RULES FOR SCENARIO #1
The objective of this scenario is to learn how to maneuver
(turn) your ship, the mechanics of firing its weapons, and the
tactics of knowing where to move and when to shoot. Note that this
text is modified to insert notes regarding this vassal module and
delete text not needed referring to moving a physical step counter
used in the paper and pen version as this is done electronically
in the module. You can manually set up each scenario or load
the save file - File - Scenarios - and then the one you want to
load.
(B2.0) SEQUENCE OF PLAY
The game is played in a succession of turns. As noted, each turn
consists of a number of impulses, which are repeated for each
turn. Each impulse consists of a number of steps, which are
repeated for each impulse.
The steps are: Move ships, move seeking weapons,
resolve damage from seeking weapons hitting target, launch
weapons, fire weapons, resolve weapons damage, end impulse.
These steps must be performed in their exact order. You cannot go back to a previous step once that step has been passed over, although that step will happen again in the next impulse.
To play a turn of the first scenario find the 8-Impulse
Movement Chart (use the beige and brown button labelled SOP
Speed Calls button Speed Callers-graphic - this is also
accessible via the DragNDrop button).
This is a physical chart where a physical counter is moved to
track progress, however in the vassal module there is an
electronic tracker in addition to or instead of the graphical one
but it's for the 16 and 32 impulse game which you will get to in
later scenarios (although you could use it and then just zip
through and ignore the 9-16 impulses until you get back to 1 if
you really wanted to use it right away. Whichever one you prefer
to use. For the electronic one use the beige and brown button
labelled SOP Speed Calls 16/32 SpeedCalls Impulse chart
button and select 16 or 32 Impulse game. This opens a window with
a negative and positive button on the left and right. clicking the
+ button will move you forward in the sequence of play and echo
the stage to the chat window. You
can right click on the text area between the -/+ and configure
this. This window will open already on the move step of
impulse 1, click the - and then + to see the previous step and
call the current step over again so you can see the move step
called. Click + again and it will go to launch step. In the
first scenario you don't need launch step or the shuttles step so
either ignore them or go into configure and remove the check mark
for it and from shuttles land launch mines. These will be used in
other scenarios (mines is not used in the cadet game but is used
in the full game). Eventually these steps will be in your memory
and you will find you don't need to use these to track the steps.
In fact there is a red Sop Steps button that has them listed if
you need a fast reference. that one plays sound in case you get
tired of typing and you or your opponent isn't using a microphone
via an online service outside vassal.
The steps "move ships", "move weapons", "resolve damage from seeking weapons" is eventually combined as one step in most players minds. Move ships first then move seeking weapons and then resolve any resulting damage(in scenario 1 there won't be any).
Note particularly that all players will do each step at the same
time. During the MOVE SHIPS Step, all players will move their
ships (as called for in the rules). During the FIRE WEAPONS Step,
all players who wish to do so (and are allowed to by the rules)
may fire some or all of their weapons. All steps are simultaneous
for all players. So everything moves at the same time but in a
particular order according to their speeds.
After moving all ships (there is only one "ship" in scenario #1),
continue to "Move Seeking Weapons" step, and perform that
function. (That is, move each of the drone counters forward one
hex.)
In the first scenario, the next two steps (resolving seeking weapon damage and launching are skipped, so continue to the Fire Direct-Fire Weapons Step, and (if any player wishes to fire weapons and is allowed to do so by the rules) make a note of which weapons are being fired at which targets.
Continue to the next step (Resolve Direct-Fire Weapons), and
resolve the effects of that weapons fire by the rules in section E
below.
Finally, the end of the impulse. It's a good time to look at the situation and decide what you will do next.
Start the next impulse.
Click the green/Yellow button "Counters/SSD" and this reveals a
counters/ssd selector select counters and a window with three tabs
"Generic Pieces", "Terrain", and Starships" opens. Click starships
and there is a drop down selector listing the SFB races.
