Raise

1.1 WHAT IS A MICRO WARGAME:

A micro wargame is an easy to learn, fast to
play, and inexpensive game for fans of
wargaming who may not have enough time for

Shields
a full-blown kitchen table spanning battle.

A micro wargame can be played over a lunch

break, on a train, on a plane, or just in the
comfort of your own home when you have a
free minute.

All the micro wargames I put out will consist of

5-20 printed sheets of paper: Including rules, 1-
2 playing maps, and one sheet of counters.

1.2 THE AGE OF SPACE

A Micro Wargame EXPLORATION:
Designed by N.C. Patterson One of my favorite themes of science fiction
Easy to learn television, books, and movies is space
Fast to play exploration. Going forth into the unknown and
Inexpensive encountering new species, worlds, and cultures
is just part of the fun.

CONTENTS: However, just like those who discovered vast

amounts of the world we lived in, so too is
• 1.0: INTRODUCTION space exploration a dangerous endeavor. That
• 2.0: PREPARING TO PLAY is why it is best to go out into the void wholly
• 3.0: PLAYING THE GAME equipped and ready for anything.
• 4.0: MOVEMENT PHASE
• 5.0: CANNON PHASE You never know when you might run into a
• 6.0: END OF ROUND violent or hostile alien force hellbent on
• 7.0: CAMPAIGN PLAY destroying you.

