Multi-player Space Battle ?

Hmm...Matt, I think you played BATTLE BEYOND SPACE.

Have a look at these rules:

www.theuniverse.org.uk/rules/spacebattles.htm

By my proffessed favourite game designer, Jim Wallman

there's different ones for different kinds of space battles, but the advantage is that they are all in the same universe so you can switch between the level of detail, but still be consistent.

Some of those rules (like Cruel Void) were used in megagames, so in games where dozens of players operated on each side. So they are simple (short rule book and universal components), fast and interactive. This requires some effort from the players and in most cases it helps to have an umpire to watch time and resolve issues.

highly recommended

Ken B. wrote:

Spanish Inquisition wrote:

I can't believe no one has mentioned TI3. It's one of the highest rated games in the "Recommendations" section of this site. Huge space battles and epic in scale. Of course it takes a good while to play, but it's worth the effort.

I was assuming he was looking for something more on a tactical rather than strategic level.

Definitely think we need something more tactical --- just a space battle. What brought it up was talking about some of the battle scenes in the early Trek movies. The group is clamoring loudly about this, but if Branham's game is in the works then I might try and hold out for it.

The vector space one sounds cool, but it sounds like a hard mofo to get your head wrapped around. I love the suggestions, thanks.

I strongly recommend against ATTACK VECTOR TACTICAL, and not just because I recieved a chiding 5 page response from the designer telling me how wrong I was for not liking the game.

It's an amazing concept on paper. Realistic space combat. Oh, I'm on board for that. However, if you think Eurogames are for accountants, then you're going to be absolutely SHOCKED at how spreadsheety the game is. Billy Motion and I were talking about the game a couple of weeks ago and we couldn't believe that we actually played it. It was like all this work to get moving and then turn, drifting away and then shooting a laser. And we didn't even get into ballistic weapons, which have to be tracked individually in this crazy form.

It's just WAY too much work to be fun. I've honestly never played anything so complex in my life. I think SFB, stripped of all the baggage and add-ons, is SUBSTANTIALLY easier to grasp.

Plus, there's absolutely no sex appeal to it at all. It's all these extremely boring ships that look like the Eiffel tower glued to a golfball. There's no "Hollywood" to it in any way so the result is something incredibly anti-exciting.

I'm just thinking about my little ship floating along, pivoting slowly, and piling these little blocks under it to show its elevation...it was like being a kid and watching your balloon sail off and not being able to do anything about it.

Michael -- your point is well taken. The description locks in the fact that I won't be interested and definitely my group would be disinterested.

Sag mentioned Stellar Conquest -- has anyone played this (if not, this is my over the internet peer pressure for you to play and report back). I generally take awhile to make purchasing decisions...so I will keep looking into different options and soliciting feedback.

I have Star Warriors and like that; however, it is only designed for two players. TI3, well I like it, really isn't the right game --- too much non-combat. Looking more for a let's just shoot the shit out of each other in space.

Space Ghost wrote:

Sag mentioned Stellar Conquest -- has anyone played this (if not, this is my over the internet peer pressure for you to play and report back).

I played it about 20 years back. Great game with a lot of exploration and some combat. Getting anywhere was really slow though and there was quite a bit of record keeping. What else do you want to know?

Michael Barnes wrote:
" It's an amazing concept on paper. Realistic space combat. Oh, I'm on board for that. However, if you think Eurogames are for accountants, then you're going to be absolutely SHOCKED at how spreadsheety the game is. ... I've honestly never played anything so complex in my life."
All true. I bought it because of the realism.
" There's no "Hollywood" to it in any way so the result is something incredibly anti-exciting."
That doesn't follow. And frankly I find Hollywood space battles daft.

Space Ghost wrote:
"Sag mentioned Stellar Conquest -- has anyone played this (if not, this is my over the internet peer pressure for you to play and report back)."
Yes and I enjoyed it immensely. As quozi said, it's a slow build up, and has written orders and technology improvements. However, the emphasis is more on the exploration than on the combat.

Pretty. Stellar Conquest sounds like a game I want to look at. I'm actually looking for for an exploration game at the moment. I'm staring at Heritage's Strange New Worlds. But it needs a little something.

But one question. What was the AH game with the GIANT SPACE AMOEBA?

I have another called S.P.I.V.S. which does have a giant space amoeba and an instant death rule. Plus kidnapping aliens off planets and selling them to zoos.

AMOEBA WARS, isn't it? Sort of one of those second-tier AH games...always wanted to try it.

I will echo the suggestion for FULL THRUST, as long as you have players that you can trust to move according to their orders. Light bookkeeping and abstracted weapons systems help keep the game from bogging down too bad. I think we omitted the fighter groups to eliminate one turn phase, only effective against other fighters anyways....

Michael Barnes wrote:

AMOEBA WARS, isn't it? Sort of one of those second-tier AH games...always wanted to try it.

Well if you're ever in KC I've got a copy wanting to be played.

LvT

Our small club meets at an office of Mongoose Publishing and one of their minis games falls into this category - 'Babylon 5 A Call to Arms'. Never seen it played but from the sound of it it has space combat in spades.

BTW, I have a copy of Silent Death I got in a math trade that will never probably see table time but it might be a bit costly shipping across the pond - although we still have surface mail at half teh price if you don't mind waiting 6 weeks.