CEPHEUS LIGHT

OLD-SCHOOL RULES-LIGHT 2D6-BASED

SCI-FI ROLE-PLAYING GAME

BY OMER GOLAN-JOEL AND JOSH PETERS

 CEPHEUS LIGHT
CEPHEUS LIGHT
OLD-SCHOOL RULES-LIGHT 2D6-BASED
SCI-FI ROLE-PLAYING GAME
Revision 4 - Second printing - October 2019

CREDITS
AUTHORS INTERIOR ART
Omer Golan-Joel Joel Lovell
Josh Peters Del Teigeler
EDITORS Earl Geier
Josh Peters Hannah Saunders
Richard Hazlewood Luigi Castellani
INTERIOR DESIGN AND LAYOUT Public Domain art
Omer Golan-Joel PLAYTESTERS
COVER ART Josh Peters, Georges Gauthier, Jason Dubsky,
Matthew Vann, Mathieu Bedard, Julien Reliat, Isaac
Public Domain
Abouganem, Paul DeMelto, Shawn Fisher

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
• This Product is derived from the Traveller System Reference Document and other Open Gaming Content
made available by the Open Gaming License and does not contain closed content from products published
by either Mongoose Publishing or Far Future Enterprises. This Product is not affiliated with either Mongoose
Publishing or Far Future Enterprises, and it makes no claim to or challenge to any trademarks held by either
entity. The use of the Traveller System Reference Document does not convey the endorsement of this
Product by either Mongoose Publishing or Far Future Enterprises as a product of either of their product lines.
• Cepheus Engine and Samardan Press™ are the trademarks of Jason "Flynn" Kemp”; Stellagama Publishing is
not affiliated with Jason "Flynn" Kemp or Samardan Press™.
• The names “Cepheus” and “Cepheus Engine” are used in this product with Jason "Flynn" Kemp’s permission.
• Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game
License version 1.0a, Section 1(e) and are not open content, and thus are property of Stellagama Publishing:
All trademarks or registered trademarks, proper names (characters, organizations etc.), dialogue, plots,
storylines, locations, characters, artwork and trade dress. (Elements that have previously been designated as
Open Game Content or are in the public domain are not included in this declaration.) Open Content: Except
for material designated as product identity (see above), any game mechanics are Open Game Content as
defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the
material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission. A
copy of the Open Game License license is shown on the last page of this book. To learn more about the Open
Game License, please go to http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/.
• All events, persons, locations, and other material included within these rules are strictly fictional. This also
includes the alien and psionics rules in Appendix A.
•

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 5 Personal Combat Examples 45

Character Generation 8 Vehicles in Personal Combat 52

Step 1: Characteristics 8 Off-World Travel 55

Step 2: Homeworld Skills 9 Interplanetary travel 55

Step 3: Careers 10 Interstellar Travel 56

Career Tables 11 Starship Expenses 56

Step 4: Mustering Out 17 Starship Revenue 58

Character Generation Examples 19 Computers and Sensors 59

Skills 24 Space Encounters 60

Skills 24 Trade and Smuggling 61

Skill Advancement 25 Speculative Trade Procedure 61

Equipment 26 Smuggling 61

Tech Levels 26 Starship Design and Construction 64

Living Expenses 27 Ship Design Checklist 64

Personal Armor 27 Ship Hull 64

Cybernetics 29 Ship Drives 66

Exploration and Personal Equipment Fuel 67

30
Bridge 68
Pharmaceuticals 31
Ship computers and electronics 68
Robots and Drones 32
Armament 69
Vehicles 33
Ship Crew 71
Weapons 35
Accommodations 71
Common Melee Weapons 36
Other Components and Small Craft
Common Ranged Weapons 37 72

Common Support Weapons 39 Cargo and Final Cost 72

Combat 41 Small Craft Design 73

Combat Procedure Outline 41 Refitting Spacecraft 75

Actions and Attacks 41 Starship Design Example 75

Damage and Healing 43 Common Space Craft 78

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
Common Small Craft 78 Publishing Your Own Materials 107

Space Combat 83 Open Game Licence Version 1.0A

108
Space Combat Basics 83

Advantage 83

Actions 83

Damage and Hits 86

Space Combat Example 88

Worlds 93

Universal World Profile (UWP) 93

Star Mapping 93

World Generation Example 99

Environmental Hazards 100

Disease and Poison 100

Fire 100

Falling 100

Extreme Temperatures 100

Radiation 101

Starvation and Dehydration 101

Suffocation 101

Vacuum Exposure 101

Appendix A: Aliens and Psionics 102

Aliens 102

Psionics 103

Appendix B: Sources of Inspiration 106

Literature 106

Film 106

Video Games 106

Legal 107

important notice 107

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
INTRODUCTION
Starships riding fire across the sky. Heroes and villains Cepheus Light draws its inspiration from old-school
exchanging laser fire. Desperate spacers struggling science-fiction roleplaying games. It shares a lot of
against an alien monstrosity. Vast alien vistas, flying similarities with these games. Material from older
cities, moonscapes, mad robots, and first encounters. rules sets and those created with Cepheus Light, the
In short: high-action science-fiction adventure that Cepheus Engine Core, and old-school sci-fi
stimulates your sense of wonder. Cepheus Light puts roleplaying games are easily compatible with only a
you in the shoes of an adventurer visiting distant stars moderate amount of adjustment.
and encountering untold alien wonders. Whether
To play, you need a copy of these rules; several six-
you are a seasoned player looking for a rules-light
sided dice, available at game and teacher supply
game, or a new gamer wanting to experience what
stores (you'll need at least two, but more is better);
science-fiction role-playing games are all about,
you’ll also need a pencil and some paper.
Cepheus Light opens your way forward.
The future awaits!
TWO BASIC RULES
Rule 0: to facilitate play, the Referee is the final
WHAT IS A ROLEPLAYING GAME? arbiter for any game-related question.
A roleplaying game (RPG) is a game where the players
Rule 1: this is a game played for fun. If a rule gets in
assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting.
the way of your group’s fun, change or ignore it,
Players act out these roles within a narrative, either
subject to Rule Zero, above.
through literal acting or through a process of
structured decision-making based on rules. These
rules allow fair and dramatic resolution of uncertain
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
or dangerous situations faced by the players’
characters. Omer Golan-Joel is a 36 years old freelance English-
Hebrew-English translator and an avid sci-fi and
Playing Cepheus Light requires imagination,
fantasy gamer. He lives in the town of Yavne, Israel
inspiration, and discussion. Two or more players can
with his spouse and two cats Saki and Chicha – the
play, though typical groups range between 3-5
real masters of the house – as well as an entourage of
players. All you need to play is this document, a few
house geckos. Omer is a fan of science-fiction,
six-sided dice, and writing supplies. One player, the
fantasy, and history, an amateur cook, and a hobbyist
Referee, “plays” the game world and describes the
herpetologist. He also writes sci-fi and fantasy role-
fictional situation, while the rest of the players each
playing gaming material, including These Stars Are
play one Player Character who acts freely within this
Ours! a full-scale campaign setting for the Cepheus
world and deals with the consequences of their
Engine and other OGL 2D6 sci-fi games, which he
actions. Together, the Referee and players create a
published by Stellagama Publishing® in 2017.
story, much like the way many of us used to create
stories by playing make believe as young children, Josh Peters is a high school math and history teacher,
except with more dice and more structure. an accomplished drummer, and avid tabletop RPG
gamer. Josh has a Master’s degree in history, and
resides in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful,
WHAT IS CEPHEUS LIGHT? patient wife and two deviously adorable children.
Cepheus Light is a set of rules for playing classic
science fiction games. It includes rules on creating
characters, resolving actions, fighting other
creatures, and engaging in space battles, generating
worlds, handling the risks of interstellar speculative
trading, exploring new worlds, and many other
activities. While rules-light and designed for fast,
action-packed play rather than an accurate
simulation of reality, Cepheus Light encompasses a
wide variety of rules and materials for building a
science-fiction universe and playing in it.

5

STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Stellagama Publishing is a small international role-
playing game publisher focused on science fiction
gaming, founded in January 2016. We publish gaming
material for the Cepheus Engine, 2D6 Sci-Fi OGL,
Stars Without Number, and White Star RPGs. Our
goals are primarily to publish enjoyable and
immediately playable supplements, settings,
rulesets, and adventures for our fellow players and
referees. Our flagship setting is These Stars Are Ours!,
a high-action space-opera universe in which Terra
only recently gained its freedom from the mighty
Reticulan Empire.
SPECIAL THANKS
We express our special and warm thanks to Joel
Lovell, who kindly donated his artistic talent for the
benefit of this book.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
A NOTE ON USABILITY
All material included in this book, except for the
above introduction chapter, Appendix B, and the
Open Game License text at the back of the book, is
Open Content. This means that the book, with the
above-noted exceptions, can serve as a basis of your
rules and products (including commercial ones!), and
even re-published if you so desire.
As noted above, the names “Cepheus Light” and the
“Cepheus Engine”, however, are trademarks owned
by Jason “Flynn” Kemp and Samardan Press™ and
using them is subject to consent from Jason “Flynn”
Kemp and Samardan Press™. Claiming compatibility
with the Cepheus Engine follows the Cepheus Engine
Compatibility-Statement License, as given in the
Cepheus Engine System Reference Document
published by Samardan Press™.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
OPEN CONTENT BEGINS HERE A "natural" result of 2 is always a failure, regardless of
skills or other DMs. A "natural" result of 12 is always
DIE ROLL CONVENTIONS a success, even in adverse situations.
Cepheus Light uses common six-sided dice. We note Opposed throws: in a situation where two characters
each die you need to roll as a “D”. Unless noted oppose each other in an attempt, for example a spy
otherwise, “2D”, for example, means “roll two dice trying to sneak past a guard, each character throws
and add the results together”. 2D plus the appropriate skill or characteristic
In this game, DM means Dice Modifier – a number modifier; the higher roll wins. Re-roll ties.
you add or subtract from a dice roll. For example,
“2D, DM-2” means “roll two dice, add the results
together, and then subtract 2 from the total”. Note that skilled characters are competent and can
often practice their trade or profession, under normal
conditions, without a throw. Use throws only when
THE BASIC GAME MECHANIC the characters are at serious risk or under pressure,
such as time pressure, opposition, or adverse
The basic mechanic of Cepheus Light is the throw,
conditions. For example, a steward (Steward-1 skill)
and when we say this, we mean dice throw. Throw
can cook an excellent meal without needing to throw
2D, add the relevant skill or characteristic DM, and if
dice; he will have to make a Steward throw, however,
the total is equal or higher than the target number,
to impress a CEO with a unique gourmet meal. A
you succeed. For example, “throw STR 8+” means
physician (Medicine-3) can give effective first aid
“throw 2D and add your STR modifier; if the total is 8
without requiring a throw and can help characters
or more, you succeed” The amount by which your
recover from serious wounds but will have to make a
total throw exceeds or misses the target number is
Medicine throw to treat an alien disease. Combat is
called the Effect If, using the previous example, you
always an adverse and stressful situation and hence
roll a total of 11 on that throw, your Effect is 11 – 8 =
the attack throws and other combat-related throws.
3; alternately, if you throw a 4, your Effect is 4 – 8 =
-4.
Common Target Numbers
Difficulty Target Number Examples
Routine 4+ Landing a ship at a starport under normal conditions
Average 6+ Repairing a damaged vehicle system in a workshop
Difficult 8+ Shooting a target in Effective range
Very Difficult 10+ Shooting a target beyond Effective range
Formidable 12+ Landing a ship in a hurricane with a damaged engine, under enemy fire

7

CHARACTER GENERATION
Your character starts the game as a skilled,
experienced adult. This chapter will show you how to
generate a character and take them through a career.
STEP 1: CHARACTERISTICS
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Social Standing (SOC): A character’s connections and
position in society.
• Social Standing provides characters with a
number of free contacts equal to their SOC DM.

Characteristics describe your character’s general

talents and abilities. They serve as basic skills – for OPTIONAL RULE: IRON MAN!
tasks which every human (or alien!) can perform, but For a true old-school experience, throw 2D six times
some can perform better or worse than others. and assign them to the characteristics in the order
Throw 2D six times and assign the results in any order given above.
desired to your six characteristics:
Strength (STR): Physical prowess and brute force. OPTIONAL RULE: HEROIC HEROES!
• Strength determines a character’s carrying Throw 2D seven times, throw the lowest roll, and
capacity. arrange the remaining six to taste.
• Strength, along with Dexterity and Endurance,
determine how resistant your character is to
physical injury. See the Combat chapter. UNIVERSAL PERSONAL PROFILE AND PSEUDO-
HEXADECIMAL NUMBERS
Dexterity (DEX): Agility, coordination, and speed.
You can list a character’s characteristics in shorthand,
• Dexterity is the attribute used for throwing as a string of numbers in the order given above,
knives and grenades, as well as evading physical called a “Universal Personal Profile”, or UPP. To
threats. denote numbers above 9, use a “pseudo-
• Dexterity, along with Strength and Endurance, hexadecimal” system:
determine how resistant your character is to
physical injury. See the Combat chapter. Characteristic Letter
10 A
Endurance (END): Physical resilience, fitness, and 11 B
force of will. 12 C
13 D
• Endurance determines the amount of 14 E
cybernetics a character can use. 15 F
16 G
• Physical injury is first applied to Endurance So, for example, a character with STR 7, DEX 12, END
before the other two physical characteristics. See 6, INT 10, EDU 8, and SOC 11 will have a UPP of
the Combat chapter. 7C6A8B.
Intelligence (INT): Reasoning, creativity, and Normal humans cannot have a characteristic higher
intellectual capabilities. than 15 (F).
• Together with EDU, Intelligence determines the
character’s maximum number of skill ranks.
Education (EDU): Formal schooling and general
knowledge.
• Education 8+ allows rolling on the Advanced
Education column in the career tables.
• A character gains a number of additional
languages equal to their EDU DM.
• Together with INT, Education determines the
character’s maximum number of skill ranks.

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
CHARACTERISTIC DMS USING CHARACTERISTIC THROWS
Each characteristic has an associated Dice Modifier Characteristics represent general human (or alien!)
(DM) based on its value or score, as noted below: capabilities that every character possesses to one
Characteristic Score Characteristic DM degree or another. This is opposed to skills, which
0-2 DM-2 represent specialized training. These include things
3-5 DM-1
6-8 DM+0 such as fitness and agility (STR, END, and DEX),
9-11 DM+1 general reasoning (INT), general knowledge (EDU),
12-14 DM+2 and using connections and social innuendo to further
15-17 DM+3 one's ends (SOC). Anyone can jump to a certain
18-20 DM+4
distance (DEX), but not everyone can pilot a starship
Above 20, a character increases their characteristic
(Piloting skill).
DM by another +1 per three points – for example, 21-
23 will have DM+5, and so on. This means that The Athletics skill is unique in that it can substitute,
monstrously powerful creatures will almost and be substituted by, physical characteristics; use
automatically succeed in throws using their powerful the highest DM available between the character's
characteristic. This is intentional – a massive alien characteristic DMs and Athletics skill. It is also unique
brute, for example, would be capable of feats of in that it does not carry the Unskilled penalty
strength unattainable by most humans. described below; every character is capable of some
level of physical activity, after all.

STEP 2: HOMEWORLD SKILLS

At the age of 18, before embarking in a career, your
character has already learned a single skill. Choose a
homeworld type and one skill from its list.

ZERO-LEVEL SKILLS
Normally, a character is either skilled in a task or
unskilled. In the latter case, they suffer DM-3 for
lacking the appropriate skill. However, to facilitate
play, we recommend that the Referee grant a few
skills as “Zero-level”. This means that while the
character is not skilled enough to hold down a job
with that skill, and does not enjoy a positive DM on
rolls, the character is familiar enough with that skill to
avoid the unskilled penalty (DM-3). Recommended
Zero-level Skills for all adventurers include Athletics,
Driving, Grav Vehicle, Gun Combat, Melee Combat,
and Zero-G. There is no need to write them on the
character sheet, as all adventurers and other
characters with military or paramilitary training have
them – just keep that in mind when rolling. Core-
dwelling civilians with no frontier or military
experience should typically only have Athletics,
Driving, and Grav Vehicle as their Zero-level skills.

Homeworld Skills
Homeworld Skill (choose one)
High-tech core world Computer-1, Grav Vehicles-1, Streetwise-1
Frontier colony Driving-1, Watercraft-1, Survival-1
Inhospitable outpost Repair-1, Science-1, Zero-G-1
Primitive backwater Animals-1, Recon-1, Survival-1

9

STEP 3: CAREERS
Characters start off at the age of 18. They are then
“grown” through the character generation game.
Follow these steps to generate your character’s
career. Each career is comprised of four-year terms of
service. Each career table presents the various throws
needed for character generation.
Note that the total sum of a character’s skill Levels
can never exceed the sum of their INT + EDU
characteristics. However, first generate the character
and list all skills, even if they exceed this limit. After
Mustering Out, if the total of your skill points exceeds
the sum of your INT + EDU, you may choose which
skills to reduce to zero-level skills (as described
above) to reduce your skill total as required.
1. Choose a Career: Try to enter a career, using its
Qualification throw. If you succeed, begin the career.
If you fail, enter the Draft.
2. Resolve your term of service:
2.1 Survival Throw: If you fail, you die; roll up a new
character. If you succeed, proceed to 2.2, below.
2.2 Skill Table: Roll once on one of the four skill tables
associated with that career to gain one level of a skill.
Acquired skill levels are cumulative; the first time you
receive a skill, you receive it at level 1. On your first
term only, roll twice and gain two skills. You may only
roll on the Advanced Education table if your EDU is 8
or greater.
2.3 Advancement throw: Throw for Advancement. If
you succeed, you gain one rank and gain an additional
skill roll on any table.
2.4 Rank skills: If promoted, some ranks have skills
associated with that rank. Gain that skill rank, if
eligible. These are cumulative with existing skills; for
example, a character with Pilot-1 who receives Pilot-1
as a rank skill now has Pilot-2.
2.5 Aging: If your character has completed their
fourth term or later, (ages 33 and up), check for aging.
2.6 Re-Enlistment: Throw for re-enlistment. If you fail,
you finish your career; proceed to Step 3; If you
succeed, you may choose to re-enlist, or you can
voluntarily terminate your career (proceed to Step 3).
If you throw a “natural” 12, you must remain in your
career.
2.7 Additional terms of service: If you remain in your
career, repeat stages 2.1-2.7 for each additional term
of service. You must retire after 7 terms of service
unless you throw a “natural” 12, in which case, you
must retire at the end of the 8th term of service.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
3. Muster Out: Once you complete your career, roll
for Mustering Out Benefits. Each term of service you
completed allows you one roll on one of the two
Mustering Out tables: Cash or Benefit. You gain one
bonus roll if you are Rank O4, two if you are Rank O5,
or three if you are Rank O6. Characters of Rank O5 or
O6 enjoy DM+1 on the Material Benefits table;
characters with the Carousing skill enjoy DM+1 on
the Cash table. No more than 3 rolls may be made on
the Cash Benefit table.
3.1 Retirement: If you have serves 5 or more terms,
you are entitled to retirement pay.
4. Reach out to the stars and begin your adventure!
OPTIONAL RULE: SURVIVAL AGAINST ALL ODDS
Under the basic rules, character who fail a Survival
roll die, and the player must generate a new
character. However, some players and Referees
dislike this and consider the rule to be overly brutal.
In such a case, at the Referee's discretion, characters
who fail a Survival throw survive the ordeal but must
end their career immediately, after two years of the
last term, and do not gain Mustering Out Benefits for
the term they failed the Survival throw on. This may
represent grievous injury or another dire mishap in
the character's career, at the Referee's and player's
discretion. Note that this optional rule reduces the
incentive to quit one's career at a younger age, and
thus may produce more experienced characters than
under the basic rules.
OPTIONAL RULE: MULTIPLE CAREERS
Under these basic rules, you may not switch between
careers or begin a new career once your career has
ended. At the Referee's discretion, characters who
failed their re-enlistment throw, or characters leaving
their career voluntarily, may try to enter a new career.
Make a Qualification throw for the new career, DM-1
per previous career. If successful, the character has
begun a new career; if the roll failed, the character
must muster out and begin adventuring. Note that
this rule tends to produce more skilled characters
than the basic rules.
OPTIONAL RULE: ZERO LEVEL SERVICE SKILLS
As an optional rule, during the character’s first term
of service, they gain all the skills listed in the Service
Skills category of their career at level 0 instead of the
second skill throw normally allowed. This is in
addition to any Zero-level skills the Referee grants the
characters (see above). If using the above Multiple
Careers optional rule, characters only gain the Service
Skills at level 0 from their first career.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
CAREER TABLES
The following twelve careers provide a wide selection of common futuristic adventurous occupations and science
fiction tropes. Other careers, especially setting-specific ones, are possible, at the Referee's discretion or as given
in a campaign setting rulebook.

