Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: AKULA on August 03, 2025, 03:47:49 PM
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Am after suggestions for a simple set of rules for large star wars space battles...lets say that i wanted a dozen or more ships per side plus supporting fighters...
Is Armada the best option, or is there something simpler/quicker that is able to handle even more ships?
Have got the Armada rules, but tbh, the dials/counters/cards make me switch off... :?
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Well I always was a bit partial to Full Thrust ;) back in the day and its free here at:
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/rules.html (https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/rules.html)
It's an oldie but a goodie
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Star wars space combat is entirely 'artistic license'. Use Ironclad naval rules, and add 'fighters'.
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Someone did mention the Rick Priestley Space Battles rules - they look to be a fast play fleet game and cover small ships up to big capital ships, not sure about fighters though.
Full thrust almost certainly has a Star Wars version somewhere, I would have thought; they cover fighters right through to capital ships.
If you wanted to do your own conversions then you could look at Starmada or, even, a BFG conversion might work.
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Or this?
https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/castles-in-the-sky-9781472844934/ (https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/castles-in-the-sky-9781472844934/)
Again just file-off the serial numbers and your good to go
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Void Admiral might work - it's a fast play reworking of the BFG rules; you'd likely need to junk or adapt the ships listed in the game and build your own for Star Wars but it's an easier task than, say, Starmada.
Task Force Zeta is another generic 'build your own' starship fleet game that might work, not sure it it's still in print though.
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Starfighters! from Wiley Games?
https://wiley-games.myshopify.com/collections/galactic-heroes/products/fistful-of-lead-starfighters-printed-rulebook
It was meant for X-wing scale games, but could easily work with larger stuff. You can see in their photos they've run 10-15 ships a side and have some medium sized ships in there.
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For Full Thrust I would recommend the basic rulebook as this was the fastest playing and simplest of the two versions. Confusingly titled Full Thrust second edition :D ( I have never seen the 1st Edition :() and extra goodness from the More Thrust book just below the link. I liked the later versions but had way more fun with the books mentioned above, just my 2P :D
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For Full Thrust I would recommend the basic rulebook as this was the fastest playing and simplest of the two versions. Confusingly titled Full Thrust second edition :D ( I have never seen the 1st Edition :() and extra goodness from the More Thrust book just below the link. I liked the later versions but had way more fun with the books mentioned above, just my 2P :D
1st edition was a typed, b/w rulebook that Jon produced when he was building up the range. 2nd edition is a more complete and streamlined version with some extra rules and corrections. Full Thrust Lite was intended as a light, starter version of 3rd edition but 3rd edition still hasn't been released as yet. It's not a bad system at all but has plenty of options in More Thrust to make it more complex, should you wish.
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1st edition was a typed, b/w rulebook that Jon produced when he was building up the range. 2nd edition is a more complete and streamlined version with some extra rules and corrections. Full Thrust Lite was intended as a light, starter version of 3rd edition but 3rd edition still hasn't been released as yet. It's not a bad system at all but has plenty of options in More Thrust to make it more complex, should you wish.
Thanks Rick, I used to have a copy of the Original Star Grunt which I am assuming was similar, it was A5(ish) and hand typed and illustrated, with a charm of of its own :D, ah them's were the days! :-*
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Starfighters! By Wiley Games. You can do huge fighter games and use the fleet rules to play large fleet battles. All in half the time of Full Thrust (which I love btw).
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Starfighters! By Wiley Games. You can do huge fighter games and use the fleet rules to play large fleet battles. All in half the time of Full Thrust (which I love btw).
Seconded, lots of fun has been had with these rules bin conjunction with our ongoing SW campaign
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I'd never heard of it so had to look it up. So it's Fistful of Lead in Space - that FFOL ruleset sure does get around, doesn't it? Just about every discussion on a possible rules set, whatever the genre, has someone mention these rules or bigger battles; are they really that good, or just ridiculously simple? And I'm not being funny or nasty, I really would like to know - I passed up the opportunity to buy them when I was quoted $35 postage for the rulebook (just the postage, the book was extra) just because I wanted a hardcopy and they didn't do a PoD and I want to make sure I made the right decision.
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Well, I don’t have control over international shipping, which is crazy now. If you can find me a POD company across the Atlantic, I’m all ears. Until then, by a cheap pdf and try before you buy. Most of our rules are cheaper than a cup of fancy coffee.
And a lot of people, certainly not all, really do think they are great.
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I have played FFoL variants in several settings and plan to try the Starfighters version in a couple of weeks. The core rules (originally for old west gunfights) translate surprisingly well to other settings if you are aiming for a Hollywood movie portrayal of a period. The author makes clear that it isn’t meant to be any kind of simulation of real combat. So, that’s a big factor in whether someone will enjoy the rules. I initially scratched my head about why a set of gunfight rules would work across genres. The only thing I came up with is that westerns were one of the earliest “action movie” genres and influenced most subsequent action movie types (Starwars for example is almost a ‘western in space’). So the rules ‘feel’ about right.
