FTII/MT vs. FB

Hello,

My local hobby store hasn't received it's copies of the FB yet. I've been
reading the discussions here lately and find I'm REALLY behind in the present
game mechanics (ie. I'm lost). Is the FB basically a new system? From the
chats going on here, it looks as if some MAJOR differences exist between the
old and the new. Is this a correct perception?

Pete

> On Fri, 11 Sep 1998, PCARON wrote:

> in the present game mechanics (ie. I'm lost). Is the FB basically a

Well, we have a new (optional) movement system, a new (although very similar)
system for basic beams, new firing arcs system, some new ship systems, changes
to the damage system, fighter movement and point defense and a completely new
design system. Plus I probably forgot about some changes...

I'd say anything that invalidates your old ship designs is a major change.

> Peter Caron wrote:

> My local hobby store hasn't received it's copies of the FB yet.

It is basically a new ship design system, with fewer obvious loop-holes
for the rule lawyers to exploit. (I'm pretty sure there are *some*
loop-holes left, but those are the ones we missed during the
play-testing
so they can't be that obvious :-/ )

(Note that it is perfectly possible to use FTII ship designs together with FB
ships, but don't rely on the point values to balance games.
('Course, you couldn't really do that even with only FTII ships - and
the
FTFB point values are basically "ship Mass * 3.5"  :-/ ) )

In addition to that there's an optional movement system (vector movement), a
new weapon system (the Salvo Missile and its two launch systems), and a bunch
of minor adjustments to other weapons.

> From the chats going on here, it looks as if some MAJOR

Yes and no. The basic system is unchanged, but a lot of details have
changed - enough to change the feel and balance of the game.

Later,