Communique #54 Stardate 2010.06

COMMUNIQUE #54 STARDATE 2010.06

NEW IN THIS ISSUE FEDERATION We have included several new items in this issue. COMMANDER New scenario: 8CM42 Sucker Punch. New Ship Card: Federation DWD. Revised Ship Card: Tholian CA. Organized League Play Frax Ship Card: DWG Commando Destroyer. Large Format Ship Card: Seltorian DNL. The on-line forms for registering your store as a site for Requested Ship Card: Gorn BC Squadron Scale. Organized League Play are in the Commander’s Circle. Also available is the form to register your completed games, and SCHEDULED FOR 2010 you can even use the same form to register future games as a means of inviting people to attend and join the fun. Squadron Box #27 has been released. You will find a link to the Commander’s Circle at: The Big Release will be WAR AND PEACE, to be released www.StarFleetGames.com/fccc/login.php at Origins with ISC, Vudar, and Andromedan ships. along with everything else for this game system. Briefing #3 will have “support units” and Federation Admi- Many stores have already signed up, and prizes (a series ral will be the new campaign system for Federation Commander. of “bonus cards” used to give ships a special ability) are being We will see a new series of independent Booster Packs. mailed out to those stores. The scenarios of the first six months Federation Commander: Booster Pack #92 contained ships that of 2010 are as follows and reflect actions during the General were seen in Briefing #1. Booster Pack #93 will contain ships War. Get these reports to us ASAP! seen in Captain’s Log. Booster Pack #94 will have light tactical January: 8B116 End Run transports. Booster Pack #95 will have tugs. February: 8B117 Last Stand Borders of Madness #1 will appear in due time with over March: 8B118 The Day After The Eagle 70 ships never intended for Federation Commander, possibly April: 8B120 The Long Way Home including scouts, carriers, and maulers. May: 8B121 Fight Fire With Fire June: 8B122 The Lone Gray Wolf RELEASED IN 2009 In 2006, the Federation barely stopped the Klingons. The ¥ Last fall saw Hydran Attack with more ships for the Hy- Romulans did not do that well in 2007. In 2008, the Tholians drans, Lyrans, Klingons, Kzintis, and WYNs. The ships included repulsed a Klingon invasion and the Coalition conquered the are: Hydran Ranger, Iroquois, Tartar, Rhino Hunter, Buffalo Hydrans. In 2009, the Pirates rocked and tension built. Hunter, Lancer, Hunter, and Pegasus; Lyran Light Cruiser, New Heavy Cruiser, War Destroyer; WYN FF and AuxC; Klingon COMMANDER NEWS F5W; and Kzinti FFK. Six more ships are in the boosters. ¥ Squadron Boxes #25 and #26, and Border Box #9, were released last fall. THE BBS & FORUM: KEYS TO COMMUNICATION ¥ Booster Pack #91, The Franz Joseph Ships (including the The BBS (www.StarFleetGames.com/discus) can be con- classic DN, CA, DD, SC, and Tug, along with the DDM, DDL, fusing at first sight, as it has hundreds of topics, used daily by a and DDG) and Squadron Box #91 containing new production thousand players. Registration is free, but we do require all par- of the classic “Zocchi Plastics” in classic white. ticipants to use their real names. (This not only improves the ¥ Border Box #8 was released on 23 February (4408, $99.95). overall tone of civility, but makes sure you get credit for any ¥ Briefing #2 has been released and covers “The Middle suggestions you make.) When you register, you will see topics Years” (4022, $19.95). for each of our product lines. Feel free to venture into the broader ¥ Reference Rulebook has been released and includes all universe as you get more comfortable with the system. of the rules from all products and all updates (4020, $14.95). There is also a forum (much easier for new players) on the www.FederationCommander.com website. It allows screen PUBLISHER’S INFORMATION names and avatars but isn’t used for submissions of new items. FEDERATION COMMANDER: COMMUNIQUE #54 is pub- Several versions of the updated Master Ship Chart for Fed- lished and copyright © 2010 by Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc., eration Commander are on the Commander’s Circle. www.StarFleetGames.com, PO Box 8759, Amarillo TX 79114. The CRUL (Consolidated Rules Update List), listing all rules Elements of the Star Fleet Universe are the property of changes, is now in the Commander’s Circle. Paramount Pictures Corporation and are used with their per- In the Commander’s Circle is the Scenario Designer’s mission. Guide: http://www.StarFleetGames.com/fc/designguide.shtml .

Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. what ships do you want? Universe News Here is your chance to get what you want. Whether Federation Commander is only one of the games in you are a veteran player of Star Fleet Battles and famil- the Star Fleet Universe. All of our games use a common iar with the thousands of starships in that game system, historical background and technological database. or a new player of Federation Commander and just have There are three kinds of Federation Commander a vague feeling that some ship of some kind is missing players: new players who have never played Star Fleet from your fleet, tell us what you want and we’ll consider Battles, veterans of SFB who haven’t played in years adding it via Communique or in a future expansion. Here but are now playing FC, and active SFB players who are some player suggestions for this year and next: have decided to also play FC. Members of any group Generic units: small planetary ground bases £, ship- could have played our other games. This part of Com- yard construction dock £. munique will have news on our other games. Our opt-in Police ships: Romulan Snipe-P £, Kzinti police frig- Email newsletter goes to fans of all our games; each ate†, Tholian POL†. issue includes links to information for each game. Federation DDF fast destroyer´. The new Starmada and Klingon Armada books were Klingon F5D drone-armed frigate variant, F6B vari- released in September 09. Romulan Armada followed in ant, D6J penal ship. the spring of 2010. Romulan SpH-J´, K10R, KillerHawk´, K7R´, Federation & Empire had a new edition, 2010, re- JayHawk, Vulture´, KD5R´. leased in February. The next expansion will be ISC War. Kzinti destroyer. Star Fleet Battles received Module X1R X-Ship Re- Gorn dreadnought-cruiser´, HDE, MCC´, DBC. inforcements at Origins 2008, Module Y2 in October 08, Hydran D7H Anarchist (captured Klingon D7). G3 in February 09, and G3A in August 09. Andromedan (scheduled for War & Peace). Prime Directive PD20 Modern has been released Lyran police cutter POL £. and Klingons PD20 Modern was released on 19 Oct 09. Seltorian Hive Ship (larger than the Battlewagon). Prime Directive Federation is in final development. Borders of Madness: maulers, scouts, survey ships. Prime Directive Tholians is in development for 2011. All empires: commando ships £. We are working on conversions of Prime Directive ´ Possible inclusion in FC: Gorn Attack. to other systems including D6, Fudge, SW, and HERO. † Was in FC: Briefing #2 £ Scheduled for FC: Briefing #3 Support Units. WEBSITE UPDATE FED COMMANDER: TO DATE We continue to update and improve our website: Core Products: Klingon Border, Romulan Border; cornerstone products of the game engine. www.StarFleetGames.com Alternate Products: Academy (lower cost entry prod- Our graphics director adds new things to the website uct), Graduation (turns Academy into Klingon Border), every week, and most of those come from either cus- Romulan Space (the parts of Romulan Border not dupli- tomer requests or the FLAP (Finish Like A Pro) list done cated in Klingon Border), Klingon Space (the parts of after the completion of each new product. Klingon Border not duplicated in Romulan Border; this Let us know (at [email protected]) if product is not packed for display in stores). you see any glitches in the website, or think of ways to Expansions: Klingon Attack, Romulan Attack, Tholian improve the website for all of us. Attack, Battleships Attack, Distant Kingdoms, (each has The website includes a wealth of information, down- sixteen Ship Cards, two map panels, rules, counters, loads, and other items for players of all of our games. and scenarios); Orion Attack, Hydran Attack, (each has Explore, look around, click on random entries in the sixteen Ship Cards, rules, counters, scenarios, and other Master Index, and you may be surprised what you find. components), Line of Battle (seven battleship cards and The Master Index can be found at: three scenarios; expands Battleships Attack). www.starfleetgames.com/masterindex.shtml Briefings: #1 Scenarios, #2 Middle Years. You can always find out what has been added here: Booster Packs: Zero, #1-#27, #91, #92. (Each has www.starfleetgames.com/new.shtml seven or eight Ship Cards including one or two new ships; Some of the new items in May 2010 included: #16-#18 and #91 each have eight new Ship Cards.) ¥ Transcript of TalkShoe interview with SVC. Squadron Boxes: Zero, #1-#26, #91. (Each has five ¥ More ships in Commander’s Circle. or six miniatures.) Border Boxes: #1-5, #7-9 (24 miniatures each). CAPTAIN’S LOG #41 Border Box #6: ten battleships Lots of fun for FC players: Frax submarines and tor- Captain’s Log (issues with Federation Commander pedo boats, three new scenarios, Command at Origins. material): #32-#40.

Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. FEDERATION COMMANDER SCENARIO (8CM42) SUCKER PUNCH daring move, he got access to a subspace radio and warned the Andorian admiral that the situation may not be what it seemed, and cooler heads prevailed. Shortly after the end of the General War, a small radi- Even Michelle Less did not believe that this was a cal isolationist group on Earth (known as the “Earthers”) real incident; she simply found it an interesting story. began a series of noisy protests claiming that the way to avoid another war was to kick all aliens off of Earth and (8CM42a) NUMBER OF PLAYERS have nothing to do with the galactic community. Two: The Earther player and the Andorian player. The tiny group found little interest in their radical theo- ries, but radical filmmaker Michelle Less (a competitor of (8CM42b) INITIAL SETUP Olivette Roche) found the concept “interesting” and pro- Map: Set up the map with 3 panels across and 2 duced a “trivideo of the week” about them. In her fic- panels high if using small hexes (4 wide and 3 high if tional story, the group had secret support from govern- using large hexes). This is a floating map. ment and military factions. Earther: Place the USS Doolittle (CL) more or less In the trivideo, these secret supporters arranged for in the center of the map, facing F. the Earthers to seize control of the old light cruiser USS Andorian: Place the USS Endeavour (CA) one hex Doolittle. The plan was to ambush the heavy cruiser USS in front of the USS Doolittle. Endeavour, which (in the trivideo) was crewed by the Andorians. The plot of the movie was based around the (8CM42c) OBJECTIVE idea that the USS Doolittle would destroy the USS En- Mission-Both: Destroy or capture the enemy ship! deavour, causing the aggressive and military-minded Time Limit: The Andorians called on other Andorian- Andorians to declare war on Earth! crewed Star Fleet ships for help, but their damaged com- Just before the second commercial, the Earthers munication system sent the message in the clear, and seized the USS Doolittle, leaving the crew stranded at a every starship within ten light years headed for the scene. remote mining station with a month of supplies but no At least some of these ships will arrive at the end of Turn communications. The USS Doolittle then went to a point #10, ending the scenario, one way or another, and nei- on the USS Endeavour’s patrol route and “played pos- ther player will gain the victory they seek. sum”. When the USS Endeavour arrived, the USS Victory: Use the Point Value Victory System (8B2). Doolittle sent a friendly hail and asked for a docking to facilitate the transfer of a supply of Klingon whiskey which (8CM42d) SPECIAL RULES the USS Doolittle had supposedly found at an abandoned 1. Turn #0: During Impulse #8 of Turn #0, the USS Klingon outpost. Militant members of the USS Doolittle fired both photons and all of its phasers at the Endeavour’s crew warned their captain that “this must USS Endeavour. Play this out and roll the damage. The be some kind of human trick” but the captain professed scenario then begins with Turn #1. his total committment to the Human-Andorian alliance 2. Fanatical Battle: The Earthers must destroy the that was the very bedrock of Star Fleet’s military power. USS Endeavour to create the Human-Andorian War they The USS Endeavour approached with shields down, seek. The Andorians, feeling betrayed, are out for blood and the lunatic, radical Earthers opened fire with over- and revenge. Neither player will disengage. (If either ship loaded weapons at point-blank range. Due to their own moves more than 25 hexes from the other, it is destroyed incompetence, however, they missed with one of the two and the other player wins the scenario.) photons, and what should have been a killing blow merely crippled the USS Endeavour and killed half of the crew. (8CM42e) FORCE DYNAMICS The Andorian captain then flew into a furious rage at The scenario can be played again under different the “perfideous humans”, declaring that he had “always conditions by making one or more of these changes: known” they would betray their Andorian allies as soon 1. Alternative Empires: This could easily have been as the Klingons were defeated. The battle was on be- about a Lyran, Kzinti, or Romulan Civil War. Given the tween the two ships. With the damage it has sustained, views of Michelle Less, it might even be about a Hydran the nominally inferior light cruiser was an even match for or Gorn civil war. the wounded USS Endeavour. 2. Balance: Replace one ship with a larger or a In the trivideo, one Andorian (the ship’s chaplain) smaller ship to balance the scenario. remained convinced that the opposing ship was crewed by radical Earthers, not simply human members of Star (8CM42f) DESIGNER’S NOTES Fleet. He argued for caution and tried to warn other N. Eric Phillips wrote this scenario new for Federa- Andorians that this might not be what it seemed. In a tion Commander based on the trivideo program.

Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. Rules & Rulings Index FOR 2010: Q: In the case of pre-game arming, such as (4C2c) ¥ Communique #49: Scenario 8CM37 A Hard Day’s Fight. New Frax drone war destroyer and Gorn heavy destroyer scout. for photon torpedoes, can you do this for just some of Larger format Seltorian heavy battlecruiser. Revised Gorn light the weapons, or do you have to do it for all of them? cruiser. Bonus Klingon C8 Fleet Scale. A: It’s all or nothing. They all have to be armed this ¥ Communique #50: Scenario 8CM38 The Flawed Trap, way, or none of them. That’s up to you. New Federation fast destroyer, Borders of Madness Frax CWS, Q: Rule (3A) has a reference to rule (D5.0) which large format Kzinti DNH, revised Kzinti FFK. Bonus Federation CA Fleet Scale. doesn’t make any sense. Can you explain? ¥ Communique #51: Scenario 8CM39 Escape from A: Ooops! That’s an SFB rule number, probably left Astracaz, New plasma & drone play aid, Revised Romulan over from when an old SFB rule text was rewritten into Firehawk, new Frax command cruiser, large format Lyran Heavy FC. The proper rule reference for FC is (3D). Dreadnought. Bonus: Romulan King Eagle Squadron Scale. Q: Rule (5E4) seems to be missing. Where is it? ¥ Communique #52: Scenario 8CM40 The Ophiunia Raid, New Federation heavy war destroyer, Revised Romulan Snipe, A: There is no missing rule. We probably just Large format Klingon C5 light dreadnought, Frax war cruiser misnumbered something, but perhaps we were keeping escort. Bonus: Gorn battle destroyer squadron scale. that rule number for a devastating rule to be revealed ¥ Communique #53: Scenario 8CM41 Pirate Hunt, new only at the last possible moment. Kzinti destroyer, revised Federation police cutter, Frax fast Thanks to Mike West, our Fed Commander Answer cruiser, large format Kzinti DNL, Squadron Scale Klingon SD7 Strike Cruiser. Man, for handling these issues. Index for 2006 was in Communique #14 & Briefing #1 Index for 2007 was in Communique #24 & Briefing #1. NEWSLETTER Index for 2008 was in Communique #36. Index for 2009 was in Communique #48. Check the website for news about the free on-line newsletter. It’s full of fun and cool stuff. StarFleetGames.com/newsletter.shtml JOIN US ON FACEBOOK New Miniatures ADB, Inc.’s page on Facebook is now up and run- For Release At the Origins Game Fair: ning, and we’re finding a lot of new faces who haven’t Squadron Box #28 Vudar, Stock #4328, $34.95 been around the BBS or Forum. We have pictures up Squadron Box #29 ISC, Stock #4329, $34.95 now of ADB, Inc. staff, links to many of our videos, snip- Squadron Box #30 Andros, Stock #4330, $34.95 pets of information, and interaction with our fans. Jean Federation Carrier Group Box, Stock #0214, $39.95 Sexton is the main voice you will hear on our page on Klingon Carrier Group Box, Stock #0315, $39.95 Facebook. If she doesn’t know an answer, she’ll ask one Fed LTT and OCA; Tholian TK5 of the Steves and ferry the answer back. Released on 24 May 2010: All that is left is for you to “like” the page for Amarillo Federation Fleet Box #4, Stock #0210, $39.95 Design Bureau, Inc. if you haven’t done so already. Here’s Klingon Fleet Box #3, Stock #0302, $39.95 the link: Romulan Carrier Group Box, Stock #0405, $39.95 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amarillo-Design- Kzinti Carrier Group Box, Stock #0501, $39.95 Bureau-Inc/231728653279?ref=mf. Released 19 April 2010: We hope to see you there! Hydran Pegasus, Stock #0912, $9.95 Many people on our page on Facebook have not Squadron Box #27, Stock #4327, $34.95 been on our BBS, so perhaps our new outpost on Klingon B9 Light Battleship, Stock #0385, $19.95 Facebook will become the place for those who want to Released on 22 February 2010: keep up with current events without the intense atmo- Juggernaut, Stock #0080, $29.95 sphere (and flood of information) found on the BBS. If Federation DDL & DDG, Stock #0228, $14.95 you are very busy on a given day, checking our page on Federation SC & DDF, Stock #0227, $14.95 Facebook would tell you quickly if something important ISC Battleship, Stock #1344, $11.95 has been announced. Andromedan Terminator, Stock #1006, $5.95 The page also has its own art galleries, plus a place where you can post a review of our products. ADDED TO COMMANDER’S CIRCLE From Communique #49: Frax DWD War Destroyer TACTICS WANTED! Drone Variant, Gorn Light Cruiser, Gorn Heavy Destroyer Write up your favorite tactic (or dirty trick) and send Scout, Seltorian Heavy Battlecruiser, Scenario 8CM37 it to us. A panel of expert players will judge these tactics A Hard Day’s Fight. for legality, creativity, and utility in combat, and we will From Communique #54: Gorn BC Squadron Scale. print the ones with the highest scores in Captain’s Log.

Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. ORIGINS TOURNAMENT 2010 own speed plot) from that point. Drones, shuttles, and plasma torpedoes whose movement would force them to exit the map After considering several alternatives, we have decided to are destroyed. stick with basically the same format as in 2009. The basis for the Ships with cloaking devices can use them for a total of 48 Federation Commander Tournament is a squadron-level engage- impulses, including the fade impulses, in any given game. At the ment involving three to four ships. Players will be randomly paired end of the 48th impulse, the cloaking devices fail and will no against each other. longer function for the remainder of that game. Note that this is done for each individual ship. This applies whether the opposing BATTLE SQUADRON SELECTION ships have cloaking devices or not. Players will select their own squadrons, which must be con- sistent with the rules herein. Ships will be in Squadron Scale. HOW TO WIN A ROUND Each player must construct his force from ships belonging Victory for each round will be determined at the end of that to a single empire. There can be no more than four and no fewer round based on the following criteria: than three ships in the squadron, and no more than two of a Subtract the lower point value fleet from the higher point given type (e.g., DW, FF, CW). The total value of all ships in the value fleet and award that many points to the player with the squadron must be 425-450 points. No battleships, ships from lower point value fleet. At the end of the game, add to that: Communique, ships from Briefing #1 or #2, or ships from Captain’s 10% of the points of opposing ships with internal damage. Log may be included in the force (unless they have been for- 50% of the points of any opposing ships that are considered mally published in a product). Aegis and scout rules cannot be to be crippled (8B2b). used, but escorts in Briefing #92 and the Fed Scout in Booster 100% of the points of any opposing ships that are destroyed. #91 are legal ships. Fast drones cannot be used. 110% of the points of any opposing ships that are captured. The force may include no more than two “leaders” (DN, BCH, If the points scored by each player are within 30 points of CC, NCC) of different types, no more than one of which may be each other, the battle is declared a draw. a dreadnought or heavy battlecruiser. The remaining ship or ships If the point totals differ by more than 30 points, the player can be any available to the selected empire so long as they are with the lower total “loses” the battle. If the player with the higher not otherwise prohibited. The WYN PBB and CA are also consid- total has earned at least 150 victory points, he “wins” the battle, ered leaders. Tholian forces can include no more than one ship otherwise he earns a “draw” (the other player still earns a “loss”). equipped with web casters. Hydran forces can include no more If one player resigns, he “loses” the battle, and the other than eight Stingers; you can leave some hangar bays empty (and player either “wins” or “draws” the battle based on the criteria no, you do not get free shuttles to replace missing fighters). above (he must earn at least 50 points for each hour or part of an Players must present their squadron to a tournament judge hour played). for approval (and to start the record keeping). Try to arrive a few minutes early, or get your squadron approved in advance. Once THE FINALS the squadron is submitted for the tournament, the player cannot Finals will begin on Saturday with the two players with the change any ship on subsequent rounds. He may, if he wishes, best records. If there is a tie for second place, there will be a withdraw from the tournament and reenter with a different squad- playoff for the final round. The winner of the final game wins the ron paying a new entry fee, but his record will then start over. National Championship and trophy. These games will be scheduled by the judges at times of mutual convenience during Satur- TOURNAMENT ROUNDS day and on Sunday morning. We have registered with Origins to offer Federation Com- mander rounds at 4pm Wednesday, 8am, 1pm, and 6pm Thurs- STOCK TOURNAMENT SQUADRONS day, 8am, 1pm, and 6pm Friday, and 10am Saturday. Games will Because it is so impractical for us to bring a few of every be matched by the judges using players who have asked for a ship, you have three choices: game. If there are an odd number of players for a game during a 1. Bring your own cards for a force that fits within the rules. given time slot, the last player reporting to the tournament desk (Please feel free to have your force pre-approved by Email.) will be the player who gets left out. To get into the finals, you 2. Email us ahead of time and ask us to bring the specific need to play in three time slots and use the same squadron. cards you want for your squadron. Origins signs up players for each slot separately (and you 3. Use one of the “stock” forces below. (We will bring three can buy tickets at the ADB Tournament Control Desk). If you pay packs of each squadron, and these will be available on a battle- for three slots you can play in five (and at the finals). We have set by-battle basis, first-come first-served.) up to allow single-entry tickets into each time slot, so there will FEDERATION: First Squadron (445): 2x NCA, CS. Second be players who only play one round, not the entire tournament. Squadron (450): BCJ, 2x NCL. Third Squadron (448): DN, 2xDW. (They might not even realize they are in a tournament, or they KLINGON: North Squadron (448): C7, D5W, F5W. West may realize it and not care.) Squadron (442): D5WL, 2xD7. Each round of the tournament will be run for four hours. No ROMULAN: Hawk Squadron (449): FHK, 2x SPH. Eagle turn may begin after this time limit, but players will finish the cur- Squadron (443): 2x KE, BH, SN. Kestrel Squadron (448): KRC rent turn after the time limit expires. and 2xKR. The combat will take place on a standard SFB map (42 hexes KZINTI: Heavy Squadron (445): DNH, 2x DW. New Squad- by 30 hexes). One force begins in or within one hex of hex 0202 ron (440): NCC, 2x NCA. and the other begins in or within one hex of hex 4129. GORN: Tooth Squadron (450): BCH, BC, BDD. Claw Squad- This map is fixed, it does not “float” in any manner. Any ship ron (439): 2x CM, HDD. which leaves the map as a result of the player’s own movement THOLIAN: New Squadron (438): NCA, 2x CA. (or the movement of a ship he tractored) is considered to have ORIONS: Raider Squadron (446): CA, 2x BR, LR. been destroyed. Any ship held in a tractor beam that will be forced HYDRAN: New Squadron (441): IRQ, TAR, MNG, 8 Stgs. to move off the map as a result of the opposing ship’s movement Heavy Squadron (450): PAL, 2x KN, 8 Stgs. is immediately released from the tractor in the last hex of the LYRAN: Red Squadron (446): CC, 2x NCA. Blue Squadron map (and does not leave the map). If its facing is such that its (447): DNH, 2x DW. next movement would force it to exit the map and it cannot turn WYN: First Squadron (449): CA, CW, 2x FF. by any means to avoid doing so, it immediately stops (Speed SELTORIAN: Avenger Squadron (444): DNL, CA, CL. Zero) in that hex; it otherwise will move normally (subject to its

