Game: Star Smuggler

Thread: The Exploits of Duke Springer -- Session 2

Elsairon — 2008-02-15T05:26:30+00:00

Session 2

Duke Springer. Budding Star Smuggler, didn't have anything in his ship to smuggle anywhere. So what's a broke freebooter to do?

Search the ruins of course. Scrounging around there turned up some old religious texts, might be worth something in New Karma. What luck! A band of roaming Missionaries from guess where... New Karma! met him at the Star Port, begging to hitch a ride all around the sector, and willing to pay well.

The hyperspace jump to New Karma went fine, but a passing ship speeding by rammed Dukes vessel as he was coming into the Colony there, damaging the ship and making for a pretty rough landing.

Selling the old books yielded a hefty 24,000 Sees, and another 1100 for dropping off the Missionary.

Duke decided to risk a hyperspace jump before reparing his ship. This proved his undoing. Sadly, the damage to the Antelope Class Ship was fatal, and all that arrived in the outskirts of the Byzantium System after the jump drives engaged was a pile of scattered debris and a stasis field. The field was yet unfound long after all the stars in that galaxy had burned themselves out... (the remaining missionaries sadly didn't make it to their destinations either)

Post Session Thoughts

The system seems to be running alot more smoothly now. I'm getting a better handle on how the game flows. I'll probably copy a few of the most used sections in rule book to make an Entry/Contact reference chart to speed up play.

Thread: Question about reference e122

Elsairon — 2008-02-15T05:08:28+00:00

In e122 #6, the prospective crew member, one retired merchant supply officer, has no stats listed. I have not found any references about this, so I'm going to give him a a random 1d6 E, and 0 for H and M. (Being retired non military, he probably isn't too swift on the battlefield.)

Anyone else find other references about characters with no listed stats?

Thread: Re: The Exploits of Duke Springer.

LEHaskell — 2008-02-15T00:38:29+00:00

Elsairon wrote:
Save this one for a rainy day when you have several hours to spare.

Yep -- spent many a rainy day doing just that. You're AAR takes me back.

Thread: Re: The Exploits of Duke Springer.

castiglione — 2008-02-15T00:21:45+00:00

Great AAR.

I have to admit...I laughed when I read about your character dying in the riot.

Thread: The Exploits of Duke Springer.

Elsairon — 2008-02-14T22:36:25+00:00

After trying out the Dwarfstar Solitare game Barbarian Prince, I decided to fire up Star Smuggler and see how it compares. I hope to try for a win, and will post my session reports here in this thread.

Star Smuggler: Session 1

Duke Springer hung around the Starport of the only inhabited planet in the Regina sector, looking around for some contacts.

He met an official in the security sector who was willing to take a bribe of 25 S to let him bypass the 'ports security anytime in the future.

A few minutes later a heavily armed repo squad wandered by. Continuing to scope out the Spaceport, Duke was ambushed by two armed thugs.

Shots rang out as Duke lunged towards his foes. Luckily both blasts missed. Duke dove towards the thug with the larger gun, who dodged his wild haymaker. The thug slugged Duke several times, while his companion fired shot after shot, the rounds tearing into the would-be freebooter.

With an amazing surge of strength, Duke wrenched the closest thugs heavy gun away from him. The other thug, still firing wildly into the melee was quite shocked when his friend took a grazing shot to the head and collapsed in a heap.

Duke didn't heasitate, immediatly lanching himself onto the remaining villan. After being struck several times he managed to grab the second robbers gun.

A few blasts from the heavier gun leveled the remaning miscreant, and Duke stopped to catch his breath. He was beat up really bad.

Having had his taste of the Starports hospitality revealed to him, he decided to take a walk into the Slums a little further north. This proved to be a poor decision, as he was caught in a massive street riot and didn't make it out alive.

Post Session Comments

I got lucky with the first battle, and probably would have survived the riots with a higer cunning score (which was 2).

Overall the play is similar to Barbarian Prince, lots of dice rolling, looking up things on tables, and keeping track of written records. I have to say it's a good deal more complex, and a bit slower playing. There are alot more rules to learn, so getting into the game takes a while. Although the rules seem to be designed like Barbarian Prince, in that the game suggests one can simply learn as they play, in practice there are so many rules to learn that the first twenty minutes (or more) of play end up being a rules review session. I hope with a bit more experience the system will speed up.

