Synopsis
A skirmish wargame set in a dangerous galaxy where players command a small crew of adventurers hunting for loot, while trying not to call too much attention to their activities.
In a galaxy torn apart by the Last War, vast pirate fleets roam from system to system, robbing, extorting, and enslaving. Attempts to organize resistance, or to establish authority over any territory larger than a city, are quickly and brutally crushed. In this dark time, the only way to survive is to be inconspicuous and hope to be overlooked. Amidst this chaos, however, thousands of independent operators--smugglers, relic hunters, freedom fighters, and mercenaries--roam the dead stars in small ships, scratching out a living anyway they can.
In Stargrave, players take on the role of one of these independent operators. Perhaps they are a cybernetic veteran of the Last War, a psion fleeing slavers, or a mystic warrior attempting to preserve ancient wisdom. Maybe they are a bounty hunter collecting blood money, a robotics expert pushing the bounds of current technology, or a biomorph bred in the genetanks of some forgotten laboratory. Having chosen their own background, players must hire a crew for their ship, choosing a lieutenant with their own unique skill-set, and a handful of soldiers, mechanics, hackers, and other specialists. Some captains may even recruit strange alien lifeforms with abilities no humanoid could ever possess.
Once the players' crews are assembled, they are ready to dive into a campaign. Over a series of games, their crews will have the chance to carry out a variety of missions--recovering lost technology, stealing data, freeing slaves, and fighting back against the pirate fleets. In time, as the crews gain experience, they will become more powerful and hire more talented specialists. The more they grow, however, the more likely it is that a pirate fleet will take note of their activities and come after them!
About the Authors
Joseph A. McCullough's first brush with writing for games was as co-author of The Grey Mountains supplement for the Middle-Earth Role-Playing Game, and he has remained passionate about Fantasy gaming since, going on to become an award-winning game designer. He is the creator of the “Frostgrave Family” of skirmish wargames (the Fantasy titles Frostgrave, Ghost Archipelago, Rangers of Shadow Deep, and the Sci-Fi evolution, Stargrave) and of the Oathmark Fantasy battle game and The Silver Bayonet, a game of Napoleonic Gothic Horror. The latest information on his game design and other writing can be found at: josephamccullough.com.
Helge C. Balzer was born in northern Germany and, as a teenager, made short films, advertising spots, and worked as a storyboard artist. Later, he studied computer animation and concept art at the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg, going on to work as a matte painter, sculptor, animator, and concept artist for numerous international game productions. Alongside this, Helge has created award-winning short films as a director, production designer, and producer. Today, Helge lives in Germany, working as a freelance illustrator, concept artist, and art director in the entertainment industry for clients such as Wizards of the Coast, Games Workshop, Black Library, Fantasy Flight Games, Cubicle 7, Paizo, and many, many more.
Sam Lamont is a ENnie Award-winning illustrator, concept artist, and games designer. He has worked on a wide variety of projects including Doctor Who, Total War: Warhammer, Call of Cthulhu, and Star Wars. He loves creating expansive worlds, intricate games, and horrifying monsters. Find his work at: moonskinned.co.uk
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