THE ROLL PLAYING GAME OF FRONTIER SPACE EXPLORATION by Jim Alcala Sales INTRODUCTION This game is is mostly about dice rolling with a nod to playing a character in a ictional setting! In "e# Ranger you play a Space Ranger patrolling the rontier o The $mpire! %ou&ll use your ship to destroy aliens and land on planets to rescue shipwrec'ed colonists( or e)en e#plore *recursor ruins! +$TTIN+ START$D ,irst you need to role up your character! Roll - si#.sided dice /re. roll i your total is 01 or less2! Assign each o the results to your character Stats3 4ody( 5ind 6 Spirit! This represents your characters normal state o health and your attribute ma#imums /they will go up and down during the game2! +i)e your character a name!
"e# Ranger is based on the e#cellent R*+ Solitaire Challenge3 Dice by +reywul o +reywul&s 8air blog and the also e#cellent e#pansion - Dice Dungeon( A Solitaire Dungeon Crawl +ame created by 4rent o The R*+ Doctor blog Chec' them out i you want to see what inspired this game!
Now you need a ship7 Do the same thing as beore but assign the results to your ship stats3 Combat( Shields 6 $ngines! Name your ship! +$N$RA8 RU8$ 9hen you arri)e at a new he#( roll three dice /it helps i they are dierent colored2! This will tell you what is there( what you will ha)e to ight( and what reward you&ll get once the battle is o)er! Sometimes you&ll need to determine other options such as how many e#its a he# contains! Always note the initial three rolls! These will become part o your score as you tra)el around the gala#y! All o the inormation on what the die rolls mean comes rom the tables included at the end o these rules! STARTIN+ "$: The irst he# in a Star 5ap always contains a Space Station! In addition Re.roll any result o ; or higher or ad)ersary! The irst he# in a 5ission 5ap always contains an $ntrance! In addition re.roll any result o ; or higher or ad)ersary!
$:*8ORIN+ T"$ STARS *ic' a starting he# on one o the edges! Ta'e a 8oo' at the Star System Table! Roll - si#. sided dice /-d<2( the irst die is or 8ocation( the second die indicates Ad)ersary and the third determines your Reward! $#ample3 I roll a -( a ; and a 0! This results in a 5edium System /0.= 9orlds2( Aliens and a 5ission! The roll or Ad)ersary( in this case Aliens also e>uals the Ad)ersaries Strength! I rolled a ; to get Aliens so the Aliens ha)e a Strength o ;! This represents how tough they are! $:*8OR$D "$:$S Once a he# has been e#plored( re.entering the he# or waiting /see 5ulti.player rules2 re>uires another Ad)ersary roll but any result o - or more results in no Ad)ersary! No other roles are made when re.entering an already e#plored he# since you already 'now what is there and already collected your reward! CO54AT %ou must deeat any Ad)ersaries /i any2 in a he# beore you can ac>uire anything it contains! To do that( you pic' an attribute and roll a die! I you roll e>ual to or less than the attribute you damaged your Ad)ersary and its strength drops by one! An easy way to 'eep trac' o this is to lea)e the Ad)ersary&s die on the table! Since you ha)e - dice you can roll one or your attac's( use one or the Ad)ersarie&s strength the the last or the Reward! Use the Ad)ersary&s die to 'eep trac' o its Strength( turning the die each time it is damaged to the ne#t lower number! I you roll greater than the attribute you used to attac'( the Ad)ersary has damaged you and you must decrease the attribute used or the attac' by one!
DA5A+$ I you damage an Ad)ersary that has an Attribute o 0 it is deeated7 I an attribute o your Character or Starship is reduced to 1( you must add 0to the result o all combat rolls! I all three attributes are reduced to 1 you are dead! I your ship is destroyed roll a die! A result o 0 means you ha)e been rescued! %ou may roll up a new ship and continue in any ad?acent he# in which your ship was destroyed! Any impro)ements made to your old ship are lost including le)eling up! S"I* OR C"ARACT$R@ %ou use your ship&s attributes when ighting ad)ersaries rolled on the Star System Table and 9orld Table! %ou use your character on 5issions /all other location tables2!
