| | Space combat system based on the classic Space Battleship Yamato (Japan)/Star Blazers (U.S.) animated television series. Covers fleet engagements, with ships ranging from large capitalships (battleships) to small battlecraft (fighters). Played on a hexgrid. Rules cover power allocation, a wide variety of weapons, many items of special equipment, and damage. Introductory, intermediate, and advanced rules. Includes 8 scenarios. |
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| Period | The Gamilon and White Comet Wars, 2199-2201 |
| Scale | Tactical. Time and distance scales unstated. Each figure represents an individual spacecraft. Designed for use with the Star Blazers line of miniatures. |
| Basing | Individual |
| Contents | Spiral-bound, 176-page full-size rulebook
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| Designer | Keith A. Johannsen |
| Publisher | First edition published 1997 by Musashi Enterprises |
| Lane8@mail.swbell.net |
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I waited many years for a professional product like this! My gaming groups and I have either gone without or tried to kit-bash other systems (like my total re-write of the rules in the October '87 Space Gamer magazine). The folks at Musashi have done a fine job. They have toned down the various races' special weapons (Wave-Motion Guns, et al.), but let's face it - having those weapons function just like the animated series' would make fleet actions pointless. The real charm of this rules system is the way the different aspects of Star Blazers combat interact. Each race, and each ship type, have an operational specialty. Earth battleships have limited but powerful main guns, and carry large fighter complements as well as the WMGs. Gamilon forces can use their precision bombers in conjunction with SMITE (teleport equipment), or shelter behind a deadly Space Fortress. Comet Empire fleets have long-range hitting power firmly on their side. None of the races has an "ultimate" weapon, and tactics account for most of a victory. Luck still has its place, since this is a dice-rolling game. Overcoming odds is, after all, a major part of the Star Blazers tradition. Overall, a fine starting effort! |
| Richard K. Leclercq (hardlec@execpc.com) |
| I have played a lot. This game is designed for big actions, and is playable at a level where other games break down. I have played Full Thrust with 20 or more capital ships on the table, and the game is ponderous even with experienced players. With Starblazers, I had 20 capital ships, with escorts, on the table and 6 people who never played before. They all had fun and there was a lot of action. |
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| Last Updates | |
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| 5 October 1999 | publisher changes websites |
| 20 November 1998 | added Technical Manual |
| 6 October 1998 | added Workbench link |
| 5 July 1998 | added comments from Lane8 |
| 26 November 1997 | added link to publisher's website |
| Comments or corrections? | |
