The big difference is that Continuing Damage is a *LOT* more fun! Especially when your damage roll comes up with a ton of even numbers and you realize that the other guy is in for a world of hurt. :twisted:

BTW--I especially like how most of the weapon mods are kept pretty simple, usually with a +/-1 effect. Very easy to remember.

The Hadjiri Admiral proudly inspected the fleet, newly-armed with deadly Omega Cannons. They were weapons from an ancient race, stolen secrets from a people long-since turned to dust. He prayed to the gods that they still worked...

http://falstaffe.deviantart.com/art/Hadjiri-Warships-84278165

(345) System Defense Boat-class Hadjiri 

Hull: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1             
Engines: 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1             
Shields: 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1             
Weapons:
1:XY 2:XY 3:XY 4:XY 5:XZ 6:YZ

X: Multi-Laser Batteries: 4/8/12, 2/3+/2/2
[AB][AB][AB][AB][AB][EF][EF]
Ammo: 6

Y: Quill Shockmissiles: 3/6/9, 3/4+/1/2
Area Effect
[AC][AC][AC][AC][BD][BD][BD][BD]
Ammo: 6

Z: Omega Beam: 5/10/15, 5/2+/1/1
Continuing Damage
[G][G]
Ammo: 4

Special: Armor Plating; Fire Control

The colonists scrambled to strip their homes bare as the air raid sirens wailled: the Golden Horde had reached their system, and nothing would be left in their wake...

http://falstaffe.deviantart.com/art/Rak … s-84316915

On fighters--yes, I'd forgotten the whole Dominion War thing, too, but I think it only goes to show how uncharacteristic they were. And the “fighters” in Trek weren't the nameless, faceless hordes of Galactica or Star Wars. (The kind of fighters Starmada replicates.) They were more like modern-day PT boats, or corvettes. Yes, fighters made an appearance, but in the main, Trek was about big ships in (thinly-disguised) age-of-sail type engagements. (And hey, SFB grognards, if you're going to use the film/tv shows to support your points, you can't have it both ways. Either it matters, or it doesn't. NYAH!)

This probably isn't going to be a question that is easily resolved. It appears that veteran SFB players want everything replicated, while the casual wargamer/Trekkie looks at drones, fighters and the like and says “huh?” 

In the end, M12 is going to have to make the product that they feel stands out from the other incarnations of SFB (SFB, Fed Commander) and appeals to the broadest possible audience. Personally, I feel that the answer is to lean towards the feel of the movies, yet staying within the limits of the license, while making full use of the SFU. I'd submit GURPS Prime Directive and other rpg's based in the SFU as examples.

Both sides have presented their cases, the powers-that-be will just have to make a call. (Can we get an opinion from the Admiralty?)

Oh yeah, that's a given. I would like the flavor of the final product to lean more towards the feel of Trek on film/tv, which (IMHO) is legal. (After all, isn't SFB itself based on TOS?)

Speaking of points of similarity...the Franz Joseph designs are from a universe that's close to TOS, the stomping grounds of the new movie. That's going to draw a lot of players, which is a good thing.

I also think it's great that the SFU was developed into its own story, and one of such quality that players feel passionately about it. However, I suspect that Trekmada (still lovin the name) is going to feature Klingons, Romulans and recognizable Starfleet vessels on the cover.

And on the inside, too, if I can extrapolate from the two AE publications they've done so far. There's probably room for major weapons and ship systems that require new rules, a half dozen vessels from the 3 major powers, and that's it. Both settings and rules are going to have to be pretty concise.

Fire-linked DOESN'T require all weapons to  fire at the same target, they just use the same to-hit roll. Which, I still don't see what kind of system or situation it's simulating. I can attack 3 targets and make one to-hit roll? What is that? (The only thing I can think of is a MIRV-type missle that splits up into smaller bits. However, even there you'd think it would be seperate "to hit" rolls. I dunno...)

OK--let me be the first to request it then. Like fire-linked, but with all weapons required to fire at the same target (giving you a discount). That way, you can simulate a big, robust weapon that can take multiple hits without having to resort to "Hit Points." Which you could also do, but I like the "gradually-degraded performance" aspect of the first solution.

(I "get" that Starmada is primarily a game about fleet actions, and there's a level of detail you don't want to reach. Even so, there's a place for a rule that allows you to build a big gun that can "take a lickin and keep on tickin.")

Do you recommend a different mechanic or combination of mechanics?

My approach would not be to "simulate" SFB/FC per se, but to present SFB/FC designs as they would be in Starmada.

So while I too would lean towards screens as a way of maintaining some of the SFB/FC flavor, I'm not sure I would see it as critical to have shields in Starmada behave just like they do in SFB/FC.
_________________

AMEN! I'm looking forward to "official" trek designs, *not* duplicating a system I've avoided due to its complexity.

Actually...I wouldn't mind if it veered back towards the *flavor* of the later movies, TNG, Voyager, DS9, etc. Trek has always been a thinly-veiled allegory of the Horatio Hornblower and tall ships on the ocean. (Think: Wrath of Khan.)

Mines, drones, marines? When's the last time you saw that in a show?

Give me official ship designs, cool aliens, and a fun Trek universe.