Post by Darth Kairos on Jul 22, 2019 13:11:08 GMT
SWSE provides comprehensive rules for vehicle combat mechanics, which are very similar to those for character combat. This topic presents these rules, modified to suit our houserules. These rules are based on the mechanics previously established in the Combat Rules - please read those rules first if you have not already done so.
Unlike the character combat rules, these rules are completely optional - there is absolutely no obligation to use these, but they are provided for players and gamemasters who want a definitive mechanical approach to vehicles and space combat.
As with other modified rulesets, red text is used to signify the use of houserules to add to, replace, or modify the vanilla SWSE rule set. If a piece of information or a rule is missing, it has been removed from the rules of play.
Table of Contents
1. Vehicle Combat
2. Scale
3. Vehicle Types
4. Vehicle Combat Statistics
5. Characters In Vehicles
6. Starting the Battle & Captain/Fleet Commander Optional Rules
7. Vehicle Combat Actions
8. Special Vehicle Combat Rules
Vehicle Combat
These rules come into play whenever Vehicles figure prominently on the battlefield- whether that battlefield happens to be on a planet's surface, or in the dark void of space, the movement and combat rules presented below cover all types of Vehicles, from planetary Vehicles, to starships.
In most respects, Vehicle Combat follows the same Combat rules as characters, insofar as they have movement, actions, and the capacity to take damage.
Scale
The below rules use two scales: Character Scale, and Starship Scale. If the encounter involves both Vehicles and characters on foot, use Character Scale. If the scene involves Vehicles only, use the Starship Scale.
Character Scale
Character Scale is identical to the standard movement scale. Combat is carried out on a grid, in which each square equals 1.5 meters (About 5 feet).
In Character Scale, most Vehicles are large enough to occupy multiple squares on the battle map. How many squares a Vehicle occupies is determined by the Vehicle's size (And the same holds true for characters and creatures). Vehicles of Colossal (Frigate) size or greater are not placed on the battle map; they are either off the map (Perhaps providing fire support), or the battle takes place inside them.
In Character Scale, more than one surface Vehicle cannot occupy the same space on the battle map, and a Collision occurs whenever a Vehicle enters a square occupied by a creature, obstacle, or another Vehicle (See Collisions below).
Starship Scale
In Starship Scale, Each square of the battle map is abstract, representing a variable amount of space, depending on the Vehicles involved. In most cases, one square is hundreds or even thousands of meters wide. In Starship Scale, the battle map itself represents relative movement, not absolute movement, so several starships in orbit might be drifting together at many kilometers per second, even as they move around one another. At Starship Scale, a Vehicle can pass through squares occupied by allies, but not squares occupied by opponents.
Vehicle Types
The term "Vehicle" encompasses both Planetary Vehicles (Such as Airspeeders, Landspeeders, and Walkers), and Starships (Such as Starfighters, Space Transports, and Capital Ships). The major difference between Planetary Vehicles and Starships is that Planetary Vehicles generally do not travel in the vacuum of space. Rules that pertain only to Planetary Vehicles or Starships are called out specifically.
Planetary Vehicles
Planetary Vehicles are further subdivided into Ground Vehicles and Air Vehicles.
Mounts
Trained Beasts utilized by local forces to take advantage of the creatures' natural instincts and senses, where a mechanical Vehicle would otherwise fail.
Ground Vehicles
The most basic Vehicles in the Star Wars universe, Ground Vehicles only operate on (Or very near to) a planetary surface.
Speeders
Speeders are common sights on the technologically advanced worlds. Equipped with repulsorlift drive technology, they hover above the ground at a height of anywhere from a few centimeters, to several meters, and can achieve remarkable speeds. Speeders ignore penalties for Difficult Terrain.
Tracked Vehicles
Tracked Vehicles have treads or tracks looped around a large number of wheels, providing great traction, but making them less maneuverable at higher speeds- and extremely loud at any speed. Tracked Vehicles ignore penalties for Difficult Terrain, and take half damage from Collisions with obstacles at least one size category smaller than them.
