Launch Assets
Ships may carry smaller craft like Dropships, Fighters, Bombers, or munitions - ship-killing Torpedoes and similar systems. Collectively these are called Launch Assets and they all operate using the same game rules. Launch Assets are represented by tokens on the tabletop - either flat counters or bases with teeny tiny models on them.
An individual Launch Asset token represents a flight of Fighters/Bombers or a single Torpedo. Standard sizes for Strike Craft and munitions markers are the 20mm x 20mm tokens. Note that Dropships and Bulk Landers do not have tokens as they resolve instantly and do not spend any time on the table.
In the rules that follow all models that can deploy Launch Assets are referred to as 'carriers'. A carrier will most likely be a ship in practice, but it could be a ground-based airfield, orbital dock or other launch facility. In such cases these are still counted as 'carriers' for rules purposes when it comes to Launch Assets.
Carrier Characteristics
Each Carrier has characteristics for its Launch Capability. An example of which is below:
| Load | Launch | Special |
|---|---|---|
| Torpedoes | 1 | - |
| Fighters & Bombers | 6 | - |
- Load: The type of Launch Assets the carrier can use. There may be a choice of different types but the carrier is still limited by its overall capacity and launch ability.
- Launch: How many tokens the carrier can launch in one turn.
- Special: Any special rules the Launch Asset has.
Launch Asset Characteristics
Launch Assets often work similarly to a weapon profile, although some have their own unique rules. Some examples are shown below.
| Type | Thrust | Lock | Attack | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCM Bomber | 12" | 3+ | 2 | 1 |
| UCM Torpedo | 9" | 2+ | 6 | 1 |
| Type | Thrust | Point Defence Bonus | ||
| UCM Fighter | 20" | +3 | ||
| UCM Dropship | 3" | - | ||
- Thrust: The maximum distance it can travel to reach its target in a single phase.
- Lock, Attack, Damage & Special: All function identically to weapon system characteristics.
- Point Defence Bonus: Extra PD added to a ship these are used on.
Launching Assets
Carriers may use their Launch Assets during the Launch Assets segment of the Roundup phase after Ground Combat has been resolved.
Use the same Initiative values determined in the Ground Combat segment. Use the same rules for determining them if you have not done so already.
Each turn players should complete each stage below in order of Initiative before moving onto the next phase.
This step is always resolved in the following order:
- Torpedoes
- Bombers & Fire Ships
- Fighters
- Dropships & Bulk Landers
For each of these steps, the player with the lowest Initiative selects a Group with which to launch. They then assign and place all tokens of that type they wish to launch from this Group next to the ship(s), Sectors, or Space Stations they are targeting.
Much like Close Action weapons, Launch Assets do not count against the number of weapon systems the ship may fire during a turn due to special orders, but likewise if the carrier can't fire for any reason it cannot use Launch Assets.
Once the tokens are assigned, the player with the next lowest Initiative may choose to assign and launch their own Launch Assets from a Group that has not launched yet this turn.
Repeat this until every player has launched that asset, then move onto the next asset type.
A ship that launches any Launch Assets gains a Minor Spike.
If you select a group to launch Launch Assets, it must launch something, you may not choose not to launch anything as a way to make your opponent reveal their plans!
Assigned launch assets follow a ship whenever it moves and are placed next to it again when it completes its move.
Time To Target
Launch Assets have to travel to their target and may even have to spend some time hunting for it, space is big, they are small and their sensor gear is limited in comparison to that of a ship. The time to arrive at the target depends on the range from the launching carrier to the target:
- If the target is within the asset's Thrust it's a quick sprint and the Launch Asset takes effect this turn.
- If the target is more than its Thrust but within double its Thrust a longer journey is necessary and there is a slight delay before the launch assets arrive. Place the launch assets next to the target's base (or with each other if there is no more room left around the base), they will take effect at the end of the target's activation in the next game turn. Dropships and Bulk Landers cannot use this option, and must launch to a target within their Thrust.
Note that Launch Assets can be used against targets that are outside the normal Scan + Signature range - simply measure a straight line between the launching ship and its target. If that line would take them through a Debris Field, they must test to see if they are destroyed. Roll a D6 for each Launch Asset for each Debris Field that line would pass through. A Fine Debris Field removes Launch Assets on a roll of 3 or more and a Dense Debris Field removes Launch Assets on a 5 or more (roll for each debris field separately).