AUTO5ATIC SUCC$SS AND ,AI8UR$ 9hen attac'ing( a 0 always hits and a < always misses! R$9ARDS Once you deeat an Ad)ersary( you ac>uire what is listed under Reward! Add the beneits o your Reward 4$,OR$ you add to your $#perience Score! $:*$RI$NC$ SCOR$ Add up the total o all three dice you rolled or the location! eep a running total o your e#perience points! ,or e)ery B1 e#perience points you le)el up and may increase the ma#imum o one attribute( and return all your attributes to their ma#imum )alues! eep trac' o your character and ship le)el! There are certain things that can be aected by your le)els! %ou can still earn e#perience by deeating ad)ersaries in e#plored he#es but since you are only ma'ing one new roll and oten not ha)ing an Ad)ersary to ight there is little to be gained traipsing o)er e#plored ground e#cept to get to the ne#t une#plored he#7 5A**IN+ T"$ +A8A:% Once you ha)e cleared a he# /mar' it with a dot2 you may mo)e to an ad?acent he# pro)ided there are e#its to that he#! There are A89A%S e#its to ad?acent he#es in space so don&t worry about this when you are in your starship lying around the gala#y! This only applies to 5ission 5aps! In the he# mar' down any worlds with circles( and Star *orts and and Space Stations with a small t or other mar'! %ou can cross worlds o as you inish e#ploring them! %ou can return to Star *orts and Space Stations to gain their rewards /repairs( R6R2 or both your character and your ship! %ou must still ma'e an Ad)ersary roll as per an e#plored he# /see below2! %ou get to choose i you want to try and deeat the Ad)ersary with either your Ship or your Character! I there are one or more worlds in a Star "e# they must be e#plored beore the he# is considered e#plored! Any ad)ersaries are irst deeated using your Starship( then you may land and start e#ploring the world i there is a mission in)ol)ed! JU5* *OINT I a Star "e# contains a ?ump point you may ?ump to any other ?ump point already on the Star "e# map once you deeat any ad)ersaries guarding it! 9hen you ma'e the ?ump( roll or an Ad)ersary as you would when returning to a pre)iously e#plored he# when you arri)e at the other ?ump point!
5ISSIONS Once you ha)e deeated the ad)ersaries in a Star "e# and the ones /i any2 guarding the world you use the 5ission 5ap! This time( start in the middle o the sheet instead o the edge li'e you did when irst beginning "e# Ranger! %ou will use your character to e#plore the world! Roll once or your mission ob?ecti)e( and once or the 5ission 8ocation! Once you ha)e your 5ission 8ocation( then roll three times on the appropriate 5ission 8ocation Table to get your starting room( Ad)ersary and Reward A 5ission is complete when either you run out o he#es to e#plore or you attain your mission ob?ecti)e and ma'e it bac' to an entrance! Remember( you ha)e to deeat the Ad)ersary( i any( at the entrance beore you lea)e! Since this is li'ely a pre)iously e#plored he# there isn&t li'ely to be an Ad)ersary and i there is it won&t be )ery strong! 5ission ,ailure can occur i your character lees a 5ission 8ocation beore completing it! A character may not ta'e on another mission until he completes the ailed mission! Sometimes is may be necessary to retreat to a Star *ort or Space Station to reco)er! 9"AT&S T"IS 0.-E0@ Sometimes you need to randomly determine the number o worlds in a Star "e# or the number o e#its in a 5ission Room he#! ,or 0.= roll a die( odds is 0( e)ens is =! ,or 0.-( roll a die( 0.= F 0( -.;F= and B.
STAR SYSTEM TABLE RO L L
LOCATION
0
$mpty
=
-
A D V ER SA R Y
R EW A R D
Smugglers
5ission/rollor5issionand8ocation2
Space StationH
Raiders
Sal)age /increase 0 attribute by = or two attributes by 0 but only up to their normal ma#imum2
SmallSystem
*irates
9eaponsArmor Upgrade /increase Combat
/0.= .0 worlds2 ;
8argeSystem /0.= worlds2
B
Nebula /0.- worlds2
<
Jump*oint /0.- E0 worlds2
Attribute by one up to ma#imum2 Aliens
Tech Upgrade /increase shields by one up to ma#imum2
4ounty "unter
$mergency *ower /Add - to one attribute one use only 0.= Combat( -.; Shields( B.< $ngines2
None
None
H Space Station /increase one attribute by 0 up to ma# each turn( chec' or Ad)ersaries as per $#plored "e# rule2 WORLD TABLE RO L L
LOCATION
0
Desolate
=
A D V ER SA R Y
R EW A R D
Smugglers
5ission/rollor5issionand8ocation2
9ater
Raiders
Star*ort/increase0attributeby=ortwo attributes by 0 but only up to their normal ma#imum!