Walkers
Walkers move about on two or more legs, literally walking over the terrain. Walkers retain their balance by means of finely tuned gyroscopes, and offer a fairly smooth ride. They rely on even footing, however, and when they topple, the results can be disastrous. Walkers ignore obstacles that are three or more sizes smaller than them.
Wheeled Vehicles
Wheeled Vehicles move on one or more wheels (Most commonly two to four). Faster and more maneuverable than Tracked Vehicles or Walkers, wheels are a cheap alternative to repulsorlift technology for light and fast Vehicles.
Weapon Emplacements
Weapon Emplacements are a staple or ground warfare. They typically fall under two categories: antipersonnel and antivehicle. Weapon Emplacements are treated as Vehicles for statistical purposes, but they are usually immobile and do not require a Pilot to function. Instead, Gunners control all the functions of the Weapon Emplacement.
Air Vehicles
Air Vehicles generally operate above a planetary surface, but within the planet's atmosphere.
Airspeeders
Airspeeders are repulsorlift Vehicles that can travel anywhere up to about 300 kilometers above ground level, but they are incapable of true space flight. Because they fly so high above the ground, they ignore penalties for Difficult Terrain and obstacles. Of all Planetary Vehicles, Airspeeders are the most maneuverable.
Starships
Starships are Vehicles capable of interplanetary and interstellar travel. They are further subdivided into Starfighters, Space Transports, Capital Ships, and Space Stations.
Starfighters
Starfighters are small, agile starships of Gargantuan Size or smaller. Though they can travel in atmosphere, they excel at space combat. Starfighters can function with as few as one crewmember (The Pilot).
Space Transports
Space Transports are mid-sized Starships of Colossal or Colossal (Frigate) Size, with fewer than 200 Hit Points. Most Space Transports are designed for moving passengers or cargo, but some are used as gunships, drop ships, or assault shuttles.
Capital Ships
Capital Ships include all Starships of Colossal (Frigate) Size or larger. Capital Ships usually carry hundreds, if not thousands of crewmembers and passengers, and some are large enough to house other Capital Ships within their hangar bays. Some very large transports and colony ships fall into this category, despite not being designed for combat.
Space Stations
Though not technically modes of transportation, Space Stations have statistics like other Starships. A Space Station can have a population in the thousands or millions, depending on it's Size. Most Space Stations are immobile, the Death Star being a notable exception.
Unlike the character combat rules, these rules are completely optional - there is absolutely no obligation to use these, but they are provided for players and gamemasters who want a definitive mechanical approach to vehicles and space combat.
As with other modified rulesets, red text is used to signify the use of houserules to add to, replace, or modify the vanilla SWSE rule set. If a piece of information or a rule is missing, it has been removed from the rules of play.
Table of Contents
1. Vehicle Combat
2. Scale
3. Vehicle Types
4. Vehicle Combat Statistics
5. Characters In Vehicles
6. Starting the Battle & Captain/Fleet Commander Optional Rules
7. Vehicle Combat Actions
8. Special Vehicle Combat Rules
Vehicle Combat
These rules come into play whenever Vehicles figure prominently on the battlefield- whether that battlefield happens to be on a planet's surface, or in the dark void of space, the movement and combat rules presented below cover all types of Vehicles, from planetary Vehicles, to starships.
In most respects, Vehicle Combat follows the same Combat rules as characters, insofar as they have movement, actions, and the capacity to take damage.
Scale
The below rules use two scales: Character Scale, and Starship Scale. If the encounter involves both Vehicles and characters on foot, use Character Scale. If the scene involves Vehicles only, use the Starship Scale.
Character Scale
Character Scale is identical to the standard movement scale. Combat is carried out on a grid, in which each square equals 1.5 meters (About 5 feet).
In Character Scale, most Vehicles are large enough to occupy multiple squares on the battle map. How many squares a Vehicle occupies is determined by the Vehicle's size (And the same holds true for characters and creatures). Vehicles of Colossal (Frigate) size or greater are not placed on the battle map; they are either off the map (Perhaps providing fire support), or the battle takes place inside them.
In Character Scale, more than one surface Vehicle cannot occupy the same space on the battle map, and a Collision occurs whenever a Vehicle enters a square occupied by a creature, obstacle, or another Vehicle (See Collisions below).
