Call To Arms:Star Fleet Discussion thread

[billclo]

I wanted to post a comment on your blog, but could not due to not having a "profile" ID.

You have your work cut out for you. Have you looked at these decals: http://www.tenneshington.com/ ? Nicer than Mongoose's ones, but pricier to be sure.

Please post pics of your ships over at Mongoose's ACTA:SF forum and if you want, join us there.

[wat_dabney]

I've only just turned on comments so I'll have to adjust the settings. Those Tenneshington decals are superb - they look very intricate. I suspect they're beyond my skills

Once I get some painted models I'll ensure I get them on the Mongoose forums. I want to get the Feds painted because I just love the models - but I'll need to get my Klingons painted too so I can get the guys at my club involved.

[billclo]

I found the decals to be pretty easy once I figured out the right technique. I used a product called Liquid Decal Film by Microscale to coat the decals prior to cutting them out. It seems to toughen them up. Apply with Microscale's "Microset" which helps them adhere and softens them up. Dab the decals with a Q-tip, pressing the decal onto the surface. Let dry overnight, re-coat with the Liquid Decal Film (which keeps the matte spray from causing the decals to curl, and ruin them), let dry for awhile, coat in matte spray (I use Army Painter Anti-Shine; stay the heck away from GW's Purity Coat; it ruined a couple of minis).

As for being an expert, hardly. Before I started working with the Starline 2500 minis, I hadn't painted a mini in probably 20 years, probably more. Took a while to get back into the my old groove, but now I can put out some decent work.

Of course, use a glossy base coat (I used Krylon Glossy White, which seems to work well enough).

[RunepriestRidcully]

Will finally be getting my first game in on Thurseday, against my friend who will be using my romulans whilst I'll be using my feds, this will be the first game for both of us, and I will give him the rule book before hand to have a read as well.
The lists I have thought of are:
Romulans
Battle Hawk
Skyhawk destroyer
KR Heavy Cruiser
war eagle Cruiser
565pts
Federation
Ramius class Frigate Marple
Bismarck class Battle cruiser Tenken
Constitution Class Heavy cruiser Castamere
530pts
Too much for beginners? I got the romulan squadran and the federation fleet, almost entirly painted other the the romulan dreadnought witch I have kind of given up on due to the mold lines and other aspects of it's resin form.
So any advice on this? Would it better to try and stick to just a couple of frigates/destroyers each, or are the bigger ships okay?
Also found out that Eclectic games in reading (my lgs when at uni) is going to be holding a tournament/starting a campaign in october.
Just wishing I could get more wolverines, Ramius frigastes and possibly a Lexington, eclectic can't order in singles at them moment but are working on it.

[billclo]

How many ships are good for beginners depends on their experience level with other space games, it seems to me. I did a demo game for a guy who has played Star Fleet Battles and Federation Commander, and he did fine with 6 ships/side. But if the player(s) are raw newbies, I wouldn't do more than 3-4, preferably of the same or similar ship types.

I am setting up a fairly large convention game, and am giving the new guys squadrons of 3 identical ships to keep the learning curve down - better they learn to use one ship well than flounder with 2-3 different types. It takes time to master a given ship type, and giving them too much at a time only makes things worse, IMHO. Having to deal with several ship types, what with different weapons and firing arcs, only slows down the game and confuses them.

[RunepriestRidcully]

we both play battlefleet gothic
EDIT:
Well we had the game with slightly smaller fleets (Battle hawk, war eagle,DR heavy cruiser Ramius, Texas and Wolvrine). My friend took the romulans, and insisted on no terrain (he said "most battle will happen in deep space, their is nothing there" Physicists:P) in the end after a first turn where all we did was scratch each others shields until the end when my wolverine scored 2 criticals, one shutting down the transporters and causing sheild fluctuations. the next our ships were right next to each other, so type 3 phasers were flying and the DR5 just broke under concentrated phaser fire (which scored several other criticals in the process)as did the Battle hawk when the Texas continued firing on it.
He conceded defeat and then wanted to try 40k 6th
He stated it "was good in concept, but too much bookeeping" (I don't agree)and whilst yes partially are almost constant uncertainty and rechecking was because it was out first game, but I am still going to try and make a quick reference sheet of the various tables and possibly some of the more common special rules and special orders (neither of us used them).
This was hilarious as it turned out we had little idea of what was going on in 6th :P he did discover deny the witch is more effective if you shout "DENIED"! whilst rolling for it, now want a hammer and gavel :P Am trying to make terrain for call to arms now, suggestions? the polystyrene balls I got out 2 small to be planets.

[mdauben]

My friend took the romulans, and insisted on no terrain (he said "most battle will happen in deep space, their is nothing there" Physicists:P)

While he may have a point, terrain makes for much more exciting, tactical games.

He stated it "was good in concept, but too much bookeeping" (I don't agree)

I take it he's never played the original SFB then? There's more book keeping for one ship in SFB than running a whole fleet in ACTASF! That's one of the things that draws me to the new game; the minimal book keeping.

Am trying to make terrain for call to arms now, suggestions? the polystyrene balls I got out 2 small to be planets.

Smaller balls are fine for moons. You can find larger styrofoam balls at craft stores. I got a big (8-9 inch) half ball that was intended for flower arrangements that I'm painting up as a gas giant. For asteroids I use smaller pieces of "lava rock" that's sold for gas grills. Some people just use a handful of gravel spread out on the table.

[tezdal]

Wow, I've been way out the loop, just found out about this game. Old B5 ACTA player whose been very disappointed in Mongoose, but Star Fleet wargaming might bring me back in.

[Xelee]

The kids got me the book for Father's day and I've managed to get in a couple of games now. I really like the rules and am very pleased with the Fed models that have just arrived for me (well, maybe not that texas class....)

