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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fasagames/interceptor-0/description



The aetherstream opened the stars to us. Building gates to bridge rivers of aether, we left the cradle of humanity and settled hundreds of new worlds. Under the Terran Commonwealth we prospered. Intrepid pilots scouted the aetherstream for new prime worlds. Then everything changed, humanity was struck by a period of great suffering culminating in the disappearance of Earth and the Sol system. They just vanished. Years of chaos and reconstruction has now reached a careful balance between what remains. The Terran Commonwealth, Callistonian Empire, Babylonian Union, Free Trade Directorate, and the Allied Worlds all established themselves as the powers that control the gates, the path between the prime worlds.


Now that balance is threatened, a new prime world has been discovered, one that is rumored to have resources in quantities rare for even a prime. Exploitation of this world could tip the balance of power between the five factions. Open conflict has broken out between the Terran Commonwealth and the Callistonian Empire with more soon to follow.


Interceptor is the game of space fighter combat to resolve these conflicts. Pitting fighter against fighter, this is combat to control the local space around any important installation, location or convoy. Future games will cover ground combat and fleet battles for the control of planets and resources.


In our 40 year history, we have published many combat games. Interceptor takes from the best of them to create a fast system that is fun and easy to play. Battles between 6 to 12 fighters per side should be resolved in an hour.

The basic game contains 40 fighters, hex maps, 2 maneuver templates and plenty of dice. Fighter cards and pilot cards keep track of stats and condition. It’s all here ready for you to play right out of the box.


Pitting the Terran Commonwealth against The Callistonian Empire, each side is represented by two each of 10 different fighter designs, each with its own stand.


NOTE: this looks to be mechanically different from the old Renegade Legion: Interceptor space fighter game (old) FASA used to product, which I really enjoyed from what's in the video.

I've asked them if they can clarify the changes or whether this is a whole new mechanic set just borrowing the old name and some of the Renegade Legion background and (I think) ship designs

Edit: I've found confirmation the game mechanics are totally new, and while the ships may hark back to the old Renegade Legion designs they are new too, so treat this as a new, unconnected game

My initial assessment is it's a bit expensive and not putting the rule book up for download/examination is annoying, but I know there is a demand for more space combat games so maybe it's your cup of tea/white wine spritzer etc

And today I learnt that FASA still exists...

My first thought was Renegade Legion Interceptor? And then I was disappointed. They seem to have recycled the Renegade Legion universe idea of having to spend an equal amount of time in realspace after hyperspace travel in order to bleed off some exotic radiation for health reasons.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
And today I learnt that FASA still exists...

From the KS page:

FASA Corporation
Estacada, OR
FASA Corporation has been a publisher of books and games since 1980. Our lines have included BattleTech, Shadowrun, Earthdawn, Crimson Skies, Renegade Legion, Vor, Crucible, and the licensed products Traveller, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. While ceasing publishing in 2001, we were still around managing Earthdawn and Ral Partha Europe Ltd. In 2011, we acquired the Demonworld game and miniatures line. Ral Partha Europe Ltd was created in 1998 to manufacture miniatures for the European markets. When the dust settled after the 2001 change in operations, RPE remained a subsidiary of FASA and has continued to make great miniatures ever since. FASA Games, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary created to carry on FASA's tradition of developing great games. FASA Games currently publishes Earthdawn, Demonworld, and Fading Suns. 1879 is FASA Games' first original game line. Aetherstream will be our second.

FASA never went out of business, as far as I'm aware. They just became a licensor rather than bothering to actually make games themselves.

So I don't quite know how this fits into that role. Are FASA coming out of the shadows to actually produce games again?

Okay, just looked it up. Apparently, FASA Corp have created FASA Games, which will be actually producing new content. So new FASA won't be old FASA since they actually sold many of their more famous properties like Battletech and Shadowrun, but it's interesting all the same.

History aside, the early bird 100$ basic deal seems...a bit expensive for what you get, and the layout and graphic design seems straight out of 2005. Nothing in this is visually captivating.

 ekwatts wrote:
FASA never went out of business, as far as I'm aware. They just became a licensor rather than bothering to actually make games themselves..

Yes. From https://www.sarna.net/wiki/FASA#Withdrawal_from_the_market

Contrary to popular belief, the company did not go bankrupt; it still exists as a corporation holding IP rights which it licenses to other publishers.

EDIT: Note that there is also a Renegade Legion kickstarter in the works at https://renegadelegions.com/

It does seem like Interceptor in name only. The setting seems different, it seems (no TOG), the gameplay is different, the starfighters are different.... and the graphic design is off-putting (it was off putting when it was in vogue). Maybe they're going for 'retro', but it's not a good retro.

Ave Caesar?

No.

OK, will wait for the other link. Thanks to Ghaz.

Have now found confirmation the game mechanics are totally new and not built on or derived from Renegade Legion: Interceptor

'Some of the miniature designs in the game are definite nods to the designs found in Renegade Legion' according to one of the folk involved

If you are not laying templates over armor grids and then navigating a flowchart of internals, how can you call it interceptor? And what’s the setting without the TOG?

I don’t get it.

 Nevelon wrote:
If you are not laying templates over armor grids and then navigating a flowchart of internals, how can you call it interceptor? And what’s the setting without the TOG?

I don’t get it.

Amen to the weapon templates! While I never got into Leviathan, my buddies and I played many, many games of Centurion and Interceptor...with the little cardboard boxes, not the miniatures. Nostalgia means a lot...