AGENT
You were a police officer, spy, or private investigator. Qualification INT 6+
Survival INT 6+
Advancement EDU 7+
Re-Enlistment 6+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Agent Investigation-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 Special Agent 2 5000 +1 INT
2 Special Agent in Charge 3 10000 Weapon
3 Unit Chief 4 10000 Contact
4 Section Chief Admin-1 5 20000 +1 SOC
5 Assistant Director 6 50000 Low Passage
6 Director 7 50000 High Passage
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Computer Admin
2 +1 DEX Gun Combat 2 Demolitions Computer
3 +1 END Gunnery 3 Gun Combat Jack o’Trades
4 Athletics Melee Combat 4 Melee Combat Medicine
5 Melee Combat Recon 5 Survival Leadership
6 Carousing Driving 6 Grav Vehicle Tactics

ARMY
You served in a planetary military or mercenary force. Qualification END 5+
Survival END 5+
Advancement EDU 8+
Re-Enlistment 5+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Private Gun Combat-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 Lieutenant Leadership-1 2 5000 +1 INT
2 Captain 3 10000 Weapon
3 Major 4 10000 Mis Passage
4 Lt. Colonel 5 20000 Weapon
5 Colonel 6 50000 High Passage
6 General +1 SOC 7 50000 +1 SOC
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Computer Admin
2 +1 DEX Gun Combat 2 Demolitions Computer
3 +1 END Gunnery 3 Recon Jack o’ TRades
4 Athletics Melee Combat 4 Melee Combat Medicine
5 Melee Combat Heavy Weapons 5 Survival Leadership
6 Carousing Driving 6 Grav Vehicle Tactics

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT

BELTER
You mined asteroids and planetoids. Qualification INT 4+
Survival DEX 7+
Advancement INT 6+
Re-Enlistment 5+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Miner Zero-G-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 Roughneck 2 5000 +1 INT
2 Tool Pusher 3 5000 Vacc Suit
3 Manager 4 10000 Mid Passage
4 Director Admin-1 5 50000 +1 EDU
5 Vice President 6 100000 Prospector
6 Executive Officer 7 250000 Explorer’s Society
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Engineering Admin
2 +1 DEX Demolitions 2 Computers Medicine
3 Athletics Piloting 3 Repair Science
4 Jack o’ Trades Computers 4 Science Engineeing
5 Melee Combat Zero-G 5 Zero-G Grav Vehicle
6 Carousing Repair 6 Gunnery Liaison

COLONIST
You lived in a colony on the high frontier, as a pioneer for your Qualification END 5+
species. Survival END 5+
Advancement EDU 8+
Re-Enlistment 5+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Citizen Survival-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 District Leader 2 5000 +1 INT
2 District Delegate 3 5000 Weapon
3 Council Advisor Liaison-1 4 5000 Mid Passage
4 Councilor 5 10000 Mid Passage
5 Lieutenant Goivernor 6 20000 High Passage
6 Governor 7 50000 +1 SOC
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Recon Liaison
2 +1 DEX Gun Combat 2 Leadership Science
3 +1 END Animals 3 Jack o’ Trades Medicine
4 +1 INT Melee Combat 4 Watercraft Computer
5 Athletics Survival 5 Animals Admin
6 Carousing Driving 6 Grav Vehicle Aircraft

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING

ELITE
You were a member of the upper classes: a celebrity, Qualification Automatic at SOC 10+;
corporate executive, or politician. otherwise impossible.
Survival INT 5+
Advancement INT 8+
Re-Enlistment 6+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Analyst 1 2000 Contact
1 Supervisor 2 10000 +1 EDU
2 Manager 3 20000 +1 SOC
3 Director 4 40000 High Passage
4 Managing Director 5 50000 +1 INT
5 Vice President 6 100000 Explorer’s Society
6 President 7 200000 Yacht
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 SOC Admin 1 Admin Admin
2 +1 DEX Liaison 2 Deception Medicine
3 +1 END Carousing 3 Carousing Computer
4 Melee Combat Computer 4 Athletics Liaison
5 Athletics Leadership 5 Liaison Carousing
6 Carousing Grav Vehicle 6 Jack o’ Trades Science

MARINE
You served as a space trooper carried aboard starships for Qualification INT 6+
boarding actions and planetary assaults. Survival END 7+
Advancement SOC 6+
Re-Enlistment 6+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Trooper Gun Combat-1 1 1000 +1 EDU
1 Lieutenant Leadership-1 2 5000 Weapon
2 Captain 3 10000 Mid Passage
3 Major Tactics-1 4 10000 +1 SOC
4 Lt. Colonel 5 20000 High Passage
5 Colonel 6 50000 Explorer’s Society
6 Brigadier 7 50000 +1 EDU
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Heavy Weapons 1 Repair Admin
2 +1 DEX Athletics 2 Demolitions Computer
3 +1 END Gun Combat 3 Leadership Piloting
4 +1 INT Gunnery 4 Survival Medicine
5 +1 EDU Melee Combat 5 Recon Sciences
6 Carousing Zero-G 6 Grav Vehicle Tactics

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT

MERCHANT
You were star-faring purveyor of goods, either a tough Qualification INT 4+
independent trader, or working for a corporation. Survival INT 5+
Advancement EDU 8+
Re-Enlistment 4+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Crewmember Steward-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 Deck Cadet 2 5000 +1 EDU
2 Fourth Officer 3 10000 Weapon
3 Third Officer Pilot-1 4 20000 Contact
4 Second Officer 5 20000 High Passage
5 First Officer 6 50000 Explorer’s Society
6 Captain 7 100000 Free Trader
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Gun Combat Admin
2 +1 DEX Liaison 2 Gunnery Engineering
3 Athletics Carousing 3 Jack o’ Trades Medicine
4 Zero-G Admin 4 Medicine Computers
5 Melee Combat Streetwise 5 Engineering Science
6 Carousing Steward 6 Piloting Tactics

NAVY
You served in the interstellar navy, patrolling the stars and Qualification INT 6+
fighting enemies and pirates. Survival INT 6+
Advancement EDU 7+
Re-Enlistment 5+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Starhand 1 1000 Low Passage
1 Ensign 2 5000 +1 EDU
2 Lieutenant 3 10000 Weapon
3 Lt. Commander 4 10000 Mid Passage
4 Commander 5 20000 +1 SOC
5 Captain 6 50000 High Passage
6 Commodore 7 50000 Explorer’s Society
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Jack o’ Trades Admin
2 +1 DEX Engineering 2 Repair Computer
3 Athletics Gun Combat 3 Engineering Engineering
4 +1 INT Gunnery 4 Leadership Medicine
5 +1 EDU Melee Combat 5 Piloting Sciences
6 Carousing Zero-G 6 Jack o’ Trades Tactics

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING

PIRATE
You were a corsair, raider, or smuggler. You did monstrously Qualification DEX 5+
illegal but extremely lucrative things. Survival DEX 7+
Advancement INT 6+
Re-Enlistment 5+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Crewmember Melee Combat-1 1 1000 +1 INT
1 Corporal 2 5000 Weapon
2 Lieutenant Piloting-1 3 10000 High Passage
3 Lt. Commander 4 20000 +1 SOC
4 Commander 5 50000 High Passage
5 Captain 6 100000 Corsair
6 Dread Pirate 7 250000 +1 INT
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Streetwise 1 Zero-G Computer
2 +1 DEX Repair 2 Computer Investigation
3 +1 END Gun Combat 3 Engineering Jack o’ Trades
4 Melee Combat Melee Combat 4 Gunnery Medicine
5 Deception Stealth 5 Tactics Admin
6 Carousing Recon 6 Piloting Sciences

ROGUE
You were a drifter, criminal, or rebel. Qualification DEX 5+
Survival DEX 5+
Advancement INT 8+
Re-Enlistment 4+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Independent Streetwise-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 Associate 2 5000 +1 INT
2 Made Soldier Gun Combat-1 3 5000 Weapon
3 Lieutenant 4 5000 Contact
4 Underboss 5 10000 Weapon
5 Consigliere 6 20000 Mis Passage
6 Boss 7 50000 +1 SOC
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Streetwise 1 Computer Survival
2 +1 DEX Repair 2 Repair Engineering
3 +1 INT Gun Combat 3 Carousing Jack o’ Trades
4 Athletics Deception 4 Admin Medicine
5 Melee Combat Stealth 5 Recon Investigation
6 Carousing Recon 6 Deception Tactics

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT

SCHOLAR
You were an academic, researcher, physician, or member of Qualification EDU 6+
the professions. Survival INT 4+
Advancement EDU 9+
Re-Enlistment Re-Enlistment 5+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Student Admin-1 1 1000 Contact
1 Researcher 2 5000 +1 EDU
2 Research Professor 3 10000 +1 INT
3 Assistant Professor Liaison-1 4 10000 Mid Passage
4 Associate Professor 5 20000 +1 SOC
5 Professor 6 50000 High Passage
6 Distinguished Professor 7 50000 Research Vessel
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Admin 1 Survival Piloting
2 +1 DEX Computer 2 Admin Computer
3 +1 END Medicine 3 Medicine Engineering
4 +1 INT Liaison 4 Science Medicine
5 +1 EDU Investigation 5 Repair Jack o’ Trades
6 Carousing Science 6 Carousing Science

SCOUT
You were an intrepid explorer or courier. Qualification INT 6+
Survival END 7+
Advancement INT 6+
Re-Enlistment 6+
Mustering Out Benefits
Rank Title Skill or Bonus 1D Cash Materials
0 Scout Piloting-1 1 1000 Low Passage
1 2 5000 +1 INT
2 3 10000 Weapon
3 Senior Scout Science-1 4 10000 Mid Passage
4 5 20000 Vacc Suit
5 6 50000 Scout Ship
6 Director 7 50000 Explorer’s Society
Skills and Training
1D Personal Development Service 1D Specialist Advanced Education
1 +1 STR Repair 1 Engineering Admin
2 +1 DEX Computer 2 Gunnery Computer
3 Athletics Gun Combat 3 Sciences Grav Vehicle
4 Jack o’ Trades Piloting 4 Piloting Medicine
5 +1 EDU Recon 5 Investigation Science
6 Melee Combat Piloting 6 Stealth Tactics

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
THE DRAFT • Prospector: Gain partnership in a 100-ton
Prospector. You must pay operating expenses
If the character fails their Qualification throw, they and maintenance. You don’t owe any payments
must submit to the Draft, which randomly for the ship, but it is a 1D decades old rustbucket
determines their later career. Throw 1D on the – beware!
following table.
• Research Vessel: gain a 200-ton Research Vessel.
1D Drafted Into... The ship belongs to a research institute and the
1 Exempt (become a colonist) character pays for regular operating expenses,
2 Draft dodger (become a rogue) except for annual maintenance.
3 Marines • Scout Ship: gain a 100-ton Scout Ship. The Scout
4 Merchant Service still owns the ship but makes it available
5 Navy to you on reserve basis. You gain free
6 Scout maintenance and refueling for the vessel at
Scout bases. Expect the Scout Service to have
missions for you from time to time.
• Weapon: Gain a single non-heavy personal
STEP 4: MUSTERING OUT weapon up to TL12, or any tech level set by the
Referee according to their setting and up to
Characters may gain one or more of the following Cr1000 in value including ammunition. Multiple
material benefits: receptions of this benefit allow either multiple
weapons or a more expensive weapon.
• Contact: gain an important and useful
relationship with a person or group who can • Alternatively, the character may opt to take
provide you with significant favors: an arms personal armor, or, at the Referee's discretion,
dealer can provide otherwise unobtainable gear, cybernetics under the same restrictions.
while a corporate exec can serve as patron and • Yacht: gain the use of a 100-ton yacht from a
supply highly useful information on the government or corporation. You are responsible
corporate world. Contacts typically stay on one for all costs and maintenance and owe favors to
world, but some do move around. Abusing said government or corporation. They will call in
contacts and not reciprocating the positive those favors in from time to time.
relationship can lead to the loss of the contact.
Note that characters with a positive SOC DM gain
a number of free contacts equal to that DM. RETIREMENT PAY
• Corsair: gain a 300-ton pirate corsair. The ship Characters who retire after 5 terms (age 38) or more
belongs to a pirate boss or gang; you owe them receive an annual retirement pay. The base pay at 5
big time for the use of the ship and they will terms is Cr10000 a year; each additional term served
request favors from time to time. You pay for all in that career adds Cr2000 per year.
regular operating costs and owe half the profits
from your piracy to the boss or gang.
• Free trader: gain a 200-ton Free Trader ship. The
character must make mortgage payments of
Cr150000 a month for the next forty years. Each
additional time you receive this benefit reduces
this by ten years; receive it four times, and you
don’t have to pay a mortgage; but you get a 40-
year-old antique!
• Explorer’s Society: Become a member of the
exclusive Explorer’s Society. Membership grants
a free high-passage ticket for one parsec every
two months and free stay at Society hostels in
most starports.
• Passage: Gain a single ticket of the type named
(low, mid, high) for travelling one jump (up to
two parsecs) on a starship.
•

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
AGING
Characters must make aging rolls beginning at the
age of 34. At the end of the 4th term, and on the end
of each subsequent term, throw 2D on the following
table. The character’s total number of terms serves as
a negative DM to the throw. The Referee might add
DM+2 for characters living in technologically
advanced societies with good health care (see
below).
2D Effect of Aging
-6 Reduce three physical characteristics by 2, reduce one mental characteristic by 1
-5 Reduce three physical characteristics by 2.
-4 Reduce two physical characteristics by 2, reduce one physical characteristic by 1
-3 Reduce one physical characteristic by 2, reduce two physical characteristics by 1
-2 Reduce three physical characteristics by 1
-1 Reduce two physical characteristics by 1
0 Reduce one physical characteristic by 1
1+ No effect

AGING CRISIS OPTIONAL RULE: SKILL PACKAGES

If any characteristic falls to 0 due to aging, the character
must throw 6+ to survive. If still alive, they will now have
that characteristic at 1, and must retire from service.
OPTIONAL RULE: AGING AND TECHNOLOGY
Advanced medicine prolongs life and delays aging. At TL8-
10, add DM+1 to all aging rolls. This DM increases to DM+2
at TL11-12, and to DM+3 at TL13+.
To facilitate play and ensure a skill set covering all basic
aspects of the characters’ adventures (such as operating a
starship), the Referee may allow players to choose a skill
package in addition to any skills they earned in their
careers. Each character may choose one of the skills from
the chosen package. They receive the skill at Level-1. Two
characters may choose the same skill. Characters cannot
choose a skill they already have. The table below provides
five useful examples of skill packages. Referees are free to
create more skill packages for their campaigns.