What we've decided to do is proxy the likes of Orions or Kzinti. One mate is kitbashing some Kzinti ships right now and I loaned another some Brigade Miniatures star ships that I had for a BFG project to be Orions. Honestly, none of us know (in the sense we all know what the main three look like) what either of these are 'supposed' to look like anyway. I'm still hopeful a local or teo picks up the Romulans or Klingons too but if I had to get another fleet, eventually, I don't think I would be complaining. There are some very nice models for all three of the races that I tend to think of as they key players.

[mdauben]

Wow, I've been way out the loop, just found out about this game. Old B5 ACTA player whose been very disappointed in Mongoose, but Star Fleet wargaming might bring me back in.

I never played the old B5 versions (although I know a lot of people who did and even still do) but the SF version is a lot of fun and much easier to play than the old Star Fleet Battles version I used to play. I'm going in with my eyes open, though, under the assumption that eventually Mongoose will indeed drop ACTA:SF so for now I've bought the rules and all the current Fleet boxes, plus a few blisters to fill them out. This way, even if they do eventurally drop the game, I'll have everything I need to keep on playing for as long as I want.

[RunepriestRidcully]

They may drop it?? That would be a shame, just as I have nearly finished the fleet box ships, I got the federation reinforcements box, the war era ships look a lot better in the flesh, then online (but tbh I love all the Federation ships bar the Callahan, with a special place for the Ramius, Kirov and now the Kersange.) and would just want to get another Wolverine, another blister of ramius and
Xelee: My mum had a similar reaction when she saw the texas I was painting, calling it odd, but she was still happy with the federation Squadron box I'd got her.
If they were to drop it, i'd hope it would be so they could do a version for either deep space nine or inbetween period, I would love a fleet of Ambassadors and Excelsiors (which you can see elements of in the war era ships).

[tezdal]

I never played the old B5 versions (although I know a lot of people who did and even still do) but the SF version is a lot of fun and much easier to play than the old Star Fleet Battles version I used to play. I'm going in with my eyes open, though, under the assumption that eventually Mongoose will indeed drop ACTA:SF so for now I've bought the rules and all the current Fleet boxes, plus a few blisters to fill them out. This way, even if they do eventurally drop the game, I'll have everything I need to keep on playing for as long as I want.

Seems like the licensing issues are much less with ADB though then with B5.. ordering Fed fleet box this weekend and the rulebook, hoping to be Trekking through the stars by next week.

[tezdal]

They may drop it?? That would be a shame, just as I have nearly finished the fleet box ships, I got the federation reinforcements box, the war era ships look a lot better in the flesh, then online (but tbh I love all the Federation ships bar the Callahan, with a special place for the Ramius, Kirov and now the Kersange.) and would just want to get another Wolverine, another blister of ramius and
Xelee: My mum had a similar reaction when she saw the texas I was painting, calling it odd, but she was still happy with the federation Squadron box I'd got her.
If they were to drop it, i'd hope it would be so they could do a version for either deep space nine or inbetween period, I would love a fleet of Ambassadors and Excelsiors (which you can see elements of in the war era ships).

Correct me if I'm wrong but ADB has no rights to any ships or anything from the post TOS(and animated series) era?

[Zond]

Pretty much. TOS, Animated Series and the Franz Joseph Technical Manual is all the have access to.

[mdauben]

They may drop it?? That would be a shame, just as I have nearly finished the fleet box ships,

No, no! They have no plans to drop it at this time. Indeed they have the first supplement to the game and two more fleets in the pipeline (Kzinti and Gorn) another under development (Orion) and four others (Tholians, Lyrans, Hydrans, and ISC) hopefully on the drawing board.

I was just saying that I'm not going to *count* on ACTA:SF lasting forever. I'm going to buy everything I want now so if and when they eventually do drop I will have everything I need to keep playing.

i'd hope it would be so they could do a version for either deep space nine or inbetween period, I would love a fleet of Ambassadors and Excelsiors (which you can see elements of in the war era ships).

Unfortunately, that will never happen. ACTA:SF is based on the game licence owned by Amarillo Design Bureau which predates the movies, TNG, DS9 and Voyager so nothing from those sources will ever be produced for this game. ADB added new ships to the official races (the "fast" and "war" ships for example, also the Romulan "hawk" ships and pretty much all the Gorn, Kzinti, Orion and Tholian fleets). ADB also created several entirely new races (Lyrans, Hydrans, ISC and a couple others) which will hopefully some day be included in ACTA:SF so there is no shortage of source material for Mongoose to work with. It will doubtless take years just for them to cover basic fleets for all of these Races let alone the hundreds of ships that already exist in the original "Star Fleet Battles" game created by ADB.

[RunepriestRidcully]

Just got the federation reinforcements box, and war era federation ships are just beautiful in how easy they are to put together (except the war destroyer) and the details are generally a lot more clear then they were on the ships in my fleet box (even on the older ship models in it) I must admit the ease of assembly has got me thinking of ordering a couple more Kearsage's and a manta way. Will post pics in my log (I have not updated it for ages, I do apologise) when they are painted.

[RunepriestRidcully]

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/mi...order=position New Ships for the federation! I'm really liking the Gettysberg, not so sure on the mars though (Plus i already have 2 dreadnoughts, do I need another big hitter? :P)

[billclo]

I just ran my first 2 convention games of ACTA:SF at Fall-In, Lancaster PA...

An after action report is here: http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/...?f=103&t=52693

The game isn't going anywhere. ADB has a non-expiring license, so no need to worry that the game will disappear in 5 years like Babylon 5 did.

[RunepriestRidcully]

So anyone else going to the tournament at Eclectic in reading this weekend?

[RunepriestRidcully]

Anyone off here going to the tournament tomorrow in swindon?