Scroll down to the item you want. The first items are not locked
down to a specific species (Federation, Romulan, Klingon etcetera)
but further down there are.
Select Federation. There is another drop down that will allow you
to select Federation Ships, FedTurnMarker etc..
Click and drag Federation ship counter onto the map and let
go. This is how you add pieces to the board.
(C1.0)
GENERAL MOVEMENT RULES
Starships move across the map by impulse power and warp engine power. The speed of most ships in the game varies from turn to turn, depending on the amount of power which is allocated on any given turn for movement. (During the first few scenarios, your efficient Chief Engineer will keep the ship moving at a constant speed so that you can concentrate on other things.[No need to fill out an EA form("show data")].)
(C1.1) PROCEDURE
Ships move from hex to adjacent hex on the map. Every time that a
ship moves, it will enter an adjacent hex. A moving ship (or other
unit) cannot skip hexes. A ship moves no more than one hex per
impulse and (after the first couple of scenarios) will probably
not move during every impulse of the turn.
Each ship must always be within a single hex and must always be "faced" directly toward one of the six adjacent hexes.
(C1.2) FACING
A ship may be faced in any one of six different directions. These
directions are designated by the letters "A" through "F." Note on
the paper copy of the map if you have a paper copy (image provided
here in the vassal module) hex 2603 in the top right corner
of the sector B map. Arranged around this hex are these six
letters. Ships moving in direction A" move in the direction they
would move in IF they were in hex 2603 and were facing toward hex
2602 (the hex with the "A" written in it.) Thus a ship in hex 1702
facing in direction A faces hex 1701, while a ship in hex 2201
facing in direction C faces hex 2302.
Note the six numbers around hex 0316. These are used in some advanced rules to provide for random movement (where a die roll determines direction). If your ship were in 0316 facing A your #1 shield would face direction A, your #2 would be direction B, 3C, 4D, 5E, 6F.
(C1.3) ORDER OF MOVEMENT
Whenever the Impulse Movement Chart calls for a given ship to
move, the owning player may move it forward in any direction he
wishes, within the limits of the ship's turn mode (which tells you
how often the ship can turn) and other rules.
If two or more units are to move in the same impulse, they are
moved in this order: For example in Scenario #11, ships, shuttles,
seeking weapons, tactical maneuvers (Scenario #10). In each
category, slower units move before faster ones, units with worse
turn modes first. If two units are to move at the same time, smae
speed same turn mode same size class, the owning players write
down the intended movement (secretly), then reveal these written
orders and move the units as stated. In the Vassal module this is
done via the SOP Orders button, on the "Delayed" tab.
You would click "New" and give it a label in the name field like
"move decision" and then in the text area write in your move
decision, and click "ok" then "save". This shows the name "move
decision" in the chat window. When your opponent has done the same
then you would click the line in the "visible once revealed" area
and then click "reveal" (beside the save button) and that
information is now visible to your opponent.
(C1.4) PERFORMING MOVEMENT
Each ship will move one hex, and only one hex, during each impulse
in which movement is called for by the Impulse Movement Chart. (In the first scenarios, the ship will
move in every impulse.) The specific impulses are
determined by the IMPULSE CHART. The actual movement and firing of
weapons is done during the Impulse Procedure. During our first few
scenarios, each turn is divided into 8 impulses. Later, we will
use turns divided into 16 and (eventually) 32 impulses.
(C3.0) TURNING AND TURN MODES
Each ship in the game must maneuver within the limits of its turn
mode. A ship's turn mode is the number of hexes it must move
straight ahead before it is allowed to turn. There is a box on the
SSD labelled "Turn Mode".