1.0 INTRODUCTION: 1.3 WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO

Raise Shields is a micro wargame that emulates
space themed ship-to-ship battles as made
famous in science fiction television shows,
books, and movies.
At its core, the rules for Raise Shields are based
upon the previously released Micro Wargame
Pirate Sails. However, this rendition of the rules
includes options for customizing your own
spaceship for use in play as well as some simple
options for campaign play.
PLAY:
To play Raise Shields, you will need:
• These rules.
• A printed off copy of the game map.
• A printed off copy of the ship rosters.
• A printed off copy of the ship counters.
• The first player marker.
• At least five six-sided dice (referred to
as D6s in these rules)
• Pencils and erasers.
2.0 PREPARING TO PLAY:
Before your first time playing, print and cut out
all the Ship Counters and the Ship Rosters.
2.1 PICK A PLAYING POINT LEVEL:
The point level determines how many “credits”
each player will be allowed to spend on their
ship. Credits enable players to purchase
weapons, armor, and shield upgrades. For your
first time playing, use a point level of 0—
meaning you only play with the base ship
capabilities.
0 0 Credits Per Players
1 5 Credits Per Players
2 10 Credits Per Player
3 15 Credits Per Player
4 20 Credits Per player
Each player will need a ship roster to represent
their personal starship.
2.2 SET UP:
1. MAP: Set the map on the table between
the players.
2. SHIPS and ROSTERS: Give each player a
ship roster, a colored ship counter, and
a pencil with an eraser.
3. BUILD SHIPS: Each player should now
build their starship with upgrades
according to how many credits they
have (see 2.4 Star Ship Building). After
choosing your upgrades, write in your
ship’s Hull, Shield, Crew points, etc. in
the respective boxes. If you plan on
playing a campaign game, record these
numbers again below the upgrades line
so you can remember what your base
starting stats are.
4. PLACE SHIPS: Players roll to choose
which side of the map they start on. If
only playing with two players, you must
start on opposite sides of the map. Each
player places their ship counter along
the outer edge of their side of the map
in the “Starting Zone” (As indicated by
the grayed-out area on each side of the
map).
a. Ships must be placed with the
front end facing toward a
straight edge of a hex. The front
of the ship has three arrows
facing outward. Each arrow
should be pointing at one of
three different sides of the hex.
b. The front of the ship must be
facing out toward open space,
not sideways or backward
toward the map’s edges.
2.3 SHIP ROSTERS:
Ship rosters help you keep track of your ship’s
statistics throughout the game. Each roster has
5 specific statistics.
• Stress: Making dangerous maneuvers,
as well as taking damage, can add stress
to your ship’s integrity. Take on too
much stress, and you may be
threatened with a compromised hull.
• Crew: This number shows how large
your crew is. The more crew members
you have left alive determines your
ship’s overall morale. Additionally, crew
members can repair the ship as it takes
damage.
• Shields: Shields are your first line of
defense against attack. Initial damage
 will hit shields first and then your hull
and weaponry second.
• Hull: The hull is the backbone of your
ship. Once your hull statistic hits zero,
your ship is destroyed.
• Cannons: This is how much firepower
your ship has. Each ship begins with 10
laser cannons, five on each side.
2.4 STARSHIP BUILDING:
Each starship begins with a base level of 10
shield points, 10 hull points, and 10 laser
cannons.
Before beginning play, players may choose to
purchase any of the following upgrades for their
ship.
• Shield Bonus (5 Credits): Shields are an
essential first defense against attackers.
You raise your starting shield level by 5.
You may purchase this twice.
• Armor Plating (5 Credits): If your shields
ever fail or an attack managed to
penetrate them you will want to have a
hearty outer lining to your ship. You
double your hull points.
• Evasive Maneuvers: (5 Credits): You
install new microjets which make
maneuvering easier in battle. You
receive +1D6 when rolling for evasion
and may reroll any stress tests (but
must take the second result).
• Impulse Engines (5 Credits): You may
move up to 6 spaces without making a
stress test. Your first negative stress
modifier you gain each turn counts as 0.
• Crew Quarters (5 Credits): You add on
more space to house more crew
members. Add 5 new crew members to
your ship. You may purchase this twice.
• Phaser Cannons (5 Credits): Laser
Cannons can only do so much damage.
Phaser Cannons fire at Long Range as if
they are at Close Range (hitting on a 5
or 6) and a Close Range as if they are at
Boarding Range (4, 5, or 6).
• Pulse Cannons (10 Credits): Pulse
Cannons are one step above Phaser
Cannons. They fire at all ranges as if it
were Boarding Range (hitting on 4, 5, or
6).
 • Plasma Cannons (15 Credits): These
powerful cannons have the ability to
slice right through shields. They don’t
receive the same range bonus as the
other cannons. However, on any roll of
6, the damage goes straight through to
the hull.
• Plasma Torpedo (5 Credits Per
Torpedo): torpedoes are the most
powerful weapon available. However,
once you use one, it is gone forever.
Torpedo’s fire at all ranges as if it were
Boarding Range (hitting on 4, 5, or 6)
and always hit the hull instead of the
shields.
Restrictions: You may only ever have one type
of cannon on your ship at a time. You may,
