Reviews

A great set of scenarios and useful ships for playing non-traditional battles.

The battleships are a huge amount of fun. Mighty, lumbering, and complex, they make for a great experience...

A good collection of ships. The D5W is particularly useful as a bridge between the D7 and the heavier battlecruisers. The Tholian destroyer is another good addition. A good ship pack!...

Great to have a high points value Orion ship. Fills a role and is fun like all Orion ships.

A great option for a satellite ship. Fills a nice void!

A hell of a battleship for the Andromedans! Sadly isn’t its own enormous card but its points value is absolutely bonkers. I love Andromedons so I’m glad to have a ship of this caliber....

Another great expansion. Lots of useful Romulan and Gorn ships, including a cool Dreadnought variant for the Romulan. Fed ships are a nice bonus and the asteroid rules and maps make this good value....

An excellent collection of ships that fill in gaps in the various empires’ repertoire. Especially appreciate the Andromedon SatBase....

Great to see more Orions. A great faction with cool rules. The provided cards are good for new players and the master weapons chart, though missing the War and Peace weapons, is very useful (though I wish it was laminated). Overall a solid expansion!...

I love the new counter designs.....they are of top-notch quality. I only wish ALL counter sheets from all the products would get re-released....

Really interesting empires with cool rules. The Andromedons in particular are very unique. Might even be better than Distant Kingdoms!...

Illuminating and well written. Really thoroughly covers the game and all its various permutations.

An excellent and interesting expansion. The most complex rules in FC, but fun and fascinating. The new weapons are all sorts of fun and the web is devious as it gets....

A fantastic expansion with supremely interesting factions and rules. Really expands the range of the game and even comes with a 3 player and 1 player scenario. Wonderfully realized and cool as hell....

An excellent selection of ships. The plasma torpedo reference cards are wonderful. Complete with Graduation and Academy, this set guarantees a massive amount of replay ability and a good number of scenarios....

An excellent gaming system. Easy to pick up with lots of options for how to play. Deeply fun and strategic, the Academy pack gives you all you need for hours of entertainment. It’s impossible to resist picking up Graduation and going hog wild from there....

I love this book. I ordered this after getting Klingon boarder and it's a game changer. I gave Klingon boarder to the kiddo and kept this book along with an extra set of counters. Light read compared to sfb....

A fast paced and easy to learn game. The cards are nicely illustrated and the game mechanics easily adapted to players of all ages (including my 10 yr old)....

The full color ship counters are distracting, Please make an option to purchase the older two tone style. ...

The full color ship counters are not visually appealing when compared to the old two color style. The images just look like the Mega Hex art work, shrunk down and printed on yellow and green background, this is visually unattractive & distracting. Please bring the old two tone style back in print....

An outstanding addition to the Star Fleet Universe. The Academy section was particularly well done. Specifically: The Brotherhood Banquet is very good. It's worth the cost of this issue on it's own....

This arrived in a cardboard carrier that made me wonder if I was receiving Anti-Tank Ordinance by mistake! Humor aside, the multi-layer packaging was excellently performed and USPS was unable to apply their destructive best, so the sheet arrived intact.

I've got it resting on a table right now, letting the curl relax out before framing. I expect it to be a conversation starter in the game room once I find the perfect spot for it.

The webstore image doesn't show it well, but it is the full production sheet, complete with whitespace, crop guide, and color test marks.

I think any well provisioned SFU game room needs one!
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There is only one question to ask: How did I ever live without these?

Awesome product. May come off as talking down to you if you're really into wargaming, but for the uninitiated, it's perfect. It clearly directs you step by step and with the use of the scenarios, you pick it up easy. PDF is free on Drivethrurpg (Don't be fooled by the different cover. It has the same guts.

Most Excellent product!!!...

I love the simple look to it, like an actual manual from work. The counters are sturdy and colorful. I just wish that the PDFs at Drivethrurpg weren't so high, and you have to buy the SSD separate from the rules. Other than that, it's most excellent....

