Rules v1.2.1
A Fleet consists of a number of Models. A Model may consist of a single Capital Ship figurine on its base or a squadron of Exo-Armors or Fighter figurines on their base. A Model can also be a terrain model or template such as an asteroid, comet, Habitat, or station.
In addition to models players will require some six sided dice, at least four. A pencil, paper, ruler or measuring tape, and the markers and tokens available at the end of these rules.
Exo-Armor and Fighter models are based on 1" Hex bases with a multi-pronged mounting supporting each model. Capital Ships are mounted on rectangular or square bases which show their attack arcs. Ships are marked on the bottom of their data cards as to which base size to use, and sold packaged with the correct base size.
Data Cards are a way of collecting the attributes, traits, and statlines of each model. Here are two examples, one of a Squadron and one of Capital Ship.
There are different model types in a game of Jovian Wars. The type of a model affects the range it can be detected by sensors and therefore the range it can be attacked from. Additionally the number of dice each weapons rolls to attack a model is determined by its type. Some Special Actions are restricted to certain model types.
An Exo-Armor is a 15-30 foot tall exoskeleton with manipulators, thrusters, and an articulated frame. This flexibility gives them their chief advantages of maneuverability, a variety of weapons, and their ability to land on and attack capital ships at point blank range. Exo-Armor models are based three figures on a single 1” hex base. The term Exo-Armor can also describe large exo-suits (armored space suits).
Fighters are light spacecraft built around extremely powerful engines that carry large quantities of ordnance, but lack some of the versatility and weapon options of Exo-Armor squadrons. Fighter models are based three figures on a single 1” hex base. The term “Fighter” can also describe fighter-bombers, reconnaissance vehicles, and bombers. Fighter squadrons may not use the Boarding Party special action unless they have the Marines:X trait.
Capital ships encompasses a range of craft from small freighters dozens of meters long to battleships hundreds of meters long. Capital Ships have restricted firing arcs marked on their bases in addition to a turning mark used for movement. Each weapon system is listed with a weapon arc or arcs that describe the area that the model may fire into with those weapons.
Capital ships and installations such as orbitals and stations maintain a defensive crew of marines in armored space suits and exo-skeletons. These units are not mobile enough to operate in space away from a craft or dock but they are adept at performing boarding attacks if they can cross to a nearby enemy craft and successfully board them. Infantry and Exo-Suits are not represented by models but are the Marine rating or trait that is listed on the models that transport them. Exo-Armor models with the Exo-Suit trait are small enough to board capital ships as if they were Marines.
The Jovian Wars game scenarios may include specific terrain models such as comets, asteroids, orbitals, and space stations. The model’s attributes should be determined before the game starts.