[Rogue Stars] ComBots, p. 3

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Kid_Kyoto**

Can you cancel the first order and place a new one?

**Gamingdog**

No. the nicstarter lasts for a month. they introduce something and for a short period of time, a week for example, it's 10% off. If you wait til the end you won't get that 10% off. they want us to buy in smaller incriments during the month.

**adamsouza**

Hello,

We have good news! One of your pre-ordered items is now eligible for release date delivery and has been upgraded at no additional charge. Your new delivery estimate is:

Sfiligoi, Andrea "Rogue Stars: Skirmish Wargaming in a Science Fiction Underworld (Osprey Wargames)"
Estimated arrival date: December 20, 2016

Nice, I wasn't expecting it soo soon.

**MLaw**

I skipped the nickstarter.. I'll be honest I don't know why I skipped it, I honestly meant to throw in on it.. BUT..
I ordered it on Amazon a few days ago and it arrived today.. on CHRISTMAS EVE.. sorry I'm kinda geeked out by that.. I've been flipping through the book and mostly just looking for now..
At first glance
The art is really.. ecclectic.. Almost has a DC animated universe kind of feel if it was mixed with Firefly and Titan AE... with a little Judge Dredd..
The layout is lite.. SUPER lite.. like.. annoyingly lite.. You start reading on something and they have formatted with a large column of blank space on the edge of the page and this makes simple things stretch on.. into a full page illustration, causing a few page flips on things that just really don't need them. They also kinda just randomly shove the photos into the text so it causes strange breaks in the layout.
The print quality is very nice. High quality binding, nice heavy glossy paper, vivid colors. The aforementioned photos are clear and read easily.
There are numerous tables throughout. Having not read through, I won't be too hard but they really really packed the text into some of these.
Overall, it's about as thick as a lot of army books for 40k (at least 2nd-4th ed.. not sure about lately).. The height and width are closer to a graphic novel.. which all told, thickness too, that's probably the best comparison for physical size.

It looks like it has some ultra-lite RPG elements. I'd say it is fair to compare it to Frostgrave in that regard, though past that, I don't know that there are too many more similarities, other than being a skirmish game. Some of the headings I have glanced at remind me of a Necromunda campaign a little. It looks to have one other commonality with Frostgrave in the flexibility of miniature usage.

All told, I don't think this will take long to read over. My kids are home, we have free time, and unbeknownst to them, they have miniatures coming that would work with this. Can't wait to give it a shot

**squall018**

I got it a couple days ago (from amazon) and have really enjoyed reading through it. The game mechanics and character creations are fine, but the scenario generator to me is the highlight of the book. Such an easy thing but creates so many different scenarios. More games need this.

**adamsouza**

With Christmas upon us, I haven't had time to do more skim through it, and while it is gorgeous I don't like the layout.

On most pages, with text and not full page artwork, there is a wide band of white space. This wouldn't be a problem if the text wasn't so damned small. It really looks like the book was designed for 8 1/2 by 11 inch format, and then they decided to print it in a smaller format, without adjusting the text size. Half of that wasted space could have been used to bump up the text size.

The following happens frequently:
Page on the left: 2 inches of white space on left of page, with small tiny text filling rest of page.
Page on the Right: Full page illustration.

I can read it, but I know at least 2 people in my gaming group, who already have a difficulty with the mini 40K rulebooks, will be reading it with a magnifying glass and glasses.

**Gimgamgoo**

As I said on the Rogue Stars FB fanpage, this was a game I've looked forward to since hearing about it. The rules seem pretty good - although I've yet to test them out. BUT I have two gripes about it.
1. The tiny text size. I know I'm getting on a bit and my eyesight's not what it was, but it's like they were told it has to fit in 64 pages, just keep shrinking the text. I'd have rather paid more for a hardback with more pages and bigger text like the Frostgrave book.
2. Tables and info split across pages. The damage section for example is about 1 page worth of material, but starts half way down a page and finishes over the page.
The rules seem great but the layout is poor.
Also, some kind of quick reference or ingameplay tables summary is needed. Thankfully this has been promised for the new year.

