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July 2019
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Star Fleet Universe News THE BIG NEWS:
Captain's Log #53 Is Now Available "Your objective is to find a way for us to take control of Adanerg that does not violate the Organian Treaty." -- Klingon Brigadier Grosk Join us for Captain's Log #53 and see what happens in "Practice to Deceive." Adanerg lies in the Neutral Zone between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Both sides want the planet; the Klingons vow to eliminate the Federation "nest of spies" by sending their own spies, backed by Marines. As Sir Walter Scott wrote, "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Captain's Log #53 includes information for all of our games including updates, new ships, information about "space trucks" and customizing civilian ships, a first contact story, information about the ISC and the Bureau of Inquisition, and new scenarios. Star Fleet Battles: This game gains three new scenarios (the fourth one is a repeat of Space Hockey), information on mind-control plants, Aurora Update, Proposals Board, Ask Admiral Vanaxilth, Battle Groups, Term Papers, Platinum Victory by Bill Schoeller, and new ships: free minelayer; Federation old survey cruiser; Fralli cruiser (the USS Powerista); Gorn advanced destroyer, heavy destroyer heavy fighter carrier, medium cruiser escort, and frigate escort; LDR police flagship, heavy police flagship, commando destroyer and commando war cruiser; and five Omega ships (Federal Republic D7 battlecruiser, D6 battlecruiser, F5L frigate leader, F5 frigate, and Lyran light cruiser). Federation Commander: You will find five new scenarios, Battle Group tactics by players, and a preview of rules for X-ships. To support the new rules, there are X-destroyers for the ISC, Gorns, Romulans, and Hydrans. Other X-destroyers have appeared in various issues of Communique; there is a list of those included. Federation & Empire: This game has Tactical Notes, Q&A, revised rules for special raids, and a new scenario -- the Federation against everyone. Starmada: A preview of rules for hellbore cannons and beta rules for Andromedan weapons are included. New ships include the Hydran Tartar and Rhino Hunter and the Andromedan Intruder and Cobra. A Call to Arms: Star Fleet has an update on the release schedule (hint: it will move much faster now) and battleships for the Federation and Klingons. And there are still more articles: Starline miniatures, Star Fleet Awards, Command the Future, Input Guide, Galactic Conquest, Prime Directive, Star Fleet Marines (wild animal packs), and the mind-control plant special event card for Star Fleet Battle Force. Supports Federation Commander, Star Fleet Battles, Federation & Empire, Prime Directive, Star Fleet Battle Force, SFB Galactic Conquest, Starmada, A Call to Arms: Star Fleet, Star Fleet Marines, and Star Fleet Warlord. The Supplemental File (which includes background information and a Star Fleet Battles scenario) is free as a PDF and for a nominal fee in print. Order Captain's Log #53 here: https://www.starfleetstore.com/new-products-c-7/captains-log-53-p-1268.html +++ Supplemental File This 8-page booklet includes interesting and useful information about the main Captain's Log #53 issue, as well as new materials. Included are: - Over two pages of publisher's notes. - Notes from other staff members. - Star Fleet Battles scenario (SL354.0) A Confusion of Objectives. - Rejected papers for Star Fleet Battles and Federation & Empire. Order the Captain's Log #53 Supplemental File which is free as a PDF! Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB5753-S DriveThru RPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/281029/ Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/281029/ Print version from ADB for a nominal price: https://www.starfleetstore.com/new-products-c-7/cl-53-supplement-p-1270.html MORE BIG NEWS
ADB Releases Ships in July 2019!
