From: Doug Evans <devans@n...>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 22:14:52 -0500
Subject: A long, rambling farewell
***OK, I started writing this a long time ago, had my mail program lose ***it's 1-watt mind, and I had to bash the archive file to pull this out ***so I could finally submit it. I also made the mistake of mentioning ***part of my desires on a usenet group, which seemed to bounce right ***here. ;->= -First, let me apologize if I cover or ask for something hammered into the -ground. If so, shoot me a private msg, and I'll give a digest of all -those who reply, with my eating-crow included. ;-> -Concerning all the talk about campaign systems, I'd like to offer a very -simple one upon which I'm still working. It's based on the old chesnut, from -Starfire's Young Kingdom's to the Gateway series of novels: we don't invent -FTL, we discover the facilities of the ancients. Each budding empire/system -has a construction yard capable of a limited number of build points, and -only those military 'templates' of FT standard ships up to that build size. -I plan on allowing carry over of build points, but you can only build military -ships if you have enough points to complete them in one strategic turn. There -are different sizes of ancient's sites; I'll have a bigger one in the center -of my play area, smaller ones towards periphery, for the player starts. And, -plenty of 'uninhabited' systems with the possibilities of even larger sites -waiting for discovery. -Designing new ships and systems will be possible, but time and build pt. -expensive, with the site limits set so the 'optimal ships' are available -at the low end of larger sites rather than high end of small ones. Lastly, -though not required, I'm using 3-D strategic displays, but 2-D tactical. -My hope is to create system that will be simple, not requiring heavy -bookkeeping, but still having some planning required, and matching the -FT system well. ***I had been for sometime struggling with what to use for ground pounders. ***My first thoughts were that DSII just didn't match the simplicity of FT, ***and I wanted something as an adjunct, not domination of the space war. ***I vacillated between Ogre Miniatures and Fortress America, just because ***I like them, and they are VERY simple, and I hadn't decided between a ***concrete or abstract system. In the end, I've pretty much decided to use ***SPI's Starforce cop-out: nice wars with no civvie involvement. Least, ***til the nasty bugs show up. ***Imagine my surprise when Ogre became such a hot topic. ;->= -Someone mentioned the upcoming B5 Wars, and the B5 RPG, with B5 causing -an excitement that probably happened with the ST:TOS. It brought to mind -Lou Zocchi's Star Fleet Battle Manual. 400 degree(not 360) recticle. The -plastic Fed mini's often used in Star Fleet Battles actually started here, -of course based in turn on the ST Technical Manual. -Well, looking at the bases to those first SFB mini's, with the hex-based -overlays, and saw that they perfectly matched Full Thrust's 12 pt turn -with the off-set four fire arcs. Sorry, but I can't help but think this -is not a coincidence. Now, for those who think this is some claim of -plagarism, please bugger off. Between the four arcs of the plastic base, -and the hex lines with lines between to mark different arcs, from STBM -and SFB respectively, I firmly believe Mr. Tuffley created something new -and wonderful. -My request is for anyone who has SFB and has more talent than I in creating -FT ship stats for this HUGE pile of SFB ship mini's that, no matter what -with the elegant FT system running them. ***This is, of course, the shoe I dropped on rec.games.miniatures.misc. ***Full Thrust is a topic that comes up now and then fondly. *wave at Allen* ***Alan Brain has, of course, started on this, and suffers continuous taunts ***from me encouraging him further. I'd like direct transfers from SFB, without ***actually CALLING them Lyran War Destroyer, and ESGs, etc., but I can't well ***argue with Alan's reasons. -As long as I'm trying to figure precursors to FT, may I assume that the -person that suggested the dead fire arc was a Starfire player? I don't -doubt that this has been in other games, but none come to mind right away. -And do any of those familiar with the old naval game Seastrike wonder if -there isn't some connection to the icons on the FT ships? ;->= ***Ok, I know this is inflammatory, but at least I wasn't totally parochial. ***Seastrike is another fine British game; I've seen references to it's ***several fine points as a some designer or another was borrowing a ***particular technique. ;->= -The_Beast, who assumes he'll be flamed anyway ***End of transmission Unfortunately, this may be my only post to the list. While I've enjoyed the refreshing civility of the posters to the group, I have been hit with some admin flack about the vast numbers of mail files waiting for me if I don't stay on it daily. It looks like I'll have to quit inspite of how much I've enjoyed lurking here; and right after posting this. Best flame me directly. I will hope, no matter how onerous to others, that there will be a time when to the list goes to a digest, or USENET. Til then, I'll be grateful to to Jerry Han for his noble archiving effort. Thanks, Jerry! When there was a slight problem on this list awhile ago, folks asked 'what happened'? I thought that everyone here should have seen such things often enough to know not to send asking notes. ;->= Jon, I think the later applause was in the first instance for your acceptance of admin, no matter who fixed one particular glitch. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Lastly, allow me to bring up a painful topic; I was shocked as all to hear of the death of the previous list maintainer. A quiet and thoughtful voice, his presense was something I always assumed would be here, taken, thanklessly, for granted. Hearing of the death of anyone less than 2/3 my own age is always a tragedy; to be aware of never knowing or meeting them makes it a poiqnant one. I agree that naming a class of FT ships would seem trivial to anyone not familiar with the game, or see the thrill of possibly being worthy. A private, yet, throughly just honor. However, I know I won't wait for another printing to make such a gesture. Whenever my two Superior 'Super Galactic Dreadnought' monsters finally make it to a game, one will bear the name James H.