Federation and Empire

from Sins Forums

G'day,

 

Years ago, before personal computers became the norm (yeah the 1970's and 80's), there was a popular board game at a tactical level called "Starfleet Battles". At it's strategic level, was another board game called "Federation and Empire". For those not familiar with these, it's lore was pretty much Star Trek based, consisting of the Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Gorn, Kizinti (Mirak?), Lyran, Hydran and ISC major powers. There were also smaller independent entities such as the Orion Pirates, Tholians and Wyn Star Cluster. The big outside looming threat to this part of the galaxy were called the Andromodans.

 

Whilst the tactical side was done in computer form under the titles of Starfleet Command I & II, I've always thought that this particular game was a prime candidate in lending itself to a modification that would do justice to Federation and Empire. I guess I'm just after a computer game with the subject matter of Federation & Empire played out at the strategic level, that also drills down to something like Star Fleet Battles at the tactical level when resolving combat. Am really just wondering whether a mod for this has ever been considered or suggested before. Maybe, its too far back in the past or forgotten in light of the later direct Star Trek based series. The board games were owned by the Amarillo Design Bureau and Task Force Games.

 

Anyway, just curious and appreciate your works on mods. Regards.

modding
13,130 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

The engine lends itself poorly to tactical combat.  Directional shields can't be replicated, expendable ammunition can, but it would be a major undertaking, and have poor visibility.  Energy consumption would also be a major undertaking, and horribly limited.  I could get ships working that ran off power, but there would be no gui, the ability to tune them would necessarily be limited.  You'd only have 4 or 5 ability slots to control everything, it's just not enough and even if it were, you'd get a half measure that ran like a dog as every action cycled through huge buff chains.

 

The series is by no means forgotten, but this is about as far from a conducive environment as you can get.  All you can really do is use the fleets.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Oh no! Not Necromancy!

One of my early mod ideas for Sins before it was released in 2008 was "Federation, and Empire". However i pulled the plug on it due to how Amarillo Design Bureau, and Task Force Games FIERCELY defend their IP. When i was modding Starfleet Command in the late 90's, and early 2000's there were several incidents of cease, and desist sent to artists. Especially when it came to Starfleet Battles specific content. Like the Andros, the Hydrans, or the Kzinti.

The massive rule sets could be "partially" implemented, but much of everything would have to be "simulated", or worked around. There is much in the rule sets you couldn't get even close to in sins. I was toying with the ideas of making ships specs "SSD" lore friendly. Like was said there are no specific shield arcs so all shield arcs would have to be combined to a single shield. Same with Hull, Armour, and Excess damage. All would have to be combined to get hull hit points.

The weapons could be better simulated. Except you will have to forget about firing arcs. Firing arcs are very basic in sins, and it seems the arcs are geared more for ships that can fire 360 degrees. We still have annoying weapons firing through the ships own hull issues. However all weapons in sins hit no matter what. Its the degree of damage dealt after buffs, and debuffs that matter.

Some SFB stuff could be simulated through abilitys like scatter packs, and wild weasles.

Regardless there still is the IP issue. I'm not a big fan of cease, and desist letters.

It's been a long time since i played F&E, and i probably forgot most of the rules. However know the idea has been toyed with :)

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

I think Gal. Civ. III would be a better starting point than Sins.  It allows more major races and the map movement is similar.

 

Getting around the IP issues could still be problematic.  How I understand it ADB's (TFG died in the 90's) hold on their TOS license was precarious around the turn of the century, so they felt the need to defend it aggressively.  Not to sure what their stance is now.  I know they still aggressively pursue people uploading pirated material, not sure about mods though.