REMOTE PLAY
Playing Online
There are several options available, the biggest problem is finding someone to play with in your timezone. To be honest I had the best fun playing by email with the group using ftmap to send out the turn updates every few days.
Table Top Simulator
Table Top Simulator — a Steam game that runs remote board games, you both need a copy to play it its about £15/$15. There was a Full Thrust module for it but it was broken because the author lost access to the 3d models someone else was hosting. I made a fixed version this using some TTS mod models. Here some more useful workshop items TSS Ship Models, TSS Game Parts, four player Full Thrust game
FT Java
WM FT Java — was a very good Java client for a PERL based server that could run remote games. The Java client is unfortunately crippled without the server and I don't have the code for either. I did see Bob Blanchett say on BBG that he has the server code and he posted on 8 March 2019 the server was up and running. I have an old local copy of the FTJava client v1.3. The client was active here on Dan Belzek's site until Dec 2019 to v5.0 sadly I don't have a copy if anyone does please let me know.
Vassal
Vassal — is a open source Java table top simulator that you can customise. There is now a Full Thrust module for it so check that out ASAP.
Roll 20
Roll20 — paid hosting website for multi-player table top games, it has a free tier. No Full Thrust games so far
Foundry VTT
Foundry VTT — is a paid licence for a hosting platform for role playing games but it is very much an open sandbox. You can run some space combat games on it someone has converted the FASA Tactical Combat Simulator to run on it. There may be limitations as movement is grid based.
Discord
Full Thrust Gamers Discord — a Discord server where resources are shared & online games are played like PBEM. Discord is not the best format for a PBEM as there is no threading. Discord is also terrible for finding anything, it's basically a forum with one huge post per board. Note also no recent active sharing of resources or games. There are some interesting posts here you just have to read it all. If you are looking for someone to play with it might be a place to start. You need a Discord account and client before you can access the invite.
Online Play Resources
FTMAP — is great for creating game maps for online play, it caters for cinematic and vector movement and you can use spreadsheet reports as input for map generation.
FT PBEM — is a set of spreadsheets to streamline a PBEM game - Jon Davis
FT Vector — is a set of spreadsheets to streamline vector PBEM games - Jon Davis
FTJava (v1.3) — will run and you can draw stuff, it has a bunch of scenarios too, shame there is no server - Dan Belzek, Scott Field, Roger Burton West, and Jon Davis et al.
The old FTJava documentation webpage was still up. The original client ftjava page is archived. Sadly the download it not archived. Last active in about 2019 when the website was last archived.
IMPORTANT REQUEST
If you have the newer version of FTJava V5.0 (pictured) please contact me or you can drop a copy here in the public FT Dropbox
