• Memo
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  • Registered: 2006-02-12
  • Posts: 5

Topic: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Hi all

I was just looking for game with a solitaire play option, and I found the description from Starmada Compendium, which mentions that this game can be played in this way.

I dont have this book yet, so I want to know if anyone has played this version (solitaire). Is it possible? is it fun? Are the rules in this book complete enough?

I am also aware that this is not the latest version. Starmada X: Brigade is. Does this new version include the Solitaire play option? (just to buy that book). Or is it even better to buy the Starmada Compendium and download the update from the website?

Thanks a lot for your help and comments.

Mem0

  • Registered: 2006-01-18
  • Posts: 90

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

I've played a few games solitaire and it works pretty well. The only real hang-up is that you have to plot orders and then execute them simultaneously. When played against an opponent, that is a good way to gain surprise by doing the unexpected, but obviously that is lost when played solitaire. Still, if you write the orders intelligently from each side, you do occasionally get some unexpected results when the orders are actually executed.

So, for me, I prefer it against an opponent, but it moves fast enough and cleanly enough to play solitaire as well.

  • Memo
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  • Registered: 2006-02-12
  • Posts: 5

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Thanks Uncle_Joe...

To sum it up, the game is pretty much the same (I am looking at the demo rules) , and the only difference is that you actually play as each side in the battle?

The other thing I want to clarify is what set of rules did you use for solitaire play, the Starmada Compendium? or Starmada X Brigade?

  • Registered: 2006-02-10
  • Posts: 13

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

I don't see any solitaire play rules in my (newly printed) copy of Starmada X: Brigade.  sad

Perhaps they were dropped from the rules?

For solo play, perhaps scenarios which involved fixed / responsive enemies (seeking weapons) or randomized movement results of some sort would overcome the "plot both sides" hurdle.

  • Registered: 2006-01-18
  • Posts: 90

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

I only have the Starmada X edition. There are no actual rules for Solitaire play in that edition, but they arent necessary IMO. Just play like normal, but make sure to do the plotting as if you were actually playing each side.

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 330

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Memo wrote:

Hi all

I was just looking for game with a solitaire play option, and I found the description from Starmada Compendium, which mentions that this game can be played in this way.

Hello back

If I remember correctly, the details in the Compendium had a lot of rules about how to move the ships and the like, but it was a bit too much work in terms of die rolling for my tastes.  What I normally did was assign a playing card to each ship and as the card was drawn, moved that ship.  It got rid of having to do movement orders which I felt was a bit silly when you are doing the orders for both teams and helped with the random element (since you never knew which ship would have to go first).

-Bren

  • Memo
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  • Registered: 2006-02-12
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Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

thanks all for your comments...

In fact, any game can be played solo, since you can always "simulate" 1 or more players at the same time. But this is usually for "analysis", and not pure fun.... And I am looking for actual, stated, solo play.


As Molotov states, I also think that some kind of "automatic behavior" should be included when a game is played solo. Scenarios are very important, but also some type of surprise.... the "enemy" becomes the board, the game itself, and not another player.

It should be intereseting to play as Uncle_Joe proposes, though...


And since jygro is telling us that the Compendium actually includes those tips to play a solitaire game, I will prefer THEN to buy the Compendium and download the upgrade from the website. That way, I will get the best from the old and the new version (I hope)


I would like to have a confirmation from someone that actually has the Compendium, so we have precise information. And if someone does not have access to the Compendium, it would be wise to compile some kind of "house solitaire play rules", and post them here. Or, even better, and if MJ12 allows it, post the original tips from the Compendium.

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

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Here are the rules for Solo Play from the Compendium. They should be useable in X with a minimum of changes, if any.

http://mj12games.com/forum/files/solorules_176.pdf

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2010-06-14
  • Posts: 12

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Dear Fleet Admiral Cricket,

Are the solo rules still available for download from the Forum ?

Many thanks !

Gary

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

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

I'm also interested in that

  • Registered: 2011-03-11
  • Posts: 15

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

hi cricket!

the above link to the solo rules doesn't work... :-(  could you please update it?
thx

  • Registered: 2005-11-02
  • Posts: 130

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

I like the idea of a playing card for each ship.

I would also add to that idea; a playing card for movement and a card for firing for each ship.

I think it would add a bit of chaos to the game and make it unpredictable.

You could also make a rule, if you don't like what you drew you can shuffle it back into the deck once for each side per turn.

  • Registered: 2011-03-19
  • Posts: 3

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

I am interested in solo rules too, so i can still play without the kids, if they are not in the mood.  The above link sends you to a 403 error page.

  • Registered: 2011-03-11
  • Posts: 15

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

a week passed by and unfortunately no official statement to the desired solitaire rules - time to bring this thread to the top  wink

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

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

vanadium wrote:

a week passed by and unfortunately no official statement to the desired solitaire rules - time to bring this thread to the top

What? You didn't want to buy the Compendium just for the solo rules? wink

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2011-03-19
  • Posts: 3

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Thank You Cricket, for the solo rules, they look very interesting.

  • Registered: 2010-03-09
  • Posts: 630

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

cricket wrote:

What? You didn't want to buy the Compendium just for the solo rules? wink

What's inside the compendium?

Marc

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

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

madpax wrote:

What's inside the compendium?

It compiles everything for the pre-Starmada X version of the game.

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2010-06-14
  • Posts: 12

Re: Solitaire play in Starmada Compendium

Dear Cricket / Daniel,

Many thanks for posting the solitaire rules !  I hope though these rules can be further developed with contributions from others, on my part I will work to develop new options.  I just ordered a set of naval solitaire rules, Salvo ! from Minden Games, with the intention of adapting them for Starmada.

Cheers,

Gary