Does this mean that Ablative Armor can be considered "official" ? 

Don't want to put it on my ships and have others ask what the %#@%$ is that stuff...<LOL> :shock:

Hello OldnGrey,
Thanks for the new   StarmadaX_VBAM v9-4a Auto Ablative.   
Unfortunately, I was unable to figure out how to make it work completely.
(100% Blond here) :shock:
I probably have gotten spoiled by Gaming Glen's version of the regular designer.  He has smoothed out the sheets, allowed the use of color and enlargedBatteries A, B, &C to have 12 mounts.  I do appreciate your new program tho.
:arrow: StevenGilchrist

Excellent topic. :!:

I use naval miniatures and design my ships to be "battleships in space", such as INJ Yamato, turned into the Argo, in Starblazers.  I have 1/3000 naval miniatures with added tube engines.  They are similar to the FRAX fleet in Starfleet Battles.  They have only one battery of weapons, which fire out to 18.  The secondaries that WW2 ships had are represented by the point defense system that all of my ships have along, with level 2 or 3 shields.  WW2 capital ships were armored, so these ships of mine have armored hull & armored batteries.  Their heavy guns hit on 3+, and are mounted FX & AX, half are "abcd" & half "cdef" arcs.  These capital ships are speed 6, and have long-range sensors.  They also have overthrusters because all of their weapons only fire together in "c" & "d" arcs.  They're effective ships. 

I follow the philosophy of the USA Navy in the late 1930's & 1940s.  Use heavy firepower, especially at long range and pound your opponants.  The ships' "Heavy Guns" have a ROF of 2 or 3 depending on the design & rerolls penetration.  This gives the ships an AA ability.  We don't use expendables when  I play in South Florida because we think them too overpowering.   But if I could use them, then battery B would be a full bank of these weapons:
rg = 18, hit = 3+,  3/1/1 with re-roll to hit.  They would be similar to XO racks in Starfire.  These XO missiles would make my ships almost fighter-proof. :idea:
Most of my capital ships have 22 hull (!)  I think of all of them as being size 11 with reinforced hull + extra crew; which was available in the Starmada Compendium game.  My big ships  have a total tech of +4, and are of Hull 20 to 24 BBs whose CRs range from 962 [USS Arkansas] to 1565 [USS North Carolina].  These capital ships are escorted by drone carrying DDGs of hull size 8, thought of as hull4 w/reinforced hull & extra crew.  (I build few cruisers because I don't enjoy them as much). 
This fleet is rather formidable, just as the US Navy of WW2.  These ships are very fun to play and usually are on the winning side. All of my heavy ships also have sunbursts battle-satts, science labs, 250 troops or 100 passengers and .. a medical bay, if it fits.  There may be vulnerabilities that I don't realize, and have not planned for.   :shock:

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone,

Let me make sure I understand how to use the armor plating special equipment to get Ablative Armor.
{100% blond here} .  My largest ship is my battleship "USS North Carolina".  It has heavy firepower, is speed 6,  and has 24 hull with armor plating.  If I make the armor plating represent Ablative armor, would this ship get six armor boxes instead of the c12 extra hull hits?  And would the CR cost be the same :?:    As the North Carolina stands now, it costs 1601.
:idea: (If I took 2 armor plating's, would I get 12 Ablative armor?<LOL>) :shock:

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone!

     I have played Full Thrust, Starfire, and other games where ships can have Armor which is damaged first by any hits that penetrate shields.  So it is with great interest that I read the posts on Ablative Armor.    I want to add this to my ships.   
:idea: I have a simple way for me to do this:  How many boxes of ablative armor would a ship get, if "Armor plating" was taken as a Special Equipment, and used instead to generate ablative armor .  This number of boxes would be based on the SUs taken up & cost of armor plating as special equipment.  This would allow me to continue use the newest StarmadaX ship designer, and get Ablative armor.  
(I would write in the armor boxes  in the same space where shields are, placing them under the shield boxes. 
0r, if some brilliant, computer person could add this in to the ship-designer... :shock:

:arrow: Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone,

I am making a ten day trip down to South Florida . 
My gaming friends and I will be playing Starmada X at Dragons Lair SW of Fort Lauderdale (technically in DianiaBch or Hollywood  :shock: ). 
The first game is on Wednesday 6/6 @ c12:30.   
Dragons Lair is located at the corner of SW 51 Street and SR7=US441.  The phone# is 954-587-3347. 
We will be playing many games during next week and the following week.  Come join us for some fun gaming. 