It's pretty good so far, so I'll probably try another game or so. I like the theme, but I think this game would take too long to pull out for a quick session. Save this one for a rainy day when you have several hours to spare.

Thread: Re: Download this classic 1980's solitaire microgame for FREE!

Elsairon — 2008-02-13T23:47:28+00:00

Just downloaded this. I'll be putting together a set, and hopefully give it a try soon.

Thread: Re: Heavy Hand Weaponry

Elsairon — 2008-02-13T21:19:17+00:00

Heavy Hand Weapons are more effective when attacking vehicles.

(see r230k for details)

Thread: Re: Download this classic 1980's solitaire microgame for FRE

Yargo — 2008-01-12T23:29:24+00:00

cool, I'll have to give this a try sometime

Thread: Re: How to place planet tiles?

karlkindt4 — 2006-08-18T05:18:46+00:00

Okay...I think I get it now. I could not figure out from the examples of the different possible star systems how they all got laid out at once. Apparently they don't! Thank you!

Thread: Re: How to place planet tiles?

clandaith — 2006-08-16T13:52:34+00:00

I'm trying to understand the question. You can only be on one planet at a time, so you just take the two tiles that form that planet and place them together. If you leave that planet and go to another planet in the system, just reuse the tiles.

I hope this helps.

Thread: How to place planet tiles?

karlkindt4 — 2006-08-16T05:21:41+00:00

I have read and re-read the instructions. I cannot figure out how to place the planet tiles. Do you place them together only once you travel to that system and use the generic dot system map until then? How do the two planets in two planet systems get placed together? Can someone post a picture of the pieces of tiles in place according to the standard layout (layout 1) or any layout?

--Karl Kindt

Thread: Re: Thus begins the epic adventures...

jygro — 2006-05-02T08:53:26+00:00

Palatek System, GSD: 1/7/00, 5:00 (Hour 5 of the seventh day playing).

I’m barely alive after a combat with two men in a small alley in the large mass of buildings this planet calls a city. These two men were looking to steal all my possessions and I was not going to let them take my hard-earned money without a fight. In the firefight, I was able to down one of my attackers and I even managed to score a decent shot with my blaster on the second, but with my many wounds taking a toll on me, I was forced to flee the scene. I sit now at a street corner hoping to make it through the rest of the day so I can get medical attention. Again, I am getting ahead of myself...

After making orbit of the single planet in this system, I headed to the space station to dock. I knew that I needed to get to the city if I was going to sell the goods from the slums on Regari Prime, but I figured that I could at least wander about the space station and perhaps find something of value. Not two hours go by when I get an alert of an intruder on board my spaceship. I rush back to the ship and move to the crew quarters. Inside was glowing, tentacled alien. Holding my hands up in a friendly manner, I give it the go ahead to do whatever it was doing to the mattress (either it was eating it or making a nest, I can’t be sure) and I feel an alien presence in my mind. Though some mental link, he broadcasts that we are ‘friend’ and with that permanently attaches to me. Of course, I figure that with this alien wanting to be with me ALL the time, if I try to do any business with anyone, there would be disastrous results.

Since the alien is allowing me to breathe without life support, I can give Solean the utility suit so I set down the spaceship in the rough crags near the city. Of course, while there, I met up with a group of people who see my alien friend and immediately attack. The alien died in the battle, but I managed to escape to the spaceship and blast back to orbit.

Deciding that the Craters west of the city might be a better place to touch down, I landed the spaceship there. I gave instructions to Solean to stay with the ship and fix the controller robots if I am not back with the Hopper tomorrow. Selling the repaired robots will be a nice chunk of money and the first payment on the ship is getting close.

Heading to the City in the Hopper by myself, I looked about to find buyers for both the Dylaweed and the books. I was worried that the stuff was worthless, but alas both items fetched a wondrous price! After but 2 hours in the city, I had made 1750 credits! I could paid three weeks worth of loan payments and still have money left over! That’s when I ran into the two muggers...