however, have torpedoes in addition to your
cannons. You may only purchase shields and
armor twice, Evasive Maneuvers once, and
everything else once. Torpedoes are the only
exception. You may buy as many of those as
you have credits.
Once you have purchased something, write it
on your ship roster to remind you.
Example: For instance, if you purchased Armor
Plating two times, you would write in the new
hull number (Base of 10 + 5 + 5 = 20) in the
space next to the base you started with. You
now have 20 hull points before your ship is
destroyed.
3.0 PLAYING THE GAME:
You are now ready to play Raise Shields. Games
of Raise Shields are divided up into rounds, and
each round has 4 parts to it.
3.1 GAME ROUND:
1. MORALE ROLL: All players roll 1d6 and
add their morale score (determined by
the number of crew members left alive
on their ship). The player with the
highest score gets to choose who is the
first player for the round. Give that
player the First Player Marker.
2. MOVEMENT PHASE: Starting with the
first player, each player takes turns, in
clockwise order, moving their ships one
at a time around the map. Ships follow
the map hexes. (See section 4.0)
3. CANNON PHASE: Starting with the first
player, each player takes turns firing
upon enemy ships if able. (See section
6.0)
4. REPAIR PHASE: Your crew may attempt
to repair damage made against the
ship.
4.0 MOVEMENT PHASE:
During the Movement Phase, starting with the
first player for the round, each player takes
turns moving their ships one at a time.
Meaning, the first player would move their ship,
the next player theirs, and so on, going around
the circle until every ship has been moved.
4.1 STEPS FOR MOVEMENT:
When moving, follow these steps.
1. Check travel direction. (See section 4.2).
2. Move your ship, keeping track of
possible stress modifiers for the turn.
3. Make necessary Stress Tests. (See
section 4.5)
Ships may never move backward. Each ship
counter shows three arrows pointing forward.
These are the three directions it may move.
Each ship may move between 2 to 6 spaces on
their turn without penalty but may move more
or less by taking on stress modifiers.
Multiple factors can affect your movement. As
you move your ship, count how many stress
modifiers you gain during the turn from both
turning and speed.
4.2 TRAVEL DIRECTION:
Before moving, always check which direction
your ship is traveling. In outer space, there is no
air or wind resistance. Therefore, once you
begin moving one direction, you must continue
moving that direction indefinitely unless you
make a purposeful turn or stop.
Whichever direction your ship is facing at the
beginning of movement is considered it’s
“Travel Direction.”
If during your movement, you ever turn out of
your travel direction, you’ll be required to make
a stress test.
4.3 TURNING
Each turn you make adds to your stress
modifier for the turn. If you turn one click
(measured as one hex side), you accumulate -1
stress modifier for the round. If you turn two
clicks (two hex sides), -2—and so on.
4.4 SPEED and STRESS
Depending on how far you move, you take the
chance of inflicting stress on your ship. Possible
movement options are as follows:
• Move 5-6 and accumulate a -1 Stress
Modifier.
• Move 2-4 and no stress modifier.
• Move 1 and accumulate a -1 stress
modifier.
• Move 0 and accumulate a -2 stress
modifier.
4.5 STRESS TEST:
At the end of your movement, you will then
calculate any stress the ship might have taken.
This is done through a stress test. This test is
always made at the end of the movement
action.
To make a stress test do the following:
1. Roll 2d6.
2. Negate any accumulated stress
modifiers for the round (from both
turning and speed).
3. Negate your ship’s current stress value.
4. Check the results table below.
6+ You have successfully made the
maneuver without taking on any
stress.
4-5 You still successfully made the
maneuver but must take on ONE
stress. Mark this on your Ship Roster.
2-3 You still successfully made the
maneuver but maybe went too far.
Roll a d6 and halve the result. Move
that many spaces in your current
travel direction. Additionally, your
ship must take on ONE additional
stress. Mark this on your Ship Roster.
1 You still successfully made the
maneuver but definitely went too far.
Roll a d6. Move that many spaces in
your current travel direction.
 Additionally, your ship must take on
TWO additional stress. Mark this on
your Ship Roster.
-0-5 Your ship was damaged in the
maneuver. Roll 1d6 and take that
much hull damage.
-6 Your ship buckled under the
maneuver and was destroyed.
(EXAMPLE: Harry rolls 2d6 and gets a result of 6.
He accumulated -1 stress modifier from moving
6 spaces and also -1 from turning one click this
turn for a total of -2 stress modifiers. His total
roll after modifiers is now 4. He then checks his
current stress level which is 3 and negates that
from his total as well—leaving a result of 1. He
is forced to move 1d6 spaces and take TWO
additional stress levels.)
4.6 OTHER MOVEMENT RULES:
• If your ship ever moves off the map
edge, they have fled the fight and are
considered out of the game.
• You may never move onto or through
another ship by choice.
• If you are forced into another ship by a
stress test, stop moving immediately.
Both ship’s take 1d6 damage to the
hull.
5.0 CANNON PHASE:
Starting with the first player for the round, each
player may make one attack from both sides of
each of their ships as well as one torpedo if they
have it.
This is done one ship at a time, just like in the
Movement Phase. The first player fires with
