Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? |
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Mojarn Piett
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms?  Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:41 am |
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Location: Finland
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Like the subject says. The minis look good but what are the rules like? Anyone?
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blackhorizon
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:22 pm |
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From what I heard is is quite good. No detailed info... cause I stick with BFG anyway. 
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wargame_insomniac
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:34 pm |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 6:42 pm
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Location: West Yorkshire, UK
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Hi
The game was written by Matt Sprange and has been described as similar mechanics to BFG, although with some extra improvements/complexities.
When I saw the Centauri models I was hooked. My first couple of blisters should be with me soon (Christmas post allowing) and I want to get the new revised rulebook shortly.
After SG support for BFG it is encouraging to see a company producing a similar product with an expanding and diversified product range.
I look forward to hearing how others have got on with playing the game.
Cheers
James
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Lion in the Stars
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:41 pm |
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I've got the old B5Wars 1st and 2nd editions, not Call to Arms. The First edition was set early in the series, primarily set around fighter v fighter action. The Second edition was small(er) scale fleet actions, with 'The Battle of the Line' split across 4-5 scenarios. I think that this new version can run the Line in a single scenario, with experienced players.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:55 pm |
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Hi Guys,
I've extensively played this game. Please remind me to comment later.
I have a number of entries in my blog speaking about this game. My mate, Eric-Chern, is a huge fan...
I'm still away from home so I'll comment when I get back home later.
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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Reaversbane
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:19 pm |
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My mate, Eric-Chern, is a huge fan... |
I believe he has been nominated as an answer-mod style person over on the CtA forums in fact  So I can imagine you have played it a bit Maksim
I've played once. I actually enjoyed the game I played, but I wasnt entirely happy with the rules. I cant help feeling that it has (from stuff I have read on the B5 forums if nothing else) some of the fundamental balance problems with fighters etc that Full Thrust has, which is a pity. What I do like is the way all the weapons work, very characterful, and lots of fun to resolve (although when I played it, you had to roll a 2D6 (bellcurve) for every hit to determine damage, which when a capital hit 10+ times could be slow).
One thing to say for it tho', it seems to get some really solid support from Mongoose, unlike old BFG...
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Reaversbane (or RB for short...)
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:17 pm |
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Hi Guys,
First of all, B-5-ASFOS is a good game in many ways, but it has some serious problems...
The game mechanics are good and consist of actions being passed back and forth. Weapons combat is based upon the center of the base and works fairly well. Ships have two damage bands: crew and armor. The critical hit system works and is very functional.
THE PROBLEMs: Unit balance, balance and balance...
The game has been released in a quasi-serial form and has come out in drips and drabs, with fleets not being balanced against each other.
For example, in the first edition, the Centauri stunk badly and were not competitive with other fleets. In our local campaign, Chern got stomped badly playing the Centauri.
On the other hand, my first fleet, the Vree, were a little overbalanced, which led to them being WAY overbalanced compared to the lame first-edition Centauri! 
The first-edition Narn and humans were fine and the "Old Ones" (Shadows and Vorlon) were good, but a little underbalanced.
The latest edition has fixed some of those problems and made others worse.
The Centauri and Vree were fixed in B-5-ASFOS, but the "Old Ones" took a severe beating. The Vorlons and Shadows (my new fleet is the Shadows) now stink badly and are easily beaten.
My advice to anyone playing is to avoid the "Old Ones" until the next edition.
The most overbalanced race is currently the Minbari.
I personally think that the human fleet is just a bit top-heavy as well.
We were playing in a campaign, which was fun and worked out all right although the mission system clearly favors fleets with more choices. Some fleets don't have smaller fleets capable of performng well. This handicaps them in many battles (not enough destroyers).
So, in final review:
Decent game mechanics, but huge game balance problems that require extensive development. ?
Final grade: 70 / 100 - Passing, but just barely. 
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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Reaversbane
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:26 pm |
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Thanks for the review Maksim.
