I became interested in SFB because of the CGI models Icy_Penguigo makes in the Trek Art forum. Well, last night I played my first game against a live opponent. Like me, my friend is new to SFB but has years of experience with other wargames. I took a D7K against his Federation CAR+, and he creamed me.
My plan was to hold the range open and plink away with disruptors from outside photon range, but I strayed too close and got whacked. After that, the outcome was pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Every turn, we both put power into electronic warfare and then forgot to use it when the shooting started.
I took a D7 in part because I wanted to try out drones. But like the ECM I forgot about it once the shooting started. I did get one drone off late in the game (the other launcher had been knocked out by then), but we were in knife fighting range by then and an ADD took it out almost as soon as it launched.
I did massacre his boarding parties, though. For some reason, he was really keen to try a boarding action, but the fight was dreadfully one-sided. Maybe we missed something in the rules. Or maybe he just should have waited until internal damage killed more of my crew, instead of beaming over as soon as he knocked a shield down.
In conclusion, I suck when it comes to maneuvering. Given a faster, more maneuverable ship, I should have been able to hold the range open, but I didn't. Hopefully with more games I'll get the hang of it.
Marian
My plan was to hold the range open and plink away with disruptors from outside photon range, but I strayed too close and got whacked. After that, the outcome was pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Every turn, we both put power into electronic warfare and then forgot to use it when the shooting started.

I took a D7 in part because I wanted to try out drones. But like the ECM I forgot about it once the shooting started. I did get one drone off late in the game (the other launcher had been knocked out by then), but we were in knife fighting range by then and an ADD took it out almost as soon as it launched.
I did massacre his boarding parties, though. For some reason, he was really keen to try a boarding action, but the fight was dreadfully one-sided. Maybe we missed something in the rules. Or maybe he just should have waited until internal damage killed more of my crew, instead of beaming over as soon as he knocked a shield down.
In conclusion, I suck when it comes to maneuvering. Given a faster, more maneuverable ship, I should have been able to hold the range open, but I didn't. Hopefully with more games I'll get the hang of it.
Marian