Another factor in enjoying FFoL is whether or not a player is okay with the playing card based activation sequence.
For what it’s worth, I have had a lot of fun every time I played, win or lose.
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I have played FFoL variants in several settings and plan to try the Starfighters version in a couple of weeks. The core rules (originally for old west gunfights) translate surprisingly well to other settings if you are aiming for a Hollywood movie portrayal of a period. The author makes clear that it isn’t meant to be any kind of simulation of real combat. So, that’s a big factor in whether someone will enjoy the rules. I initially scratched my head about why a set of gunfight rules would work across genres. The only thing I came up with is that westerns were one of the earliest “action movie” genres and influenced most subsequent action movie types (Starwars for example is almost a ‘western in space’). So the rules ‘feel’ about right.
Another factor in enjoying FFoL is whether or not a player is okay with the playing card based activation sequence.
For what it’s worth, I have had a lot of fun every time I played, win or lose.
That's kind of the information I wanted - how it translates across genre's easily, how it plays and how much fun it is. That's good to know for the future, even if I did go the Modipius route this time.
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Am after suggestions for a simple set of rules for large star wars space battles...lets say that i wanted a dozen or more ships per side plus supporting fighters...
Is Armada the best option, or is there something simpler/quicker that is able to handle even more ships?
Have got the Armada rules, but tbh, the dials/counters/cards make me switch off... :?
If you don't make 3 foot long star destroyers I shall be bitterly disappointed with you ;)
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I have played FFoL variants in several settings and plan to try the Starfighters version in a couple of weeks. The core rules (originally for old west gunfights) translate surprisingly well to other settings if you are aiming for a Hollywood movie portrayal of a period. The author makes clear that it isn’t meant to be any kind of simulation of real combat. So, that’s a big factor in whether someone will enjoy the rules. I initially scratched my head about why a set of gunfight rules would work across genres. The only thing I came up with is that westerns were one of the earliest “action movie” genres and influenced most subsequent action movie types (Starwars for example is almost a ‘western in space’). So the rules ‘feel’ about right.
Another factor in enjoying FFoL is whether or not a player is okay with the playing card based activation sequence.
For what it’s worth, I have had a lot of fun every time I played, win or lose.
It is, as you say, amazingly adaptable to pretty much anything you want to play. Outside of the card mechanic for activation I quite enjoy how adaptable it is. We constantly tweak or alter the rules to meet the needs of the period or game we are playing.
I've not played the Starfighter version, but I did briefly adapt it for Battletech before discovering Alpha Strike (I did not care for the gundam-esque mech version, it was far too anime for my tastes).
Outside of using the fleet rules, being flexible on things can certainly make it work. I use a single base with dice for wounds when playing 6mm Star Wars. Then I break the vehicle rules where appropriate if I need to make the GMP or LAAT feel more like it should.
It isn't meant for tournament play per say. It is meant for a fun night with your friends or family, and as long as they are keen on the rules tweaks (such as we use 2 wounds instead of out of action, or that an unmodified natural 12/10/8, depending on the die, is always a success).
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If you don't make 3 foot long star destroyers I shall be bitterly disappointed with you ;)
Only three foot long?
Will it have interiors?
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Starfighters! By Wiley Games. You can do huge fighter games and use the fleet rules to play large fleet battles. All in half the time of Full Thrust (which I love btw).
I forgot about this game. I bought it a while back. I've been looking for a spaceship game to run with 5 Parsecs from Home. This just might be it!
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I forgot about this game. I bought it a while back. I've been looking for a spaceship game to run with 5 Parsecs from Home. This just might be it!
I was thinking the same thing about the upcoming Osprey Voidfighters rules.
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Or this?
https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/castles-in-the-sky-9781472844934/ (https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/castles-in-the-sky-9781472844934/)
Again just file-off the serial numbers and your good to go
For obvious reasons, I am a big fan of this option! :D :D :D :D
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Only three foot long?
Will it have interiors?
I was going easy on him ;)
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For obvious reasons, I am a big fan of this option! :D :D :D :D
Is that your set of rules, by chance? lol
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Is that your set of rules, by chance? lol
Probably just a co-incidence.
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If you don't make 3 foot long star destroyers I shall be bitterly disappointed with you ;)
lol
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If you don't make 3 foot long star destroyers I shall be bitterly disappointed with you ;)
Only three foot long?
Will it have interiors?
Sheesh... a guy gets a reputation ... lol
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I'm surprised Oshiro hasn't posted about a 4 foot long Star Destroyer yet...