Do you feel the balance problems come from the way the points system works, or is it just the special rules? I lurk on the Mongoose forums lots, and the opinion there seems to be its the abilities that arent balanced, which is interesting. I always felt that the very neat and simple points system works really well for very simple quick-play games, but that in some ways maybe CtA is too complicated and deserves a 'normal' points system. But then the only people who I have heard actually complain about it are those who havent played it much or at all (like me  ), so I may be quite wrong...
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Reaversbane (or RB for short...)
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wargame_insomniac
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:29 pm |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 6:42 pm
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Location: West Yorkshire, UK
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Thanks M/S for the write up. I will be doing Centauri and my friend Jim will be doing Shadows, so I was very interested to see how your thoughts on their relative strengths reversed between A Call To Arms and Sky Full of Stars.
Cheers
James
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Mojarn Piett
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:21 am |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:35 am
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Location: Finland
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Thanks Maksim for review! I think I'll wait for the next edition.
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I don't know and I let who care. -J.S.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:10 pm |
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Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
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Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Hi RB,
| Quote (Reaversbane @ 20 Dec. 2005 (16:26)) | | Thanks for the review, Maksim. |
You're welcome.
| Quote (Reaversbane @ 20 Dec. 2005 (16:26)) | | *** Do you feel the balance problems come from the way the points system works, or is it just the special rules? *** |
The PL (Priority Level) system is definitely part of the problem.
There has been a lot of talk at the Mongoose forums about the PL system.
The special rules aren't so bad (reminds me of E-40k) since they are added like abilities rather than one-offs for individual ships.
| Quote (Reaversbane @ 20 Dec. 2005 (16:26)) | | I lurk on the Mongoose forums lots, and the opinion there seems to be its the abilities that aren't balanced, which is interesting. |
If there's one piece of constructive criticism I could offer, it would be that the game system was prematurely released and needs more development. It's not a bad game, it just a game in need of development. I gave it a 70/100 rating, but will raise my rating when the game system matures.
| Quote (Reaversbane @ 20 Dec. 2005 (16:26)) | | I always felt that the very neat and simple points system works really well for very simple quick-play games, but that in some ways maybe CtA is too complicated and deserves a 'normal' points system. |
I think the system can work... it just needs to be developed.
| Quote (Reaversbane @ 20 Dec. 2005 (16:26)) | | But then the only people who I have heard actually complain about it are those who haven't played it much or at all (like me ), so I may be quite wrong... |
Well, I have played it and earned the right to constructively criticize it and... it needs work.
I like the minis though!
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:12 pm |
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Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
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Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Hi James,
| Quote (wargame_insomniac @ 20 Dec. 2005 (17:29)) | | Thanks M/S for the write up. |
You're welcome.
| Quote (wargame_insomniac @ 20 Dec. 2005 (17:29)) | I will be doing Centauri and my friend Jim will be doing Shadows, so I was very interested to see how your thoughts on their relative strengths reversed between A Call To Arms and Sky Full of Stars.
Cheers,
James. |
The Centauri are a good fleet and are much better balanced in the latest edition.
The Shadows are simply horrible. They are not balanced and while you can give a decent fight for big ship battles, you will be crippled in smaller engagements.
Both of the "old ones" fleets (Shadows and Vorlons) are not set up for tournament or campaign play. They will both lose badly. At best, they are curiosities in the current edition.
Your friend is probably not going to enjoy playing the Shadows. You might want to warn him off. In an equal match according to PL, the Shadows will lose about 90% of the time in my estimation. You'll deal caaualties to the non-Shadows, but will still ultimately lose the battle.
I recommend Drazi, Narn or Vree. They're all relatively well balanced with strengths and weaknesses.
Avoid fighters at all costs. They are worthless in the current edition of the game.
If your friend wants to win, have him play Minbari. They are overbalanced at the moment.
Here's an analogy, playing "old ones" in B-5 - ASFOS is like playing Orkz in BFG (...only the Orkz are more capable!); enough said! 
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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primarch
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Post subject: Has anybody played B5: A Call to arms? Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:45 pm |
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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Thank you for the detailed information Maksim.
Primarch
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