Star Fleet Battles Products: Captain's Log

Captain's Log is a large, irregularly published magazine of all the latest stuff for Star Fleet Battles, Federation & Empire, and Prime Directive. The recent issues (starting with issue #16) are close to 100 pages with full-color covers. While Star Fleet Times is a 12-page SFB newsletter, Captain's Log is a more broad and serious publication. It's regular features include:

Fiction: Each issue generally includes 1-3 short stories set in the Star Fleet Universe, usually paired with a scenario letting you play out the same situation. The action usually focusses on a space battle, with the events carefully `reality checked' by ADB staffers for technical accuracy to the game.
Term Papers: These are large collections (5-10 pages worth per issue) of one-paragraph "term papers". Each is submitted by a different player, and generally presents a brief trick or tactical gambit.
Victory At: This is a larger (3-4 page) tactics article which is written by the winner of the tournament convention. It goes through each of the games, describing in rough form how the game went.
The Academy: This is an open-forum discussion of tactics, written out as the transcript of several players chatting on certain topics -- rewritten to be somewhat "in-character" (i.e. speaking as Star Fleet cadets or the equivalent). The off-the-cuff comments are often criticized by more advanced players, but rarely covers anything in depth. (This features does not appear in CL 17 or 18.)
Ask Kommodore Ketrick: This is a rules-answer column authored by the Klingon alter-ego of Steve Petrick. Each issue contains a mix of several topics, but there is rarely definitive coverage of an issue. Similar topics are grouped together within each issue, but it is difficult to find an answer that applies.
Erratta: This is generally simple typo's and clarifications in the latest products.
Scenarios: each issue generally includes 4-8 playtest scenarios with it. CL scenarios (designated by "SL") are sometimes adapted into future products.

Earlier issues which are still available include:

#6: (Commander's Edition) A B10 theme issue, including diagrams of the B10 along with B10 variants (B10V and B10S). It includes a short story and scenario "The Meeting of Giants" about early Klingon-Federation cooperation against the Andromedans.
(Out of Print)

#9: (Commander's Edition) A fighter-themed issue, featuring a story and scenario covering the ``Ghostlight'' Federation F-8 Fighter Squadron on the first day of the Klingon Invasion. CL#9 also includes the full-colour Open Space map!!
(Out of Print)

#10: (Commander's Edition) Features the story of a Federation battle station trapped behind Romulan lines along with 4 new Hydran SSDs and three SFB bumper stickers!
(Fire Sale: $5)
#11: The Origins of the General War is highlighted, featuring a story which explains the early Klingon-Lyran invasion plans and how they went awry. ()
(Fire Sale: $5)

#12: This features playtest of the Early Years module with brief rules and 6 SSD's. It also has a catalog of the changes to ships between the Commander's to Captain's Edition, plus the story of a WYN frigate on a secret mission through Kzinti, Klingon, Lyran, and LDR space!
(Fire Sale: $5)

#13: The Best of Nexus magazine, including 3 new scenarios and 4 new SSDs, plus ISC counters for F&E printed on the inside front cover.
(Fire Sale: $5)

#14: This issue contains the story Betrayal at Oxvind-V in which the crew of a Federation Battle-cruiser fight for their lives in a Klingon trap.
(Out of Print)

#15: This features 4 "new" tournament ships (now updated and available online), plus 5 new scenarios and a story involving Kzinti and Lyran warriors.
(Fire Sale: $5)

#16: The start of a new 96-page format. This issue has a preview of the Frax from Module C4 including 16 SSD's, plus 4 conjectural Alliance maulers and the story of a Federation captain determined to save his brother from the Tholians (!). (98 pages)
(Fire Sale: $5)

#17: Features the long article "A Brief History of the General War" which overviews the history (although no numbers for fleet information). That article is now on-line. Also includes a new supplemental tournament counter sheet with counters for the Seltorian and LDR along with Rom TKR, TKE, and WYN GBS in slightly different colors to distinguish them from the regular ships. Also has a miniatures section with guides on painting and modifying ships, along with 10 new scenarios and 4 ship previews from Module R6: two fast cruisers and two HDW's. (98 pages)
(Out of Print)

#18: (A New Start) Features 3 short stories and 17 new ships -- mostly playtest ships for new products, most having appeared previously in Star Fleet Times. Ships include 5 early years ships for Module Y (Paravian DD, Klingon C4 & F4, Orion DR, ed YFF), 2 scout carriers for Module J2 (Hydran,Lyran), 2 light dreadnaughts from Module R7 (Rom,Gorn), a Vudar CW from Module C5, 2 conjectural Andros from Module C3A, and 6 conjectural ships from Module R9 (4 "Hydranized" Feds with extra fighters, and 2 new WYN pocket battleships). It also features 3 (!) "Victory At" articles (10 pages) from conventions during the 3-year out-of-print period. Also included are 3 updated tournament SSD's (TKR, Andro, Selt), and 7 new scenarios. (112 pages)
($14.95)