On July 10, 2019, ADB released a total of 67 new items to its shop on Shapeways, bringing it to over 1600 items. There are some styles of ships designed to work within the price increase that Shapeways imposed. You will find more "kits" which will need some assembly. Never fear, we are still adding the ship as a one-piece miniature in case you prefer it that way. We are also releasing some of the smaller ships as multiples on a sprue. We hope you find them more affordable. The Federation gets its Fast Destroyer and Heavy Dreadnought. Each is in both the "regular" (gridded) and "Fed Classic" (smooth body) versions. The Klingons gain their C7VB Battle Carrier. The C7VK Refitted Battle Carrier has the Aztecked designs on the wings. The Romulans gain some of their smaller ships on sprues of two: Snipe Frigates, BattleHawk Destroyers, and War Eagles. The Tholians gain ships that are three to a sprue, with a center adapter should you wish to use them as a pinwheel: Patrol Corvettes, Destroyers, and War Cruisers. The Kzintis get their Medium Dreadnought. The Orions get two Light Raiders sprued together. The Hydrans also get their war destroyers on a sprue: one sprue of Rhino Hunters, one sprue of Buffalo Hunters, and one sprue with both a Buffalo Hunter and a Rhino Hunter. The Lyrans and their wayward county of the Lyran Democratic Republic get their Heavy Dreadnought, both as a one-piece ship and as a kit that needs some assembly. They also get two frigates sprued together. In addition, the Lyrans get their Refitted New Heavy Cruiser, Refitted Ocelot Scout, and Refitted Serval War Cruiser Scout in the 3788 Scale. The Andromedans get their Gun Sled to guard their work areas. They are available either as a single ship or on a sprue of three. The ISC gets its System Defense Frigate, Contingency Destroyer, and War Destroyer. In the Omega Octant the Ymatrians get their Supply Point, the Iridani get their Clipper, and the Sigvirions get their Escort Frigate and Light Mobile Base. Check all these out here: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/amarillo-design-bureau-inc Don't forget to follow us: https://www.shapeways.com/designer/adbinc WEBSITE:
Our website, www.StarFleetGames.com, continues to grow and improve. You are welcome to send us your requests, comments, and suggestions. Samantha Todd, 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 Alpha Strike, headquartered in Rockridge, Florida. CO Lee Brandt reports they play Star Fleet Battles. Read more here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/battlegroup/battlegroup_alphastrike.shtml
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 Masters 2018 has all of the Round 1 games played; Round 2 lacks one game; half of the Round 3 games are completed. Andy Koch is the judge in this "just for fun" tournament.
Rated Ace Tournament 48 is finished with Seth Shimansky the winner. Congrats! Steven Petrick ushered the tournament to its conclusion.
The Sapphire Star #1 tournament is under way with its limit of 16 players with hard-and-fast deadlines for play. It started on July 1 and three of the eight first-round games have been played. Steven Petrick is the judge for this series of tournaments.
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New Releases Communique #163 has been posted to the Commander's Circle Click here to see our previous issues of Hailing Frequencies. Recently Released To be released in 2019
A new Starmada book.
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 Krenda¹s nose twitched. Typing in keywords, she searched for any recordings of Khost having dinner with Seltorians. She found a dozen such meals in the past year. (In contrast, Khost shared only a few meals with Lyrans or Romulans. He actually shared more meals with Orions.) In all cases, Khost seemed drunk, but his questions sounded more like a police interrogation than the random babbling of someone who had drunk too much.
(Continue reading here)
Ask Admiral Vanaxilth Andromedans
Marc Elwinger asks: Question on power absorber panels: Say the front panel bank of a mothership is holding 45 points of energy. The rear panel bank is full. The player chooses to turn off the front panel bank. Rule (D10.424-4) seems to specifically allow the transfer of energy to power absorber panels of a satellite ship in the mothership¹s hangar. But, rule (G19.25) says "The PA panels of the Sat Ship(s) and the mothership cannot transfer power between each other . . ." So does the released energy for turning off the mothership¹s power absorber panel bank become damage, or is it transferred to the satellite ship as allowed per rule (D10.424)? Can it only be transferred if the mothership¹s power absorber panels are destroyed, or can the power absorber panels be turned off voluntarily?
ANSWER: First, note rule (D10.423). You cannot turn off the power absorber panels unless all the released energy can be picked up. But, assuming you have a satellite ship in the hangar that can pick up the energy, and you do not have an energy module in the hangar that could (the energy module would take precedence), then yes, the satellite ship¹s power absorber panels could pick up the released power. Although rule (G19.25) does not specifically talk about power released as a result of turning off power absorber panels, as opposed to destroyed power absorber panels, it is clear that released power is not considered a "transfer" under that rule. If you turn off a power absorber panel bank or reduce its level, the excess power is released, and can (and must) be picked up by the locations listed under (D10.424). Follow-up question: Okay, but as I read rule (D10.41), and (D10.424-4) the same logic also allows the mothership¹s batteries to be refilled without the 10% limit also, by turning off the power absorber panels. ANSWER: Yes, at Step 4 of rule (D10.424), you can also put the power in your batteries. This is a standard Andromedan tactic for refilling the batteries. As you noted, without toggling the power absorber panel banks, you would be limited to transferring 10% of the energy to your batteries, at the end of the turn. But, if you can arrange things correctly, you can dump a lot more power, and in the middle of the turn. The trick is to have a place to put the power, and to have the right distribution of power in the power absorber panel banks. Usually, you would also want to make sure that the power absorber panel bank that you are reducing or turning off is not facing your enemy. F&E Q&A
MORE QUESTIONS Q: When using Depot Level Repair (424.35) is it one ship total per turn or up to one ship per depot track per turn?