(C3.1) TURNING
A ship's turn mode regulates how often a 60 degree turn can be
made (that is, how far it must move in a straight line before it
can turn 60 degree to one side). The actual act of turning the
unit by 60 degree is done when the IMPULSE CHART calls for that
unit to move (immediately before moving into the next hex) and NOT
at the end of the impulse (after entering a given hex). Ships only
turn on impulses when they are scheduled to move and turn before
conducting the movement. So rotate then move forward, not move
forward then rotate. To reverse direction, the ship would make
three consecutive right (or left) turns. If the ship's turn mode
was "2," this would involve a half-circle some five hexes across.;
In the Vassal module you would click on the game piece counter.
i.e. the blue Federation ship outline "Federation CA" and then use
the number pad keys to move the ship. On some operating systems
this might be Ctrl + shift or some other OS specific
combination. The number pad on the right side of the
keyboard not the numbers across the top of the keyboard. You could
also right click and use the movement menu for forward or rotate.
HET's and Side slips will be explained later
POINT OF TURN MARKERS: There are "POINT OF TURN" markers for each race. These can be used as a play-aid to keep track of turn modes. Whenever a ship turns and enters a new hex, move its POINT OF TURN marker into the hex it just left (that is, the hex it turned in). This will make it obvious when the ship has fulfilled its turn mode and can turn again. The vassal Module also has movement trails Ctrl+Shift+M but these are cleared if "mark moved" Ctrl+M is used. The turn and slip markers will remain unless deliberately removed.
STACKING: Unlike some games, there are no "stacking limits" in Star Fleet Battles. Any number of units can be in the same hex. Weapons fired into a hex will damage only the unit they are fired at, not every unit in that hex. Weapons fired through a hex at a target in a more distant hex will not damage units in the intervening hex. This represents the enormous expanse of space which each hex represents. In vassal double click a stack and this will allow you to select the specific unit you wish to move. If you only single click you will be moving the entire stack.
(C3.2) DEFINITION OF TURN MODE
A turn mode is the number of hexes which the ship must move in a
straight line (straight ahead) before it can turn 60 degree (to
face an adjacent hex side) right or left. After each 60 degree
turn, the ship must again move the stated number of hexes straight
ahead before it can turn again. A ship is never required to turn
and can continue moving straight ahead if the owner wishes.
Remember, however, that every time the ship turns the count must
be started over. Moving straight ahead for several hexes will not
allow a ship to make several turns in rapid succession later. Turn
modes increase with speed; also, less-maneuverable ships have
higher turn modes and cannot turn as rapidly.
(C3.3) ASSIGNMENT OF TURN MODES
Each ship is assigned a turn mode depending on the details of its
construction. This is shown as a Turn Mode Chart on the SSD of
each ship. determine the turn mode of each ship at its current
speed, look under the column for that ship's turn mode rating for
the speed bracket that includes the current speed. Then, look
across on that line to find the turn mode (the number of hexes the
ship must move in a straight line between each turn). For example,
if the Federation Cadet cruiser is moving at a speed of 8, it has
a turn mode of 2 because the second line of the turn mode chart
says 7-16 = 2.
(C3.4) RESTRICTIONS OF TURN
MODES
The hex entered on the impulse the turn was made counts as the
first hex of straight line movement for turn mode purposes.
(C3.41) The turn mode count carries over from turn to turn. For example, a ship with a turn mode of 4 that moves (on the first turn) seven hexes in direction A and then one hex in direction B has already fulfilled one hex of its four-hex turn mode requirement. It must move three hexes in direction B (not four) on the second turn before making a turn to C or A (assuming it did not slow down and change to a lower turn mode).
(C3.42) Hexes moved in a straight line at the end of a previous
turn may be counted toward fulfillment of a ship's turn mode on
the current turn.
(C3.43) Unless otherwise specified, all ships have fulfilled their turn modes before the start of each scenario and can turn immediately when called on to move at their current speed.
(D1.0)
GENERAL COMBAT RULES
Combat takes place during the various impulses of each turn.
