From: robertaw@halcyon.com (Robert A. Woodward)
Subject: Re: Stellar Conquest - Metagaming vs Avalon Hill

In article <6it89u$slh$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, bpangtay@ci.sat.tx.us wrote:

> I assume this is the same game. How do these two versions differ and which is
> the better one?

Metagaming also published several different versions of Stellar Conquest
with several small changes. The only differences AFAIK were some of the
star cards (the first Metagaming version had 2 ST worlds with natural
minerialization, the AH version has fewer MT-40 worlds with natural
minerialization), the names of the ships, and the number of turns (40 vs
44). It is possible that some of the technology advances have different
costs, but I don't remember any.

-- 
rawoodward@aol.com
robertaw@halcyon.com
cjpw69a@prodigy.com

From: bjoernat@rubbish.online.no (Beorn)
Subject: Re: Stellar Conquest - Metagaming vs Avalon Hill

On Thu, 07 May 1998 23:13:28 -0700, robertaw@halcyon.com (Robert A.
Woodward) wrote:

>In article <6it89u$slh$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, bpangtay@ci.sat.tx.us wrote:
>
>> I assume this is the same game. How do these two versions differ and which is
>> the better one?
>> 
>
>Metagaming also published several different versions of Stellar Conquest
>with several small changes. The only differences AFAIK were some of the
>star cards (the first Metagaming version had 2 ST worlds with natural
>minerialization, the AH version has fewer MT-40 worlds with natural
>minerialization), the names of the ships, and the number of turns (40 vs
>44). It is possible that some of the technology advances have different
>costs, but I don't remember any.

I have noted a few differences in the rules as well, such as:

a. The names of starships:
AH names were: Colony Transports (unarmed), Scout (unarmed), Corvette,
Fighter, Death Star
Metagaming names: Escorts, Attack Ships, Dreadnaughts

b. Command posts were (to my knowledge) introduced by AH to help the
players keep track of the distance from a colony to the spaceships.
Normally, a spaceship can only move 8 hex'es from the nearest
colony/command post without becoming lost. The AH-rules states that
these command posts may be 'built' (and removed) without cost on any
planet that has population greater than 0. Their purpose is to track
distance to the Task-Forces ("bundle of ships").

c. In resolving attacks, AH rules state that all ships select a
'target' before engaging (rolling any dice), while the Metagaming
rules lets the players resolve one attack at a time.

d. Entry hex: Metagaming rules say that the 8 square distance is from
the ENTRY hex, while, in the Avalon Hill rules, it is explicitly
stated that the entry hex is counted as "1". The AH rules use the
concept of "Command post" to measure the distance that you can travel
with armed ships. It is explicitly stated that one should consider one
such command post to be placed just off the mapboard - outside of your
Entry Hex (e.g. where your 'home-planet' is).

e. minor changes to the names of advances.

f. Research in the AH version requires the player to allocate IP's to
specific advances, while the Metagaming rules lets you allocate IP's
to a 'field' of research (speed, industry or weapons)

There may be other differences that I cannot remember right now, but
generally the games are the same.

**************
Beorn

"I am Gandalf," said the wizard.
"Never heard of him," growled the man.