ftdeck

Fast play threshold cards for the Full Thrust game

Introduction

The idea behind ftdeck was to speed up the threshold checks in Full Thrust. These can be particularly slow in large games or with inexperienced players, such as at gaming conventions. The current set covers the more common systems from Full Thrust Second Edition and More Thrust, excluding the Alien races. They would require their own deck containing their system types.

Preparation

The cards come as a set of GIF images. These need to be printed on thin card. Most laser printers will print on 200g card and this is what I use. I scale the images to fit an A size sheet and print out the cards. Using a steel ruler and sharp knife, cut out the cards. This will give you a single deck of 100 cards. More decks can be produced by printing out more cards. Each deck has a balanced spread of possible systems hits.

Use in Play

The deck is shuffled before the first threshold draw of each turn They can be re-shuffled before each player draws. For fast play once per turn is optimal.

At each threshold check the number of cards drawn is:

• • 1st threshold check - 1 card

  • 2nd threshold check - 2 cards

  • 3rd threshold check - 3 cards

Each card will be marked with 1, 2 or 3 Systems damaged and contain the corresponding number of rows of system symbols.

Each card row contains multiple system symbols. Starting on the left of the row of card symbols, if the card symbol matches an undamaged system on your ship Ship Status Diagram (SSD) then it is damaged and marked so on the SSD. Which actual system symbol is damaged is determined by the player of the damaged ship. Once a single system is damaged the threshold card row evaluation is complete.

If the current card symbol doesn't exist on the SSD move to the next card symbol to the right and evaluate as before. If no card symbols exist on your SSD for the entire row, then take it as 'no effect'.

Where 2 or 3 Systems are lost the same procedure is applied to each row on the card as there is one row for each potential damaged system. If no card symbols exist on your SSD for the entire row, then take it as 'no effect and evaluate the next row.

The cards have randomised all the main systems from the core game and each system has an equal chance of being eliminated.

Optional if the FTL drive is destroyed, roll D6 on a 6 the ship explodes due to the titanic forces unleashed, this should be noted on all cards with an FTL system.

Additions

In addition to the straight threshold cards you might like to add in the following in the suggested proportions (number of cards)

• • No Effect (5)

  • Draw 2 threshold cards (10)

  • Draw 3 threshold cards (5)

  • Draw 1 event card (10)

Events

Events are a separate deck of cards or list with corresponding die rolls, which can be picked in response to a threshold card or other mechanism.

The number of cards in the deck is as required to give a reasonable spread of events. I would suggest 50 cards as a reasonable selection. Given the smaller frequency of events occuring the event deck is not shuffled.

These events can be tailored for your background, here are some generic ideas. The events can fall into the Good or Bad category, mix the deck as appropriate.

Bad Events

• • Reactor Hit The main reactor has been hit and the ship blows up unless 6 rolled on 1D6

  • Computer Down The main computer is overloaded you may either fire or move next turn but not both. If you move you cannot fire, if you fire you cannot change your current course or speed.

  • Fire Control Failure The energy from the last attack have over-loaded the Fire Control circuits. You cannot fire next turn.

  • Thruster Control Failure The energy from the last attack have over-loaded the Maneuvering circuits. You cannot alter course or speed next turn

  • Coolant Leak The main drive coolant lines have ruptured filling the engineering section with lethal gas. Thrust level is reduced by half and you loose a Damage Control team to the gas.

  • Fuel Tank Hit The main fuel tanks rupture and explodes inflicting 1D6 damage.

  • Magazine Hit A weapon magazine is hit and explodes inflicting 1D6 damage.

  • Bridge Hit The bridge is hit an the command crew all killed. The exec takes control from the auxilliary control room, you cannot fire or move from current course for 2 turns.

  • Hull Breach The hull has been breached and air is leaking into space at an alarming rate. Everyone was luckily suited up must now perform their duties in a space suit which impairs their efficieny, some weren't so lucky. Subtract 1 from any to hit rolls until repaired. Keep this card as a reminder until repaired.

  • Yellow Streak Your nerve breaks under the threat of your near destruction by the enemy, you break and run for 2 turns, avoiding all enemy ships and only returning fire if directly fired upon.

  • Paranoia You are gripped by xenophobic paranoia that the enemy are infiltrating your ship and fleet. Your orders are irrational as you don't trust your crew or fleet. Move in a random direction and velocity next turn and fire on the closest ship - regardless of which side its on. After which you are relieved of command by the exec.

  • Mutiny The crew mutiny as they feel they will all die under your command. The ship heads out of the game area at full thrust and only returns fire if fired upon. You try to rally the loyal crew every turn and gain control on 6 on 1D6.

  • Sabotage An enemy agent sabotages your ship you are unable to change course of fire for 1D6 turns. The agent is found and shot.

  • Shields Down The shield controls are fused, all shields drop for the next turn after which you manage to raise them again.

  • Virus Attack The enemy have downloaded a virus across the comm system, you have it contained but it is attacking your defence systems. All defence systems are down for one turn (C PDAF ADAF Shield Reflex-Field)

Good Events

• • Pre-cognition Your high PSI rating gives you a brief glimpse of the immediate future. You may move your ship after all other ships have moved and you don't have to write down its movements orders until after moving. You may keep this card and use it once

  • Miracle Worker Your Damage Control teams perform exceptional feats due to their inspired leadership. All Damage Control rolls on a 5 OR 6 this turn. You may keep this card and use it once

  • Sensor Wizard Your sensor tech is the best in the fleet and manages to deduce amazing things even with the standard kit. Get complete scans of two vessels of your choice within 48 inches. You may keep this card and use it once

  • Marksman Your gunnery officer is the finest in the fleet and manages to produce incredibly accurate fire. Add 1 to every to hit number of a firing phase. You may keep this card and use it once

  • Helmsman Your helmsman really knows how to fly this ship and can out maneuver anyone in the fleet. Add half your current thrust rating to available thrust for one movement phase and no restrictions on the amount of thrust for course changing. You may keep this card and use it once

  • Chief Engineer You have an engineer of exceptional talent which allows you to perform far in excess of a normal ship of your class. You may double your thrust rating for a single turn. You may keep this card and use it once.

The Program

The ftdeck program can be used to create modified cards. The file ft_systems.txt contains the names of the GIF files on the systems to use. Each line has a corresponding GIF file with the same name. Running the program will run it including the systems in the file, so to add new systems add a new GIF file and name to the ft_systems.txt file. You will need to recompile the program and change the NUM_FT_SYSTEMS constant to match the number of systems to load. Alternatively replace the entries in the file with your own the program will still run if there are 29 entries.

ftdeck -i image_dir -f deck_filename -s system_filename -v

-i image source directory for icons

-f filename for the deck images

-s system definition filename

-v verbose shows processing parameters

The code is available on github and you can download the precompiled Windows 64bit binary from there download the Raw file. Guaranteed no virus as the source code is available.