both sides of one ship, the next player fires, and
so on—going around the circle until all ships
who can fire have done so.
5.1 ATTACKING:
To make an attack, follow these steps.
1. DECLARE TARGET AND CHECK LINE OF
SIGHT: Choose one other ship on the
board to attack. Cannons may only
shoot out from the side of your ship
within the ship’s firing arch (example
below) unless you have torpedoes,
which may be fired from any direction.
You can use a ruler or other straight
edge to see if you are in line of sight of
the target ship. You may never shoot
through another ship, friendly or
enemy.
2. CHECK RANGE: Check how many hex
spaces away the target is.
a. BOARDING: If the target is only
1 hex away, they are at
Boarding Range. You will hit on
results of 4-6. Additionally, you
can choose to board the enemy
ship. (See section 6.2)
b. CLOSE RANGE: If the target is 5
or fewer hexes away, they are
at Close Range. You will hit on
results of 5-6.
c. LONG RANGE: If the target is
farther than 6 hexes away, they
are at Long Range. You will hit
on results of 6.
3. ROLL ATTACK DICE: Count the number
of active cannons you have on that side
 of the ship (maximum 5). Take 1d6 for
each active cannon. Roll the dice.
4. CHECK FOR HITS: Dice are counted
individually—NOT added together. For
each die showing a HIT result (4-6 at
Boarding Range, 5-6 at Close Range, 6
at Long Range) you score a hit on them.
5.2 BOARDING:
When at boarding range, you may choose to
sacrifice one point in your crew value to
“board” the enemy. When doing this, results of
6 always count as 2 HITS to a target ship.
NOTE: You MUST be at actual Boarding Range
to board an enemy ship. Even if you have an
upgraded cannon that allows you to make hits
as if you were in boarding range, you still must
be 1 hex away to board.
5.3 DEFENDING:
Now the ship being targeted by the attack gets
a chance to defend. To defend, roll 1d6. You
may always increase your ship’s stress by 1 to
take an additional die. If you have “Evasive
Maneuvers” take an extra die.
Roll the die. If rolling 2d6 or 3D6, add the
results together.
1. Negate your ship’s stress level from the
result.
2. Halve the result.
3. This final number is how many hits you
evaded from the attack—if any.
5.4 TAKING DAMAGE:
After determining how many hits a ship is
taking, the defender applies the damage
directly to the shields.
If any damage penetrated the shield or you
have lost your shields completely, roll a die to
see where the damage ends up. Use the
following table to determine the result.
1 Attacker decides where damage goes
2 All damage goes to the Hull
3 All damage goes to the Cannons on the
closest side of the ship. If the attack is
hitting the front or back of the ship and
not a side, the damage goes to the Hull
instead.
4 All damage goes to the Crew
5 All damage is taken as Stress
6 Defender chooses where damage goes
• When damage goes to the hull or the
crew, negate the amount from your
current total and record the new result.
• When damage goes to the cannons,
mark off the boxes next to the cannons
on that side of the ship being attacked.
Every two checks removes a cannon
from play. You can no longer fire with
that cannon.
• When damage is taken as stress, just
add it to the stress level of the ship.
5.5 REPAIRS:
At the end of the round, each player may
attempt to repair their ship. For each crew
member on board, roll 1d6. Each result of 6
counts as a “Repair Point.” These points can be
spent as follows.
• 1 Point to Repair one Shield point.
• 2 Points to Repair on Cannon. (This
only repairs one of the two cannon’s
boxes. Not both.)
• 3 Points to Repair one Hull point.
Repair points do not carry over between
rounds.
6.0 END OF ROUND:
When all players have finished making their
attacks, it’s time to check for victory.
6.1 WINNING
You win if you meet the following condition.
 • All other ships have been destroyed or • Large Map: For a larger game, print off
have fled the map. two copies of the map and place them
side by side to form a bigger play area.
If no one has met the winning conditions and
• Fleet Map: For an extra-large game,
won the game, the round starts over with
print off the map four times and place
another Morale check from the crew members
them all in a 2x2 grid.
of each ship.
• Fleet Play: You may choose to print off
7.0 CAMPAIGN RULES: extra ship rosters and counters and
have players play multiple ships.
If you want to continue playing with the same
ships for a few different games in a row, you APPENDIX 2: RULES
can. At the end of each game, calculate the CLARIFICATION:
credits you earned during the battle.
• When determining which side your
• 5 credits for each ship you destroyed. cannons are facing, or which side of
• 10 credits if you won the battle. cannons are being damaged, always
compare the Ship Roster to the Ship
If your ship was destroyed in the previous
Counter.
battle. It costs a minimum of five credits to
• The Port (Left) side on the Ship Roster
bring it back into working condition. You would
always corresponds to the (L) side on
begin the next game at half the shields and hull
the counter.
but with full cannons and crew. You may spend
• The Starboard (Right) side on the Ship
ten credits instead to bring it back to complete
Roster always corresponds to the (R)
working condition with all stats at the
side of the counter.
maximum. If you don’t have the necessary
credits, your ship is considered out of the Raise Shields: A Micro Wargame
campaign for good.
Copyright © 2019 Noah Patterson
If your ship fled the previous battle, you don’t
have to pay for the repairs.

