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[BSG] Game (Base) 25: Back to BASICs! CYLON Victory by Fuel loss!

artadiusartadius Registered User regular
edited March 2012 in Critical Failures
bsg-bg-logo.png
Base Set Game (Newbie Friendly)
After forty years passing without a single word from the Cylons, they returned, and all but eradicated the human race. In this time of strife, they must put aside the petty differences that once separated them and focus on one thing — survival.

Humanity's only hope of a future is to find a new home; a place called Earth. The Cylons, however, are in constant and tireless pursuit. They now look, breathe and bleed exactly like humans. Cylons have infiltrated the Fleet, destroyed resources, and threaten to finish the extermination they have begun. The humans have no choice but to run, plagued by the paranoia of an indistinguishable enemy.

Are you a Cylon who will help to erase any memory of the human race? Or will your resilience and determination to survive prove to the Cylons that humanity is worth saving?

In the basic version of the game, players take the roles of prominent figures in the remainder of humanity working toward the goal of reaching Kobol, the first step on the long road toward the legendary planet Earth. However, hidden among their ranks are Cylon infiltrators, who seek to end humanity for once and for all. This game will only be using this basic version of the game along with a few popular house rules. We'll also be giving priority to newer players to the BSG game in order to keep this one at an introductory level.

Rules and Utilities

Base Set Rules, from the publisher's website
FAQ and Errata, from the publisher’s website
Player Aid 1 (Base Set), on BoardGameGeek
Player Aid 2 (Base Set), on BoardGameGeek

Pegasus and Exodus Expansion OP by MrBlarney, original Base Set OP borrowed from Akinos/Darian. (With modifications.)
Now appropriated from Tmoiy for Exodus Game 9

Notes and Guidelines for the PbP Format:
Secrecy is an important part of this game! As such, the following rules must be followed at all times:
  • You may not tell other players the exact value/type of cards that are in your hand, that you plan to put into a Skill Check, or what you had put into a Skill Check after it is resolved. You may still use vague terms to describe the cards you hold/play: “this should help a lot” or “this should help a little” are reasonable; “this should help a medium amount” can be said for multiple cards.
  • Outside of a skill check, it is permissible to state whether you have a certain card in hand ("I have a Strategic Planning for a FTL roll",”I can Declare Emergency if needed”,”Would Scientific Research help here?”,etc); this rule should not be abused to communicate the detailed contents of your hand to other players.
  • If an ability or action allows you to look at the top or bottom card of any deck, you are not allowed to tell the other players what that card is or any specific information about it.
  • Specific information on a player's loyalty cards cannot be revealed beyond claiming/denying to be a Cylon. For "You Are A Cylon" cards, no specific discussion of reveal effects is allowed.
  • All communication between players must be made through this thread. Private conversations are not permitted.
  • All players, whether Human or Cylons, must adhere to these rules; Revealed Cylons may not show their hands to other players or reveal their Super Crisis card until they play it.

All game actions should be reported in the thread in bold for them to be recognized. Movement, skill card use, ability use, discards, etc. all count as game actions.

***MODIFIED SYSTEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR PBP GAME -- READ THIS OR ELSE!***
Skill checks in this game will usually follow a different format than tabletop rules. In this game, players may play their cards into the skill check in ANY ORDER they wish. You will NOT have to wait for your normal turn around the table to put in cards to a skill check. Usually, when a skill check happens, the players put in cards to the skill check in normal player order beginning with the player next in line from the current player's turn and ending with the current player. In order to facilitate speedier skill checks, this will NOT be the case.
HOWEVER! The following types of skill checks will STILL be handled in normal turn order to prevent the most egregious opportunities for spiking checks and stalemates between players:
  • When an Investigative Committee card is played before the skill check
  • Skill checks at the following locations: Admiral's Quarters, Administration, and The Brig.
  • Skill checks which would end the game for either faction
  • I reserve the right to begin enforcing turn order for any particular skill check if I feel that two or more players are taking advantage of this freedom in order to sabotage a particular skill check.

    Discussing with your fellow players before committing cards to the skill check is still important! Just because you can play your cards into the skill check whenever you want does not absolve you from discussion prior to doing so and will likely result in you wasting precious cards!

There are a number of Skill Cards that can be played under certain conditions. Please refer to the Skill Cards section for the effects of each card. For the purposes of keeping things moving at a good pace, I recommend sending me a PM with guidelines or instructions in advance referred to as COs, or Conditional Orders. Examples include: “Declare Emergency if the check is within 2 of succeeding”,”Evasive Maneuvers on myself if my viper is damaged or destroyed”,”I'll Strategic Planning the FTL roll if it's activated this turn”. I will not make any decisions for you, so COs must be clear and precise. I will use the lowest strength copy of a card if you have multiples unless otherwise specified.

Skill Cards that come before events:
Before die rolls: Strategic Planning
Before skill checks: Investigative Committee, Scientific Research

Skill Cards that come after events:
After skill checks: Declare Emergency
After combat rolls: Evasive Maneuvers

Observers can post with commentary but should avoid strategic discussion.

The Board
bsgboardexample.jpg
Above, the main game board at the beginning of the game, before characters are placed. The fleet has four resources that will deplete over the course of the game: Fuel (starts at 8), Food (starts at 8), Morale (starts at 10), and Population (starts at 12). One Basestar and three Raiders are deployed at the fore of Galactica, two civilian ships at the aft, and one Viper in each of the port-bow and port-quarter areas.

The two blue boards to the right of Galactica in this picture are for the two expansions Pegasus and Exodus and represent additional elements to the game which we will not be using. For the purposes of this playthrough, you will not see those boards. Therefore, I will not explain them at this time.

General Game Flow and Victory Conditions
In the Battlestar Galactica base game, the humans are trying to reach Kobol, ancient birthplace of the Human Race, before various catastrophes beset them instigated by the Cylons who are relentlessly pursuing them.

