Topic: OT - How different is Task Force Games era SFB rules from 1999 ADB SFB Rules

[Lepton]

I am seeing any number of E-Bay auctions for old versions of SFB for of course alot less money.  In addition, I have a good deal of nostalgia for the old SFB box.  It has a certain quiet dignity and grandeur that the current box lacks.  Also I used to own that box.

Be that as it may, I am wondering how different the rule sets actually are (1999 ADB rule set vs anything pre-ADB name on box) as of course I'd like to save some money and see that box in my hands again.

Essentially I'd like to pay 20 bucks for SFB rules and modules C1 and C2 by buying old SFB stuff rather than new SFB stuff, but not of course if the rules have changed too much for the TFG-era.

Thanks for any comments or feedback

[Julin Eurthyr]

It depends on exactly what set of TFG rules you're looking at...

On the StarfleetGames.com (ADB) website, there's an "SFB Errata" page.  One section of that page explains how to update some of the more recent editions to "current"...

According to that site, with the 1994 rulebooks and that site's edits, you have the 1999 (current) edition.
With the 1990-92 books, a 1995-dated "Master Errata File" (which has to be around somewhere) and that site's edits, you'd be current.

Anything much earlier than that is probably way too hard to update...

[Lepton]

Ah, thanks so much.  That is exactly the type of info I was looking for.  Unfortunately, I think the box I like might have been before 1990, but still if I can find a version that age or younger, then bingo.  Thanks again.

[762_XC]

You want the "Captain's Edition". Anything previous to that will have a different structure as far as the modlues etc., not to mention different rules, SSD's, etc.

IIRC it came out in '86 or '87.

[Lepton]

Yes, that would certainly seem to be the case.  I was hoping that I could by-pass all that C module stuff, but it appears not.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

The older versions are pretty cool games from the era before all the extra cheese was added to sell more merchandise.  They stand perfectly well on their own without the newer stuff, which you can add or not based on the play preferences of you and whoever you game with.

[762_XC]

You can probably get by with just C1 Lepton. That gives you Lyrans, Hydrans and WYN to round out the galactic races.

C2 adds Neo-Thols, Andros and Frogs.

[KAT Chuut-Ritt]

You can probably get by with just C1 Lepton. That gives you Lyrans, Hydrans and WYN to round out the galactic races.

C2 adds Neo-Thols, Andros and Frogs.

All the important races are in the origional boxed set however 

[Hexx]

You can probably get by with just C1 Lepton. That gives you Lyrans, Hydrans and WYN to round out the galactic races.

C2 adds Neo-Thols, Andros and Frogs.

All the important races are in the origional boxed set however 

I think you misunderstand the defintion of "important".

The sentence should read
"All the races needing drones as a crutch to mask their pilot's incompetence are in the original boxed set"

Module C2 adds the races that need special weapons and rules as a crutch.

Module C1 is the pinacle of races that need some skill to survive.
(Unless you're a cheesy Hydran)

[Lepton]

Yes, C1 would be the module, but then there is the fighters module, PF module, battleships, dreds, new cruisers, etc, etc.  It's a good game but the number of expansions makes me hesitant to even take the first step.

If they released some sort of collector's edition with that 1980's box, I am not sure I could resist, but as it is the cost to benefit ratio at this point is not optimal, considering I'd be looking at a hefty sum to get current with what SFC offers.

[762_XC]

They do add up. Basic Set, Advanced Missions, and C1 will give you a solid foundation for all of the galactic races. If you want carriers (BS and AM will give you at least one carrier for almost every race) you will need J, and obviously if you want PF's you will need K.

Then there's the R modules. May be optional or not, depending on how many ships and variants you really need.

[Father Ted]

As long as it's Captain's Edition, and not Commander's Edition, you should be good. There are some subtle changes in the rules for most races, but major ones for the Andromedans that turned them from unbeatable monsters in the old Commander's rules to almost unbeatable monsters in the Captain's set.

[Lepton]

I got outbid for a lot on E-Bay for current SFB Captain's Edition box and J module.  Oh well.

[Lepton]

Correction, won it for 32 bucks and shipping.  Not a bad deal.  Did someone here put it up for bid?  The name of the seller looked familiar.  Bruce McCord.

[762_XC]

Sweet! Enjoy. 

[Magnum357]

What do you guys think of that new "Federation Commander" game they are making now?  I like the idea of "SFB Lite" (as they say its a completely new game) but I'm not sure I can afford $60.00 for each module    .

But I do like the concept of FC.

[Lepton]

I've expressed my opinion of it in Ten Forward, but I will summarize by saying that their market is tiny and their costs are high.  60 bucks is my copy of Star Wars Battlefront II or some other game that cost millions to produce with the production values to show for it as opposed to something that cost a buck 98 to produce that is a flat 2-d board-game. They need to come into the 21st century as far as I am concerned.  I'm sure that sounds ridiculous from someone who just bought the rules for a more complicated and convoluted board game from the same company

[Hexx]

I think Federation Commander can do very well, but I think they need to do
it around miniatures.

If they want to expand their system they (imho) have to move away from
counters.
And (again imho) right now they can't - no disrespect to anyone who likes htem, but there's
no way their current line of miniatures competes with pretty much any other line of starship combat
system, they all look like 60's retro ships. (for kinda obvious reasons I'd guess..)

[762_XC]

Well at least no one would have to buy the Gorn ships, as long as they had a few staplers around the house.