Campaign Style Skill Package

Exploration Piloting-1, Engineering-1, Survival-1, Science-1, Repair-1
Military Leadership-1, Gunnery-1, Melee Combat-1, Heavy Weapons-1, Tactics-1
Naval Piloting-1, Computer-1, Repair-1, Gunnery-1, Engineering-1
Trading Piloting-1, Engineering-1, Liaison-1, Medicine-1, Steward-1
Criminal Streetwise-1, Stealth-1, Admin-1, Recon-1, Deception-1

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
CHARACTER GENERATION EXAMPLES
Example 1: Gently cajoled by her husband into trying
out Cepheus Light, Heidi decides to roll up a scout
character. She rolls 2D six times, and gets the
following results: 8, 7, 9, 9, 4, 7. She looks at the
career tables, and notices that Scouts need
Intelligence to qualify, and Endurance to survive, so
she puts the attributes in the following order: STR 7,
DEX 4, END 9, INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7. Worried that her
character will be terribly bad in combat with that low
DEX (she may not have played Cepheus Light before,
but everyone knows that you have to have a high
DEX), she consults the Referee, who reassures her:
attributes are not added to skill rolls in Cepheus Light.
Properly informed, she chooses a homeworld: a
backwater frontier colony. She chooses Watercraft-1
as her character’s homeworld skill.
Having generated an 18-year old kid with a knack for
sailing, Heidi consults the character generation
checklist to find that she now must begin her first
term. She rolls 2D to qualify for the Scout career, and
gets an 8 + 1 (INT DM) = 9. Then, before getting skills,
Heidi throws the Survival roll. She needs a 7+,
modified by the character’s END DM. An END 9 gives
a DM+1. This is good news, so Heidi rolls and gets a 7
+ 1 = 8. Now that the character has survived the first
term, it’s time to get skills. Scouts at Rank-0
automatically receive Piloting-1, so Heidi marks that
down. She then rolls once on the Service table,
getting Recon-1, and once on the Specialist table,
getting Science-1. She then rolls for Advancement,
and gets a 9 +1 =10. She is now a Rank 1 Scout, and
gains a roll on the skill table of her choice. Heidi
selects the Specialist table, and receives
Investigation-1. Heidi then rolls for re-enlistment. She
needs 6+, and rolls an 8. Heidi decides to continue
the character as a scout.
After one term, her character looks like this: STR 7,
DEX 4, END 9, INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7; Watercraft-1, Pilot-
1, Recon-1, Investigation-1, Science-1. Rank-1.
Interpreting the results, Heidi decides that this young
kid apprenticed on a visiting scout ship, and picked up
basic ship piloting and ship crewing skills (though
always supervised by an adult). However, this young
scout’s reflexes were not deemed sharp enough to
warrant further training as a pilot. Instead, the
character’s training focused on observation, both in a
scientific and research setting, and out in the field,
looking for dangers.
For the scout’s second term, Heidi rolls to Survive.
She gets a 6 + 1 = 7, which is barely enough to make
it through the term! She notes this down. It might
make for some good character background later. She
then rolls on the Specialist skill table, receiving
Science-1, for a total of Science-2. Heidi decides that
19
while engaging in some scientific cataloguing and
surveying on an alien world, her character was nearly
killed by a local predator. Rolling for Advancement,
Heidi gets a 5 + 1 = 6; her character is now a Rank-2
Scout. She rolls on the Advanced Education skill table
and receives Computer-1. Heidi then rolls for re-
enlistment, and gets a 7, enough to continue
generating the character. Her character now looks
like this:
Scout (2 terms) STR 7, DEX 4, END 9, INT 9, EDU 8,
SOC 7; Watercraft-1, Pilot-1, Recon-1, Investigation-1,
Science-2, Computer-1. Rank-2.
For Heidi’s third term, she rolls a 7 + 1 = 8 for Survival.
She then rolls on the Specialist skill tables, getting
Investigation-1, for a total of Investigation-2. She
then rolls for Advancement, getting an 8 + 1 = 9, and
receives the title of Senior Scout (Rank-3), and the
Science-1 skill, for a total of Science-3. Rolling on the
Advanced Education table for the bonus skill, Heidi
gets Computer-1, for a total of Computer-2. She then
rolls to re-enlist and gets a 4! The character’s career
in the scouts is over after three terms. Heidi decides
on a name at this point, Efrem Kazzov, and she figures
that the Scout Service finally caught up with the
young apprentice and forced him out of the Service,
since he was recruited illegally in the first place.
Heidi’s character looks like this:
Efrem Kazzov Age 30 (3 terms), STR 7, DEX 4, END 9,
INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7; Watercraft-1, Pilot-1, Recon-1,
Investigation-2, Sciences-3, Computer-2.
Now, Heidi rolls for Mustering Out Benefits. Since
Efrem was a Scout for three terms, he gets three rolls.
Heidi chooses one roll on the Cash table and receives
Cr10000. She then rolls on the Materials table, and
gets a Middle Passage, and a Weapon. Not the Scout
Ship she was hoping for, but not terrible. Heidi
decides that the weapon is the service snub pistol
that Efrem used to (barely) save himself from that
horrible predator back on Ungula Prime, and has
carried it with him ever since (the Referee kyboshed
her first suggestion, that Efrem receive a Blaster
Pistol).
Finally, Heidi selects one skill from the Skill Package
that the player characters will be using: the Criminal
package. She takes Stealth-1.
The final character build looks like this: Efrem Kazzov,
30M, STR 7, DEX 4, END 9, INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7; 3
terms Scout Service: Watercraft-1, Pilot-1, Recon-1,
Investigation-2, Sciences-2, Computer-2, Stealth-1
(Athletics, Driving, Grav Vehicle, Gun Combat, Melee
Combat, and Zero-G all at level-0). Middle Passage,
Snub Revolver, 10000Cr in cash.

Heidi looks over the character, and comes up with a
general backstory: Efrem Kazzov was born on a
backwater frontier colony that doesn’t even deserve
a name. He was good at school, tough, and clever,
and spent most of his time on the water in different
small and not-so-small watercraft. One day, a scout
ship arrived near Efrem’s homestead, and he helped
the crew out by ferrying them to and from a remote
location. He begged them to take him on as a crew,
and they agreed on a probationary basis. Efrem is a
decent pilot, but he is really gifted at observation,
and has a keen enough mind to make a half-decent
field scientist and surveyor. He is a bit awkward and
clumsy, but more than makes up for that by
possessing an indomitable constitution and a
stubborn streak a mile wide. A near-death experience
while surveying gave Efrem a real appreciation for life
on the frontier, and he has become a careful and
studious observer in nearly every situation. He has
also picked up a knack for being quiet and
unobtrusive, which as only helped his observation
skills. Recently, the scout ship Efrem had served on
for twelve years arrived at a major starport, and a
Scout Service administrator learned about Efrem’s
irregular enlistment in the Service. Bureaucrats being
bureaucrats, there was nothing for Efrem to do but
say his goodbyes, and make his own way.
Example 2: Isaac has rolled up the following stats: 11,
8, 8, 5, 9, 7, which he placed in the following order:
STR 8, DEX 9, END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. He picks a
High-Tech Core world as Homeworld, and selects
Streetwise-1 as his character’s homeworld skill. He
settles on a name right away, Augustus Green.
For Augustus’ career, Isaac decides against going into
the Elite career. He tries for the Marines instead,
throwing a 5, and fails to enter the career. Now,
Augustus must enter the Draft, and is exempted (roll
of 1). His high social standing kept him out of military
service, or worse, the Scouts, but now Augustus has
ended up on a colony ship to some frontier world far
away from the Core.
For Augustus’ first term, Isaac rolls Survival and
succeeds easily with a result of 12. Augustus gains
Survive-1 for being a Rank-0 Colonist. He then rolls on
the Service skill table and once on the Specialist
table, since Augustus’ EDU is too low to qualify him
for Advanced Education. He receives Repair-1 and
Watercraft-1. Rolling for Advancement, Isaac rolls a 4
– 1 (EDU DM) = 3. No luck there. Isaac rolls to re-enlist
Augustus and succeeds easily.
Augustus Green: 22 (1 Term) Colonist, STR 8, DEX 9,
END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. Survive-1, Repair-1,
Streetwise-1, Watercraft-1 (and a few Zero-level skills
we will ignore for now).
Term 2: Grumbling about his character’s fate, Isaac
CEPHEUS LIGHT
rolls for Augustus to survive, and gets an 8, which is
more than the 5 he needed. He then rolls once on the
Personal Development table, receiving Carousing-1.
He rolls Advancement and gets a 9 – 1 = 8, which is
enough to advance Augustus to a Rank-1 District
Leader. He rolls once on the Specialist skill table,
receiving Jack O’ Trades-1. Augustus re-enlists as a
colonist easily enough, rolling a 10.
Augustus Green: 26 (2 Terms) Colonist, STR 8, DEX 9,
END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. Survive-1, Repair-1,
Streetwise-1, Carousing-1, Jack O’ Trades-1,
Watercraft-1. Rank-1.
Term 3: Augustus survives this term easily (result of
10 on the Survival roll). Isaac’s interest in the Jack O’
Trades skill causes him to roll on the Specialist table,
gaining Grav Vehicles-1. Rolling for Advancement,
Augustus does not advance in rank. Isaac rolls to re-
enlist, and succeeds with a 10.
Augustus Green: 30 (3 Terms) Colonist, STR 8, DEX 9,
END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. Survive-1, Repair-1,
Streetwise-1, Carousing-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Grav
Vehicles-1, Watercraft-1.
Term 4: Augustus survives this term as well (rolling an
8), and Isaac selects the Personal Development table,
rolling up Leadership-1. He attempts to advance,
rolling an 8 – 1 = 7, which is insufficient to gain a
promotion. Rolling for re-enlistment produces an 11,
so Augustus continues his career as a colonist. Since
this is the end of the 4th term, Augustus might suffer
from the effects of ageing. Isaac rolls a 5, subtracting
4 for the number of terms served, with a result of 1.
No aging effects!
Augustus Green: 34 (4 Terms) Colonist, STR 8, DEX 9,
END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. Survive-1, Repair-1,
Streetwise-1, Carousing-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Grav
Vehicles-1, Leadership-1, Watercraft-1. Rank-1.
Term 5: Augustus survives this term (roll of 7), and
Isaac rolls on the Personal skill table, getting
Carousing-1, for a total of Carousing-2. Rolling for
Advancement, Isaac gets a 9 – 1 = 8, and Augustus is
finally promoted to District Delegate (Rank-2). Isaac
rolls on the Service skill table, and receives Melee
Combat-1. The roll for re-enlistment succeeded (9),
and the aging roll is an 8 – 5 = 3, so no aging effect
again.
Augustus Green: 38 (5 Terms) Colonist, STR 8, DEX 9,
END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. Survive-1, Repair-1,
Streetwise-1, Carousing-2, Jack O’ Trades-1, Grav
Vehicles-1, Leadership-1, Melee Combat-1,
Watercraft-1. Rank-2.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Isaac considers this character: a poor little rich boy
who played at being a street tough in his youth defied
his parents’ wishes to join the corporate world, and
instead signed onto a government service contract
that he hoped would have gotten him into the
marines. Instead, Augustus Green flunked the
psychometric examinations, and ended up having to
serve as a colonist on some frontier rockball, filled
with poor people. His first years as a colonist were
downright humiliating, as he was forced to learn to
do menial farm chores, conduct basic maintenance
on farming equipment, and learn the basics of
surveying and survival on the high frontier. While his
poor scores kept Augustus out of higher education,
he picked up a wide variety of skills quickly, and
eventually established himself on the colony as a
minor leader in his community. Augustus knew
everyone, knew how to do a little bit of everything,
and even helped defend the colony from pirate
raiders on a handful of occasions! He married, settled
down, and raised a family. Unfortunately for
Augustus (but fortunately for Isaac), the pirate raiders
returned in force one last time, and destroyed
everything he had built. His family was gone, and
Augustus was now left to start again. He thought
about his foolish youth, and decided to leave his new
home and travel the stars…
Example 3: Georges rolls up the following attributes:
STR 7, DEX 7, END 6, INT 11, EDU 7, SOC 3. This low-
life character piques Georges interest. He decides on
a name, Melinda Harris, and that she is a denizen of
a space outpost. He picks Zero-G-1 as his homeworld
skill, and attempts to Qualify for the Rogue career,
rolling a 5, and succeeding (barely).
Term 1: Melinda receives Streetwise-1 as a Rank-0
rogue. Georges rolls Survival 4+, and gets a 5. He then
rolls twice on the Personal Development skill table,
getting Gambling-1 and Carousing-1. Next up is the
Advancement roll, and Georges throws a 7 + 1 (INT
DM) = 8, making Melinda a Rank-1 Associate criminal.
He chooses to roll on the Service skill table, and gains
Gun Combat-1. He rolls to re-enlist, needing a 4+ and
fails!
Melinda gets a single roll for Mustering Out Benefits,
as he only served one term and was still of relatively
low rank. Georges decides to roll on the Cash table,
gains a +1 to the roll for Melinda’s Gambling skill, and
rolls a 6 + 1 = 7, or 50000Cr. He selects Stealth-1 from
the Criminal Skill Package.
Melinda Harris: 22 (1 Term) Rogue, STR 7, DEX 7, END
6, INT 11, EDU 7, SOC 3. Streetwise-1, Zero-G-1,
Gambling-1, Carousing-1, Gun Combat-1, Stealth-1.
Rank-1. 50000Cr.
21
Georges might feel a little stymied at first, but he
plays with this result, and realizes that this character
is a young femme fatale gambler and drifter who
knows her way around a gun. Melinda had made
more enemies than friends in the world of
professional gambling and organized crime, so she
decided to go out with a bang: she won a decent
amount of money cheating at her associates’ casino,
and absconded with it. Now, the money is running
out, and Melinda is considering using her skills to
branch out in different career paths.
Example 4: Matthew has rolled the following
attributes: STR 6, DEX 7, END 9, INT 7, EDU 9, SOC 6.
He decides that his character will hail from a frontier
colony, and selects Driving-1 for the homeworld skill.
He then attempts to join the Navy, and qualifies with
a roll of 9. He names the character Markus Baldhoff.
Term 1: Markus gains Zero-G-1 for starting at Rank-0,
and then Matthew rolls to survive the term: 4. Poor
Markus does not make it out into space, and
Matthew will have to roll up another character.
Example 5: Matthew tries again, rolling STR 5, DEX 7,
END 9, INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7. He selects a Core World
background, gaining Computer-1, and attempts to
join the Navy (he really is set on playing a navy
character). Rolling a 9 to qualify, his character, Joseph
Luy, does qualify for the Navy.
Term 1: Joseph gains Zero-G-1 at Rank-0, and now
Matthew rolls to survive the term again. He rolls a 4
again, except this time, Joseph’s INT 9 provides a
DM+1 to the survival roll, for a 5 in total. Joseph
survives the first term, and Matthew makes a note of
just how close a call it was. Matthew selects the
Service and Advanced Education skill tables, rolling
Gunnery-1 and Medicine-1. He then rolls an 11 for
Advancement, which is enough to promote Joseph to
Midshipman, giving him Leadership-1. Matthew rolls
on the Specialist table for the additional skill gained
from the Advancement, and gets Jack O’ Trades-1.
Matthew rolls to re-enlist Joseph in the Navy, getting
a result of 12.
Joseph Luy: 22 (1 Term) Navy, STR 5, DEX 7, END 9,
INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7. Computer-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-
1, Medicine-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Leadership-1. Rank-
1.
Term 2: Matthew rolls a 10 on the Survival throw, and
Joseph lives through the next four years. He gains one
skill roll, selecting the Specialist table again, and gains
Piloting-1. Rolling a 9, Joseph is also promoted to
Lieutenant this term, and rolls on the Personal
Development skill table, gaining DEX +1. The roll for
re-enlistment is 9, meaning that Joseph can continue
his naval career.

Joseph Luy: 26 (2 Terms) Navy, STR 5, DEX 8, END 9,
INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7. Computer-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-
1, Medicine-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Leadership-1,
Piloting-1. Rank-2.
Term 3: Ma�hew rolls an 11 to survive the term. He
then rolls on the Specialist skill table and gains
Pilo�ng-1 (total 2). Joseph is promoted (roll of 9) to
Lieutenant Commander, and receives Tac�cs-1 as a
rank skill. Ma�hew rolls on the Specialist skill table
again and Joseph gains Pilo�ng-1 again! (for a total of
3) For re-enlistment, Ma�hew handily rolls an 8, and
he chooses to con�nue character genera�on.
Joseph Luy: 30 (3 Terms) Navy, STR 5, DEX 8, END 9,
INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7. Computer-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-
1, Medicine-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Leadership-1, Tac�cs-
1, Pilo�ng-3. Rank-3.
Term 4: Ma�hew rolls an 11 again on the Survival
throw, and chooses to roll on the Advanced Educa�on
skill table, receiving Tac�cs-1 (total 2). Joseph is
promoted (roll of 8) to Commander, and Ma�hew
decides on the Service skill table, receiving Melee
Combat-1. At this point, four terms is enough, and
Ma�hew decides to voluntarily end Joseph Luy’s
career. However, he must roll to avoid aging, and he
succeeds with a roll of 7 – 4 = 3.
Joseph receives four rolls on the Mustering Out
Benefits tables, plus an addi�onal roll for being Rank-
4, for a total of 5. Two rolls on the Cash table gain
Joseph 11000Cr. Three rolls on the Materials table
gain Joseph a Low Passage, +1 EDU, and +1 SOC. He
selects Stealth-1 from the Criminal Skill Package.
Joseph Luy: 34 (4 Terms) Navy, STR 5, DEX 8, END 9,
INT 9, EDU 9, SOC 8. Computer-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-
1, Medicine-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Leadership-1, Tactics-
2, Piloting-3, Melee Combat-1, Stealth-1. Rank-4. Low
Passage, 11000Cr cash.
Matthew considers this character. He recalls that
Joseph barely survived the first term, and that he
received Gunnery and Medicine as skills. He was also
promoted. The patrol frigate that Joseph was
assigned to was involved in a toe-to-toe battle with
an enemy vessel. Joseph was wounded, but also
managed to lead his gun crew heroically after his
officer was killed. Joseph is eventually transferred to
flight school, where he excelled. His last posting was
on board a large cruiser, hunting pirates and enemy
shipping in border wars. After a botched boarding
action cost him a few friends, Joseph decided to
retire his commission, and make his own way on the
frontier.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Example 6: Chloe is eager to make a character, and
she rolls the following stats: STR 6 DEX 9 END 8 INT 8
EDU 9 SOC 4, a smart kid from the wrong side of the
tracks. She picks an Inhospitable outpost as her
homeworld and selects Repair-1 as her background
skill. She then decides to try for the Merchant career,
and qualifies with a 10 (she needed a 4). She then
rolls to Survive, and gets a 6, which is enough. Chloe’s
character gains Steward-1 as a rank skill. She rolls on
the Service and Advanced Education skill tables,
receiving Liason-1 and Computers-1 for her first term.
She rolls for Advancement, and gets a 7 + 1 = 8, which
is enough to get a promotion. Choosing the Service
skill table, Chloe receives Liason-1 for a total of
Liason-2.
(Term 1) Merchant STR 6 DEX 9 END 8 INT 8 EDU 9
SOC 4. Repair-1, Steward-1, Liason-2, Computers-1.
Rank 1.
Chloe settles on a name, Jacqueline Botrel, and
Qualifies for a second term, rolling a 6 to re-enlist.
She rolls Survival, getting a 5, barely living through
the next four years. Chloe rolls on the Specialist table,
and gains Gunnery-1. She then rolls for
Advancement, and is promoted with a result of 10.
She is now Rank 2 (Fourth Officer), and she gains
Zero-G-1 from the Personal Development table.
Chloe rolls to re-enlist Jacqueline, and with a 9 is
successful.
Jacqueline Botrel (2 terms) Merchant STR 6 DEX 9
END 8 INT 8 EDU 9 SOC 4. Repair-1, Steward-1,
Liason-2, Computers-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-1. Rank 2.
Jacqueline easily survives her third term (8), and rolls
on the Specialist table. She receives Liason-1 for a
total of Liason-3. The Advancement roll is 8 + 1 = 9, so
Jacqueline becomes a Third Officer, and receives
Piloting-1. She rolls on the Specialist skill table and
receives Piloting again, for a total of Piloting-2. The
re-enlistment roll is easy (9), and Chloe checks
Jacqueline’s skills:
Jacqueline Botrel (3 terms) Merchant STR 6 DEX 9
END 8 INT 8 EDU 9 SOC 4. Repair-1, Steward-1,
Liason-3, Computers-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-1,
Piloting2. Rank 3.
In the fourth term, Chloe rolls Survival and easily
survives this term with a result of 11. Jacqueline gains
Admin-1 from the Advanced Education skill table, and
she is promoted (11 + 1 = 12) to Second Officer (rank
4). This gains Jacqueline Computers-1 from the
Advanced Education skill table for a total of
Computers-2. Re-enlistment is a near thing (rolling a
4). Finally, Chloe rolls for aging in the 4th term, and
gets a 4 – 4 = 0. This means that she must reduce one
of Jacqueline’s physical characteristics by 1. She
chooses to reduce END to 7.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Chloe is looking for one more term. She rolls
Jacqueline’s survival roll, and gets an 8. She then rolls
on the Specialist skill table and gets Engineering-1.
Jacqueline is promoted, rolling a 9 + 1 = 10. She gains
Melee Combat-1 from the Personal Development skill
table. She is now a First Officer. Chloe rolls a 9 – 5 = 4
to determine aging effects, and nothing changes.
Finally, Chloe picks Recon-1 from the Criminal Skill
Package.
Chloe determines her character’s Mustering Out
benefits. As a Rank 5 character, she gains two bonus
rolls, and all rolls on the Material Benefits table gain
+1. She has seven rolls in total (5 + 2) and chooses to
use one roll on the Cash table, receiving 20000
credits. The other rolls gain her an Explores Society
membership, a Free Trader, a Weapon, a Contact, a
Free Trader, and another Weapon.
23
Jacqueline Botrel 38 (5 terms) Merchant STR 6 DEX 9
END 7 INT 8 EDU 9 SOC 4. Repair-1, Steward-1,
Liason-3, Computers-2, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-1, Pilot-2,
Admin-1, Engineering-1, Melee Combat-1, Recon-1.
Rank 5. 20000cr, Explorers Society Membership, 1
Contact, Snub Pistol, Sword, Free Trader (30-year
mortgage).
Chloe considers this character. She’s exceptionally
good at negotiations, has terrible manners, and can
pilot, navigate, and maintain a starship all on her
own. “Black Jack” Botrel is a spacer’s spacer, who has
spent all her adult life and much of her childhood in
spacecraft and in bazaars. She can navigate a Jump,
haggle with brokers, and fight off boarders, and has
seen and done it all in space. Her ship, the One-Eyed
Jack, is an old tramp trader that she inherited from
her captain when he retired. She carries a snub pistol
on her thigh, and a boarding sword on her belt.

