Star Trek, The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2024 5:00 pm
Birth of the Federation (commonly referred to as BOTF) is one of the earliest Star Trek strategic games on the market. Released in 1999 it has remained a fan favorite since. It's so popular that one website, Armada Fleet Command is continuously updating the original game. It's all fan based, but overtime they've made some very needed improvements in the game. Plus, they use a game installer that not only installs the original game but also several variants of the game and even a tool to edit the game and more. These game variants include:
The reason for this plug, I mentioned I was playing the game to a few people, and they had no idea what I was talking about. To rectify this lapse of knowledge in PC gaming, I decided to post a bit about it.
I've been playing BOTF since the game's release in 1999 and enjoy playing some of the variants as well. The variant I enjoy playing the most is Ultimate Mod 5 (UM5) by Dafedz. I think I have the latest version of UM5 which is 5.6.6. I'm truly impressed with Dafedz work. He doesn't get paid for it. Not at all. He offers it up for free. These individuals do what they do for the love of the game and of course, Star Trek.
I gave you a bit of the pro, and now for the cons.
The game is dated, and it shows in the graphics, but if you're an enthusiast of Star Trek, you won't care. The game can get buggy as you build a very large fleet. That's a lot of turns down the road and there is a good chance you'll win the game before that happens. Diplomacy options are limited. And sometimes no matter what I do in diplomacy; I still get attacked. Sometimes the AI tends to "cheats", as I struggle to build up, when I run into one of the major factions (Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, Federation, or the Dominion) they have more planets, a higher level of science, a larger military and so on. Not that I can't overcome those odds it just more of a challenge than I sometimes I want. This doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.
Right now, I'm playing a BOTF game, it's gone 289 turns, I expanded the Federation until I ran into the Klingons at which point I changed the direction of my expansion. At least until I ran into other major factions. During expansion I found and convinced 15 minor civilizations to join the Federation. The Borg have come and gone; I was able to fight off several Borg incursions, but it cost some of my ships, which I am now replacing the ships, but they take time to build. I expanded some more when I went to war with the Cardassians, and the Romulans seem to have set their sights on one portion of the Federation, so I'm rushing 3 fleets of 18 ships each (or 54 ships), to the area. I can only hope they ships get there in time to head off another war. I'll win soon, probably in 80 turns or so, but I'm enjoying the position I find myself in, so I'll play it a bit longer.
I hope whomever you are, after reading this you'll be tempted to play this wonderful game, too.
- Error Correction Mod (by Spocks-cuddly-tribble)
- Ultimate Dominion Mod (by siggi and thunderchero)
- Balance of Power (by Gowron)
- Mirror Universe Mod (by thunderchero)
- All the Ages Mod (by stardust)
- Ultimate Mod 5 (by Dafedz)
- UnCivil Wars Mod (by thunderchero)
- Galaxies Mod (by Tethys)
- Fluid's multi player Mod (by Sir Fluid Hat)
- Tools (DxWnd, UE, QD's Patcher and more)
The reason for this plug, I mentioned I was playing the game to a few people, and they had no idea what I was talking about. To rectify this lapse of knowledge in PC gaming, I decided to post a bit about it.
I've been playing BOTF since the game's release in 1999 and enjoy playing some of the variants as well. The variant I enjoy playing the most is Ultimate Mod 5 (UM5) by Dafedz. I think I have the latest version of UM5 which is 5.6.6. I'm truly impressed with Dafedz work. He doesn't get paid for it. Not at all. He offers it up for free. These individuals do what they do for the love of the game and of course, Star Trek.
I gave you a bit of the pro, and now for the cons.
The game is dated, and it shows in the graphics, but if you're an enthusiast of Star Trek, you won't care. The game can get buggy as you build a very large fleet. That's a lot of turns down the road and there is a good chance you'll win the game before that happens. Diplomacy options are limited. And sometimes no matter what I do in diplomacy; I still get attacked. Sometimes the AI tends to "cheats", as I struggle to build up, when I run into one of the major factions (Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, Federation, or the Dominion) they have more planets, a higher level of science, a larger military and so on. Not that I can't overcome those odds it just more of a challenge than I sometimes I want. This doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.
Right now, I'm playing a BOTF game, it's gone 289 turns, I expanded the Federation until I ran into the Klingons at which point I changed the direction of my expansion. At least until I ran into other major factions. During expansion I found and convinced 15 minor civilizations to join the Federation. The Borg have come and gone; I was able to fight off several Borg incursions, but it cost some of my ships, which I am now replacing the ships, but they take time to build. I expanded some more when I went to war with the Cardassians, and the Romulans seem to have set their sights on one portion of the Federation, so I'm rushing 3 fleets of 18 ships each (or 54 ships), to the area. I can only hope they ships get there in time to head off another war. I'll win soon, probably in 80 turns or so, but I'm enjoying the position I find myself in, so I'll play it a bit longer.
I hope whomever you are, after reading this you'll be tempted to play this wonderful game, too.