Chapter 5: Actions

Overview

Actions are the key element of the space combat system, determining what characters can do to change the outcome of an encounter. Each crew function has access to specific actions during their phase.

Captain Phase (1)

Captain Significant Actions

Command

The Captain outlines an immediate general plan for the crew to follow or goal for the crew to achieve.

Mechanics: Leadership skill roll; Effect points distributed as DM+1 bonus to rolls supporting the plan; Duration: Until next turn

Trade-off: Crew gets DM+1 to actions directly supporting the Command; Other Significant (or Focused) actions get DM-1 Penalty; Captain names significant actions each function should make; Characters can choose to follow Command for DM+1 or deviate with DM-1

Coordinate

The Captain makes a Leadership skill roll and distributes the resulting Effect in points of DM+1 to crew members.

Mechanics: Effect 0: No bonus granted; Effect 1: DM+1 to one crew member; Effect 2: DM+1 to two crew members, or DM+2 to one; etc.

Inspire

The Captain rallies the crew and boosts morale.

Mechanics: Leadership or Tactics roll; Restores crew to normal state after failed Morale roll; See Morale Mechanics

Lead

As a failed Morale roll to attempt to restore the crew to their normal state of mind.

Rush (Increase Initiative)

Increase the current noted initiative result of their crew (or Vessel) by the effect of a Tactics roll.

Mechanics: Tactics skill roll; Effect adds to current Initiative score; Temporary boost for this turn

Captain Minor Actions

Perform NavComm Minor Action: Captain can perform any NavComm minor action
Secure System: Take protective measures against intrusion
Assist Other Functions: Use leadership to support other stations

NavComm Phase (2)

NavComm Significant Actions

Break Target Lock

The NavComm officer spends a Significant Action for an opposed roll to break the Lock of an Enemy ship.

Mechanics: Attempts to Jam the enemy ship and remove the lock; Opposed roll against enemy NavComm

Disable Missile/Drone

Jamming Significant Action used to target smaller devices like missiles, drones, salvos, or groups.

Mechanics: Comms/Sensors opposed by Controller's, Gunner's, or Comm's Skill; Effect determines number of Missiles/Drones disabled

Plot Jump Point

Calculate coordinates for FTL jump.

Penalty: If Jump Point not plotted: Penalty to Engineering roll when activating jump

Directed Scan

Focused sensor sweep of specific target or area.

Information Gained: Relationship between objects in group (leader, scout, support, heavy hitters); Unusual parameters or behavior; Profile matches from database

Hack System

Using Intrusion Software to exploit vulnerabilities in a compromised system.

Requirements: System must be "compromised" (malware, middleware, or portable computer placed by infiltrators); Compromise must not have been detected

Mechanics: NavComm makes opposed Electronics or Computer roll vs target's Security Software; Rushed Analysis Penalty: DM-4 (DM-2 with Intelligent Interface); Rating Difference: Modify TN by 2 per point of rating difference

Scan

Attempt to find hidden ships and difficult-to-detect phenomena.

Mechanics: Comms skill roll; Reveals hidden contacts, anomalies

Communicate

Send communications or data transmissions.

Types: Single ship communication; Broadcast to all ships in scenario; Sensor lock data transmission

Note: No action needed for NavComm to communicate with crew on same ship

Comms/Sensor Black-out

Shut down all electronic transmissions to hide from sensors.

Effect: Increases difficulty to Sensor Lock or Scan by 1; Must be combined with Engineer "Go Dark" for full effect

NavComm Minor Actions

Sensor Targeting: Provide DM+1 to Gunner attacks (DM+2 on Exceptional Success)
Jam Signal: Electronic interference with enemy communications
Monitor Channels: Passive listening
Data Relay: Transmit information between ships

Jam Signal Details

Requires Line of Sight: Direct or indirect using relay probe.