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I, obviously, cannot compete with you modelling behemoth's in this department. My Star Destroyer is only 16" long and I converted it into a smaller scout style ship for 5 parsecs or stargrave - it does have an interior of the airlock that I built, however! lol
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I, obviously, cannot compete with you modelling behemoth's in this department. My Star Destroyer is only 16" long and I converted it into a smaller scout style ship for 5 parsecs or stargrave - it does have an interior of the airlock that I built, however! lol
colour me intrigued... pics?
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G.O.B.S. (Generic Outlandishly Big Spacefleets) is a simple ruleset for really big fleets. It’s free and has been around for well a decade or two. It might be worth a look.
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colour me intrigued... pics?
Please bear in mind this isn't complete - I've got a lot of filling and detailing to do before I can even think of painting it - but it's coming along quite nicely.
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It was an old broken r/c one that I picked up very cheap and started working on.
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And apologies for putting them up one at a time, I seem to be having issues with my phone and file size! lol
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that is awesome... is it in SW? it works as something within the Imperial design aesthetic.
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First, excellent work on the scout ship.
that is awesome... is it in SW? it works as something within the Imperial design aesthetic.
I assume it is inspired by a Traveller Imperial Intersteller Scout Service ship.
https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Type_S_class_Scout/Courier (https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Type_S_class_Scout/Courier)
I do not recognise the deck plan on the above page.
https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Imperial_Interstellar_Scout_Service (https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Imperial_Interstellar_Scout_Service)
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that is awesome... is it in SW? it works as something within the Imperial design aesthetic.
Once I started working on it I realised it would be a bit like the Traveller S class scout but not anything I recognised from SW. You'll probably recognise bits from various GW kits here and there, as well as FoW and all sorts. I may well post more pics in the 'work in progress' section, along with the others.
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Fleet games I can think of.....
-One Page Rules: War Fleets
-Void Admiral
-Full Thrust
-Armada (But I see that as more SW fleet scale skirmish)
-Battlefleet Gothic (Not a great fit IMHO)
-A Billion Suns (Not a great fit IMHO)
-Firestorm Armada
- Jovian Wars (Not a great fit IMHO)
- There is a space-based Battletech game that is escaping me
- A Sky Full of Ships (?)
- Starfleet Battles (No, just NO!)
Space wargaming is really ripe for something to really hit home. However, it does pose its own unique challenges.
I would also consider looking at some Historical Naval Games with some bodged together rules. Anything WWII Naval based can probably be ported over.
- Pacific Command
- Victory at Sea
There are probably a ton of others in this space, but my memory is only so strong......
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First, excellent work on the scout ship.I assume it is inspired by a Traveller Imperial Scout ship.
Not at first but it has grown that way! lol
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Fleet games I can think of.....
-One Page Rules: War Fleets
-Void Admiral
-Full Thrust
-Armada (But I see that as more SW fleet scale skirmish)
-Battlefleet Gothic (Not a great fit IMHO)
-A Billion Suns (Not a great fit IMHO)
-Firestorm Armada
- Jovian Wars (Not a great fit IMHO)
- There is a space-based Battletech game that is escaping me
- A Sky Full of Ships (?)
- Starfleet Battles (No, just NO!)
Space wargaming is really ripe for something to really hit home. However, it does pose its own unique challenges.
I would also consider looking at some Historical Naval Games with some bodged together rules. Anything WWII Naval based can probably be ported over.
- Pacific Command
- Victory at Sea
There are probably a ton of others in this space, but my memory is only so strong......
Battlespace - took over from Aerotech and has now been largely replaced by rules in the Total Warfare and Strategic Operations books.
And what, may I ask, about the various 'A Call to Arms' rules? The core rules in there are very simple and would just need a specific fleet/weapon list to be viable?
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...
- There is a space-based Battletech game that is escaping me
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Aerotech?
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Aerotech?
Replaced by 2 different sets - see above comment.
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Oh yeah, A Call to Arms! Good thought.
I am sure there are a few more I can not think of.
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Oh yeah, A Call to Arms! Good thought.
I am sure there are a few more I can not think of.
Between us all I think we've hit the main sets. Consensus of opinion seems to be that there are several simple rulesets around but they'll all need a bit of work to get the right feel for the SW ships from SW Armada. Is that about right?
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Once I started working on it I realised it would be a bit like the Traveller S class scout but not anything I recognised from SW. You'll probably recognise bits from various GW kits here and there, as well as FoW and all sorts. I may well post more pics in the 'work in progress' section, along with the others.
I meant is the game set in the SW universe. Either way, deserving of it's own thread.
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions - i've got Armada, Full Thrust and Starfighter, and i think that Starfighter is probably going to be the one i opt for for mass ship battles...with the added plus that i can use the same mechanics for my x-wing ships as well :D
@Rick - love those photos of your ship - i agree with some of the other comments, you really should setup a thread so we can see it in all its glory