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★ NEW STAR FLEET BATTLES CAMPAIGN ★ MUSKETEERS FICTION _ SampleAND fileSCENARIOS "X * ★ HISTORY OF THE * L- SECOND WORLD WAR THE FINNISH WAR OUR NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE CANT STOP BAD DICE ROLLS, BUT IT CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR GAME PLAYING BECAUSE EVERY ISSUE IT COVERS:

ROLE-GAMES Modules, supplements, NPCs, ideas to enliven a role-game campaign, and reviews of new products—with a special photo report section on new role-game miniatures

WAR GAMES Scenarios, variants, strategy tips, and reviews of new releases— including photo reports on new wargame miniatures

GENERAL ADULT GAMES Play-by-mail games, detective games, card games, and other sophisticated games

AND MORE! Cartoon series “Wrong Moves,” interviews, news, convention and show calendar, and, starting in the May issue, the series “Making and Marketing Your Game,” to be followed by the series “Writing for the Game Industry”

GAME NEWS— SUPPORTING THE GAMER WITH “NEWS YOU CAN USE” Premiere issue: March, 1985 (mailed February). 12-issue subscription: $20.00. Single copy: $2.50Sample (includes postage and handling). file Dept. K-12, 700 Orange Street, PO. Box 1992, Wilmington, DE 19899-1992

VISA/MasterCard/American Express orders: 1-800-441-7098, Operator K-12 OPINING NEXUS #11 VOL. 2 NO. 11

L m c i TABLE OF CONTENTS With the advent of warmer weather (and I hope it's not a pseudo-spring) our thoughts turn to warm-weather ac STAR FLEET UN/VERSE tivities. Many people view spring as a The Next Frontier...... 2 new beginning — a time of change. First Command - David A . Sicko The gaming industry also seems to Fiction and Scenarios...... 3 be in a state of change. Several of the Star Fleet Academy Term Papers...... 7 gaming magazines have either ceased The Academ y...... 8 publication or have changed ownership. Shipyard Report - Gom Ship Names...... 9 At the same time, at least two new ma Origins Tournament Rules...... 10 jor magazines have suddenly "sprung The Bargantine Campaign...... 11 up." We are certain to see a plethora of Errata...... 13 new game companies appearing at the Star Fleet Battles Computer Buletin Board...... 16 summer conventions. Some of these An Unusual Campaign...... 16 new publishers will survive, but most will Review and Preview ...... 16 not. Ours is But to Wonder: " W h y ? " ...... 17 This summer will mark the sixth an HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR niversary of Ta s k F o r c e Ga m e s . We first Systems and Applications...... 18 appeared at O r ig in s '7 9 in Chester, PA The Finnish War - A Scenario...... 21 with four "pocket games" and high Errata...... 22 hopes. We now have more than eighty products in our line, w ith roughly a dozen MUSKETEERS new products slated for spring and sum The Brawl - A.D. Howard mer release. A Musketeers Scenario...... 23 The point is that we must be doing Milady’s Ghost Sleeps Poorly - Richard L. Buck something right. Of course, we have Musketeers Fiction and Scenarios...... 27 you, the loyal readers and gamers, to STARFIRE thank. We want to strive to make N e x u s Star fa ll...... 33 and Ta s k F o r c e Ga m e s e v e n better. Our The Corsairs of Tangri...... 3 4 goal is to reach a point where people will Tangrian Military Services...... 37 know without a doubt that when they Tangrian Timeline...... 39 buy a Ta s k F o r c e product, it will be a Battlefog - James Ashauer top-quality product. Starfire Fiction and Scenario...... 40 We welcome your ideas and sug OTHER HISTORICAL gestions as to how to make our products The Battle of Surigao Straits the best. We w ant to give you the games A Battlewagon Scenario...... 44 you w ant. People's Potpourri - James Meldrum Variants for People’s War Gam es...... 46 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

