Federation Commander

Federation Commander is a tactical starship combat game system set in the alternate Star Fleet Universe, produced and developed by Amarillo Design Bureau (ADB). It is designed to represent combat between starships of various factions in the Star Fleet Universe, such as the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. Unlike its sister publication, Star Fleet Battles, Federation Commander is not intended to be a very in-depth simulation of space combat in the 22nd-23rd centuries. Rather, it is aimed at providing a balance between tactical nuance and ease of playability, one which makes the game more accessible for newer gamers, or those with limited time constraints, than Star Fleet Battles.

More details about Federation Commander – and in particular, its differences from Star Fleet Battles – are available here.

The "Squadron scale" and "Fleet scale" combat modes represent the most significant distinction between its more intricate counterpart, Star Fleet Battles (SFB). Each starship or base – or even "space monster" – has two ship diagrams, representing its weapon options, shields, number of shuttlecraft, available warp drive and impulse power, etc. The same starship (such as a Federation battle cruiser) has one diagram in the more detailed Squadron scale – the kind of scale seen in SFB, and another, more simplified one in Fleet scale – a similar scale to the "Cadet scale" seen in SFB. Both scales use the same rule system, allowing gamers to play a fast-paced duel or starbase assault in Fleet scale, or a more detailed cruiser clash or squadron battle in the aptly-titled Squadron scale. Examples of both scales of starships are available at ADB's Federation Commander site (in  format).

Initial and current releases
The initial releases for the Federation Commander game system were:

Federation Commander: Klingon Border
This release contains a 48-page rulebook, reference play sheets, with color counters and corresponding ship diagrams for various ship classes in the Federation's United Star Fleet (including the fabled starship portrayed in Star Trek: The Original Series and the  Dreadnought seen in the Star Fleet Technical Manual) and the Klingon Empire's Deep Space Fleet (including the famed D7-class battle cruisers, seen serving the Klingon and Romulan Empires in the Original Series) Two ship classes from the Kzinti Hegemony, the Tholian Holdfast's famed Patrol Corvette – the vessel from, an Orion pirate raider vessel, as well as a number of freighter craft, base stations, starbases and a space monster - the feared Planet Killer – are also included.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Klingon Attack
This release includes sixteen additional starships for the races from Klingon Border, as well as containing new game scenarios.

This module is currently available.

Federation Commander booster packs
This set of releases includes additional ship diagrams for the existing races, as well as new ship types for each race.

Booster Packs 1, 2, and 3 (from Klingon Border) and 4, 5 and 6 (from Klingon Attack) are currently available, as well as 7, 8, 9 (from Romulan Border), 10, 11, and 12 (from Romulan Attack), 13, 14, and 15 (from Tholian Attack), 16, 17, and 18 (from Battleships Attack) and 19 and 20 (from Distant Kingdoms).

Federation Commander First Missions Introductory Manual
This downloadable document includes introductory rules for Federation Commander: Klingon Border, as well as ship diagrams for a Federation CA and a Klingon D7. It is available at this link (in PDF format).

Federation Commander Booster Pack #0: Threat File and Intelligence Briefing
Of most note in the first batch of booster pack releases for those already acquainted with the Star Fleet Universe – as well as those interested in the other races on offer – is Booster Pack #0: Threat File and Intelligence Briefing. This pack includes trial rules for Romulan, Gorn, Hydran, Lyran, WYN and Interstellar Concordium starships, as well as for the unique weapon systems of each race.

This booster pack is currently available.



Federation Commander: Romulan Border
This release substitutes the Romulans and the Gorn for the Klingons and the Kzinti.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Romulan Attack
This release includes sixteen extra starships for the races from Romulan Border, as well as containing additional game scenarios.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Tholian Attack
This release fleshes out the Tholian forces and rules - such as for the famed Tholian web. The, an insectoid race once slaves to the Tholians in their home galaxy, are also included in this release.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Academy
This release is intended as an introductory product, placed as an intermediate product between the First Missions pdf and the two Border box sets. It includes a copy of the rulebook from Klingon Border, the &frac12;-inch counters and ship cards for four starships (The Federation CA, Klingon D7, Gorn BC and Romulan KE), and an unmounted paper map.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Battleships Attack
This release includes a number of battleships for the races included in the two Border boxes, as well as bases and other large craft.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Briefing #1
This release includes various items such as a range of new scenarios, six new ships and a scenario designers' guide.

This module is currently available.



Federation Commander: Distant Kingdoms
This release includes vessels from the Lyran Star Empire and the Hydran Kingdom, and also includes ships from the Lyran Democratic Republic and WYN Star Cluster.

This module is currently available.

Federation Commander: Orion Attack
This release includes additional Orion Pirate vessels, as well as others.

This module is currently available.

Future releases
Future releases include:

Federation Commander: War and Peace
This release will include ships from the Interstellar Concordium, and may include a second race, such as the Andromedans. However, there is, as yet, no confirmation as to which, if any, second race is to be included.

This module's release date is unknown.

Federation Commander: Borders of Madness
This release will include several ships in Fleet scale from Star Fleet Battles which will not be included in the main Federation Commander releases, such as scout vessels, commando starships and space control ships (dreadnoughts serving as home vessels for fighter craft and fast patrol craft).

Also, many rules which have been excluded from the main Federation Commander modules will be included for those who wish to use them. In contrast to the step-by-step release schedule for various races in the main line Federation Commander sets, each race seen in SFB which will have a representation in Borders of Madness will be included in the first module.

As this game is intended for an audience already familiar with SFB, this release will be primarily available from [https://www169.safesecureweb.com/starfleetstore/merchant2/merchant.mvc? ADB's mail order site].

This module's release date is unknown.

Awaiting development
Other reserved titles, such as:

Federation Commander: Deep Space
as well as

Federation Commander: Next Frontier
These have not as yet been assigned to cover specific races or scenarios.

Miniatures
Also, a series of related miniature box sets is scheduled for release alongside each title release. Due for release alongside Klingon Border were Federation and Klingon fleet sets, as well as sets containing the other warships, freighters and bases seen in Klingon Border. Since then, miniature boxes have been released matching each subsequent Federation Commander release.