If that line would take them through a Large Solid Object (like a moon) on the same orbital layer, they are immediately destroyed.
Launch Assets in Orbital Combat
Launch Assets are limited to operating in certain Orbital Layers. The configuration and design specifications required for operating in atmosphere are very different to those needed in high orbit. As such the following limitations apply:
- Dropships: May operate in Atmosphere only or Low Orbit if they are launching against a Space Station within 3".
- Bulk Landers: May operate in Atmosphere and Low Orbit only.
- All other Launch Assets: May operate in Low and High Orbit only. Other Launch Assets originating from surface-based carriers deploy into and operate in Low and High Orbit only.
If a ship with Launch Assets in contact with it enters Atmosphere, the Launch Assets are removed from play as they either burn up or return to their carrier.
When a ship is destroyed, all Launch Assets assigned to it are also destroyed.
Launch Asset Effects
Once players have completed assigning and launching their Launch Assets, you must then resolve their effects.
Firstly, place any ground tokens from Dropships and Bulk Landers, it's usually practical to simply do this earlier when launching, especially since Dropships and Bulk Landers don't have tokens. Next, starting with the player with the highest Initiative, select 1 enemy ship to resolve the effects of any tokens against it. Then the player with the next highest Initiative selects 1 enemy ship to resolve and so on until all the of the launch asset tokens have been resolved.
Launch assets generally function like a special kind of weapon system, but because of their unique properties there's some special rules that apply to them.
The effects of a Launch Asset depend on its type and what it's in contact with.
Once a launch asset has taken effect the token is removed immediately.
Fighters
Fighters are lightweight, agile craft intended as dedicated interceptors of opposing Strike Craft and Close Action weapons. Fighters serve an interceptor role for ships by flying in close support and improving a friendly unit's Point Defence.
Fighters lack the firepower necessary to make a dent on larger enemies so in Dropfleet they are limited to a purely defensive role.
Fighter tokens can take effect at various times throughout the game.
Fighters may take effect from when they are assigned onwards, even if launched using twice their thrust range.
Fighters can be launched against friendly or enemy ships, and their rules change depending on their target:
Friendly Ships: Add bonus dice to their PD characteristic against a single attack from Launch Assets or Close Action weapons. The owning player must decide whether or not to expend the fighters against an attack once the damage is known but before PD dice are rolled. If the protected unit moves the fighter marker is moved with it.
Once the Fighter marker has taken effect it returns to its carrier and is removed from play. Any Fighters which have not taken effect by the following Roundup Phase are removed as they are forced to fly back and refuel.
For example: 4 UCM Fighters are launched to protect a friendly target. The target gains +12 PD and the Fighters stay with it until the owning player chooses to use the Fighters to supplement its Point Defence against an attack from Launch Assets or Close Action weapons. The owning player can choose to add some, all or none of the escorting Fighter markers to its defence when attacked, gaining +3PD for each.
Enemy Ships: Remove one enemy Fighter token from this ship (they keep each other occupied in dogfighting!) This may only be done when resolving launch asset effects (during the roundup phase) just before Bombers take effect.
Bombers
Bombers are Strike Craft that carry serious ship-killing weaponry, typically deploying a mixture of stand-off missiles and one-shot, high-intensity energy weapons.
Bombers make an attack with their profile when arriving at an enemy ship.
When Bombers from multiple sources attack the same target they coordinate their run to overwhelm its Point Defence. Roll all of the Bomber's attacks together when they take effect and treat it as a single attack versus the target's Point Defence so the defender only rolls for PD once for the ship instead of against each token's attack separately.
For example: 6 Bomber tokens launched from 2 carriers attack an enemy ship together. Each Bomber makes 2 attacks normally, but in this case they make a coordinated attack and roll all 12 attacks at once. The enemy ship's Point Defence will only roll once against the massed attack instead of separately against each Bomber.
Fire Ships
Fire Ships are a unique type of bomber. They follow all the same rules, but are resolved separately. They also coordinate their attack.
Dropships
Dropships are transporters used for rapidly deploying armoured forces down to a planet's surface. They are agile, well armoured and armed for their size to weather the storm of defensive fire they invariably attract.