**BrookM**

Ugh, bad layout strikes again it seems. That was one of the big turn offs for me when I got my Frostgrave rulebook: atrocious layouts.

**MLaw**

BrookM wrote:
Ugh, bad layout strikes again it seems. That was one of the big turn offs for me when I got my Frostgrave rulebook: atrocious layouts.

As I've gotten further into this, the layout is a bit more frustrating than with Frostgrave, if only that the creation process and pre-game are more detailed.. From my initial skim Frostgrave is a bit of a simpler beast so the layout at least is offset a little by brevity.

**Nostromodamus**

I've seen a skill mention medkits, but can't find medkit rules anywhere...

**Barzam**

I believe Andrea said that after the holidays, they would release the Quick Reference Sheets. So, that should help some. It's the warband calculator I'm waiting for.

**mdauben**

Got my shipment from Brigade in the US the other day. The book and both sets of figures. With those and the 8-10 sci-fi figures I got from reaper I should have a nice little project to start the new year!

**Ian Sturrock**

My son and I played our first game today. We're both big fans of Infinity and Song of Blades and Heroes, and both felt that this resembled both those games, unsurprisingly enough.

Took us about five hours, excluding squad creation, but we estimate it would be more like 2 once there was a bit less looking-up of rules.

Although it's a short rulebook, it suffers from a lack of tables at the back (you have to skim through to find tables), a few confusing typos on essential tables, some apparent omissions and ambiguities, and some counterintuitive additions and subtractions. This makes the overall complexity comparable to Infinity, so far as we could tell -- at least on first playing. Hopefully with more play it would end up simpler.

Like Infinity, you don't want to be shot -- armour is not that amazing, so for most people you're better off using cover and/or stealth rather than hoping to shrug off bullets/lasers.

The big strengths are the character customisation, which seems pretty well-balanced, and the scenario generation system, which lets you randomly select from 8000 possible scenario combinations based on three d20 die rolls (for battleground, mission, and complication). These readily lend themselves to narrative play, so we figured that, having rolled Location: Predator's Lair and Mission: Bodyguard, and me as Attacker, that his Space Pirates (represented by a motley mix of an Ork Boss, Ork Boy, Ork Stormboy with jetpack, Vindicare sniper, and antique GW 'Space Pirate') had landed on a mostly depopulated planet whose once thriving base had been overrrun by my Psionic Cultists (represented mostly by Genestealer Cultists and Heresy Ghouls) and the monster they worshipped. They'd been engaged by the last other survivor to get him off-planet. Felt like you could come up with a narrative hook just as easily for any combo.

Overall vibe is basically Infinity with a hint of ASoBH, and a general flavour of 80s/90s pulp SF. Feels like 2000AD or Fifth Element. Win-win from my perspective. We'll be playing again soon.

**MLaw**

Nostromodamus wrote:
I've seen a skill mention medkits, but can't find medkit rules anywhere...

On p14 it looks like Medkits simply provide a modifier to First Aid rolls.. Sorry if you already found that but thought it might be helpful.

**-iPaint-**

Well I received my models and rulebook a few days ago, and had a chance to more closely inspect the models.

I'm noticing that about half of them have either minor molding and bubbling issues, slippage, mold lines or miscasts, and a few have slightly more serious issues, including complete loss of detail.

http://imgur.com/a/P1ecw

I'll try and get some better pics at some point with maybe an ink wash, but how have everyone else's models faired? The models in the rulebook look superb (assuming they're the master models or maybe master resins), but for such quality Copplestone sculpts, the casts from North Star are a bit...subpar...

Thoughts?

~iPaint

**MLaw**

-iPaint- wrote:
Well I received my models and rulebook a few days ago, and had a chance to more closely inspect the models.

I'm noticing that about half of them have either minor molding and bubbling issues, slippage, mold lines or miscasts, and a few have slightly more serious issues, including complete loss of detail.

http://imgur.com/a/P1ecw

I'll try and get some better pics at some point with maybe an ink wash, but how have everyone else's models faired? The models in the rulebook look superb (assuming they're the master models or maybe master resins), but for such quality Copplestone sculpts, the casts from North Star are a bit...subpar...