SKILLS
Characters in Cepheus Light use a variety of skills to
confront the challenges awaiting them among the
stars, from piloting a starship to shooting a laser.
Skills are the character’s greatest asset. Skilled
characters are competent. A Skill at level 1 (denoted
Skill-1) represents someone who is employable; Skill-
3 denotes a professional; and Skill-5 represents an
expert. For example, a newly trained paramedic has
Medicine-1; an experienced physician has Medicine-
3; and a cutting-edge cyber-surgeon, skilled beyond
the typical physician, has Medicine-5. The task
resolution system takes this into account –
professionals should automatically succeed at
routine tasks (difficulty 4+) and easily perform
average tasks (difficulty 6+), while experts will
automatically succeed in routine and average tasks
and easily manage difficult (8+) ones.
A note about the Cepheus Engine Core and System
Reference Document: Cepheus Light skills are
somewhat different than the ones included in the
Cepheus Engine core rules but are easily compatible.
Most notably, Repair is the combination of
Electronics and Mechanics; Admin subsumes the
Advocate skill; Carousing subsumes the Gambling
skill; Piloting subsumes the Navigation skill; and
Deception is roughly equivalent to certain uses of
Carousing and Streetwise in the core rules.
SKILLS
Admin: administration and dealing with
bureaucracies and the law. Also covers forgery.
Aircraft: controlling and using atmospheric aircraft.
Animals: the care and training of animals. Also covers
riding and general agriculture.
Athletics: the ability to exert oneself physically. You
may add the Athletics skill to appropriate physical
characteristic rolls. This skill is never rolled unskilled.
Carousing: the art of mingling in social settings to
achieve your goals. Also covers gambling.
Computer: programming, working with computer
hardware, and hacking. This skill also covers the use
of sensors and communications gear.
Deception: convincingly avoiding the truth and
misleading other people.
Demolitions: working with explosives to blow stuff
up! This skill also covers defusing said explosives
before they blow up!
Driving: controlling and using ground vehicles.
Engineering: use and maintenance of starship drives
CEPHEUS LIGHT
and power plants.
Grav Vehicles: controlling and using gravitic vehicles.
Gun Combat: using small arms, crossbows, and bows
in combat.
Gunnery: using vehicle-mounted or spaceship-
mounted weapons.
Heavy Weapons: using plasma guns, rocket
launchers, and other portable support weapons.
Investigation: this skill combines keen observation,
forensics, research, and detailed analysis.
Jack o’ Trades: this special skill reduces the unskilled
penalty (DM-3, noted above) by its level. For
example, a character with Jack o’ Trades at level 2
would only suffer DM-1 to unskilled rolls. You may
not gain more than 3 levels in this skill and cannot
improve it after character generation.
Leadership: motivating and directing others, often in
times of crisis.
Liaison: the art and practice of negotiation and
diplomacy in a myriad of social situations. This skill
covers diplomatic meetings, haggling in interstellar
trading negotiations, or at the shouq.
Medicine: training in the medical sciences, from
diagnosis and triage to surgery.
Melee Combat: fighting hand-to-hand, either with a
weapon or unarmed.
Piloting: operating, controlling, and navigating
interplanetary and interstellar space craft, both in
real space and in jump space.
Science: the multi-disciplinary scientific skill, as
would be typical for a starship’s science officer.
Stealth: training in being unseen and unheard.
Steward: the care and serving of passengers and
other guests.
Streetwise: familiarity with underworld society and
the ways of working with it.
Survival: staying alive in the wilderness. This also
covers “outdoor” skills such as tracking, foraging, and
fishing.
Tactics: tactical planning and decision making,
whether on the ground or in space.
Watercraft: controlling and using watercraft,
including submarines.
Zero-G: working and living under microgravity
conditions. Also covers the use of vacc suits and
heavy armor.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
A NOTE ON PROSPECTING
Uranium Fever, a belter sourcebook by Stellagama
Publishing, uses the Prospecting and Comms skills for
asteroid mining. When using Cepheus Light with that
book, use the Science skill instead of Prospecting and
Computer instead of Comms.

LANGUAGES
Any character knows a number of languages, in
addition to their species' standard language, equal to
their EDU modifier. After character generation,
characters may learn additional languages using the
experience rules (see below). There are no skill levels
of a language, either a character knows that language
or they don’t. The Referee is free to allow a Level-0
version of a language skill, representing very basic
understanding of that language.

SKILL ADVANCEMENT
Cepheus Light characters can slowly advance in skill
through experience. This is done by spending
experience points (XP). A Character will typically gain
1 XP per adventure; or 2 XP if the character did an
outstanding job, at the Referee’s discretion.
Characters can only advance skills during downtime.
Note that advancement is incremental: for example,
to rise from Skill-1 to Skill-3, the character must first
purchase Skill-2 and only then Skill-3. In general, use
of XP should allow a character to increase one skill by
one level per game year.
INCREASING SKILLS
Spend XP to increase skills per the following table.
Desired Skill Level XP Cost
1 10
2 20
3 20
4 30
5 40

Note, however, that the total sum of a character’s

skill points may not exceed the sum of their current
INT + EDU characteristics.
LEARNING LANGUAGES
You may learn a new language by investing 10 XP.

OPTIONAL RULE: FASTER ADVANCEMENT

If the players and referee desire faster character
progression, grant 1 XP per session rather than
adventure, or 2 XP for an outstanding job in that
session.

25
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
EQUIPMENT
This chapter describes common tools, weapons, and An “item” is anything of significant size: a gun, a
other paraphernalia used by interstellar adventurers, medkit, a standard length of rope. Larger items may
from flashlights to laser guns. count as more than one item as noted in their
description. Small items, such as a compass, a needle,
All prices are in Credits (Cr), the interstellar currency.
or a candle, do not count as items, subject to the
Thousands of Credits are noted as KCr, and millions of
Referee’s judgment.
Credits are noted as MCr. A Credit is a futuristic
currency roughly equivalent to $3 USD in 2018AD
currency.
TECH LEVELS
ENCUMBRANCE The Cepheus Engine uses “Tech Levels” to describe
the vast variety of technological advance or
To facilitate fast play, Cepheus Light avoids the careful backwardness across the galaxy. Note that present-
accounting of equipment weight. Instead, a character day Terra is in the very early stages of TL8 – we don’t
may carry a number of major “items” equal to their have grav-cars yet, after all!
STR with no penalty. This represents a Light Load.
Characters may carry items beyond this, up to three
times their STR, which constitutes a Heavy Load. A
heavily-loaded character suffers DM-1 to all physical
task throws and can only use a maximum of one
move action in a combat round.
Tech Level Notable Characteristics
0 No technology, equivalent to the Stone age.
1 Roughly on a par with Bronze or Iron age technology.
2 Renaissance technology. Simple black-powder firearms
3 Mass production allows for product standardization, heralding the beginnings of industrial revolution and
steam power.
4 The transition to industrialization is complete, bringing plastics, radio, and other such inventions.
5 Widespread electrification, telecommunications, and internal combustion engines.
6 Development of fission power and more advanced computing.
7 Can reach orbit reliably and has telecommunications satellites.
8 Possible to reach other worlds in the same system, although terraforming or full colonization is not within
the culture’s capacity.
9 Development of gravity manipulation, which makes space travel vastly safer and faster; first steps into
Jump Drive technology.
10 (A) With the advent of Jump, nearby systems are opened up.
11 (B) The first primitive (non-creative) artificial intelligences become possible in the form of “low autonomous”
interfaces, as computers begin to model synaptic networks.
12 (C) Weather control revolutionizes terraforming and agriculture.
13 (D) Powered Armor appears on the battlefield in response to the new weapons. “High autonomous”
interfaces allow computers to become self-actuating and self-teaching.
14 (E) Fusion weapons become man-portable.
15 (F) The development of synthetic anagathics means that the human lifespan is now vastly increased.
16 (G) Plasma weapons become handheld and no longer require a backpack power pack

26
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
LIVING EXPENSES
Starship life support costs include, among other
things, food, lodging, and incidentals for crew and
passengers. When not on a starship, characters must
pay for lodging and food. The following table provides
costs of living. One column shows a monthly cost of
living – assuming long-term purchase of lodging and
groceries. The second shows daily living, in case of
travelers and tourists paying for a motel or hotel
room and buying prepared food. Costs also include
various expenses such as taxes and transportation.
Characters should live the quality of life
representative of their SOC characteristic. Characters
that consistently live below their SOC level may see
their SOC reduced as a result.
Starvation living means living in the streets, in a tent,
or outdoors and eating just barely to keep the
character alive. Clothes are baseline and worn out.
Healthcare, entertainment, and transportation are
not included in this level. A character living at
starvation level is always Fatigued.
Quality of Living Monthly Cost
Starvation (SOC 0-2) Cr200
Subsistence (SOC 3-5) Cr500
Ordinary (SOC 6-8) Cr1000
High (SOC 9-B) Cr5000
Elite (SOC C-F) Cr15000
PERSONAL ARMOR
Personal armor reduces the damage caused by
incoming attacks. Subtract the armor’s Protection
rating from any damage caused to the character,
some types of armor require minimum levels of the
Zero-G skill to use. It is not possible to wear more
than one type of armor at a time.
Cloth (TL7): modern heavy-duty ballistic-cloth armor.
Cloth may be worn under clothes.
Combat Armor (TL11): enclosed rigid military armor.
Combat armor can also serve as a vacc suit with 6
hours of life-support. Counts as 2 items for
encumbrance. Reduces radiation by 50 rads.
Combat Environment Suit (TL10): An
environmentally-protected armored soft-suit utilizing
advanced ballistic polymers. Provides the wearer full
protection from Tainted and Exotic atmospheres, 1D
hours of protection from Corrosive atmospheres, and
2D6 minutes of protection from Insidious
atmospheres. Counts as two items for encumbrance.
Reduces radiation by 40 rads.
27
Subsistence living is the bare minimum for civilized
life – a tiny apartment or capsule in a "coffin hotel"
and simple food and clothing. This includes public
transit and minimal entertainment and healthcare.
Ordinary living is how most people live on a civilized
world – an apartment, public transit, reasonable food
and clothing, reasonable entertainment, and modern
healthcare. In some settings, especially on off-world
colonies, this might also include a personal vehicle.
High living is the good life – a fancy apartment or
house, eating outside in most meals, a personal
vehicle, partying on a regular basis, fashionable
clothes, and good healthcare.
The Elite life means living like a king – a mansion or
penthouse, regular feasts or upscale restaurants,
dressing in the finest clothes and maintaining a
prestigious personal vehicle. At TL9+, this allows a
leased Air/Raft for transportation. Healthcare is the
best money can buy.
A character with SOC 9+ who does not live at a High
or Elite level will suffer DM-1 to all SOC and rolls.
Daily Cost
Cr8
Cr25
Cr50
Cr300
Cr1,000
Environmental Protection Suit (TL5): a full-body
sealed suit with attached filters and an option to
attach oxygen tanks. Fully protects against Tainted
and Exotic atmospheres (the latter requiring oxygen
tanks) and airborne pathogens; protects against
Corrosive atmospheres for 1Dx10 minutes. Reduces
radiation by 20 rads.
Jack (TL1): leather jacket or medieval leather armor.
Mesh (TL6): jacket lined with a flexible protective
metal or plastic mesh.
Powered Armor (TL13): motorized combat armor.
This powerful armor Grants DM+4 to STR and DEX,
though this does not apply to wound levels. Powered
armor grants DM+4 to all melee damage done by its
wearer and is shielded against vacuum and hostile
environments, as a vacc suit, with 6 hours of life
support supplies. Powered armor does not count as
an item for encumbrance when worn. Reduces
radiation by 50 rads.
Reflec (TL10): anti-laser reflective armor. Reflec is
highly effective against lasers but is ineffective
against anything else. Reflec be worn over another
suit of armor for additional anti-laser protection.
Reflec armor does not count towards encumbrance.

Vacc Suit (TL9): a standard, futuristic space suit. A
Vacc suit carries life support supplies for up to 6
hours. Counts as two items towards encumbrance.
Protects against Vaccum, Tained and Exotic
atmospheres, as well as airborne pathogens. Offers
2D hours of protection against Corrosive
atmospheres, and 1Dx10 minutes protection against
insidious atmospheres. Reduces radiation by 60 rads.
Vacc Suit, Advanced (TL13): the final evolution of the
space suit. An advanced vacc suit does not count as
an item for encumbrance, is easy enough to use even
without a Zero-G skill and provides life support for 12
hours. Offers the same environmental protection as a
regular vacc suit.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Vacc Suit, Hostile Environment (TL10): a heavy-duty
vacc suit designed for extreme conditions, such as
Corrosive and Invasive atmospheres. Counts as three
items for encumbrance. Protects against Vaccum,
Tained, Exotic, and Corrosive atmospheres (as well as
airborne pathogens) and provides 2D hours of
protection from Insidious atmospheres. Carries life
support supplies for 6 hours. Reduces radiation by
150 rads.
Weave (TL13): advanced bio-engineerd spider-silk
armor. Weave is easily concealable and does not
count as an item for encumbrance.

Armor TL Protection Cost Skill Required

Jack 1 2 Cr50 --
Environmental Protection Suit 5 3 Cr700 --
Mesh 6 3 Cr150 --
Cloth 7 6 Cr250 --
Vacc Suit 9 6 Cr9000 Zero-G 0
Vacc Suit, Hostile Env. 10 10 Cr18000 Zero-G 1
Combat Environment Suit 10 9 Cr1000 --
Reflec 10 0/14 vs. lasers Cr1500 --
Combat Armor 11 11 Cr20,000 Zero-G 1
Powered Armor 13 18 Cr200,000 Zero-G 2
Vacc Suit, Advanced 13 6/14 vs. lasers Cr15000 --
Weave 13 8 Cr6000 --

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
CYBERNETICS
High technology enables us to upgrade the human
machine. Using advanced material science and
cutting-edge knowledge of the neural system,
cybernetics augment the human body, adding
capabilities beyond those given to us by evolution.
Common examples of such technology are listed
below.
Note that a character may only install a number of
implants equal to their END characteristic. Some
cybernetics count as more than one implant.
Artificial gill (TL10, Cr7500): allows breathing
underwater in worlds with atmospheres 4-9.
Augmented Joints (TL12, Cr50000): This replaces the
character's joints with synthetics, granting inhuman
precision. The Grants DM+2 to any task requiring fine
manipulation.
Berserker Module (TL13, Cr120000): as long as the
character remains conscious, they use their full
Characteristic DMs regardless of any characteristic
damage for an hour following injury. Afterwards, the
character suffers from the usual reduced DMs and is
Fatigued. This augment counts as three implants.
Bionic Arms (TL11, Cr20000): +4 STR and +4 DEX for
arm/manipulation tasks as well as for calculating
unarmed combat damage. This counts as two
implants, as it replaces both arms.
Bionic Legs (TL12, Cr100000): as an action, the
character may throw Athletics 8+ to jump 9m
horizontally in any direction or 3m upwards. Also
reduce falling damage by 1D. This counts as two
implants as it replaces both legs. STR is considered 4
points higher for purposes of calculating
encumbrance limits. This implant also doubles the
character's movement speed to 18m per action (up
to 36m per round if the character uses both actions
for movement).
Cybernetic Eye (TL11, Cr25000): provides telescopic
vision, infra-red imaging, and low-light vision.
Data safe (TL12, Cr10000): this stows encrypted files
in the character’s skull. The data safe can only be
detected by TL12+ sensors.
Hacking Module (TL11, Cr50000): grants DM+1 to
the character’s Computer skill and allows remote
hacking of electronics at a distance of up to 3m.
Head bomb (TL11, Cr10000): A tiny remote-
controlled explosive device positioned in the brain.
Its detonation will kill the subject without risking any
collateral damage. These are rarely implanted
voluntarily.
Internal Blade (TL10, Cr2000): the character’s
unarmed attacks do 2D damage. Blades are made
29
with ceramic composites in order to avoid detection.
Only a TL11+ medical sensor will reveal their
presence.
Internal Breather (TL10, Cr1500): allows breathing in
atmospheres 2-9.
Internal Omnicomm (TL10, Cr1000): as an
Omnicomm (see below) but with a neural interface;
allows communication without audible speech. This
does not count as an implant. Highly common on
high-tech worlds.
Internal Omnicomp (TL10, Cr3000): as an Omnicomp
(see below) but with a neural interface. This does not
count as an implant.
Internal Stowage Pouch (TL10, Cr2000): abdominal
pouch accessible via an artificial sphincter. Stows
items up to 0.5 kg in weight and 0.5 liters in volume.
Neural Booster (TL13, Cr100000): this invasive
augmentation to the character’s nervous system and
adrenal glands grants three actions per round rather
than the usual two. It counts as three implants.
Neural Cyberspace Interface (TL11, Cr5000):
character can mentally input text or sound to
external computers via neural command and receive
visual and audial output from external computers.
Prehensile Tail (TL10, Cr25000): Provides an
additional grasping/manipulating appendage. The
tail is strong enough to support the weight of the
owner.
Subdermal Armor (TL12, Cr20000): provides 6 points
of armor. Subdermal armor is detectable upon visual
inspection and counts as two implants. Subdermal
armor is added to the protection rating of any worn
armor.
Vacuum Adaptation (TL14, MCr5): Internal oxygen
reserves and micro-seals allow an hour of operation
in vacuum without a vacc suit. An integral grav unit
allows short-range maneuvering in low and micro-
gravity, though this requires the Zero-G skill. The grav
unit is too weak to maneuver in any gravity beyond
0.05g. This augment also provides 5 points of integral
armor and reduces radiation by 6 rads. Counts as four
implants.

