Power Projection Review

As promised, here is my capsule review of Power Projection Lite.

I was actually planning on submitting this review for the Journal of the
Traveller’s Aid Society. However, I was about three paragraphs into it when
I got word that JTAS had just published a review by Robert Prior. (Curses!
Foiled again!) Oh well, that’s life I guess. Anyway, for your general
perusal, I submit my thoughts and reflections on this new addition to the Full
Thrust universe:

Review: Power Projection Lite Written by Dominic Mooney Published by British
Isles Traveller Society.

As long and distinguished as the history of Dungeons & Dragons has been,
Marc Miller’s classic hard sci-fi role-playing game Traveller has been
on the market in one form or the other—from the original “little black
books” to the current d20 version—for over 25 years. Like all games of its
genre, space combat plays a major role; however, I’ve never been really
pleased with the way Traveller has handled it. The rules I’ve seen are
either overly complex (Don’t even get me started on…shudder… Brilliant
Lances.) or just plain uninspiring. That was before I got my hands on Power
Projection Lite.

Power Projection started with a man and dream: Dominic Moony wanted to use
Ground Zero Games’ phenomenal Full Thrust space combat game system for
Traveller scenarios.  Inspired by some home-brewed rules by Steven
Parsonage, Dominic spent five years of refining and playtesting his ideas.
Power Projection is result.

This is a “Lite” version because it mainly focuses on combat with escorts.
The full version, that promises to feature full sized capital ships, spinal
mounted weapons, and gravity maneuvering (i.e. slingshot effect) should be out
in early this year. That, and revised version of the Lite rules called Power
Projection: Escorts will be released by the end of January. (Those who
purchased the Lite rules need not despair. You can download the updates from
www.powerprojection.net as soon as they are available.)

Full Thrust veterans should have very little trouble easing into these rules.
The movement system is pure Fleet Book 1 vector movement with the Fleet Book 2
provisions added. The combat rules are the area where one can find the most
revision. Power Projection Lite takes the standard battery
results model (i.e. die roll of 4-5 equals 1 point of damage, a 6 causes
two points) and creates expands on it by giving the weapons an opportunity to
cause more damage when certain conditions are met. For instance, a salvo on
standard missiles would start at the standard damage profile. However, if
those missiles struck their target on their second movement phase or equipped
with nuclear warheads, then the potential to cause damage increases greatly.
Meanwhile, new factors like a ship’s agility and a revised armor system
along with devices like nuclear dampeners, meson screens, repulsors, and
sandcasters (see below) can have negative effect on damage.)

The “hard sci-fi” nature of the Traveller setting is also reflected
in the Power Projection rules by the inclusion of various “terrain”
effects. These include gravity, nuclear explosions, and sandcasters. The blast
from a exploding salvo of nuclear missiles creates a sensor blind spot,
represented by a 1.5 inch diameter blast marker. If your line of sight to a
target crosses one of these markers, it adds 2 mu to the range. That Zhodoni
destroyer that was “just” in missile range at 29 mu a moment ago would be
safely out of range at 31 mu if a blast marker intervened. Gravity from nearby
astronomical bodies also can play a factor. If your LOS passes with the
“gravity band” of a planet template, then similar range modifiers are
applied. Sandcasters operate on a similar concept, but rather than effecting
range, it lessens the “oomph” from incoming fire that passes through the
generated “sand cloud” giving the target a better chance to shrug off
damage.

Cosmetically, the rules are well laid out with excellent illustrations to
describe combat and movement. It also includes a pull out set of counters for
missile salvos, vector arrows, starships, nuclear blasts, sand clouds, and a
new version of the infamous turning lasso. The copy I bought from Warehouse 23
didn’t survive the trip across the Atlantic too well so I needed to retouch
up the cover a bit. In the end, I laminated to covers and
comb bound it.	(Why don’t more companies do this?   It makes copying
out record sheets so much easier.) If I have any sort of gripe, it’s that
there seems to be a lack of an “orders from” to record movement and fire
orders.

All in all, it’s an excellent game, worthy to carry the Full Thrust engine.
Those interested may want wait for Escorts before diving in… then again; you
may not have a choice. Power Projection Lite was a limited release, and I
think they may have run out of copies. Either way, I highly recommend this
game to both Traveller and Full Thrust fans.

Later,

> Mark Siefert wrote:
<snip>

> This is a “Lite” version because it mainly focuses on combat with
should be
> out in early this year. That, and revised version of the Lite
(Those
> who purchased the Lite rules need not despair. You can download

Steve Jackson Games who was selling the 'Lite' version in the US is now sold
out.....but I just got a copy of 'Escort' in the mail yesterday :-)

It looks good and is well laid out. Most of the rules are familiar but most do
have a twist or two though I haven't read through it well enough yet to give
decent examples. I look foreword to 'Fleet' when it comes out and the
vac-heads on this list should consider Power Projection if they really
want to see some new stuff for FT but can't wait until FB3 or FT3 appear.

[quoted original message omitted]

> Mark Siefert wrote:
should be
> out in early this year. That, and revised version of the Lite
(Those
> who purchased the Lite rules need not despair. You can download

Once the BITS chaps get their proper print run sorted out, we should have some
copies of Power Projection for sale, as part of the deal for using the FT
rules. More news as it happens.....