Starship Scale
In Starship Scale, Each square of the battle map is abstract, representing a variable amount of space, depending on the Vehicles involved. In most cases, one square is hundreds or even thousands of meters wide. In Starship Scale, the battle map itself represents relative movement, not absolute movement, so several starships in orbit might be drifting together at many kilometers per second, even as they move around one another. At Starship Scale, a Vehicle can pass through squares occupied by allies, but not squares occupied by opponents.
Vehicle Types
The term "Vehicle" encompasses both Planetary Vehicles (Such as Airspeeders, Landspeeders, and Walkers), and Starships (Such as Starfighters, Space Transports, and Capital Ships). The major difference between Planetary Vehicles and Starships is that Planetary Vehicles generally do not travel in the vacuum of space. Rules that pertain only to Planetary Vehicles or Starships are called out specifically.
Planetary Vehicles
Planetary Vehicles are further subdivided into Ground Vehicles and Air Vehicles.
Mounts
Trained Beasts utilized by local forces to take advantage of the creatures' natural instincts and senses, where a mechanical Vehicle would otherwise fail.
Ground Vehicles
The most basic Vehicles in the Star Wars universe, Ground Vehicles only operate on (Or very near to) a planetary surface.
Speeders
Speeders are common sights on the technologically advanced worlds. Equipped with repulsorlift drive technology, they hover above the ground at a height of anywhere from a few centimeters, to several meters, and can achieve remarkable speeds. Speeders ignore penalties for Difficult Terrain.
Tracked Vehicles
Tracked Vehicles have treads or tracks looped around a large number of wheels, providing great traction, but making them less maneuverable at higher speeds- and extremely loud at any speed. Tracked Vehicles ignore penalties for Difficult Terrain, and take half damage from Collisions with obstacles at least one size category smaller than them.
Walkers
Walkers move about on two or more legs, literally walking over the terrain. Walkers retain their balance by means of finely tuned gyroscopes, and offer a fairly smooth ride. They rely on even footing, however, and when they topple, the results can be disastrous. Walkers ignore obstacles that are three or more sizes smaller than them.
Wheeled Vehicles
Wheeled Vehicles move on one or more wheels (Most commonly two to four). Faster and more maneuverable than Tracked Vehicles or Walkers, wheels are a cheap alternative to repulsorlift technology for light and fast Vehicles.
Weapon Emplacements
Weapon Emplacements are a staple or ground warfare. They typically fall under two categories: antipersonnel and antivehicle. Weapon Emplacements are treated as Vehicles for statistical purposes, but they are usually immobile and do not require a Pilot to function. Instead, Gunners control all the functions of the Weapon Emplacement.
Air Vehicles
Air Vehicles generally operate above a planetary surface, but within the planet's atmosphere.
Airspeeders
Airspeeders are repulsorlift Vehicles that can travel anywhere up to about 300 kilometers above ground level, but they are incapable of true space flight. Because they fly so high above the ground, they ignore penalties for Difficult Terrain and obstacles. Of all Planetary Vehicles, Airspeeders are the most maneuverable.
Starships
Starships are Vehicles capable of interplanetary and interstellar travel. They are further subdivided into Starfighters, Space Transports, Capital Ships, and Space Stations.
Starfighters
Starfighters are small, agile starships of Gargantuan Size or smaller. Though they can travel in atmosphere, they excel at space combat. Starfighters can function with as few as one crewmember (The Pilot).
Space Transports
Space Transports are mid-sized Starships of Colossal or Colossal (Frigate) Size, with fewer than 200 Hit Points. Most Space Transports are designed for moving passengers or cargo, but some are used as gunships, drop ships, or assault shuttles.
Capital Ships
Capital Ships include all Starships of Colossal (Frigate) Size or larger. Capital Ships usually carry hundreds, if not thousands of crewmembers and passengers, and some are large enough to house other Capital Ships within their hangar bays. Some very large transports and colony ships fall into this category, despite not being designed for combat.
Space Stations
Though not technically modes of transportation, Space Stations have statistics like other Starships. A Space Station can have a population in the thousands or millions, depending on it's Size. Most Space Stations are immobile, the Death Star being a notable exception.