September 2007
Download Transmissions

The latest Communique brings you more Ship Cards, scenerios, fiction, and more news from the Star Fleet Universe! It can be downloaded from the Commander's Circle. Don’t forget, you have to register before being able to download the latest full color Communique!

Star Fleet Universe News

As the company grows, we are planning to expand our outreach, with appearances at Trek Expo in Tulsa on 12 October and Board Game Geek in Dallas in November. We have almost decided to go to Comic Con in San Diego July 2008 and are debating between trying Gencon or Dragon Con in the late summer of 2008.

Our combined and reorganized website, www.StarFleetGames.com, continues to grow and improve. You are welcome to send us your requests, comments, and suggestions.

We are looking for a few good Star Fleet Ambassadors! Our marketing director can't be everywhere and that's where you come in! Do you go to gaming forums like Board Game Geek, RPG Net, or The Miniatures Page? Then WE NEED YOU! To get complete details of the Ambassador program, please see the Federation Commander Ambassadors category on the Federation Commander forum.

Have you missed an earlier Newsletter? Click here to get caught up!

FC Forum Hot Topics

The Federation Commander Site and Forum continues to grow as more gamers find it. We have added a new section to the Forum called Web Requests. If you have any comments, questions, or requests for our Graphics Director, this is the place to let him know. This month’s Hot Topics include a thread titled “How do you track energy use?” which can be found in the General Discussion category. For new players, the Federation Commander Forum is a little easier to manage whereas the Legacy Discus BBS can be a bit overwhelming.  Come see what the commotion is about and join the Federation Commander Forum now!

FC Tactic of the Month
ALWAYS ARM THE PLASMA G-TORPEDO!

When flying plasma ships with big launchers (S- or R-torpedoes) it is almost always better to arm them (initially) as a plasma-G. Consider arming a plasma-G for 2+2+3 power (7 points). You can fire it as a plasma-G or add power to it to fire as an plasma-S or plasma-R (launcher permitting) for no more energy than loading the larger torpedo initially. However, the real savings come if you end up holding the torpedo over the turn. The plasma-G will cost only 1 point where an plasma-S will cost 2. (More...)

Café Press
Cafe Press

Café Press is an online marketplace that allows the Star Fleet Universe to produce unique products such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, tote bags, and more with the Star Fleet logos, cover art, and other artwork used for our products. We have added tons of new shirts, mugs, and other products. Want something you don’t see? Please contact Matt Cooper (Graphics Director) with your request. Visit our Star Fleet Café Press Store for a complete listing of the products available.

SFB Tactic of the Month
SPEED-FORTY ALUNDA YO-YO

When your Alunda fleet needs to cover ground quickly, you can use your Attraction-Repulsion Fields (ARFs) to increase its speed. With proper timing, you can cover 40 or more hexes in a turn.

The basic technique requires two or more ships equipped with ARFs. Using a carefully crafted speed plot, all but one of the ships will move out in front of the remaining ship. One of the leading ships will tractor the remaining lead ships, and the trailing ship will use its ARF to repulse that ship, pushing the tractored combination out ahead until it reaches the maximum range of the ARF (three or five hexes). Then one of the ships in the lead group will use its ARF in attractive mode to reel in the trailing ship. The result will be a gain of up to ten hexes of movement. (More...)

F&E Strategy of the Month
BOUNCE OFF THE BATS

The Klingon tactic of attacking the Hydrans and retrograding back towards Federation space for the Federation assault is an old one but here is an addendum. Do not kill Hydran BATS 1217 or 1219 until Turn #6. Either BATS can be easily isolated and would present little threat. On Turns #4-#5 the Klingons can make their usual attacks on the Hydrans and/or their capital. Better still they could try an elaborate feint of taking out the Hydrans thus forcing them to dig in their capital and allowing you to destroy the outer SBs easily.

On Turn #6 the Klingons can attack BATS 1217 or 1219, then retreat and retrograde to planets 1714 and/or 1916. Both planets would be within range of the Third Fleet SB for Turn #7 and could possibly have a PRD nicely placed for any needy cripples. This plan could also be duplicated on the Kzinti front as well, utilizing BATS 1805 and planet 1611.

Mini of the Month

We are adding a new section to the Newsletter this month, the "Mini of the Month." Every month we will feature one of our miniatures that has been painted by a fan. If you paint miniatures, submit your pictures and you may be our next Mini of the Month!

Click here to view this month's winner.

