Hello back!

If it was me (and it's not so bear with me of course), I would set up a little 'Campaign System'.  After each battle, each player rolls on a chart (see VBAM starmada edition for details) on what technology their 'nation' has available and design ships with only those features.  It might be more entertaining than what you have done in the past.

I wonder if Starmada could be played on Cyberboard or some other computer program to simulate battles.  I'm not a computer programer, but the ability to keep track of location and die rolls shouldn't be too hard (but what do I know).  I'd love to combine VBAM and starmada with the ability to play battles over the internet so a bunch of us could game!

-Bren

I don't know enough about computers to make it work, but I would be game to try....

John

http://redjak.com/Starmada/Starmada.html

don't have time to do the updates tho

Here is a copy of the customizable drone rules that we are using for our Starmada/VBAM campaign here in Orlando.

Customized Drones ◄X.1

The basic drones in Starmada are especially straightforward; however, there are players who may wish to have drones with specific characteristics. Using the rules in this section, an adaptation of the customized fighter flight rules, they can do just that.

Each option that follows has an associated multiplier; to determine the change in Combat Rating for the drone's launching ship, apply all modifiers to 30. Then, subtract 30 from the result - the difference is the amount that must be added to (or subtracted from) the ship's CR. Remember that drones must be purchased in groups of five and that the SU Cost, and both Offensive and Defensive Ratings already assume this. For players or settings that use single drones, the modifiers should be applied to 6 instead (1/5 of 30).

For example, a starship has five groups of 5 drones, and each is to be labeled as “fast” and “armored”. This requires multipliers of 1.2 and 1.4; applying these to 30 yields a product of 30 x 1.2 x 1.4 = 50.4. Thus, each of these groups of drones adds an additional 20.4 (50.4 – 30) to the ship's Combat Rating; since there are five groups, this results in a final CR addition of 102 (20.4 x 5).

Unlike standard drones; all of which that are launched in a single turn by a single unit must be placed in one group; customized drones must be formed into groups of identical drone types. If a starship carries two types of drones, it will group the drones that it fires into two groups, one group of each type. No starship may launch more than 10 drones of any type, combined, per turn.

Armored ◄X.1.1

An Armored drone group only loses a drone for every second hit it takes.

Multiplier: x1.4

Assault ◄X.1.2

A drone group with Assault capabilities rolls 2 dice per remaining drone when attacking.

Multiplier: x1.4

Extended Range ◄X.1.3

Drones with Extended Range can make attacks against targets within 2 hexes, rather than being limited to the standard 1-hex range.

Against targets 2 hexes away, the group suffers a -1 to-hit penalty.

Multiplier: x1.2

Fast ◄X.1.4

A Fast drone group moves 12 hexes per turn, instead of just 10.

Multiplier: x1.2

Slow ◄X.1.5

A Slow drone group moves only 8 hexes per turn, rather than the normal 10.

Multiplier: x0.8

In the rules, it states that drone fly like fighters so you can fly them however you want in order to avoid sunbursts and other explosion hexes.

Why should drones 'miss' explosion hexes and such (instead of just flying straight)?  Obviously, all of my drones are equipped with both heat sensors & debris collectors to allow my drones to 'know' where sunbursts and explosion counters are and can change their flight plans accordingly!

-Bren

For several minutes it felt like I was playing SFB. We were leafing through the rulebook, each trying to find a rule to decide the issue in our own favor. I am so glad that starmada isn't a game for rules lawyers.

So if I have a ship with 50 drones onboard and I can only fire 10 per turn, I can have them loiter near me, while I avoid my opponent, then after five turns, when I have all 50 in space, send them in at my enemy?

Okay, knowing the guy I play with, I am sticking Sunbursts on EVERY design to counter this one. I can see it now...5 ships each with 50 drones floating around them and then he sends all 250 after a couple of my ships, timed to arrive in one large wave. yuck.

My gaming group and I have discussed this and this is the general opionion that we have come to regarding drones and your questions.

  A: The rules state that drones act just like fighters in all ways EXCEPT that they do not get to kill an ATTACKING fighter when IT (the fighter) rolls a "1" on ITs (the fighters) attack. Therefore......

  1. Drone vs. Drone: Yes, but they hit on a 4+. No surprise there, one homing object homing in on another homing object that is quite possibly trying to home in on it as well....oh my head.

2. Drone vs. Battlesats: Yes, again the drone hits on a 4+. One hit kills one battlesat.

3. Drones vs. fighters: Yes, go with the description in the book. The reference sheet that you are using may not be updated or even Canon.

Roy