Mechanics: Compare target ship's computer rating vs jamming ship's Intrusion/Agent/NavComm Expert Program Rating; Apply Sensor's Jamming Dice Modifier; Opposed Comms roll; If jammer's modified rating higher: Reduce TN by 2 per point of difference; If lower: Increase TN by 2 per point of difference

Outcome: Prevents target from using Tight Beam communication; Area broadcasts still possible but with DM-2 to DM-6 fidelity; Grants DM+2 to Sensor Lock on broadcasting ship

Engineering Phase (3)

Engineer Significant Actions

Activate Jump

The Engineer activates the FTL system and sends the ship into hyperspace.

Penalty: Roll penalty if Jump Point was not plotted; Failure risks misjump

Damage Control

Make quick repairs to minimize damage to systems.

Mechanics: On successful roll, recover 1-10% of component's HP
On failed roll (not exceptional failure): Use Minor Action to make temporary repairs by spending 10x normal materials; Or shut down another related system

Go Dark

The Engineer ejects fuel to cool the ship engine and turns off power.

Mechanics: Engineering Check DM-0/8+ to dump heat with fuel; Dump fuel equal to 1d6 x 1% x ship's thrust; Fail Effect: Additional 1% fuel dumped; Success Effect: 1% fuel saved

Requirements: NavComm must perform Comms/Sensor Black-out earlier in turn

Effect: Ships beyond Short Range lose track of vessel; Cannot be targeted until within Short Range (adjacent hex) or found with Scan; Difficulty to find with Scan increases at farther ranges; Ship cannot move, systems cannot function while powered down

Start Up

Bring systems back online after going dark or emergency shutdown.

Mechanics: Engineering roll to restart; Time varies by ship size and damage

Optimize

The Engineer makes an Engineering roll to boost a function's performance.

Mechanics: Successful roll grants chosen function DM+1 minimum; Effect determines bonus: DM+2 for Effect 4, DM+3 for Effect 6; Multiple optimizations from different engineers do not stack; Maximum DM = half Effect rounded down

Red Line

Consume spare parts to temporarily increase performance.

Mechanics: Engineering or Mechanic roll; 0.1DT spare parts per Dton of component per 10% improvement; Maximum 100% improvement; Success Effect adds duration; Fail Effect reduces duration; Each Turret counts as 1DT component

Examples: 2DT M-Drive redlined 100% (TP2): 2DT spare parts; Beam Turret boosted from 1D6 to 2D6: 1DT spare parts

Engineer Minor Actions

System Diagnostics: Quick check of ship systems
Reroute Power: Shift energy between systems
Monitor Engines: Watch for problems
Emergency Repairs: Quick patches (less effective than Damage Control)

Pilot Phase (4)

Pilot Significant Actions

Evade

The character makes a Pilot roll to increase the difficulty of hitting the ship.

Mechanics: Increases TN to hit by half the Effect (minimum +1); Same bonus applies to Dodge reaction

Attack (Ram)

The pilot rams the ship into another ship as a form of attack.

Mechanics: Opposed Piloting Roll against adversaries; DM-2 for every TP spent in addition to TP used to reach adjacent hex; Ship size modifier: DM-1 per 200DT over 100DT; Damage: 1D6 per 10DT of ship's mass

Dock/Land

Maneuver to connect with another vessel or landing facility.

Requirements: Must be at appropriate range; Opposed roll if target evading

Full Burn

Use compressed fuel as reaction mass when in ballistic mode.

Requirements: Ship in ballistic (no power plant or drives working); Sacrifice DT of fuel equal to 10% of ship's DT; Allows Pilot to perform Significant Actions

Effect: Adds 1 TP to ship's ballistic trajectory

Maneuver

Move the ship during the Ship's turn.

Mechanics: Once per turn, move ship spaces equal to Thrust rating; Spend 1 TP per space moved; Must have extra TP for "last mile" to attack

Pilot Conditions - Ballistic

When ship is in ballistic mode (no thrust):

Continue at 1 space per turn in last direction: Cannot change course without fuel expenditure (Full Burn); Difficult to track or target

Pilot Minor Actions

Positioning: Fine adjustments to ship orientation
Line Up Shot: Grant DM+1 to Gunner (if combined with other actions)
Monitor Navigation: Track position and heading
Prepare for Evasion: Set up for dodge reaction

Gunner Phase (5)

Gunner Significant Actions

Direct Attack

The character uses a weapon to directly attack a ship in range.