Human Victory:
  • Kobol scenario: Reach Kobol by making one final jump after accumulating a Destination Score of 8 or more. (Every jump will yield a Destination Card with a score between 1 and 3.)
Cylon Victory: End humanity. This is done by destroying Galactica (damage six locations), dropping one of the fleet's resource stats to 0, executing a human with no replacement character available, or getting a Centurion boarding party far enough into Galactica's innards to shut down life support.

At the start of the game, each player is given one Loyalty Card (exception: Gaius Baltar, who receives two) that indicates whether or not a player starts out as a Human or a Cylon player. Players take turns in sequence, encountering crises and jumping the fleet towards the destination of Kobol. When a distance of 4 or greater has been reached, the Sleeper Agent Phase activates: each player, including Revealed Cylons, is dealt one more Loyalty Card (exception: Sharon "Boomer" Valerii, who receives two). Human players may secretly turn into Cylon players during this phase. The total number of Cylons present in the game is fixed and dependent on the number of players in the game.

Human (and Unrevealed Cylon) Game Turn
  1. Receive Skills Step: The current player draws the number and types of Skill Cards listed on his character sheet.
  2. Movement Step: The current player may move to a different location. If he moves to a different ship (between Galactica, and Colonial One, or from a Viper to any of these ships), he must discard one Skill Card from his hand.
  3. Action Step: The current player chooses one action to perform. Options include the actions listed on his location, on his/her character sheet, and Skill Cards. If piloting in a Viper, you may activate it as an action. Unrevealed Cylons may also reveal a Cylon Loyalty Card in this step.
  4. Crisis Step: The top card of the Crisis deck is drawn and then resolved.
  5. Activate Cylon Ships Step: If any are in play, Cylon ships are activated according to the Crisis Card drawn.
  6. Prepare for Jump Step: If the Crisis Card has the "prepare for jump" icon on it, the fleet token advances one space on the Jump Preparation track. If the token reaches the end of this track, then the fleet jumps automatically.

Revealing as a Cylon
Cylon players may reveal a Loyalty Card indicating their alignment as an action. The following steps are followed after a reveal:
  1. Resolve Loyalty Card Action: If the player is not in the Brig, then the effect on their Loyalty Card takes effect.
  2. Discard: The player's hand is discarded down to 3 Skill Cards.
  3. Lose Titles: If the player was Admiral or President, the title is passed to the human player that is highest in the line of succession.
  4. Receive Super Crisis: The player receives one random Super Crisis card from those available.
  5. Hand Off Excess Loyalty Cards (NORMALLY in Pegasus Expansion, but we're using this also): If Galactica has traveled 6 distance or less, all unrevealed Loyalty Cards are passed on to a single human player of the revealing player’s choice.
  6. Join Cylons: The player moves to the Resurrection Ship and their turn ends.

Revealed Cylon Game Turn
Revealed Cylons ignore all abilities and effects that were part of their original character. Cylon players may also choose to ignore effects on Crisis Cards and Loyalty Cards that might affect them unless the card specifically targets a Cylon player.
  1. Draw Skills Step: The current player may draw any Skill Cards (Base game allows both cards to be of the same type).
  2. Movement Step: The current player may move to any of the Cylon Locations.
  3. Action Step: The current player activates his current location and performs the listed action.
  4. Prepare for Jump Step: In the base game, the Activate Cylon Ships Step and Prepare for Jump Step are always skipped on Cylon players’ turns (when played from the Caprica location).

Moderating BSG Game 25
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Posts

  • artadiusartadius Registered User regular
    edited January 2012
    Locations
    Galactica
    • FTL Control - Action: Jump the fleet if the Jump Preparation track is not in the red zone. Might lose population. (Population is lost on a 6 or lower.)
    • Weapons Control - Action: Attack 1 Cylon ship with Galactica.
    • Command - Action: Activate unmanned Vipers 2 times. These can be used on the same viper twice, or on two different vipers. Activated Vipers can be ordered to launch, move, or fire on a Cylon vessel.
    • Communications - Action: Look at the back of up to 2 civilian ships. You may then move them to adjacent area(s).
    • Admiral's Quarters - Action: Choose a character; then pass this skill check to send him to the "Brig". [Skill 7: Leadership, Tactics]
    • Research Lab - Action: Draw 1 Engineering or 1 Tactics Skill Card.
    • Hangar Deck - Action: Launch yourself in a viper. You may then take 1 more action. (Must have the Piloting skill.)
    • Armory - Action: Attack a Centurion on the Boarding Party track (destroyed on a roll of 7+).
    • Sickbay - You may only draw 1 Skill Card during your Receive Skills step. You may not move to this location with your normal movement.
    • Brig - You may not move, draw Crisis Cards, or add more than 1 card to skill checks. You may not move to this location with your normal movement. Action: Pass this skill check to move to any Galactica location. [Skill 7: Politics, Tactics]
    Colonial One
    • Press Room - Action: Draw 2 Politics Skill Cards.
    • President's Office - Action: If you are the President, draw 1 Quorum Card. You may then draw 1 additional Quorum Card or play 1 from your hand.
    • Administration - Action: Choose a character, then pass this skill check to give him the President title. [Skill 5: Politics, Leadership]
    Cylon Locations
    • Caprica - Action: Play 1 of your Super Crisis Cards or draw 2 Crisis Cards, choose 1 to resolve, and place the other on the bottom of the deck. If playing a Crisis Card, the Activate Cylon Ships Step and Jump Prep Step is ignored.
    • Cylon Fleet - Action: Activate all Cylon ships of one type, or launch 2 Raiders and 1 Heavy Raider from each Basestar. Activating heavy raiders will advance the centurions one step on the boarding party track, even if there are no heavy raiders on the board.
    • Human Fleet - Action: Look at any player's hand, and steal 1 Skill Card (place it in your hand). Then roll a die, and if 5 or higher, damage Galactica.
    • Resurrection Ship - Action: You may discard your Super Crisis Card to draw a new one.

    Skill Checks
    Most Crisis Cards and some Locations resolve with a Skill Check. Skill Checks are a major avenue of subterfuge for Cylon players.

    A Skill Check will involve two to four types of Skill Cards, and a difficulty number. A Skill Check always includes 2 cards from the Destiny Deck (see below), and then each player may add as many cards as they like in turn (exception: Players in Brig and Revealed Cylons may only contribute one card to each check. All skill cards are submitted without revealing their values, including cards that come from the Destiny Deck. Only after all players have made a submission are cards revealed, without noting which card came from which player. PM the host the specific cards you wish to contribute after declaring the amount of cards in the game thread.

    After the skill cards are revealed, you ADD all of the numbers from the appropriately colored Skill Cards, and then SUBTRACT all of the numbers from the non-matching Skill Cards. If this total meets or beats the Skill Check difficulty, the check is passed; otherwise, the check is failed. Passing a crisis usually does nothing but avoid negative results, but some crises can yield positive results. Some Skill Checks have a number value that allows for a partial pass; in these cases the negative results are lessened to some extent.

    The Destiny Deck is composed of two cards from each of the six Skill Card types. Two are drawn for each Skill Check, and the deck is only replenished when it is exhausted (after six Skill Checks).

    Skill Cards
    Each player's hand is comprised of Skill Cards drawn from five different types: Politics, Leadership, Tactics, Piloting, and Engineering. There are 21 cards of each type, with Skill Check values from 1 to 5. Some of these cards may also be used outside of Skill Checks, as a regular Action, or in reaction to specific circumstances. I encourage you to PM me with circumstances in which you will automatically use your cards, so as to help keep the game moving as quickly as possible. If more than one character would be using the same card at the same time, only the next in action order will make the play. See the Notes and Guidelines section for some rules on cards of this type.

    Players have a maximum hand limit of 10 Skill Cards (exception: "Chief" Galen Tyrol, whose hand limit is 8). If they exceed this limit at the end of any player's turn, they must discard down to this amount. Players may temporarily exceed this amount during any player's turn, including the start of their own turn after drawing Skill Cards.

    Color guide:
    Politics: orange
    Leadership: green
    Tactics: purple
    Piloting: red
    Engineering: blue

    Politics
    • Consolidate Power - Action: Draw 2 Skill Cards of any type(s). They may come from outside your skill set. [8 x Strength 1, 6 x Strength 2]
    • Investigative Committee - Play before cards are added to a skill check. All Skill Cards are played face up during this skill check (INCLUDING those from the Destiny Deck). [4 x Strength 3, 2 x Strength 4, 1 x Strength 5]

    Leadership
    • Executive Order - Action: Choose any other player. He may move his character and then take 1 action OR not move and take 2 actions. A limit of 1 "Executive Order" card may be used per turn. [8 x Strength 1, 6 x Strength 2]
    • Declare Emergency - Play after strength is totaled in a skill check to reduce its difficulty by 2. A limit of 1 "Declare Emergency" card may be used per skill check. [4 x Strength 3, 2 x Strength 4, 1 x Strength 5]

    Tactics
    • Launch Scout - Action: Risk 1 Raptor to roll a die. If 3 or higher, look at the top card of the Crisis or Destination Deck and place it on the top or the bottom. Otherwise, destroy 1 Raptor. [8 x Strength 1, 6 x Strength 2]
    • Strategic Planning - Play before any die roll to add 2 to the result. Limit of 1 "Strategic Planning" card used per die roll. [4 x Strength 3, 2 x Strength 4, 1 x Strength 5]

    Piloting
    • Evasive Maneuvers - Play after any Viper is attacked to reroll the die. If the Viper is piloted, subtract 2 from the new roll. [8 x Strength 1, 6 x Strength 2]
    • Maximum Firepower - Action: Play while piloting a Viper to attack up to 4 times. Play when activating the Armory to reroll an attack to destroy a boarded Centurion. [4 x Strength 3, 2 x Strength 4, 1 x Strength 5]

    Engineering
    • Repair - Action: Repair your current location, or if you are in the "Hangar Deck" location, you may repair up to 2 damaged Vipers. [8 x Strength 1, 6 x Strength 2]
    • Scientific Research - Play before cards are added to a skill check. All engineering cards in the skill check count as positive strength. [4 x Strength 3, 2 x Strength 4, 1 x Strength 5]

    artadius on
    Moderating BSG Game 25
  • artadiusartadius Registered User regular
    Activating Cylon Ships
    Cylon ships are usually activated based on icons found on Crisis Cards. Cylon players may also activate Cylon ships by using the Cylon Fleet location action on their turns. There are four different types of activations:

    Activate Raiders - Each raider on the board takes one action with the following priority:
    1. Attack a Viper: Attack a viper in the same space area; unmanned Vipers are attacked before player-piloted Vipers.
    2. Destroy Civilian Ship: The current player chooses a civilian ship in the Raider's space area. The ship is automatically destroyed and the listed resources lost.
    3. Move: The Raider moves toward the nearest space area containing a civilian ship, moving clockwise if there are two space areas equidistant from the Raider's current location.
    4. Attack Galactica - If none of the above actions have been taken, the Raider will remain in its current area and attack Galactica.
    If there are no Raiders on the board to activate, then each Basestar on the board launches two Raiders instead. If there are multiple space areas containing Raiders, then the current player may choose the order in which they activate; all raiders in a space area are activated before moving to the next.

    Launch Raiders - Each Basestar in play launches three raiders. If there are not enough raiders, the current player may choose which raiders are launched.

    Activate Heavy Raiders and Centurions - Each Heavy Raider on the board moves toward the closest Viper launch area, or if in a launch area, deposits a Centurion on the first space of the Boarding Party track. If there are no Heavy Raiders on the board, each Basestar in play launches one Heavy Raider. Each Centurion also advances one space on the Boarding Party track; if any has advanced to the end (a total of four activations), then the Cylons win. Centurions activate with Heavy Raiders with the Cylon Fleet location action.

    Activate Basestars - Each Basestar in play attacks Galactica.

    Combat Table
    • Unit Attacked: Die Roll = Result

    • Raider: 3-8 = Destroyed
    • Heavy Raider: 7-8 = Destroyed
    • Centurion: 7-8 = Destroyed
    • Basestar attacked by Viper: 8 = Damaged
    • Basestar attacked by Galactica: 5-8 = Damaged

    • Viper Mk. II: 5-7 = Damaged; 8 = Destroyed; if a piloted viper is damaged or destroyed, move the pilot to Sickbay
    • Civilian Ship: Automatically Destroyed (no die roll)
    • Galactica attacked by Raider: 8 = Damaged
    • Galactica attacked by Basestar: 4-8 = Damaged

    • Nuke (Base Game) (targets a basestar): 1-2 = Damaged Twice; 3-6 = Destroyed; 7-8 = Destroyed and destroy 3 Raiders in the same area

    Jumping
    jump-track.png
    The ultimate objective for the humans in the base set scenario is to jump the fleet enough distance to make it to Kobol. The game starts with the Jump Prep marker on Start. Each Crisis Card drawn has a chance to advance the Jump Prep marker. When the Jump Prep marker reaches the -3 or -1 spots, any human character can use the FTL Control location to initiate a jump, but will risk losing 3 or 1 population on a roll of 6 or less) If the Jump Prep marker advances to the Auto Jump spot, the fleet automatically jumps with no risk of population loss.

    Under standard rules, jumping clears the board of all ships. All Vipers, unmanned or piloted, return to the reserves. Any characters piloting Vipers are moved to the Hangar Deck. While jumping does clear the board of all Cylon ships, any Centurions in a boarding party remain on Galactica. After the jump, the Admiral draws 2 cards from the Destination Deck and chooses one, jumping the fleet a certain distance and initiating a special effect, and the Jump Prep marker returns to its starting position.

    Moderating BSG Game 25
  • artadiusartadius Registered User regular
    edited January 2012
    Cast of Characters
    william-adama.png[Military Leader] William Adama
    Skill Card Draw: 3 Leadership, 2 Tactics

    General Ability: Inspirational Leader - When you draw a Crisis Card, all 1 strength Skill Cards count positive for the skill check.

    One-Time Ability: Command Authority - Once per game, after resolving a skill check, instead of discarding the used Skill Cards, draw them into your hand.

    Disadvantage: Emotionally Attached - You may not activate the "Admiral’s Quarters" location.

    Setup Location: Admiral’s Quarters
    saul-tigh.png[Military Leader] Saul Tigh
    Skill Card Draw: 2 Leadership, 3 Tactics

    General Ability: Cylon Hatred - When a player activates the "Admiral's Quarters" location, you may choose to reduce the difficulty by 3.

    One-Time Ability: Declare Martial Law - Action: Once per game, give the President title to the Admiral.

    Disadvantage: Alcoholic - At the start of any player’s turn, if you have exactly 1 Skill Card in your hand, you must discard it.

    Setup Location: Command
    karl-agathon.png[Military Leader] Karl "Helo" Agathon
    Skill Card Draw: 2 Leadership, 2 Tactics, 1 Piloting

    General Ability: ECO Officer - During your turn, you may reroll a die that was just rolled (once per turn). You must use the new result.

    One-Time Ability: Moral Compass - Once per game, after a player makes a choice on a Crisis Card, you may change it.

    Disadvantage: Stranded - Your character is not placed on the game board at the start of the game. While not on the game board, you may not move, be moved, or take actions. At the start of your 2nd turn, place your character on the "Hangar Deck" location.

    laura-roslin.png[Political Leader] Laura Roslin
    Skill Card Draw: 3 Politics, 2 Leadership

    General Ability: Religious Visions - When you draw Crisis Cards, draw 2 and choose 1 to resolve. Place the other on the bottom of the deck.

    One-Time Ability: Skilled Politician - Action: Once per game, draw 4 Quorum Cards. Choose 1 to resolve and place the rest on the bottom of the deck. You do not need to be President to use this ability.

    Disadvantage: Terminal Illness - In order to activate a location, you must first discard 2 Skill Cards.

    Setup Location: President's Office
    gaius-baltar.png[Political Leader] Gaius Baltar
    Skill Card Draw: 2 Politics, 1 Leadership, 1 Engineering

    General Ability: Delusional Intuition - After you draw a Crisis Card, draw 1 Skill Card of your choice (it may be from outside your skill set).

    One-Time Ability: Cylon Detector - Action: Once per game, you may look at all Loyalty Cards belonging to another player.

    Disadvantage: Coward - You start the game with 2 Loyalty Cards (instead of 1).

    Setup Location: Research Lab
    tom-zarek.png[Political Leader] Tom Zarek
    Skill Card Draw: 2 Politics, 2 Leadership, 1 Tactics

    General Ability: Friends in Low Places - When a player activates the "Administration" or the "Brig" location, you may choose to reduce or increase the difficulty by 2.

    One-Time Ability: Unconventional Tactics - Action: Once per game, lose 1 population to gain 1 of any other resource type.

    Disadvantage: Convicted Criminal - You may not activate locations occupied by other characters (except the "Brig").

    Setup Location: Administration

    lee-adama.png[Pilot] Lee "Apollo" Adama
    Skill Card Draw: 1 Tactics, 2 Piloting, 2 Leadership/Politics

    General Ability: Alert Viper Pilot - When a viper is placed in a space area from the "Reserves", you may choose to pilot it and take 1 action. You may only do this when you are on a Galactica location, excluding the "Brig".

    One-Time Ability: CAG - Action: Once per game, you may activate up to 6 unmanned vipers.

    Disadvantage: Headstrong - When you are forced to discard Skill Cards, you must discard randomly.

    Setup Location: Launch and pilot a Viper
    kara-thrace.png[Pilot] Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
    Skill Card Draw: 2 Tactics, 2 Piloting, 1 Leadership/Engineering

    General Ability: Expert Pilot - When you start your turn piloting a viper, you may take 2 actions during your Action Step (instead of 1).

    One-Time Ability: Secret Destiny - Once per game, immediately after a Crisis Card is revealed, discard it and draw a new one.

    Disadvantage: Insubordinate - When a player chooses you with the "Admiral's Quarters" location, reduce the difficulty by 3.

    Setup Location: Hangar Deck
    sharon-valerii.png[Pilot] Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
    Skill Card Draw: 2 Tactics, 2 Piloting, 1 Engineering

    General Ability: Recon - At the end of your turn, you may look at the top card of the Crisis Deck and place it on the top or bottom.

    One-Time Ability: Mysterious Intuition - Once per game, before resolving a skill check on a Crisis Card, choose the result (Pass or Fail), instead of resolving it normally.

    Disadvantage: Sleeper Agent - During the Sleeper Agent Phase, you are dealt 2 Loyalty Cards (instead of 1) and then moved to the "Brig" location.

    Setup Location: Armory

    galen-tyrol.png[Support] "Chief" Galen Tyrol
    Skill Card Draw: 1 Politics, 2 Leadership, 2 Engineering

    General Ability: Maintenance Engineer - During your turn, after you use a "Repair" Skill Card, you may take another action (once per turn).

    One-Time Ability: Blind Devotion - Once per game, after cards have been added to a Skill Check (but before revealing them), you may choose a skill type. All cards of the chosen type are considered strength 0.

    Disadvantage: Reckless - Your hand limit is 8 (instead of 10).

    Setup Location: Hangar Deck

    Character Selection
    Each player chooses a character in turn order. Selection of Political Leaders, Military Leaders, and Pilots is restricted if there are more of the other types of characters, Support characters (Chief) may be chosen at any time.

    The first player draws their full Skill Card Draw to start the first turn, while all other players draw three cards from their normal Skill Card Draw to start the game.

    Admiral, and President
    At the start of the game, the Admiral and President roles are given to the players who are highest in the appropriate line of succession. Players with these roles have extra powers and responsibilities throughout the game. These roles may pass from player to player depending on actions taken.

    Admiral
    When the fleet jumps, you draw 2 Destination Cards and choose 1 to resolve.

    You control the nuke tokens. (There are 2 nuke tokens available at the start of the game with an additional token that can be gained.)

    Action: Launch 1 nuke at a Basestar (the nuke is discarded).

    Nukes damage a Basestar twice on a roll of 1-2, automatically destroy a Basestar on a roll of 3-6, automatically destroy a Basestar and 3 Raiders in the same area on a roll of 7-8.

    Line of Succession
    1. William Adama
    2. Saul Tigh
    3. Helo Agathon
    4. Lee "Apollo" Adama
    5. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
    6. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
    7. "Chief" Galen Tyrol
    8. Tom Zarek
    9. Gaius Baltar
    10. Laura Roslin

    The title of Admiral is lost if the holder is sent to the Brig, and is given to the human player highest in succession that is not in the Brig. If all human players are in the Brig, then the title goes to the player highest in the normal succession until a human player manages to leave the Brig.

    President
    At the start of the game, draw 1 Quorum Card. You control the hand of Quorum Cards.

    Action: Draw a Quorum Card into your hand.

    Per base game rules, there is no limit to the size of your Quorum Hand. Quorum cards can be played as an action and specialize in increasing resources and dealing with unrevealed Cylons.

    Line of Succession
    1. Laura Roslin
    2. Gaius Baltar
    3. Tom Zarek
    4. Lee "Apollo" Adama
    5. William Adama
    6. Karl "Helo" Agathon
    7. "Chief" Galen Tyrol
    8. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
    9. Saul Tigh
    10. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace

    Note that if the President is in the "Brig," he/she keeps the President title and all associated abilities.

    artadius on
    Moderating BSG Game 25
  • artadiusartadius Registered User regular
    edited January 2012
    Information specific to this PbP starts here

    My notes on the PbP format. Please read!
    I've done BSG PbP at another location and I'm also a fan of reading them here, on SA, and on BGG... so the way I'll be running things here will be different in some ways than you might be used to.

    Conditional Orders
    COs help keep the game flowing at a reasonable pace. I'll pause briefly to give players a chance to play interrupts, but many can and should be set up via CO. Just PM me the conditions under which you wish to automatically use a card, such as:
    • I'll Evasive Maneuvers if a manned viper is damaged/destroyed, or if an unmanned viper is destroyed
    • Strategic Planning on the roll if FTL is activated
    • If I get an XO (Executive Order) this turn I'll activate Weapons Control twice targeting the basestar in sector 1

    If there are any choices to be made (such as what ship to target, which deck to scout) please include those.

    Don't feel pressured to CO things that you want time to think over. The idea is mostly to automate certain plays that you know you're going to make regardless of what else is going on.

    Skill Check Interrupts

    Before each skill check every player has an opportunity to play one or more cards that will modify the check. Each player will play an interrupt card or pass. I will proxy a Pass in your name without revealing that you auto-passed when appropriate (such as when you have no cards available with which to interrupt with). Otherwise, I'll PM you and/or give you a fair amount of time to post your interrupt or state that you're passing in the topic.[/b]

    Adding Cards to Skill Checks

    Once interrupts are taken care of, players add cards to the check USUALLY in ANY order (see below in house rules). Crisis cards will include the full text (though this example doesn't), including cylon ship activation and jump prep icon. If a crisis has a partial pass it will be indicated after the strength in parenthesis, (6) in this example.
    Medical Breakthrough - 12(6)YGB

    Destiny - 2 cards
    Apollo -
    Adama -
    Chief -
    Starbuck -
    Roslin -
    Zarek -

    will become
    Medical Breakthrough - 12(6)YGB

    Destiny - 2 cards
    Apollo - Pass
    Adama - 1 card
    Chief - Pass
    Starbuck - Pass
    Roslin - Pass
    Zarek - 1 card (high)

    Players will PM me their card contributions. Only post how many cards you are adding (if any) and their relative strengths (optional) in the thread.

