- BGG rank
- BGG #4,733
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Cry Havoc
- 2–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1981
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,581
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Starship Captain
1982
Rules assistance for Starship Captain
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–16 players
- 90 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Starship Captain
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Starship Captain is a board game released in 1982 for 2–16 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Gary Chalk and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Simulation.
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About the game
Starship Captain comes with 9 good quality hex space maps measuring 20" x 15", 2 sets of cardstock ships (some 5" long), and rules and scenario booklets with one d20. After choosing the scenario to play each player takes the relevant ship cards, these show attack defense and damage charts. Damage is recorded on separate sheets. Playing the game is in turn sequence with faster ships moving first, in alternate player order and slowest ships moving last. Victory conditions set by the scenario may be different for each side with points being scored for destroying or damaging opposition ships. Overall the game is similar to Star Trek (simplified) or Battlecars in space. Play is brisk and not overcomplicated even with large numbers of ships but mostly so big that it is never fiddly.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Eurogames
- Standard Games and Publications, Ltd.
- Jeux Rexton
Questions and answers
Starship Captain supports 2–16 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 Starship Captain is 90 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 Starship Captain for ages 10 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.
Starship Captain has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Starship Captain belongs to these categories: Wargame and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Simulation. 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 Starship Captain are: Gary Chalk. 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 Starship Captain 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.