Well, I'm running the next big FT game at The Last Square next Wednesday.
(Wanna road-trip, Mark?) It's Classic Star Trek again, but this time
with a twist.
With the recent talk about Star Trek games that "feel" like the show, I
decided to give an idea a whirl.
It'll be about seven Klingon Heavy Cruisers and one Battleship, plus
support (six to eight Romulan cloaking-capable destroyers), versus Six
Federation Cruisers, plus support (six to eight destroyers). Yup, the
Federation is HEAVILY outmatched, UNTIL...
A worm-hole opens up through the Space-Time continuum, and out pops the
Enterprise D (ala "The Next Generation)!
I'm trying to figure out how powerful to make it, and how to best represent
its new Tech level. One idea was to make it a Battleship, but half the cost
and space for its Warp and Thrust Engines. And perhaps half the cost of its
shields. And of course, once it's on the map, all Romulan cloaking devices
will be ineffective (I'm assuming a Cloaking Device arms race - as Fed
Tech
gets better, so do the Claoking Devices - over the course of time from
ST, through the movies, to ST:TNG).
Basically, I want the Enterprise D to be NASTY, but I still want the game to
be ballanced. Or at least, as ballanced as humanly possible. The Federation
should be able to keep the Klingons at a distance for a short while (They'll
have "A" batteries, the best the Klingons will have are
"Bs"
and double-range Needle Guns), so I don't want to bring the Enterprise-D
in until turn four or five.
AND I don't even want the Federation players to know it's coming. (I want its
appearance to be a shock to both sides). I may let one player in on it
- whoever will take over command of the D. The goal of the Enterprise D
is
to go back through the worm-hole, whenever it reappears. I may bring it
back twice in the game, for three turns per time.
He he he he.
Thoughts?
> John Kovalic writes:
@:) [ Enterprise D in (its) past]
@:)
@:) I'm trying to figure out how powerful to make it, and how to best @:)
represent its new Tech level. One idea was to make it a @:) Battleship, but
half the cost and space for its Warp and Thrust @:) Engines. And perhaps half
the cost of its shields. And of course, @:) once it's on the map, all Romulan
cloaking devices will be
@:) ineffective (I'm assuming a Cloaking Device arms race - as Fed
@:) Tech gets better, so do the Claoking Devices - over the course of
@:) time from ST, through the movies, to ST:TNG).
Since this is a pre-fab scenario I don't think costs are important
(except to allow you to estimate balance). I would reccomend providing the D
with upgraded systems by supplying it with systems that are unavailable to the
other ships. AA megabatteries would be one suggestion (to make it really
nasty, allow them to mount in any arc and not break down). Level three screens
would be another. A lot of damage control parties might help things out. All
of these things could be done without changing the basic FT rules.
If you don't mind stretching the rules a little bit, I would recommend
increasing the range or strength of Enterprise D's weapons. You could extend
the range brackets of their torpedoes, for example, making them 8" instead of
6. Changes of this nature make it more difficult to estimate game balance
because you can't just compare points any more. Personally I recommend AA
batteries and level 3 screens. A ship with level 3 screens against a bunch of
ship with level 2 or less screens can be devastating.
@:) Thoughts?
My other thought is that ST:FT Romulans should carry wave guns and nova
cannon. I just thought of that. Good thought, me!
> [quoted text omitted]
SNIP
> AND I don't even want the Federation players to know it's coming. (I
I'd suggest B's for the Feds, and C's and normal range needles for the
Klingons. Ent-D can then have A's or even AA's to give a whacking
technical
advantage. I'd also keep the secret from All the players- maybe have a
Fed with a distinctly less powerful command and "compensate" with the
temporary
Ent-D.
Cheers,
> On Thu, 13 Feb 1997, John Kovalic wrote:
> Well, I'm running the next big FT game at The Last Square next
> Joachim Heck - SunSoft wrote:
> [quoted text omitted]