Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I would like to know the basics really please:

1. What is considered the normal sized game
2. could I get straight into it with the Dindrenzi Starter Fleet, and how many points/the value they use is that?
3. What do I need to start up?
4. How much would I be looking at to start up?
5. And finally, what sort of scenery do I use? Just rocks on sticks? Not at all?

All box sets are 500 pts.

Been looking into this myself over the last 2-3 days. As Hlaine said the starter sets are 500pts as would suggest is what you need to get started. From what I've seen the starter set is a pretty good size for most games but I guess it can be what you like. But I would think there is a limit to what you can take much like 40k. The cost looks to be on an average of about £33 here in the UK. Scenery wise, up to you, space is fairly empty.

I think SPartan have engineered it to go to 1000-1500 pts. The scenery you use can just be rocks on sticks or you can make planets etc. Just use what you would use in BFG

Well I have never played, or seen BFG played, so will have to start from the absolute basics

I've just started playing FA myself. I bought a rule book (15 GBP) and a Terran Starter Fleet and a Directorate Starter Fleet. I cannot recommend this game enough!

You can download cut out starter fleets online from Spartan Games to test them out, which is what I did. I've had 4 games with the starter fleets and now I'm familiar with the rules we are down to about 1.5 hours play time.

Since playing I've ordered Carrier's, Escorts, Heavy Cruisers and R&D Ships for each of our fleets. I've also got a pack of Civillian Ships and Bases to add some scenary / game missions.

To add more to the game, I'd recommend buying a pack of STAR cards which add more depth to the game. Here is a pick of my WIP Terran Fleet.

Hmm I expected the battleships to the be a little bigger, but from what you are saying I think this sounds pretty good!

Solid game, I've played better but the back and forth play makes it continually engaging for everyone. I'd recommend investing in the cards as well.

Fighter combat rules could use some re-wording as its not very clear and sometimes counter-intuitive in their choice of terms (wings go into flights? What?).

Get a starter set + carrier with cards.

Scenery in spaceship games has always been an afterthought for me. The best scenery you can have is a mat that looks like space (stars and galaxies and what-not) to enhance the experience. Frankly, I've always found having terrain to over-complicate the game unnecessarily. Spaceship combat, like naval combat, does not revolve around hiding behind rocks and debris.