VUDAR: At the end of the General War, the Vudar (a Klingon Subject Race) built their own ships with new weapons (ion cannon, ion pulse generator) and fought for independence. INTER-STELLAR CONCORDIUM: As the war ended, the ISC sent hundreds of ships to occupy the neutral zones as peacekeepers using their radical plasmatic pulsar device. They honestly believe that everyone else in the galaxy is a homocidal lunatic who needs to be disarmed. ANDROMEDANS: Extra-galactic invaders arrived to conquer our galaxy with totally new technology (power absorbers, tractor-repulsor beams, displacement devices). Can the galaxy band together to defeat this outside threat, or will their own wars continue while the galaxy burns around them?

Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. CUSTOMER SUPPORT and carry them out, reporting the results of those orders to all players. While he is not a player, the moderator fulfills a very important role in the game. Good moderators and good play- We do as much as we can to help our customers enjoy ers make for a good, enjoyable game of Federation Com- our products, and are always seeking new ways and open to mander. Moderating a Federation Commander PBEM game is new ideas to do so. Here is a general summary of the kind of also an excellent way to learn more about the Federation Com- things we can do. (Sorry for the small type, it does show just mander rules. how much customer support stuff we have!) While there are some disadvantages to PBEM (it does take longer to finish a game), there are advantages as well. Just Ask Us You can play against people in other parts of the world (how You can contact the game designer at: often do you get to Australia, anyway?), you can play multiple [email protected] games at once, and you can have large multi-player games You can contact our customer support person at: (without worrying about running out of chips and soda). [email protected] For more information about playing Federation Com- You can contact our sales department at: mander PBEM, please visit the Play-by-Email section at [email protected] www.StarFleetGames.com/pbemgames soon, or check the Try asking a question, and we’ll answer as best we can. PBEM section of either the Forum or the BBS. For that matter, you can always just call the office at 806-351- 1950 during business hours (9-6 Central Time, M-F), and tell Federation Commander On-Line Gaming whoever answers (we take turns) what you need, and you will Many people do not know that you can play Federation be sent to the right person to get your answer. Commander on-line in real time against live opponents, any time you want, 24 hours a day. Websites A decade ago, www.SFBonline.com was created to pro- Our site at www.FederationCommander.com has a lot of vide players of Star Fleet Battles with an on-line gaming expe- stuff for you to use, and the Commander’s Circle (found at rience. It was a smash hit as hundreds of gamers joined the http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/ battles. Tournaments and other competitions, plus general open Commanders%20Circle/index.shtml) gaming, have gone on around-the-clock since then. This suc- has lots of free downloads and other things. You can even cessful operation has been expanded to include Federation download a demo copy of the game to give a friend. Commander! Now you can play with real live human oppo- The StarBlog on FederationCommander.com includes nents all over the world in real time 24 hours a day, seven days daily posts of what’s going on, and the Forum on that site pro- a week! The computer automates many functions and acts as vides access to the Federation Commander community of play- a friendly assistant for mundane chores. ers and to the game designers and customer support people. For a modest subscription fee of less than $6 a month, you have access to all of the ships in the Federation Com- Need an Opponent? mander game system as well as new ships still in playtest and There are a lot of ways to find one. Post a note in your development. The Java Runtime system is compatible with game store. Go to the FederationCommander.com Forum and Windows, Macintosh, and other systems. post a note in the Local Groups & Retailers section. Attend a Never worry about a lack of opponents. Never worry about local convention (if there is one). Go to the Commander’s Circle opponents who don’t show up for game day because of silly and look at the player database (and post your information reasons like family reunions or their own weddings. Don’t be there so that the next person to check the list can find you). cut off from your regular gaming group while on vacations or Go to our primary BBS at www.StarFleetGames.com/dis- business trips. cus and look for the Seeking Opponents section and post a Even better, you can join in on-line tournaments and cam- note there. paigns, and your victories will add up to a higher and higher Go to www.StarFleetGames.com/sitemap.html and look average score! for the red Find Opponents button. Enter your data and in a The system also allows you to chat with friends, taunt your few days you’ll get an Email from our Customer Support Direc- enemies, and watch other players fight their own savage battles. tor with a list of gamers near you. (Why learn from your own mistakes when you can learn from someone else’s?) This “observer” system allows players of ei- Federation Commander Play-by-Email ther game (or those who have yet to join either) to learn the ins Playing Federation Commander by Email is an alterna- and outs of the other game before deciding to invest time and tive to playing face-to-face. While there are a few differences money in it. (i.e., your opponent isn’t sitting across the table from you), it is So come to www.SFBonline.com right away. You can even the same game. fly the Federation CA or Klingon D7 as a free trial, or watch The basic gist of the Federation Commander Play-by-Email any game in play. Legendary SFB aces and new Federation (PBEM) system is that you and your opponent submit your Commander aces strut their stuff in combat arenas all the time, orders for the turn to a moderator via Email. The moderator and you can learn from the best. then processes them, and sends a “SitRep” (Situation Report) to the players via Email. You receive the results, write up your On-Line Opt-In Newsletter next set of orders, and then submit your orders once again. We publish a newsletter covering all of our products with The process is repeated until the game is completed. Sounds information about the games. It’s free. Try it for a few issues simple? That’s because it IS! It’ll take a little getting used to and see if you like it. Subscribe at: (after all, what doesn’t?), but once you’ve got the hang of it, www.StarFleetGames.com/newsletter.shtml you’ll be lobbing photon torpedoes (or whatever your weapon of choice is) at opponents from all over the world. We Welcome Your Ideas Every Federation Commander PBEM game has at least Really! We do! If you have an idea of a way we can make three participants: two or more players and one moderator. life easier for our players, just let us know and we will at least The moderator’s purpose is to accept orders from the players see if we can make it happen.

