Module Y1: The Early Years
The Early Years is a product of many new ships for all races in the period between Y80 and Y120 -- i.e. fifty years before the General War. Playtest rules were published in Captain's Log #12 a decade ago. It also features two "new" races.
The Paravians, previewed in Module P6 were an old enemy of the Gorn, destroyed by the combination of a Gorn blockade and a supernova. The Carnivons were an old enemy of the Lyrans.
Module Y includes new rules for all races. Most systems work under some sort of additional limit. Heavy weapons cannot be overloaded, drone warheads are half-strength, tractors are limited range and/or arc, and many more. There are no PH-1's or PH-4's.
There are six standard designs for all races. First are the "warp-refitted" ships: ships built prior to tactical warp technology and then retrofitted with warp drives. The standard warp-refitted cruiser has 12 warp, 6 armor, .... Then there are the standard early cruiser and frigate. Lastly are the Dock (like a starbase but somewhat smaller and poorly armed) and Early Base Station.
- Federation
- The 18 early Federation ships include two examples each of Rigellian, Vulcan, Alpha-Centauran, and Andorian ships from before Star Fleet was unified -- along with the standards.
- Klingon
- The 8 early Klingon ships include the standards plus an early DN and tug.
- Romulan
- The early Romulan ships are all sublight (i.e. speed 1). They are equipped with early "Masking Devices" (primitive cloaks) and armed with with very short-range lasers and standard plasmas (but no enveloping). The 8 early Romulan ships include an early DN and an early carrier.
- Kzinti
- The 8 early Kzinti ships include the standards plus an early DN and early CC.
- Gorn
- The warp-refitted Gorns have no plasma but instead use speed-2 atomic missles. The 10 early Gorn ships include a warp-refitted battleship.
- Tholian
- The Tholians use their original ships from the Basic Set. The Tholians during this period are far in advance of the others races, having speed-30 ships and PH-1's. Module Y1 includes just a Dock and a Base Station for the Tholians.
- Orion
- The Orion fleet changed from members of Federation to pirates during this period. Module Y1 includes 4 ships: two "national guard" ships and two pirate ships.
- Hydran
- The Hydrans during this period have no fighters. They use the "Nova Cannon" which is essentially a downgraded Fusion Beam. The 6 Hydran ships are the standards.
- Lyran
- The 8 Lyran ships include the standards plus an early DN and tug.
- WYN
- There is a single early WYN frigate.
- Paravian
- The 12 Paravian ships include the standards. They are armed with Quantum Wave Torpedoes: seeking weapons similar to plasmas but which can be fired every turn and have PPD-like splash onto adjacent shields.
- Carnivon
- The 10 Carnivon ships include the standards. Their main torpedo is Heavy Disruptors: a disruptor which takes 2 turns to charge and does double damage. They also have short-range "Heel Nipper" weapon which causes the targetted ship to lose 1 move, involuntarily turn, and take 1 warp damage.
Module Y1 includes a 64 page rules booklet, a 96-page SSD book, and two countersheets. The rules include a much-expanded timeline, new rules, new ship descriptions, and 7 scenarios.
($25.95 Complete)
John H. Kim <jhkim@fnal.gov> Last modified: Mon Mar 19 17:33:12 2001