Maps

I'm taking a wild plunge into the unknown here and attempting to do a kind of crude three dimensional map for that area of the Alpha Quadrant known as the Upper Leaf Swirl Spiral.

The plan is that I will take three sheets of hex paper (see the link), print them onto A3 paper and layer them.

I'll then be able to use a 3D co-ordinate system to describe any location on the map as follows: sheet: axis x: axis y.

Thus A:1:a might be the location of Starbase 123 on the first sheet, in the upper left hex.

Then you have to imagine me taking all three sheets, layering them together, grasping the two opposite corners and giving the whole thing a bit of a twist to more accurately represent the actual shape of the area.

But that is another story.

The Rules

For tactical combat, I'm using Bob Barnetson's "Full Thrust Lite" version that were published in Battlegames #18.

I've pretty well taken them just as they are - a rare thing for a wargamer! - but for the movement rules.

I decided that different classes of ship ought to have different acceleration/deceleration rates based on their size. After all, a great big Federation Dreadnought or a monstrous Klingon B10 ought to lumber rather more than a destroyer or an F-5.

Thus:

"Battleships": may accelerate or decelerate at 2 hexes per move. Includes laden Tugs*.
"Cruisers": may accelerate or decelerate at 3 hexes per move. These include Constitution/Enterprise Classes, Miranda and Stargazer Classes, Klingon D4s and D7s, large Bird of Prey types.
"Destroyers": may accelerate or decelerate at 4 hexes per move. I'm thinking here of Federation destroyer classes and Klingon F-5; Probably Romulan Warbirds as well.

*Tugs may drop their cargo pods and go to 3 hex/move

Ships of the Fleet

Klingon D-7s close on a Constitution Class. A DY-100 flees in the background.

Constitution Class about to go to Warp

Most of my Star trek ships are the old MicroMachines range that came out in the 1990s. I bought up a few way back then and have steadily been supplementing this core through eBay. I've also since bought some extra bits - like Klingon warships, Federation Dreadnoughts and Destroyers among others - from Amarillo Design Bureau to round things out. The Micromachines stuff isn't as nicely cast with the fine detail of the AMD, but they have the virtues of being cheap, pre-painted and robust.

A Five-Year Mission

Hello and welcome.

The purpose of this blog is to explore that debateable and dubious part of the Alpha Quadrant called the Upper Leaf-Swirl Spiral as the Admiral commanding a mixed Star Fleet task force.

The time is not too long after the completion of a certain five-year mission. Perhaps a little after the V’ger Incident.

Tension between the Federation and the Klingon Empire waxes and wanes and it is not uncommon for klingon Flotillas to try to test Federation resolve by means of making attacks on small groups of ships and isolated outposts.

The Klingons have been trying Federation patience in this region, and the Federation have decided to assert themselves with some firmness in this disputed and little understood region.

Heretofore, Star Fleet has had only a very limited presence on the borderlands of the region. Star Fleet Command has determined that this will cease to be the case and that as well as asserting their authority, they will promote Star Fleets dual charter of scientific discovery as well as defense.

Live long and prosper.