I want to play Starfleet Wars ...

... so I've been studying the rules.  The best way for me to learn a game is to make up my own quick reference sheet.  By referring to every part of the rules, going back and forth through the books to tie them all together, and restating them in my own words, I end up with a pretty decent grasp of the rulebook.

I did that for Starfleet Wars, putting most of the information needed for play onto a single 8½" x 11" piece of paper.  But in doing so, I realized the game still requires players to process a lot of information for each ship, especially if you use all the advanced rules.  The ship record sheet in the SfW rulebook is pretty sparse when it comes to giving a player everything necessary to use all the vessel's weapons, which led me to design my own.  Here's an example:

This new record sheet has a list of all the options available to a starship captain, and space to designate targets and write orders for true simultaneous play.  When I do get to play Starfleet Wars, hopefully this record sheet will make the game run smoothly.

So does anyone else devise their own play aids for their wargames, or am I just waaaaaay to obsessive?

Ground-Effect Ogre (GEO)

Take a Mark III, replace the treads with hover gear, and you have the Ground-Effect Ogre (GEO)--a fast, deadly, and extremely vulnerable cybertank.

Instead of tread units, a GEO has ground-effect units. While attacks against them are resolved just like for treads, the fragility of g-e units is reflected in their smaller number on the Ground-Effect Ogre's record sheet. In addition, GEOs take double damage from ramming (as attacker or defender). If a GEO loses all its ground-effect units while in a water hex, instead of being immobilized, the Ground-Effect Ogre sinks and is destroyed.

When resolving a cruise missile attack on a GEO, all systems are treated as standard Ogre components except ground-effect units. Use the line for "Any D0 Unit or Any GEV" on the Effects of Missile Explosion table to determine attacks against ground-effect units, but a D result still has no effect.

GEOs have split movement as shown on the record sheet. Terrain affects GEOs the same as any other ground-effect vehicle. All other standard rules for Ogres apply to GEOs.

        GROUND-EFFECT OGRE RECORD SHEET

WEAPONS            ATTACK  RANGE  DEF            
  1 Main Battery     4       3     4    O
  4 Secondaries      3       2     3    OOOO                
  2 Missiles         6       5     3    OO        
  8 Antipersonnel    1       1     1    OOOO OOOO 

MOVE RATE    |  3/2 |  3/1 |  2/1 |  1/1 |  1/0 | 0
 20 G-E UNITS| OOOO | OOOO | OOOO | OOOO | OOOO |  

The model started out as a Matchbox hovercraft. I added some bits from an Ogre repair kit and a bead from my wife's beading supplies for the ball turret. My attempt at using greenstuff for the armor came out horrible, but it shouldn't be too noticable on the tabletop at arm's length--and I can rationalize it as battle damage.

OGRE keeps on rolling

Exciting times for OGRE/GEV fans!  Take a look at the OGRE Kickstarter page: as of this posting (Saturday morning Texas time), the OGRE Designer's Edition was close to breaking $550,000 in pledges--far beyond Steve Jackson Games' original goal of twenty grand.  Although I'm gonna get my copy from my friendly local game store instead of through Kickstarter, I'm still thrilled by all the interest shown in this project, from new and old fans alike.

Here's a quick breakdown of what the standard (non-Kickstarter) box will contain (taken from this KS update):

• Containers:
• The outer shipping carton - about 22" x 18" x 4"?
• The game box. Currently 21.5” by 17.625” by at least 3.5”.
• Cardboard counter tray insert / “Ogre garage”
• Maps:
• Ogre map (2 pieces )
• GEV type maps G1, G2, S1, S2 (2 pieces each)
• Counter/overlay sheets (about 11 x 17, printed 4/4, diecut):
• Combine 2D units (2 identical sheets, about 65 units each, 1.5 mm)
• Paneuropean 2D units (2 identical sheets, about 70 units each, 1.5 mm)
• Basic map overlay sheet (3 identical sheets, 1.5 mm)
• Stretch overlay sheet (1.5 mm)
• Assorted Ogres and buildings (3 different sheets, 2 mm)
• Sponsored sheets for $3,000 supporters (5 different, some 1.5, some 2 mm)
• “Mercenary” sheets - two, using Combine units
• Maaaybe one w/ hidden buildings. Under discussion.
• One with a whole troop of Ogres in a new color.
• One, probably, with a new color of Paneuro units.
• Booklets and other paper:
• Rulebook - 24 pages?
• Scenario book - 12 pp?
• Reference sheets with CRTs, unit lists, and so on (2 copies)
• Ogre Record Sheet masters (2 copies, black only)
• Blueprint poster
• "How to Build the Ogres" flyer
• Two 19mm acrylic dice

Outside the box, there has been enough support to reach various stretch goals including new scenarios, a future expansion, a tiny version of the game resembling the pocket format in which it debuted in 1977, and even an OGRE computer game.  Best of all, they're bringing back the miniatures line!  With six more days to go in the fundraising period, they're also close to hiring someone to work on the line full-time and not too far from rereleasing the OGRE Miniatures rulebook. 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm looking forward to all this.