#19: (From Another Point of View) Features 11 new ships from the web from a variety of sites, 10 new Omega variant cruisers, and 4 ADB ships. It also has extensive notes (8 pages) on Klingon->Hydran conversions and vice-versa (like the D7H Anarchist). It has a Kzinti view of the General War "fiction" and articles on SFB Online, Star Fleet Command, Play-by-Email, and the Omega Sector. Plus all the usual features, including a PBEM Victory-at article as well as the usual Victory-at article. (112 pages)
($14.95)

#20: (The Eye of the Storm) Features a new race: the Uthiki from the upcoming Magellanic Cloud module, with 4 SSDs. There are also 2 more Magellanic SSDs, 4 civilian ships for Omega, and 10 new Galactic ships from the "Middle Years". Three fiction stories, plus tactics, scenarios, and a short two-page Victory-at article. (112 pages)
($14.95)

Captain's Log #20 was released in Summer of 2000. See the product news page for more information.

Back to John's SFB Page

John H. Kim <jhkim@fnal.gov>
Last modified: Sun Nov 26 22:27:19 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.

	#6: (Commander's Edition) A B10 theme issue, including diagrams of the B10 along with B10 variants (B10V and B10S). It includes a short story and scenario "The Meeting of Giants" about early Klingon-Federation cooperation against the Andromedans. (Out of Print)
	#9: (Commander's Edition) A fighter-themed issue, featuring a story and scenario covering the ``Ghostlight'' Federation F-8 Fighter Squadron on the first day of the Klingon Invasion. CL#9 also includes the full-colour Open Space map!! (Out of Print)
	#10: (Commander's Edition) Features the story of a Federation battle station trapped behind Romulan lines along with 4 new Hydran SSDs and three SFB bumper stickers! (Fire Sale: $5)
	#11: The Origins of the General War is highlighted, featuring a story which explains the early Klingon-Lyran invasion plans and how they went awry. () (Fire Sale: $5)
	#12: This features playtest of the Early Years module with brief rules and 6 SSD's. It also has a catalog of the changes to ships between the Commander's to Captain's Edition, plus the story of a WYN frigate on a secret mission through Kzinti, Klingon, Lyran, and LDR space! (Fire Sale: $5)
	#13: The Best of Nexus magazine, including 3 new scenarios and 4 new SSDs, plus ISC counters for F&E printed on the inside front cover. (Fire Sale: $5)
	#14: This issue contains the story Betrayal at Oxvind-V in which the crew of a Federation Battle-cruiser fight for their lives in a Klingon trap. (Out of Print)
	#15: This features 4 "new" tournament ships (now updated and available online), plus 5 new scenarios and a story involving Kzinti and Lyran warriors. (Fire Sale: $5)
	#16: The start of a new 96-page format. This issue has a preview of the Frax from Module C4 including 16 SSD's, plus 4 conjectural Alliance maulers and the story of a Federation captain determined to save his brother from the Tholians (!). (98 pages) (Fire Sale: $5)
	#17: Features the long article "A Brief History of the General War" which overviews the history (although no numbers for fleet information). That article is now on-line. Also includes a new supplemental tournament counter sheet with counters for the Seltorian and LDR along with Rom TKR, TKE, and WYN GBS in slightly different colors to distinguish them from the regular ships. Also has a miniatures section with guides on painting and modifying ships, along with 10 new scenarios and 4 ship previews from Module R6: two fast cruisers and two HDW's. (98 pages) (Out of Print)
	#18: (A New Start) Features 3 short stories and 17 new ships -- mostly playtest ships for new products, most having appeared previously in Star Fleet Times. Ships include 5 early years ships for Module Y (Paravian DD, Klingon C4 & F4, Orion DR, ed YFF), 2 scout carriers for Module J2 (Hydran,Lyran), 2 light dreadnaughts from Module R7 (Rom,Gorn), a Vudar CW from Module C5, 2 conjectural Andros from Module C3A, and 6 conjectural ships from Module R9 (4 "Hydranized" Feds with extra fighters, and 2 new WYN pocket battleships). It also features 3 (!) "Victory At" articles (10 pages) from conventions during the 3-year out-of-print period. Also included are 3 updated tournament SSD's (TKR, Andro, Selt), and 7 new scenarios. (112 pages) ($14.95)
	#19: (From Another Point of View) Features 11 new ships from the web from a variety of sites, 10 new Omega variant cruisers, and 4 ADB ships. It also has extensive notes (8 pages) on Klingon->Hydran conversions and vice-versa (like the D7H Anarchist). It has a Kzinti view of the General War "fiction" and articles on SFB Online, Star Fleet Command, Play-by-Email, and the Omega Sector. Plus all the usual features, including a PBEM Victory-at article as well as the usual Victory-at article. (112 pages) ($14.95)
	#20: (The Eye of the Storm) Features a new race: the Uthiki from the upcoming Magellanic Cloud module, with 4 SSDs. There are also 2 more Magellanic SSDs, 4 civilian ships for Omega, and 10 new Galactic ships from the "Middle Years". Three fiction stories, plus tactics, scenarios, and a short two-page Victory-at article. (112 pages) ($14.95)