Thoughts?

~iPaint

That's not encouraging.. I was considering picking up a few of the Copplestone figures that had migrated over to Northstar.. I didn't get any of the pewter Rogue Stars simply because I didn't care for the sculpts.. but if the castings are uniformly bad like that, I will avoid the classic Copplestone from Northstar all the same..

**-iPaint-**

MLaw wrote:
-iPaint- wrote:
Well I received my models and rulebook a few days ago, and had a chance to more closely inspect the models.

I'm noticing that about half of them have either minor molding and bubbling issues, slippage, mold lines or miscasts, and a few have slightly more serious issues, including complete loss of detail.

http://imgur.com/a/P1ecw

I'll try and get some better pics at some point with maybe an ink wash, but how have everyone else's models faired? The models in the rulebook look superb (assuming they're the master models or maybe master resins), but for such quality Copplestone sculpts, the casts from North Star are a bit...subpar...

Thoughts?

~iPaint

That's not encouraging.. I was considering picking up a few of the Copplestone figures that had migrated over to Northstar.. I didn't get any of the pewter Rogue Stars simply because I didn't care for the sculpts.. but if the castings are uniformly bad like that, I will avoid the classic Copplestone from Northstar all the same..

I'd say the Copplestone Castings lines are well worth it, and I haven't had any issues on any of the cavemen, future warriors, or robots I've ordered via North Star (they now carry Copplestone Castings). I think this is strictly Rogue Stars related at this point, though it'd be curious if it wasn't.

~iPaint

**mdauben**

-iPaint- wrote:
Well I received my models and rulebook a few days ago, and had a chance to more closely inspect the models.

I'm noticing that about half of them have either minor molding and bubbling issues, slippage, mold lines or miscasts, and a few have slightly more serious issues, including complete loss of detail.

http://imgur.com/a/P1ecw

I'll try and get some better pics at some point with maybe an ink wash, but how have everyone else's models faired? The models in the rulebook look superb (assuming they're the master models or maybe master resins), but for such quality Copplestone sculpts, the casts from North Star are a bit...subpar...

Thoughts?

~iPaint

I pulled mine out and took a look at them, particularly the one you photographed and they all seem alright. Maybe you were just unlucky or got a bad batch? In any case, I'd contact North Star and ask for replacements. The figure in the photo is certainly unacceptable.

**Manchu**

From Andrea via FB:

Medikits

The Medikit was omitted from the miscellaneous equipment list. It is a Civilian item and costs 8 XP. It gives +2 to any First Aid rolls performed by the user. It takes one action to ready the Medikit and one action to perform the First Aid roll. The character needs both hands free to use a Medikit.

Any character can get the bonus from the Medikit, not only a character with the Medic Trait. Getting the bonus from a Medic is cheaper, point-wise, but the Medikit can be used even if your Medic is OoA, and it can be picked up from the body of an OoA character.

For those interested in what the rules are like, I wrote an overview of the game here:

http://lifeonjasoom.blogspot.com/2016/12/rogue-stars-overview.html

**Nostromodamus**

I wonder if those of us who apparently got a beta test of the rulebook will be offered a replacement at no charge? The thing is rife with missing content and ambiguous/contradictory wording.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

MLaw wrote:
Nostromodamus wrote:
I've seen a skill mention medkits, but can't find medkit rules anywhere...

On p14 it looks like Medkits simply provide a modifier to First Aid rolls.. Sorry if you already found that but thought it might be helpful.

Yes, but there is no provision for actually acquiring one. Until now, from their FB comment...

**Manchu**

Rather than reprinting a corrected version in the dead end "blue series" format, I'd like to see Osprey give Rogue Stars the FG treatment: hardcover followed by several paperback supplements. The hardcover could include the revised text, expanded content (Andrea is working on a list of gear and rules for cvilian vehicles), as well as a more thoughtful layout.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

-iPaint- wrote:
Well I received my models and rulebook a few days ago, and had a chance to more closely inspect the models.

