WizKids Games Star Trek Fleet Captains Wargame

I just heard about the new WizKids/NECA Star Trek based war game entitle: Star Trek Fleet Captains (STFC).

Designed by Mike Elliot and Ethan Pasternack, STFC is a stand alone strategic space exploration and ship-to-ship combat game.

Twenty four 3D HeroClix starship miniatures and 300 cards are included for game play. This game was released this past September.

The reason for my renewed interest in Star Trek space combat games was a friend asked to used my Star Trek minis for a demo game that was to be held in Abilene, Texas recently. When they were returned to me, I found out about the 'new' Starfleet Battles being produced in a joint venture between the Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc; and Mongoose Publication.

Their new miniature line would be made out of resin instead of metal and be slightly bigger than the original ones at 1/3788 scale. Star Fleet Miniatures have been sold by various vendors, mostly from Amarillo Design Bureau for the Star Fleet Battles and Federation Commander Games.

Quoting from starfleetgames.com website on the new line of miniatures: Under our joint venture with Mongoose, we will in November launch the new 2500 series which will be larger, have more detail, and will be done in resin instead of pewter. end quote. This series will correct some previous omissions, re-scale some of the ships (compared to each other), and make some changes that vary from subtle to profound. Check out the link below in the Ref section.

In my younger days, I enjoyed painting and collection the Star Trek miniatures from first, ADB, then later; the FASA Star Trek Starship Combat Simulator miniature line. Now the Wizkids version that is coming out is good news.

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ref.

1. Wizkidsgames.com. "Star Trek Fleet Captains" ( http://wizkidsgames.com/startrek/star-trek-fleet-captains/ ).

2. Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc., the publisher of the Star Fleet Universe games. (http://store.starfleetstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=S)

3. Starfleetgames.com (ADB related).

4. Starline 2500 miniatures line link (http://www.starfleetgames.com/Starline%202500.shtml).

Battletech - As rich a Universe as Star Trek/Star Wars Has!

Battletech - As rich a Universe as Star Trek/Star Wars Has!

So - why hasn't Battletech made it to the big screen yet? Maybe its too big? The universe to detail and rich for just a mere two hour flick or sci-fi escapism. Battletech was originally created and put out by FASA. Now it is joined "owned" by Wizkids and Catalyst Games. I didn't realized, but on July 16, 2009 this year marked the 25th anniversary of the game launch.

This scene from the computer game "Mechwarrior 4: Vengence" was actually the only computer game that I ever enjoyed playing from start to finished. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGSEhgfhDis). As you can see and hear from the view - this would make a great movie or TV series.

So why not?

Why am I asking this question? Because every now and then I end up making trouble I guess.

Actually, I happened to drop by the local gaming shop today and while looking through what they had, noticed some new Battletech books put out by Catalyst Games. I ended up putting down $50 bucks for the fourth book in the rules series entitle Battletech: Strategic Operations. I had the first two books in the series(Total Warfare and Tech Manual). Skipped the third (Tactical Operations Manual). I'm now rethinking my decision to skip it. I'll just have to wait until my next paycheck to see if I can indulge into the war gaming hobby again. Remember, each one of these books cost $50.00. If you were to buy all four at the same time - your dropping $200.00. on the game.

I have two fishing tackle boxes still full of the metal minis - most of them painted. Even have some of the original lead miniatures. (Don't worry, I will not let any two or three year old chew on them). But I loved assembling those minis and painting them. I bought multiples of the same mech to have opposing forces. Sadly - I was the only one in my gaming circle that really went into the game at all. My friends MIGHT indulge my a odd game or two once or twice a year. But I went so far as to build 3d terrain to set up a gaming table.

I miss those days as I get older. Like today, I get the urge to dig that stuff out of storage and just look at the minis or read the books.

Anyway, I thought that I would make a change of pace posting in this blog.

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Ref. Wikipedia page on Battletech (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BattleTech).

Classic Battletech (http://www.classicbattletech.com/index.php)

Ironwindmetals.com - site for the classic 1/285th scale battletech miniatures and new ones. (http://ironwindmetals.com/d/index.php)