"Galaxia: Realistic Orbital Space Combat Wargaming" Topic

Some of y'all may remember a couple threads I started here on TMP, positing concepts and soliciting ideas for a fairly realistic space wargame focused on orbital maneuvering tactics. I tried a few different variants, did some playtesting, and finally came up with a proper set of written-down rules. The PDF has been submitted to WargameVault at the following URL:
link

It is currently waiting to be approved by WargameVault for sale. The price is $15 USD; the unit and munitions Excel database is a separate (FREE) file and the campaign supplement will also be FREE when it is released. I believe that any self-respecting ruleset should come with campaign rules, but decided that releasing the core rules now and allowing the campaign to be the focus of another development effort in a few weeks would be a better option as far as product quality is concerned. As before, the campaign rules will be FREE!

Please let me know if any of y'all have questions, comments, suggestions, or would like rules clarification.

The official Galaxia miniatures store on Shapeways can be found here:
shapeways.com/shops/galaxia

'Realistic'? What are your primary sources?

Interesting. How would you compare it to Ken Burnside's Hard Sci Fi game?

Model question for you about this item in yoru Shapeways store: link

How would these fit with 6mm figures? It looks like each individual gunship is about 40mm long, is that correct? Thanks!

That is correct, Jozis Tin Man. They are scaled for use with 6mm figures.

Billyfish,
The game's core mechanic is a simplified portrayal of real-world orbital maneuvering. I have definitely streamlined things such as eccentricity and inclination for the sake of playability, but the fundamental relationships between orbital altitude and velocity, for example, are absolutely correct. Lagrange points are also accessible, as is transit to the planet's moon if desired (transit to be performed through L2).

Combat is generally reliant on missiles and electronic warfare, as the horizon cuts down line-of-sight at lower orbital altitudes. Offensive EW- i.e., using radar at high power to damage systems, is a tactical option for many ships. Ships have differing sensor and EW profiles in the three major spectra used for targeting- radar, infrared, and ultraviolet- and the interplay between attacker and defender's value is important in target and munitions selection.

Success in combat requires one to plan ahead to arrange firing opportunities, and to anticipate an opponent's maneuvers. Delta-V management is key, as is properly balancing individual spacecrafts' payloads between offensive munitions and defensive interceptor (point defense) rounds.

The primary combat spacecraft in the universe are referred to as "strikers", effectively heavily-armed, multi-crew craft approximately the size of a Space Shuttle. Their increased volume compared to a fighter allows for far greater delta-V and payload, not to mention endurance. Strikers are generally capable of FTL travel through use of Alcubierre drive rings, at between 1 to 3ly/day. Aerospace fighters are commonplace but limited in their effectiveness by their low delta-V- unless deployed from a converted freighter, fighters cannot travel beyond low orbit. Large warships are uncommon due to their resource-intensive nature, and tend to be based off commercial freighters with added electronic equipment and missile tubes.

Basically, Galaxia takes simplified but accurate orbital mechanics, and mates them with reasonable extrapolation of trends in electronic warfare.

KTravlos,
Galaxia and AV:T (if that is the Ken Burnside game you are referring to) are generally two different sides of the same coin. Both tread new ground in space wargaming, but in completely different areas. AV:T focuses on the thermodynamic and three-dimensional concerns of combat in deep space, while Galaxia tries to model near-Earth orbital combat. Gravity is the main force to be contended with, as drive technology has not advanced particularly far compared to the present day. Closed-cycle gas core nuclear-thermal engines are the norm, compared to the fusion 'torches' of AV:T. These 'nuclear lightbulbs', as they have been called, do not deliver an overwhelming amount of thrust force, but do boast a suitably high exhaust velocity to dramatically improve delta-V and, thus, overall maneuver capability.

Update: the Excel file containing ship and munitions cards has now been uploaded to Wargame Vault and is available for free download.

Thank you sir! Buying them now! Also the rules sound interesting, thanks!

Yup I was referring to AV:T but I had forgotten the name. Thanks for your explanation and good luck to thee!

Lasers?

There must be lasers.

One of the previous versions I wrote featured lasers, which caused damage normally, and had an increased chance to damage a spacecraft's reentry shielding. In effect, they could force an opponent to remain in orbit or risk a Columbia-style burnup.

I think I'll adapt those rules to the new version and include them in the next file update!

Looks good. I'll put it on my wish list for now. Do munitions include railguns or coilguns? That's how my spacecraft are armed.

Railguns and coilguns are handled as direct-fire weapons, with their range limited by the horizon.

This explains a few things. I was looking through your Shapeways store the other day and was wondering what "Galaxia" was supposed to be. I like some of the larger ships and will probably get a copy of the rules when I have some spare cash.

Do they make this gal as a figure?

Oh, that little "n" is missing. Never mind, wrong "rools" ;)