Obscure Games

[markymark1970]

I have definitely seen other gamers argue in other places around the internet that simplicity is bad and complexity is good.

For those people, my go-to curse is that they have to play FASA's old INTERCEPTOR game, flow charts and all. ;-)

I once saw someone describe FSA as "Baby's first starship explosions."

If they think FSA is too simple, I wonder what they usually play. 20 volume SFB? Saganami Tac Sim? The original Babylon 5 Wars?

Ha!  Dale, I was going to say the same thing.  Playing full on Star Fleet Battles, with tons of optional rules, as a tween and teen, now THAT was complex.  We complain that a 1000 point FSA battle takes 4+ hours.  Try a cruiser and a frigate on each side in SFB...

[McKInstry]

That brought back nightmares. Full on SFB made me consider giving up on gaming and start getting root canals without anesthetic for a hobby.

Saganami was virtually incomprehensible as well and I watched the author explain it at Origins one year but, for shear brutal complexity, nothing beats the Challenger 2000 modern rules although Seekreig V is a runner up.

[Landlubber]

OK, now I'm thinking we need to have an "Obscure Ruleset Games Day" where we sit down and play through these old rules systems. I've never seen any of these games played, only heard about them from you guys.

Or maybe we'd need a whole weekend?

[Ruckdog]

OK, now I'm thinking we need to have an "Obscure Ruleset Games Day" where we sit down and play through these old rules systems. I've never seen any of these games played, only heard about them from you guys.

Or maybe we'd need a whole weekend?

If you end up having such a day it would make good fodder for the Podcast .

[Dakkar]

OK, now I'm thinking we need to have an "Obscure Ruleset Games Day" where we sit down and play through these old rules systems. I've never seen any of these games played, only heard about them from you guys.
Or maybe we'd need a whole weekend?

A long day at least. I sold off my SFB stuff and other old systems ages ago. About the only thing left is B5-Call to Arms, which isn't much more complex than FSA.
I'm sure I could rustle up someone to lend SFB and Full Thrust rules, maybe even Silent Death.
Stephan has B5 Wars, but we'd spend 3 hrs just figuring out how to turn a Minbari ship.
I don't know anyone with Saganami or some of the others.

[zorper]

I've got my Federation Commander (simpler SFB, and actually quite fun) and Sky Galleons of Mars for an obscure game day.

[McKInstry]

I have a Sky Galleons of Mars somewhere and here in Colorado Springs there is a group still playing it (it is actually a great game). I saw a really clever setup at the Haven Anniversary.

For obscure adjacent, I could also reference General Quarters I and II. Again, great game but now 30+ years old. I could run one of those in a heartbeat.

To relearn SFB might be traumatic for many. Fed Commander can at least be played to conclusion by Humans.

[Dakkar]

Fed Commander can at least be played to conclusion by Humans.

Concur. That's really the only recent incarnation I've tolerated in past decade plus.

And I'm all about Sky Galleons, I miss my copy. If we play at the Haven, we can get Suzanne (formerly Stu) to play as well.

If talking old obscure and nigh unplayable, this was the FIRST Space combat game I had (though more of a 4X):
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2743/starfall

Then the FASA game came along...
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3040/star-trek-starship-tactical-combat-simulator

[zorper]

Or how about Star Force Alpha Centauri (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starforce:_Alpha_Centauri).  Why not go full 3D on a 2D map on your first space game?

I would love to play some Sky Galleons.  I'm up in Littleton, so if you give me a few weeks notice I can dust off (20+ years of dust) my copy and head on down.

[Quickdraw]

Sky Galleons of Mars?
I'm pretty sure Greg was talking about playing that at Genghis...

[Landlubber]

No, it was Space: 1889, which I think is a different but possibly similar game.

I'd be up for trying any of the above.

[zorper]

I'm about 99.9% sure Sky Galleons of Mars is the same as Space 1889.  Unless you are talking about the Space 1889 hex based ground combat game, which I'm pretty sure nobody ever actually played.

[Dakkar]

I'm about 99.9% sure Sky Galleons of Mars is the same as Space 1889.  Unless you are talking about the Space 1889 hex based ground combat game, which I'm pretty sure nobody ever actually played.

Ship-wise, same game, same world

[markymark1970]

OK, now I'm thinking we need to have an "Obscure Ruleset Games Day" where we sit down and play through these old rules systems. I've never seen any of these games played, only heard about them from you guys.
Or maybe we'd need a whole weekend?

A long day at least. I sold off my SFB stuff and other old systems ages ago. About the only thing left is B5-Call to Arms, which isn't much more complex than FSA.
I'm sure I could rustle up someone to lend SFB and Full Thrust rules, maybe even Silent Death.
Stephan has B5 Wars, but we'd spend 3 hrs just figuring out how to turn a Minbari ship.
I don't know anyone with Saganami or some of the others.

Still got most/all of the SFB stuff, plus Fed Commander (much easier and quicker, Todd can vouch), Full Thrust and B5 Wars/Call to Arms.  Got Silent Death rulebook but have never played.

[markymark1970]

Starfire can be fun too.  As small a battle or as big as you want.