Federation Space

Last updated

Federation Space is a Star Trek -based space naval combat board game published by Task Force Games in 1981.

Contents

Design and gameplay

Federation Space was designed by Stephen Wilcox as a strategic companion to the more tactical Star Fleet Battles system. [1]

The game components are: [2]

The map covers the large extent of space and many of the space-faring races described in the Star Trek TV series. This included the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, Gorns, Tholians and Hydrans. [2] The Kzinti, a race mentioned in the Ringworld novels of Larry Niven, is also featured. [2]

This is a game of naval fleet action involving dozens (or more) ships. Nearly all ships move at the same speed (Warp Factor 6). With so many ships involved, combat relies on a simple two-step reduction system to determine damage. Each ship only has two statuses: normal (counter face up); and damaged (counter face-down). Taking any damage results in a ship receiving the "Damaged" status. Taking any subsequent damage destroys the ship. Battles continue until one side is either destroyed or withdraws. [2]

Since this is a strategic-level game, some scenarios describe the capture of base stations, starbases or even planets. [2]

There is also a campaign game for three or more players (each playing a different race) in which the players use diplomatic alliances and multiple navies to achieve their strategic goals. [2]

Reception

In the March 1982 edition of The Space Gamer (Issue No. 49), William A. Barton recommended the game, saying, "Federation Space succeeds in its purpose to present a relatively simple, playable Star Trek game which can serve as a strategic module for Star Fleet Battles . Recommended to Trek gamers everywhere." [1]

John Lambshead reviewed Federation Space for White Dwarf #31, giving it an overall rating of 8 out of 10, and stated that "So to sum up: a reasonably buy for megalomaniacs who like to rule the universe, a good buy for Star Trek fans, and an essential buy for Star Fleet Battles enthusiasts." [3]

In the August 1983 edition of Dragon (Issue 76), Tony Watson liked a number of things, including its simplicity of rules and combat, the fleet organization charts, the simple step-reduction damage system, and the colourful components. Watson criticized the size of the map, which although large compared to other combat games, was too small and restrictive for entire fleets. Watson also thought the game did not reward clever fleet maneuvers, relying instead on massed fleets simply engaging head on. He concluded, "Federation Space has much to recommend itself. Both those who play Starfleet Battles and those interested in a fast-moving, action-oriented strategic space game should find this title to their liking." [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Star Fleet Battles</i>

Star Fleet Battles (SFB) is a tactical board wargame set in an offshoot of the Star Trek setting called the Star Fleet Universe. Originally created in 1979 by Stephen V. Cole, it has had four major editions. The current edition is published by Amarillo Design Bureau as Star Fleet Battles, Captain's Edition.

Federation and Empire (F&E) is a strategic-level board wargame set in the fictional Star Fleet Universe spinoff of Star Trek, currently published by Amarillo Design Bureau Inc. (ADB). It is a stand-alone product, but has sometimes been considered the official campaign generator for Star Fleet Battles.

<i>Triplanetary</i> (board game) 1973 Science fiction board game

Triplanetary is a science fiction board wargame originally published by Game Designers' Workshop in 1973. The game is a simulation of space ship travel and combat within the Solar System in the early 21st Century.

<i>Imperium</i> (board game) Science fiction tabletop wargame

Imperium is a science fiction board wargame designed by Marc W. Miller, and published in 1977 by the Conflict Game Company and Game Designers' Workshop (GDW). It features asymmetrical forces, the two sides having its unique set of constraints. The game came in a cardboard box illustrated with a space battle on the exterior. It included a cardboard-mounted, folding map of a local region of the Milky Way galaxy, a set of rules and charts, and the 352 counters representing the various spacecraft, ground units, and markers, and a six-sided die. A second edition was published in 1990, a third in 2001, and the first edition republished in 2004.

<i>Star Trek: The Role Playing Game</i> Tabletop science fiction role-playing game

Star Trek: The Role Playing Game is a role-playing game set in the fictional Star Trek universe published by FASA Corporation from 1982 to 1989.

Starfire is a board wargame simulating space warfare and empire building in the 23rd century, created by Stephen V. Cole in 1979.

<i>Star Trek: Adventure Gaming in the Final Frontier</i>

Star Trek: Adventure Gaming in the Final Frontier is a role-playing game set in the fictional Star Trek universe. The game was published and edited by Heritage Models from 1978 until Heritage Models dropped the Star Trek gaming license.

<i>Starfleet Voyages</i>

Starfleet Voyages is a science-fiction adventure role-playing game of planetary exploration based on the Star Trek television series.

<i>The Cosmic Balance</i> 1982 video game

The Cosmic Balance is a game designed by Paul Murray and published in 1982 for the Apple II and Atari 8-bit family by Strategic Simulations (SSI). It was later released for the Commodore 64. A sequel, Cosmic Balance II, also designed by Paul Murray for SSI, was released in 1983.

<i>Elric: Battle at the End of Time</i> Fantasy board wargame

Elric: Battle at the End of Time is a board wargame published by Chaosium in 1982, an update of the 1977 game simply titled Elric. It is based on the Elric of Melniboné books by Michael Moorcock. There have been three English language editions, Elric (1977), Elric: Battle at the End of Time (1982), and Elric (1984), published by Avalon Hill.

Swordquest is a 1979 board game published by Task Force Games.

<i>Traveller Book 5: High Guard</i> Science-fiction role-playing game supplement

Traveller Book 5: High Guard is a supplement published by Game Designers' Workshop in 1980 for the science fiction role-playing game Traveller.

<i>Ram Speed</i>

Ram Speed, subtitled "Naval Warfare in the Bronze Age", is a two-player microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980 that simulates naval combat between galleys in the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age when the preferred method of attack was ramming a ship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ley Sector</span> Science-fiction role-playing game supplement

Ley Sector is a supplement published under license by Judges Guild in 1980 for Game Designers' Workshop's science fiction role-playing game Traveller.

<i>Fifth Frontier War</i> Science fiction tabletop wargame

Fifth Frontier War two-player science fiction board wargame published by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) in 1981. Fifth Frontier War is the fifth Traveller boardgame published by GDW. It was republished in 2004 as part of Far Future Enterprises Traveller: The Classic Games, Games 1-6+.

<i>Space Empires</i> (board game)

Space Empires is a science fiction board game published by Mayfair Games in 1981.

Star Trek III Starship Combat Game is a 1984 board game published by FASA.

<i>Introduction to Star Fleet Battles</i> Game supplement

Introduction to Star Fleet Battles is a supplement published by Task Force Games in 1986 for the science fiction combat game Star Fleet Battles that is inspired by the TV series Star Trek.

<i>Ironbottom Sound</i> (board game) Naval board wargame

Ironbottom Sound, subtitled "The Guadalcanal Campaign", is a naval board wargame published by Quarterdeck Games in 1981 that simulates the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. Four editions have been released by various publishers over forty years.

References

  1. 1 2 Barton, William A. (March 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer . Steve Jackson Games (49): 26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Watson, Tony (August 1983). "Federation Space: The final frontier?". Dragon . TSR, Inc. (76): 82–83.
  3. Lambshead, John (June–July 1982). "Open Box". White Dwarf . Games Workshop (31): 16.