Playing SWPM Online Game Rules Advice for Deck/Fleet Building



This is a synopsis of the official Star Wars Pocket Models rules, adapted for online play. The complete official rules are available at http://www.wizkidsgames.com/starwars/uploadedFiles/WizKids_Public/Star_Wars_Microsite/Downloads/Files/swga_rulesheet_lowres.pdf
For instructions on using the VASSAL game engine, look at the help menu option Playing SWPM Online

STAR WARS Pocket Models

Contents
Object of the Game
Win by destroying all of your opponent’s units, or by destroying all of your opponent’s objectives.
Units
A unit is the collective term for ships, tanks, speeders, etc. Units you control are called friendly units; units your opponent controls are called opposing units. Each unit is marked by several numbers, some Build Stars, and at least one icon.

Ground units are indicated by a tan bar underneath the unit image. Ground units may only initiate combat against space units in your home zone; if ground units are attacked, they can attack back in any zone. Ground units may initiate attacks against other ground units in any zone. Ground units get +1 attack during strikes.

Build Stars are used in building your deck/fleet; they are a general representation of how “tough” a unit is.
Cards
There are two types of cards: objective cards and combat cards. All cards have one or more Build Stars printed at the bottom – these Build Stars come into play when an objective is destroyed. All cards also have a defense value printed at the bottom right of the card – this is the number a unit must exceed to destroy this objective during a strike.

Most objective cards have abilities printed on them, which only apply while the objective is face up. Some abilities only apply when those objectives are revealed; others apply continuously while the objective is in play. Note: there is a difference between objective (a card in play on the table in an objective slot) and an objective card (a grey card that says objective along the side.)

Combat cards can be played from hand only during a battle. A combat card has up to two types of effects: combat bonuses and abilities. Effects from a combat card last only until the battle ends, unless specified otherwise by the card.
Icons
There are up to three types of icons found on units: an affiliation icon, match icons, and power match icons. There are two more types of icons found only on cards: force icons and luck icons. A unit or card with an icon is a unit or card of that icon type.
The Game Board
The game board is divided into three main zones: a home zone for each player, and the contested zone. The bottom of the board is divided into two sections: a reserves area for each player. Your in-play units start in your home zone, your out-of-play units start in your reserves.
Setting up the Game
Each player uses a deck of at least 30 cards and no more than 30 Build Stars worth of units. No deck can contain more than three copies of any single card. You can have one copy of each unit for each 10 Build Stars you play with, i.e. in a fleet of 30 Build Stars, you can have no more than three copies of any single unit. See also, Advice for Online Deck/Fleets.

To start the game, place up to 20 Build Stars of units into your home zone, place the rest into your reserves. After shuffling your deck, place the top three cards face down into your objective slots then draw three cards into your hand. Players roll for highest to determine who takes the first turn.
On Your Turn
Players alternate turns, starting with the first player. A player can do two things on his/her turn, in this order:
  1. Swap one objective
  2. Take an action
Swapping an objective: To swap an objective, take an objective card from your hand and replace it with a card in any objective slot. If the card in the objective slot is face down, take that card into your hand. If the card in the objective slot is face up, discard it.

Take an action: An action can be one of three things: move action, combat action, strike action.


The complete official rules are available at http://www.wizkidsgames.com/starwars/uploadedFiles/WizKids_Public/Star_Wars_Microsite/Downloads/Files/swga_rulesheet_lowres.pdf  Back