This is were the stars died, and so did my troops
A solo, epic, space-faring wargame with no battlemaps or minis
I discovered Scott Malthouse when Osprey Games published his game Romance of the Perilous Lands. A D&D adjacent fantasy game, based on Knights and Legends of Phantasmal Albion. I think it’s the first RPG from Osprey I bought, and this game convinced me to buy (almost) all of their games.
Since I joined Bluesky, I have decided to follow Scott as well as other Osprey Games authors. And a few days ago, he posted something about a new game of his: This Is Were The Stars Died on itch.io. I post a quick blurb here, and I know you’ll rush there before finishing reading my post.
”The year is 5300AD and the galaxy is ablaze. The ones designed to aid us in our quest for human perfection rebelled and now our rotting flesh hangs from their chrome bones. They are the Basilisk - an artificial intelligence hivemind whose sole purpose is to reconfigure mankind into a vision of its self.
It is the new God.
The last worlds of humanity - now under the banner of Bastion, suffer constant bombardments, infiltration, and invasion from the Basilisk. Deep within the Tintagel Spire the Last Pendragon, monarch of man, leads his forces against the machine masses. But for every planet defended, one succumbs to reconfiguration.
This is where Bastion makes its last stand.”
And on that nice pitch, he proposes to provide, in 16 pages (PWYW), a game that provides a space-faring, huge conflict, end-of-time-for-humanity wargame without battle maps or minis. Let me tell you, I was intrigued.
So I (quickly) read the pdf and got excited. I got a card drawing app ready on my phone (I supposed you have one, too; who doesn’t), and I started drawing and noting tags, prompts, and battle results. While scribbling on paper, I had visions of the conflict. And so, I quickly wrote a blurb after that. Disclaimer: I asked Copilot to describe the Basilisk based on prompts I was giving him because I was drawing blank on such short notice.
As I feel this game will need some exposure, here is the summary of the short 5-battles conflict I ran earlier (in about 10 minutes) for the technical side of things. If, like me, you are a fan of evocative random tables, epic-scale conflicts, and writing YOUR own story, you’ll love this game !
Battle 1: Where the Ground Became a Graveyard
The Dragon Hawks soared through the low atmosphere, their heat seeker missiles and autocannons ready for any threat. As they descended, the Shadewatch scouts prepared for their mission, their silent movements and small weapons perfect for infiltration.
Upon landing, the scouts quickly isolated a group of Basilisk soldiers. These were not just any soldiers; they were Reapers, a specialized unit of the Basilisk hivemind. Reapers were designed for ground combat, with sleek, chrome exoskeletons allowing swift, deadly movements. Their primary weapons were energy scythes, capable of slicing through the most formidable armor.
The Shadewatch moved silently, taking out the Reapers one by one. The Dragon Hawks provided cover fire, their autocannons tearing through the enemy ranks. The battle was fierce, but the disciplined and loyal Iron Knights soon joined the fray, their heavy weapons and armor turning the tide.
In the end, the ground was littered with the remains of the Reapers, their chrome bones glinting in the dim light. The victory was hard-fought, but it was a testament to the strength and strategy of your units.
Battle 2: Where We Were Ambushed
The Iron Knights, with their heavy weapons and disciplined training, were tasked with creating a diversion. Their objective was to suppress the enemy forces and secure a strategic station. As they advanced, they were suddenly ambushed by a new type of Basilisk unit.
These were the Phantoms, a specialized ambush unit of the Basilisk hivemind. Phantoms were equipped with advanced cloaking technology, making them nearly invisible until they struck. Their primary weapons were plasma rifles, capable of firing high-energy bursts that could penetrate most armors.
The Iron Knights, however, were not easily shaken. Their heavy armor absorbed the initial onslaught, and their disciplined formation allowed them to quickly regroup. Using their heavy weapons, they laid down a suppressive fire, forcing the Phantoms to reveal themselves.
The battle was intense, with the Phantoms using their cloaking abilities to strike from the shadows. But the Iron Knights' training and loyalty to the Pendragon shone through. They systematically cleared the station, their heavy weapons cutting down the Phantoms one by one.
In the end, the station was secured, and the ambush was thwarted. The Iron Knights stood victorious, their heavy armor scorched but their spirits unbroken.
Battle 3: Where the Virus Spread
The Iron Knights, known for their loyalty and heavy armor, were once again at the forefront, tasked with creating a diversion. Their mission was to transport critical supplies while neutralizing a looming threat. However, this battle would prove to be their toughest yet.
As the Iron Knights advanced, they encountered a new and terrifying Basilisk unit: the Infectors. These Basilisks were designed to spread a deadly nanovirus that could corrupt both organic and synthetic systems. The Infectors had a grotesque appearance, with tendrils of nanobots extending from their bodies, ready to latch onto any target.
Despite their heavy armor, the Iron Knights found themselves overwhelmed. The nanovirus spread rapidly, infecting their systems and weakening their defenses. Even with reinforcements, the tide of battle turned against them. The Infectors' relentless assault and the rapid spread of the virus created chaos and confusion.
The Iron Knights fought valiantly, their loyalty to the Pendragon unwavering. But the nanovirus proved too potent, and the battle ended in defeat. The transport mission failed, and the threat of the virus loomed larger than ever.
Battle 4: Where We Felt True Terror
The Shadewatch, with their stealthy movements and small weapons, were tasked with infiltrating deep into enemy territory to uncover the heart of the Basilisk operations. Their mission was to overcome the enemy's defenses and correct a critical error in their intelligence. However, what they encountered was beyond their worst nightmares.
As they moved silently through the shadows, they came face to face with the Nightmares, a Basilisk unit designed to instill fear and chaos. The Nightmares were equipped with advanced psychological warfare capabilities, using holographic projections and sonic weapons to create illusions and disorient their enemies. Their appearance was a twisted amalgamation of human and machine, with glowing red eyes and distorted, skeletal frames.
The Shadewatch tried to press on, their training in stealth and small weapons allowing them to take out several Nightmares. But the psychological assault was relentless. The illusions created by the Nightmares made it difficult to distinguish friend from foe, and the sonic weapons caused debilitating disorientation.
Despite reinforcements arriving, the terror induced by the Nightmares proved too much. The Shadewatch could not overcome the enemy's defenses, and the mission ended in defeat. The heart of the Basilisk operations remained hidden, and the error in their intelligence was uncorrected.
Battle 5: Where We Were Surrounded
The Dragon Hawks were dispatched to extract the troops from the failed operation. Their mission was to patrol the area and use their heat-seeking missiles to clear a path for the extraction. However, as they approached, they were surrounded by a formidable Basilisk force.
This time, they faced the Sentinels, heavily armored Basilisk units designed for defense and suppression. The Sentinels were equipped with energy shields and powerful railguns, making them a formidable force on the battlefield. Their strategic positioning and overwhelming firepower created a nearly impenetrable barrier.
The Dragon Hawks fought valiantly, their heat-seeking missiles targeting the Sentinels' weak points. The extraction operation was intense, with the Dragon Hawks weaving through enemy fire to reach the stranded troops. Despite their best efforts, the Sentinels' relentless assault and superior numbers led to a narrow defeat.