I won a set of FT rules at a gameday a month ago. Picked up a healthy batch of
miniatures at reasonable prices too. Mostly NSL with some FSE. Now, that I've
read the rules I realize there's no stats. Many of the weapons that I've seen
discussed while I lurk don't appear in here either. I figured they were in MT
cause I've seen it around.
But.... I was looking at the FB page on GeoHex's site and it gives the
impression of being a rules compilation/update with (for lack of a
better term) SSD's.
Could someone in the know please elaborate for me? Is it worth it to go get MT
if I should really just be getting the FB's?
Also, was examining the larger of the NSL ships I picked up. The section of
superstructure that connects the engine array to the command section appears
to be missing a bunch of detail. There's a large fissure beneath this lack of
detail that makes it look like the piece will split. The dealer was clearing
the mini's out so I can't return or exchange. Does anyone have a suggestion or
idea what to do with this defective segment?
With regards to the fleets... Do people tend to pick a fleet and play it per
doctrine or do they use the mini's and design their own stats? I like some
mini's from this fleet and some from that one. The fleet (as a whole) that I
like the looks of the best is FSE but it's weapons loadout doesn't favor what
I perceive to be my style of play. Where would I find descriptions of the
loadouts favoured by each of the 'Powers' and their usual tactics?
So, pardon the length of my message and thanks for any info you can impart.
Happy New Year to all!
Mark
Mark,
MT has valuable info in it on the other races. FT has valuable rules and such.
MT fleshes out the Kra'Vak and Savasku and gives you an idea where they are in
the scheme of things. Ruleswise, it is always good to know how your enemy's
weapon systems work. <G> Both are valuable to have, in my opinion...
As for fleets, I personally use the "Rag-Tag, Fugitive Fleet"
method(tm). I have scattered minis from several systems including but not
limited to B5
Wars, Traveller-New Era, Star Blazers. I buy ships that I like to look
at and like modifying and like painting. Currently, my "human" ships have been
pressed into service as Kra'vak using the Kra'vak stats.
Remember, YOU are the one that has to look at your minis more than anyone.
<G>
-=Kr'rt
> ----------
> nemesice@interlog.com wrote:
Well, it depends. Many of the weapons and systems discussed in MT are
many genre-based (cloaking device for ST players, Wave Gun for anime
games, etc.). The only rules that really fit the official FT universe are the
rules for Kra'Vak and the Sa'Vasku.
> But.... I was looking at the FB page on GeoHex's site and it gives the
More or less yes. The FB contains updated rules for movement (the optional
vector movement system), the new construction rules (no more
cheese ships), and new and updated weapons (Salvo-Based Missiles and
updated original weapons.)
> Could someone in the know please elaborate for me? Is it worth it to
It depends on how far you want to go. If you just want to play FT Version 2.0
then get MT. It will give you greater flexibility for
play. If you want to be up-to-date, then get MT and the FB. The FB
updates most of the rules found in FT/MT. Although the construction
system in the FB contains the new mass/points for "human" systems found
in MT, they don't reiterate the rules.
[SNIP]
> With regards to the fleets... Do people tend to pick a fleet and play
Well, there is nothing stopping you from designing your own ships. The ships
in the FB are meant for people who like the official FT universe. FT is meant
to be a completely "generic" system. You can do with it as you like. Most of
the games I play don't take background into account at all. The players just
design their ships and duke it out. I myself am hammering out my own
background for FT with it's own ships, empires, enclaves and alien races. I
know that no one will probably ever touch it, but the fun is in the design. As
for tactics, the FB gives little tactical advice. It does explain the design
philosophy of each of the powers. Since technology does help in determining
tactics (Note: I said "help" and not dictate, I don't want to be cast in same
light as David Weber's Horrible Hemphill) you can get a feel how each fleet
should operate effectively.
> nemesice@interlog.com wrote:
You can always get some NAC or NSL to serve as enemies of your preferred
fleet. If you are demonstrating the game for the first time to new players,
two well matched and attractive fleets will be enticing for the game. Then let
the simplicity of the game rules win new GZG converts.
As to whether you use the official GZG background or one of your own devices,
it will depend on your interests and the gaming group you're with. The
important thing is to have fun and put those devious ESU in their place!
> The nemesis Mark (to tell him apart from Kochte, Siefert et. al.) wrote:
> I won a set of FT rules at a gameday a month ago. Picked up a healthy
Most probably are. The only completely new weapon in FB1 are the Salvo
Missiles and their two launcher types. 'Course, FT being what it is it may
well be that some of the weapons you've seen discussed are completely
home-grown!
> But.... I was looking at the FB page on GeoHex's site and it gives the
Rather the other way around - a compilation of sample SSDs with an
added-on update of the rules :-) There are 10 pages of new or revised
rules, 30 pages of SSDs and five pages of background stuff and author's
comments. The rule revisions are rather important, though (but I might be
slightly biased on this subject <G>).
> Could someone in the know please elaborate for me?
Sure. Basically it's like this:
1992 - Full Thrust 2nd ed. published; basic rules and some extras.
