--- In preachers-wargame@yahoogroups.com, "doomtownexpress" 
<abimilech@c...> wrote:
> 
> We have Fifty members now--- wondering where all the discussion 
has 
> gone! 
> 
> What are you playing or wanting to play lately?
> 

Well ... I am awaiting Fighter Operations and Planetary Operations 
expansions for my Federation and Empire (F&E) game.  Then, I will be 
setting up the F&E Grand Campaign.

For those of you that are familiar with Star Fleet Battles or its 
computer incarnation, Star Fleet Command, Federation and Empire is a 
large-scale campaign version of Star Fleet Battles.  In the game, 
you take control of the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, Gorn, 
Kzinti, Lyran, and Tholians.  You build-up fleets of starships and 
send them against each other to take control of enemy territory.  
The game takes place in a quasi-alternate Star Trek Universe.

Amarillo Design Bureau is the publisher of the game and have a wierd 
license from Paramount Pictures.  They basically are allowed to use 
elements of Star Trek up to the Classic TV series.  They can't use 
any new stuff.  Also, their games tend to focus around the time of 
the Classic series.

Federation and Empire is the only "empire-building" strategy game 
that takes place in the Star Trek universe (at least that I'm aware 
of ... if you know of another, then do tell).  It was designed after 
Star Fleet Battles (a tactical starship combat game) and takes the 
ships from Star Fleet Battles, multiplies them, puts them in fleets 
and sends them against each other.  It was originally conceived as a 
campaign generator for Star Fleet Battles.  It has a huge amount of 
detail and in my opinion is very satisfying to play.

Now for its drawback ... it has a huge amount of detail.  The 
original boxed game had over 1000 counters, yet it did not have 
enough counters to fully set up the game ... that should tell you 
something.  This game is not for the squeamish.  The only really way 
you can play and enjoy this game is to set it up and play it (with 
someone or by yourself) over several days (weeks even).  The game 
also works well for play by e-mail and there is a cyberboard for it 
(I have it if you want it ... let me know).  The games complexity is 
about the sames as the recently released GMT WWII game, "A World at 
War".  The only other game more complex is Star Fleet Battles 
itself.  So if you want a real experience, fight all of your F&E 
battles using Star Fleet Battles.  You will then be playing the game 
in real-time.

My plan is to set the game up in the living room and play it over 
several weeks (or maybe months) once I get the expansions I am 
waiting for (they should come in Wednesday and will complete my F&E 
library).  If our illustrious moderator does not mind, I will create 
a thread to post happenings in the game.  That way those of you that 
want to can read it as kind of a story.  And even if none of you 
want to read it, I'll have a journal of my game.

Good playing.
Lanny

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