"Hexless Silent Death?" Topic

Do you really need hexes to play this game, or can you simply use fighters with hexed bases, turning templates, and a tape measure to determine the range to the target?

I don't have a hexed star mat for play, so am considering other alternatives.

It seems to me that simple turning templates, firing arc templates, and a tape measure should be sufficient.

Thoughts?

Top Gun, I'll have a definitive answer come this Saturday, as the modified version of SD: Star Wars I'll be using for a game will be played without hexes. Stay tuned.

It'll work, but it's slower. The measuring takes extra time without the grid.

I'd agree with BWS on measuring taking the extra time, however, if you've only got hex bases on your figs and a blank table or starmat without hexes I don't see why it couldn't work that way too.

Improvisation and substitution have to be part of any game system because 'stuff' happens. I mean, what if you get to a con/game and find you left your hex maps or tape measure etc at home? Some alternate way of making things work has to be part of a 'backup' plan…even if it's using Monopoly tokens to take the place of a missile or starship! (Now getting the 'boot' could really have a double meaning! Kaboom!)

Sgt DWW

@Top Gun Ace,

What you describe is exactly what I do in my homebrew rules. It's plenty fast, since all ranges are based on number of hexes, not inches or millimeters or whatever. Instead of a ruler I use dowel rods with ranges in hexes marked on them. I use a "move stick" as well (section of paper hex map glued to a ruler; helps to visualize the grid). Assumption is that the hex size is standard.

I sold off my SD rulebook years ago (loved the art and the weird die mechanics; don't remember why I sold it…) If I recall enough of the rules I think it'd work fine.

I am experimenting with this.

I am using 2 aids:

(a) a plastic ruler made of ice-cream lid. I have cut 2 hexes in it the size of a SD ship base. These are 1 hex apart on my 'ruler'. This is so I can do the move-1 hex THEN-turn easily. I simply need to pivot my jerry-built ruler instead of measuring 1 hex repeatedly and guessing 60d turns.
_____
__ |
/ \ |
\__/ |
|
__ |
/ \ |
\__/ |
_____|

(b) a circle of plastic with a hex in the centre and 60d firing arcs marked on it for weapons

\__/
__/ \__
\__/
/ \

EDIT: Darn forums messed up my neat diagram. Copying and pasting it to WORD might help.

Sounds like it would work, but since spaceship gaming is the one miniatures venue where I really don't mind a grid, and Silent Death is a fighter game that should *never* slow down, I'm not in a huge hurry to convert it.

SO, people wnat Full Thrust *with* hexes, and Silent death *without*, since each comes as the opposite already?

Can someone explain why this isn't simple contrariness to change something for the sake of doing so, or can I expect something like a desire for DS2 without chits, and CBT with a chit based system coming up soon?

The desire for DS2 without chits has been around for a long time, and I suspect more than a few use that system.

My issue is that I can't currently afford a nice space hexmat, and don't want to try marking in white on a black space and starfield sheet (which I already have).

I see no reason to do Full Thrust with hexes, but will be trying SD without.

Thanks for the ideas EM, I'll have to try that out.

Hi all,

Sorry to rebirth an old thread.

I recently found "Silent Death" with a fistfull of mini's at a flea market and being shy of a hex map, I simply transcribed a hex with appropiate facing lines on a projector transparancy to give me my firing arcs and facings etc. the Transparant hex i used was 1.5" across to make it easier to see. The transparancy is simply placed onto the flight stand between the peg and base with use of a small hole punched into the center of it

My hexless Silent death measurements are made from the flight stand pillar to target pillar using a measuring tape. Yet to find much of a time lag.

And its better than Battlefleet Gothic :-P

Buy a hex sheet! Much easier in the long run…

John T