 Sacredroach wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
If you are not laying templates over armor grids and then navigating a flowchart of internals, how can you call it interceptor? And what’s the setting without the TOG?

I don’t get it.

Amen to the weapon templates! While I never got into Leviathan, my buddies and I played many, many games of Centurion and Interceptor...with the little cardboard boxes, not the miniatures. Nostalgia means a lot...

They probably would've done a lot better going with the cardboard 'matchbox' starfighters.

MarkNorfolk wrote:
It does seem like Interceptor in name only. The setting seems different, it seems (no TOG), the gameplay is different, the starfighters are different.... and the graphic design is off-putting (it was off putting when it was in vogue). Maybe they're going for 'retro', but it's not a good retro.

Yeah, I agree. The game looks like something from the 80's, and not in a good way.

It seems as though the clueless individuals there at FASA decided the best way to market ‘Interceptor’ was by completely ditching the game system and background. But, hey, let’s keep the name! What the ….

Yeah, I vaguely recognize some of the ship designs (the prong ships, basically), but... what the heck.

keep in mind that whomever is designing this, they are FASA in name only. none of the old game writing crew likely works for them anymore.

I'm not convinced (new) FASA has the IP anymore

(looks like it's with Budgie Smuggler Games who are doing a kickstarter 'soon' focused on Centurion, but I don't know if they own the IP or have licenced it from somewhere else)

Pretty much. FASA was a family company. It more or less spun down when Dad retired, and son moved onto other things (for ex., Wizkids, and Harebrained).

MarkNorfolk wrote:
It does seem like Interceptor in name only. The setting seems different, it seems (no TOG), the gameplay is different, the starfighters are different.... and the graphic design is off-putting (it was off putting when it was in vogue). Maybe they're going for 'retro', but it's not a good retro.

I don't think they're going for retro, I think they're going for "low production budget" and using "retro" as a way to hide it.

 Nevelon wrote:
If you are not laying templates over armor grids and then navigating a flowchart of internals, how can you call it interceptor? And what’s the setting without the TOG?

I don’t get it.

If it doesn't have damage templates over armor grids then I don't want it.

We meet 'neath the sounding rafters,
The walls all around us are bare;
They echo the peals of laughter;
It seems that the dead are there.

So stand by your glasses steady,
This world is a world of lies.
Here's a toast to the dead already;
Hurrah for the next man who dies.

Cut off from the land that bore us,
Betrayed by the land that we find,
The good men have gone before us,
And only the dull left behind.

So, stand by your glasses steady,
This world is a web of lies,
Then here's to the dead already;
And hurrah for the next man who dies.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
I'm not convinced (new) FASA has the IP anymore

(looks like it's with Budgie Smuggler Games who are doing a kickstarter 'soon' focused on Centurion, but I don't know if they own the IP or have licenced it from somewhere else)

^This is correct.

I don't think they're going for retro, I think they're going for "low production budget" and using "retro" as a way to hide it.

Yep. Like others I liked FASA's past games, loved the worldbuilding and artistry they used to command, it drew me into wanting to get the games; I was kind of excited when new Fasa cropped back up with 1879, but quickly realized it's more of garage-run business and shoestring budget than its original namesake. They came back almost ten years ago and they have next to no awareness in gaming circles.
At least this KS has models and digital art, though the social media promo posts quality does not inspire a fantastic stellar world I want to buy into like any of the classic titles still do. They need to budget for a marketing/art director if they want to actually grow the company.

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
I'm not convinced (new) FASA has the IP anymore

(looks like it's with Budgie Smuggler Games who are doing a kickstarter 'soon' focused on Centurion, but I don't know if they own the IP or have licenced it from somewhere else)

They don't. FASA Games is not FASA Corporation, it's just RedBrick LLC rebranded, and that only has the rights for Earthdawn.

Now, AFAIK, it would be easy for FASA Corporation to transfer or sell the rights of Renegade Legion to FASA Games, but they don't seem to see a reason to do so...

From top to bottom this looks like something I could make at home, from art to models... don't think this sort of thing can fly (dohoho) in 2021

Centurian was a really solid game in many ways, and the fluff was at least a little interesting. I like the board and pieces, but the rules would have to be very clever to draw me in.

Eumerin wrote:
Pretty much. FASA was a family company. It more or less spun down when Dad retired, and son moved onto other things (for ex., Wizkids, and Harebrained).

Also all the game design talent has likewise moved elsewhere. some are with CGL, others have moved onto other companies period. some just outright retired. and yeah most of the game design that was popular has always been oold design stuff designed by the founders.

What needs a return is Crimson Skies. And as a board game, not as a PC or mobile shovelware title.

 totalfailure wrote:
What needs a return is Crimson Skies. And as a board game, not as a PC or mobile shovelware title.

That will never happen, as the Crimson Skies intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft.

According to your own Wikipedia citation, Microsoft renewed the trademark on Crimson Skies video games in 2013, and abandoned it on other media. Even if in fact they do still have 100% rights, it doesn’t fully rule out a board game through licensing, even if unlikely.

 totalfailure wrote:
According to your own Wikipedia citation, Microsoft renewed the trademark on Crimson Skies video games in 2013, and abandoned it on other media. Even if in fact they do still have 100% rights, it doesn’t fully rule out a board game through licensing, even if unlikely.

Trademark is just the name and branding, they still have 100% rights to the characters, setting, aircraft, story, etc