We bought it when it came out and tried to play it but couldn't. It's an engineer's dream of a game, with a huge rulebook and hundred's of counters (which don't even cover the size of the fleets involved). It's insane. We looked at the combat rules, which break things down into percentages, and immediately decided to go back to the simple fun of Federation Space.
Played the complete General War with 4 friends in 86-87. Took us 6 months. Kept it set up in a closed off room. We ended with an Alliance win around turn 20.
Definitely! It's something that wouldn't appeal to everyone but for those that enjoy charts and spreadsheets its great. It's an accountant's game with a Star Trek theme.
I have played several smaller scenarios as solo games. (Yes, I do play a lot with my own spreadsheets and random generation of outcomes.) I have started the game 3 times with different sets of friends, but it take a large commitment of time, and were never successful in getting very far. Maybe in my retirement...? Oh, and definitely use the 2010 rule set as it consolidates a lot of loose ends.
I remember when it came out in the 80's. I was big into Starfleet Battles and wanted this game but it was quite expensive back in the day. I know it sells on Ebay now for $100 but back in the 80's that game cost $50-$75
@@mtnimt4724 Ah yeah that might have contributed to the cost. It was also made by a small company that only makes Star Trek games so they probably have to charge more compared to Avalon Hill.
I've played the entire General War as the Kzinti with 7 other players. One should not approach the game as a speed player. It took MONTHS to play this all the way out.
Oh wow, that must have been fun. It's definitely a long game and unfortunately I can't leave it set up for too long as I have other games to play. How did your game go? On the winning side?
@@tabletoptemplar2486 it was a good learning experience as the major powers (Fed, Lyran, Klingon) were experienced players, I was Kzinti. The Alliance lost by points ( barely), but after 36 turns it was a good game. ☺️
So where's the alien that sucks salt out of your body, or the companion, or the city on the edge of forever,....why has star trek become a battle and war story?
This is a alternate Star Trek universe (Starfleet Battles Universe) and this game is about a "what if" war (The General War) between all the major factions. This isn't about exploration or discovery.
Just let you know Amarillo Design: Steve V Cole and Steven Petrick were the designers of the game along with Star fleet Battles in 1986 Task Force Games published the game under. License.until.2010 when Amarillo Design.took over. Just let everyone know. Amarillo Design's comes from Franz Joseph Designs of The Star Technical Manual fame It does not use scrips / stories from TOS at all. The game convention you were talking about was Origins the nations largest gaming convention back in. 2000 I think. I have the 2010 and 1996 issues. And the new rule book.
We bought it when it came out and tried to play it but couldn't. It's an engineer's dream of a game, with a huge rulebook and hundred's of counters (which don't even cover the size of the fleets involved). It's insane. We looked at the combat rules, which break things down into percentages, and immediately decided to go back to the simple fun of Federation Space.
Might have been thinking Federation Commander around 7:30.
The art work back in the Task Force Games days was quite nice.
Played the complete General War with 4 friends in 86-87. Took us 6 months. Kept it set up in a closed off room. We ended with an Alliance win around turn 20.
Oh wow that's a long time. How often did you play?
@@tabletoptemplar2486 I want to say it was most evenings for 1-4 hours. Long time ago.
F&E is the monster game of monster games. One must have a unique love of spreadsheets.
Definitely! It's something that wouldn't appeal to everyone but for those that enjoy charts and spreadsheets its great. It's an accountant's game with a Star Trek theme.
I have played several smaller scenarios as solo games. (Yes, I do play a lot with my own spreadsheets and random generation of outcomes.) I have started the game 3 times with different sets of friends, but it take a large commitment of time, and were never successful in getting very far. Maybe in my retirement...? Oh, and definitely use the 2010 rule set as it consolidates a lot of loose ends.
I remember when it came out in the 80's. I was big into Starfleet Battles and wanted this game but it was quite expensive back in the day. I know it sells on Ebay now for $100 but back in the 80's that game cost $50-$75
Oh wow so it was expensive even back then?
@@tabletoptemplar2486 Im guessing the 1500 counters must have been expensive for production.
@@mtnimt4724 Ah yeah that might have contributed to the cost. It was also made by a small company that only makes Star Trek games so they probably have to charge more compared to Avalon Hill.
I've played the entire General War as the Kzinti with 7 other players. One should not approach the game as a speed player. It took MONTHS to play this all the way out.
Oh wow, that must have been fun. It's definitely a long game and unfortunately I can't leave it set up for too long as I have other games to play. How did your game go? On the winning side?
@@tabletoptemplar2486 it was a good learning experience as the major powers (Fed, Lyran, Klingon) were experienced players, I was Kzinti. The Alliance lost by points ( barely), but after 36 turns it was a good game. ☺️
@@bluelogimouse2123 Awesome! Glad to hear it was a good game.
It not a different universe. It is part of the Star fleet Battles. Game system.
I know, but I meant different universe as in it's different than the canonical Star Trek Universe that most people are familiar with.
So where's the alien that sucks salt out of your body, or the companion, or the city on the edge of forever,....why has star trek become a battle and war story?
This is a alternate Star Trek universe (Starfleet Battles Universe) and this game is about a "what if" war (The General War) between all the major factions. This isn't about exploration or discovery.
Just let you know Amarillo Design: Steve V Cole and Steven Petrick were the designers of the game along with Star fleet Battles
in 1986 Task Force Games published the game under. License.until.2010 when Amarillo Design.took over. Just let everyone know. Amarillo Design's comes from Franz Joseph Designs of The Star Technical Manual fame
It does not use scrips / stories from TOS at all. The game convention you were talking about was Origins the nations largest gaming convention back in. 2000 I think. I have the 2010 and 1996 issues. And the new rule book.