Rules v1.2.1

Game Components

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.

Base sizes

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

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.

Data Card Example

  1. The Threat Value (TV) of the model. This is used to construct a fleet.
  2. The Faction this model belongs to.
  3. The identifying Name of this type of model.
  4. The Type of this model. Used to determine available special actions.
  5. Skill describes the number of dice to roll for some special actions. Speed is how far this model can move, and Fire Control is how many weapons it can attack with each turn.
  6. Structure/Damage is the number of hits a model can suffer before it is crippled (capital ship) or crippled/destroyed (Squadron).
  7. System stats. Capital ships have the point Defense, Sensors, and Thrusters systems with boxes representing how much damage they can sustain. Squadrons have point Defense, Sensors, and Fuel ratings.
  8. List of Weapons this model may attack with. The type of weapon determines the effects of a hit.
  9. Weapon ratings for attacking Anti-Capital ship or Anti-Squadron. Capital ships also have Arc and Macro ratings.
  10. Any additional weapon traits that affect the attack.
  11. Boxes for marking damage to weapons.
  12. Traits that describe special abilities or system traits the model has.
  13. Information detailing when this card was last updated.
  14. The standard base size for this model.
  15. Image of the model for identification purposes.

Model Types

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.

Squadrons

Exo-Armor Squadrons

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).

Fighter Squadrons

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

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.

Infantry & Exo-Suits

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.

Terrain

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.