Combat consists of firing weapons at the units (ships,
shuttlecraft, seeking weapons) of the opposing player(s) with the
intention of damaging or destroying those units. A philosophical
note: All military leaders are taught that combat is the last
alternative (because it is expensive and dangerous). Star Fleet
Battles, in general, depicts those cases in
which there is no viable alternative to combat.
(D1.1) PURPOSE OF COMBAT
The actions of combat are a means to an end, not an end in
themselves. Combat is used to gain or maintain control of
territory, or to destroy or reduce enemy forces as a means to that
end. Combat involves causing damage to enemy units to such an
extent as to destroy them or force them to go elsewhere.
(D1.2) OPERATION OF COMBAT
Within the game, players will use weapons to cause damage to enemy
ships. The impact of each weapon results in a number of "damage
points" as determined by the rules on that weapon. These damage
points are then allocated to cause damage to specific equipment on
board the ship, thereby reducing its capabilities, and ultimately
destroying or capturing it, or forcing it to disengage (i.e., flee
the area).
(D1.3) WEAPONS TYPES
Weapons are divided into two types: "seeking" and "direct fire."
Direct-fire weapons include, for example, phasers, disruptor
bolts, and photon torpedoes. Seeking weapons include drones,
plasma torpedoes, and, in some cases, shuttle craft(suicide
shuttle). Direct-fire weapons are those which are aimed and fired
at targets; their effects are resolved immediately. A seeking
weapon is "launched" during a specific part of the turn and is
represented by a counter that moves on the map and follows its
target.
(D1.4) RANGE
To determine the range to the target, count the number of hexes
from the hex occupied by the firing unit to the hex occupied by
the target unit along the shortest possible route without skipping
hexes. Count the hex occupied by the target, but not the hex
occupied by the firing unit. If both are in the same hex, the
range is zero. This is the "true range." The "effective range"
(which may be different from the true range due to sensors,
scanners, cloaking devices, and other effects that you will find
in later scenarios) is the range used on the weapons tables. For
the first few scenarios, true range is effective range. In the
Vassal Module there is a Range/LOS button. Click the button then
click on the map hold and drag the mouse to see the range. Click
anywhere else and the range goes away.
(D2.0)
FIRING ARCS
All ships with weapons have these designated as to which direction
they can fire. This is done in terms of "firing arcs." The area
around the ship is divided into six equal areas, each representing
60 degree or 1/6 of a circle. Each weapon is designated as to
which of these arcs it can fire into. For example, a weapon on the
left side of the ship could fire into some (not necessarily all)
of the arcs to the left of the ship.
(D2.1) FIRING ARC DESIGNATIONS
Note the diagram with six arrows on the SSDs(starship data
sheets). See also Info tables, Weapons, Firing Arc sheet - bottom
left. This diagram is used to designate firing arcs for all ships
in the game. It is repeated on each SSD. The area around each ship
is divided into six "firing arcs," each of which is designated by
code letters:
LF - left forward, RF - right forward, R - right, L - left, RR -
right rear, LR - left rear.
Note particularly that all firing arcs are relative to the ship, not to the map. (For example, some weapons might fire on the left side of the ship, but this is not related to the left side of the map unless, by coincidence, the ship faces in direction A.)
Each weapon on the SSD (except for drones, which can be fired in any direction) is marked with one or more of these designations. For example, the left rear phasers on the Klingon Cadet battlecruiser are marked: LR-L. This indicates that they can fire in the left and left rear firing arcs. Note that when several weapons are shown as a group of adjoining boxes (such as the two forward phasers on the Klingon ship), all of them can fire in the arcs shown.
Each firing arc is a 60 degree section of the map bounded by two straight rows of hexes. For example, a ship in hex 0915 which is facing hex 1015 (direction C) would have a left forward (LF) firing arc bounded by the row of hexes from 0915 to 1417 and beyond (directly forward) and the row from 0915 to 1910 (and beyond). All hexes on these rows (which extend to infinity) are within the LF firing arc and can be fired at by any weapon capable of firing in the LF arc (examples: 1114, 1315, 1612, 2017, and 2817). Hexes outside of this arc (examples: 0701, 2604, 0301) cannot be fired at by a weapon with only the RF designation.
