Rail Gun: Spaceship Wargaming Rules, playtest version available

[Grignotage]

Hey all, I have put up my in-development space-ship rules on the Wargame Vault, http://www.wargamevault.com/product/147874/Rail-Gun-Wargaming-Rules-for-Starship-Combat-Playtest

I’ve seen a few other designers put a playtest version up for cheap (this one is $1.99), so thought I’d give it a try, too. If you get it now, you get all the updates and will have the complete game when it’s done. You can also give playtest suggestions, comments, ideas for scenarios and ships, or harangue me generally, as you see fit.

The game is intended as medium complexity–in between hard-core, 3-d tactical simulations and beer-and-pretzel fleet action games. Here are some details:

1) A typical game involves 2-8 ships per side, and takes 45 minutes to 2 hours to play.

2) The game uses D10s and measurements in inches, and is scale neutral–you can use any sized ships. It requires a 3’x3′ or bigger space.

3) Light bookeeping is required. Each ship’s data fits on a 3×5 index card.

4) Movement is done by “vector.” There’s nothing to slow you down in space and there is no in-game speed limit. Speed carries over from turn to turn.

5) Knowing that the enemy is out there is one thing; hitting them with fire is another. Detecting targets—and trying to make yourself less detectable—are built into the firing rules.

6) Once a ship starts getting damaged, it will likely lose key systems in a hurry.

7) Weapons are simplified to a Firepower value, a range, and a “class” designation.

The game is played 2-d.

9) Ammo is tracked, but abstractly.

[Grignotage]

I have put some details about the game's mechanics on my blog, including a sample of a ship's data sheet.

http://thedogsbrush.blogspot.com/2015/04/rail-gun-wargaming-rules-for-starship.html

[The_Beast]

Will break down and have a look shortly. Having to take a whip to Paypal...

Do you have a WargameVault link in the blog? Might be worth the addition, or if there, spotlight a bit as I missed.

I know, not the game feedback you seek, but I'm hoping that'll come soon.

Doug

[Grignotage]

Thanks, Doug/The_Beast!  The link to the Vault page is on my blog, on the first line, though tucked in at the end so not terribly visible. I will em-biggen it.

[Juan]

I have bough the rules. Now, to read them (because I have seen a  certain "Galactica" game prepared for SALUTE...).

[Grignotage]

Thanks, Juan! Please send an email if you have questions, comments, or criticisms.

GENERAL UPDATE:
I have added rules for "attack craft" (bombers, fighters, etc.) and carriers.

I have also added more pre-designed ship types.  There are currently 17; I expect about 10 more for the final game.

Still in development are rules for planetary objects, stationary facilities (space stations, satellites, etc), and designing your own ships. The game will also include 2-d printable ships, to make a fleet fast and cheap!

A sample: