[CT] Starter Traveller Range Bands = Hexes

[collins355]

True, I was focused on the vector move mechanics. You can spin your ship to face in any direction, but it costs a thrust point to do so, and ships are rated for the number of direction changes they can make in a single turn (I think you misinterpreted the PP turn mechanic, Sigtrygg).

 

[Sigtrygg]

You are quite correct I misremembered, the turn rating is the number of 30 degree facing changes you can make in a turn. Each one costs a thrust point (unless using the optional rule to ignore this cost).

 

[rinku]

Changing ship orientation should not require any thrust. Attitude jets do that, and in terms of space combat rounds do it immediately, even for large ships. Ships can point in any direction they want, at any time, unless applying main thrust (if a ship is using all of its thrust constantly, it has to point in the direction it's thrusting towards.

It can spin as much as it wants to though, and if it's NOT thrusting at full rate it has scope to point in any direction, do something (like fire a spinal mount), then go back to how it was.

It's changing the ships VECTOR that requires applied thrust.

 

[Longboat]

I think I'm going to like Brilliant Lances. I need to pull it out and give it a whirl.

I've got Battle Rider, too. Hardly even pulled the top off of that box set.

 

[rinku]

Good products. Useful ship counters and space hex maps even if you don't use the game itself.

 

[collins355]

You are quite correct I misremembered, the turn rating is the number of 30 degree facing changes you can make in a turn. Each one costs a thrust point (unless using the optional rule to ignore this cost).

Nope - the PP turn rating is how many turns (of up to 180 degrees each) you are allowed to make in a gameturn. There is no limit in PP to only 30 degrees per turn.

Battle Rider is my all-time favourite Traveller space combat system. Brilliant Lances is too crazy detailed for me. Battle Rider hits the sweet-spot, with vector movement, plus the lovely mechanic that you can choose to use some or all of your thrust in a turn to evade, making sensor locks and weapons targeting harder against you. The stroke of genius by Chadwick to only focus on critical hits and throw out all the mind-numbing surface damage hits that plague High Guard is awesome for a squadron-scale combat system that allows you to fight decent battles with most Traveller naval vessels up to and including battlewagons, but also Gazelles if you so desire.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Nope - the PP turn rating is how many turns (of up to 180 degrees each) you are allowed to make in a gameturn. There is no limit in PP to only 30 degrees per turn.

I think I have been doing it wrong all this time.

Re-reading the rules they state:
"Rotating a ship to face in any direction costs one Thrust Point. The ship may turn to port (left or anti-clockwise) or starboard (right or clockwise). For simplicity, the amount it turns is measured by the number of points it moves around a clock face (i.e. each point turned corresponds to a 30 degree change in the ship’s facing). For example, if the ship is facing 2 o’clock and turns to face 4 o'clock, this is a starboard turn of 2 points (i.e. 60 degrees). The direction the ship ends up facing may actually be anywhere"

 

[Geir]

The stroke of genius by Chadwick to only focus on critical hits and throw out all the mind-numbing surface damage hits

Hmmm.. then you may like the direction we're going for the new Vehicle Handbook...

I've got both those old boxes in the basement somewhere, but haven't opened them since the last millennium.

 

[collins355]

Hmmm.. then you may like the direction we're going for the new Vehicle Handbook...

I've got both those old boxes in the basement somewhere, but haven't opened them since the last millennium.

Sounds promising - the old vehicle combat rules for MGT are far too attritional.