1 Reply by Von Ether

(8 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

thedugan wrote:
frigatesfan wrote:
thedugan wrote:

heavy gravity zones  - <shrug>

Just an idea of not-mine that's a region of space where it costs double movement points to get through. Perhaps it's Martian technology or something older, perhaps it's a natural phenomenon. Perhaps it's just an area marked out on the board.  :wink:

ff

If you cover your board with a transparent coating, maybe you can mark it in yellow grease pencil.

Maybe 'chits' - though those aren't child/cat-resistant.
:-)

The question is how big is your region?

For smaller effects:
You could use old 40K "vortext grenade" templates to represent a mini-black hole, or use a bigger graphic for the same look since gravity effects don't neccessarly have to be 3-D ... ironically. (Though if you found some sort of plastic tornado, that would work. smile

For huge sections:
I've been playing with the idea of largeish hex-shaped markers and then rolling for the direction they dift towards. The trick is that you mark the drift by flipping the back pieces in front of the leading edge. If you make each hex like 4 inches wide and use 5 or so hexes, you have real hazard on your hands.

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2 Reply by Von Ether

(3 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

Interesting experiement to see if this exposure contributes to sales.

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3 Reply by Von Ether

(7 replies, posted in Starmada)

When are you coming down to the Lair?

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4 Topic by Von Ether

(2 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

Finally got my book and been digesting it between the hectic bits of my life.

My main question is where are these battles happening?
A: In high orbit engagements above ground bound cities
B: In the outer planets and asteroid belts as the countries all look for resources and livable areas for their respective empire.
C: Where ever my imagination puts the battle as I justfiy what terrain I have on the board.

My next question is "Where are the Martians and Mars in all this?"

Is Mars off limits, out of reach or do the Martian planetary defenses put us off from landing there to take the fight to them?

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5 Reply by Von Ether

(6 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

Fort Courage is perfect!
Though it seems you have to make up your own tabs as you go. LOL!

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6 Reply by Von Ether

(13 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

thedugan wrote:
Von Ether wrote:

Do I sense the gaunlet being thrown down, Mr. TheDugan?

Let me get my hands on that IS book and I shall fire off a volley of vigilettes back, sir. You have been warned!  lol

Baah...

I have read the vaunted scripts of Baen,
I have watched the firefights of Drake sparkle
in the spaces that man has not yet seen....

Come hither, and let us taste the sting of your pen.

...I think you mean "vignettes"

Yes I do! And you will, good sir. As soon as the world stops spinning and I put this bottle of wine down. ...

Excuse me, can anyone tell me which of the two tables floating in front of me is the real one?

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7 Reply by Von Ether

(13 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

Do I sense the gaunlet being thrown down, Mr. TheDugan?

Let me get my hands on that IS book and I shall fire off a volley of vigilettes back, sir. You have been warned!  lol

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8 Reply by Von Ether

(13 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

cricket wrote:

Ooo... I like that as a hook.

Have you been reading my notes? smile

That's cool considering I've only had time to look over the rules. I've been saving the background for when I have the book in hand.

Maybe we're on the same brain wave.  lol

Looks like it's time to put my hand in my jacket, stand on the bridge and give the command, "It's time we found out what the Germans are up to. Full Forward! And mind the asteroids Mr. Cargill!"

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9 Reply by Von Ether

(13 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

If I may make the suggestion ...

Perhaps the biggest theme to such a game would be what you've been doing, a unstoppable march towards a WW I type event where the air is charged with change and there's a tension in the air. People know there's something building in the air, though people can't put their finger on it.

A time of innocence and honor is ending.

Admittedly, it's been done before in several other eras before and after the early 1900s. It's currently a theme in the Pirate sequals and quite a few modern takes on the Pulp genre love to touch on this as well.

Don't know how you can bottle more of that into the look of the minatures or the feel of the rules, but it's an idea.

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10 Topic by Von Ether

(6 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

Has seen or made some steampunk space stations? If there's one terrain item that would add flavor to the board, I think this would be it.

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11 Topic by Von Ether

(13 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

I think the only movie I've seen that would be close to Edwardian SF would be the anime Steamboy which seems to be in the same pre-WW I era.

