The AW community has a line drawn in the gaming sand which tends to define it’s players into two groups.
Do you play free form or faction pure. Tournaments and casual game alike are played generally within these two frameworks with opinions split and arguments common.
I get that from both a gaming and canon purist perspective, to a point, but I feel there is something they are overlooking.
If you are playing faction pure, is it because of a desire for an artificial limit for builds, or is it to strengthen the story line of the games and the player connection to them? If that second one is the justification, then what about time line?
Kirk and Harry Kim together makes as much sense as Kirk on a Xindi Insectoid ship.
Timeline pure on the other hand, does allow for some cross factional upgrade or even Captain sharing, because it happened.
Kirk and crew on a Bird of Prey? Actually happened, or maybe Riker on a Bird of Prey? Also happened, but in both cases, they were in their own time.
It also occurs to me that Wizkids (and FFG for X Wing) go to great lengths to make sure their expansions make “historical” sense. Rarely do reviewers complain about canon accuracy, only game relevance (such is the designers cross to bare). It is curious that most also review the expansion from it’s own point of view, as designed, then when released into the gamer-verse, all of that becomes irrelevant, as good upgrades are stripped for use on all and sundry, bad ones consigned to the scrap heap.
By sticking to timeline and generally to faction pure, our games tend to find a use for most upgrades and ships as in their correct era, they are all relevant.
The Enterprise NX-01 for example is not considered more than cheap cannon fodder in the open ‘verse or a good expansion for some decent Crew upgrades, but used “correctly” it stands up well enough. A lack of shields is balanced with some good defensive upgrades , great Crew and high Agility, which just feels right and makes it competitive against it’s foes. Put is up against a Borg Sphere or later Klingon battle cruiser and it is toast. Put it up against an Andorian cruiser, Romulan or Xindi ship and point for point, it can hold it’s own.
My point is, as usual, do you play the game only, or are you looking for more than just a winning fleet, regardless of accuracy to the very story that you, the gamer, are likely a fan of?
I, it seems, can only play to the story. if that limits me, then I am happily shackled, thriving within the limits of my game. Join me, it’s worth the effort.