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone from the state of drought, fires & smoke (!) <LOL> :roll:

The problem of protecting engines has come up several times.  I would recommend that "Armored Hull" protect a ship's engines in the same way as it protects the ship's hull.  There are three reasons I recommend adding this to Armored Hull's description. 

First, in the Starmada Compendium game, the hull and engines were together and thus, both protected by Armored Hull (& by reinforced hull also). 

Second, in Starmada X, Organic Hull allows the regeneration of Both Hull and engines.  So Armored hull which protects instead of regenerates, should protect both Hull and engines. 

Third, it has been pointed out that the cost advantage of Armored hull is not significant when compared to having a hull that is 50% larger.  Also the larger hull  gives more damage control parties and greater resistance to Crew-eraser weapons & boarding. 

By extending Armored Hull's coverage to engines, it gives a significant advantage and reason to have it.  Allowing Armored Hull to also protect engines should be given at no extra cost.  Just treat it as a minor rule change or as an errata.  :shock:

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone!

Here is the Link I have, and just used,
for the Starmada Compendium Ship designer; I have saved it 

http://www.mj12games.com/starmada/ssca.html

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone,

I like using Battle satellites, and would be very interested in being able to customize them in the same way as fighters, and now as drones can be.  I wonder if the same cost modifiers for fighters can be used to make assault, heavy, & fast(er) Battle satellites.  It would be very useful.   :idea:
0r we opening a can of worms?   :shock:

[with a sigh, the game designers may be wondering if the players will EVER be content; good grief!!<LOL>]   :roll:

(My friends and I here in NE Fla are playing on Sunday 4/1.  We are gonna play in St Augustine at one of the gamer's  home.  Saves 'em a 41 mile drive up here to Jacksonville). 

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA.

Hello everyone!

     I am back in Jacksonville.  I had a great time playing Starmada (Compendium version) at Gaming Glenn's store, Dragon's Lair, in  Hollywood, Fla.   My Dad & I played six games there.  Half of them involved an escorted 'carrier with heavy assault fighters.  In one of the games, we shot down all the fighters, wrecked several escorts, and drove the others into hyperdrive.  In the second one we were trounced.  My dad played a ship with a spinal mount + TDAR and laser cannons.  I played my naval-type ships with Plasma Bolters as main armament, and laser cannons as secondary weapons. 
(In the Starmada "X" game the laser cannons would be 1/1/1 + able to shoot at fighters, the Plasma bolters would be 1/1/2, but cannot fire at fighters..)
l think  that rather than have one spinal mount with TDAR, its better to have two of them  <LOL>.  Also, don't overload the engines too many times...  Never-the-less, we had a great time!
My Dad is 75, still works and has gotten into Starmada.   

     In the future, we will be using the Starmada "X" version of the game when we play down south because the 'compendium version does hot have the special equipment on its damage track.   Stay tuned for some questions on Starmada "X" ideas... (!)     :!: :shock:   
First 0ne<g>:  Using the 'compendium rules, I have gotten addicted to having some range 24 weapons.  In the "X" rulebook section on weapon design, A.1.4, the cost of a weapon begins with the range; 3, 6, 9,12, 15, 18, etc.   Could a weapon that fires out to 24 be built using 24 as the starting "desired range value"?  This would allow range 24 weapons.  They would be a bit costly, of course.  What do the game designers think; is this an accurate modifier? 
Please let me know; I need to design Starmada "X" ships for the June sortie down to the Dragon's Lair...

     Back up here in Jacksonville, we still are using the 'Compendium version of the game.  And we are playing this Sunday 4/1/07  @ 2pm at Wardogs Gaming store on Beach Blvd in Jacksonville. 

All are welcome 

Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hello everyone,

I will not be going to Recon 07 in Orlando in May.   It seems that there will not be any Starmada games run there.

Steven J Gilchrist