As the game that was going to be called StarStrike nears completion, there's a list of things I always check through:
One of them is making sure I won't find myself in legal trouble or step on anyone's toes.
Unfortunately, it transpires that there is indeed an existing product called StarStrike, a supplement for the old Spacemaster RPG.
That's a little too close for comfort, which means finding a new title.
"Cosmic Strike" is not taken, from what I can tell, though it may sound too much like a spaceship game (though to be fair, so did StarStrike)
Other possibilities that have come to mind:
Frontier World Encounters
Unified Space Territory
Beyond the Perimeter
Elimination Principlie
Any suggestions?
I'd prefer avoiding a title that is "xxx and yyy" (ala Dungeons and Dragons).
Sunday, 26 April 2015
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
Points values
Designing points systems for wargames is of course a lesson in pain and futility.
A lot of factors are at play: Different things combine with each other in unpredictable ways and you have to constantly balance between keeping things simple (and often more broken) or less broken (and more complex).
Then you have issues like the gaming table (an open table means long range weapons are more valuable f.x.) and even the gaming group (if nobody in a group plays close combat oriented armies, then they'll find a different focus).
My usual tradition as I work on a points system is to put together some approximate values (for StarStrike, I am using an actual formula), then go backwards and add up some of the test battles that have been played out, and see how they compare.
Currently,about a 10-25% variance in points across a few tests, but then... does that mean the formula is off or that the battles were?
In the end, at some point, you just have say "it's good enough" and go with it.
Of course, a benefit of PDF publishing is that going back and adjusting the values is quite easy.
A lot of factors are at play: Different things combine with each other in unpredictable ways and you have to constantly balance between keeping things simple (and often more broken) or less broken (and more complex).
Then you have issues like the gaming table (an open table means long range weapons are more valuable f.x.) and even the gaming group (if nobody in a group plays close combat oriented armies, then they'll find a different focus).
My usual tradition as I work on a points system is to put together some approximate values (for StarStrike, I am using an actual formula), then go backwards and add up some of the test battles that have been played out, and see how they compare.
Currently,about a 10-25% variance in points across a few tests, but then... does that mean the formula is off or that the battles were?
In the end, at some point, you just have say "it's good enough" and go with it.
Of course, a benefit of PDF publishing is that going back and adjusting the values is quite easy.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
How much stuff will be in StarStrike?
Ya'll tired of me talking about it?
You can start badgering me about the next project :)
6mm something but what? ww2? Scifi?
Anyways, a quick count:
11 basic troop types (from gang member to elite assassin)
9 basic armour types
20 character traits that can be applied to a unit or individual.
5 character traits specific to leaders.
5 character traits specific to psionics
23 infantry weapons
8 close combat weapons
14 heavy weapons
6 grenade types
5 types of anti-tank charges (though they mostly differ in strength)
9 items of equipment
21 vehicle profiles split across 6 types (wheel, track, walker, strider, grav, floater)
8 vehicle upgrades
5 unique human troop types
14 alien races
8 psionic powers
5 monster profiles
4 hostile plant types
5 animal types
You can start badgering me about the next project :)
6mm something but what? ww2? Scifi?
Anyways, a quick count:
11 basic troop types (from gang member to elite assassin)
9 basic armour types
20 character traits that can be applied to a unit or individual.
5 character traits specific to leaders.
5 character traits specific to psionics
23 infantry weapons
8 close combat weapons
14 heavy weapons
6 grenade types
5 types of anti-tank charges (though they mostly differ in strength)
9 items of equipment
21 vehicle profiles split across 6 types (wheel, track, walker, strider, grav, floater)
8 vehicle upgrades
5 unique human troop types
14 alien races
8 psionic powers
5 monster profiles
4 hostile plant types
5 animal types
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
StarStrike and aliens
As mentioned, the alien list will look like the one in No Stars in Sight.
I wanted to share what that might look like, in StarStrike terms, so below, you will find "The Swift", which are no doubt completely original and never seen before in science fiction roleplaying games...
I wanted to share what that might look like, in StarStrike terms, so below, you will find "The Swift", which are no doubt completely original and never seen before in science fiction roleplaying games...
THE
SWIFT
Humanoid
aliens of diminutive stature, often winged with reptilian features.
Swift can exhibit a variety of characteristics but being a small,
sentient species likely to have developed on worlds with large,
powerful predators tends to give them a certain flighty and erratic
demeanour.
They
often follow a caste system with each member fitting into certain
roles for which they have been raised their whole lives.
The
Fringe
Nobody
knows the origin of the small, winged lizards known commonly as “The
Swift”. Colonies of them can be found almost everywhere, usually in
clusters of nearby worlds.
