First Battle with FB

Hello All

On SUnday I had a most enjoyable battle using the FB, ESU v NAC, each side had
a SDN, BB 2 x Heavey Cruiser 2 x Escort Cruiser. We played on a 6' x 8' table.

The game played much differnt to FT, the vectore movement system will take
some time to master, I miscalulated early on and my cruisers were going so
fast it took them several turns to get back into the battle, leaving my SDN to
get hammered by the ESU fleet, with life support failing and on the last row
of boxes, the Captain order the crew to abandon ship, and it drifted off the
table...
Our fleets both flew past each other, then there was much frantic manoeuvring
to get back into combat. After much fire, and a flurry of close range Pulse
Torps, the ESU were finnaly all destroyed; the NAC lost an SDN and an Escort
Cruiser, the BB had only ONE hull box left, and was sevrely damaged, and the
other cruisers were all badly damaged.

How does it compare to standard FT? Manouevre is harder and yet less
predicatble, becuase of the ability to change face and roll there was no
plughole effect of ships circling each other. Pulse torpedoes are now a much
more usefull weapon. Ships survive a lot longer, the big ships are really
tough, as they should be. The Core Systems rules work well, ans add spice to
the game, and should be used. Class 4 batts are VERY usefull, the ability to
outrange all other ships is signbificant. The fighter rules work better as
well, with fighters able to keep up with ships. Overall, a hugely enjoyable
game, anyone who is still consdiering whther to buy the FBV should do so.

Peace and Love