• Registered: 2006-11-30
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Rules clarification on drones, please

A friend and I have just switched from Starfleet Battles to Starmada (and we're pleasantly amazed at being able to finish a turn in less than an hour!), and we're a little unclear on the drones rules.

According to the Starmada X rulebook, drones act as fighters, with a few exceptions. Questions:

1. Does each drone box on the ship sheet represent 1 drone or 5 (since they're purchased in lots of 5)?

2. Once a drone is fired, it's gone, right? If that's the case, should you cross the drone box off or leave it blank, and thus able to soak Q hits?

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Rules clarification on drones, please

Each box on the SSD represents one drone, though they are purchased in lots of 5.

Once a drone is launched and expended, the box for it is marked off of the SSD sheet.

  • Registered: 2006-03-23
  • Posts: 241

Re: Rules clarification on drones, please

I have a quick question on drones also. I am at work and unable to reference my rulebook but, do drones continue to fly around the board until they hit their target or are they limited by some kind of endurance?

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

Re: Rules clarification on drones, please

japridemor wrote:

I have a quick question on drones also. I am at work and unable to reference my rulebook but, do drones continue to fly around the board until they hit their target or are they limited by some kind of endurance?

They do not have a limited endurance... however, they do not remain until they hit, only until they attack. If they miss, they are still removed from the board.

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2006-03-23
  • Posts: 241

Re: Rules clarification on drones, please

Thanks for the speedy clarification Dan. Any thoughs on including customized drones, similar to the customized fighters, into the next iteration of Starmada? I could see all of the special equipment that is treated like fighters benifiting from those types of rules. It would be cool to board an opponent with my fast marine boarding parties that were armored against enemy interception. big_smile

  • Registered: 2006-03-23
  • Posts: 241

Re: Rules clarification on drones, please

Sorry, yet another drone question. If I recall, the rules say that drones operate as fighters with certain exceptions. Do they halve shields as fighters? Do they fire before ships do, like fighters?

Would it be possible to have drones that hit better (or worse) or have increased PEN and DMG?

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

Re: Rules clarification on drones, please

japridemor wrote:

Sorry, yet another drone question. If I recall, the rules say that drones operate as fighters with certain exceptions. Do they halve shields as fighters? Do they fire before ships do, like fighters?

Yes and yes.

Would it be possible to have drones that hit better (or worse) or have increased PEN and DMG?

Possible, yes. I don't see why any of the mods that can be applied to fighters couldn't be used for drones as well.

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website