I'm noticing that about half of them have either minor molding and bubbling issues, slippage, mold lines or miscasts, and a few have slightly more serious issues, including complete loss of detail.

http://imgur.com/a/P1ecw

I'll try and get some better pics at some point with maybe an ink wash, but how have everyone else's models faired? The models in the rulebook look superb (assuming they're the master models or maybe master resins), but for such quality Copplestone sculpts, the casts from North Star are a bit...subpar...

Thoughts?

~iPaint

some of those look pretty bad, I've never had anything that ropey from northstar before so I'd certainly contact them about possible replacements

(I've not got any of the rogue stars stuff but have had other stuff they've presumably cast/had cast themselves so i'm guessing you may have had a bad batch... maybe somebody pulled from the discard box rather than the good stuff by accident)

**Taarnak**

Manchu wrote:
Rather than reprinting a corrected version in the dead end "blue series" format, I'd like to see Osprey give Rogue Stars the FG treatment: hardcover followed by several paperback supplements. The hardcover could include the revised text, expanded content (Andrea is working on a list of gear and rules for cvilian vehicles), as well as a more thoughtful layout.

I completely agree with that. I would buy a second copy of the main book in a hot minute if they did that.

And I really hope they get Mr. Egerkrans to do the illustrations for them all. I love his style and designs. (For those interested, more of his work here.)

~Eric

**Manchu**

Andrea has just posted the first draft of the FAQ/errata on the FB group if anyone is interested in looking it over.

**Grot 6**

-iPaint- wrote:
Well I received my models and rulebook a few days ago, and had a chance to more closely inspect the models.

I'm noticing that about half of them have either minor molding and bubbling issues, slippage, mold lines or miscasts, and a few have slightly more serious issues, including complete loss of detail.

http://imgur.com/a/P1ecw

I'll try and get some better pics at some point with maybe an ink wash, but how have everyone else's models faired? The models in the rulebook look superb (assuming they're the master models or maybe master resins), but for such quality Copplestone sculpts, the casts from North Star are a bit...subpar...

Thoughts?

~iPaint

If you send those back, they will send you replacements. I have not had issue with them in particular. They make it a point to have good quality excellent casts, and this batch you have there should be changed out straight away. call them up, and talk to them first, and maybe even send them the photos.

They have been around a long time, so those sculpts you have there are honestly NOT up to standards, and you shouldn't have even been sent those.

Contact information-

Contact Us
•Mail Order: 0115 970 4107
•Trade Sales: 0115 978 6656
•Fax: 0115 955 2108
(Address all faxes to North Star W37)
•Email: mailorder@northstarfigures.com
•Trade Enquiries: sales@northstarfigures.com

Or write to:

North Star Military Figures Limited
Unit W37
Lenton Business Centre
Lenton Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 2BY
United Kingdom

Company Information

North Star Military Figures Limited is a company registered in England, number 06215435. The registered office is:

Unit W37 Lenton Business Centre
Lenton Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 2BY
UK

Our VAT Number is 828 2592 07

**adamsouza**

Manchu wrote:
Andrea has just posted the first draft of the FAQ/errata on the FB group if anyone is interested in looking it over.

Can you provide a link to the FB Group ?

**Manchu**

Here you go, bud:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/500415916823025/

Andrea has posted some proposed additional equipment:

OK here are the promised Shotgun rules, let me know what you think of the costs, two profiles for shotguns are at the end of the description

Slinged Weapon 1XP per sling
The weapon is fastened to the user's arm with a sling, retractable cord or strap. If the character drops the weapon, because he is disarmed or his arm is crippled or because he chooses to drop the weapon, the weapon becomes unready (it will need one action to be readied) but it does not fall to the ground.

Variable Ammo 1XP per ammo type
While most weapons can be fitted with slightly different types of ammunition, a weapon with this rule can use dramatically different ammo types. By default, the weapon comes loaded with one of the following ammo types, and may purchase more ammo type at a cost of 1XP per ammo type. The weapon is assumed to be fitted with variable selectors. Switching from one ammunition type to another takes one action and one free hand (the hand supporting the weapon is used to switch the selector). If the weapon goes out of ammo, it may continue to fire by switching to another ammo type.