    You are encouraged to discuss your possible contribution before you add cards regardless of turn order. You may not, however, bold how many cards you are adding before your turn. If your submission is the same regardless of other players' submissions, please PM me with a CO stating which cards (and their strengths, to avoid confusion) you will add. When your turn comes around I will fill in your spot on the list and move on to the next player.

    Once all cards have been submitted I'll reveal them, tallied up, resulting in a pass or fail. You may play Declare Emergency one cards have been totaled and I encourage you to include a CO for this with your card submission if you intend to use one.

    House rules
    A player activating the Armory may discard a Maximum Firepower to reroll the die

    Skill Check Order
    Skill checks in this game will usually follow a different format than tabletop rules. In this game, players may play their cards into the skill check in ANY ORDER they wish. You will NOT have to wait for your normal turn around the table to put in cards to a skill check. Usually, when a skill check happens, the players put in cards to the skill check in normal player order beginning with the player next in line from the current player's turn and ending with the current player. In order to facilitate speedier skill checks, this will NOT be the case.
    HOWEVER! The following types of skill checks will STILL be handled in normal turn order to prevent the most egregious opportunities for spiking checks and stalemates between players:
    • When an Investigative Committee card is played before the skill check
    • Skill checks at the following locations: Admiral's Quarters, Administration, and The Brig.
    • Skill checks which would end the game for either faction
    • I reserve the right to begin enforcing turn order for any particular skill check if I feel that two or more players are taking advantage of this freedom in order to sabotage a particular skill check.

    Discussing with your fellow players before committing cards to the skill check is still important! Just because you can play your cards into the skill check whenever you want does not absolve you from discussion prior to doing so and will likely result in you wasting precious cards!

    Extra loyalty cards belonging to a newly revealed Cylon player
    In the base game, you are only able to get rid of these cards by activating the Resurrection Ship location and when at a distance of 7 or less. In this game, the revealing Cylon player will be able to instantly give his remaining loyalty cards to one player immediately upon revealing if total distance is 6 or less.

    Our players:
      1. Camacho as gaius-baltar.png[Political Leader] Gaius Baltar
      Skill Card Draw: 2 Politics, 1 Leadership, 1 Engineering

      General Ability: Delusional Intuition - After you draw a Crisis Card, draw 1 Skill Card of your choice (it may be from outside your skill set).

      One-Time Ability: Cylon Detector - Action: Once per game, you may look at all Loyalty Cards belonging to another player.

      Disadvantage: Coward - You start the game with 2 Loyalty Cards (instead of 1).

      Setup Location: Research Lab

      2. 1digitalranger1 as william-adama.png[Military Leader] William Adama
      Skill Card Draw: 3 Leadership, 2 Tactics

      General Ability: Inspirational Leader - When you draw a Crisis Card, all 1 strength Skill Cards count positive for the skill check.

      One-Time Ability: Command Authority - Once per game, after resolving a skill check, instead of discarding the used Skill Cards, draw them into your hand.

      Disadvantage: Emotionally Attached - You may not activate the "Admiral’s Quarters" location.

      Setup Location: Admiral’s Quarters

      3. Penumbra as lee-adama.png[Pilot] Lee "Apollo" Adama
      Skill Card Draw: 1 Tactics, 2 Piloting, 2 Leadership/Politics

      General Ability: Alert Viper Pilot - When a viper is placed in a space area from the "Reserves", you may choose to pilot it and take 1 action. You may only do this when you are on a Galactica location, excluding the "Brig".

      One-Time Ability: CAG - Action: Once per game, you may activate up to 6 unmanned vipers.

      Disadvantage: Headstrong - When you are forced to discard Skill Cards, you must discard randomly.

      Setup Location: Launch and pilot a Viper

      4. Cayrus as laura-roslin.png[Political Leader] Laura Roslin
      Skill Card Draw: 3 Politics, 2 Leadership

      General Ability: Religious Visions - When you draw Crisis Cards, draw 2 and choose 1 to resolve. Place the other on the bottom of the deck.

      One-Time Ability: Skilled Politician - Action: Once per game, draw 4 Quorum Cards. Choose 1 to resolve and place the rest on the bottom of the deck. You do not need to be President to use this ability.

      Disadvantage: Terminal Illness - In order to activate a location, you must first discard 2 Skill Cards.

      Setup Location: President's Office

      5. BobCesca as karl-agathon.png[Military Leader] Karl "Helo" Agathon
      Skill Card Draw: 2 Leadership, 2 Tactics, 1 Piloting

      General Ability: ECO Officer - During your turn, you may reroll a die that was just rolled (once per turn). You must use the new result.

      One-Time Ability: Moral Compass - Once per game, after a player makes a choice on a Crisis Card, you may change it.

      Disadvantage: Stranded - Your character is not placed on the game board at the start of the game. While not on the game board, you may not move, be moved, or take actions. At the start of your 2nd turn, place your character on the "Hangar Deck" location.

      artadius on
      Moderating BSG Game 25
    1. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      As mentioned in the original post... this is intended to be a Newbie Friendly game.

      It will be a five player game and spots will be prioritized to folks who do not have a lot of experience with playing Battlestar Galactica and/or playing BSG via Play by Post. When I first started doing Play by Post, I was intimidated to jump into games with tons of experienced players using lots of expansion options... and really appreciated a similar opportunity to get in on a base game... so I'm extending this here at PA as well.

      If you are NOT a BSG / BSGPbP newbie, feel free to sign up as well, just realize that you will not have priority over our more inexperienced Nuggets.

      Submissions will be open until Friday night at 10 PM Central Time or until I receive a large number of acceptable sign-ups (say a dozen or more or so)... so if you're interested, please sign up early.

      Moderating BSG Game 25
    2. FelixSomethingSomethingFelixSomethingSomething Registered User regular
      I'll run a Pegasus/Exodus game as well if we get enough sign-ups.

    3. CayrusCayrus Consul Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!Registered User regular
      I'd like to sign up.

      I've played the base game irl but never in a PbP. My friends just got the Pegasus Expansion but I've yet to play it with them.

