• Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 330

Topic: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

So I think I figured out something and it didn't even come to me until now (it's a holiday, give me a break).  It seems to me, there are Starmada games for "fun" and those games for  "tournament" play.  From reading all the discussions on the subject, I'm under the impression that you can have one or the other, but not both.

I have never played a Starmada game that wasn't scenario based and to make matters worst, I've never played a game where fleets were made by different people.  I guess I'm just coddled.

The way I figure it, if I'm forced to play in a tournament, I am going to make ships that have screens 20 (5s in the back 4 hexes), RNG 30 with 4 arced weaponry that face backwards and if a foating map, engines of 4-6 (if no floating map, I think I've have engine 1 or 2).  I will suppliment those ships with long range fighter killers (at least 15 RNG, ROF 5 probably with the fighter ability) and I might win, but I will be bored out of my mind doing it.

I have never played Starmada in an open tournament setting (bring your own fleets kind) and looking at the possible fleet designs that I'd have to fight, I don't think I'd ever want to. I would be so bored that I'd just concede all my matches.  I have no issue with legal killer fleets, but I don't want to waste my limited convention time playing them (I play other games that have cut-throat tournaments).

Am I wrong?
-Bren

  • Registered: 2022-11-16
  • Posts: 516

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

jygro wrote:

The way I figure it, if I'm forced to play in a tournament, I am going to make ships that have screens 20 (5s in the back 4 hexes), RNG 30 with 4 arced weaponry that face backwards and if a foating map, engines of 4-6 (if no floating map, I think I've have engine 1 or 2).  I will suppliment those ships with long range fighter killers (at least 15 RNG, ROF 5 probably with the fighter ability) and I might win, but I will be bored out of my mind doing it.

Am I wrong?
-Bren

Well, possibly...
The conventions I've been at with Dan and Jim where they've run a "tournament" have been a fixed map format. In other words, the tactic of running away and shooting with rear weapons wouldn't be allowed.
I believe I do remember players bringing very slow, long ranged weaponry. But it's been several years, and at that time there weren't any weapons with ranges longer than 15 or so.
Kevin

  • Registered: 2006-08-07
  • Posts: 161

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

underling wrote:

Well, possibly...
The conventions I've been at with Dan and Jim where they've run a "tournament" have been a fixed map format. In other words, the tactic of running away and shooting with rear weapons wouldn't be allowed.
I believe I do remember players bringing very slow, long ranged weaponry. But it's been several years, and at that time there weren't any weapons with ranges longer than 15 or so.
Kevin

Plus, Range-30 is an optional rule anyway- It's something that has to be allowed by mutual consent rather than disallowed.

  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 811

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

honestly, the one tourney I ran at a convention was a flop.

Mostly because there weren't enough experienced players with their own fleets to make it a true tournament.  Noobs + Experience mans one übergeek wins and the other people go away unhappy.

My goal at the con is to bring out a balanced force with enough diversity in options that gives a good overview of the game (yep, I have thought about it that much) but doesn't obviously lean toward one side)

I advertise the games I run as tournaments because I want people to know it's a possibility, but the most I've had in a game is 12 (remember that Dan?) I turn them away if I am the only one running the game, if there's two of us, I can handle up to two boards of 6, but I've never tried more.

Any way, I dread the time when someone comes to a Starmada game with a fleet pre-built and I have to say "Sorry you can't use this option... blah blah blah"

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

I have run Starmada many times at  gaming conventions.  I own many Star Trek Micro-machine miniatures and have made SAE ships that translate SFB ships into Starmada ships.   Players are always welcome to use their own designs. or may use one of the Federation & Klingon ships I have made.  Each game had a broad scenario such as enforcing/breaking a blockade or Escorting a convoy, etc.
Every time, the game went well, and the players had fun.  I kept it fair, and had a FAQ sheet (updated for SAE) for everyone to refer to.   Never had a problem with "Nobbs or Ubergeeks". :shock:   
I am a teacher now for almost 2 decades and can teach others how to play more easily, and then run the game effectively.
8)

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 330

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

BeowulfJB wrote:

I have run Starmada many times at  gaming conventions.  I own many Star Trek Micro-machine miniatures and have made SAE ships that translate SFB ships into Starmada ships.   Players are always welcome to use their own designs. or may use one of the Federation & Klingon ships I have made.

So I ask a question, what is your ranges on your SFB ships that you made?  How would your fleets play against say a fleet made from ships in the Imperial Sourcebook?

BeowulfJB wrote:

Each game had a broad scenario such as enforcing/breaking a blockade or Escorting a convoy, etc.

So my question: Could I win the scenario by staying in my 'deployment' zone and firing long range weaponry?  You've explained enough about your 'current' fleet that I could design it and bring it to the game.  How would it fare?

Please don't think this is an attack at you Beowulf, I just want to get to the bottom of the issue.
-Bren

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 330

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

jimbeau wrote:

I advertise the games I run as tournaments because I want people to know it's a possibility, but the most I've had in a game is 12 (remember that Dan?) I turn them away if I am the only one running the game, if there's two of us, I can handle up to two boards of 6, but I've never tried more.

Ever since 'real' miniatures coming from actual sci fi movies, books and games have been on the market, I'm been wanting to run games that mix the movies together (Like Star Ranger's Crossover games).  Those games get players that love the movies to play the starmada system.  Heck, I saw a couple of cool games at Origins that were set in a single movie and they were fairly full...

Some at Origins:
"Modified Full Thrust: Star Wars: Battle at Kessel"
"Silent Death: LEGO Star Wars, Silent Death"
"Full Thrust: The Klingon/Federation War's Battle of Thranstor"
"Silent Death: Star Wars"

An untapped resource?
-Bren

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

Helly jygro,
These are a couple of the Star Trek "SFB" type ships  I have designed. I let people use them in conventions and when we play @ a game store:

This a Federation CA, TNS Exeter.
CR=622, Hull=13, Engines+10, Shields=4. 
Six Large Phasers; R=30, 1/3+/1/1 Range-based ROF. 
Four Photon Torpedoes; r=18, 1/3+/1/1 Piercing+Extra Hull Damage.
10 Marines, 5 teleporters, 6 AFBs.

Here is a Klingon D7
CR=640, Hull=13, Engines=11, Shields=4.
Eight Medium Phasers; r=24, 1/3+/1/1 Range-based ROF
Four Disruptors; r=24, 1/3+/1/1, Piercing+Double damage
20 Marines, 10 teleporters, 4 AFB
(There are no Drones/strikers because these would be too complex for new players)

I use a very large hexmap that is a floating map.  If you stayed in your deployment area, you would be able to fire barely halfway across the map.  It would be ineffective, especially if you are trying to run a blockade or raid a convoy....

I am sure you could design "my fleet", but it takes some experience and skill to use it effectively against fleets of shorter-range-weaponed ships.  Unless they are also slow, then you have target practise.

Against say a fleet made from ships in the Imperial Sourcebook, I think that the Star Trek "SFB" type ships I designed would devestate them.

  • Registered: 2007-06-18
  • Posts: 128

Re: Tournament vs Scenario Starmada

Wow, looks alot like my SFB style ships...

Only with roughly double the range and speed, and about 30% more hull.  *laughs*