 

New Releases

Communique #21 has posted to the Commander's Circle

RECENTLY RELEASED
Captain's Log #35, SKU 5735, $18.95
Federation Commander: Academy, SKU 4003, $24.95
Star Fleet Battles Module R11 SKU 5630, $23.95
Federation Commander: Battleships Attack, SKU 4104, $29.95
FC Boosters #16, #17, and #18; SKUs 4216, 4217, 4218, $9.95 each

TO SHIP ON 4 SEPTEMBER
New pewter miniatures
Starline 2400: WYN Warships (CW, DW, FF)
SKU 1223, $19.95
Starline 2400: Federation Operational Carrier (CVO) SKU 0299, $12.95
Starline 2400: Hydran Mohawk New Heavy Cruiser (NCA) SKU 0961, $7.95
Starline 2400: Neo-Tholian Destroyer and Frigate, SKU 0771, $12.95
Starline 2400: Base Station, SKU 0103, $9.95
Starline 2400: Orion War Destroyer, DW
, SKU 0818, $7.95

TO SHIP ON 24 SEPTEMBER
New pewter miniatures
Federation Commander: Border Box #5
, SKU 4405, $99.95
Federation Commander: Squadron Box #13, SKU 4313, $34.95
Starline 2400: Seltorian NCA and DNL, SKU 1525, $17.95
Starline 2400: WYN Fleet Box, 6 ships, SKU 1200 $39.95

TO SHIP 8 OCTOBER
Federation Commander: Squadron Box #16, SKU 4316, $34.95 (pewter miniatures)
Federation Commander: Squadron Box #17,
SKU 4317, $34.95 (pewter miniatures)
Federation Commander: Squadron Box #18,
SKU 4318, $34.95 (pewter miniatures)
SFB Module Omega 5: Omega Flotillas, SKU 5665, Price $21.95


TO SHIP 22 OCTOBER
Federation Commander: Briefing #1
, SKU 4021, $12.95 (Scenario and Tactics Manual)
Federation Commander: Border Box #6
, SKU 4406, $99.95 (pewter miniatures)
Prime Directive: Federation d20
, SKU 8702, $24.95 (requires V3.5 or "modern" rules)
Prime Directive d20M (Modern),
SKU 8721, $24.95 (for "modern" d20 rules)
Starline 2400: Seltorian Heavy Cruiser,
SKU 1504, $8.95 (pewter miniature)
Starline 2400: Seltorian Warships
(CL, DD, FF), SKU 1505, $19.95 (pewter miniatures)

TO SHIP 12 NOVEMBER
Captain's Log #36, SKU 5736, $18.95
GURPS Federation
, SKU 8402, $24.95
Starline 2400: Shuttlecraft
, SKU 0104, $17.95 (pewter miniatures)
Starline 2400: Federation Fast Carrier, SKU 0296, Retail $7.95
Starline 2400: Federation New Fast Cruiser, SKU 0298, Retail $7.95
Starline 2400: Klingon D6S Scout Cruiser, SKU 0347, Retail $7.95

Star Fleet Fiction
Rescue on Roon

2346 hrs, Basement Lounge, Celotex
Warehouse #8, east of Roon City, Roon

"Did you hear that?" Michalik asked, putting down the radio. Besslith had spoken his name but then the transmission stopped, which could have been simple radio failure, or more likely she had not paid attention to which button she was pressing or had thought better of calling him. But then he heard a clatter from down the hallway. The hair on the backs of his hands had sprung erect; his senses were fully alert. He headed for the door.

"Go with him, Annitha," Melika ordered, turning to check the security scanners. Nothing was seen on the upper ones except Chucst pacing back and forth, but the one on the lower elevator lobby had gone black. "Someone is down here. I'll see to the hostage." She slammed her palm on an alarm button, grabbed a pistol, and headed for the door to the adjoining bedroom as Michalik and Annitha headed out the door. (More...)

Ask Admiral Growler

DRONES
Robert Eddy asks: Is the 'Wild Boar' type of control mentioned in (FD5.255) a function of the type-III drone or an added function to the Type-IIIXX? The way rule (FD5.255) is written, it looks like it is a feature of the type-IIIXX only. I was confirming because I wanted to use 'Wild Boar' targeting with a standard type-III.

ANSWER: Rule (FD5.255) specifically limits "Wild Boar targeting" to type-IIIXX, not just any type-III. Rule (FD5.252) provides the closest equivalent ("Tame Boar") that is available for standard type-III drones. (More...)

Federation & Empire Q&A
THE FOUR POWERS WAR

QUESTION: Rule (515.52) in Fighter Operations states that CVAs can only be produced in the shipyard. What about other "big carriers" which are not CVAs, such as Space Control Ships? What about the Romulan SUB or the modular Romulan DNs with SUB modules? What about the Lyran CV which is treated as a heavy carrier by (515.21)? What about the Gorn CVD, the Lyran DCS and NDS, which are treated as heavy carriers by (440.6)? Or the Gorn MCS which is a heavy carrier by the SIT? (More...)

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. The most recent alerts are:
24 August: Fall Schedule
29 August: New Miniatures
4 Sept: Graduation
6 Sept: Romulan Space

SELTORIANS

The long-awaited Seltorian miniatures will be released on 24 September.

Seltorian Miniatures