EXPLORATION AND PERSONAL
EQUIPMENT
The following items are common among adventurers
and explorers.
The Advanced Base is pressurized, modular, and
capable of housing 6 persons. It requires 12 person-
hours to assemble.
An Artificial Gill allows unlimited underwater activity
on worlds with atmospheres 4-9.
A Backpack does not count as an item for
encumbrance when worn. The items in the backpack
still do count towards encumbrance.
Cold weather clothing has a TL10 version costing
Cr800, which does not count as an item for
encumbrance.
Picking a lock without Lockpicks invokes a DM-2
penalty to the attempt.
The Multiscanner combines several sensor functions:
it can detect radiation, electromagnetic emissions,
metals, and a limited set of chemicals and biological
compounds. It can also perform standard blood tests.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
The Night Visor combines low-light and infra-red
vision.
Today’s smartphones will eventually evolve into an
Omnicomm, a combination of all your telecom needs
in one place, with holographic augmented reality
capability. The same applies the Omnicomp – a hand-
held, light-weight computer which evolved from both
the laptop and the tablet computer. TL9 batteries last
for months between recharging.
A Pressure Tent lacks an airlock and must be
depressurized to enter or leave; it can house up to 2
people and requires external oxygen tanks.
A Rescue Bubble is a 2m-diameter plastic bubble.
Piezoelectric layers translate the user’s movement to
electricity to recharge the bubble’s battery. It
contains supplies for 2 person/hours of operation.
The bubble’s skin can self-repair all but the most
serious punctures.
A Thruster Pack allows maneuvering in zero-G
conditions.
5 Torches or 5-days' worth of Field Rations each
count as a single item for encumbrance.

Item TL Cost
Back Pack 1 Cr50
Field Rations, 5 days 1 Cr125
Rope, 70m 1 Cr50
Torch 1 Cr1
Handcuffs 2 Cr10
Tent 2 Cr100
Binoculars 3 Cr10
Compass 3 Cr5
Water Canteen 4 Cr5
Breather 5 Cr75
LED Flashlight 7 Cr5
Lockpicks 5 Cr25
Oxygen Tanks, 6-hour duration 5 Cr250
Tech Toolkit 5 Cr300
Disguise Kit 7 C300
Long-Range Communicator, 500km range 7 Cr250
Medkit 7 Cr100
Tent, Pressure 7 Cr2000
Advanced Base 8 Cr50000
Artificial Gill 8 Cr4000
Night Visor 8 Cr100
Thruster Pack 8 Cr200
Omnicomm 9 Cr50
Omnicomp 9 Cr250
Rescue Bubble 9 Cr900
Cold Weather Clothing 10 Cr200
Multiscanner 10 Cr2000
Portable Fusion Generator 10 Cr500000

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
PHARMACEUTICALS
Below is a brief list of pharmaceuticals and drugs that
are available at various TLs.
Anagathic: prevents aging. For it to be effective, a
character must take one dose each month. If a
character misses one month of medication they must
immediately roll on the Aging Table (see the
Character Generation chapter) using the character’s
full chronological age.
Anti-radiation: administered before or immediately
after radiation exposure, this drug absorbs 100 rads.
Taking more than one dose a day causes 1D
permanent END damage.
Fast Forward: slows metabolism by a ratio of 60 to 1
– a subjective day to the user is actually 2 months.
Note that this drug will greatly reduce life-support
consumption.
Medicinal: this drug represents a wide variety of
vaccines, antitoxins, antibiotics, and other
pharmaceuticals. Medicinal allows a character with
at least Medicine-1 to neutralize a disease or poison
on a throw of Medicine 5+. The cost of any particular
drug is at the Referee’s discretion. Each TL increase
provides a DM+1 to the Medicine throw, at double
the cost.
Pharmaceutical
Medicinal
Anti-radiation
Panacea
Stim
Fast Forward
Metabolic Accelerator
Medicinal Metabolic Accelerator
Anagathic
31
Medicinal Metabolic Accelerator: greatly accelerates
the user’s metabolic rate, thus facilitating healing.
Medicinal Slow enables a patient to undergo a
month’s worth of healing in a single day. Medicinal
Metabolic Accelerator, when properly administered,
will completely heal all serious wounds within a
single day. Only a physician (Medicine-3 or better)
may administer this drug, and this requires a medical
facility – at least a ship’s medbay. If administered
improperly, the character will die a horrible, messy
death.
Metabolic Accelerator: provides DM+8 to initiative
throws and allows the user to take 3 actions per
round rather than the usual 2. Effect begins 8 rounds
after application and lasts 10 minutes (60 rounds),
after which the user suffers 2D damage and is
Fatigued.
Panacea: allows any character, even those without
the Medicine skill, to neutralize diseases or poisons
on a throw of Medicine 5+ (assume Medicine-0 for
characters lacking the Medicine skill when
administering Panacea). Each one TL increase
provides a DM+1 to the Medicine throw, at double
the cost.
Stim: removes Fatigue. Stims cause 1 point of
damage upon use. Using Stim again without an
intervening 8-hour period of sleep will cause 1D
damage per dose.
TL Cost
5+ Cr5+
8 Cr1000
8 Cr200
8 Cr50
10 Cr200
10 Cr500
11 Cr1000
15 Cr2000

ROBOTS AND DRONES
Robots and drones are a science fiction staple. A
robot is an autonomous machine; a drone operates
via the guidance of a remote controller. The Cepheus
Light rules handle robots and drones like they handle
characters: each has a Universal Personal Profile
(UPP) and skills, as well as special equipment and
features. Robots are tools, not persons, and thus lack
a Social Standing. Drones lack intelligence and
education and use those of their operator instead.
Below are several common examples of futuristic
robotics.
Cargo Robot (TL9, Cr75000): a simple, and dumb,
heavy-duty lifting and transport bot.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Repair Robot (TL12, Cr10000): a utility robot capable
of repairs and maintenance.
585560 Repair-1, Gun Combat-0
Electronic Toolkit, Mechanical Toolkit, Laser Welder
(1D damage).
Warbot (TL12, Cr100000): an armored combat robot.
CAF750, Gun Combat-2, Melee Combat-1
Armor 9, Combat Arms (3D damage), Laser Rifle (5D
damage).
Servitor (TL13, Cr120000): humanoid robot used as a
servant or butler for the elite.
797770, Steward-2, Liaison-1

K4F220 (with K being 20), Melee Combat-0 Fine manipulators, glossy chrome finish; Robot punch
(1D damage).
Huge size (4 meters tall), Armor 8, Crushing Strength
(3D damage). Autodoc (TL14, MCr0.5): an immobile medical robot
installed inside vehicles and spacecraft. An autodoc is
Mining Drone (TL9, Cr50000): a remote-operated capable of full-scale medical care and even trauma
mining machine – the mainstay of belting operations surgery. Its full volume is 3.5 cubic meters, or 0.25
across the galaxy. ship displacement ton.
A7A000, Computer-1 6F3AF0, Medicine-3
Grav modules capable of 400 km/h, Mining Medical and surgical equipment. Specific drugs must
equipment, Laser drill (5D damage) be purchased separately.
Probe Drone (TL9, Cr15000): a survey drone with a
500km operation range. Can reach a maximum speed
of 300 km/h in gravitic flight; can enter atmospheres
and reach orbit from surface.
373000, No skills
Grav modules, Armor 5, 500km-range comms, Sensor
suite, Holographic Projector.
Personal Drone (TL11, Cr2000): a small floating globe
with integral grav-thrusters, and a holographic
projector used to maintain a long-distance virtual
presence. Lower-tech (TL8) versions use a wheeled
platform instead.
171000, No skills
Tiny size, Grav modules, Comm, Holographic
Projector.

32
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
VEHICLES
A wide variety of vehicles exist across cultures and
species for planetary, atmospheric, and oceanic
transportation. The following is a list of a few of the
more common conveyances.
Characters may purchase a vehicle at its base Tech
Level or on any higher TL. Higher-tech vehicles
typically have greater range and endurance, at the
Referee’s discretion.
STAT BLOCK EXPLANATION
Tech Level (TL): technological level, as noted above.
Cost: in thousands of Credits (Kcr)
Agi: Agility, representing the vehicle’s
maneuverability. Applies as DM to skill throws in
vehicle combat.
Spd: speed in km/h.
Light Damage Threshold: Weapons have to throw this
number or above on their AV dice to penetrate armor
and cause regular damage hits.
Critical Damage Threshold: Weapons have to throw
this number or above on their AV dice to cause a
critical damage hit. Note that small arms do not cause
critical damage even in this case.
Weapons: weapons included in the vehicle’s price by
default. Choose support weapons from the Support
Weapon table below. Support weapons use the
Heavy Weapons skill. Gunnery weapons use the
Gunnery skill.
Crew/Psgrs: the first number shows the number of
crew-members the vehicle requires; the second, the
number of passengers it may carry.
Cargo: cargo capacity in kilograms or tons.
The ATV, Helicopter, Jump Jet, and Motorboat may
each mount one Support weapon, but it is not
included in their price and must be purchased
separately.
33
ATVs are pressurized, have life-support supplies for a
week, and feature cramped living quarters for all
crew and passengers.
The Air/Raft is a medium-sized open-top gravitic car.
An Aircar is a smaller, cheaper civilian gravitic car. An
enclosed Air/Raft is available at the same cost.
The G/Barge is a slow but powerful "grav truck"
capable of carrying up to 50 tons of cargo in gravitic
flight.
The G/Carrier is often called a Grav APC, though
“Grav Transport Helicopter” might be more
appropriate.
The G/Gunship is an advanced assault and close-
support grav-craft capable of carrying two squads of
assault troops. It is effectively a high-tech attack and
air assault helicopter.
The G/Liner is a gravitic long-range passenger craft
supplanting jet liners at late TL8.
The Grav Belt is a personal, wearable means of anti-
gravity mobility. Its fusion battery can last for a week.
The Walker is a two-legged combat vehicle with a
single pilot and heavy armor.
The G/Disc is a single-pilot, close-support grav
vehicle, essentially a militarized, combat-ready
version of the Speeder.
The Speeder is a supersonic grav vehicle used for fast
planetary transport.
GUNNERY WEAPONS
Some of the vehicles listed above possess Gunnery
Weapons. These are vehicle-mounted or fixed-
position anti-armor weapons used to engage military
targets. They all use the Gunnery skill. As a rule of a
thumb, gunnery weapons generally do 10D damage
vs. personnel within their effective range. They have
an AV value of 8D. The exact details of a given
gunnery weapon are left to the Referee.
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
Vehicle TL Cost Agi Spd (kph) L i g h t Critical Weapons C r e w / Cargo (kg)
Damage Damag Psgrs
e
Bus 5 KCr35 -1 150 3 6 1/30 8000
Ground Car 5 KCr6 +0 150 3 6 1/3 200
Motor Boat 5 KCr530 -3 120 3 6 5/10 10000
Truck 5 KCr50 -1 120 6 9 1/1 30000
Main Battle Tank 6 KCr100 -2 60 25 32 Gunnery, 2 Support 4/0 100
APC 6 KCr65 -1 80 12 15 Support 2/9 1000
Helicopter 6 KCr250 +1 100 3 6 1/7 500
Submersible 6 KCr1700 -4 40 3 6 5/10 30000
ATV, Tracked 7 KCr50 -1 80 12 15 1/15 1000
ATV, Wheeled 7 KCr50 +0 100 12 15 1/15 10000
Jet Liner 7 KCr5000 -1 1000 6 9 2/100 20000
Jump Jet 7 KCr500 +1 600 3 6 2/6 5000
Aircar 8 KCr150 +0 100 3 6 1/4 2000
Air/Raft 8 KCr275 +0 400 3 6 1/2 4000
G/Carrier 8 KCr1000 +0 620 16 20 Support 2/12 2000
G/Barge 8 KCr500 -2 200 6 9 1/1 50000
G/Liner 8 KCr10000 -1 1200 6 9 2/100 20000
Speeder 8 KCr890 +2 1500 3 6 1/1 4000
Destroyer (watercraft) 9 KCr4800 -5 80 16 20 8 Gunnery, 18/12 40000
8 Support
G/Gunship 12 KCr2000 +1 1200 12 15 Gunnery, Support 2/16 1000
Grav Belt 12 KCr100 +2 300 - - 1 personal
G/Disc 13 KCr110 +4 400kph 5 7 Support 1 50
Walker 13 KCr488 +2 90kph 16 20 Gunnery, Support 1 100

34
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
WEAPONS
Interstellar adventurers meet their adversaries with
blades, bullets, and lasers. Here we present a few
common and iconic weapons used by starfarers.
STAT EXPLANATIONS
Tech Level (TL): technological level, as noted above.
Range: Effective/Maximum in meters. To attack with
a ranged weapon within effective range throw Gun
Combat (or Heavy Weapon) 8+; beyond effective
range, throw Gun Combat (or Heavy Weapon) 10+.
Damage: damage caused by the weapon.
Magazine: The amount of ammunition the weapon
holds. If the magazine requires additional time to
reload, this will be noted.
Ammo Cost: per magazine, in Credits.
Cost: The weapon’s cost, in Credits.
Scattergun: Each attack fills the air with a hail of small
projectiles, either flechettes or shot. Scatterguns
cause 4D damage at Effective range or closer and
attacks with scatterguns are DM+1. Anyone within
1.5m of the main target is also attacked by the
scattergun effect. Scatterguns enjoy DM+2 to hit
flying targets within Effective range. Beyond Effective
range, scatterguns only inflict 2D damage and have
no bonus to hit.
Stun: These weapons are designed to deal non-lethal
damage and will incapacitate a living target instead of
killing it. Damage is only deducted from END,
considering any armor. If the target’s END is reduced
to 0, the target is incapacitated and unable to
perform any actions for a number of rounds by which
the damage exceeded his END. Damage received
from Stun weapons is completely healed after one
hour of rest.
Zero-G: does not suffer a penalty for firing a weapon
in zero-g conditions. Lasers automatically have the
Zero-G aspect.

WEAPON ASPECTS
Weapons have Aspects describing their special
characteristics, as noted on their table.
Auto X: These weapons fire multiple rounds with
every pull of the trigger, filling the air with a hail of
fire. A weapon with the Auto aspect can make attacks
in three fire modes: single, burst, and full auto, as
described in the Combat chapter.
AV X: anti-vehicular dice. Throw this number of dice
when you hit a vehicle; if the throw is equal or greater
than the vehicle’s armor rating, the shot penetrates
and causes a damage roll.
Blast X: This weapon has an explosive component or
is otherwise effective against targets in its blast
radius. The number given is the blast radius in
meters.
Bulky: A Bulky weapon has powerful recoil or is
simply extremely heavy – this makes it difficult to use
effectively in combat by someone of a weak physical
stature. Characters with STR 8 or less suffer DM-2
when using such weapons.
Double Tap: may fire 2 bullets in one attack to gain
DM+1 to damage.
Fire: On a successful hit, throw 6+ for the target to
catch fire. A burning target takes 2D damage per
combat round for 1D rounds, or until put out.
Laser: susceptible to Reflec armor. At the Referee's
discretion, atmospheric conditions, such as thick
smoke, might incur a negative DM to laser fire. All
lasers have the Zero-G aspect automatically.

35

COMMON MELEE WEAPONS
The following weapons use the Melee Combat skill.
Melee weapons cannot harm vehicles except for
special cases, which are left to the Referee’s
discretion.
Axe (TL0): a one-handed axe made from metal or
stone, anything from a stone-age tool through a
medieval war axe to a modern fire axe.
Cudgel (TL0): a large club or mace.
Dagger (TL0): a straight, short knife. When wielding a
Dagger, a character may use both actions in a combat
round to attack.
Shield (TL0): A personal shield, which can bash
enemies for 1D damage and applies DM-1 to
opponents trying to hit its bearer. If a shield is used
with the overwatch action in combat, the wielder is
treated as having partial cover.
Spear (TL0): from a sharpened shaft to a metal-
tipped spear, this is a basic, yet effective, melee
weapon.
Staff (TL0): A long wooden shaft, sometimes with
metal fittings, used with two hands.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Sword (TL1): one of any variety of medium-sized one-
handed swords, from gladius (shortsword) to
longsword).
Broadsword (TL2), a large two-handed sword, counts
as 2 “Items” for encumbrance purposes. A two-
handed Great-Axe uses the same stats.
Cutlass (TL3): A short, broad slashing sword with a
slightly curved blade and basket-guard hilt.
Traditionally used by marines.
Machete (TL3): A simple yet sturdy broad blade used
for cutting foliage and foes alike.
Stun Prod (TL8): A high-tech riot weapon augmenting
the baton's blunt force with an electric charge
capable of stunning opponents.
Vibroblade (TL13): An intermediate-sized bladed
weapon using hypersonic micro-vibrations of the
blade to create a potent cutting force.
A note on unarmed damage: any character can inflict
at least 1 point of unarmed damage (before armor, of
course) even if their STR DM is 0 or lower.

Weapon TL Cost Dmg Aspects

Axe 0 Cr25 2D
Cudgel 0 Cr10 3D
Dagger 0 Cr10 1D
Shield 0 Cr20 1D
Spear 0 Cr15 3D
Staff 0 Cr10 2D
Unarmed -- -- STR DM
Sword 1 Cr150 3D
Broadsword or Great-Axe 2 Cr300 4D Bulky
Cutlass 3 Cr100 3D
Machete 3 Cr50 2D
Stun Prod 8 Cr300 2D Stun
Vibro-Blade 13 Cr500 4D

36
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
COMMON RANGED WEAPONS
The following weapons use the Gun Combat skill.
Note that regardless of the AV value, the following
small arms, unlike support weapons, will only cause a
Critical Hit on a vehicle through a lucky roll on the
damage table (see below), even if their AV roll
exceeds the vehicle's Critical Damage threshold.
Bows and Crossbows (TL0 and 2, respectively):
muscle-powered ranged weapons. Ammunition for a
Bow is held in a quiver of 20 arrows, which counts as
one encumbrance item. A Bow may fire once a round;
a Crossbow requires 2 actions to reload; a quiver
holds 20 crossbow quarrels and counts as one
encumbrance item.
Revolver (TL4): Simple semi-automatic pistol using a
manually-loaded rotating drum to feed the bullets. A
highly reliable weapon.
Shotgun (TL4): Scattergun firing a "shot" palette
capable of hitting multiple targets at once. These
particulate stats represent a pump-action weapon
with an internal magazine.
Autopistol (TL5): Semi-automatic handgun fed from a
magazine.
Carbine (TL5): Lighter military longarm using a
smaller caliber than a full-scale rifle, and often
shorter than it. A common survival "tool".
Rifle (TL5): Standard military arm on low-tech worlds,
using a large caliber. At higher TLs, up to and including
TL9, such weapons serve as dedicated sniper rifles.
Submachinegun (TL5): Light automatic weapon using
pistol rounds. Bullets are interchangeable with the
Autopistol; at the Referee's discretion, so are the
magazines.
Autorifle (TL6): Finetuned rifle converted for
automatic fire. Enjoys longer range than both the
Assault Rifle and the Light Machinegun but is
supplanted by them at TL7.
Assault Rifle (TL7): Standard military arm on mid-
tech worlds. An automatic rifle uses an intermediate
caliber. At the referee's discretion, its ammunition, or
even magazines, may be interchangeable with those
of a Carbine.
Light Machine Gun (TL7): Standard mid-tech squad-
level support automatic weapon, typically belt-fed.
Considered as two items for encumbrance purposes.
Body Pistol (TL8): This is an especially light, discreet,
and concealable weapon made from advanced
polymers. A concealed body pistol can also be
disguised as a number of more innocuous items, like
comms, digital recorders, and so on.
37
Laser Carbine (TL8): Early directed-energy weapon
firing a laser beam. It requires a backpack power unit
(which counts as an item). The power unit may be
charged from a local power grid or starship power
plant.
Snub Revolver (TL8): Low-velocity, low-recoil
revolver designed for zero-g and hard vacuum use.
Accelerator Rifle (TL8): Also known as a "Gyrojet".
Designed for use in zero-G environment, the
accelerator rifle fires self-propelled rocket rounds. It
has minimal recoil and works perfectly in hard
vacuum.
Laser Rifle (TL9): Heavier version of the laser carbine,
with better armor penetration, range, and even anti-
vehicular capabilities. Requires a rechargeable heavy
backpack power unit (which counts as an item).
Advanced Combat Rifle (TL10): "Pulse rifle" firing
electrically-ignited caseless high explosive, armor-
piercing rounds. Provides a high rate of fire and a
large magazine capacity.
Laser Pistol (TL10): Handgun-sized directed energy
weapon attached to a belt-mounted power pack (the
pistol and its power pack are considered as one Item
together).
Stunner (TL10): Firing a precise electromagnetic
pulse, this non-lethal weapon disrupts the target's
neural processes, leading to stun and potentially
unconsciousness.
Note that the laser weapons noted above, such as the
laser carbine, rifle, and pistol, suffer DM-1 to hit
when used in environments with a great deal of
particulates in the air, like sand, or ash. In these
conditions, their ranges are cut in half as well. Their
long-range capabilities and high damage make them
sought after, regardless of limitations. Ammunition
for ordinary laser weapons represents a separate,
rechargeable back pack, considered an Item itself for
the sake of encumbrance. It is rechargeable from any
major power source, such as a ship’s power plant.
Gauss Pistol and Rifle (TL12): These weapons
accelerate small metal spikes to supersonic velocities.
Though the principles behind their function are well
understood since the early industrial age, it is
typically beyond the manufacturing capabilities of
frontier worlds. It does appear, from time to time, in
the hands of well-equipped mercenary forces.
Blasters (TL13): are advanced laser weapons with a
compact, internal battery, which is also removable
and rechargeable.
Plasma Rifle (TL16): The ultimate small arm, using
miniaturized plasma gun technology to propel
magnetically-shaped pockets of super-hot plasma at
its targets.