A: One crippled ship per turn is allowed to be placed in each of the holding boxes for the Depot Level Repair. Each such ship must be appropriate to the specific Depot Holding Box. Q: Is it possible to remove your enemy¹s ownership of a neutral zone hex (503.62), and not claim it yourself, even if enemy ships are adjacent to the hex? A: If your opponent cannot establish ownership by this rule, then the hex is not counted. If you have ships adjacent to the hex, then they cannot claim it. Once war is declared, the neutral zone hexes are no longer "neutral"; they are just unclaimed income waiting for one side or the other to establish the requirements for claiming the income. Q: Tugs and LTTs can move monitor pallets between Supply Grids (519.43). Can a Klingon D5G or DWG (D5WG) move a monitor pallet between Supply Grids in a manner similar to theater transports being able to move tug pods from one Supply Grid to another? A: Yes, the D5G or the DWG (D5WG) can do this. Q: Rule (519.23) states that a monitor can be captured and then subsequently repaired and converted to the capturing empire¹s technology. If the monitor is captured with a combat pallet, e.g. SCS pallet, is the pallet also repaired and converted? A: Rule (519.4) discusses pallets and likens them to tug pods. For direction on this, see rule (305.44), which says a captured tug¹s pods are so damaged as to be unusable. So, a captured monitor¹s pallet would be unusable. Q: When the Hydrans attack on Turn #3, rule (601.162) states that the Hydrans are at a wartime economy. It also states that they receive their scheduled PWC, but cannot build other ships. That is pretty clear to me, but on the Hydran Order of Battle there is no PWC. My opponent and I disagree if the ships listed for Turn #1 and Turn #2 are PWC or not. A: The ships listed for Turn #1 and Turn #2 are the PWC. Q: Can a tug carry an allied FRD? A: Certainly, see rule (509.1F). Q: A starbase counter has PP on it. Does that mean it has three, or six, or twelve PFs? Or just what. A: Each P is one flotilla of six PFs which has 12 combat factors, so a starbase has 24 combat factors of PFs. Each PDU (battalion) has one-half P, or six combat factors.
(End of F&E Q&A)
ASK AUNT JEAN
Dear Aunt Jean, What progress is there on the GURPS Prime Directive revision? A: Captain's Log #53 took precedence. Next, I need to finish proofreading the Gorn Master Starship Book. Then I will get back to Prime Directive.
Send questions to Jean at marketing@StarFleetGames.com and she will answer as soon as she can. 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 MonthCLOSE-IN SHOOTING
If you can get a close-in shot at a down shield at one hex range, use a phaser-3 [or phaser-1 or phaser-2 down-fired as a phaser-3] with Directed Targeting of your choice. It costs only half a point of power and not only will you have a 50% chance of hitting the systems of your choice, but you will also hit the first three rows, which are always the meaty ones. If you are short on power towards the end of a turn (or even the game ) this can be a really good tactic.
There are a number of troublesome issues with defending your planet with fighter bases on the surface if there is an atmosphere. All of that "climbing to orbit" stuff is tedious and time-consuming, and far from the "wild black yonder".
One way to turn the tables somewhat is to use the fighters and/or bombers in the atmosphere. Do some deck crew actions (double up the deck crews) for half the turn and then launch (even if your fighters are not all fully armed yet) so as to have their post launch restrictions completed before Impulse #32. Fire all your phasers against the seeking weapons the enemy has launched that are waiting to enter the atmosphere, and then immediately land back at your base. You can, if you time this well, still get some deck crew actions (doubled up deck crews are best here) in the same turn where you used your fighters against seeking weapons. (End of SFB Tactic of the Month) F&E Strategy of the Month The Expanded Carrier Group (CVEG) under (318.43) is pretty hard to implement effectively given the limit of three attrition squadrons allowed in a battle force under (302.334). However, the Kzintis can use this much more effectively than their neighbors. How? By combining the BCS with a CVE to form the CVEG. The half squadron of fighters on each ship makes a full squadron of fighters, plus the full flotilla of PFs counts as the second of the three allowed attrition squadrons. The third squadron is added by another carrier group of the Kzinti player¹s choice.