Carriers assigning Dropships to Sectors may only do so from Atmosphere.
Carriers assigning Dropships to Space Stations may only do so from Low Orbit.
Dropships may be assigned to target Sectors or Space Stations within their Thrust.
When they do, they deliver one Armour or Infantry token to the Sector or Space Station.
Bulk lander
Bulk landers are large, lightly armoured landing craft used by troopships to deploy large numbers of ground troops or anti-ship weapon emplacements. Bulk Landers are considerably slower and more vulnerable than Dropships, as they are not designed for 1st wave assaults on entrenched positions, but rather as occupying or reinforcing troops once a beachhead is secured.
Bulk landers may only be launched by carriers that are in Low Orbit or Atmosphere.
Bulk Landers may target Ground Sectors or Space Stations within their Thrust. When they do, they deliver three Infantry tokens or one Defence Battery token to the Sector or Space Station.
A Note on Dropships & Bulk Landers
Since there is no actual game time between the deployment and landing of the Dropship or Bulk Lander tokens there is no need to physically place them.
For speed of play and ease of use, most players will find it easier to declare where they are deploying troops, resolve any ground fire from Batteries and then directly place the Infantry or Armour tokens without using a Dropship or Bulk Lander token.
Torpedoes
Torpedoes are very large, ship-killing missiles that are much more dangerous than the types ordinarily categorised as Close Action weapons. Torpedoes are heavily armoured and well protected against opposing Point Defences with decoys and jamming to ensure they will get close enough to the target to deliver a potentially devastating hit.
The relatively slow acceleration of Torpedoes means they never attack enemy ships immediately even if the target is within their Thrust range, instead place the Torpedo in contact with the target and execute the attack at the end of the target's next activation.
Torpedoes make an attack with their profile when arriving at an enemy ship. Point Defence has no effect against damage inflicted by Torpedoes.
When firing Torpedoes at a Space Station, resolve the effects immediately.
Manoeuvre
A ship which activates when it has enemy Launch Assets assigned to it can use hard manoeuvring to try and 'shake off' the Launch Assets. If the ship uses Course Change or Max Thrust special orders roll a D6 for each enemy Launch Asset targeting the ship. On a roll of 5 or more the Launch Asset is shaken off and removed. On a roll of 4 or less, the Launch Asset doggedly pursues and takes effect at the end of the target's activation as normal.
Outmanoeuvring Torpedoes
Torpedoes are relentless in their pursuit of a target and not so easy to shake off. Only remove a Torpedo marker if a 6 is rolled. On a 5, the Torpedo does not attack this turn but instead remains assigned to that ship, ready to attack again after the target's next activation. On a roll of 4 or less, the Torpedo attacks at the end of the activation as normal.
| Bombers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Thrust | Lock | Attack | Damage | Special |
| UCM | 12" | 3+ | 2 | 1 | - |
| Scourge | 15" | 3+ | 2 | 1 | Scald |
| PHR | 12" | 2+ | 2 | 1 | - |
| Shaltari | 15" | 3+ | 2 | 1 | - |
| Resistance | 12" | 4+ | 3 | 1 | - |
| Resistance Fire Ship | 6" | 2+ | 1 | 3 | May not Double Thrust |
| Torpedoes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Thrust | Lock | Attack | Damage | Special |
| UCM Light | 14" | 2+ | 4 | 1 | - |
| UCM | 9" | 2+ | 4 | 2 | - |
| UCM Heavy | 9" | 2+ | 4 | 4 | - |
| Scourge | 9" | 3+ | 3 | 2 | Corruptor |
| PHR | 9" | 2+ | 4 | 2 | - |
| Shaltari | 12" | 3+ | 3 | 2 | Flash |
| Resistance | 12" | 2+ | 6 | 1 | - |
| Fighters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Thrust | PD Bonus |
| UCM | 20" | +3 |
| Scourge | 24" | +3 |
| PHR | 20" | +4 |
| Shaltari | 24" | +4 |
| Resistance | 20" | +5 |
| Dropships/Bulk Landers | |
|---|---|
| Type | Thrust |
| UCM | 3" / 6" |
| Scourge | 3" / 6" |
| PHR | 3" / 6" |
| Shaltari | 3" / 6" |
| Resistance | 3" / 6" |