Note that magazines can be bundled into groups of
five, with each bundle representing one item for
encumbrance purposes.
RANGED WEAPON ACCESSORIES
The following accessories are commonly available for
ranged weapons.
You may attach a Bayonet (TL2), identical to a dagger
in its game statistics on its own, to any rifle-sized
weapon. A rifle with a bayonet serves as a melee
weapon equivalent to a Spear (3D damage).
Laser Sight (TL7): the bonus for Aimed Shots
increases to DM+2, but only within Effective range.
Cr100.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Scope (TL6): the weapon avoids the penalty for firing
beyond effective range, as long as the character used
the Aimed Shot action before firing. Maximum range
still applies. Cr200.
Silencer (TL6): May be attached to any firearm.
Silencers work for single shots, and short bursts, but
never Full Auto attacks. Silencers provide a DM-4 to
hear the gunshot sound. Cr250.
Smart Weapon (TL10): connects to a HUD or an
implanted Omnicomp. Grants DM+1 to all attacks.
Cumulative with laser sights. Cr1000.
Underbarrel Grenade Launcher (TL7): as the grenade
launcher support weapon but has a magazine of 1
and is not Bulky. Cr1000.

Weapon TL Cost Range Dmg Mag Ammo Aspects

Bow 0 Cr60 300/600 2D - Cr10
Crossbow 2 Cr75 300/600 3D 1 Cr1
Revolver 4 Cr150 10/50 2D 6 Cr5
Shotgun 4 Cr200 20/40 4D 6 Cr10 Scattergun
Autopistol 5 Cr150 10/50 2D 16 Cr7 Double Tap
Carbine 5 Cr250 50/200 3D 10 Cr12 Double Tap
Rifle 5 Cr500 200/400 3D 10 Cr15 AV 1D, Double Tap
Submachinegun 5 Cr500 30/100 2D 30 Cr20 Auto 3
Autorifle 6 Cr1000 200/400 3D 20 Cr10 AV 1D, Auto 2
Assault Rifle 7 Cr300 50/200 3D 30 Cr15 AV 1D, Auto 2
Light Machinegun 7 Cr1200 100/300 3D 100 Cr125 AV 1D, Auto 3, Bulky
Body Pistol 8 Cr500 5/20 2D 6 Cr20 Double Tap
Laser Carbine 8 Cr2500 100/400 4D 15 Cr1000 AV 1D, Double Tap, Laser
Snub Revolver 8 Cr150 5/20 2D 6 Cr6 Zero-G
Accelerator Rifle 9 Cr900 100/400 3D 20 Cr15 AV 1D, Auto 2, Zero-G
Laser Rifle 9 Cr3500 300/500 5D 30 Cr1500 AV 2D, Double Tap, Laser
Advanced Combat Rifle 10 Cr1000 200/400 3D 40 Cr30 AV 1D, Auto 3, Scope
Laser Pistol 10 Cr1500 50/200 3D 10 Cr500 Double Tap, Laser
Stunner 10 Cr600 10/30 3D 10 Cr10 Stun, Zero-G
Gauss Pistol 12 Cr1000 20/100 3D 30 Cr30 AV 1D, Auto 2
Gauss Rifle 12 Cr1500 300/600 4D 100 Cr40 AV 1D, Auto 4
Blaster 13 Cr5000 50/200 4D 20 Cr100 AV 1D, Laser
Blaster, Heavy 13 Cr10000 200/400 5D 50 Cr500 AV 2D, Auto 3, Laser
Plasma Rifle 16 Cr15000 150/300 6D 10 Cr500 AV 2D

38
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
COMMON SUPPORT WEAPONS
The following weapons use the Heavy Weapons skill.
All heavy weapons are considered 3 items each for
encumbrance purposes. Ammunition belts,
magazines, and individual rockets are each
considered one item for encumbrance purposes.
Flamethrower (TL6): Spews a 5m-long cone of fire
which is 3m wide at its far end. All targets within this
cone suffer damage and might catch fire. The tank for
the flamethrower holds enough fuel for five full
attacks and counts as two items for encumbrance.
GP Machinegun (TL6): "General Purpose" belt-fed
medium machinegun. Often carried on vehicles as a
support weapon but is also man-portable.
Rocket Launcher (TL6): Man-portable rocket
launcher utilizing unguided munitions. Rocket
launchers are unsafe to use in enclosed spaces.
Rocket payloads are considered high explosive and
are not particularly effective against armored
vehicles. Armor piercing rockets cost Cr500 per
rocket: trade Blast 6 for AV 5D, Blast 1. An anti-aircraft
homing missile costs Cr10000 and does not suffer a
penalty when firing at fast-moving air vehicles.
Grenade Launcher (TL7): Grenade launchers are used
to fire grenades over long distances. Grenades for a
grenade launcher are not interchangeable with
handheld grenades. An under-barrel version
(described above) is also available.
Disposable Anti-Vehicle Rocket (TL7): Cheap one-use
man-portable rocket. Functions as an armor-piercing
rocket as described above.
Light Assault Gun (TL8): Heavy anti-vehicle rifle firing
large armor-piercing shells.
RAM Grenade Launcher (TL8): Advanced grenade
launcher utilizing sophisticated rocket-assisted
grenades (not interchangeable with those of the
older grenade launcher). Provides better range and
magazine capacity than a standard grenade launcher.
Grenade or Explosive TL Cost Range
Dynamite 4 Cr75
Fragmentation 5 Cr30
Molotov Cocktail 5 Cr5
Incendiary 6 Cr30
Smoke 6 Cr15
Plastique 6 Cr200 - 6D
HEAP 7 Cr50 Launcher
Flashbang 7 Cr30
EMP 8 Cr50
39
Support Laser (TL8): Heavy directed-energy man-
portable weapon for fire support and light anti-
vehicular duties. Its back-mounted power pack
counts as two Items for encumbrance purposes.
Plasma Gun (TL12): High-energy anti-vehicular man-
portable weapon firing magnetically-contained
plasma bolts. It requires a back-mounted,
rechargeable power pack counting as two Items for
encumbrance purposes.
Fusion Gun (TL14): Advanced development of the
plasma gun, firing bolts undergoing microfusion for
massive damage. utilizes a back-mounted micro-
fusion reactor and thus, for game purposes, has
unlimited ammunition. The ammo cost in this case
represents purchasing such a backpack. Note that the
backpack and gun constitute 4 items in total for
encumbrance.
GRENADES AND EXPLOSIVES
Throw DEX 6+ to accurately throw a hand grenade
within effective range, or Heavy Weapons 8+ to
accurately launch a grenade from a launcher. On
failure, the grenade will land 2D6 + (the margin of
failure) meters from its intended target. Throw
Demolitions 6+ to properly set up an explosive charge
for simple demolition, or Demolitions 8+ or greater
for more complex jobs, such as setting a directional
shaped charge explosive.
The Effective range for thrown grenades is equal to
the character’s STR. Maximum range for thrown
grenades is STRx2. However, beyond Effective range a
thrown grenade automatically deviates 2D6 meters,
regardless of the result of the attack throw. Launched
grenades use the launcher’s range, as given above.
Launched grenades double their deviation rolls on a
miss.
Fragmentation Grenade (TL5): Basic anti-personnel
hand grenade exploding into a hail of shrapnel.
Dmg Aspects
3D AV 2D, Blast 1D
3D AV 2D, Blast 5
2D Blast 2, Fire
3D Blast 3, Fire
- Blast 10 (smoke)
AV 4D, Blast 10
5D AV 5D, Blast 1.5
3D Blast 10, Stun
4D Blast 5, Stun (Machines)
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
Improvised Explosive Device (TL5): Home-made
incendiary bomb commonly made from a glass
container filled with highly flammable liquid and lit
with a fuse.
Incendiary Grenade (TL6): Military-grade fire-bomb
grenade.
Smoke Grenade (TL6): Deploys a cloud of thick
smoke upon impact. Apply DM-2 to all attacks
passing through its “Blast” radius. They also apply a
further DM-1 to laser weapons. The smoke stays in
the air for 1D combat rounds.
Plastique (TL6): This generic, multi-purpose plastic
explosive is a favorite of military units, terrorists,
demolition teams and adventurers across known
space.
HEAP Grenade (TL7): High Explosive Armor-Piercing
anti-tank grenade using a focused blast to penetrate
armor.
Flashbang Grenade (TL7): Non-lethal stun grenade
emitting a powerful flash and deafening noise upon
detonation.
EMP Grenade (TL8): Electro-Magnetic Pulse grenade
emitting a powerful magnetic pulse capable of
disrupting electronics but harmless to organic beings.
It causes full damage to robots. Characters with
implanted cybernetics are vulnerable to EMP but only
take half stun "damage" (rounded up) from it. Non-
cybered organic beings are immune to this stun
damage.

40
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
COMBAT
Spacers and adventurers often run into trouble
among the stars. In many cases they will have to fight,
be that for a cause or goal – or for survival. The
following rules allow quick resolution of combats.
See the weapon descriptions in the previous chapter
for various special rules, such as for automatic fire or
explosive weapons.
COMBAT PROCEDURE OUTLINE
1. CHECK FOR SURPRISE.
1.1 If one party surprises the other, they gain one
free combat round during which the surprised party
cannot act.
2. Roll initiative for all combatants.
3. Start the combat round.
3.1 Combatants act in initiative order (highest first).
3.2 Each character, on their turn, has two actions.
They may use them for attacks, movement, and other
actions. Apply damage caused by an attack
immediately.
3.3 Once the combat round is over, begin a new
round, until the battle is over.
4. If necessary – triage and treat the wounded.
COMBAT ROUNDS
Combat takes place in 6-second segments called
Combat Rounds. Characters act in descending
initiative order, as discussed below, in each combat
round – unless surprised or otherwise unable to act.
SURPRISE
Characters may surprise other parties or be surprised
by them. A good tactician or a keen-eyed recon
specialist can lay a good ambush or avoid one.
In situations where surprise is possible, each party
throws Recon 8+. If one party succeeds and the other
fails, the winner gains surprise. If both sides succeed
or both fail, there is no surprise. A party deliberately
setting up ambush gains DM+2 to surprise rolls.
Groups in vehicles, or groups of characters
numbering 8 or more members, suffer DM-2 to
surprise rolls.
Surprise grants a “free” combat round during which
the surprising party may act, but the surprised party
may not.
41
INITIATIVE
Once fighting begins, each combatant throws 2D +
their Tactics skill (if any). Record these rolls. In each
combat round, characters act from the highest
initiative score to the lowest. Note that characters
without a Tactics skill do not suffer the Unskilled
negative DM on this throw.
A character with Leadership may throw Leadership 8+
at the beginning of combat; if successful, any
characters in their parties may apply the throw’s
Effect as a skill bonus to initiative. Combatants may
only benefit once from this effect. If multiple
characters with the Leadership skill are present, only
the one with the highest Leadership skill may roll.
ACTIONS AND ATTACKS
Each character has two actions in their turn.
Characters may use an action as follows:
Attack: attack as described below.
Charge: run to a single enemy at a range of up to 20m
and make a melee attack at DM+2. Characters on
Overwatch (see below) being charged at can, of
course, react and attack the charging enemy.
Characters not on Overwatch also gain a free attack
against a charging enemy, but at DM-2 as they are
less well-prepared to receive it.
Inspire: throw Leadership 6+ to add DM+2 to any
single character’s next throw.
Move: move up to 9m (6x 1.5m squares).
Alternatively, fall prone or get up from a prone
position.
Overwatch: delay your action until an enemy moves
through your line of sight or attacks you. When this
happens, you may immediately act, regardless of
initiative order. You may hold your Overwatch for a
number of rounds equal to your END score.
MELEE ATTACKS
To hit in melee (hand-to-hand combat), throw Melee
Combat 8+. You may not attack in melee with a
longarm (such as a rifle) unless you use it as a cudgel
or as a spear (with a bayonet). You may attack with a
handgun (including shotguns and submachineguns)
in melee at DM-2 to hit. Note that if a shield is used
with the overwatch action in combat, the wielder is
treated as having partial cover, as noted below. This
gives an enemy DM-2 to hit the shielded character in
melee.

FRENZY
A character with at least Melee Combat-1 who either
kills or disables an enemy in melee combat may move
1.5m and immediately attack an adjacent enemy.
Characters may do so in the same combat action for
a number of times equal to their Melee Combat skill.
RANGED COMBAT
To hit a target in your weapon’s Effective range, throw
Gun Combat or Heavy Weapons (as appropriate) 8+.
Beyond Effective range, throw 10+ instead out to
maximum range.
Hitting an obscured target (such as behind bushes) is
penalized by DM-1; attacking a target behind hard
cover, this penalty is DM-2; and for heavy prepared
cover, such as a bunker, attacks are penalized by DM-
3.
Ranged Combat DM Table
Condition
Target obscured
Target behind hard cover
Target in heavy cover
Target running (double move on its previous round)
Target behind total cover
Target prone
Target prone behind cover
Darkness
Dim Light
Target dodging (optional rule)
AIMING
An aimed shot requires two consecutive actions and
grants DM+1 to hit. A character may use their first
action in a combat round to aim, then enjoy DM+1 to
hit when firing on the second action. Alternatively, it
is possible to begin aiming as the second action in
one round and continue aiming through the first
action of the next round, and then make an attack
with the second action of that second round.
AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
Automatic weapons fire multiple rounds with every
pull of the trigger, filling the air with a hail of bullets.
A weapon with the Auto aspect can make attacks in
three fire modes: single, burst, and full auto, as
described below.
Single: Attacks are made using the normal combat
rules.
Burst: Add the Auto score to damage. This uses a
number of rounds equal to the Auto score.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Attacks on a prone character in ranged combat are
penalized by DM-2; attacking a prone character
behind cover uses that cover DM instead, with an
additional DM-1.
However, if a character enjoys a total cover DM of -4
or more, they cannot make any direct fire ranged
attacks themselves. They are completely blocked by
their cover. They may still attack, and be attacked, by
indirect weapons such as grenades.
Shooting in darkness incurs DM-2 to hit, while
shooting in dim light incurs DM-1 to hit.
DM
DM-1
DM-2
DM-3
DM-1
DM-4; direct fire impossible
DM-2
Cover DM and an additional DM-1
DM-2
DM-1
DM-target's Gun Combat skill
Full Auto: Make a number of attacks equal to the
Auto score. These attacks can be made against
separate targets so long as they are all within six
meters of one another. Alternatively, use Full Auto for
Suppression fire (see the Combat section). Full auto
uses ammunition equal to three times the weapon’s
Auto score. A weapon cannot use the Auto aspect
with the Scope accessory or Aiming action. You may
only perform one Full Auto attack in a given round.
THROWN WEAPONS
Knives have a range of 5/10. Throw DEX 8+ to hit with
a thrown knife at Effective range, or 10+ beyond it.
Throw DEX 6+ to accurately throw a hand grenade at
effective range, and 8+ to place a grenade on target
at maximum range. Hand grenades have an Effective
range of the thrower’s STR characteristic; the
Maximum range is twice that. On failure, the grenade
will land 2D6+(the margin of failure) meters from its
intended target. At maximum range, thrown
grenades automatically deviate 2D6 meters.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
OPTIONAL RULE: DODGE AND PARRY
Even though they can’t dodge bullets, skilled
combatants are harder to hit. A proficient gunman
can use the battlefield to avoid line-of sight. An
expert swordsman will parry melee attacks.
Therefore, for a more cinematic game where skilled
heroes can take on multiple armed opponents, we
propose the following optional rule. In ranged
combat, apply the target’s Gun Combat skill (if any) as
a negative DM to all incoming ranged attacks. In
melee combat, apply the target’s Melee Combat skill
(if any) as a negative DM to all incoming melee
attacks. Immobile or unaware targets do not enjoy
this defensive benefit. Note that this modifier is not
cumulative with any cover modifiers; use the higher
of the two modifiers when shooting at a target in
cover. The exception is a shield – a character using a
shield in melee may still add DM-1 to be hit by
enemies to the above penalty, provided that they
used one of their actions in the previous round for
Overwatch with the shield.
GRAPPLING
A character can attempt to wrestle or grab another
person instead of hitting them. The attacker must
move to melee combat range and beat their target in
an opposed Melee Combat throw. If the attacker
wins, they may do any one of the following:
• Knock their opponent prone.
• Disarm their opponent. If the attacker
succeeds with an Effect of 6+ they can take
the weapon away; otherwise it ends up on
the floor.
• Throw their opponent up to three meters
for 1d6+STR DM damage.
• Inflict damage equal to 2 + the Effect + STR
DM.
• Escape the grapple and move away (as if
with a normal movement action).
• Continue the grapple with no other effects.
• Drag their opponent up to three meters.
Throwing an opponent always ends the grapple. With
any other option the winner can choose to end or
continue the grapple as they sees fit. A character in a
grapple cannot move or do anything other than make
opposed Melee checks. Each time an opposed check
is made the winner can choose an option from the
above list. A character who won the grapple in the
previous round enjoys DM+1 to the next grapple,
though this is no cumulative regardless of the
number of grapples they have successively won.
43
SUPPRESSIVE FIRE
Instead of shooting a target, a character may fire an
automatic weapon to deter enemy action in a given
area. Choose a 3m by 3m area within effective range.
Any combatants who move through this area, or
caught in this area, suffer an automatic attack.
However, do not apply the shooter's Gun Combat skill
to this attack and apply a further DM-2 to it. Thus,
such shots hit a suppressed target in Effective range
on 10+, or 12+ while in cover – combatants under
suppressive fire better keep their head down! This
continues until the weapon runs out of ammo or until
the shooter’s next round. This consumes ammunition
equal to three times the weapon's Auto rating.
You may only perform one Suppressive Fire action per
round.
DAMAGE AND HEALING
Each weapon has a number of damage dice which are
rolled and totaled; add the attack throw’s Effect to
the damage roll. This is the damage inflicted on the
character.
ARMOR
Subtract the armor’s protection rating from any
physical damage caused to the character before
applying the damage to the character’s physical
characteristics.
APPLYING DAMAGE
The first time a character takes damage, subtract it
from the character’s END. If this reduces the
character’s END to 0, subtract the remaining damage
from STR or DEX (target’s choice). The damage may
be distributed between the two characteristics as
desired by the target.
In any subsequent damaging attack, the target may
allocate it to any of the three physical characteristics
(STR, DEX, or END), which is at 1 or more, as desired.
If either STR or DEX fall to 0, subtract any further
damage from the remaining physical characteristic.
KNOCKDOWN
If a character receives more damage, before armor is
applied, in one round than the current score of
highest physical characteristic (STR, DEX, or END)
they are knocked prone. This rule applies even when
the character receives no damage at all thanks to
armor. Characters in powered armor double their
DEX for calculating knockdown.