u s I am happy to report that M The source for N e x u s subscriptions in Australia is: k e t e e r s a lm o s t made it. Within two to Military Simulations Pty. Ltd. three weeks after you receive your 18 Fonceca magazine. M u s k e t e e r s should begin ar riving at your local hobby shops. Mordialloc, Vic. 3195 We have included three scenarios for M u s k e t e e r s in this issue. We have NEXUS is published quarterly by Task Force also included enough rules so that one Games, 1110 No. Fillmore, Amarillo, TX of the scenarios may be played without 79107. the boxed game. It will give you just a NEXUS It is available at hobby shops and small sampling o f w hat the game is like. Publisher: Allen D. Eldridge bookstores or by subscription. If you like scenarios, this issue is for Editor in Chief: R. Vance Buck Subscription rate is $8.00 fo r four issues you. In addition to the three M u s k e t e e r s E d ito r / Star Fleet Battles: Stephen V. Cole or $14.00 fo r eight issues. Overseas subscrip E d ito r / S tarfire: David Weber scenarios (pun intended) we have S t a r - tion rates are available on request. Send a ll E d ito r / History o f the Second World War: f ir e , s t a r F l e e t B a t t l e s , H is t o r y O f Th e subscription correspondence to the address Nick Scheussler s e c o n d W o r ld W a r and Ba t t l e w a g o n above. Associate Editor and scenarios. AH material is copyright © 1905 by Task Advertising: Rick L Buck In this issue you will also find the Force Games unless otherwise noted A rt in this issue: usual potpourri of S t a r F l e e t and S t a r - Cover. Alvin Belflower Send a ll articles and artwork to 1110 N. f ir e material.Sample In addition, you will find Page 3, 23, 27,file 20, 29, 34, 37. 40: Fillmore, Amarillo IX 79107. variants for the Pe o p l e ' s Wa r Ga m e s line B ill Keith, Jr. Typesetting by Standard Printing Co. o f for which we now have the exclusive Page 5: John C. Crain A m a rillo TX. P rin tin g b y Standard P rin tin g Co. distribution. Page 44: C.A. M alin ana boutnwestem ruoncamns от нтапно /л . I think you will really enjoy this issue. ★ 1 ANNOUNCEMENTS Ken Kaufman, commander of the Romulans on the Joint Chiefs, has THE NEXT FRONTIER been transferred to Germany by his company. He resigned his position in favor of Jeff Smith to insure that the Romulans would be well looked after in his absence. Klingon Tactical Command, Box 18326, Oklahoma City, OK 73154 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO....? sells various items of interest, including unpublished SSD sheets, double One of the most common questions we receive is "W hatever hap blind scenarios, the Play-by-Mail system, and Starlist. Send a stamped p e n e d to [some potential project mentioned somewhere]? Why is n 't it self-addressed envelope for their catalog. o u t y e t? " The answer: We can only design and publish so many products, and CONVENTION SCHEDULE we did something else (which more people wanted) instead. The status N e x u s will list conventions which include tournaments of games of previously mentioned projects is as follows: published by Task Force. Send notice of your convention to Amarillo Design Bureau as early as possible; update it if necessary. (Conventions PRODUCT SURVEY FROM NEXUS #1 are also posted on the SFB Computer Bulletin Board.) After the conven A. Revised Rulebook: Published in several pieces. tion is over, write back and tell us who won the tournaments. B + C. Computer programs: Awaiting decision on whether or not ADB does not sponsor tournaments or provide prizes. Task Force development and publication is financially justified. See the "W h y" col does (for qualified conventions); contact TFG for details. umn in this issue. The conventions below will provide additional information if you will D. Sector Modules: An idea we are still interested in, but this is a send a stamped reply envelope. major project and cannot be started until 1988. E. Federation And Empire: Still on schedule for 1985. ★ February 8-10, War Con 11, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M. F. Star Fleet Marines: Probably will become Supplement #4, com SFB tournament. (Received too late.) bining rules sections D15 and D16 with some new material. ★ March 29-31, Contest, Hilton Inn of Tulsa. All gaming conven G. Star Fleet Role Playing: Last place on the survey; dropped for lack tion, many tournaments including Star Fleet Battles. Admission $8. TSS, of interest. SFB gamers tend to be take-charge-and-fight types, rather Box 4726, Tulsa, OK 74159. than those who want to be entertained by a gamemaster. ★ March 29-31, Phoenix Con 0.5, Atlanta American Hotel. SFB Tour H. Pirates of Orion: Possibly a mini-module in Nexus #14. nament run by Tom Hammond. Admission $15. Info: Mark Stevens, I. Star Fleet Science Officer: Dropped when RPG was dropped. 