If you play Tholians this is a must. Lot's of background and ships.

I really enjoyed this issue of CL. The short story, Mutiny on the Harasser, was tense and entertaining. The Scenario, SL187 Planetary Raid, may be my new favorite scenario. And the Kzinti and Lyran captured ships rock! In my personal opinion, if you dont buy CL21, you might be a tribble turd....

While the serious issue/ships have been incorporated into other products, the fun ships by themselves make this a must-have product just as much as the delightful time-capsule aspects of it. So good, I'd like to give it a six star out of five rating. :)...

A whole new universe, but without the need to learn a whole new set of game mechanic rules, the Omega sector is an almost "Wild West" setting for new heroes to emerge. I can NOT praise it enough!...

SFB is such a wonderful, detailed, and complex game that sometimes we fans can forget the "Fun" side of gaming.

SSJ is something that does not take itself as serious as the core SFB. It has that fun that can be lacking elsewhere....

A reference book without peer for everything the Federation can put in the field, from ships to fighters to Marines to even the conjectural Mustang and Thunderbolt gunboats, all in one convenient package.

Were I to request a change, it would be to add the Master Fighter Chart for the Federation fighter shuttles. They are described in wonderful detail and the requested chart would be a duplication of what is already in the Master Annex Book....

I understand the reasoning for no counters, to keep the cost down. But, why not print the paper ones in color? Other than that, it's a fun little module....

This is a no nonsense, get right into it, Captains Log. It has a ton of scenario's to dive into. I'm a huge fan of the fan fiction. If for no other reason, getting your hands on Deth O'Kay's HammerField SSD is worth every penny in my book. Too much info? Too bad. Spoiler: It's Awesome!...

I have been in desperate need of a Kzinti Dreadnought for some time now. So this volume is just what I needed. Some other favorites I plan to do battle with immediately are: The Federation War Destroyer. That is one wicked cool ship.
The Federation Plasma Frigate.
Kzinti Medium Scout Cruiser and Kzinti War Drone Destroyer.
You gotta see the Orion OK6 Cruiser and the Orion Heavy Battle Cruiser. Fear the Orion Pirates!
For me this was a must have Module to SFB. Now that I have it, I cant believe I waited so long to get it!...

First off, love the fast shipping. Thanks.
This thing is just packed with goodies. There are too many to mention!I'll pick my 3 favorite:
1. The cover story: great read-a classic page turner.
2. The Hydran ship HYDRAMAR, a Lord High Executioner DCS. That's about the coolest ship name ever-except for:
3. The Seltorian DCS COLD WIND OF REVENGE.
SSD's included!
Honorable mentions: everything else.
My recommendation? Buy it!...

This is the classic SFB board updated. Nice star field in the back is great improvement to a simple effective design....

If your into fleet actions and campaigns you're not going to be able to live without this one. Add a Monitor to your Base defense and watch the sweat pour out of your enemies! Use a Race specific Star Base SSD. Organize your empire with great detail and realism. Convert your lonely Base into a bustling way-station, ripe for conquest by an aggressive neighbor. Or capture an enemy supply depot. Mod R1 is just what you need!...

Advanced Missions, indeed! If you've loved Basic, then Advanced Missions is a must have. Not only does it effectively double your game content, but it serves as a launchpad for all the other modules and supplements. It's fulfilling yet leaves you hungry for more. Simply a must have for anyone who dares to experience the Star Fleet Universe....

THESE ARE NOT SSD BOOKS, which is what ANYONE would think. It says NOWHERE that this is just a bullshit book about the ships. So I spent over $200 and still do not have a game...

Are you kidding me? Two bucks to not run out of drone counters ever again. This is stupid easy. Click the buy button....

Absolutely fan-dang-tastic! Played Basic and Advanced Missions for years and the X-Ships lets us progress in the timeline and advance technologically very naturally. I am looking forward to the Admirals Campaign with an X-Starbase at the home planet, one or two X-battle stations on the front lines, and some hell-raising X-squadrons to tear it up!...

