• From: Denver, CO
  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 3,578

Topic: Fleet morale?

Anyone holding over from the first edition of Starmada (now 17 years ago!) will remember there were rudimentary morale rules in the game. Ever since, I've been wondering if it would be possible to include such considerations. Here's an idea:

FLEET MORALE

This rule is optional, and accounts for the effects of morale on the performance of a fleet. A fleet with good officers and training will fight on longer than one with poor leadership or little fighting spirit.

If using this rule, just before starting the first game turn, each player should roll two dice, adding the results together.

Then, consult the following table:

Roll    Morale    Modifier
2-3     Poor    80%
4-5     Fair    90%
6-8     Average    100%
9-10     Very Good    110%
11-12    Exceptional    120%

The resulting percentage is applied to the number of VPs the opposing side needs to score in order to claim victory.

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 859

Re: Fleet morale?

Sounds reasonable.

  • Dave
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-09-04
  • Posts: 75

Re: Fleet morale?

Very abstract, but it makes sense without imposing withdrawal movement rules and other similar effects. We'll definitely have to give this a try sometime, especially in a campaign (on that note, where did the Sovereign Stars forum and demo rules go?).

  • Registered: 2010-07-08
  • Posts: 44

Re: Fleet morale?

Very nice! I those would go together very well with a basic campaign system. I would love to see some peoples ideas for events in game that would provide modifiers to that roll (ie Death Star blew up homeworld last turn, now every one in the fleet is sad).

Would love to see this in a product some day. *cough* Sovereign Stars *cough*

  • Registered: 2008-12-22
  • Posts: 654

Re: Fleet morale?

Simple, and an interesting option. You could call it crew quality if you wanted, I think, and use the exact same process. Better crews would stay in the fight longer, and therefore be more effective. I know, it's still morale at its core, but quality is something that seems more quantifiable than morale. That might be even more "useful" in a campaign setting (Generate quality when ship is deployed and modify as the campaign progresses? Then modify it through participating in battles and so forth) I'm not sure I would use it in a "1-off" game though, as it would affect the points balance which is so important to that type of play (where design/points usage can be almost more important than tactics at times). Well, that's my 2 cents.
Erik

  • Registered: 2010-02-16
  • Posts: 42

Re: Fleet morale?

I think it is a good idea but aren't you afraid of unbalancing the game ?

  • Registered: 2008-12-22
  • Posts: 654

Re: Fleet morale?

Brazouck wrote:

I think it is a good idea but aren't you afraid of unbalancing the game ?

In black and white terms it would, by altering the VP conditions, absolutely "unbalance" a game. Especially in "one-off" games I can see where there would be an issue as a player might be upset that his design didn't get a "fair" chance because of morale. Personally I don't have a problem being at a "disadvantage" in game, because I enjoy playing battles that aren't between to points-perfect matched opponents ("we're outnumbered, outgunned and out of time...let's see how many of the b@#&@*^s we can take with us!":) )
But, as Cricket says:

This rule is optional

  wink

Cheers,
Erik

  • From: Denver, CO
  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 3,578

Re: Fleet morale?

Blacklancer99 wrote:

In black and white terms it would, by altering the VP conditions, absolutely "unbalance" a game.

You could, however, apply a point modifier to address this:

Poor: +10% / -20%
Fair: +5% / -10%
Average: None
Very Good: -5% / +10%
Exceptional: -10% / +20%

The first modifier is applied to your point limit, while the second is applied to your opponent's victory threshold.

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2008-12-22
  • Posts: 654

Re: Fleet morale?

cricket wrote:
Blacklancer99 wrote:

In black and white terms it would, by altering the VP conditions, absolutely "unbalance" a game.

You could, however, apply a point modifier to address this:

Poor: +10% / -20%
Fair: +5% / -10%
Average: None
Very Good: -5% / +10%
Exceptional: -10% / +20%

The first modifier is applied to your point limit, while the second is applied to your opponent's victory threshold.

Well see now, if you had said that in the first place!  lol
Erik

  • Registered: 2010-02-16
  • Posts: 42

Re: Fleet morale?

looks great !

I will try that er .... when finding opponents.