowrun, chummer? Cool :)

(yeah, I bought the new edition at GenCon last year)