1993 - More Thrust published; new tech - several aimed at specific
genres, eg Waveguns for Anime battles and Cloak for Trekkies; two alien races
(interesting, but poorly balanced).
1998 - Fleet Book 1 published, with a long-needed major revision of the
FT2 design system and fine-tuning most of the basic (ie, FT rather than
MT) weapons, and sample designs for the four major human fleets using the new
design rules.
> Is it worth it to go get MT if I should really just be getting the
Currently there's only one FB, ie FB1 :-/ I hope that the rest of the MT
rules and tech will get a revision when FB2 is published, but when that is,
well... that's a very good question. Until then, MT can give a lot of
inspiration - but be warned; the material there is likely to be revised
in the future.
You need FT, though - while the FB1 revises part of FT and summarises
many of the most important rules, it assumes that you already know what
it is talking about and doesn't elaborate on any of the non-revised
stuff.
> Also, was examining the larger of the NSL ships I picked up. The
segment?
I'd fill in the fissure with modelling putty, strengthened (if necessary) by
drilling through the section with a pin vice and putting thin wire
straight through it. Or else I'd just paint it as battle damage :-)
> With regards to the fleets... Do people tend to pick a fleet and play
I don't use the minis (well, almost - of my 350+ spaceship models, less
than 20 are made by GZG) and I prefer to create my own designs for the
models I use. I have created doctrines for my own fleets, though -
having a common "theme" to each fleet makes them a lot more interesting
to play :-)
> I like some mini's from this fleet and some from that one. The fleet
Then use other stats for them!
There is *NO* requirement that you must use the "official" stats for the
"official" models in Full Thrust. The FB1 is for those who like GZG's
game background, and the designs provided in it are examples *ONLY* -
indeed, many of the designs have notes about major variants... there is
absolutely nothing to stop you from creating your own design for whatever
model takes your fancy!
> Where would I find descriptions of the loadouts favoured by each of
In the Fleet Book. Very short descriptions, though - but they're all
you're likely to get from Jon! :-) And always remember the basic tenet
of all GZG games: "If you don't like it, change it!"
Hope this helps,
> I won a set of FT rules at a gameday a month ago. Picked up a healthy
Right. There are no official stats before Fleet Book. And the Fleet Book makes
it clear that those specific stats are just examples. And a
lot of the new weapons are in More Thrust, other than the SML/SMR.
> But.... I was looking at the FB page on GeoHex's site and it gives the
Yes. That's correct as well.
> Could someone in the know please elaborate for me? Is it worth it to
Buy both! Both are very useful.
> With regards to the fleets... Do people tend to pick a fleet and play
Yes and Yes. Whatever floats your boat.
> some mini's from this fleet and some from that one. The fleet (as a
Make up your own, using the minis you like.
> Where would I find descriptions of the loadouts favoured by each of
> nemesice@interlog.com wrote:
Mark, Having asked for comment...
My feeling is somewhat mixed about the fleet book. I think that
since you have the FT rules, the MT is a good add on for the ship designs, the
Kra'Vak, and the Sha'VasKu.
The Kra'Vak vs human games should be at a ratio of three human points to two
Kra'Vak points for play balance.
The Sha'VasKu do not have a point value, I would suggest a starting value of
four points per mass.
The FT/MT have a different feel than the Fleet Book, the FT/MT
(also called FT2) have a greater variation in possibilities than the
Fleet Book. The Wave, Nova, and Reflex shield have never been used
in this area. The over complex movement and firing sequence have likewise been
discarded in favor of simplicity and speed of play.
The Fleet Book 'corrected' the errors of the FT/MT design system,
however most of the ships in the Fleet Book look to 'vanilla' for my taste. (I
have made a ship design XL Spreadsheet, for my personal use.) I wiil
participate in games with the FB system, but it is not preferred.
Everything comes down to 'do what you like best, and away with the rest.'
The list is a good place to get questions answered.
Bye for now,
> I won a set of FT rules at a gameday a month ago. Picked up a healthy
As you already have the rulebook (FT), if you only want or can afford to buy
one additional book then I would probably recommend the FB vol.1 rather
than MT. If you can stretch to both, then go for it - MT has a lot of
stuff you may find useful. If you buy the FB without getting MT as well, there
may be a few things that won't make sense to you, but you should be able to
fudge round those; the main thing you won't have without MT is the alien ship
rules, but we're working on FB vol.2 with the revised alien stuff in
it anyway (we're planning for a late-Spring '99 publication, provided
other things don't get in the way too much). FB vol.1 has designs in it for
the four main human fleets, but you can use these designs (or any
modifications of them) to fit your own generic ships
if you wish - you don't have to use the background. Look at the FB as a
resource of sixty-plus ship designs that you can pick from to build your
own fleet, and call them what you like!
The rules changes in the FB are mainly to munchkin-proof the design
system
(as far as possible, anyway - they'll always find SOME way to minimax
the system... <grin>), and the rules additions are mostly optional anyway.