752-1/2 North Highland NE, Atlanta, GA 30306, 404-875-7326. Hotel J. Sub-Light Battles: Probably a supplement in 1987. reservations 1-800-621-7885; in Georgia call 1-404-688-8600. K. Star Fleet Technical Manual: Now in early design stages for possi ★ March 30-31, Point Con VIII, Box 730, US Military Academy, West ble publication next year. Point, NY 10997. L. Federation Space Expansions: Dropped when FS was permanently withdrawn from publication. ★ Spring?, CAPCON, SFB tournament. Write: Drowsy Dragon, 34 Maplewood Ave, Columbus, OH 43213. PROJECT FILES MENTIONED IN NEXUS #8 1. Book of 1,000 refits: Holding file for use in various places. ★ April 26-28, Wizard's Challenge Game Convention, various tour 2. PF Supplement: Probably will become Supplement #3. naments including 64-player SFB w/ Origins rules. Details from: Wizard's 3. Three-dimensional SFB: Insufficient interest for any development Corner, 801С Broadway North, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada S7N 1B5 time to be invested. Will probably never be published. (306-934-4777). 4. Boarding Parties (a.k.a. Star Fleet Marines): See F above. ★ May 11, Madness-85, Middletown High School, NY. SFB tour 5. Extra Counters: Published as REINFORCEMENTS. naments (32-player single elimination; 12-player demo derby); comics, 6. Sub-Light Battles: See J above. games, movies. Admission $2 in advance; $3 at the door. Info write: 7. Civilian ships: Holding file only. Will not be separate product; ships Madness-85, 34 South St, Middletown, NY 10940. may be published in various places as space permits. ★ June 15-16, Michicon Gamefest, Southfield, Michigan. Major con 8. Exploration holding file: Exploration ships to be in V3. vention. Info write: Michicon Gamefest, Box 656, Wyandotte, Ml 48192. 9. Four New One-Hex Races: No material is being accepted at this ★ June 27-30, Origins-85 National Gaming Convention. Baltimore, time. Special terms and conditions will be published in a future NEXUS. MD. Annual SFB "Gold Hat" tournament, SFB seminar, hundreds of other But as it won't appear before 1986, there is no hurry to fill up the file. events. Info: Origins 85, Box 139, Middletown, NJ 07748 or call We suggest that you continue refining your race and wait for our formal 301-298-3135. Request For Proposals. Of the 19 items listed here (discounting the two that are on both ★ July 5-7, SEAGA-85 Atlanta Gaming Festival, Airport Ramada Inn, lists), two were published, five are on the schedule, four are not, four 845 North Central Ave, Hapeville, Atlanta, Georgia. Gaming, movies, door are holding files only, and four have been (effectively) dropped. It should prizes. Admission $12 before 15 June; no mail orders after that date; be noted, however, that Supplement #1, four SSD books, and three Cap $ 15 at the door. Write to: SEAGA, Box 930031, Norcross, GA, 30093. tain's Logs (8 products) were published in addition to the proposals above, (Rooms at the hotel are $36/night plus $8 per extra person. Call and that project A actually involved four products (V1, V2, S2, and U1), 1-800-554-8412 to reserve rooms; in Georgia call 1-800-554-5696.) so the correct totals should show 13 completed products. ★ July 20-21, Thundercon-I, Ontario. SFB Miniatures tournament. Not every proposal can, will, or should reach print. Publishing a list Details from: Gamer's Attic, 777 Red River Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario, of ideas is not a commitment to publish them, but a request for your com Canada P7B 1J9 (807-345-2411). ments on which ones should be published first or at all. ★ August 3-4, Ozarkon-I, Joplin, Mo. SFB Tournament. Info: Things FICTION AUTHORS TAKE NOTE Unlimited, Box 2151, Joplin, MO 64803. Our current policy (which w on't change) is to publish only game- ★ August, Game-Con I, South Carolina. Details from: Box 5131, oriented fiction. The only non-game fiction we have published STAR FLEET UNIVERSE controlled ships are automatically rejected; stories about ground com The Star Fleet Universe section of each issue of N e x u s is prepared bat or boarding parties won't be published before Star Fleet Marines (July by ADB under an exclusive contract with Task Force Games and is 86) althoughSample we will need to select some before then. Copyright © 1985 Amarillo Design fileBureau. Included within this copyright The purpose of Nexus is to support, promote, and improve the play are all articles on pages 2-17 of this issue inclusive. ing of Task Force games and products. While fiction should be entertain S ta r Fl e e t Ba t t l e s and S ta r F l e e t U n iver se are trademarks held joint ing, it should also support the playing of SFB. All fiction published must ly by Task Force Games and Amarillo Design Bureau. The small ® and fill the dual role of providing playable situations and entertaining the ™ marks are omitted for convenience. players. For this reason, fiction which cannot be played in game terms All correspondence relating to SFB, including material for N e x u s , will not be published and should not be submitted. should be send to ADB, P. O. Box 8759, Amarillo, TX 79114.