Note that each firing arc overlaps the adjacent arcs on each side by a single row of hexes. For example, all three phasers on the Federation Cadet cruiser can fire straight down the row of hexes extending directly ahead of the ship. Maneuvering to put a target into that hex row is known as "centerlining" the target. ((See firing arc charts ))
(D2.2) COMBINED FIRING ARCS
For simplicity, some firing arc designations are combined into a
shorthand version. Combined designations include:
FA = LF + RF
FX = L + LF + RF + R
RA = LR + RR
RX = L + LR + RR + R
LS = LF + L + LR
RS = RF + R + RR
(E1.0)
DIRECT-FIRE WEAPONS: GENERAL RULES
Direct-fire weapons are fired during the "Fire Direct-Fire
Weapons" Step in the Impulse Procedure of any impulse. Their
effects are determined and recorded in the Resolve Direct-Fire
Weapons Step immediately after firing. Two ships firing at each
other during the same impulse are presumed to fire simultaneously.
The fire of both ships is calculated and the number of damage
points determined before that damage is applied to either ship.
Thus, it is possible for a weapon to be destroyed by enemy fire at
the same time that it fires and hits the enemy ship.
(E1.1) PROCEDURE
A player simply indicates his ship and the target and says (for
example): "I am firing my two forward phasers at your ship." The
effect is resolved by a chart and die roll (explained below). A
separate die is rolled for each weapon fired. In the Direct-Fire
Weapons Step, all players have the option to fire. Technically,
each player must make his decision on which weapons (if any) to
fire and at what targets without knowing if the other player(s)
is(are) also firing. This can be accomplished by writing down the
orders and exposing them simultaneously. In Vassal this is done
via the SOP Orders Notes button - Delayed Tab.
While learning the game, or in "friendly" games, many players use an informal system of one player declaring his intentions and the other then saying whether or not he will also fire. This is known as "me too firing" and gives an advantage to the second player to speak, since he can make a more informed decision. In Vassal just type it into chat or use a voice over internet service.
(E1.2) REQUIREMENTS
Direct-fire weapons require energy to fire. During the first three
scenarios, your Chief Engineer will make sure that the weapons are
always recharged when you need them. After that, you will have to
use the energy allocation form(show data on the SSD).
Each direct-fire weapon may be fired only ONCE per turn, and then only if each has satisfied its requirements for energy (see the specific rules for each weapons type). All direct-fire weapons have a definite field of fire (firing arc) which is shown on their SSD (as designations of which of the six arcs it can fire into) and cannot fire at targets outside of their field of fire.
(E1.3) EFFECTS
The effects of each direct-fire weapon are shown on the various
weapons tables. The number of damage points scored by a given
phaser on a given fired shot depends on the type of phaser, the
range, and a die roll. Photon torpedoes and disruptor bolts either
hit or miss their targets. The damage caused by each hit varies
with range in the case of disruptor bolts, but is constant at all
ranges in the case of photon torpedoes.
Note that you can fire through a hex containing a unit which is not your target without causing any damage to that intervening unit (it is a tiny point in a very large area). Also note that one weapon cannot damage two targets with the same shot.
(E1.4) FINALITY OF EFFECT
There is no means of diverting a direct-fire weapon, although
shields can absorb some of their effect. While clever maneuvers
will restrict your opponent's ability to get in a decisive shot,
and your shields will reduce the damage he causes, there is
nothing that can be done directly against the fire of the weapon.
Seeking weapons, on the other hand, can be damaged and possibly
destroyed before they reach the target.
