Here's a new scenario I've been trying out. Based loosely on "Gravity Well" in P&P, "Bandits in the Sun" removes the asteroids and the instant win for the first fast ship lucky enough to find an admiral, as well as toning down the damage. It also plays about with stealth, and allows players to make use of gravity effects from a planet and moon.
The setting is a modest size planet orbitting close to an intense star and in turn orbitted closely by a small moon. Perhaps the planet has an ancient artifact, a scientific outpost doing militarily significant research, or an exotic material created by the extreme conditions. Or, if you don't like any of those explanations and can't make up anything better, the reason you're there is so secret that your government hasn't told the fleet commander.
Fleets: Both fleets have three Fleet Allocation Points.
Pre-battle preparation: One short side of the table is occupied by the star. In the middle of the table is a small-medium size planet (4"-5" template should do). Nearby is a small moon (2" template). There is no other stellar debris. Deployment zones are up to 24" along and 6" in from the corners furthest away from the star. Roll for initiative; as usual, the losing player sets up first.
Scenario rules: Intense radiation from the star can play havoc with sensors which have to point towards it. When declaring an attack, if a line drawn from the firing ship through the target ship extends through the star edge, the target ship gains Stealth 4+ or +1 to its own Stealth, to a maximum of 6, whichever is higher. Usual modifiers apply.
The star’s immense gravity field will cause every ship to be moved D6” (roll separately for each) directly towards the star’s table edge during the End Phase after any other compulsory movement. Fighters are not affected. Also unaffected is any ship which spent the entire turn orbitting the planet - not the moon.
Any ship that is within 18” of the star’s table edge after all compuslory movement will automatically suffer D3 hits from radiation, which are not affected by dodge or interceptors. Fighters take D3 - 1 hits - in effect, they have a 2/3 chance of being destroyed.
Any ship which exits across the star edge for any reason is destroyed.
Game length: twelve turns
Victory and Defeat: Usual victory points apply.
The setting is a modest size planet orbitting close to an intense star and in turn orbitted closely by a small moon. Perhaps the planet has an ancient artifact, a scientific outpost doing militarily significant research, or an exotic material created by the extreme conditions. Or, if you don't like any of those explanations and can't make up anything better, the reason you're there is so secret that your government hasn't told the fleet commander.
Fleets: Both fleets have three Fleet Allocation Points.
Pre-battle preparation: One short side of the table is occupied by the star. In the middle of the table is a small-medium size planet (4"-5" template should do). Nearby is a small moon (2" template). There is no other stellar debris. Deployment zones are up to 24" along and 6" in from the corners furthest away from the star. Roll for initiative; as usual, the losing player sets up first.
Scenario rules: Intense radiation from the star can play havoc with sensors which have to point towards it. When declaring an attack, if a line drawn from the firing ship through the target ship extends through the star edge, the target ship gains Stealth 4+ or +1 to its own Stealth, to a maximum of 6, whichever is higher. Usual modifiers apply.
The star’s immense gravity field will cause every ship to be moved D6” (roll separately for each) directly towards the star’s table edge during the End Phase after any other compulsory movement. Fighters are not affected. Also unaffected is any ship which spent the entire turn orbitting the planet - not the moon.
Any ship that is within 18” of the star’s table edge after all compuslory movement will automatically suffer D3 hits from radiation, which are not affected by dodge or interceptors. Fighters take D3 - 1 hits - in effect, they have a 2/3 chance of being destroyed.
Any ship which exits across the star edge for any reason is destroyed.
Game length: twelve turns
Victory and Defeat: Usual victory points apply.
