( If you have news to contribute, please send it to Maasenstodt. Thanks! )

Outpost Update

14 March 2004

With a spirit of forgiveness, I would like to invite all of you to visit the Fleet Command's new website. Having undergone a great deal of work, the site is currently the most comprehensive repository of BotF mods and files available. You can even find Joker's latest version of the Building Mod available for download outside of the eDonkey network. Check it out.

Finally, I want to note that although there were some issues with Jigalypuff's mods, those problems have been taken care of. If you downloaded a buggy version, you may want to give it another try. The problem dealt with the installers, which have now been removed until they can be fixed. While this means you'll have to deal with the stbof.res file again, at least you can give the new work a try.

Respect for the Works of Others

8 March 2004

One week ago, I was contacted by the administrator of Armada Fleet Command, a website that has had a number of Birth of the Federation resources available to the community. The message was that they were redoing their site, adding a new interface and new content. With the supplied link, I visited the new site. Within moments, I stood with my mouth hanging open in disbelief. A number of resources that I had put together were taken directly from Outpost Maasenstodt and pasted on the Fleet Command website. Not only that, but none of them gave me credit. Instead, the were listed with the statement "Copyright � by AFC Birth of the Federation All Right Reserved."

Needless to say, these works were taken without my approval and I immediately sent an email to AFC explaining my position. Two days later, I received a reply stating that some changes had been effected but that there shouldn't be any other problems. I checked the site again and while some things had been fixed, one particularly thorny issue remained. To illustrate the problem, take a look at my Minor Races chart. Now check out AFC's. Notice any similarities?

To the best of my knowledge, my chart is the first of its kind to have been released on the web. AFC has made the claim that their chart is original, stating that "anyone can make a table in minutes and add information." I don't dispute that anyone could do the work and uncover the information. But how likely is it that someone who is obviously familiar with the Outpost and its content would spontaneously and in ignorance of my own chart come up with a completely identical chart, complete with an identical description? I'll allow you to come to your own conclusions.

I've since written back to the the administrator but have received no reply. That's disappointing, but it isn't as important as looking at this issue within a larger context. The Birth of the Federation community, so long after the game's release, continues to thrive primarily due to the continued efforts of content creators. Those creators have little reason to continue their work if it is not treated with respect. The end result of this disrespect, therefore, can only be the degredation of the BotF community. This isn't something that I'll let happen without taking a stand.

Joining hands with others, including mod author Jigalypuff and Remnant Clan administrator White Raven, I would ask everyone in the BotF community to have and show respect for the work of others. If you are developing a project that borrows on others' work, try to get in touch with them to ask permission and, in any event, give them credit where it is due. If you are using content and you notice a violation, don't just sit on that information. Let me know so that the guilty parties can be called out for their actions here at the Outpost. Hopefully, this will effect change and prevent further problems in the future.

I appreciate your support and consideration concerning this issue. Again, thanks to everyone for helping Outpost Maasenstodt become what it is today. As always, keep your eyes open for more updates soon. Happy Anniversary!

Outpost Maasenstodt Site News

8 March 2004

The first is that we have a new review up. Written by both Jigalypuff and your's truly, our target is Joker's latest production, the Building Mod, version 1.8 Alpha. When I was first getting into the Birth of the Federation scene a few years ago, the very first mod I tried was Joker's Building Mod. Though it was a long way from where it is today, Joker's work, even in the earlier stages, was the inspiration that eventually led me to create this very Outpost. I am therefore happy to provide this overview of a product that I feel everyone in the community should at least be familiar with and that I hope continues to see development into the future.

Secondly, and with great enthusiasm, I am thrilled to announce to everyone who has written concerning the Outpost's forums being down and even offered to provide hosting that they can now visit the new Remnant and Outpost Forums. In the works for the last few weeks, Outpost Maasenstodt, your source for Birth of the Federation information, has teamed up with what has become the preeminent resource for multiplayer BotF gaming, the Remnant Clan, to form a new forum for users of both. When this site was started a year ago, I stated that I wanted to bring to visitors the definitive BotF forum. With respect for the other boards in the community, most notably those of the excellent BotF Archive, it is my hope that everyone will come to visit and participate in this new forum. If nothing else, at least join up and say "Hi!" With the activity of two great resources centered at this one location, you can be sure that the Remnant and Outpost Forums will be abuzz with activity. Check it out!

Finally, I also want to announce a new resource that I plan on adding to the Outpost in the near future. With an eye towards the growing number of files within the BotF community and the preservation of these files should any website go down as well as the growing popularity of the bit torrent file system, it is my intention to explore the addition of a bit torrent server exclusively providing Birth of the Federation related content. This is not an endeavor that I have experience with, so if you have any comments or suggestions, they are more than welcomed. If all goes as I envision, this new resource will allow for the easy availability and download of even the largest mods and files, all from one convenient source.

It's Time to Celebrate!

8 March 2004

Of course, there's no way that this endeavor could have succeeded without the help of all of the visitors and contributors who have helped to make the Outpost what it is. Before I get to the site and news updates (of which I have a LOT!), I want to give a big "thank you" to everyone who has emailed or even visited over the past year. Every hit that we get has been an encouragement to continue on with the work of maintaining the Outpost. I don't have a public counter for visits, but I will tell you that from humble beginnings one year ago, and starting with only a couple hundred hits per month, there is now no longer any surprise when we surpass 1000 visits per month.

Additionally, I want to offer very special thanks to all of the Outpost's content contributors. To those who wrote reviews, built mods or supplied FAQs, this site simply couldn't exist without your work. I hope that my own effort as a facilitator for your products has lived up to your expectations, as well as those of the Outpost's visitors. With that said, on to the news!

I'm happy to announce that Jigalypuff has unveiled a new and very ambitious plan. With an eye towards the future, Jigs has retitled his signature mod. Now called "Star Trek Colonies," this mod is taking a very firm shape. In many ways now comparable with my own humble Epic Gaming Mod, Colonies features not only reduced scientific output and reduced ship ranges for more deliberate gameplay it but takes BotF to a new level with several new ship designs being integrated. You can download Star Trek Colonies, which has a focus on technology level one, here.

While that in itself is very good news, what is better is that Jigs has also begun work on his second mod! Borrowing the name of the mod that Weyoun long promised but could not deliver, the new "Dominion Invasion Mod" not only promises replacing the Ferengi with the Dominion while adding new models, it delivers! While this work, which is now available, is still in the earliest stages of development, it could well develop into something special and is worth keeping your eyes on. Unlike Colonies, the Dominion Invasion Mod is designed for games starting at tech level two and above.

At present, Jigalypuff plans to develop these mods concurrently, both with continuing and frequent updates. There is also much work being done to integrate textures to the newly designed models. Everyone is hopeful that this task will be overcome shortly, since it would truly bring Birth of the Federation into a new era. If you have questions or comments for Jigalypuff, his email address is now available below the listings for his mods to the left.

Forum and Mod Updates

21 February 2004

We also have yet another new update to Jigalypuff's Mod. With the additions of the Breen and the beginnings of new ships, including NX-01 and Constitution class vessels, things are moving. Moreover, there is a flurry of activity that is giving us the first real hope of seeing new, complete models since Weyoun's Dominion Invasion mod effort collapsed. Again, I couldn't recommend more that you give this latest version a spin.

Since things are moving in the BotF community and there are potential updates to the Outpost looming, expect another update relatively soon. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Birth of the Federation Seeking out New Frontiers

3 February 2004

We also have a new update to Jigalypuff's Mod. With new models being worked on and updated shiplists, this is now the most actively developed mod in the BotF community and the Outpost is proud to be hosting it. Check out the latest work from a hard working and determined modder.

One final note: Outpost Maasenstodt is always on the lookout for new mod reviews and other content to add to the website. Any submissions that you make are more than welcome and will help to strengthen the BotF community even further. If you have something that you would like to see published here, or if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them to me here.

BotF Mods in the New Year

6 January 2004

With many thanks going to Joker for his decision to continue development of the Building Mod, and with more thanks to those who decided to encourage him on, I have the great pleasure of stating that Building Mod 1.8.0 alpha has been released. While not all of the proposed changes have as yet been implemented, its simply wonderful to see that work on this terrific mod continues. As of now, the mod, in its alpha state, is only available through the eDonkey peer-to-peer network. Hopefully we will see a permanent download link once this version is completed. In the meanwhile, check out the alpha version at the BotF Cooperative and help provide Joker with the feedback needed to complete it.

More recently, Gul Darheel has released the T10 Mod Version 2. This multiplayer focused mod has introduced new changes designed to further level the playing field for BotF gamers looking to challenge each other. With changes to both ships and structures, it is something that those of you interested in playing at MSN's Zone will definately want to be familiar with. The T10 Mod Version 2 is also the first release of 2004. With a little luck and hard work, we could many more releases to come very shortly. Here's to a fun and eventful New Year!