Thread: Heavy Hand Weaponry

jygro — 2006-04-25T05:07:04+00:00

What is the combat difference between a heavy hand weapon and a side
arm? I found that only certain characters can have a heavy hand
weapon and that it is 1 CU (r216d), but I can't find any information
on the damage difference between a heavy hand weapon and a sidearm. I
assumed that since you can buy a heavy hand weapon with
the 'explosive' ability (see e050) that it doesn't come 'standard'
(see e048 and e049), but I don't see the advantage of carrying a heavy
hand gun unless I am missing something.

Thanks,
-Bren

Thread: Thus begins the epic adventures...

jygro — 2006-04-23T19:14:51+00:00

Star Smuggler Session report

Note: With this game finally becoming free to print and play, I quickly made a ‘set’, read the rules and dove in. Ever since learning of Barbarian Prince (from the geek no less), I have been trying to get this game. Thanks to those people who went the extra mile to get it! For this report, I am going to try a first person narrative. I hope you enjoy it!

4 hours out of the Palatek System, Galactic Standard Date (GSD): 1/5/00, 3:00 (Hour 3 of the fifth day playing).

With four hours before I make orbit after the hyperspace jump from Regari System, I have time to finally update the ship’s logs. Thank The Maker that we didn’t encounter any patrols on the jump in. Solean (the new Starship Engineer) doesn’t have any papers, which could have put a damper on my plans… but I am getting ahead of myself.

Four days ago, I decided that I was never going to make ends meet if I didn’t start doing some underhanded dealings. I should have known that the offer for the loan was TOO good to be true, but I needed a ship if I was ever going to make my millions so I took it. The first couple of hours, I wandered the spaceport in a hope to find something, but I was having no luck there. Leaving my spaceship, I climbed aboard my Hopper class boat and headed to the mines.

The first thing I came across while in the mining facility was a controller robot and 6 Utility Robots. Looking about, I didn’t notice anyone watching me so I stopped the robot train and attempted to reprogram the lead robot. I must have mistaken what wire does what since a light blinked and all the robots shutdown. I tried in vain to get them started again, but I just don’t have the repair skills. Later when I carried them to the Hopper, I noticed that the boat’s communication gear was off-line. While trying to find some cargo, I noticed a new robot train so I attempted to take them over and again all the robots shutdown. Not having enough space in the Hopper for everything, I loaded both disabled controller robots, 6 CU worth of luxury foodstuff that the second train was carrying and 1 of the disabled Utility robots. Heading back to the spaceport, I placed everything in the ship’s hold.

Believing I could find some interesting cargo in the Slums nearby, I moved the Hopper over there and began to poke around. Twice while there, I found a shady character that told me to meet ‘em alone. The first was a man selling Dylaweed extract and I quickly bought 6 units worth. The second was a female who had some rare illustrated books (which I figured were stolen) but I bought anyway. Both items I figured would need to be sold at a city to make a profit, so it meant heading to a different system. On my way back to the boat, I found a man selling a skimmer that I purchased (also, probably stolen), a heavy hand weapon for myself and that’s when I met Solean. Although the man had no papers, he had considerable skill as a Starship Engineer and I was in need of one for some repairs so I hired him man for a week and we made it back to the starship. Once there, I headed back out in the skimmer to find someone selling spare parts. When I did find someone, I grabbed stuff randomly hoping that whatever I got would fix the communication gear and the controller robots. With that last purchase, I made it back to the starship, warmed up the hyperdrive engines, and moved out of system for the jump...

If people are interested in more, let me know and more will follow.

Thread: Re: Question: r235 Tech Level of Equipment

havoc110 — 2006-03-02T04:19:26+00:00

looks correct.

refer to the "raw scans" section of the webpage.
rules book 38-39.

there the chart has the numbers you list along the top.

Thread: Question: r235 Tech Level of Equipment

Zeromus — 2006-03-02T04:03:05+00:00

I just downloaded, constructed, and began playing Star Smuggler. So far it is wicked complicated, so if someone answers this questions I might have some more.

The table in the rules I have is incomplete. You are supposed to reference a die roll to the Tech Code of the Star System. The 1 through 6 for the die roll are there, as are all of the possible results. However, the Tech Codes to reference to are missing. There are ten columns and the possible Tech Codes for planets are 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 100. Since these are the ten numbers that are used in the Entry Detection Table I am pretty sure they are the ten columns for the Tech Level of Equipment Table, but I would like to know for sure.