WOUNDS
If at least two physical characteristics remain above 0,
the character has suffered Minor Wounds. Use the
reduced characteristics for any relevant purposes,
such as characteristic throws.
If one characteristic falls to 0 the character falls
unconscious for 1D rounds. Characters rendered
unconscious in this manner will wake up having
recovered half their characteristics’ value (rounded
down). For example, a character with STR 9 who was
so wounded would wake up with STR 4 after 1D
minutes. The character still suffers Minor Wounds
upon waking.
If two characteristics are reduced to 0, the character
is Seriously Wounded; they must throw 8+ or fall
unconscious for 1D hours; otherwise, they fall
unconscious for 1D minutes instead. Upon waking,
the character’s wounded characteristics are 1. The
character will require medical care to recover any
further.
Characters die if all three physical characteristics
reach 0.
OPTIONAL RULE: TOUGH GUYS
Use this rule for minor wounds instead if you feel that
characters are being knocked out too quickly using
the standard combat rules. If one characteristic falls
to 0 (a Light Wound), the character does not fall
unconscious, but rather suffers DM-1 to all actions
until treated. Within 1D rounds, the wounded
characteristic recovers half its value, as above, but
the -DM will remain until treatment. Serious Wounds
and death still work as above.
OPTIONAL RULE: HEROES VS. GRUNTS
For a cinematic game where heroes cut their way
through waves of grunts (also called "mooks"), use
the standard wound and unconsciousness rules for
grunts and the Tough Guys optional rule for heroes.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
FATIGUE
A character can become fatigued in numerous ways,
such as staying awake for over 24 hours, sprinting
(using both actions for movement) for a number of
combat rounds greater than the character's END
characteristic, going without food for over 2 days, or
even using certain medications. A Fatigued character
suffers DM-2 to all checks until they rest. The amount
of rest needed is 8 – the character's Endurance DM,
in hours. A negative END modifier means a required
rest of over 8 hours. If a character suffers fatigue
while already fatigued, they suffer a DM-4 to all
throws, and will fall unconscious at the Referee’s
discretion.
HEALING AND MEDICAL CARE
Minor Wounds require treatment by a character with
at least Medicine-1, a Med Kit, and 30 minutes. With
either Medicine-1 or a Med Kit, rather than both,
treatment will take 1 hour. Alternatively, characters
will recover from all Minor Wounds on their own
after a full day’s rest. Treatment or rest restores the
wounded character's full characteristic scores.
Serious Wounds require a medical facility—a
standard starship medbay will suffice—and
treatment by a nurse or a physician (Medicine-2 skill
or better). Recovery takes 5D days. No recovery from
Serious Wounds is possible without medical care.
Note that there are pharmaceuticals which can
accelerate a wounded character’s healing rate.
Note that mortal wounds do not necessarily spell the
character's doom. Stellagama Publishing offers a
FREE supplement offering Trauma Surgery rules for
such occasions.
Furthermore, even "final" death is not so final in
technologically advanced societies. From the Ashes,
by Stellagama Publishing, offers rules for cybernetic
and biotechnological resurrection of the dead!
44
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
PERSONAL COMBAT EXAMPLES
PERSONAL COMBAT EXAMPLE #1 - LIBERATION AT
THE ONE-EYED JACK
Efrem Kazzov, 30 (3 terms) Scout, STR 7, DEX 4, END
9, INT 9, EDU 8, SOC 7: Watercraft-1, Pilot-1, Recon-1,
Investigation-2, Sciences-2, Computer-2, Stealth-1.
Snub Revolver (Damage: 2D, Range: 5/20m Ammo: 6,
Zero-G)
Augustus Green, 42 (6 Terms) Colonist, STR 8, DEX 9,
END 8, INT 7, EDU 5, SOC 11. Deception-1, Survive-1,
Repair-1, Streetwise-1, Carousing-2, Jack O’ Trades-2,
Grav Vehicles-1, Leadership-1, Melee Combat-1,
Watercraft-1.
Shotgun (Damage: 4D, Range: 20/40, Ammo: 6,
Scattergun)
Melinda Harris, 22 (1 Term) Rogue, STR 7, DEX 7, END
6, INT 11, EDU 7, SOC 3. Streetwise-1, Zero-G-1,
Gambling-1, Carousing-1, Gun Combat-1, Stealth-1.
Submachinegun (Damage: 2D, Range: 30/100,
Ammo: 30, Auto 3)
Joseph Luy: 34 (4 Terms) Navy, STR 5, DEX 8, END 9,
INT 9, EDU 9, SOC 8. Computer-1, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-
1, Medicine-1, Jack O’ Trades-1, Leadership-1, Tactics-
2, Navigation-3, Melee Combat-1, Stealth-1.
Sword: 3D
Stunner (Damage: 3D, Range: 10/30, Ammo: 10,
Stun, Zero-G)
Jacqueline Botrel, 38 (5 terms) Merchant STR 6 DEX
9 END 7 INT 8 EDU 9 SOC 4. Repair-1, Steward-1,
Liason-3, Computers-2, Zero-G-1, Gunnery-1, Pilot-2,
Admin-1, Engineering-1, Melee Combat-1, Recon-1.
Body Pistol (Damage: 2D, Range: 5/20m Ammo: 6,
Double-Tap), Sword (3D)
All PCs are wearing Vacc Suits: Protection 6
NPCS
8 Security Goons, UPP: 778666 Gun Combat-0,
Melee Combat-1
Cloth Armor: Protection 6
Stun Baton: 2D, Stun
Stunner: 3D, 10/30, Ammo: 10, Stun
Auto Pistol: 2D, 10/50 Ammo: 16, Double Tap
45
Security Force Leader, UPP: 777887 Gun Combat-1,
Melee Combat-1, Leadership-1, Tactics-1
Cloth Armor: Protection 6
Stun Baton: 2D, Stun
Stunner: 3D, 10/30, Ammo: 10, Stun
Auto Pistol: 2D, 10/50 Ammo: 16, Double Tap
Recently Liberated Political Prisoners UPP: 777789
Liason-1, Admin-1, Leadership-1
THE SCENE
The PCs have just carried off a heist against a local
corrupt government, liberating some political
prisoners, as well as tens of thousands of credits
worth of bearer bonds. They are racing towards their
ship, which is parked on a large slab of ferrocrete just
outside of town—a classic E-class starport if there
ever was one. They’ve just arrived at the ship; a run-
down Trader called the One-Eyed Jack. The local
constabulary is hot on their heels and aims to
apprehend the crew and the liberated prisoners.
Everyone is taking cover behind cargo containers and
the Jack’s landing gear, and the GM calls for an
initiative roll. This is a Tactics Skill roll, with no
unskilled penalty. As well, the player running
Augustus Green rolls Leadership 8+ to try to give his
teammates a bonus. He rolls a 3 + 1 = 4, so no bonus.
The initiative scores are as follows:
Efrem Kazzov: 11
Augustus Green: 8
Melinda Harris: 5
Joseph Luy (Tactics-2): 8 + 2 = 10
Jacqueline Botrel: 3
The GM rolls the following:
Political Prisoners: 7
Security Goons: 5
Security Leader: 10 + 1 = 11
Round 1: The GM begins by counting down from 12,
and the players stop the GM when their initiative
number comes up.
11: Efrem Kazzov gets behind some storage bins (DM-
2 cover) (Action1 - Move) and engages in Overwatch
(Action2 - Overwatch) with his Snub pistol. He
watches the gate that delineates the starport from
the rest of the town. The gate is 15m away.

11: The Security Leader Inspires the goons (Action1 –
Leadership skill), rolling an 8 + 1 = 9. One of the
security goons gets a DM+2 to their next action. He is
out of sight of the PCs.
10: Joseph Luy takes cover near Efrem (Action1 –
Move) and readies his stunner in Overwatch (Action2
– Overwatch).
8: Augustus Green takes cover behind the One-Eyed
Jack’s nearest landing gear strut (DM-2 cover)
(Action1 – Move) and declares Overwatch as well
(Action2 – Overwatch).
7: The Political Prisoners are not foolish. They take
cover behind cargo bins, and stay out of sight, near
the closed ramp of the Jack. (Action1 – Move, Action2
– nothing)
5: Melinda Harris takes cover (Action1 – Move) and
declares Overwatch with her SMG (Action2 –
Overwatch). She has decided, however, to cover the
PCs’ flank, rather than point her gun in the same
direction as everyone else.
5: The Security Goons advance! (Action1 – Move)
Two charge forward (Action2 – Move), hoping to
catch these shady spacers off guard. This triggers
everyone’s Overwatch:
Efrem Kazzov fires his snub pistol at the first Goon
(delayed Action2): He rolls a 6, which is not enough to
hit at 15m (which is beyond Effective Range for a snub
pistol).
Joseph Luy fires his stunner (delayed Action2), rolling
a 4, which is also a miss.
Augustus Green fires his shotgun (delayed Action2),
rolling a 7. Since the two Goons are within Effective
Range (20m for a shotgun), the roll gains a DM+1 for
the Scattergun aspect, for a total of 8. A (bare) hit!
The GM rules that the two Goons are close enough to
both be hit. Augustus’ player cheers, and rolls 4D for
damage: a whopping 21 points of damage! This is
reduced by the 6 points of armor protection for 15
points of damage in total to each Goons. This reduces
their END and DEX entirely, leaving them with STR 7
DEX 0 and END 0, which means they are Seriously
Wounded, and effectively out of the fight.
The rest of the Security Goons (now 6 left) take cover
at the gate (cover DM-2) (Action2 – Move), or hit the
ground and crawl to their wounded compatriots
(prone DM-2) (Action2 – Drop Prone and Move). The
four at the gate return fire as best they can (Action2
– Shoot), firing double-taps with their autopistols.
Two fire at the shotgun wielder who laid two of their
friends low. The GM rolls 8 and 9, but with a cover
DM-2, the rolls are 6 and 7, which miss. The other
two goons fire at Efrem and Joseph, rolling 7 and 2,
respectively, missing.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Finally, Jacqueline Botrel’s turn has arrived. She
charges up to the door of her ship (Action1 – Move)
and enters the security code to get the door open
(Action2). This does not require a skill roll, but Jackie
is dangerously exposed.
Round 2:
11: Efrem aims (Action1 – Aim) at one of the goons
shooting at him, and fires (Action2 – Shoot): 10 + 1
(aiming) -2 (cover) -2 (range) = 7, a miss!
11: The Security Leader takes cover behind the gate
(Action1 – Move) and fires at the lady trying to open
the ship’s door (Action2 – Shoot). He rolls a 7 + 1
(skill) – 2 (range) = 6, missing. A shot ricochets off the
door bulkhead near Jackie.
10: Joseph Luy takes careful aim (Action1 – Aim) with
his stunner and fires on the Leader (he’s wearing an
officer’s uniform) (Action2 – Shoot). A roll of 11 is
modified by +1 (aiming) and -2 (range) and -2 (cover)
= 8, a hit! He rolls 3D for non-lethal damage, getting
a 12, which is reduced to 6 by armor. The Leader is
somewhat addled (END is now 1) but still combat-
ready.
8: Augustus Green aims (Action1 – Aim) and fires his
shotgun again (Action2 – Shoot), rolling 6 + 1 – 2 = 5,
a miss.
7: The Political Prisoners stay behind cover. (No
Actions used)
5: Melinda Harris realizes that she’s the only one who
has Gun Combat as a skill among her companions.
Shaking her head ruefully, she turns and engages in
Suppressive Fire on the entrance to the starport
(Action1 – Suppressive Fire). The GM rules that the
two goons (crawling to rescue their wounded
comrades) are caught in the suppressive fire. As well,
the leader and one other goon are caught in the
attack, but they are under cover. Melinda’s SMG
rattles away, burning through nine rounds of ammo
(Auto3 x 3 = 9). Melinda needs a 12 to hit anything:
the targets are either under cover, or they are prone
(lying down wounded is still prone). She rolls 5, 7, 9,
and 10. No hits, but that’s fine.
5: The 3 Security Goons (2 crawling, 1 shooting from
behind cover, not counting the two wounded) in the
gate entranceway are properly suppressed. If they
move or attack, they will draw another Suppressive
Fire roll. Not being heroes, they wisely keep their
heads down. The other three goons take aim (Action1
– Aim) and fire on Melinda (Action2 – Shoot), rolling
9 +1 (aiming) – 2 (range) – 2 (cover) = 6, 8 +1 – 4 = 5
and 4 +1 – 4 = 1. No hits.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
3: Jacqueline Botrel spends one action entering the 11. Efrem Kazzov runs into the ship, keeping his head
last of the security code (Action1), and then tucks down. (Action 1, Action 2 – Move)
into the open airlock bulkhead (DM-2 cover) (Action2
11: The Security Leader pops his head up and fires his
- Move). “Door’s open!” she yells to her companions,
pistol at Jacqueline, who is in the doorway: The shot
“It’s time to go!”
misses. (Action 1 – Shoot, Action 2 ??)
10: Joseph Luy is already clambering up a ladder to
Round 3: the cockpit. (Action 1 and Action 2 – Move)
11: Efrem takes aim (Action1 - Aim) at the Security 8: Augustus Green bellows out “All aboard!” and
Leader and fires (Action2 - Shoot): 9 + 1 (aiming) – 2 steps onto the ramp and behind the cover of the
(range) – 2 (cover) = 6, a miss. door’s bulkhead. He fires at the Security Leader
(Action1 – Shoot): 6 – 2 = 4, a miss.
11: The Security Leader is under Suppression, and
ducks down behind the wall (the GM rules that the 5: Melinda Harris rushes up the ramp (Action1 –
wall is solid enough to stop SMG fire, so does not roll Move) and takes one last shot at the goons with a full
the attack). He decides to radio his boss, telling him auto from her SMG (Action2 – Shoot/Full Auto): 6 – 2
that he should scramble whatever space assets are (cover) + 1 (skill) = 5, 7 – 2 (cover) + 1 (skill) = 6, 9 – 2
on the planet, because the PCs are surprisingly well- (cover) +1 (skill) = 8. The last attack is a hit, doing 7
armed, and he can’t stop them (Action1). points of damage, which is reduced to 1 point by
armor.
10: Joseph Luy, being the pilot of the One-Eyed Jack,
knows that he had better get the ship cycled up. He 5: The 5 Security Goons open fire with their
runs for the door and gets inside. (Action1 – Move) autopistols. They perform two double-taps each!
(Action1, Action2 – Shoot/Double-Tap) Each is
8: Augustus Green takes aim (Action1 - Aim) and fires
penalized by DM-4 (-2 for range, -4 for cover). None
(Action2 - Shoot)his shotgun at one of the goons still
hit.
standing behind cover: 9 + 1 (aiming) – 2 (cover) = 8.
A hit, and the player rolls damage: 23! This is reduced 3: Jacqueline Botrel chuckles “tell ‘em Black Jack
to 17 due to armor, which is enough to drop the Botrel did this!” she hollers over the roar of her ship’s
hapless security goon. engines. Then she hits the airlock door switch, and
the firefight is over.
7: The Political Prisoners scurry on board the ship as
quickly as possible! (Action 1, Action2 - Move)
5: Melinda Harris shouts “Efrem, stop shooting and
get on the ship, dumb-ass!” She decides not to use
suppressive fire, but instead makes three separate
attacks on three separate goons using her SMG: 7 + 1
(skill) – 2 (cover) = 6, 7 + 1 – 2 = 6, and 8 + 1 – 2 = 7.
All attacks miss, and Melinda has burned through 18
rounds of ammunition thus far. Because she used a
Full Auto attack, Melinda does not get to do another
action. (Action1 - Shoot, Action2 - Shoot, Action3
(Skill) - Shoot)
5: There are now 5 Security Goons still combat-
capable. Two grab their fallen comrades and pull
them out of the line of fire (Action1, Action 2 –
Move). The other three fire on Melinda, unloading
with two double-taps each (Action1 – Aim, Action2 –
Shoot/Double-Tap)! Each attack is penalized by DM-2
for range, and DM-2 for Melinda’s cover. 7 – 4 = 3, 5 –
4 = 1, 4 – 4 = 0, 6 – 4 = 2, 9 – 4 = 5, and 7 – 4 = 3. No
hits, though ricochets abound!
3: Jacqueline Botrel fires her autopistol at the goons,
using two double-taps (Action 1 – Aim, Action2 –
Shoot/Double-Tap). 6 – 4 = 2, and 7 – 4 = 3. No hits.
She yells out “Melinda! Let’s go! Now!”
Round 4:

47
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
PERSONAL COMBAT EXAMPLE #2 – SEMPER FI
A Squad of 6 Space Marines: UPP 889776 Athletics-1, Gun Combat-2, Heavy Weapons-1, Melee Combat-3,
Recon-2, Tactics-1, Zero-G-2. Combat Armor (Protection 11).
Weapon Range Dmg Ammo Aspects
Accelerator Rifle 100/400 3D 20 AV 1D, Auto-2, Zero-G
Gauss Pistol 20/100 3D 30 AV 1D, Auto 2
Vibroblade -- 4D --
Frag Grenade 8/16 3D AV 2D, Blast 5
Smoke Grenade 8/16 -- -- Blast 10 (DM-1 to lasers) lasts 1D rounds.
10 Pirate Scum: UPP 778864 Athletics-1, Gun Combat-1, Melee Combat-2, Recon-1, Stealth-1, Tactics-1, Zero-G-2.
Vacc Suits (Protection 6).
Weapon Range Dmg Ammo Aspects
Submachinegun 30/100 2D 30 Auto 3
Laser Rifle 300/500 5D 30 AV 2D, Double Tap, Laser, Zero-G
Sword -- 3D --
Frag Grenade 7/14 3D AV 2D, Blast 5