A first rate, high quality product. Everything to get started is in there and looks like it came off the printer this morning. Ordered on a Friday and received Monday evening. This is one happy customer!...

An interesting game system. Really would like to see an updated and expanded third edition. Also sad that there aren't any counters to go with the folio....

Very well done. Only a couple flash tags to snipe off. Details came out great!

This rulebook is a tremendous value. I'm a long time player and just updating to the newest version of the game. So I've purchased the Basic Set and Advanced Missions. At first I though this was too much for the rulebook, but to my pleasant surprise the Master Rulebook brings a huge HUGE value. It is neat organized and although it says its just the rules, what this means is that some of the stuff in the Basic Set and Advanced Missions has been removed. The removed bits are the ship descriptions per empire. What this means to you is that it is slightly smaller than the combined Basic Set and Advanced Mission rules shuffled together. Put this in a 2" D-ring heavy duty binder and you are ready to game. Some of my friends have purchased multiple copies so other players have it to reference during 'learning' games.
Make this rulebook an early purchase as you build your Star Fleet Battles game to its full and glorious size. ...

I purchased the print edition of this book. It has a good amount of background from the star fleet universe on the federation, klingons, romulans, gorn, and kzinti as the five main factions represented in this book with a nice introductory number of ships for a good variety of choices available to build fleets from.

The "A call to arms" rule set combines well with star fleet setting for a different flavour of fleet battles.

The print edition was in good condition, although the artwork used in the book was originally in color, and the book is printed in black and white. I believe different black and white versions of the artwork and photographs could have had a better contrast for the black and white printing rather than the black and white versions of the color art.

The awkward looking B&W versionf of the art is the only negative thing I could say about that copy of the book. I would therefore suggest getting the PDF version. ...

Everything a Master Starship Book should be. If you specialize in playing The Greatest Empiral Ships of the Galaxy, you need this book!...

This is a wonderful map. The regular SFB male with the big Texas sized hexes. Great for big games with lots of counters, miniatures and / or Federation Commander. I found the map durable, colorful and easy to work with....

The Federation Commander Reference rule book it a truely awesome addition to your FC game. Every rule you need, easy to access. Get the Tactics manual to go with it and you will ROCK the universe. (Or at least you'll know why you lost ;^)...

SFB Tactics Manual
SFB player, why don’t you have this already?! Buy it now, then come back and read my review. It goes like this, I played SFB for years and for years my buddy and I played it wrong. Yeah, I know, who can’t figure out how long a ¼ turn is? The Tactics manual breaks down into a variety of useful subjects and clearly demonstrates how the rules were meant to work and how you can best apply them. It was the Zen moment of my SFB gaming reading this book. There is no point in trying to break down the variety of subjects, but it is a wonderful treatment of our favorite game. Even casual SFB players should pick this up because it provides a gateway into truly learning the game. Roll low!
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Star Fleet Battles Basic Set Review
Star Fleet Battles Basic Set is a fantastic value in gaming. This box set comes with rules, map, charts, ship displays and scenarios. Why do I love SFB over other sci-fi space combat games? Each empire of aliens has its own weapons systems. So while the ships have similar systems (like shields, warp engines, tractor beams, transports and such) they also have unique weapons and therefore tactics. As the Captain of your own starship you must decide how to apply the strengths of your ship against the weaknesses of the enemy. If you try to use one basic strategy against each opponent you will lose your command in short order (oh yes, I have gotten my ship blown out from under me).
The variety of scenarios means that you can go on scientific missions, fight monsters, explore the terrain of space (like asteroids, black holes, and more), play solitaire games, go on rescue missions, do pirate raids and even conduct multi game campaigns.
This game easily converts to using miniatures either on their large hex system or play hex less!
Here’s another strength, the rules are laid out in a logical fashion that facilitate reference during play. Here’s the challenge, figuring out how to start a game. The examples are in there and careful reading will get you there, but why not learn the fun way, by playing! Go get yourself the free Cadet version, use that to teach yourself the basics and then read the SFB rules again and start playing.
I also recommend you pick up the SFB Tactics Manual. I must confess I played for years incorrectly until I read this gem. It’s not just how to beat everybody, but the tried and true advice there demonstrates how the rules are meant to work.
Why SFB and not Federation Commander? I started with SFB (back in the day) and then picked up Federation Commander and now I’ve gone back to SFB. I love and play both, but there is something to be said for the breadth of action you can take in SFB. It’s well balanced after years (and years) of playtesting and refinement. The current version is well written, consistent and fun to play.
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The Kzinti 2400 scale frigate is a great model. While small, it’s a frigate after all, it has great detail. I like that the nacelles and arms. Take a look at the free paint guides. These are very approachable for new painters and add great visual appeal to your games....

