In the episode “A Taste of Armageddon,” an ambassador of the United Federation of Planets refers to “Federation Central.” We already know there is a Space Central, which I have deduced is short for Federation Space Central (q.v.), so it stands to reason that Federation Central is likewise short for the same. Rather than trying to retrofit the Classic Star Trek Universe with a makeshift organizational hierarchy incorporating all the terms ever used or pretending that certain terms were a slip of the tongue, I think it is useful to role-players and probably more in the spirit of the original screenwriters’ intentions to interpret these terms in the original context in which they were used. In both cases, Space Central and Federation Central were mentioned in reference to a governmental authority, which we may assume is the United Federation of Planets. For the purposes of the episodes in which they were mentioned, they are effectively interchangeable whether by accident or design (and I tend to think the former). Therefore, Space Central and Federation Central are synonymous with Federation Space Central, the government of the Federation, and each Federation world of a certain population size has its own planetary Space Central, e.g. Earth Space Central, Vulcan Space Central, etc. (q.v.). The U.F.P. is, after all, a federation, so each member world capable of self-governing within the bounds of Federation law would have its sovereignty respected and protected.

Star Fleet is, of course, the combined service of the Federation, and Star Fleet Command is Star Fleet’s central authority and headquarters, answerable to the civilian government of the Federation, Federation Space Central (its governing body being the Federation Council — as first mentioned in the episode “Amok Time” — and whose members represent and are elected by the member worlds).

Thus:

United Federation of Planets

• Federation Council (governing body)
  • Federation Space Central (civilian government)
    • Star Fleet Command (combined service authority)
      • Star Fleet (combined service)

It’s all nice and simple. Alas, what are we to make of “Space Command,” “Star Fleet Control,” and the “United Earth Space Probe Agency”?

Space Command, mentioned in the episode “Court Martial,” was probably meant to be Star Fleet Command, and since I don’t recall it being used subsequently, I’ll assume the terms are synonymous.

Curiously, Star Fleet Control and United Earth Space Probe Agency were both mentioned in the episode “Tomorrow Is Yesterday,” although the latter was first mentioned in “Charlie X.” Star Fleet Control is almost certainly an alternate term for Star Fleet Command, but where then does that place the UESPA in the scheme of things? We know that certain starships, possibly most, in Star Fleet had single species crews. The Intrepid was notable for being crewed entirely by Vulcans, whereas the Enterprise was depicted as being crewed by humans with the exception of a single crewman of mixed Vulcan/human parentage. Is it possible that the Federation member worlds had their own service divisions within Star Fleet, each perhaps descended from the planetary space administrations from the time of their admission to the Federation? Earth, Vulcan, and every other member world would each have its own Star Fleet division. Or perhaps the designations are a formality that have no basis in anything but tradition. This bears further consideration.

This was the first game in which we used the third Advanced Element: Shots on Goal, and it certainly reduced the scoring opportunities. Mater, frustrated by my increasingly conservative tactics, quoted the rule book with an accusatory tone, “Players should shoot on goal as soon as possible.” (Emphasis hers.) Dramatic pause followed by my hysterical laughter and then hers — thus was much valuable playing time lost.

It should be noted that AE 3 made scoring much more difficult and the only goal scored in the game was accomplished by dribbling.

One memorable moment was when I maneuvered one of my Strikers around one of her players to dribble the ball closer to her penalty area, and she exclaimed, “You can’t do that! You changed direction twice!” I pointed out that my player was dribbling, not passing or shooting, and it became clear that she was not aware of the distinction with regard to the rule that there may be no more than one bend in a pass or shot. “Do you mean all this time you’ve been playing as if a player [i.e. playing piece] can change direction no more than once per move?” I asked incredulously. She nodded meekly, and I realized she had been playing with a self-imposed handicap for the past three games. Needless to say, this invalidates all three, but we begin with a clean slate for Game Four.

For Game Four, we shall be using the first four Advanced Elements, and with luck we’ll be able to play two entire halves for the first time.

N.B. I was just made aware of a special Field of Glory Web site apart from the Osprey Publishing site: www.fieldofglory.com.

Arneson was the co-creator (with E. Gary Gygax, who passed away in March 2009) of Dungeons & Dragons, the first role-playing game.

As obituaries and history books (both written and yet to be written) will attest, Arneson’s place in the pantheon of our hobby’s Founders (and beyond) is secure. As with Mr. Gygax, I wish to honor his contributions, thank him for his Wisdom and Intelligence, and commend his spirit to the Outer Planes of Good alignment.