But comparing the two subgenres, what would be the big differences between them? I'm not that sharp on my history and nothing comes to mind other than the internal combustion engine and Tesla -- though he's more post WW I.

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12 Topic by Von Ether

(8 replies, posted in Iron Stars)

I haven't gotten the book yet, but looking at how many little windows everyone paints on the ships, it looks like most starship terrain would be too big (as compared to Starmada where you couldn't even see windows if you painted them.)

Any ideas on proper sized terrain or special pieces that would evoke the mood?

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13 Reply by Von Ether

(2 replies, posted in Starmada)

I may borrow a camera after I get batch 2.0 done.  lol

I've been doing it too quicklly and my cutting wasn't too precise so I have hexagonal-ish shapes. They are okay, but not as pretty as they could be.

I plan to cut out my hex-based cluster shapes a bit more careful next time to they look better. Though with darky gray asteroids, I wonder how they'll come out on film. :roll:

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14 Topic by Von Ether

(2 replies, posted in Starmada)

Here's a way to make asteroid belts that are quick to deploy on the table.

Take either stiff felt, wood or plastic and cut the material into shapes that resembles connected hexes that match your star mat. I usualy print out a sheet of hex paper and cut it up along the lines to make "clusters" and lines of hexes.

Paint these shapes black or in a star field fashion.

Next create several asteroids in what ever fashion you like. I use half inch styrofoam balls and paint them gray. Regardless, leave a flat bottom for gluing.

Then glue each asteroid into each individual "hex" that makes up the shape. i.e. if you cut out a shape that look like five hexes in a row, glue on five asteroids.

Now you have several asteroid "clusters" that you place out on the map quickly. You'll discover that the hex shapes allow you to match clusters up like a puzzle if you want an area thick with debris.

For me, the shapes inspired me to creatively place them in fun formations. The first game we used them, it inspired a "badger in the hole" scenario where one fleet hid in a cluster of asteroids and the other fleet had a limited time to dig them out. Just like the movies, we both sent our fighters out in to do the dirty work before the ships crept towards each other to finish the job.

Too cool. smile

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15 Reply by Von Ether

(30 replies, posted in Starmada)

BeowulfJB wrote:

Hello everyone!

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? 
Steven Gilchrist; Jacksonville, Fla, USA

Hi Steve,

I'm not a fan of looong weapon ranges. If you have enough terrain on the board, the extra range is wasted. I've found that those shorter range weapons come in handy when you've cleared the corner and you can broadside someone with everything. Sometimes it's not the power of the guns, but the number of them.

Speaking of June, my son will be down and he's eager to test his latest designs. For me, I've painted up some additional planets and a 5 inch yellow "star" ready to be placed on my new star mat along with my chain of asteroids.

Look forward to seeing you at the Lair.

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16 Reply by Von Ether

(30 replies, posted in Starmada)

Someone's forgotten to update me on the dates that Starmada is played at Glenn's store. *looking over at GamingGlen.*

Have you guys started adding in more terrain to the table yet? It seemed the one time we added only one planet, things got interesting real fast.  lol

The difference to me between X and the Compendium is the approach of the two books. X is more of a tool kit that offers more flexibility. The players have to shoulder more responsibilty to knowing the rules and agreeing which rules and options are allowed for a match.

The Compendium is still very flexibile but comes with some assumptions on how certain "technologies" i.e. special weapons and equipment will work. For this reason I think of the Compendium as more "campaign" friendly. Use your racial development points, agree what medical and repair bays do in your game world and you're off. I assume that the Starmada/VBAM product does the same for "X."

I don't think any of the guys at GamingGlenn's place use VBAM so that may be the "missing link" for them when it comes to "X."

I think both editions are great, but I'd consider the Compendium as a safe bet if I fighting agains unfamiliar or immature players. i.e. my son's first game he designed one small ship and one "aircraft carrier," and thus learned that bending the rules doesn't make for a fun game.

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17 Topic by Von Ether

(1 replies, posted in Starmada)

Hi,

New to Starmada, but I have both the Comendium and "X." I noticed in "X," the development point system for races was gone.

I'm assuming it's because now the weapon's system has radicaly changed. Does anyone see any problems with using the multipliers for a weapon system (as compared to acutaly space) as a cost for DP?

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