Home › Forums › Star Fleet Battles Community › Looking for Players

SFB or FC; for beginners which is easier/better?

Wed, 02/23/2011 - 18:08 — Kzintijarhead

Since I have a void of players where I live, I have decided to teach my 10 year old grandson how to play the game. He has always been fascinated with my fleets of minatures. I have the original SFB rulebooks( the Basic Captains Edition and the Commanders Rulebook) to begin instructing him with. My question for all of you is which is the better choice to teach a youngling to play? The original Starfleet Battles or Federation Commander. Since I have been away from the game for 20 odd years I do not have Federation Commander at all. I will purchase it if the conscensous is the FC is the better choice. I just wanted to open up this discussion and see what you as a whole think. So come on speak up with your opinion. From all the other threads I know you guys have them. LOL!!!!!

‹ Middle of Nowhere Upstate NY In Barnesville, Georgia and looking for SFB/FC players ›
Wed, 02/23/2011 - 19:20 — Ken Burnside

Fed Commander is MUCH MUCH simpler

And doesn't require quite s rigid a pre-planning cycle with things like speed changes.

You might also want to look at the Klingon Armada product line jointly produced by ADB and MJ12. It ain't SFB, it ain't FC, but it's a lot simpler and scales well to 6-10 cruisers per side, which can be a lot of fun.

Wed, 02/23/2011 - 19:43 — gar1138

I agree, FC is probably a

I agree, FC is probably a much better choice for young beginners. And even better than FC proper might be the free demo version (called "First Missions") that you can get from ADB here: http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/FCFirstMissions.pdf Combine it with the squadron scale ships in Communique (http://www.starfleetgames.com/federation/Commanders%20Circle/comm-1-12.s...) and you should have plenty to play with.

I used it a few years ago to decide if I wanted to buy FC proper. It's got a slightly simpler rule set to get folks started fast.

Garrett

Wed, 02/23/2011 - 23:34 — Kzintijarhead

Thanks

Thank you Ken and Garret. If all goes well with my grandson, he and I may try to come to a tourny that is close by this summer. If just to watch the "pros" at it. LOL

Thu, 02/24/2011 - 00:37 — IKVAvenger

I'll add my two cents for SFB

I'll add my two cents for SFB since I don't have FC. I taught my son to play when he was only 8 and he did fine after a few games. Now a few years later he's winning on his own against me some of the time. SFB is complicated, but don't under rate the kids of today, they pick things up pretty darn quick :)

Thu, 02/24/2011 - 01:20 — ericphillips

SFB, with the Captain's

SFB, with the Captain's Edition main book (leaving out all othe books, advanced missions as well), and not using most of the options in that book, SFB is not that hard.

I just prefer FC for the pay as you go system over that. Much more flexible.

Thu, 02/24/2011 - 15:38 — Droid

I would have to say

start with FC. It is easier, but similar, to SFB. But more importantly perhaps, it look good, and so is much cooler to play.

Once you get the FC down pat, you can offer to move him into SFB, which IMO is the better game by far, but is more complicated and doesn't look good at all.

Thu, 02/24/2011 - 15:40 — Droid

I would love to see

the T module updated to include Omega stuff, and spiffed up to be like FC. I've said this before. I am just reiterating.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 16:19 — Kzintijarhead

Looking Good

I am teaching my grandson using miniatures and the very old Captains addition Basic rules. I still have the booklet from when I first bought it in 1981. He is catching on. Without all the extra stuff and just one-on-one ships it isn't that hard. It is also getting me back into the game. Thanks guys for the input.
Kevin

Thu, 05/05/2011 - 20:57 — JohnSmith

We tried to teach my group FC

We tried to teach my group FC as an intro to SFB when it first came out, and it didn't hold their attention. Several years later we tried again with SFB, introducing the rules over 3 games, and they seemed to like it much better.

I have to admit, we still never get to play. But that's more due having a 4-6 players each time week, and wanting to play games that will include us all. We just never seem to do 2 player game.

Fri, 05/06/2011 - 00:22 — ikvsabre_in_exile

"2 player game"

I don't see anything that makes this inherently true. I know it's often the case, but back when I was in college, we played 5-6 all the time.

squadrons and fleet battles, even free-for-alls are all fun for 3, 4, even 5-6

Fri, 05/06/2011 - 11:49 — Archduke

2 palyer game

I agree. Back when I was playing SFB, we always had 3-5 players. We would each take a ship of corresponding point value and have at it.

Fri, 05/06/2011 - 13:20 — Saaur

multiplayer

Squadron-on-squadron fights are good, too. Give each group 500 points or so and one hour in which to spend them.
With a time-limit, you can't get too cheesy with the point choices, and that leaves more time to actually play the game before mommies call everyone home for dinner. ;)

Mon, 05/09/2011 - 10:38 — AdmiralDZZI

FC = Flag Football, SFB = Tackle Football

:)

Flame retardent suit on.