COUNTER CA POWER THOLIAN TRACK HEAVY POINT VALUE: 72 DAMAGE CONTROL: 2 CRUISER 18 The original card FLEET SCALE TDV lacked the photon Name 17 torpedo data from PROBES the Squadron Scale 16 Ship Card. MARINES #6 SHIELD #1 #2 15 5 15 FRAME 14 DAMAGE 3 L+FA FA+R 13 PH-1 PH-1 WEAPONS USED AB12 1 2 12 FA FA DISR BRDG AUX 3 45W FX DISR PHOTON ARMING A PH-1 B 11 BPL+4+8F TRAC 3 EMER 10 Some Tholian cruisers 15 C HULL 15 have photons in B. #5 L WARP R WARP #3 9 TURN MODE B 15 6 BTTY REAC TRAN 6 15 MOVE COST 3/8 8 BASE SPEED 8 LAB WEB SHTL TURN MODE 2 W SPEED COST 3 7 PH-3 IMP PH-3 BASE SPEED 16 4 5 6 TURN MODE 3 SPEED COST 6 L+RA RA+R 5 BASE SPEED 24 TURN MODE 4 SHIELD #4 4 SPEED COST 9 15 ACCELERATION COST 3/8 3 DECELERATION 2 COST 3/8 The publisher of 1 this game grants HIGH ENERGY permission to TURN COST 1+7/8 players to make a FEDERATION COMMANDER: BOOSTER #3 0 reasonable number EVASIVE FLEET SCALE BONUS SHIP CARD #B4 ★★ MANEUVER Copyright © 2006 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. of photocopies of COST 2+1/4 this page (up to 25 per month) for the FRACTIONAL POWER personal use of the B4 0 1/8 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 player. Reproduc- tion for sale is not authorized.

THOLIAN COUNTER CA HEAVY POINT VALUE: 134 CRUISER DAMAGE CONTROL: 4 POWER SQUADRON SCALE TDV TRACK Name PROBES #6 SHIELD #1 #2 +30 +20 +10

MARINES 10 30 5 Power when FRAME DAMAGE There was nothing undamaged: 6 “wrong” with the 3 31 + 3. FA FA original Ship Card WEAPONS USED DISR DISR for this vessel, but it ABCD B C has been given 123456 L+FA PH-1 PH-1 FA+R some graphic 78910WX 1 23 456 updates. PHOTON ARMING BRDG AUX B P L +4 +8 F TRAC PRB EMER TRAC C P L +4 +8 F Some Tholian cruisers 30 C HULL 30 have photons in B and C. L+LF RF+R #5 DISR DISR #3 TURN MODE B 30 A BTTY TRAN D 30 MOVE COST 3/4 L WARP REAC R WARP BASE SPEED 8 12LAB LAB 12 9 TURN MODE 2 SHTL SPEED COST 6 8 BASE SPEED 16 PH-3IMP WEB IMP PH-3 TURN MODE 3 SPEED COST 12 7 WX 9 7 8 10 BASE SPEED 24 TURN MODE 4 L+RA RA+R 6 SPEED COST 18 ACCELERATION 5 COST 3/4 SHIELD #4 4 DECELERATION The publisher of COST 3/4 3 this game grants HIGH ENERGY 30 permission to TURN COST players to make a 3+3/4 2 reasonable number EVASIVE of photocopies of MANEUVER 1 COST 4+1/2 this page (up to 25 0 per month) for the personal use of the FEDERATION COMMANDER: BOOSTER #3 B4 SQUADRON SCALE BONUS SHIP CARD #B4 ★ FRACTIONAL POWER player. Reproduc- Copyright © 2006 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 tion for sale is not authorized.

FRAX WAR COUNTER DWG POWER TRACK 11 COMMANDO POINT VALUE: 43 DESTROYER DAMAGE CONTROL 1 FLEET SCALE 10 SHIELD #1 FS #6 12 #2 Name 9 PROBES CARGO

PH-3-FX 8 MARINES 1 14 PH-1-FX 10 LAB 2 BTTY 7 5 BRDG 10 10 TRAC DRN BAR FRAME Z 6 DAMAGE 2 C HULL TRAN AUX #5 #3 5 WEAPONS USED 10 10 1 2 3 Z PH-3-RX SHTL 3 SHTL TURN MODE B TRAN 4 MOVE COST 1/4 BASE SPEED 8 TURN MODE 2 SPEED COST 2 L WARP IMP R WARP 3 4224 BASE SPEED 16 TURN MODE 3 SPEED COST 4 2 BASE SPEED 24 SHIELD #4 TURN MODE 4 10 SPEED COST 6 1 ACCELERATION Barracks are COST 1/4 DRONE RACK Z disabled on “hull” hits. The publisher of this DECELERATION COST 1/4 0 game grants permission to players to HIGH ENERGY DRONES make a reasonable TURN COST 1 FEDERATION COMMANDER: COMMUNIQUE #54 1+1/4 FLEET SCALE SHIP CARD #C542 number of photo- Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. 2 copies of this page EVASIVE 3 MANEUVER (up to 25 per month) COST 1+1/2 4 for the personal use FRACTIONAL POWER of the player. Reproduction for sale C542 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 is not authorized.