      Former Secret Service Agent Nathaniel Ford in Call of Cthulhu: Whispers in the Darkness

      Henri Emmanuel Gratien St Pierre in Where No Man Has Gone Before

      Lord Augustus Cumberbatch in Eclipse Phase
    4. stever777stever777 AFK most Saturdays Registered User regular
      sign up

      I've played the base game & Peg irl and played a couple of PbP here, so I may be low on the list.

      Hosting Android: Netrunner - Thread 2: The Revenge

      The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
    5. CapfalconCapfalcon Tunnel Snakes Rule Capital WastelandRegistered User regular
      Sign Up.

      I've run a game and played in a few.

    6. KetBraKetBra Dressed Ridiculously Registered User regular
      Sign me up!

      Played both base and exodus + pegasus

      KGMvDLc.jpg?1
    7. GoodOmensGoodOmens Registered User regular
      Oh, hell, it's been a while. Sign up!

      I'm NOT a newbie, but if you're short of players I'd be happy to get in.

      steam_sig.png
      IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X
    8. Void SlayerVoid Slayer Very Suspicious Registered User regular
      Sign up! for either this one or FelixSomethingSomething's game.

      I've played both and would probably prefer the Pegasus/Exodus game!

      Only other game I am in right now is twilight imperium game 4

      He's a shy overambitious dog-catcher on the wrong side of the law. She's an orphaned psychic mercenary with the power to bend men's minds. They fight crime!
    9. 1digitalranger11digitalranger1 Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      sign me up Ive play basic and Pegasus many times before before but never pbp


      <---- noob

      1digitalranger1 on
      playing Adama on BSG game 25
    10. CamachoCamacho Five-time Ultimate Smackdown Champion Registered User regular
      Sign up!

      Long time reader, first time sign up'er

      Gaius Baltar in artadius's BSG Game 25
    11. BobCescaBobCesca Is a girl Birmingham, UKRegistered User regular
      !sign up

      I am a complete newbie to the game (both PBP and RL) and would love an opportunity to actually have a go at this.

    12. PenumbraPenumbra Registered User regular
      I'll !sign up. I've played the base game a few times in real life, but never on the forums.

      Switch Friend Code: 6359-7575-9391
    13. McCoyMcCoy Registered User regular
      Sign up

      Been following the two BSG games that just finished. I have never played by post before.

    14. DoctorstrongbadDoctorstrongbad Registered User regular
      Sign UP

      Looks like 13 players so far, there is always an interest in BSG games.

    15. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      Yep, good turnout so far. Looks like a handful of folks that have not as much BSG / PbP experience too so I think I won't have to leave sign ups open for too much longer and then Felix will have a good group to start off with for his signups as well. Those of you who have not played any BSG before or not much... please don't just rely on my OPs to be familiar with the game. Download the PDF rules and FAQ and read through them. As this might be a learning game for some of you, I'll be happy to provide you with any feedback if you like or neutral tips from the moderator... but since this is a Cooperative game where you will have either one or two other people by the end of the game on your team with you, you'll want to be familiar with how the game works at least in order to make informed decisions. In my experience, brand new BSG players take a full round or two before they finally grasp alot of the fine points of this masterpiece.

      Unrelated question: Is there a policy regarding posting of in game elements in the topic? I have scans of most of the cards from the game (used in the BSG VASSAL module). Fantasy Flight has a requirement for the folks who create VASSAL games that at least one part of the components are rendered blank in order to ensure that all players on VASSAL own a copy of the game. The VASSAL module has blank Loyalty Cards. That means we've got images for all the crisis cards which I feel are a great addition to PbP games. I know I'd like to post the crisis cards in the topic here... but I don't want to break any rules in doing so. Thoughts?

      artadius on
      Moderating BSG Game 25
    16. 1digitalranger11digitalranger1 Registered User regular
      The last two games's (exodus 7, exodus 9) handled crisis cards well I'm sure if you follow ether format there should be no problem

      playing Adama on BSG game 25
    17. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      The last two games's (exodus 7, exodus 9) handled crisis cards well I'm sure if you follow ether format there should be no problem

      Definitely. I'll be using the same Gimp/OpenOffice combo that they used so at least in that regards, they'll be just as good.

      Moderating BSG Game 25
    18. DoctorstrongbadDoctorstrongbad Registered User regular
      The more games that are run, the better they are handled.

    19. FelixSomethingSomethingFelixSomethingSomething Registered User regular
      When I played over on BGG they didn't even post the crisis text, just the name of the card and required that you owned the game to play so you could reference things, was at FFG request. That makes me kind of wary to touch any restrictions here in case FFG has just overlooked PA and decides to stick the same restriction on us. Don't get me wrong, I think posting card scans would be really cool, but I don't want to inadvertently ruin a good thing.

    20. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      Yeah, I don't think I'll post the scans. They really don't do the actual components justice anyways... and that's a major reason why these companies don't want card images to be shown for boardgames because it lessens the quality of the components and might turn off potential customers. Understandable.

      Moderating BSG Game 25
    21. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      We've got a good enough pool that I'll draw for players this evening with lesser experienced BSG/PbP players getting priority (which we have a few already). So if you're on the fence, time runs short!

      artadius on
      Moderating BSG Game 25
    22. DoctorstrongbadDoctorstrongbad Registered User regular
      artadius wrote:
      We've got a good enough pool that I'll draw for players this evening with lesser experienced BSG/PbP players getting priority (which we have a few already). So if you're on the fence, time runs short!

      Good luck and have fun in the game.

    23. FelixSomethingSomethingFelixSomethingSomething Registered User regular
      I'll put up a thread for the Pegasus/exodus game sometime today or tomorrow and grab anyone from here that didn't make it in and would like to play an expansion game. Two slots are filled by people who signed up for my last one but didn't make it in, and anyone that didn't just finish a game will take priority over the group from Exodus game 9 to give everyone a chance to play.

