Guthroth | 09 Apr 2018 8:22 a.m. PST |
I have War Rocket already, but what other simple rules would you suggest as a starting place ? |
Andrew Walters | 09 Apr 2018 9:19 a.m. PST |
All requests for spaceship rules, however they are worded, seem to turn into everyone recommending their favorites set regardless of the fit. You should certainly look at Full Thrust since there's an edition you can download free and they have been popular for many years. Ditto Sky Full of Ships. Beyond that you should mention the genre and the scale you're looking for: four on five or twenty on thirty? With/without carriers and fighters? etc. Good luck! |
Mick the Metalsmith | 09 Apr 2018 11:07 a.m. PST |
I have been pretty fond of a freebie d6 game system I downloaded off the net years ago. One page rules. Very very basic. Ships were points based and you could spend points on weapons' to hit # (roll low hits), shielding : one point per hit, and speed. All ratings maxed out at 5. Weapons all had fixed 60 degree facing but none could face to the rear and movement was a pre plot, with 1 hex movement per point of speed each turn. Turns were no more than 60 degrees and cost a point of speed per hex. Acceleration deceleration was limited by 1 from the previous move and topped at the speed chosen. A hit knocked out an shield pip,when you got hit without shield in a particular facing, ship was destroyed. Fire was simultaneous. Dm for ranged fire was -1 for each hex of distance beyond its range. Basic game was ranges of 4. We developed and bolted on heavy warheads, mines, stationary satellites and bases and variable hit rules in about 15 minutes. |
Allen57 | 09 Apr 2018 11:20 a.m. PST |
Another to consider is GOBS link Played them years ago. They were fun but then we developed our own simple rules. It is not hard to brew your own. Particularly for SF starships. Try it. You can have exactly what you want that way. |
Mick the Metalsmith | 09 Apr 2018 11:54 a.m. PST |
The rules mine are based on are called "minimal space combat" by Tim Swenson and are still available for free at freewargamesrules.wikia.com |
TheBeast | 09 Apr 2018 11:59 a.m. PST |
Just an FYI: Full Thrust has multiple varieties now. Full Thrust 2 can be considered 'basic', with the versions introduced 'Fleet Book 1' extensions. Both downloadable at Ground Zero Games. link Do PLEASE have a look at the miniatures while you're there. Project Continuum has been working further changes, and you'll have to look those up yourself. A friend recently resurrected our play with FT2, and it's been a blast, but I prefer the non-vector Fleet Book I version. HUGE YMMV! Allen57 is absolutely correct, on looking at GOBS, AND trying your hand at do-it-yourself, though homebrew tend to be variations of those already played. Beyond that you should mention… If it helps, maybe you can mention what you liked, and what's missing, from War Rocket for you? Doug |
wolvermonkey | 09 Apr 2018 2:17 p.m. PST |
These are easy to learn with an easy to use build system for creating ships based on your minis…. link |
Guthroth | 09 Apr 2018 3:19 p.m. PST |
I was introduced to Sci-Fi by Asimov and Star Trek, and the space battles of the Lensman series and an old game called Starfire. I want to manage up to 10 on 10 battles, ideally on a hex grid and I am not at all convinced by the 'Starship Fighter' concept so familiar from Star Wars. If possible without order writing. Does FT have a hex grid option ? |
Toaster | 09 Apr 2018 5:30 p.m. PST |
@Guthrow. yes you can play FT on a hex grid, basic turns are in 30deg increments so you just have to allow movement along the sides of hexes as well. And what no one has mentioned yet is Full Thrust Lite which is a 2 page intro version also availiable from the GZG website. Robert |
dddd99 | 09 Apr 2018 9:00 p.m. PST |
Guthrow et al I love space ship games too. Most of them in this thread I have seen before but am glad to see "minimal space combat" rules; I am checking them out now. Also want to give a suggestion too. I always thought these rules were pretty cool and simple: Tacship by Jon Tuffley. They can be played hex grid based and takes only a few minutes to read all the rules. sfsfw.org/a/03/tacship.php |
Deserter | 09 Apr 2018 11:52 p.m. PST |
Useme Space Battles are very simple but complete and fun |
TheBeast | 10 Apr 2018 7:59 a.m. PST |
yes you can play FT on a hex grid, Personally, I say 'not so much.' With the FT system on a grid using simply 'to allow movement along the sides of hexes', and assuming center to center of hex, you get the same, though not as drastic, distance problems as with square grids. There have been some other fan conversions with a bit more adapting, one I've been unable to find for years called VMS by a group calling themselves Voidgamers. It was used by Ken Burnside in a spurious comparison 'twixt AV:T and FT. Tacship is hex-based, and if you're willing to free yourself from the build restrictions, a fine possibility. You might also look at Majestic Twelve's things, with various complexities. @Deserter Thanks for the reminder! As I said before, "So many rules, so little life…" Doug |
Mick the Metalsmith | 10 Apr 2018 5:01 p.m. PST |
Deserter, could you give link….google did not find Useme Space Battles for me. |
Toaster | 10 Apr 2018 10:32 p.m. PST |
@ the Beast, you count each hex side as a inch as well and if moving an odd number of MU then side slip into a hex beside you at the end of the move. If pedantic then side slip alternate directions on alternate turns. Much lees distance error that way. Robert |
Deserter | 11 Apr 2018 3:24 a.m. PST |
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TheBeast | 11 Apr 2018 2:08 p.m. PST |
@Toaster ;->= I'm nothing if not a pedant. Not that I have the actual knowledge to back it up… Doug |
lonley gamer | 21 Apr 2018 1:18 a.m. PST |
@Guthroth if you want a simple set of spaceship rules maybe try these - link I wrote them because I wanted to play simple fast and fun games, they are also written so that you can use almost any ships that you have from any manufacturer. You can see some battle reports here - littlewargamingworlds.com There is also a couple of free scenarios there, and I have some more free stuff coming soon. |