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mj12games.com/forum → Starmada → First Game of Starmada, first question
Hello folks!
Last week we played our first Starmada game and we had quite a lot of fun! We think we grasped the game correctly, even tough it was a really short game! (3 turns)
but I noticed that in Starmada there are no LoS or LoF whatsoever?
I was thinking on implementing LoF to make the game more tactical and more focused on manouvers..anyone tried it?
thanks!
Add some Asteroid fields, moons and the like which block LOS and see the difference!
-Bren
Last week we played our first Starmada game and we had quite a lot of fun! We think we grasped the game correctly, even tough it was a really short game! (3 turns)
but I noticed that in Starmada there are no LoS or LoF whatsoever?
Welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed your first game!
There is line-of-sight in the game -- it's just not blocked by anything. 
As was pointed out, you can add terrain which blocks LOS (although I would err on the side of "less is more")
If you wanted, you could add a rule that ships block LOS -- although I would tend to go with a rule similar to that in Grand Fleets: LOS is blocked if the intervening ship is bigger than either the firing ship or the target. Thus, if a size-6 ship is firing at a size-3 target, LOS would be blocked by any ship of size 4 or larger. Although space is really big, you could handwave this as targeting interference from radiation and such, rather than physically blocking the weapons' path.
but I noticed that in Starmada there are no LoS or LoF whatsoever?
I'm a newbie too, but I thought weapons could only fire out of the arcs they have listed?
Or is that not what you meant by LoF?
for now I'll try that Grand Fleets rule..the beauty of the Starmada Ruleset is that you can come up with pretty much any excuse fluff wise to justify any rule you feel like! we'll say they hinder targeting devices or something like that
building asteroid fields and planets is out of question for now..im too busy painting the fleets of all the players to start making scenery! 
and hdan you are right rules wise...woudnt want to mislead another newbie!
btw is a 21x22 hexes mat enough to play properly?
btw is a 21x22 hexes mat enough to play properly?
For most purposes, yes. But if you find your fleets are heavy on the 18+ ranged weapons, you might need to find a bigger mat.
Xols wrote:btw is a 21x22 hexes mat enough to play properly?
For most purposes, yes. But if you find your fleets are heavy on the 18+ ranged weapons, you might need to find a bigger mat.
Why not get bigger anyway? More room to maneuver, reasons to have larger weapon ranges, etc.
Why not get bigger anyway? More room to maneuver, reasons to have larger weapon ranges, etc.
You have to be careful -- if weapon ranges get too long in comparison to engine values, the game becomes less tactical.
PSYCO829 wrote:Why not get bigger anyway? More room to maneuver, reasons to have larger weapon ranges, etc.
You have to be careful -- if weapon ranges get too long in comparison to engine values, the game becomes less tactical.
Here, here. Some of the "best/most fun" games I have personally played were with very low range weapons and relatively high engine ratings. More like dogfights than naval battles in some respects, but fits well with the feel of space battles.
Cheers,
Erik
I have played games where there were a hundred or so asteroids. all moving somewhat randomly, and I think they were fun.
You can randomly place rocks from the garden onto the board, then, at the end of each turn, each asteroid rolls two dice, one for direction, and one for distance. if they collide, they stop, if they hit a ship or fighters, they roll to hit.
simple mechanism, and it does take a little cooperation by all to make sure you move the asteroids, but it really doesn't take all that long to move everything each turn.
One scenario I play with that is "Attack the mining facilities" where the defender gets 6 randomly placed minig markers and the attacker has to "land" a flight of fighters on the asteroid simply touch the asteroid during the fighter movement and it's been checked).
That one goes over well at the conventions I play it at. I usually grab ships from the book, 3-4 per player.
my point is, the more asteroids the better, if you're needing to block LOS. I do like the GF way too though.
building asteroid fields and planets is out of question for now..im too busy painting the fleets of all the players to start making scenery!
A handful of lava rocks on the board works great for asteroids. That's what I use. Cheap and easy.
I found these stone spheres at my local Hobby Lobby that work great for planets. Sizes range from about 1.5 inches in diameter, up to about 8 inches. I put wood rings designed for hanging curtains under them to keep them from rolling. They were maybe $5-10 each depending on size. The wife even likes them displayed on the coffee table.
They are just like these. http://www.decentgemstone.com/Pages/sem … pheres.htm
Looks like a gas giant to me.
<IMG src="http://www.decentgemstone.com/pro_photos/sm_prec/spheres/green-aven-sphere2.jpg">
</IMG>
Wow, you have Balls....<rimshot>
Wow, you have Balls....<rimshot>
YES I DO! 8-) Great big shiny ones.
I have played games where there were a hundred or so asteroids. all moving somewhat randomly, and I think they were fun.
You can randomly place rocks from the garden onto the board, then, at the end of each turn, each asteroid rolls two dice, one for direction, and one for distance. if they collide, they stop, if they hit a ship or fighters, they roll to hit.
For my games at Origins, I raided the rock section at the local pet store and called them 'dust- debris' hexes. Capital ships took a hull damage on a 5+, fighters could moves 'slowly' by spending 2 MP per hex traveled (or could zip through with the possible loss of a fighter on a 5+). Seemed to go well for the players at the game and cheap and portable!
One scenario I play with that is "Attack the mining facilities" where the defender gets 6 randomly placed minig markers and the attacker has to "land" a flight of fighters on the asteroid simply touch the asteroid during the fighter movement and it's been checked).
That one goes over well at the conventions I play it at. I usually grab ships from the book, 3-4 per player.
This one isn't a bad idea. I have a bunch of lava rocks (read 36) that are all labeled for a d66 (roll a d6 for the tens and a d6 for the ones). At the end of the turn, 2d6 random asteroids shifted per Jim's rules. It was 'fun stuff'. I do like the scenario about the mining facilities and will be 'borrowing' that one!
my point is, the more asteroids the better, if you're needing to block LOS. I do like the GF way too though.
Agreed the GF way is pretty cool so I might be 'stealing' that as well!
-Bren
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