Dragonbreath: Damage 4, Scorching, Maximum Range 10.
Antidrone: Damage 4, +1 to hit drones, ignores penalty for firing at Diminutive targets. Non-Penetrating against targets that are not Drones.
Leaf Cutter: Damage 4, target may not claim cover modifier from vegetation.
Buckshot: Damage 4, Non-Penetrating, +1 to hit if target is between 3 and 6 MU away.
Armour Shredder: Damage 4, Armour Piercing if target is up to 4 MU away.
Jolt: Damage 4, Maximum Range 10, +1 Damage against robots and drones.
Herbicide: Damage 3, Maximum Range 10, +2 Damage against Vegetable targets.
Flechette: Damage 4, if there is another target within 2 MU of the first target, shooter performs a secondary attack at -2, Damage 3 against that target. If more than one secondary target exists, determine randomly which one receives the secondary attack. Note that this includes friends and foes. If Flechette ammo is fired into a melee, the shooter chooses a primary target for his attack. The Flechette will perform a secondary attack against all models, friends or foes, in melee contact with the primary target.

Shotgun: Variable Ammo, Short Range, Two-Handed Cost: 6XP +1 per extra ammo type
Sawed Off Shotgun: Variable Ammo, Short Range, Maximum Range 8 Cost 6XP +1 x extra ammo

Down with police brutality in the cosmos. Citizens, arm yourself with Omniacorp's high quality, perfectly legal disposable disentanglers. Let us know what you think of the product on our radiotel sphere.

Disposable Disentangler 1XP (C )
Using this one-shot item, you may perform a TN12 Tech roll to break free from being Entangled. You may also use this item to free an adjacent Entangled friend. You may purchase and carry as many as needed, at 1XP each.

**adamsouza**

Thanks for the link. Joined the group. It looks like Ahdrea is very active there, which is great.

**Manchu**

Ok guys, please test these two new weapon upgrades when you can and let me know how they work. Overpowered, too expensive, too limited?

New Weapon Upgrades

Hotshot +3XP ( C)
This enhancement may be applied only to ranged energy weapons. The weapon is rewired in a way that increases its Damage by 1 against any target within 6 MU. Against targets that are more than 6 MU away, the bonus does not apply. Any critical failure on the weapon's Shooting roll means the weapon is destroyed. The weapon is replaced as normal between games. Hotshotting may also be applied to Built-In weapons, but any critical failure also inflicts an attack with half the weapon's Damage, rounded down, on the body part where the weapon is installed. This attack ignores that body part's Armour score (just perform the Endure roll for the part affected).

Sniping Weapon +12XP (M, R)
This upgrade can be applied only to rifles (two-handed, non-Primitive ranged weapons). On an Aimed Shot or a Called Shot, the weapon ignores all range modifiers. The weapon, however, never gets a bonus for firing at point blank. This ability may not be used with Hail of Fire attacks.

**-iPaint-**

Grot 6 wrote:

If you send those back, they will send you replacements. I have not had issue with them in particular. They make it a point to have good quality excellent casts, and this batch you have there should be changed out straight away. call them up, and talk to them first, and maybe even send them the photos.

They have been around a long time, so those sculpts you have there are honestly NOT up to standards, and you shouldn't have even been sent those.

Contact information-

Contact Us
•Mail Order: 0115 970 4107
•Trade Sales: 0115 978 6656
•Fax: 0115 955 2108
(Address all faxes to North Star W37)
•Email: mailorder@northstarfigures.com
•Trade Enquiries: sales@northstarfigures.com

Or write to:

North Star Military Figures Limited
Unit W37
Lenton Business Centre
Lenton Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 2BY
United Kingdom

Company Information

North Star Military Figures Limited is a company registered in England, number 06215435. The registered office is:

Unit W37 Lenton Business Centre
Lenton Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 2BY
UK

Our VAT Number is 828 2592 07

I've sent an informative email out to Brigade Games (did the US-based Nickstarter with them) and North Star, and I imagine it will be a few days before I hear back due to the New Year holiday. I was upfront, yet not abrasive. I really do hope these are just a batch that slipped through QC, and not anything serious related to the molds.

~iPaint