Researchers
speculate that the colonies were originally founded as part of a
galaxy spanning migration but the reasons, starting point or eventual
origin is not known and the Swift themselves are not forthcoming with
explanations, if they are even aware of them any longer.
Swift
colonies tend to mind their own business though they are often
attracted to archeological digs and ancient artifacts, causing
conflict with explorers and treasure hunters.
Suitable
miniatures:
Any
small, winged humanoid miniatures will suffice.
Troop
profile:
Swift
do not use any of the human troop classes. Instead, select from the
ones listed below.
They
have a variety of armour types, adapted to their physiology.
These
correspond to human armour types and are selected as normal.
Discipline
|
Morale
|
Training
|
|
Drone
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
Warrior
|
4
|
7
|
6
|
Director
|
5
|
9
|
7
|
Scout
|
3
|
8
|
6
|
Traits
All
Swift have the following traits.
Winged
|
Increase
Speed by +1.
Swift
on a terrain feature may leap down, landing anywhere within double
the movement permitted by their orders.This takes up all of their
movement for that activation.
|
Slight
|
-1
to hand-to-hand combat rolls.
If
a combat ends in a draw, the figure will retreat 3” and neither
figure takes a hit.
|
Slippery
|
Figures
that go Heads Down in the open may move 3” to reach cover.
|
Leaders
and Scouts may have additional traits, selected as normal. Warriors
and Drones never have additional traits.
Troop
classes
Only
Directors may function as a Leader in game terms.
Individual
figures must be of the Director or Scout class.
Only
Director and Scout individuals may be heroes.
Swift
may be psions with no caste restrictions.
Troop
organization
Drone
and Warrior units may not detach individuals.
Sunday, 12 April 2015
StarStrike progress
Working on aliens and battlefield terrain right now.
I'm happy to report that the latter section will include things like ice worlds and angry plant life.
Basic rules, combat, psionics, heroes etc. are all done.
Vehicles need a few tweaks.
Everything is coming along nicely.
The biggest haul in the end will be the unit building systems, but hopefully they'll also be pretty fun to write.
I'm happy to report that the latter section will include things like ice worlds and angry plant life.
Basic rules, combat, psionics, heroes etc. are all done.
Vehicles need a few tweaks.
Everything is coming along nicely.
The biggest haul in the end will be the unit building systems, but hopefully they'll also be pretty fun to write.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Beer time
Brush War is here
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/147407/Not-Just-a-Brush-War-Brush-war-campaigns-for-any-war-game-system
Go grab it, do your thing, defend your imaginary nation from angry neighbours, insurgents and freedom fighters.
Who knows? Maybe you'll end up on TV.
StarStrike proceeds apace, with vehicle stats (or the first attempt at them, in any event).
Still uncertain of how deadly antitank weapons will be. Leaning towards pretty lethal but we'll see.
I kind of like the idea of a future setting where tanks are more like mobile gun platforms than armoured behemoths but people do like their tank models.
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/147407/Not-Just-a-Brush-War-Brush-war-campaigns-for-any-war-game-system
Go grab it, do your thing, defend your imaginary nation from angry neighbours, insurgents and freedom fighters.
Who knows? Maybe you'll end up on TV.
StarStrike proceeds apace, with vehicle stats (or the first attempt at them, in any event).
Still uncertain of how deadly antitank weapons will be. Leaning towards pretty lethal but we'll see.
I kind of like the idea of a future setting where tanks are more like mobile gun platforms than armoured behemoths but people do like their tank models.
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Brush War delay
The Brush War supplement may be delayed by a few days.
Had hoped for it to be uploaded for sale today, but things conspired so with all best wishes, hopefully by Tuesday or so.
Had hoped for it to be uploaded for sale today, but things conspired so with all best wishes, hopefully by Tuesday or so.
Friday, 3 April 2015
Possible rules to test
Between StarStrike and Brush War, I knocked together a basic framework for ww2 (and possibly beyond) platoon level skirmish.
It's only 3 pages but if you are curious, give it a look and let me know if it's something that's worth building out more or if it's too weird.
Note that this isn't really a replacement for FiveCore or In Sight, as much as a possible third "leg" of game engines to build things for. Think of it as a tech demo :)
http://weaselfierce.webs.com/bringthebrowning.pdf
Comment or email with what you think. If anyone can get some figures on the table and test, that'd be even better.
It's only 3 pages but if you are curious, give it a look and let me know if it's something that's worth building out more or if it's too weird.
Note that this isn't really a replacement for FiveCore or In Sight, as much as a possible third "leg" of game engines to build things for. Think of it as a tech demo :)
http://weaselfierce.webs.com/bringthebrowning.pdf
Comment or email with what you think. If anyone can get some figures on the table and test, that'd be even better.
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