COUNTER DWG POWER FRAX WAR TRACK 22 COMMANDO POINT VALUE: 85 21 DESTROYER DAMAGE CONTROL 2 Commando ships carry SQUADRON SCALE 20 extra ground troops at SHIELD #1 the expense of their heavy weapons (in this FS #6 #2 19 Name 24 case, disruptors). 18 Only warships can PROBES CARGO maintain fleet speeds, 17 so a task force sent to MARINES attack a planet may PH-3 PH-1-FX PH-3 28 FA FA 16 bring along a com- 231 24 +L +R mando ship to provide 18 PRB BRDG EMER 15 ground muscle. For a 12 14 major invasion, war- 6 LAB BAR BTTY ships seize control of 20 20 FRAME DAMAGE 13 the planetary system 4 and freighters bring in DRN C HULL DRN vast numbers of WEAPONS 12 USED YZ ground troops. Given 1 2 3 TRAC TRAN AUX TRAN TRAC 11 the cost of starships, #5 #3 456 Marines are cheap and 20 20 10 you have entire planets 7 YZ SHTL PH-1-RX SHTL 4 9 from which to recruit TURN MODE B 5 more of them. MOVE COST 1/2 PH-3 TRAN PH-3 L+ R+ 8 BASE SPEED 8 67 TURN MODE 2 RA RA SPEED COST 4 L WARP IMP R WARP 7 936 396 BASE SPEED 16 TURN MODE 3 6 SPEED COST 8 5 BASE SPEED 24 SHIELD #4 TURN MODE 4 20 Barracks are SPEED COST 12 disabled on 4 “hull” hits. ACCELERATION 3 COST 1/2 DRONE RACK Y DRONE RACK Z DECELERATION 2 COST 1/2 The publisher of this 1 game grants permis- HIGH ENERGY DRONES DRONES sion to players to TURN COST 1 5 2+1/2 0 make a reasonable 2 6 number of photo- EVASIVE 3 7 MANEUVER copies of this page COST 3 4 8 FRACTIONAL (up to 25 per month) FEDERATION COMMANDER: COMMUNIQUE #54 for the personal use SQUADRON SCALE SHIP CARD #C542 POWER of the player. C542 Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. 0 1/2 Reproduction for sale is not authorized.

POWER The Federation DWD FEDERATION DWD COUNTER DWD TRACK was a variant of the DW, using offensive POINT VALUE: 58 WAR DESTROYER drone racks instead of FLEET SCALE DAMAGE CONTROL: 1 13 photon torpedoes as the main armament. USS Name (These are disabled PROBES 12 on “drone” hits.) The resulting ship was MARINES #6 SHIELD #1 #2 very fast, as it did not 4 12 11 have to divert power FRAME DAMAGE to weapons. 2 DRONE RACKS 10 X DRONE HULL X HULL Y C Y C REAC BRDG BTTY 9 Z PH-1 PH-1 LS 12EMER LAB TRAN RS 11 11 8 DRN SHUTTLE PH-3 Z 3 360° IMP TRAC IMP 7

LEFT RIGHT WARP CENTER WARP 6 #5 3 WARP 3 #3 11 3 11 TURN MODE C MOVE COST 1/4 5 BASE SPEED 8 DRONES DRONES TURN MODE 2 1 6 SPEED COST 2 2 7 4 BASE SPEED 16 3 8 TURN MODE 3 SPEED COST 4 4 9 5 10 3 BASE SPEED 24 TURN MODE 5 SPEED COST 6 ACCELERATION SHIELD #4 2 COST 1/4 11 The publisher of this DECELERATION ANTI-DRONE game grants permis- Z IMP USED COST 1/4 sion to players to 1 234 1 HIGH ENERGY make a reasonable 5 678 TURN COST number of photo- 1+1/4 WEAPONS USED copies of this page 123 X Y Z 0 EVASIVE (up to 25 per month) MANEUVER COST 1+1/2 for the personal use

FEDERATION COMMANDER: COMMUNIQUE #54 FRACTIONAL POWER of the player. FLEET SCALE SHIP CARD #C541 Reproduction for sale C541 Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 is not authorized.

COUNTER DWD POWER FEDERATION DWD TRACK WAR DESTROYER POINT VALUE: 111 SQUADRON SCALE DAMAGE CONTROL: 2 25

USS 24 Name SHIELD #1 23 PROBES #6 24 #2 22 MARINES 21 8 4 DRONE 20 FRAME DAMAGE WX Y 4 HULL PH-1-FH HULL 19 DRONE RACK C 12 C 18 W PH-1 REAC BRDG BTTY PH-1 LS 3 4 RS 17 X PH-3 EMER LAB TRAN PH-3 21 LS 5 6 RS 21 16 Y DRN TRAN SHUTTLE AUX PRB Z 15 Z TRAC IMPULSE TRAC 14 #5 #3 21 21 DRONES LEFT CENTER RIGHT 13 1 WARP WARP WARP 2 6 6 6 12

TURN MODE C 11 MOVE COST 1/2 333 BASE SPEED 8 10 TURN MODE 2 SPEED COST 4 9 BASE SPEED 16 TURN MODE 3 8 SPEED COST 8 SHIELD #4 BASE SPEED 24 7 TURN MODE 5 21 SPEED COST 12 DRONES DRONES DRONES 6 3 7 11 ACCELERATION The publisher grants COST 1/2 4 8 12 5 permission to players 5 9 13 DECELERATION 4 to make up to 25 COST 1/2 6 10 14 photocopies of this HIGH ENERGY ANTI-DRONE-Z 3 page per month (and to TURN COST IMP USED 2+1/2 print on his own printer 15234 678 2 as many as he wants) EVASIVE WEAPONS USED MANEUVER for personal use. 162 3 4 5 Z 1 COST 3 Reproduction for sale FEDERATION COMMANDER: COMMUNIQUE #54 FRACTIONAL POWER is not authorized. C541 SQUADRON SCALE SHIP CARD #C541 0 Copyright © 2010 Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc. 0 1/2

