Full Steam?(was Re: A Humble..)

> On Wed, 6 May 1998, Binhan Lin wrote:

> Denver, Colorado USA

Victorian SF in space modifications of the Full Thrust rules? Giant rivetted
ironclad space dreadnoughts firing eather torpeadoes, rockets and big guns at
each other? Or what?

Tell us more...

> > (Still working on Full Steam...)
Actually it should be named Flank Speed since it covers WWII. I believe
Allan tried it with WWI or Pre-WWI ships and it didn't work too well
with that.

There are some aberrations with the system right now - i.e. destroyers
are
just fodder for most cruisers (a 6" is rated as a C-batt and there are
some cruisers that mount 15 6" broadsides).

In the few scenarios that we have played out the battleships take forever to
take out and everything lower than capital ship class is wiped out in the
first half dozen rounds. I need to incorporate some kind of
fire-priority rules such as Battleships will target battleships first
and not try to blow destroyers out of the water at a 10 mile range...

haven't looked at modifying FT for Victorian. I think the Space:1889 stuff
does pretty well in that department.

--Binhan

On Wed, 6 May 1998 15:20:36 -0600 (MDT), Binhan Lin
<Binhan.Lin@UCHSC.edu> wrote:

> Actually it should be named Flank Speed since it covers WWII. I

I've been revisiting this a little bit. I have been redoing my Predreadnought
stats for General Quarters and got thinking about Flank Speed/Full
Steam. I came up with a way of varying the weapon damage for different sized
guns within a class. I also came up with some ideas for incorporating the
rules in the Fleet Book. It makes a wet navy version of FT much more feasible,
mostly by making it harder for a ship to hit it's target. Here's a hint: why
use D6s?

Contact me by e-mail and I'll layout what I'm thinking. It will
definitely be
beer-and-pretzels compared even to General Quarters, but finishing the
Battle of Tsushima in under 3 hours has some appeal.

> > (Still working on Full Steam...)
[snip]
> haven't looked at modifying FT for Victorian. I think the Space:1889

This is something WE have thought about for a while.... maybe a low(er) budget
A5 rulebook in it? VICTORIAN THRUST ("Albert, we are NOT amused!!"):)

Could be fun......

> On Thu, 7 May 1998 08:09:21 +0000, Ground Zero Games writes:

Just as a note, I really like this idea. Steam and sailing ships in space isan
image I really like. Go for it! It seams like a fairly simple adaption of the
basic movement rules, with the additions or either flows or some such, would
work. It would need more detailed boarding combat rules though.

Jon, At Genghis Con in Denver, Binhan had some 1889 ships built, *in* 25mm
scale, with figs to fight on them! To get his attention, I think you'll
have to include boarding, flying Martians, and the like. ;->=

Binhan, I never did hear how your game went. Were you using ship movement
rules, or strictly doing the boarding party fighting? Do I need to repeat how
beautiful those beasts were?

The_Beast

Ground Zero Games <jon@gzero.dungeon.com> on 05/07/98 03:09:21 AM

Please respond to FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk

To:   FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk
cc:    (bcc: Doug Evans/CSN/UNEBR)
Subject:  Re: Full Steam?(was Re: A Humble..)

> > (Still working on Full Steam...)
[snip]
> haven't looked at modifying FT for Victorian. I think the Space:1889
budget A5 rulebook in it? VICTORIAN THRUST ("Albert, we are NOT amused!!"):)
Could be fun...... Jon (GZG) PS: Don't panic, it won't get in the way of more
important stuff!;)

> On Thu, 7 May 1998 08:09:21 +0000, Ground Zero Games writes:

> This is something WE have thought about for a while.... maybe a low(er)

I love this idea!
        I would want to see a game edging more toward Victorian Sci-Fi
than anything else. Also victorian rules for SGII and DSII. (Replay of "The
War of the Worlds" anyone? BTW, the humans are armed with Edison Electric
Rifles and their calvelry is mounted on Ford Steam Steeds just
like the ones Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders used--or didn't use--to
charge up Kettle... errr San Jaun Hill!)

BULLY!,

> On Thu, 7 May 1998 08:09:21 +0000, Ground Zero Games writes:

I did enjoy the steampunk in the SPACE 1889 RPG; with Edison's "Ether Flyer",
the Martian Congo, British explorers in pith helmets and jodhpurs, native
Martian aerial boats fighting tiny armored British flying gunboats, very cool!

I also remember reading a circa 1900 SF story about Thomas Edison leading a
retaliatory strike back to
        Mars.  It was re-printed serialized in the old Perry Rhodan
books (brought to America by 4SJ Ackerman).

> On Thu, 7 May 1998 Doug_Evans/CSN/UNEBR@UNebMail.UNeb.EDU wrote:

> Jon,

Actually we didn't get enough ships finished to actually play. I remain the
only one with a completed (actually recently completed) ship although I've
managed to drum up some interest (especially when I mention that I have put
together enough plywood decks and foam parts to build another 3
Hullcutters...)

Hopefully this summer will allow the completion of the rest of the ships and a
real game will be put on this fall for Tacticon.

The intent was to run a game using all the rules (including altitude) and
to have a reasonable game we decided we needed 2-3 ships per side, so
construction has continued.

The ships are constructed from 1/4" plywood decks with foam blocks
comprising most of the hull. To stiffen up the structure, thin card was
overlaid and then balsa strips over this. The result is a nice looking, but
labor and time intensive result. I'm still looking for ways to rapidly cover
the martian ships in a manner that still looks like wood planking.

--Binhan