Full Thrust (1992) Board Game

Full Thrust is a science fiction miniatures wargame that was first released in in 1992. It was designed by Paul Copeland, Dave Garnham, and Barrie Quin, and published by Ground Zero Games. The game has gained a dedicated following over the years for its strategic gameplay and detailed miniatures.

Game Components of Full Thrust

Rulebook (48 pages in the 2nd Edition)

Miniature models of spaceships

Six-sided dice (d6) for combat resolutions

Movement and range measuring tools (rulers or tape measures)

Optional: hex-printed battle board

How To Setup Full Thrust

To set up Full Thrust, players start by placing their fleets at opposite ends of the battle area. Each ship begins with an initial velocity of 8 movement units. Players secretly write down their movement orders for each ship, which are then executed simultaneously or one after another according to those orders. The game area can be measured in inches, centimeters, or any other unit agreed upon by the players, with each unit representing a Movement Unit (MU).

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn-Based with Simultaneous Movement: Players plot their ship movements secretly and then execute them simultaneously.

Combat Phases: Includes missile movement, fighter attacks, and direct-fire weapon engagements.

Beam Weapons: Beam batteries with power levels determining range and damage; higher power levels increase range but reduce damaging power over distance.

Objective: Games can be played until one side is defeated, a set number of turns are completed, or when explicit objectives are achieved. Victory is determined by remaining forces and objective completion.

Player Experience

Full Thrust offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience with its simultaneous turn mechanism, which requires players to predict their opponents’ movements. The game allows for a high degree of creativity and customization, particularly in ship design, where players can build their own ships from scratch by allocating points to hulls, weapons, and engines. This flexibility, along with the availability of free downloadable rules, makes it accessible and appealing to a wide range of players.

Pros

High Customization: Allows players to design their own ships and fleets.

Simultaneous Turns: Creates a dynamic and unpredictable gameplay experience.

Free Rules: Available for download, making it easy to start playing.

Affordable Models: Ground Zero Games offers a range of affordable and high-quality miniature models.

Community Support: Active community with unofficial conversions to other sci-fi universes.

Cons

Complexity: Ship design and advanced rules can be intricate and time-consuming.

Manual Tracking: Requires players to keep track of movements and orders manually, which can be tedious.

No Maximum Speed: While realistic, managing ship speed can become challenging as ships can accelerate indefinitely.

Personal Thoughts on Full Thrust

Full Thrust is ideal for fans of space battles and tactical strategy games. It caters well to those who enjoy customization and planning, as well as those looking for a game that offers a mix of simplicity in basic rules and depth in advanced mechanics. The game’s ability to be adapted to various sci-fi universes adds to its appeal, making it a versatile choice for wargamers and sci-fi enthusiasts alike.

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