Starfleet Battles

[Julian Grimm]

I've been becoming more and more interested in this. I was wondering how good the game is. If it has a steep learning curve and if the current sets are as good as the originals.

Any info on the game would help.
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[tylermo]

I only played a few games back in the 80's. I liked it, but I wasn't running it per se. I've pondered it many times since then, but it apparently does have a high learning curve. That said, I'm not the one to ask. I probably won't pick it up anytime soon, even though I'd like to. I'm not a fan of overly-crunchy.

[Traveller]

I would recommend downloading the Cadet Training Manual from ADB so you can get a taste of the game. However, I will tell you that it is EXTREMELY involved if you go all out and attempt to use everything available, so much so that ADB came out with a somewhat more streamlined version, Bridge Commander.

Other than the training manual, the only Star Fleet Universe stuff I have is the original version of Prime Directive, the RPG compliment to Starfleet Battles.

Cadet Training Manual Links:
Rules
SSDs
Maps & Counters
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[Brad]

I played SFB religiously every weekend from about 1989 until 1996. It is definitely one of the more complex games out there, not quite on the level of Advanced Squad Leader (another one of my favorites), but close. Playing a simple head-to-head battle between a D7 and CA takes, on average, several HOURS. I remember a 3-on-3 battle lasting 8 or 9 hours one night. Anyway, you need dedicated players who don't easily lose interest. The rules themselves are not difficult to understand, but the sheer volume can be overwhelming. That said, if you ditch everything complicated (and some of the more stupid stuff like the MRS and PFs that just add needless rules) you can have a fun gaming experience. Using only the basic ships and no fighters, you will probably be able to figure out the rules after a game or two. The only complex part of the "basics" is how cloaking works, but even that's straightforward and you can always just ignore the Romulans. Once you become more adept at the game and can manage a Fed CA fairly well, throw in the Hydrans. I'd say to completely ignore the Lyrans (ESGs are dumb) and ISC (again, just dumb).

You can always try out Federation Commander to start off with. It's essentially a stripped down and simplified version of SFB that more closely resembles the original than the monstrosity that SFB became. After playing SFB for so long, I found FC to be lacking quite a bit, but if you have no experience with SFB you might enjoy it.