Lil smaller than I thought it be but still big enough for my kitbash plans :)

If you are serious about playing Federation and Empire, this is an investment that is worth it.

Key Pros:

4-5 Stacks are easily placed per hex. This allows you a "big picture" perspective without having to reach in and move too many counters around. Knocking stacks over can be fairly annoying.

The provinces are clearly demarcated so figuring "what is what" and exactly what is captured or disrupted is much easier.

Included along the bottom row are helpful items like a battle mat as well as capital hex compositions for easy reference.

If you are serious about picking this up, pay the extra money and get it laminated. This will allow you to mark off bases as destroyed and annotate ownership of provinces without danger of wrecking the map. Also, this map is a pretty significant investment, so a spilled beverage is the LAST thing you want ruining your map.

So, get yourself to a 6 foot folding table or larger and set this guy up. The map that came with the game is fully functional, but if you want the wow factor and ALOT of added convenience, pick this one up. ...

The Next Big Thing!

Add this to your Basic Set and you have the core of SFB!

Every thing to start is here and soon you'll be wanting to expand your view on the Star Fleet Universe!
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Start Here!
The basis for every game of SFB is in this box! And a fine quality box it is. The contents are top notch, too!
Every thing to start is here and a little extra that will tie in to Advanced Missions.
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A Must Have!
By the time you have acquired a few SFB products, you may start to forget exactly which individual product a ship came from and that can be problematic during a gaming session when time is short but you need some info about a ship that is on the Master Ship Chart or even harder to remember which product it came in, an annex.
Get G3 and make life easier! I strongly recommend that you order it unbound and hole punched since putting it in a binder will make it easier to use. G3 is one of the top two reference material that I use during every SFB game. The other is the MRB.
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More detailed than (D15.0), but easier and faster than ASL.
No, really. Just as the headline says.
This goes for both Assault and Last Stand.
What I like the most is that is can be used with all of the SFU ship combat games for ground combat with very little kludging of rules....

More detailed than (D15.0), but easier and faster than ASL.
No, really. Just as the headline says.
This goes for both Assault and Last Stand.
What I like the most is that is can be used with all of the SFU ship combat games for ground combat with very little kludging of rules....

Just as advertised, this is exactly what is in the description. A must have if you are hosting several players. Well worth the money and allows you to keep your original rulebooks intact....

I may be a bit biased, but I just love the main "History." By just having one side of the story the reader gets to wonder, along with the protagtonist, just what is happening....

Another great Captain's Log from the folks at ADB. Night Hounds was a good story on a part of the Star Fleet Universe we don't see very often in print...The Orion Pirates.

The other big story is the tale of the Galactic Scout Cruiser USS Sakharov and her journeys from the Federation to the Lesser Magellanic Cloud, to the Omega sector of the Milky Way and back to the Federation. I am sure many more tales will come from this voyage.

The products also contains material for all of ADBs product lines and will be a welcome addition to any gamers library....