Starfire offers a unique set of rules for space combat. The rules are designed for play on a blank board with a hexagon overlay so is readily adaptable to miniatures. They were written by Stephen V. Cole and published in 1979 by Task Force Games as part of their pocket series, thin rules booklets, a small map, and a hundred pieces or less.
The basic rules use a simple system of laying out a starship’s basic design by a simple listing. The initial example given is a small corvette: S S A H R L I I This listing gives a quick layout of the ship listing its defenses, S for shields, A for armor, its movement points, the two I’s indicating engines, and weapons, an R for a missile system, an L for laser cannon. Additionally, there is a cargo hold, H. The sequence mandates where ship damage is taken. An additional value, turn mode, is based on the size of the ship as is the maximum speed.
The sequence of play is first move, then fire, with an initial initiative determination phase and a final record keeping phase. Following combat, there is also a tractor beam phase.
Ship movement occurs one movement point at a time. Each player expends their first movement point, then each player expends a second, etc. If ships do not have the same number of movement points, the ship with the greater number will continue moving after the other ship has finished movement. Each ship also has a turn mode indicating how many movement points they must expend before they can turn the ship 60 degrees.
The original rule book features 10 scenarios with Terran forces battling Khanate and Ophiuchi alien forces starting with a simple clash of 2 ships in the first scenario and finishing with an enormous 3 way battle in scenario ten.
Optional rules offer such things as restricted field of fire, planets, data links, simultaneous movement, damage control, and a section allowing players to design their own ships. A second book enlarges further on the game with additional rules for fighters while a third game adds a campaign to provide a link between battles.
At its simplest, it is a game that is quickly learned and played. Complexity is added through additional ships, weapons, and optional rules.
Task Force Games did license a range of Starfire miniatures no longer available but of course, a spaceship is a spaceship and any decent range ought to serve. A set of miniatures to match the current incarnation of Starfire can be found at Shapeways.
Starfire continued to evolve over time with later additions adding additional rules changes and switching finally to a 10-sided rather than a 6-sided die as well as further developing the Starfire universe. Newer editions of the rules may add on layers of complexity beyond what some players are looking for. The original game is simple and straightforward enough to present as an introduction to people unfamiliar with miniatures.
