Product Spotlight is a new features at CMO Games. We’ll take a chance to focus down on a particular game, expansion, system, or line that usually doesn’t get major focus. Today, the spotlight shines on Stargrave and the new expansion Quarantine 37.
Stargrave Product Spotlight
We’ll start with Stargrave. The Last War put paid to the great empires and the spaceways are controlled by roving pirate fleets who extort, enslave, and pillage as they wish. Each player in Stargrave leads a band of independent operators; smugglers, relic hunters, data brokers, mercenaries, freedom fighters, and more, with a small ship. Their goal is to make a living and just maybe a difference.
To begin, create a Captain and First Mate by selecting from a variety of backgrounds. Level up your captain to level 15. Spend your starting credits on gear and crewmen. Jump into a mission!
Stargrave follows the Frostgrave paradigm on competitive play between each player’s crew. While players may focus on combat, the true goal is securing important resources i.e. loot and getting it back to the ship. Isolated scenarios determine victory by who got the most loot.
Playing a single game may be entertaining, but Stargrave shines when played as a campaign! When playing a campaign, individual games become less important. Instead, the focus shifts to the story of your Captain and crew. Over time, you’re Captain and First Mate increase in skill and wield improved tech. Your crew gains access to new gear and adds skilled specialists. Even your ship grows by adding upgrades to help your crew in and out of the tactical game.
From a gaming perspective, Stargrave has three major advantages over existing RPGs and wargames.
First, the system uses simple mechanics. Both players roll a D20 compare. For shooting, the attacker needs to roll higher than the defender. When fighting close, the higher roll deals damage or both do with a tie! Not only does the roll determine success, it also determines damage. Subtract the target’s armor from the winning roll, the difference is damage inflicted. Powers and other mechanics use the same system or roll versus a fixed number with similar outcomes.
Second, games are small and fast. With no more than 10 crew to a side there isn’t a large outlay for figures. Experienced player may already have the makings of a rag-tag crew from their collection of sci-fi miniatures. Even if players lack miniatures to start, several lines have detailed and cheap figures, thus limiting the impact on their pocketbook. The small crew size also encourages faster play. Players have a limited number of units under their command, clear objectives, and simple mechanics to achieve them. Games start fast and end quickly.
Third, everybody gets to star! Stargrave supports up to four crews at each table and does not require a GM. Instead, the game provides a simple, basic scenario, guidance on setting up terrain, and an expanding number of fixed scenarios. NPCs and creatures are handled with a basic AI that brings them into contact and conflict with crews as the game progresses. It takes a great load off overworked GMs and provides for groups without one!
Good luck out in the Black!
Quarantine 47 Stargrave Product Spotlight
The first supplement for Stargrave, Quarantine 47, gives players the usual assemblage of new backgrounds, powers, soldiers, and creatures expected in a supplement. However, the real focus is on mixing action sci-fi play with horror themes and solo play modes.
Taking inspiration from Aliens, Pitch Black, and any number of Romero films Quarantine 47 pits your crews against hordes of shambling dead and hive-minded predators in two linked campaigns of four scenarios each. Fortunately, you’ll not face them both at the same time.
The scenarios strongly contextualize each set of opponents making for more than a shooting fest. The author has done of wonderful job of capturing the dread and potential of each distinct set of enemies in the campaigns.
The solo play sections provide an outline for single player games. The game remains fundamentally the same, but tweaks turn order and loot placement for an engaging solo experience. Advice is offered regarding powers that may not be or outright are useless in solo play. The rest of the game functions as originally designed.
The solo play chapter then proceeds to tune four earlier scenarios into a single four game campaign. The player’s crew faces off against two zombie driven events and then two bug ridden ones. Not only does this provide a player with a ready to go experience, but they also get to see how those scenarios are tuned for the single player. Teaching by example.
Other Resources
Head over to Osprey Publishing for free Stargrave reference materials, a new scenario generator, and accessories. Follow the game’s designer at his blog, The Renaissance Troll, for even more Stargrave and his other games.
Check out Reaper’s Chronoscope line for cheap and detailed sci-fi miniatures.
Need bugs? Check out Aliens plastic miniatures for a selection of Xenomorphs and crew.
For a more rundown look, several of the Fallout Wasteland Warfare boxed sets contain suitable robots, ragged heroes, and heavy armored models.
Even more robots, humanoid aliens, and heroes are located in the Star Wars: Legion line. However, these figures are in 32mm scale and may appear a bit large next to other lines.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the Stargrave Product Spotlight. Tune in next week where we’ll take a closer look at another game!
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