    24. blahmcblahblahmcblah You pick your side and you stick - you don't cut and run when things get ugly. Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      Oh, I definitely want to play in the Pegasus/Exodus game - I just didn't bother signing up here because I was waiting for that one.

      blahmcblah on
    25. FelixSomethingSomethingFelixSomethingSomething Registered User regular
      Peg+Ex game thread is up. Signups will stay open until Thursday at midnight, and everyone from here that doesn't get chosen is welcome.

    26. Void SlayerVoid Slayer Very Suspicious Registered User regular
      Peg+Ex game thread is up. Signups will stay open until Thursday at midnight, and everyone from here that doesn't get chosen is welcome.

      I'm in this new game so I'll withdraw from here. Good luck getting to Kobol!

      He's a shy overambitious dog-catcher on the wrong side of the law. She's an orphaned psychic mercenary with the power to bend men's minds. They fight crime!
    27. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      Alright, rolling off on folks I'm giving priority to. This will also determine player order just to move things along.

      For those of you who were not chosen (and signed up) and are subsequently not chosen for Felix's game, you'll have priority for my next game.

      Cayrus: Player Slot Roll-off: 1d100 11
      1digitalranger1: Player Slot Roll-off: 1d100 74
      Camacho: Player Slot Roll-off: 1d100 92
      BobCesca: Player Slot Roll-off: 1d100 10
      Penumbra: Player Slot Roll-off: 1d100 7
      McCoy: Player Slot Roll-off: 1d100 46

      Our players are in player turn order:
      1. Camacho
      2. 1digitalranger1
      3. McCoy dropped, replaced with Penumbra
      4. Cayrus
      5. BobCesca

      Sorry Penumbra. If you're interested in playing for my next game, you'll have a priority spot for it (unless you join Felix's game).

      Camacho: You'll need to pick a character first. Since you are picking first, you have no restrictions on who you choose. As a reminder, this is a base set only game so your character choices are limited to the characters in the base BSG game. A list of these characters appear above in the rules section.

      artadius on
      Moderating BSG Game 25
    28. CamachoCamacho Five-time Ultimate Smackdown Champion Registered User regular
      Thx for running this game

      I'm gonna choose everybodys favorite non-cylon half-mad scientist, Gaius Baltar

      I am truly sorry that someone gave the cylons access to the defense mainframe, and as president - unless that religious broad Roslin somehow shows up - I will do anything in my power to hunt down the person responsible!

      Gaius Baltar in artadius's BSG Game 25
    29. 1digitalranger11digitalranger1 Registered User regular
      tnx's in advance for all the paranoia that is about to descend on us

      with the next pick I will select William "old man" Adama

      I will stand at the helm of our proud ship and lead us to a safe new haven I also teach calculus lessons on the side if anyone is interested.

      playing Adama on BSG game 25
    30. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      Camacho chooses a Political Leader, Baltar.
      1digitalranger1 chooses a Military Leader, Adama

      McCoy has informed me that he actually got selected for a different PbP game elsewhere and is offering his spot up to Penumbra if he wants it so I've contacted him by PM to see if he's still interested. If not, I'll roll off between the remaining folks interested who signed up originally.

      Regardless, whomever is next, they will need to either pick a Pilot or Chief Tyrol due to character selection rules.

      Moderating BSG Game 25
    31. PenumbraPenumbra Registered User regular
      Lee "Apollo" Adama please.

      So say we all.

      Switch Friend Code: 6359-7575-9391
    32. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      Camacho chooses a Political Leader, Baltar.
      1digitalranger1 chooses a Military Leader, Adama
      Penumbra chooses a Pilot, Apollo

      Cayrus, you're up for character selection and can choose any of the characters except, obviously, for those already chosen.

      BobCesca, if you're around before Cayrus makes his choice, you can send me a prioritized list of characters, if you like, to choose and I'll assign you the highest one on your list eligible based upon what Cayrus chooses. No problem if you'd prefer to wait though.

      Moderating BSG Game 25
    33. CayrusCayrus Consul Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      Laura Roslin please.

      Who shall I airlock* first?

      *No actual airlocking may occur.

      Cayrus on
      Former Secret Service Agent Nathaniel Ford in Call of Cthulhu: Whispers in the Darkness

      Henri Emmanuel Gratien St Pierre in Where No Man Has Gone Before

      Lord Augustus Cumberbatch in Eclipse Phase
    34. blahmcblahblahmcblah You pick your side and you stick - you don't cut and run when things get ugly. Registered User regular
      I recommend changing the thread title. :)

    35. artadiusartadius Registered User regular
      edited January 2012
      Camacho chooses a Political Leader, Baltar
      1digitalranger1 chooses a Military Leader, Adama
      Penumbra chooses a Pilot, Apollo
      Cayrus chooses a Political Leader, Roslin
      BobCesca chooses a Military Leader, Helo.

      We are ready to start!
      Game Setup

      *The Admiral's Title Card is given to 1digitalranger1
      *Two Nuke tokens have been given to 1digitalranger1
      *The President's Title Card is given to Cayrus
      *One Quorum card is given to Cayrus
      *One Loyalty card is given to each player except Baltar (Camacho) who receives two
      *Baltar (Camacho) receives his starting compliment of cards: 2 Politics, 1 Leadership, and 1 Engineering
      *Adama (1digitalranger1) draws his starting hand (3) of 2 Leadership and 1 Tactics

      Remaining Steps:
      *I need starting hands from Penumbra, Cayrus, and BobCesca. Remember, you can only draw three cards to start with from your typical five to choose from.
      *Make sure you check your PM conversation for your current Loyalty. Noting here in the topic that you've confirmed your Loyalty would be great.
      *Penumbra, you have a choice of starting the game in Sector 5 or Sector 6. Please choose. I'll show a starting board below.

      Reminder
      Please make sure you are fully aware of the Secrecy rules for this game.

      artadius on
      Moderating BSG Game 25
    36. PenumbraPenumbra Registered User regular
      I have checked my loyality and sent in my starting draw.

      Switch Friend Code: 6359-7575-9391
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