"Comparing different spaceship design systems" Topic

Hi all,

I've written a series of articles comparing the design systems from several different space games. It's being hosted here:

link

Hope you enjoy,
-Tim

All I can see is the Introduction. Where are the other chapters?

I suppose you might not call it "modern," but I would think Starfire would have a pretty strong claim to being the grandfather of design-your-own-spaceship rules.

Doug

@Major Bumsore

Intro is the only thing up right now. Other chapters to follow (all written but being edited and then published).

@elsyrsyn

Yes, starfire can make that claim, but this series is really focusing on "squadron scale" as opposed to "fleet scale".

-Tim

Intro is the only thing up right now. Other chapters to follow (all written but being edited and then published).

Your original post gave the impression that the other chapters were already available ("I've written a series of articles"). I was quite disappointed to find they weren't.

@MB

Sorry to disappoint. They are written and time will ensure this inconsistency is corrected.

-Tim

Good start… certainly many more systems that could have been considered, but then even the intro might never be published! The format will presumably allow or even encourage comparisons with additional games after the core five are analyzed.

Peter

@Gonsalvo

Thanks. Yes, could have looked at a lot of other rule sets, but its taken quite some time to even get to this point (I started writing it in April.

Anyway, second installment is up:

link

-Tim

Third part up now – all about movement:

link

-Tim

Thanks, Tim. Mill still processing grist.

I will ask a favor; could you continue to call it Full Thrust Cross Dimensions? Or, at least, Full Thrust XD?

Thanks!

Doug

@TheBeast

I will see what I can do. I wrote it a while ago and sent it for editing/publishing and didn't see it again until it was posted up.

BTW, 4th installment is up (Defenses!):

link

My GF used to write for 'real' magazines; have some idea how crazy the process can be. ;->=

Thanks again!

Off to the article!

Doug

Edit: Wow, I'm going to have to check out XD again. I would call standard FT shields 'die roll modifiers'.

@Beast

Yes, I think there was some aggressive editing there. XD doesn't treat screens different than standard FT. I think my term stuck below which was "variable damage reduction". I think for "die roll modifier" we really meant (penalty to hit) – where screens are a bit more complicated than just a minus to your die roll.

'aggressive editing'

To skills of writing and analysis, add diplomacy. ;->=

All necessary, indeed.

Feels subtler rather than more complicated; however, I'm slow of cogitating, so will take a bit more time on the concepts.

Thanks so much for your patience.

Doug

Part 5 is up – fun part – weapons!

link

-Tim

Part 6 – Fighters and Carriers

link

Part 7 – Additional Systems

link

-Tim

Of the five games, the only one to include "energy allocation" (a term from Star Fleet Battles) is Squadron Strike. It is a completely optional aspect of the game.

As I mentioned over on SCN, Full Thrust also has an entire optional rules framework (the Sa'Vasku tech tree) devoted to energy allocation, which can be re-flavored to hard-tech easily enough. I've played games of FT where everyone used Sa'Vasku tech, which produced a much more tactically varied (albeit slower) game than a more standard scenario.

Chief,

Thanks, for pointing this out. The only reason it was not discussed in the article is because we decided to stick with Full Thrust:Cross Dimensions and the one paragraph on Sa'Vasku Tech included in XD does not mention power allocation. A shame really!

-Tim

Ah, Cross Dimensions only. I'd forgotten that from the earlier posts. Bit limiting where the alien tech stuff is involved, which is a shame because most of it is quite useful (albeit perhaps with some tweaking) for things beyond simply playing the canonical xeno ships. The XD guys did some interesting stuff when they compiled everything, but it's kind of a strange mix what ended up in or out.

I'd forgotten that from the earlier posts.

Yeah, 'Jeffro' and I don't see eye-to-eye on proper attribution.

Nonetheless, high thanks to Tim for the effort!

Doug

Full thrust wins hands down with the amount of content that is available – and all free of course. However, its also a bit of a barrier for someone new to FT – because they don't know what to pick. XD seems like the best "starter" version to go with, but yes it leaves a lot out.

Hi All,

The intro to the second half of the series is up:

link

The following 6 installments will showcase designing a BFG Lunar Class Cruiser using the different rule sets.

-Tim

Sounds good to me! I look forward to reading your next installment.

Okay, next two articles are up (sorry was out of town last week):

Full Thrust XD:
link

Colonial Battlefleet:
link

-Tim

(sorry was out of town last week)

Beatings shall continue until…!

Thanks, Tim, both for sensitivity to my concerns, and for some detailed details about CB. I'm getting a bit prickly about 'just buy it and we'll answer questions'. ;->=

Doug

Good write-ups! It's interesting to see how they translate from one system to another.

Two more in the series:

Starmada AE:
link

Starmada Nova:
link

Enjoy,
-Tim

This is really a very neat project. Thank you for doing it.

Hey all, the last two articles are up:

Squadron Strike 2D:
link

Squadron Strike 3D:
link

-Tim