(E1.5) FIRING RATES
Each weapon can be fired once (only once) during each turn;
Exceptions phaser-Gs and plasmatic pulsar devices(PPD). When
firing a weapon twice on two consecutive turns (once on each
turn), the weapon cannot be fired within a period of one-fourth of
a turn of it's previous use. For example, if the forward phaser
was fired during the last impulse of one turn, it could not be
fired again in a turn using the eight impulse chart before the
second impulse of the next turn(turn two). This is intended to
eliminate the unrealistic tactic of firing a "full broadside" on
the last impulse of one turn and then repeating it on the first
impulse of the next. Weapons take time to recharge.
(E2.0)
PHASERS
The phaser is the primary weapon of most starships in the game. It
is a phased-energy beam which, when striking the target, does
physical damage. There are four basic types of phasers used most
of which uses a different table when fired at an enemy ship or
other target. Type 1,2,3,4. The phaser-G is found in Graduate
Training and uses the phaser-III table. Type -IV (4) is not used
in the Cadet game and is found on bases, it is roughly 4 times
more powerful than a phaser 1.
(E2.1) TYPES OF PHASERS
(E2.11) TYPE I - OFFENSIVE PHASER: This is the most powerful type of phaser in the Cadet game, causing considerable damage out to as many as eight hexes. This is the phaser used by the Federation ship (the one you will use in Scenario #1). It is often written as simply phaser-1 or ph-1.
(E2.12) TYPE II -
OFFENSIVE-DEFENSIVE PHASER: These are shorter-ranged than
phaser-1s due to less accurate fire control. The Klingons use
phaser-2s on their ships. In Full SFB in later years some Klingon
ships have some if not all their Ph-2's upgraded to Ph-1's.
(E2.13) TYPE III - POINT DEFENSE PHASER: This type of phaser is the least powerful of all, having an effective range of a few hexes. They were designed to be used only against drones. In practice they are used against other ships in close combat but are, of course, less effective. The phasers carried by administrative shuttles use the phaser-3 table (which is why this table is on the Commander's SSD sheets used in Scenarios #7-#12). One other ship in Cadet Training Handbook (used in Scenario #8) uses this weapon.
(E2.2)
RESTRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS
(E2.21) A given ship may fire any number of its phasers in a
given impulse, assuming that energy has been allocated for this
purpose, the ship has fields of fire (arcs) that permit such
firing, and other rules (e.g., frequency of operation) are obeyed.
(E2.22) In later scenarios, players must allocate energy in the
Energy Allocation Phase to be able to fire their phasers. For now,
your Chief Engineer is taking care of this. After a few scenarios,
you will be given rules and expected to take care of it yourself.
(E2.23) During each turn, each phaser on the ship, except
phaser-Gs, may be fired no more than one time. Note that all
phasers have a specific field of fire, and that a ship may not
have targets for all of its phasers on any given turn. Possible
fields of fire for the ensuing turn should be considered when
planning how much energy to allocate to phasers.
(E2.24) Each box on the SSD represents one phaser and can be
destroyed by a single damage point. Each phaser operates
independently. Even if two or more phasers are shown connected,
they can fire at different times and at different targets; one can
be destroyed without affecting the other.
(E2.3) ENERGIZING PHASERS
Your Chief Engineer has energized the phasers in this scenario.
In later scenarios this is done on the energy allocation form.
(E2.4) FIRING PHASERS
When firing phasers, first determine the range to the target by
using rule (D1.4). Then roll one die, and cross-index the result
with the range on the appropriate phaser chart to yield the number
of damage points scored.
Example #1: Look at the Klingon Cadet battlecruiser SSD. Note the
phaser-2 table. A phaser-2 is being fired at a target three hexes
away. The die roll is "2" which means that four points of damage
have been scored.
Example #2: Look at the Federation Cadet cruiser SSD. Note the
phaser-1 table. A phaser-1 is being fired at a ship one hex away.
The die is rolled and the result is a "1," which means eight
damage points.