MDstore Academy : Federation Commander

Great introductory game to the Federation Commander series. It's the least expensive way to get your feet wet with a full rule set and system that has all you need to play the game. Sure, the other major editions have some nicer features, but really, if you are a very casual player, this can be very much enough to have hours of enjoyment, and to supplement roleplaying games as a means of resolving starship combat. I am glad I bought this for sure. Streamlined, simple, fast play, yet full of fun and tactical energy. It could also make a great gift for Trek fans who enjoy gaming where you aren't stuck behind a computer screen playing solo all the time. :)

If you love Star Trek, you have to get this. No, you really do. I command you to buy this. Make it so!

First off, a two disclaimers. One I bought the digital version of this elsewhere not on Amazon so I can't speak to the physical characteristics of the components. The version I have you print out the parts yourself. Two, despite what you might think based on the cover this is not a Star Trek product. This is a game based in the Star Fleet Universe, which is based on  Star Trek: The Original Series: Season 1 Remastered  and  Star Trek The Animated Series - The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek . The Star Fleet Universe got it's licence based on  Star Trek: Star Fleet Technical Manual  back in the 1970's before any movies were made and evolved their own universe based on that which has diverged significantly from the rest of the Star Trek series made since. For example in the Star Fleet Universe it's a bit uncertain when first contact was made it might have been in the twenty first century or the twenty sixth. In the Star Fleet Universe their are several empires that never appeared in Star Trek, like the Lyrans, Hydrans and the ISC. On the other hand groups like the Ferengi that only appeared in later Trek series don't exist and Klingons don't have ridged foreheads.The flagship game of the Star Fleet Universe has always been  Star Fleet Battles Basic Set ADB 5501  but in recent years many aspects of the game have looked a bit dated and the mechanics were too gritty to attract new gamers. So the creators designed Federation Commander. The visual aspects of the game components are much improved. The game mechanics have been streamlined. Since Federation Commander only introduces the Star Fleet Universe in bits and pieces (through expansions to introduce the various empires and their unique technologies) it will obviously add greater complexity as you include the expansions. On the other hand this keeps new players from being overwhelmed by the complexity at first (which was a problem introducing them to Star Fleet Battles).ADB, the games producers are still producing new materiel for Star Fleet Battles, but Federation Commander is not just a nice alternative to attract new players. It includes mechanics to make large fleet actions much easier to play. A battle that might take half a day to play out in Star Fleet Battles can be handled in about an hour with Federation Commander.This game is also great for Trek Fans. As long as you keep in mind that this is an alternate universe to what you're used to it's a great star-ship combat game focused on the TOS era.If like me you're a fan of the  GURPS Prime Directive Core Rulebook , or one of the other Prime directive rule sets, Federation Commander makes for easier integration of the star-ship game into your role playing.Best of all Federation Commander Academy makes for a cheaper introduction to the system to see if you like it or not. This set doesn't include some of the nicer elements of the Klingon Border introductory set (like larger pieces and a game map big enough to use miniatures on if you want) and gives you fewer ships to start with you at least get enough of the game to see if you think spending more will be worth it.You also don't have to worry about the producers of this game losing the licence from paramount leaving you having to look on ebay or in the used book bin at your local store to find the supplements you missed for a game that's gone out of print after a few years. The Star Fleet Universe Licence never expires.