-
Jungle
Aliens
5ission
;
Ice
B
olcanic
Orbital Deenses Space Station /increase 0 attribute up to ma#imum2
<
+arden
None
RO L L
MISSIONTABLE OBJECTIVE
0
*lace4omb
=
Rescue
-
,ind
;
Disco)er
B
$#terminate7H
<
SpecialHH
Rogue Na)y
5ission
LOCATION
None
MISSIONSUBTABLE R ESC U E F I N D DISCOVER
Abandoned5ining,acility
Colonists Data
Alien"i)e
9or'ers
The8ist
DerelictShip
Ci)ilians
Codes
InectedC olonyResearch ,acility
Alien Dignitary
The Doctor
*lagueCure eytoTime *owerSource New Dimension
*irate4ase
Senator
Sur)i)ors Coordinates
*recursorRuins
*ilot
,ormula
"idden4ase
*Extermi!te" /can&t lea)e location until all e#its are cleared2 **S#e$i!% /Roll or 8ocation twice( use the Ad)ersaries o the second roll in the location o the irst( 5ission is $#terminate72
ABANDONED MINING FACILITY RO L L 0
ROOM
A D V ER SA R Y
Corridor /straight or cur)ed2 Stuc' 4ul'head
R EW A R D 5ission Ob?ecti)e
=
Small Room /0.= e#its2
5ining Droids
5ed*ac /increase 0 attribute by = or two attributes by 0 up to their ma#imum2!
-
8arge Room /0.- e#its2
Smugglers
9eapon Upgrade /increase Combat by one up to ma#imum2
;
8ab /0.- e#its2
Alien 5onster
"ard Choice /increase Spirit by one up to ma#imum2
B
Courtyard /0.- E0 e#its2
Rogue AI
Stim*ac /Increase Spirit by - one use only2
<
$ntrance/0.
None
None ALIEN HIVE
RO L L
ROOM
A D V ER SA R Y
0
5embrane Tunnel /straight or cur)ed2
=
Small Room /0.= e#its2
5utant Colonists +ell pod /increase 0 attribute by = or two
-
8arge Room /0.- e#its2
Soldiers
;
9or'ers
R EW A R D
,eeding Room /0.- E0 e#its2 5erged Colonists
B
"atchery /0.< e#its2
<
$ntrance/0.
RO L L
ROOM
Kueen None
5ission Ob?ecti)e
attributes by 0 up to their ma#imum2! +lowing Spores /increase 5ind by one up to ma#imum2 Strange Smells /increase Spirit by one up to ma#imum2 %ellow +land /Increase 4ody by - one use only2 None
DERELICT SHIP
0
A D V ER SA R Y
Corridor /straight or cur)ed2 Stuc' 4ul'head
R EW A R D 5ission Ob?ecti)e
=
Small Room /0.= e#its2
*lasma 8ea'
-
8arge Room /0.- e#its2
IoniLed Conduits 9eapon 8oc'er /increase 4ody by one up to ma#imum2
;
Control Room /0.- e#its2
B
A#illary $ngine Room /0.e#its2
<
$ntrance/0.
"ull 4reach Core O)erload None
5ed Station /increase 0 attribute by = or two attributes by 0 up to their ma#imum2!
Data Retrie)al /increase 5ind by one up to ma#imum2 Stim*ac /Increase Spirit by - one use only2 None
INFECTED COLONY&RESEARCH FACILITY RO L L 0
ROOM
A D V ER SA R Y
R EW A R D
Corridor /straight or cur)ed2 Inected
5ission Ob?ecti)e
=
Small Room /0.= e#its2
Mombies
5ed*ac /increase 0 attribute by = or two attributes by 0 up to their ma#imum2!
-
8arge Room /0.- e#its2
5utant Mombies
9eapon Upgrade /increase 4ody by one up to ma#imum2
;
8ab /0.- e#its2
B
Courtyard /0.- E0 e#its2
<
$ntrance/0.
