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Gladiator
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- 1981
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,537
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts
1981
Rules assistance for Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.6/5
Rules assistant for Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts is a board game released in 1981 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael J. Matheny and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Tactical space combat. Each player is a pirate squadron or convoy escort squadron (on its way to relieve a besieged Mars). The action occurs amidst the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, Star Wars style (e.g. this "belt" looks more like a proto-planet than an actual asteroid belt) --asteroids offer shelter and menace as you weave your way through them. Ships are designed by the players then flown in the missions. Missiles, lasers, tractor beams, oh my! Play involves energy allocation using little cardboard sliders. Fast and furious. Shooting Stars: A Tactical Game of Fighter Combat in Space is a similar game, but more involved and detailed.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Yaquinto
Questions and answers
Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts has a complexity rating of 2.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts belongs to these categories: Wargame and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Simultaneous Action Selection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts are: Michael J. Matheny. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Asteroid Pirates: A Game of Ship to Ship Combat in the Asteroid Belts as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.