[OFFICIAL] another related question (was: Re: Entry speeds)

> At 12:18 AM 5/15/00 +0300, Mikko wrote:

To add an [OFFICIAL] question to Mikko's useful little poll, what do people
think about legislating on entry speeds, directions etc. in the rules as a
general principle? Should we have hard and fast rules, or
suggestions/guidelines, or leave it open (as it is now) for each playing
group to decide for themselves?

St^3 Jon pontificated:
> To add an [OFFICIAL] question to Mikko's useful little poll, what do

I think guidelines would be best.

I dislike the tactic of moving at a very high speed, and precalculating fleet
position so that fleets will intersect in the middle of the table and not even
be on the table at the start of the game. It smacks too much of gamesmanship,
playing the rules rather than the game.

> >>At 12:18 AM 5/15/00 +0300, Mikko wrote:
Leave it open so it can be set by players on a by scenario basis.

I agree.
Providing some rules-of-thumb would be enough.
For scenerios the scenario should provide a range of valid velocities.
For one-off games, I would suggest:
  - Roll entrance clock point for each fleet (may be kept secret until
after turn 1 orders are written).
    - Another good option is to roll 1 die for clock point. One player
gets
1-6 and
      the other player gets 7-12 (avoids both players starting at same
clock face).

  - Players may choose any speed they desire.
  - Players start within 1' of the edge of the table on that clock point
Yet another option is to have the players set up thier fleet formation. Write
orders for turn 1 and include the X,Y position of the fleet and clock facing
of the fleet, and velocity.
-----
Brian Bell bkb@beol.net
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/ft/
-----

> -----Original Message-----

> On 15-May-00 at 03:48, Ground Zero Games (jon@gzg.com) wrote:

Leave it open.

We tend to start at 8+-thrust.

> To add an [OFFICIAL] question to Mikko's useful little poll, what do

I would say that the "suggestions/guidelines" would be the way to go -
along with some canon concerning why (e.g. ship can't make the FTL translation
at high velocities, or something like that).

That way, those who wish to pay attention to it may, and those who do now can
ignore it.

> Ground Zero Games wrote:
...
> To add an [OFFICIAL] question to Mikko's useful little poll, what do

Jon, I have always considered the 'line up and charge' to be a weak point. In
our little group, the (house rules modified) sensor and ECM rules were used to
modify the start locations.

Bye for now,

> Tom Granvold wrote:

I agree with Tom.  Let the event master / players decide.  It would
be helpful to offer suggestions for first time players, but only suggestions.

> Jon wrote:

> To add an [OFFICIAL] question to Mikko's useful little poll, what do

I'd say leave it up to each group to decide. You might include some
guidelines, but don't make it a hard rule.

Enjoy,

> Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 08:50:05 +0100

what we use is exactly like schoon's group.

i prefer to leave it open as it is now because of the vast permutations of
scenario type and racial type. to legislate a guideline or rule would result
in a vast list of rules that would be quickly outdated IMO. to me, the result
doesn't justify the effort. after all FB2 just came out and folks are still
working out their tactics.

my 2 shekels, dave

> Ground Zero Games wrote:

Hmmmm, good question. I would not have hard/fast rules on it; too
many people play with too many different styles, which means different
starting speeds.

I might say make some *guidelines* or suggested speeds, but with the caveat
that players should feel free to decide amongst themselves the final starting
speeds for engagements.

Mk

On Mon, 15 May 2000 08:50:05 +0100, Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.com>
wrote:

> To add an [OFFICIAL] question to Mikko's useful little poll, what do

Well, I'll join the Greek Chorus in saying that I would prefer guidelines to
strict rules. I would like some sort of rules, though, for varying "meeting
engagements". Some sort of random system for locations on the board, initial
speeds, headings, that sort of thing.

I suspect you're thinking along these lines. I say add them, but make them
optional.

I decide initial speed by rolling one dice for each thrust point of the
slowest ship on each side. Add the dice together and you get your maximum
starting speed.

Unless you want ot go for "official tournament rules" I'd say don't... let the
scenario designers hit that one.

Rob

[quoted original message omitted]

> Hmmmm, good question. I would not have hard/fast rules on it; too

Though I'm running a bit behind on email I'd like to put my two
cent/pence in supporting what Indy had to say.