Re: Star Fleet Battles

From: Critic <bob@fsu.nospam.edu>

Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Dennis:

At this point I have two players, I think.  I plan to get started in just a
couple days, and run at least a turn (32 impulses) a day.  Most of these
simple duels don't run over 10 turns, so I can see being done with one as
soon as Dec 10.  This would leave a good sized cushion for me to be wrong
in!

I'm using the duel because it is clear and simple to run.  I want to see
what
the problems are with the mechanics and so forth, and I hope to get a good
record of the battle from each player's turn by turn, which can in turn be
used as examples for future scenarios.  Even if I have to go back and
retroactively clean things up to get them to look the way I later decide
they
should have, at least I'll have something to work from.

I've lamented the fact that no-one has come out with a computerized version
of
this game for years, and have also thought on many occaisions of setting up
to
play chess style against email opponents.  I did recently find an automated
die roller which would make that possible, which got me thinking about it
again, when I realized that what I wanted was actually a moderated game,
double blind...  Since the best way to get something done is to do it
yourself, I've launched into this with the hope that once I get the bugs out

people will be willing to take turns being the moderator.

The other thing that I think makes this feasable for me is the idea of
running
whole turns at a time.  This was presented in one of the early versions
(pocket era) of the game, but I didn't like the idea at the time.  The
circumstances of email are quite different from tabletop, though, and I
think
this might suit very well indeed.  The players will have ample time to poor
over their positions and fill out energy allocations, then chart a course
and
set of conditions...  The problem with email is the lag between turns, not
the
length of time available for each turn.  To run the game on an impulse basis

would be possible in IRC mode, of course, but you'd have the same problem I
do
now, which is getting the several hours free to commit to the game
simultaneously with your opponents.

To keep a large scale game moving along, I think I'd demand default
allocations and general course plots in addition to the turn by turn.  Then
I'd set a time limit, and simply follow the default for a turn for any
player
who fails to meet the deadline.

Too, I think I'd want to restrict Com access to being routed thru me.  As
quick as turns actually take, I don't like to see long drawn out discussions

of how to spend every point of energy or exactly where and when to fire.
I'd
be able to keep communications short and simple, so as to let every player
actually command his own ship.

Hey, that gives me a great fantasy thought; getting each fighter, shuttle,
PF,
and ship its own player.  Or having a number of players be responsible for a

single ship, captain giving orders to engineering, helm, weapons...  Wait,
this sounds like a role playing game I ran for years.  Never mind...

If anyone out there has tried something like this and wants to give me some
pointers, feel free to pitch in.  Otherwise, I'll stop posting to this group
until I have a final report...

Lance Berg
http://empyre.net

References

Star Fleet Battles
Lance Berg <emporer@success.net>
Mon, 24 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Star Fleet Battles
Lance Berg <emporer@success.net>
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000