Delta-V

Difficulty

Mission Briefing

Objective

How to Play

Tactical hex-based space combat. Plot burns, ride gravity, and outfly the enemy.

Turn Phases

1Astrogation — plot fuel burns for your ships

2Ordnance — launch mines, torpedoes, or nukes (one item per ship)

3Movement — ships move simultaneously; gravity from last turn applies now

4Combat — gun attacks, counterattacks, and planetary defense resolve

5Transfers — (optional) exchange fuel or cargo between ships at the same hex

Both players complete their full turn sequence before a new game turn begins.

Movement & Fuel

Ships maintain velocity — they drift in the same direction every turn unless you burn.

A burn costs 1 fuel and shifts velocity by 1 hex. Click/tap an arrow around your drift hex (or press 1–6) to choose.

Warships can overload: spend 2 fuel total for a 2-hex velocity change in one turn (once per stopover).

Out of fuel? You still drift — you just can't change course.

Ships that drift off the map are eliminated.

Gravity & Landing

Gravity hexes show an arrow toward their planet. A ship entering a gravity hex has its velocity deflected by 1 hex — but the deflection applies on the next turn.

Weak gravity (moons — Luna, Io, Callisto, Ganymede): you may choose to ignore a single weak-gravity hex. Two consecutive weak-gravity hexes of the same body make the second deflection mandatory.

Orbit is not a special state — it emerges naturally from a speed-1 course looping around the gravity ring.

Landing at a planetary base: you must be in orbit (speed 1, in a gravity hex) and spend 1 fuel to touch down.

Landing at an asteroid base or on a bare body: you must be fully stopped (speed 0) in the destination hex — no burn required.

Resupply only happens at a friendly-controlled base: fuel restored, ordnance reloaded, damage cleared. Neutral or enemy bases accept a landing but do not resupply.

Any other contact with a planet or moon is a crash (eliminated).

Combat

Compare combined attacker combat factors vs. defender to get odds. Roll 1d6 and apply modifiers.

Range penalty−1 per hex of distance (closest approach to target)

Velocity penalty−1 per hex of relative speed above 2

The defender counterattacks first — before taking damage. Ships at the same hex sharing the same course may join the counterattack.

Gun Combat Results Table

Roll	1:4	1:2	1:1	2:1	3:1	4:1
≤0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1	—	—	—	—	—	D2
2	—	—	—	—	D2	D3
3	—	—	—	D2	D3	D4
4	—	—	D2	D3	D4	D5
5	—	D2	D3	D4	D5	EL
6+	D1	D3	D4	D5	EL	EL

D1–D5 = disabled that many turns · EL = eliminated · cumulative D6+ = eliminated

Damage Rules

Disabled ships drift and cannot maneuver, attack, or launch ordnance.

Damage is cumulative — 6 or more total disabled turns = eliminated.

Each ship repairs 1 disabled turn at the end of each of its own turns.

Dreadnaughts may still fire even when fully disabled. Orbital Bases may fire at D1 damage only.

Ships

Ship	Combat	Fuel	Cargo	Cost	Notes
Transport	1D	10	50	10	Carries orbital bases
Packet	2	10	50	20	Armed; carries bases
Tanker	1D	50	0	10	Fuel carrier
Liner	2D	10	0	50	Passenger ship
Corvette	2	20	5	40	Warship
Corsair	4	20	10	80	Warship
Frigate	8	20	40	150	Warship
Dreadnaught	15	15	50	600	Fires when disabled
Torch	8	∞	10	400	Sealed fuel; can't transfer
Orbital Base	16	∞	∞	1000	Stationary; fires at D1

D suffix = defensive only, cannot attack or counterattack · Cost in MC (MegaCredits) · Warships may overload and launch torpedoes

Ordnance

Mines mass 10

Inherit the launching ship's velocity. The launching ship must immediately change course to leave the mine hex. Active for 5 turns. Cannot be shot down. Detonate when any ship or ordnance passes through.

Torpedoes mass 20

Warships only. Inherit launch ship's velocity then may accelerate 1–2 hexes on the launch turn. Hit one target then continue moving if they miss. Active for 5 turns.

Nukes mass 20

Inherit launch ship's velocity. Destroy everything in the detonated hex automatically. Guns and planetary defense may intercept at 2:1 odds — any disabling result destroys the nuke. Active for 5 turns.

Win Conditions

Fleet wiped outEliminate all enemy ships — used in most combat scenarios

Land on targetReach and land on the designated planet (Bi-Planetary, Blockade Runner)

EscortLand on the target planet with passengers aboard (Convoy, Evacuation)

EscapePilgrim transports flee past Jupiter — Enforcers win by capturing or destroying the fugitive ship (Escape)

Grand TourVisit Sol, Mercury, Venus, Terra, Mars, Jupiter, Io, and Callisto then return home first (no combat)

Map Symbols

Hex grid — the playfield.
Gravity — ships drift one step this way each turn. Brighter = stronger.
Body — sun, planet, or moon.
Ships — cyan = yours, orange = enemy. Octagon = orbital station.
Velocity — where a ship coasts next without burning.
Trail — recent movement path; fades over time.
Ordnance trail — torpedo or nuke path history.
Station — cyan = yours, orange = enemy, green = neutral.
Sensor ring — detection range around your ship or bases.
Threat zone — hexes near enemy bases; dangerous to approach.

Controls

Navigation

Drag Pan camera

Scroll / Pinch Zoom

WASD / Arrows Pan camera

+ / - Zoom in/out

Pad A / B Confirm / cancel

Pad LB / RB Previous / next ship

Astrogation

Tap ship Select

Click ship Select

Tap arrow Set burn

Click arrow / 1-6 Set burn

Shift+1-6 Toggle overload

0 Clear burn

Tab Cycle ships

Enter Confirm turn

Esc Deselect

Ordnance

N Launch mine

T Launch torpedo

K Launch nuke

1-6 Set torpedo boost

Enter Skip

Combat

Tap enemy Target

Click enemy Target

[ / ] Previous / next target

{ / } Previous / next attacker

Pad D-pad Cycle targets / attackers

Enter Attack target / end combat

Esc Clear target

Shortcuts

E Focus nearest enemy

H Center on fleet

L Toggle game log

M Toggle sound

? Toggle this help

Pad X / Y / Start / Back Log / focus enemy / help / mute

Select Scenario

Game Created

Build Your Fleet

VICTORY

How to Play

Turn Phases

Movement & Fuel

Gravity & Landing

Combat

Gun Combat Results Table

Damage Rules

Ships

Ordnance

Mines mass 10

Torpedoes mass 20

Nukes mass 20

Win Conditions

Map Symbols

Controls

Navigation

Astrogation

Ordnance

Combat

Shortcuts