Starfleet Wars eBay find

You may be thinking, "What's he doing, blogging about a spaceship game after all this time?" but I haven't abandoned that aspect of my hobby. And on that note, I have to share my latest eBay score.

In addition to the Starfleet Wars rules and expansion booklet, both in great condition, I received a laminated quick reference sheet. It also came with the original envelope and a pad of starship record sheets. In the days long before home computer printers, or even easy access to a photocopier, these record sheets were a necessary game component.

This auction lot also came with a promotional pamphlet for SfW on glossy paper. While the front duplicates the rulebook cover image and the back lists the range of castings at the time the game was released, it's the inside of this sheet that's remarkable. ...

 

... A full-color photograph of the minis that existed at publication, painted in classic 1970s graphic style.

While this image is floating around the internet, it's cool to have a copy of the original publication, and in such great condition. I think I will put it in a frame and hang it on the wall of my game room.

Siege of Monopolis (part 2)

(continued from part 1)

Even though the attackers had lost their mobile command post and quite a few  armor units, they began to advance into the city.

As that happened, the two Ogres were locked into melee.  The smaller cybertank had lost all its weapons that it could have used to hurt the bigger unit, so it was reduced to ramming during overruns.  The Mark V took quite a toll on the Mark III's treads, and it was slowed to a Move of 1.

Meanwhile, the attackers' Luftpanzers had made their way onto the river to wreak havoc from the rear.

Then the attackers began seizing various industrial zones in Monopolis, slowly disabling or destroying the defending armor units, and also setting fire to one of the factory neighborhoods.

Further north, the Mark V began making its way into the city, leaving behind the crippled Mark III, which began inching away from the battle as its self-preservation routines took over its programming.

At that point, it was just a matter of time until the attackers had control of the city.And that's where we were at the four-hour mark, when we agreed to call the game.  The participants said they enjoyed playing, although I know it had to be boring for the defenders once they had lost a lot of their units.  Next time, I think I'll give the defenders a couple more minefields to help them out, and maybe some more troops.

Here's the defending Ogre record sheet, suitably illustrated by the player as it took hit after hit after hit.  It still had four treads left, as it fled for more hospitable territory.

I had fun preparing and running this scenario.  I hope to do it again at a future game convention.

Carnivoran fighters in Galactic Knights

Looking over the Carnivoran expansion for Galactic Knights, I noticed that there were not two sets of game stats and rules for fighters and missiles (Standard Rules and Command Rules), like in the core rulebook and the Entomolian supplement.  Instead, the Carnivoran book just offers what appear to be standard rules and stats.

 

Not only that, but the book doesn't specify how many fighters make a squad.  That's important because the original GK rules specify that fighters are costed, stored and launched in squads of three.  However, the Carnivoran book never explicitly states the number of fighters per squad.  In fact, it even mentions that the heavy fighters should be treated just like a ship, and provides a record sheet with five fighters instead of three.

I prefer the Command Rules, so I came up with my own stats for the Carnivoran fighters and missiles.  It's a work in progress, so it may get modified after some playtesting.

Name

Type

Move

Profile

Dmg

Notes

Intercept

Fang	Missile	12	6	0	successful missile hit shorts out one shield generator	none
Bobcat	Light Fighter	12	2	2	not depleted until current target destroyed	2 dice
Leopard	Heavy Fighter	7	6	4	fighter needs two hits to be destroyed	def. die only

Anyone else have house rules for Galactic Knights?

Under the hood of the new OGRE

The upcoming update of the venerable sci-fi tank combat game OGRE has created quite a bit of excitement in geek circles.  Here's a quick summary of all I've been able to glean about the new version of Steve Jackson Games' iconic wargame:

From the initial announcement of OGRE 6th Edition:

• Retail price: $100
• Rules and units from Ogre and G.E.V., Shockwave, magazine articles, and miniatures
• Three mapboards with 1.5-inch hexes
• Large, full-color counters
• OGRE and building counters are 3-D constructible miniatures
• Only one print run planned at present

From the sixth edition sell sheet:

• Revised and reorganized rules divided into a rulebook, scenario book, and player reference sheet
• Two of the three mapboards are double-sided
• Photo shows what appear to be separate geomorphic terrain tiles for use on top of the maps 
• Fourteen sheets of counters
• Includes OGRE record sheets, dry-erase marker, and two dice
• Vacuum-formed counter tray
• Box weight: 12 pounds

Finally, I've dug up the following additional details that Phil Reed, the company's chief operating officer, has confirmed on SJG's message boards for OGRE/GEV:

• No specific release date other than sometime in the fall. 
• Counters will be 2.5mm chipboard.
• Counters include the Mk III and Mk V, Laser Tower, and LAD. Also Heavy Weapons, Engineers, Militia, Light Howitzers, Mk IV, Mk VIs, Vulcans, Dopps, the Fencer, and the train.
• There are three game boards covering five maps between them: OGRE, GEV, Shockwave, and two from Battlefields.
• Maps and counters will also be available separately.

More details as I uncover them.