Ok, first off, I just want to make clear that I am NOT trying to be offensive, and not wanting to hurt folks feelings.
That being said, let me explain;
The existing Starfire 1 and 2 game modules have almost every table you need to play the game, including the very easy to use system codes, from A - X. The only thing they don't include are the MC cost factors for these systems, nor the hull size tables. With respect to these existing modules, then, one is free to play tactical battles without need for having the rules to hand. From the perspective of a player, this is great, the way it should be, and leads to many satisfying hours of gaming fun.
Now onto SSF.
As you know, nowhere in SSF does there exist the concentrated, "here it all is" kinda table that made SF 1 & 2 so great. Their greatness was simplicity, ease of access to the clear rules, ease of understanding (At least from my experience) those rules, and the seamless ease with which a brand new player can be sat down at the table, brought into the game, and within the hour become a happy starfire addict/future/lifelong player. So, when I once again finally get a SF fix, after all these many years (Ok, yes, I did get 2-3 battles in within the last 12 months or so, but that sounds much less dramatic) of forced starfire with drawl, I naturally was floating on a euphoric high of great feeling and wonderful memories, and the bright prospect of many future games and hours of fun....For SF 1 & 2, you could literally print one single sheet of paper, and have all the charts/tables needed to play the game.
SSF does not do this!
SSF is designed to keep folks chained to a multi-hundred page rulebook, either in the form of a massive PDF (open at the same time as the vassal game? Not on my poor, old and failing computer), or a huge, three ring binder, full to bursting with printed out pages from said PDF, that doesn't come close to covering all that one needs to know, open and ready to be flipped through, over and over again, while playing the game? I think not.
So, enter Vassal, with a way to start playing SF over the internet! The guys that did the original modules only had the simplest form of the game to work with, and they put in almost everything needed to play AND ENJOY Starfire 1 & 2, and that was for a pair of game that had less than 100 pages in their combined rulebooks, including the scenarios! If we are going to have SSF on the Vassal platform, and thus, at no cost to SDS, a way for every existing player/paying customer to show off, attract new players to, and thus bring in new players/customers to the game and business, then the new SSF Vassal Module needs to avoid like the plague, the need to mess up a players playing time with constantly having to goto an outside source for a rules check.
To me, Vassal is the future, if there is going to be a future for this game/business, and not doing all in our power to make use of this freeway to future sales, is just plain wrong. Instead of worrying about how to parse down the rules to something that folks might actually use, we should be working on getting as many folks capable of playing SF thru vassal as possible, as quickly and easily as possible, and focus on good fun.
Maybe I'm rambling on a bit at the moment, would a thread specifically about how vassal can help SF, the game and business, become more of force in the gaming world be a good thing? If so, I'll create one (Or even better, you could create it) and in it ask a couple simple questions:
Q1 How did everyone get their personal start with SF?
a. Read reviews, heard good things about it, or saw it on the shelf. (none of which are going on right now)
b. A friend that had purchased the game played it with them, and then they just had to go out and buy their own copy!
Q2 If you had to choose between trying to tackle a 400+ page rulebook straight up, or learning by starting off with a very simple game, available through electronic purchase & play, and going from there, which would you pick?
a. I would want to take on the task of learning a game, by reading a massive manual and being tied to tabletop games, in person, that require parts that are not currently available nor looking to be produced in the near future, because that is how I roll, or
b. Hear about this little known and interesting game, playing it online, and being addicted and craving more, as there are folks to play, from all over the world, and there is no requirement for pieces and parts that are not available?
I know my answers, what are everyone else's?
I would love to have Marvin's blessing to try an experiment, in which he wholeheartedly supports letting/getting folks play starfire on/thru the vassal platform. The experiment would be, focus on the existing SF modules being played, and rewarding folks for taking the time to learn how.
SF 1 & 2 are far easier forms of SF to master, take less time and effort, and already exist! First step, get folks to download and play a few of the early scenarios, proving their ability to to make use of/teach other how to vassal's SF modules. Second, when/if enough folks learn how to play using vassal, we start up a campaign challenge, where the strategic level is all but nonexistent, so that the burden of the early campaign game/tournament/fun experiment can be done with a minimal time investment from the players and SM alike, and then good market research can be done on running a simple campaign as compared to a more involved campaign.
This kind of an idea would get more folks playing the game, more folks being able to use/teach vassal to others, be a whole lot of fun, and might just bring in a few bucks to boot!
So, I'm all fired up what with having just played a great game once again, without having to actually meet in person/have the time and distraction free environment needed to play this wonderful game.