What makes this a viable option is the CVE itself. The CVE is a 6(3)/3(1.5) unit built on the light cruiser hull as compared to the CVEs of their neighbors, which are built on destroyer or frigate hulls and do not have the same high combat potential. To really make the force effective the Kzintis will want to use their best escorts to increase the density of the CVEG as they do not get the benefit of counting it as one less ship in the battle force like the Federation¹s CVBG under (502.923). CVEG example: DN (Admiral, Formation Bonus), BCS+ CVE+MEC+2xDWE, CVD+MEC+HDW-E+DWE, 2xNCA, NSC (free scout). While this is not optimized for the units available at the time of advanced combat formations (318.4), it leaves the enemy with a tough choice on what to attack, even with a mauler. The CVEG could have an extra escort added under (515.2) replacing one of the NCAs. To further reduce the ability of the enemy to maul your CVEG, you can escort your BCS as a heavy carrier by adding another ship as an inner escort that counts as a standard escort without violating (515.44) under (525.54). With drone bombardment (309.0) and the Kzinti Fast Drone bonus [(318.13) and (318.11)] the combat potential of this fleet is increased from 113 to 133 + 2.5% of effective damage.
A Call To Arms: Star Fleet Tactic of the Month Firing Arcs: ACTASF is a hexless miniatures game. This means that there is no need to conform to the 60° arcs found in SFB/FC. ACTASF instead uses a total of nine firing arcs. Four of them are 90° (Port, Forward, Starboard, Aft) abbreviated as P, F, S, A and four of them are 180° (Port Half, Forward Half, Starboard Half, and Aft Half) abbreviated as PH, FH, SH, and AH. The ninth arc is 360° Turret mounts. While these arcs lend themselves very well to the hexless nature of the game, they do cause some issues with some SFU ships. We have made every effort to accurately portray the arcs, but there are some unexpected results from the conversion. Look at your ship before the game and make sure you understand the actual arcs. Nothing is as embarrassing as lining up a perfect kill shot only to realize that with the revised firing arcs you can¹t fire a full alpha strike.
.You Go/I Go: In both SFB and FC, weapons fire is considered to be simultaneous. Even if you close to point-blank range, you can still fire when your opponent does. In ACTASF, everything is done in a you go/I go manner. Players alternate firing their ships, and each fire declaration is resolved before the next ship gets to declare fire. This means you should always be aware of what ships have and have not fired as you can lose a critical ship to massed weapon fire before it gets a chance to fire if you wait too long to select it as the active ship. Terrain: ACTASF scenarios utilize terrain quite differently from previous SFU games. In ACTA, terrain is randomly generated for each map prior to the start of most scenarios. Terrain effects can have a huge impact on the battle. You should be certain you understand the rules of any terrain type in play before selecting your fleets. Some terrain types are advantageous to some units and disastrous to others. (End of A Call to Arms: Star Fleet Tactic of the Month)
DEMOS AND CONS WITH SFU GAMES Ranger Tim Foat will be running a Star Fleet Battles demo on July 13th at 1 pm at Crazy Fred's, 8042 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942.
Ranger Randy Blair will be running Star Fleet Battles games at Gencon, held August 1-4, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has six scenarios, two on both Thursday and Friday and one on both Saturday and Sunday. The one on Saturday is also a Star Fleet Marines scenario (the entire event runs eight hours!). Can you retrieve valuable information from the Orion Pirates?
Ranger Sean Johnson will be running a Federation Commander game at Gencon on August 1. Can you pass the Klingon Captain Exam? 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://www.thegamershaven.net/
Mini of the Month Kent Ing painted this Neo-Tholian heavy cruiser (3125 Scale, Smooth Fine Detail Plastic).
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
The Federation Commander site and Forum continue to grow as more gamers continue to find them. All of our games currently have topics in the Forum. If you have any comments, questions, or requests for our Graphics Director, this is the place to let her know. Come see what the commotion is about and join the Federation Commander Forum now.
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show our games and to teach potential players some basics. 
