CORE SPACE

◗ battlesystems.co.uk

◗ £79.99

We are going to do something unusual here: this review isn’t based on a new

game – it’s for a game that’s a couple of years old. Why would Defence in Depth

do that? Two reasons. Firstly there are some aspects of the boxed set – with it’s boardgame-come-tabletop wargame

approach – that are worth bringing to the attention of those who might not have seen it previously (and, ahem... head’s up: that might include the Editor...). But secondly there is a new variant of the system called Core Space: First Born

which is due out in October and there is still time to pledge on that to get a copy (though numbers will be limited, I guess) so be warned!

So what’s in the Core Space boxed set? Well, bearing in mind that many of the components are available as separate items on the Battle Systems website, what you get in the box is a game system cantered around an SF environment where you and your crew salvage tech whilst exploring an ‘area’, fulfil some objectives and then retire back to their ship to count – and then spend – their loot on repairs and whatnot. This builds into a campaign system, tracking the crew from game to game, developing skills, upgrading equipment and so forth. Designed for solo or two players, the game supports up to six players if you buy extra crew. Okay: so far so everything from GDW’s Traveller up to Osprey’s Stargrave. What makes this different, I

think, is the bits you get in the box...

Twenty plastic miniatures, all one piece castings and just astonishingly well done: these are not just playing pieces but highly detailed, well sculpted (in a ‘realistically proportional’ 30mm) models that are hard-plastic enough to paint up very well indeed. Then there’s a neoprene, 600mm square playmat with some great ‘tech corridor’ printing on it and – gosh – the scenery... if Battle Systems are known for anything it’s their high quality, printed card scenery and this comes with 29 assorted walls and over 100 assorted scatter components and accessories (boxes, tables, chairs, consoles and so forth). Finally there are play aids and all of the characters have a plastic ‘dashboard’ showing their status with coloured pegs that is both visually appealing, keeps the clutter and scraps of paper down and works beautifully.

There’s a load of other stuff: special D6 dice, event cards; card counters and tokens and – of course – the rule book. It’s a hundred pages but don’t despair: whilst I want to emphasise that this certainly isn’t ‘just a simple board game’, it’s not all hard core rules: the first twenty pages cover set up and things like the assembly of scenery and – half way through – it gets on to missions and how to run them. There are nine example missions detailed with objectives set out and plans of how to arrange your scenery. I have to say that – based on this boxed set – I’m looking forward to the new version: I’m told by Battle Systems that First Born is not an expansion, as such, and not really a second edition as much as just... well more of what players have asked for. Gotta love that approach!