Inected 5arines "ard Choice /increase 5ind by one up to ma#imum2 Abomination None
Stim*ac /Increase Spirit by - one use only2 None
PIRATE BASE RO L L 0
ROOM
A D V ER SA R Y
R EW A R D
Corridor /straight or cur)ed2 Crude Trap
5ission Ob?ecti)e
=
Small Room /0.= e#its2
Roo'ie *irate
"ac' Doctor /increase 0 attribute by = or two attributes by 0 up to their ma#imum2!
-
8arge Room /0.- e#its2
*irate
Stolen 5ilitary "ardware /increase 4ody by one up to ma#imum2
;
ault/0.-e#its2
B
+reat "all /0.- E0 e#its2
<
$ntrance/0.
RO L L
ROOM
eteran Cutthroat
Tactics /increase 5ind by one up to ma#imum2
Cyborg Captain None
I Am The 8aw /Increase Spirit by - one use only2 None
PRECURSOR RUINS
0
A D VER S A R Y
Corridor /straight or cur)ed2 Collapsed hallway /Strength =2
REWARD +hostly 9hispers /Increase any one Attribute by one *ermanently2!
=
Small Room /0.= e#it2
Deense +un /Strength -2
-
8arge Room /0.= e#its2
Robot /Strength ;2
Armor Upgrade /increase 4ody by one permanently2
;
ault /0.= e#its2
9arbot /Strength B2
Secrets o the Ancients /increase 5ind by one permanently2
B
Temple /0.- e#its2
<
$ntrance /0.- e#its2
Death 5achine /Strength <2
Nanomeds /increase 0 attribute by = or two attributes by 0 up to their ma#imum2!
Strange $nergy /Increase Spirit by one permanently2
Ancient AI /Strength 2 Anomalous Signal
A'm!%'() Si!%+ 9hen in a ault can be used to ind a *owerul Ancient Artiact! There is only one Anomalous Signal per *recursor Ruin! Tem#%e Te%e#'rt+ ,rom a Temple you can teleport to any other Temple or $ntrance on the map! %ou must irst deeat any ad)ersaries guarding the temple and then roll or ad)ersaries upon destination but remember that it is already e#plored so results o - or higher means there is no Ad)ersary! POWERFUL ANCIENT ARTIFACT RO L L
ART I F ACT
A D VER SA R Y
0
StrangeAura
Re.rollone rollpermission!
=
+lowing Crystal
5ind increased by - or one roll per mission
-
Anti.gra) 4elt
4ody increased by - or one roll per mission
;
9rist Teleport De)ice
B
Stunner
<
*ersonal Shield *od
Ater clearing a room( teleport to any other e#plore room once per mission! Cause one Ad)ersary o current Strength ; or less to be stunned! %ou automatically win the ight but do not gain $#perience or the Ad)ersary! Ignore one hit against you once per mission!
$:*8ORIN+ *R$CURSOR RUINS These ruins house great treasures! It is not uncommon or a Space Ranger to e#plore e)ery single room the ruin has to oer trying to ind one o these Ancient Artiacts! Sometimes se)eral trips are spent tra)eling between the nearest Space Station and the ruin! *recursor Ruins are the only 5ission type that the Space Ranger can abandon and still ta'e on other missions! 4e warned howe)er( *recursor Ruins ha)e a habit o disappearing! 9hen a Space Ranger returns to such a ruin( roll a die! One a B.< the ruin has )anished ne)er to be seen again!
Multi player *layers can e#plore separately or together on the same Star "e# map! 9hen e#ploring separately they are all contributing to the same map! Thus a he# e#plored by one is considered e#plored by all! Jump points( Star *orts and Space Stations are li'e.wise shared! $#perience and rewards are gained independently! 9hen players e#plore the same he# on the Star 5ap or 5ission 5ap together( things are only slightly dierent! $ach player has their own ship and character! In each he# ha)e each player roll or Ad)ersary! The highest Ad)ersary roll determines the type! Total all the Ad)ersary dice rolls to determine it&s Strength! $#perience Score is totaled as normal and each player recei)es the total amount! Rewards howe)er can only go to one player! A useul tactic is se)eral players will each ta'e turns e#ploring the Star "e# map! 9hen one o them inds a 5ission they can wait in that he# each turn until the others arri)e! O course( they must also roll or an Ad)ersary but treat it as an $#plored "e#!
Star Map Legend , S*AC$ STATION O 9OR8D O $:*8OR$D 9OR8D O 9OR8D 9IT" STAR *ORT
