An Introduction to Star Fleet Battles

In its own words, Star Fleet Battles (or SFB) is a simulation game about an imaginary subject, which is an oxymoronic statement but a true one. It is a tactical boardgame of starship combat, set in an offshoot of the Star Trek universe. Basically, you and an opponent (or groups/teams of players) maneuvers starships around on a board and try to defeat each other.

So what's it like?

Well, it's complicated, but basically each starship is represented by its SSD (the set of check-boxes and tables) as well as by a counter on the map-sheet. Each turn you allocate energy from your various engines to weapons, movement, shields, and so forth; then you maneuver around the hex-board at your chosen speed to get an advantage over your enemy -- with movement divided up among the 32 `impulses' of the full game.

There are two primary types of weapons: direct-fire weapons (including phasers and photon torpedoes in the example) and seeking weapons (including the Klingon drone and the Romulan plasma torpedo).

Sample of Play

Now that you have an idea of what the game is like, let's consider what your options are if you want to look further into the game. I break these up into several different topics.

* How do I Really Learn to Play: a review of some options available

* The Full Game: a look at the big picture

* Pro's and Con's: reflecting my personal opinions, of course

* Finding out More: including how to find other players

Back to John's SFB Home Page
John H. Kim <jhkim@fnal.gov>
Last modified: Wed Jun 21 14:34:31 2000

Star Fleet Battles, SFB, Federation & Empire, Star Fleet Missions, Prime Directive, and all contents thereof are copyright (C) 1990 by Amarillo Design Bureau. Second Edition copyright (c) 1994 by Amarillo Design Bureau. These games were produced under license from Franz Joseph Designs, authors of the STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL. Elements of the Star Fleet Universe are the property of Paramount Pictures Corporation and are used with their permission.

Amarillo Design Bureau (ADB) and Task Force Games (TFG) are NOT related in anyway with these Web pages; it is an undertaking and opinions of a private citizen (hence unofficial), and is not construed to be an official position of either companies. Ideas and information from the games are presented without permission.