[Adster94]

(Orignal Logo)

What is it?
Stratagem is a game of galactic conquest where two teams vye to control a disputed area of space. The concept was originally designed a number of years ago, dating back to the UFP’s very conception. Stratagem utilises almost every game that the UFP currently supports included Star Trek Online, Armada II, Bridge Commander, Elite Force and Starfleet Command! Even if you only own one of these games, you can still participate!

The Game
As mentioned previously, Stratagem is a cooperative game where two teams battle it out to control a quadrant of space. This area is represented by a large star chart, with hexagons depicting individual sectors of which there are one hundred. Your team must effectively use resources to build structures and fleets to take the fight to the enemy team and capture their territory. Both teams start off with one third of the map under their control, separated by an area of neutral space.

The Map
As previously mentioned, the star chart is split into one hundred sectors. However you must also contend with many different environments within these sectors. This includes asteroid fields, nebulae and even black holes! All these environments will affect the map where the battle is fought, some have positive effects and some negative. Each team must learn to master these environments if they hope to win!

The Turns
Monday [Admin turn] – All battle results and fleet moves are processed. Credits assigned to both teams from their economy output
Tuesday – Thursday [Strategy turn] – Both teams decide where to move their fleets, what to spend their credits on and what battles to engage in
Friday [Admin turn] – All fleet moves, credit spending and construction projects are processed
Saturday – Sunday [Action turn] – where all the battles take place

Teams
There are two teams, the Red team and Blue team. Each team has to elect a leader or “Fleet Admiral”, this person will make the final decisions on fleet movements and resource allocation. However the Fleet Admirals must report their decisions to the game master by Friday.

The Assets
Squadrons – A small fleet consisting of between one and four ships. Individual ship types can be decided when constructing the fleet and requires a Basic Shipyard and Outpost
Task Forces – The largest fleet available, and thus the most expensive. Task forces require an Advanced Shipyard to construct
Freight Convoys – Uncontrollable (NPC) assets that move between a team’s Starbases. Destroying a convoy will provide extra credits for the attacking team’s economy that turn
Outposts/Starbases – Used to secure star systems, and fortify key positions; required to construct shipyards
Basic/Advanced Shipyards – Used to construct Squadrons and Task Forces respectively. Basic shipyards may be constructed by an Outpost or Starbase. Advanced Shipyards can only be constructed by a Starbase

How to Win
You must eliminate the enemy team by capturing their territory and occupying their homeworld. Alternatively if there is a turn limit in place simply holding the majority of map will be enough to declare victory.

Your involvement
Although Stratagem itself is an idea which dates back many years, this is in many ways a new feature which will require help and support to get it off the ground so to speak. We hope that you, the UFP membership will be able to provide us with feedback including comments and suggestions so that we may make Stratagem as polished and as fun as possible for those taking part. We hope to implement Stratagem sometime during the summer holidays, since this is a few months away it should give us ample time to correct and issue and/or refine the gameplay.

Any and all comments or suggestions are welcome; please don’t hesitate to contact me via PM! A more detailed, and very extensive version of the Stratagem idea is located, HERE.

Finally, I hope you all find this idea as fascinating as I do and I look forward to playing it with you!

Regards

Adster94
SFO Executive Officer; SFR Squadron Commander