LIGHT . DREADNOUGHT DAMAGE CONTROL: 2 +20 FLEET SCALE PARTICLE CANNON IMP USED STS B 123 4 567 8 +10

Name C 123 4 567 8 not authorized D 123 4 567 8 PROBES #6 SHIELD #1 #2 15

MARINES 9 PC-FA 10 D

5 . Reproduction for sale is PH-1-FA FRAME PH-1-FA 7 PH-1-FA 8 DAMAGE L 5 REAC 6 R 3 C WARPREAC REAC C WARP 4 C HULL 4 WEAPONS 7 USED F HULL F HULL A123 WB-FA A

The publisher of this game grants permission to players to make a reasonable number of photocopies of this page (up to 25 per month) for the 4 5 6 7 15 15 6 personal use of the player PH-1 LAB BRDG LAB PH-1 RS #5 1 2 #3 LS TURN MODE D 13 PH-3AUX PC-FA EMER PH-3 13 RS MOVE COST 5/8 3 B C 4

LS 5 BASE SPEED 8 R HULL TRAN BTTY SHTL R HULL TURN MODE 2 SPEED COST 5 IMP TRAC IMP BASE SPEED 16 4 TURN MODE 4 SPEED COST 10 LEFT CENT RIGHT WARP WARP WARP BASE SPEED 24 TURN MODE 5 4 4 4 3 SPEED COST 15 ACCELERATION COST 5/8 SHIELD #4 2 DECELERATION 13 COST 5/8 HIGH ENERGY TURN COST 1 3+1/8

LARGER SHIP CARD B22 0 1/8 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 SELTORIAN COUNTER DNL POWER LIGHT POINT VALUE: 175 TRACK DAMAGE CONTROL: 4 . DREADNOUGHT PARTICLE CANNON IMP USED +50 SQUADRON SCALE C 123 4 567 8 D 123 4 567 8 Power when undamaged: +40 Name E 123 4 567 8 50 + 4.

not authorized F 123 4 567 8 PROBES G 123 4 567 8 +30 #6 SHIELD #1 #2 30 MARINES +20 20 15 PC-FA +10 10 G

. Reproduction for sale is 5 PC-FA AUX PC-FA AUX E F AUX FRAME DAMAGE PH-1-FA PH-1-FA PH-1-FA 6 L L 9 10 13 14 11 12 R R WARP WARP 9 WEAPONS REAC REAC REAC USED 84 48 A1B2 F HULL C HULL F HULL 8 3 4 5 6 30 30

The publisher of this game grants permission to players to make a reasonable number of photocopies of this page (up to 25 per month) for the 7 8 9 10 personal use of the player 11 12 13 14 #5 PH-1 LAB WB-FA LAB PH-1 #3 RS 7 26 1 2 A B 3 4 26 LS TURN MODE D PH-3BRDG PC-FA EMER PH-3 RS MOVE COST 5 6 C D 7 8 1+1/4 LS 6 REAR HULL BTTY REAR HULL BASE SPEED 8 TURN MODE 2 SPEED COST 10 IMP TRAN PRB TRAN IMP 5 BASE SPEED 16 TURN MODE 4 LEFT SHTL TRAC SHTL RIGHT SPEED COST 20 WARP WARP 4 BASE SPEED 24 84 C WARP C WARP 48 TURN MODE 5 8 4 SPEED COST 30 3 ACCELERATION COST 1+1/4 2 DECELERATION COST 1+1/4 SHIELD #4 26 HIGH ENERGY TURN COST 1 6+1/4 EVASIVE MANEUVER 0 COST 7+1/2

COUNTER BC POWER GORN TRACK +40 BATTLECRUISER POINT VALUE: 160 not authorized SQUADRON SCALE DAMAGE CONTROL: 4 +30

WEAPONS USED GCS Name ABCD123 +20 4 5 678910 SHIELD #1 30 +10 PROBES #6 #2 TRAC MARINES PH-1 PH-1

. Reproduction for sale is 16 L+FA 1 BRDG 2 FA+R 10 HULL HULL 4 F F 9 FRAME DAMAGE REAC BTTY TRAN 6 LS LP RP RS 8 PH-1 PL-F PL-S PRB EMER TRAN PL-S PL-F PH-1 3 C A B D 5 4 PH-3 IMP SHTL LAB SHTL IMP PH-3 6 LS 7 8 RS 7

The publisher of this game grants permission to players to make a reasonable number of photocopies of this page (up to 25 per month) for the LS RS personal use of the player 24 24 C HULL LEFT RIGHT #5 WARP WARP #3 6 24 16 8 BTTY 8 16 24 TRAN REAC 5 HULL AUX HULL TURN MODE D 12 4 R R 4 12 MOVE COST 1 PH-1 PH-1 BASE SPEED 8 9 TRAC 10 4 TURN MODE 2 L+RA RA+R SPEED COST 8

BASE SPEED 16 TURN MODE 4 3 SPEED COST 16 SHIELD #4 A player requested 24 that we provide this BASE SPEED 24 TURN MODE 5 PLASMA APLASMA C PLASMA B Ship Card since the SPEED COST 24 30 20 10 20 30 20 10 2 Fleet version was ACCELERATION 10 released several years COST 1 PLASMA D ago in Communique DECELERATION 20 #4, but the Squadron COST 1 10 1 Scale Ship Card was HIGH ENERGY PLASMA ARMING never in Communique. TURN COST 5 A GS B GS EVASIVE 0 MANEUVER C F COST 6 D F