THE SUPER STAR DESTROYER STUMBLES
A long long time ago... (actually April 21, 2007)
We played this space battle game at HOBBYTOWN USA in Flowood Mississippi who are always generous and let us use warp speed throughout the back part of their store. Fred Diamond was the game-master and used his own rules devolved from devious sources. The playing pieces were the prepainted "Star Wars" miniatures that he had been collecting for some time.
Photo taken by Jim Pitts
The object of all the fighting. The super star destroyer hangs motionless in space. Note the asteroids in the background. This field moved during the game, away from the large ship and towards the fight among the smaller vessels.
SITUATION BRIEFING
Rumors of a crippled super star destroyer spread at light-speed thruout the sector. As rebel forces move to the reported location, Imperial reinforcements converge also. Is it a trap? What about those fragmentary transmissions indicating fighting INSIDE the super star destroyer? Can this mighty ship be attempting to change sides - to join the rebellion? Will we get shore leave? We've been on this crummy ship for months...
Photo taken by Jim Pitts
A force of Imperial transports containing repair techs, and vac-suited storm troopers heads for the super star destroyer. These were to seize the ship if neccesary and rebuild whatever was damaged. Commanded by Tim Latham, they were set upon by rebel fighters and light cruisers and were punished severely. They never made it to the huge ship.
Photo taken by Jim Pitts
Rebel fighters attack the imperial transports.
Photo taken by Jim Pitts
Imperial star destroyers move to succor the stricken super star destroyer. They were involved in a fight with the rebel cruisers and never reached their objective. All of the Imperial heavy ships suffered greatly and were reduced in numbers to almost nothing.
THE IMPERIAL COMMANDERS
FIRST IMPERIAL FLEET - Tim Latham
SECOND IMPERIAL FLEET - Jim Pitts
THIRD IMPERIAL FLEET - Bryan Thompson
FOURTH IMPERIAL FLEET - Phil Young
FIFTH IMPERIAL FLEET - Tim Latham
SIXTH IMPERIAL FLEET - Fred Diamond
As Fred was also the Game-master, and designed the scenario, wrote the rules, and collected the miniature ships, some might think that this was a display of partiality on his side. If you harbor these thoughts, the mental hygene police will come for you! We know who you are!
Photo taken by Jim Pitts
Imperial star destroyers and Tie fighters. Note the difference in scale between the one-man fighters, and the much larger star destroyers which would have crews of hundreds at least.
THE LEADERS OF THE ALLIANCE
FIRST ALLIANCE FLEET - Sean Pitts
SECOND ALLIANCE FLEET - Jay Stribling
THIRD ALLIANCE FLEET - Robert Whitfield
FOURTH ALLIANCE FLEET - Bill Hamilton
FIFTH ALLIANCE FLEET - John Murdaugh
SIXTH ALLIANCE FLEET - Ed Sansing
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
One of the leaders of the rebellion, Robert Whitfield, shown on the bridge of his flagship.
ARE ALL THESE SHIPS MADE TO THE SAME SCALE?
No, they are not. The smallest craft, the one-man or two-man fighters are to the same scale among themselves. Then the cruisers and Frigates are to the same scale. The larger Rebel ships and the Imperial star destroyes are correct among themselves also. The really massive items, such as the super star destroyer are to another scale, so that they are small enough to get on the gaming table.
The Jackson gamers play on a table located in the flying model aircraft department of HOBBYTOWN USA. Supsended over our game table is a large model aircraft, complete and for sale. It is about 4 or 5 feet long with a 6 foot wingspan. We suspect that if the super star destroyer was to scale with the smaller craft, it would be the same size as that model airplane!
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Several of the players share a joke. Possibly the old one about how vacuum "sucks." Left to right, Jay Stribling, Tim Latham, Jim Pitts.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Fighters move through the asteroid field. These rocks could move and if fired on or if they collided with a ship, they would change velocity and directon - calculated by the game-masteer.
They were made by Jim Pitts, and consist of small pumice rocks mounted on bases. Real rocks, playing the part of rocks!
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Fred Diamond, the game-master and commander of the crippled star destroyer. He watches with interest the fumblings of the other players, most of which have never seen the rules before this game.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Some of the Imperial commanders. Grim hard men! From left (seated) Phil Young, Tim Latham (standing) Jim Pitts, Bryan Thompson.
|
VICTORY CONDITIONS THE EMPIRE - Recover the super star destroyer, shoot any disaffected elements of the crew - NO, wait - shoot everyone on board. Tow the ship with tractor beams to the nearest imperial base. Fumigate it. If the ship cannot be recovered, destroy it. It must not fall into rebel hands. THE REBEL ALLIANCE - Aid the rebellious elements on board to move away from the dark side. Such a large ship will be a tremendous reinforcement to the rebel fleets. But if it will not turn, destroy it. |
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
This image shows how crowded the some parts of the gaming table was with ships. The game-master is adjusting the position of the asteroid field.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Jim Pitts (standing) and John Murdaugh (seated) struggle for the command of space. In this case, they are struggling for access to the game table. Jim is an agile guy, and was able to lean in to move his ships.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
The giant hand of outer space plucks up a fighter, hit by enemy fire. A group of star destroyers move forward to the attack, accompanied/annoyed by fighters of both sides.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Fighters swarm around two star destroyers. This is another example of how conjested some areas became.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Fred Diamond, the game-master points to the dice. "Right there, those dice." he seems to be saying. Other gamers pictured are, from left: Ed Sansing, Jay Stribling (scratching his ear attentively) and on the extreme right of the photo, Sean Pitts.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Ed Sansing gazes up and out, into the void, seeking inspiration for his next move.
Photo taken by John Murdaugh
Players gaze earnestly at the game-master as he clarifies the rules and issues an edict. In our games, we usually have a game-master (Fred Diamond in this battle) whose word is law. Even if his ruling is clearly inappropriate (I am not speaking of Fred in this game) it must be obeyed during the game.
SO WHO WON THIS SPACE BATTLE ?
The super star destroyer was immobile for the first two turns, then commenced a slow movment. The Imperial reinforcements and the rebel fleets came on at random locations around the perimeter of the game table. Both sides fought like cats and dogs and made little progress towards the crippled giant ship. Light cruisers and fighters blew up flaming, like exploding popcorn when you set the microwave too high and leave that bag in for waaayyy too long. And then there is that really baaaaddd smell all through your dorm room....But, I digress.
The super star destroyer fired first against the rebels, then against the Imperial forces. It took moderate damage from rebel light units, taking the opportunity to attack it while it's sheilds were down.
Suddenly, the huge ship blew up, a victim of the internal fighting among its crew. One of the forces aboard, decide to disable the main reactor, and destroyed the vessel instead.
The alliance and Imperial forces both claimed victory, on the basis of lighter ships destroyed, and we all hypered out for pizza!
Go to the Rules that we used in this game
Return to the Jackson Gamers' Homepage
Angelfire - Free Home Pages
Free Web Building Help
Angelfire HTML Library
htmlGEAR - free polls, guestbooks, and more!
Thank you for visiting The Jackson Gamers' pages at Angelfire. Please come back and visit again!