Game on, Mr. Arneson.

• Wikipedia entry: Dave Arneson
• Sci Fi Wire Obituary
• The Escapist Obituary
• Los Angeles Times Obituary
• Rick Loomis’ Tribute
• Rich Burlew’s Tribute
• John Kovalic’s Tribute
• Steve Jackson Games Daily Illuminator

In Star Trek Observations Part 1, I erroneously referred to “Space Control” being an organization mentioned in the Star Trek episode “Miri.” What Kirk actually said was “Space Central.” Investigation revealed that there was also a Vulcan Space Central in the episode “Amok Time.” The topic, in light of this information, deserves further consideration.

If there is a Vulcan Space Central, it stands to reason that there is an Earth Space Central and probably a Space Central for every other home world. Kirk didn’t say Earth Space Central, which gives us two possibilities. Either there is also a Federation Space Central, or he meant Earth Space Central and merely abbreviated it since everyone would know that he was referring to a situation of interest to Earth since they had discovered a planet that was Earth’s identical twin several hundred light years away.

Since the Enterprise is a vessel answerable to Star Fleet, a combined service of the Federation, I would assume the Space Central to which Kirk referred was the Federation Space Central. Space Central, then, is probably the headquarters and central authority of the United Federation of Planets, which would be the body that would assign such tasks as sending “teachers and advisers” to a planet in need via one of its subordinate agencies in charge of delivering emergency aid or assisting in rebuilding efforts or integration into the Federation.

I think it all fits rather nicely and without disposing of a useful term.

By the 13th Minute, I was steadily dribbling the ball up the right side of the field with good protection, which proved a wise precaution since Mater attempted and failed to tackle twice. By the 17th Minute of dribbling and passing, I managed to get a striker to the edge of Mater’s penalty area and made a shot that her goalkeeper failed to save. I was finally on the scoreboard and it was 2-1 Mater.

During the 18th Minute, I failed to tackle Mater and she slipped past my fullbacks and took another shot, but my goalkeeper saved and threw the ball to my right fullback, who proceeded to take it up the right side of the field covered by a midfielder and a striker. The fullback retained possession and was joined by another midfielder to protect against tackling whilst I moved some strikers closer to Mater’s penalty area. By the 23rd Minute, Mater had moved her fullbacks into the beginning of a wall facing my approach, moved a striker into my penalty area, and sent three players in for the tackle. They failed. It was the 24th Minute. My fullback passed to a nearby midfielder who passed to a striker. The striker, whom I had previously moved into an excellent position unguarded by the developing wall, dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area and took a shot that Mater’s goalkeeper was unable to save. The score was tied 2-2.

For the next eight Minutes there were successful tackles, failed tackles, shots attempted, and saves made by both our goalkeepers until one of my strikers dribbled a ball straight into Mater’s goal hex. The score was 3-2 in my favor. It was about the 36th Minute, nine minutes until the end of the first half, but Mater was tired (it was 11:30 p.m. by that time) and forfeited the game in spite of my mild protests. I was a little disappointed, but I conceded we ought to have started the game earlier. Perhaps next time we will get to play both halves of a game.

My opponent was my mother, and we decided to start with the basic game as recommended in the rules. We didn’t have time to play a full game, so we played just a single half, which consists of 45 turns.

Mater scored the first goal by dribbling the ball straight past my goalkeeper. I evened the score by dribbling it straight past hers.

She then attempted to shoot, but my goalkeeper saved, whereupon the action was taken back to her end of the field and one of my players took a shot and scored a goal for the lead.

Later, Mater outmaneuvered my fullbacks and goalkeeper to score another goal (I had foolishly allowed my goalkeeper to stray and was one hex too far away to attempt a save). The score was 2-2 and I was the Offense, but Mater swiftly stole the ball and pressed home another attack with scant minutes left on the Clock, firing another shot at my goal hexes. This time, however, my goalkeeper was in place and successfully made the save, leaving one turn left, thus ending the half (since the ball cannot be moved from one end of the field to the other in a single turn).

There was much running, passing, and tackling, too, but without a system of notation or a series of illustrations I’m not quite sure how to describe it. Be assured, however, that the game has an excellent pace.

All in all, it was a fun game that I am sure is even more satisfying as the advanced rules are added, which we shall be implementing in the near future. Further actual play reports will follow.