Mechanics: Gunnery roll against evading ship's TN; Or opposed roll against ship's defenses (Pilot Dodge or Gunner Turret/Sand); Use highest Effect to determine additional damage; Damage = Weapon + Effect + MAC - Armor

Attack Group Option

Attack a group of targets (Salvo, Swarm, or Squadron).

Mechanics: Effect of attack = number of targets hit; No MAC damage bonus (damage spread out); TN = lowest TN in group modified by Superiority; Example: 2 Turret + 2 Bay weapons vs 10 Fixed-Mount = 8 vs 10 → modified TN

Control Missile/Drone

The character launches or takes manual control of missiles or drones.

Mechanics: Significant action to arm, program, and launch; Gunner doesn't roll to hit until missile in position; Opposed by target's Point Defense, Sand, or Dodge; Gunner doesn't need to spend Minor Action for these oppositions

Launch/Maneuver Missiles/Drone

Fire missiles and guide them to target.

Missile Movement: Move missile spaces equal to its TP; Must reach target range to attack; Standard missiles: 10 TP; Bay-launched: +3 TP first round

Special Features: Gunner can turn on missile special features; Smart missiles: DM+1 to attack/EW

Go Ballistic Option

Aim missile or drone, then turn thrust off to hide it.

Mechanics: Opposed Gunner roll against adversary sensors; If successful, missile goes ballistic; Moves 1 space per turn in last direction; Can inch missile 1-2 hexes per turn to avoid detection; Missiles auto-detected at Short range

Missile/Drone Attack

Move missile to target and attack.

Mechanics: Must have enough TP to reach target; To attack: Must be in weapon range with extra TP for final approach; Opposed roll against target defenses

Missile Attack Group

Attack multiple targets with missiles.

Mechanics: TN determined by least evasive ship in group; Apply Superiority modifier to TN; Effect = number of targets hit; No MAC damage bonus

Proximity Explosion

Missile or Drone detonates near target without direct impact.

Mechanics: Opposed roll of Gunner vs Defense Reaction; Defense: Point Defense, Cast Sand, or Dodge (all three possible); If Gunner succeeds or Defense fails: Missile deals damage with MAC modifier; Use highest Effect for additional damage

Missile/Drone Ram

More difficult attack where missile uses spare TP for added velocity.

Mechanics: Every TP used: DM-2 to opposed roll; Every additional TP multiplies damage: TP+1 multiplier; Example: 2TP missile ram = x3 damage but DM-4 to hit; Use highest Effect for additional damage

Counter: Cast Sand destroys these missiles equal to degree of success; Also reduces damage from surviving missiles

Aid Gunner

A Gunner may Aid another Gunner in their rolls.

Mechanics: TN same as making Direct attack or Control Missile roll; Example: Firing missiles to force adversary to maneuver into line of fire; Grant DM+1 to aided Gunner

Gunner Minor Actions

Switch Fire Control: Change to different weapon system
Load Weapon: Prepare ammunition
Target Analysis: Assess enemy defenses
Prepare Point Defense: Set up for reaction

Everyone Else Phase (6)

Delay

Spend a Minor Action to allow another Character to Act First in the Function Phase.

Effect: Allows interrupting character by resolving action first; Can disrupt enemy plans

Instruct Automated Function

See Automated Functions section in Chapter 3.

Requirements: Takes a Minor Action; Automated systems need instructions before acting

Take Function

A Character may use a Minor Action to take over an available ship Function.

Conditions: Function must be available (station open); Or character with that Function must be willing to abandon it; Bridge stations must be available

All Functions - Minor Action: Aid

Choose a character to give Aid to, and rationalize to the Referee how this Aid will be given.

Mechanics: Roll against same TN as target of Aid; Grant DM+1 to target's roll

Previous: Chapter 4 - Combat Mechanics Next: Chapter 6 - Reactions