While we're on Tech Level, just to make sure, I have one other question. My second hour of the game I got jumped by two thugs in the Space Port (not sure what kind of security they run around here). I only do a single Tech Level check for the group, correct?

Although I just started today this game is very cool and a relief to my solitary bordom. I hope to make a session report of my adventure.

Thread: Re: Download this classic 1980's solitaire microgame for FRE

The Maverick — 2006-03-01T17:56:32+00:00

By the way, while I have received some thoughtful and appreciated Geekgold gifts in response to this announcement, I am forwarding the GG to Eric Hanuise (BGG user ID ehanuise) as he is the one who contacted me out of the blue to voluteer to edit the Star Smuggler files. His efforts resulted in the game being available much sooner than if I had been working on it alone.

So if the availability of Star Smuggler puts you in the Geekgold giving mood, please use the link below to send it to ehanuise - he earned it!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/givegold.php3?touser=ehanuise

Image

The Maverick — 2006-03-01T10:16:13+00:00

Box back

Thread: Re: Download this classic 1980's solitaire microgame for FRE

Tanakor — 2006-03-01T08:00:33+00:00

Great! I have been looking forward to try this game.
Thank you very much for all the work you are putting into the Dwarfstar-Site. It´s much appreciated.

Thread: Download this classic 1980's solitaire microgame for FREE!

The Maverick — 2006-03-01T07:18:09+00:00

Star Smuggler is now available as a free, authorized download from the Dwarfstar games site:

http://dwarfstar.brainiac.com

Enjoy!

Image

The Maverick — 2006-03-01T06:52:12+00:00

Cover of Events Booklet

Image

The Maverick — 2006-03-01T06:46:32+00:00

Cover of Rules Booklet

Image

The Maverick — 2006-03-01T06:39:39+00:00

The counters were printed on the box flaps!

Image

The Maverick — 2005-02-20T15:21:57+00:00

Map tiles

Image

The Maverick — 2005-02-04T03:16:29+00:00

Cover art

Thread: User Review

scribidinus — 2004-03-26T19:43:17+00:00

I found this in my closet the other day in a plain manilla envelope. I played it a a half dozen times years aago. It was always a fun little book, pencil and paper adventure. The numbered paragraph, make a choice and roll a die system is well thought out and detailed. The planetary map tiles have icons representing slums, cities, palaces, prisons, starports, outside areas etc. and are asssociated with a set of event paragraphs. One may get mugged in an slum alley while trying score a rare item, arrested and jailed for transporting contraband and attacked by religious zealots just because you are an outsider. Sometimes it's wise to travel with some bodyguards.

It is pretty much unscripted in that you can play the poor but honest star trader (see below) or the scoundrel. But economic neccessities often bring out the rogue in you.

There is not a lot of ship to ship combat. It should be avoided anyway for the cost of repairs and hyper jumping in a damaged ship is high risk. The player is frequently under the gun to choose between high profit risky deals or safe safer cargo runs and this is why. Even though you start with a ship and a few hundred bucks but no crew or cargo there are a couple twists in the game.

1. TANSTAFL:There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. You have operating costs. You have to buy fuel for your ship and shuttlecraft and it ain't cheap. You can't afford to jump around the galaxy with an empty hold.
2. Most crewmen you hire get paid weekly or they quit. Some require a sign on bonus as well. Some work for free but they are usually wanted in the system you find them. Most will work a little cheaper if you TAKE OUT DEATH INSURANCE or if I recall correctly, provide " certain safety equipment" called Stasis Pods that insures their survival if the ship is destroyed.
Yes, there are business expenses. If I play again I'm going to set up a bogus account in Quicken
3. The final twist to the plot is...in addition to starting the game nearly broke, you are also $100,000 in debt to loan sharks on your ship!!! Every 10 day week you must make a $100 payment on your ship or the mob repomen might be waiting for you next time you dock. Uh, by the way, that $100 is just the interest and isn't applied to the $100K nut.

With most games of this nature repeated plays will make the player aware of especially high risk choices or especially high profit ones. I finally figured out the most desirable cargo, where to find it, how to enhance the value and where to sell it and quit playing. Now if I could only remember exactly what that was.

Image

2001-07-08T07:47:46+00:00