APPENDIX 1: OPTIONAL RULES:

• No Cannon: You may choose to end the
game and declare a winner if all other
ships are devoid of cannons. The losing
ships have “fled” the battle.
• One Cannon: You may also decide on
the optional rule that all ships always
have at least one cannon on both sides
at all times, thus negating the above
winning condition.
• Team Play: When playing with four
players, you may choose to play on
teams of two.
 Raise Shields
QUICK REFERENCE
Game Round:
1. Morale Roll
2. Movement Phase
3. Cannon Phase
4. Repair Phase
Morale: Crew + D6 Roll
Movement Phase:
1. Check Travel Direction.
2. Move Ship.
3. Make necessary stress tests.
Movement Options:
• Move 5-6 and accumulate -1 Stress
Modifier.
• Move 2-4 and no stress modifier.
• Move 1 and accumulate -1 stress
modifier.
• Move 0 and accumulate -2 stress
modifiers.
Stress Test: 2d6 – Stress Modifiers – Stress
Level
6+ You have successfully made the
maneuver without taking on any
stress.
4-5 You still successfully made the
maneuver but must take on ONE
stress. Mark this on your Ship Roster.
2-3 You still successfully made the
maneuver but maybe went too far.
Roll a d6 and halve the result. Move
that many spaces in your current
travel direction. Additionally, your
ship must take on ONE additional
stress. Mark this on your Ship Roster.
1 You still successfully made the
maneuver but definitely went too far.
Roll a d6. Move that many spaces in
your current travel direction.
Additionally, your ship must take on
TWO additional stress. Mark this on
your Ship Roster.
-0-5 Your ship was damaged in the
maneuver. Roll 1d6 and take that
much hull damage.
-6 Your ship buckled under the
maneuver and was destroyed.
Attacking:
1. Declare target & check line of sight
2. Determine range.
3. Roll 1D6 per cannon.
4. Check # of hits (determined by range)
Range:
Boarding* No hexes Hits on 4-6
Close 5 or Less Hits on 5-6
Long 6+ Hits on 6
*Can spend one Crew Point to make all 6s
worth 2 hits.
Defending:
1. Determine Dice Modifiers:
a. Evasive Maneuvers add 1d6.
b. Choose to increase stress by 1
to roll an additional 1D6.
c. Otherwise, roll only 1d6.
2. Roll dice. Add results altogether.
3. Negate ship’s stress level.
4. Divide result by half, rounding down.
5. The final result is how many hits you
dodged.
Damage Chart:
1 Attacker decides where damage goes
2 All damage goes to the Hull
3 All damage goes to the Cannons on the
closest side of the ship. If the attack is
hitting the front or back of the ship and
not a side, the damage goes to the Hull
instead.
4 All damage goes to the Crew
5 All damage is taken as Stress
6 Defender chooses where damage goes