The Marines are clearing a small den of pirates on a
remote asteroid base that closely resembles a tomb.
The life support is down, and so is artificial gravity.
The fight will take place in Zero-G.
Initiative:
The Marines are divided up into two fire-teams of 3
each. Each fire team will roll initiative as a group. The
pirates are divided into two groups of 5, and each
group will roll initiative collectively.
Marine 1: 6 + 1 = 7
Marine 2: 7 + 1 = 8
Pirate 1: 8 + 1 = 9
Pirate 2: 9 + 1 = 10
Round 1:
Pirate 2 goes first, and they set up a kill zone down a
small corridor towards the cargo bay where the
Marines have landed (Action1 – Overwatch). The
pirates nervously ready their laser rifles, and have
their grenades and swords floating nearby. The
distance between their intersection and the airlock to
the cargo bay is about 20 meters.
Pirate 1 is waiting in reserve, figuring that it will have
to reinforce Pirate 1 very soon after the marines
attack. (Action1 – None)
Marine 2 breaches the airlock! The three marines
pour into the hallway (Action1 – Move), and this
triggers Pirate 2’s overwatch:
Two of the pirates take aim (Delayed Action1 – Aim)
and throw grenades down the hallway (Action2 –
Throw), 14m away. They roll 7 + 1 (aiming) +1
(Athletics always adds to DEX rolls) – 2 (beyond
Effective range) = 7, and 10 + 1 (aiming) +1 (Athletics)
-2 (Beyond Effective range) = 10. Both are hits. The
first grenade does 11 points of damage, the second 9
points of damage. Both attacks are rendered
ineffective by the marines’ combat armor. Ricochets
and sparks fly everywhere!
The other three pirates take aim (Delayed Action1 –
Aim) with their laser rifles, and fire at the first marine
down the hallway (Action2 – Shoot). 7 + 1 (aiming) +
1 (skill) = 9; 9 + 1 (aiming) + 1 (skill) = 11; 11 + 1
(aiming) + 1 (skill) = 13. Three solid hits! The damage
is 19, 17 and 19 points of damage, reduced by 11
points of protection to 8, 6, and 8 points of damage.
The poor marine is knocked out, and spins out in the
hallway, bleeding and unconscious. Hopefully his
combat armor has some sort of medkit to auto-
stabilize him! (Serious Wound)
Marine 2 gets to act. They clearly did not anticipate
laser rifles! The two surviving group members take
cover (DM-2) (and both yell “frag out!” as they toss
grenades down the corridor (Action2 – Throw). The
attack rolls are 5 + 1 (Athletics) = 6, and 7 + 1
(Athletics) = 8. Two hits, for 7 and 9 points of damage.
The five pirates are in the blast radius of these
grenades, and they each take 1 point from the first
grenade, and 3 points from the second, for a total of
4 points of damage each.
Marine 1 launches itself down the hallway! (Action1
– Move) They fire away with their accelerator rifles,
filling the hallway with lead as they make short burst
attacks (Action2 – Shoot/Burst): 11 + 2 (Gun Combat)
– 2 (Cover) = 11; 5 + 2 (Gun Combat) – 2 (cover) = 5;
and 8 + 2 (Gun Combat) – 2 (Cover) = 8. That’s two
hits, one for 12 + 2 (Auto 2 burst attack) = 14 damage
reduced to 8 points. One for 14 + 2 (Auto 2 burst
attack) = 16 damage, reduced to 10 points. Since both
targets had already taken 4 points of damage from
the grenades, both targets have had their END
reduced to zero, and are knocked out of the fight.

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Round 2: Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 3; 4 + 2
(Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 4; 6 +
Pirate 2 calls for help! The three remaining pirates
2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 6.
each take double-tap shots on the advancing marines
Bad news for the pirates, they all missed! Recall that
(Action1 – Shoot/Double-Tap): 5 + 1 (Gun Combat) =
in Zero-G combat, the attacker’s lower of Melee
6; 5 + 1 (Gun Combat) = 6; 10 + 1 (Gun Combat) = 11.
Combat or Zero-G is used. In this case, the pirates are
One hit, for 24 points of damage, reduced to 13
unaffected, but the marines’ Melee Combat skill of 3
damage by the combat armor. This is still enough to
is effectively reduced to 2.
knock one of Marine 1’s members out of the fight,
and seriously injures him. The pirates grab their two Marine 2 attacks! Each marine attacks once, hacking
wounded comrades and launch themselves off the away with a vibro-blade (Action1 – Melee): 6 + 2
bulkhead in retreat! (Action2 – Move) (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) +2
(Charge) = 8; and 9 + 2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s
Pirate 1 hastily sets up another ambush in a corridor,
Melee Combat) +2 (Charge) = 11. Both marines hit,
and is on Overwatch (Action1 – Overwatch).
doing 15 and 16 points of damage, reduced to 9 and
Marine 2 does not stop, and floats down the corridor 10 points by armor. Two pirates are out of the fight.
to the T-intersection where the pirates just were
Pirate 2 attacks (they were on overwatch)! The three
(Action1 – Move). The two highly-trained marines
remaining pirates charge at the marines by launching
stop themselves before hitting the intersection by
themselves off bulkheads (delayed Action1 – Move).
grabbing onto some hand-rails. They each throw a
(Action2- Melee) 10 + 2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s
grenade (Action2 – Throw): one to the left, one to the
Melee Combat) +2 (Charge) = 12; 10 + 2 (Melee
right. They know there’s going to be another ambush,
Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) +2 (Charge) =
but they don’t know from which direction (it’s to the
12; and 8 + 2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee
left). The left-hand grenade attack roll is a 6 + 1
Combat) +2 (Charge) = 10. Two hit one of the
(Athletics) – 2 (beyond Effective range) – 2 (cover) =
marines, the last pirate slashed at the second marine.
3, a miss. It deviates by 8 meters and explodes
The damage totals are 7, 9, and 11 points. The swords
without hurting anyone. The right-hand grenade
cut harmlessly into the marines’ combat armor.
attack roll is a 12 + 1 (Athletics) – 2 (Beyond Effective
range) – 2 (cover) = 9, a hit. Unfortunately, no one is Finally, Marine 1 charges into the fray (Action1 –
there! Move)! The two marines join their comrades in melee
combat (Action2 – Melee): 6 + 2 (Melee Combat) – 2
Marine 1’s two surviving members also arrive at the
(Target’s Melee Combat) +2 (Charge) = 8; and 8 + 2
T-junction (Action1 – Move). They take cover and
(Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) +2
deploy a couple of smoke grenades (Action2 –
(Charge) = 10. Two more vibroblade hits for 19 and 20
Throw). These quickly fill the hallway with thick
points of damage, reduced to 13 and 14 points of
smoke, imposing a DM-2 to hit for anyone not
damage after armor. Pirate 1 has been reduced to a
wearing advanced thermal optics—which come
single active pirate.
standard on Marine combat armor. Just as
importantly, the smoke imposes an additional DM-1 Round 4:
to hit on all lasers.
Pirate 2 presses as hard as they can. Each of the three
Round 3: surviving members of the group attacks twice with a
cutlass (Action1, Action2 – Melee): 7 + 2 (Melee
Pirate 2 is now regrouped behind Pirate 1. They see
Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 7; 4 + 2
the smoke forming in the hallway, and their eyes
(Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 4; 7 +
widen. The veterans among them put their lasers
2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 7; 3
aside and draw their cutlasses (Action1 – Change
+ 2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) = 3;
weapon). They wait on Overwatch to receive the
4 + 2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee Combat) =
Marines’ charge (Action2 – Overwatch).
4; and 11 + 2 (Melee Combat) – 2 (Target’s Melee
Pirate 1 is on Overwatch (Action1 – Overwatch). Combat) = 11. Of the six attacks, only one hit, for 13
points of damage, reduced to 2 points by armor. The
Marine 2 charges, vibro-swords out (Action1 –
marine shrugs it off for now. It’s only a flesh wound!
Move)! The visibility is poor, and Pirate 1 manages to
see them only at the very last moment, activating Pirate 1 breaks and runs! (Action1, Action2 – Move)
their Overwatch!
Pirate 1’s laser rifles are useless at melee range! The
pirates draw their cutlasses and attack (delayed
Action1 – Change Weapon, Action2 – Melee)! Three
pirates attack the first marine, and two pirates attack
the second. The first three attacks are 3 + 2 (Melee

49
CEPHEUS LIGHT

50
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
The two marines of Marine 2 fight just as
hard as their opponents! They each make
two a�acks (Ac�on1, Ac�on2 – Melee): rolls
of 7, 4, and 6, all miss. But a roll of 8 is a hit,
for 14 points of damage. This is reduced to 8
points of damage by armor, but the pirates
of Pirate 2 have already taken damage from
grenades. The pirate is stricken and
crumples in zero gravity.
51
Marine 1 engages the remaining two pirates
of Pirate 2 (Ac�on1, Ac�on2 – Melee). The
rolls are 9, 8, 10, and 7. All but one hit, and
damage is 16, 12, and 19 points, reduced to
10, 6, and 13 points of damage. The pirates
are cut down where they floated.
Now, the marines will have to hunt down a
single cowardly pirate…

VEHICLES IN PERSONAL COMBAT
Sometimes, characters will find themselves operating
a vehicle in combat, or facing enemy vehicles. The
following rules allow the inclusion of vehicles in
personal combat, as well as vehicle chases. They are
not intended to serve as war-gaming rules for large
engagements.
VEHICLE MOVEMENT
In tactical (non-chase) combat, a vehicle moves on its
driver's initiative. Apply the vehicle's Agility as a DM
to the driver's initiative.
In personal combat, a vehicle can move up to 21m (14
squares on a 1.5m grid) in a single round. This is
considered cautious combat movement. This
represents a vehicle advancing slowly through terrain
to engage personnel and other vehicles in so-called
“knife-fighting” ranges and speeds. Fast-moving
vehicles will pass through the tactical battle area in
less than a round. The chase rules below are designed
to handle such high speed combats. An exception
would be a one-time intervention of a fast vehicle in
tactical combat, such as an armed air/raft doing a
quick laser strafe of enemy positions during its pass
through the area.
CHASES
The tactical combat rules represent action in small,
more limited areas. For vehicles, this means short
range and slow speeds. As noted above, a fast-
moving vehicle will easily pass through the entire
tactical combat map in less than one combat round.
This is unsuitable for chases and dog-fighting. Use
these rules instead. They are designed to be highly
descriptive in their approach to vehicle combat. It will
be up to the Referee and the players to describe how
the action unfolds as the participants maneuver,
jockey for position, and attack each other.
Chase turns are an abstraction in combat and vary in
length depending on circumstances, from mere
seconds in high-speed aircraft pursuits to hours in
long drawn-out submarine duels. The Referee should
inform the players of how long each chase combat
turn is at the start of the chase.
There is no initiative throw in chases. Instead, at the
start of each turn both participants throw 2D + the
relevant vehicle skill + the vehicle's Agility. The
pursuer wins on ties. The winner has Advantage and
may attack using the regular vehicle attack and
damage rules, with the following modifiers based on
the vehicle throw's effect:
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Effect
0
DM
DM-2
1 or 2 DM-1
3 or 4 DM+0
5+ DM+1
The loser of the Advantage throw cannot attack in
that turn, unless their vehicle has a turret-mounted
weapon. Turret attacks made without Advantage
suffer DM-4 to hit. Note that there is no tracking of
range in a chase. This is intentional. The attack
penalty for low-Effect Advantage rolls is meant to
reflect a bad angle of attack, or sub-optimal range for
an attack, among other things.
It is possible to have multiple parties engaged in a
chase. Simply record the different Advantage results
in descending order. The vehicles higher on the
“ladder” may attack any vehicle below them. This can
be used to great effect in a dogfight, below.
Chases last five turns. At the end of the fifth turn, if
the prey has not been stopped, disabled, or
destroyed, the prey escapes and the chase ends.
DOGFIGHTING
In a dogfight, two or more highly maneuverable
vehicles, such as aircraft or grav vehicles, try to
outmaneuver and fight each other. A dogfight has no
time limit, barring fuel considerations. The dogfight
ends either when one participant is disabled or
destroyed, or if one participant disengages. To
disengage from a dogfight, a participant must have
Advantage and use their action that turn to throw
Vehicle Skill 10+, including the DM for the vehicle’s
agility.
FOOT CHASES
Chases on foot use similar rules. Each turn, each side
throws Athletics + DEX DM. The pursuer wins on ties.
The winner of this opposed throw may attack in
melee or ranged combat, at the Referee's discretion,
while the loser cannot attack in that turn. Foot chases
end in the same way that other chases end, that is,
either when the pursuer subdues the pursuits or
gives up the chase, or after five turns, in which the
pursued escapes. Referee’s should track the number
of turns to ensure that Fatigue effects are considered.
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ATTACKING VEHICLES
When attacking vehicles with personal, hand-held
weapons, make a regular to-hit throw; on a hit,
consult the Vehicle Penetration and Damage rules
below.
Personal weapon attacks on a non-moving vehicle
enjoy DM+1 due to target size.
Personal weapon attacks on fast-moving vehicles
suffer DM-2.
Personal weapon attacks from a fast-moving vehicle
(like a gunman firing a pistol out of the window of a
moving car) are penalized by DM-1. This is cumulative
with attacking a moving target.
When using a vehicle-mounted weapon, throw
Gunnery 8+ to hit a target in Effective range and 10+
to hit a target beyond it and up to maximum range.
Support and gunnery weapons use stabilized mounts
and do not suffer the DM-1 for attacking from a fast-
moving vehicle.
Throw Gunnery 8+ to hit a target with vehicle-
mounted weapons at the Support Weapon’s Effective
range. At Maximum range, this throw becomes 10+.
Gunnery Weapons have long ranges and for typical
tactical engagements or chases covered by these
rules, Gunnery weapon targets will almost always be
within Effective range.
Vehicle Damage Table
2D Regular Damage
4- Breach
5 Cargo
6 Occupants
7 Weapon
8-9 Locomotion
10 Electronics
11 Power Plant
12 Critical
The following are the damage effects on vehicles.
Note that additional hits on a disabled system will
have no further effect.
REGULAR DAMAGE
Breach: If the vehicle is pressurized, its
environmental seal is breached, exposing its
occupants to the environment. Patching an
environmental seal breach requires either pre-
packaged emergency hull patches (most air-tight
vehicles carry 1D of these) – which may be used
within 1 combat round - or a Repair 5+ throw and 1D
minutes.
53
Personal weapons and ground-fired support
weapons cannot hit fast aircraft without specialized
tracking equipment, such as when using anti-air
rockets (see the Rocket Launcher description in the
Equipment chapter), but you can hit slower aircraft,
albeit at DM -2 to -4 (Referee's discretion, depending
on flight altitude or speed; generally speaking,
speeds are abstract, and the DM ranges from DM-2
for slow propeller craft or air-rafts to DM-4 for jet
aircraft and speeders).
A gunner may attempt to hit a specific location (other
than Critical) on the target vehicle. This is subject to
DM-4, but if the shot hits and penetrates, it causes a
hit to that location. Otherwise, the shot misses
completely.
VEHICLE PENETRATION AND DAMAGE
When you hit a vehicle, throw the weapon’s AV dice.
If the throw is equal to or exceeds the vehicle’s Armor
Rating, the attack has penetrated the vehicle’s armor
and caused internal damage. Roll one damage throw
on the vehicle damage table. If the AV throw is equal
to twice the target's Armor Rating or greater, the
attack has scored an automatic Critical Hit.
Note that unlike some OGL 2d6 sci-fi rule sets
Cepheus light does not use Hull or Structure hits –
only location hits, as given below.
Critical Damage
Knocked Out
Knocked Out
Knocked Out
Crew
Crew
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
A breached watercraft begins to leak, reducing its
speed by one quarter and inflicting a cumulative DM-
1 to all throws related to the vehicle's steering
(effectively reducing Agility by 1). Four such breaches
will cause the watercraft to take on too much water
and begin to sink. It will sink within 1D minutes; if
repair supplies are available, water breaches may be
patched with a successful Repair 6+ throw. This only
applies to small watercraft; large ships such as
Destroyers and larger Submersibles will stay afloat
even after such minor breaches. Only a Knocked Out
Critical Damage result will sink such large craft.

Cargo: 1 ton of cargo is destroyed. If no cargo
remains, this becomes an Occupants hit.
Occupants: 1D occupants chosen randomly by the
Referee are injured and take 3D damage each.
Subtract personal armor from this damage if
applicable. If the pilot suffers a hit and falls
unconscious, a flying or fast-moving vehicle will crash
(roll a Critical Hit) unless another character with the
appropriate skill can grab the controls within one
combat round; alternatively, in TL7+ vehicles, the
autopilot can take over; however, autopilots always
lose Advantage chase throws. If there are less
occupants than the roiled number, distribute the hits
randomly between the remaining occupants, which
means that an occupant may suffer a double hit.
Weapon: One of the vehicle's weapons is disabled
and may not fire.
Locomotion: The vehicle's locomotion or engine is
damaged.
First Hit: halve the vehicle's speed.
Second hit: The vehicle's locomotion is disabled, and
it cannot move. In case of aircraft or high-flying grav
vehicles, this might cause a crash; throw Aircraft 6+ or
Grav Vehicle 6+ (respectively) to land safely,
otherwise the aircraft crashes; roll on the Critical
Damage table
Electronics: One or more of the vehicle's electronic
systems is destroyed, usually the computer systems
or major sensors/radar. Flying an aircraft or Grav
vehicle with damaged electronics incurs a DM-2
penalty to all vehicle throws.
Power Plant: The vehicle's power plant takes a direct
hit and the vehicle is damaged.
First Hit: power plant damaged; halve the vehicle's
speed (cumulative with Locomotion damage) and it
cannot fire energy weapons and move on the same
round.
Second hit: power plant destroyed; vehicle is
immobile and cannot use electronics or energy
weapons. In case of aircraft or grav vehicles, this
might cause a crash; throw Aircraft or Grav Vehicle 8+
to land safely, otherwise roll on the Critical Damage
table.
Critical: Massive internal damage. Roll on the Critical
Damage table instead.
CRITICAL HITS
Knocked Out: The vehicle is seriously damaged and
inoperable until it undergoes major repairs at a full-
scale workshop. Each occupant must throw END 6+ to
avoid taking 3D damage. High flying aircraft and grav
vehicles crash, causing 6D damage to all occupants.
Low-flying vehicles crash, causing 3D damage to all
occupants. Subtract personal armor from this
CEPHEUS LIGHT
damage if applicable. Watercraft, including large
vessels, suffer a massive hull breach, and will sink
within 1D combat rounds.
Crew: All crew and passengers suffer 4D damage
each. This is reduced by personal armor, if applicable.
Destroyed: The vehicle is destroyed, with the loss of
all hands. In the case of ground vehicles, occupants
may throw DEX 8+ to bail out unscathed; failure
causes 5D damage.
REPAIRS
Throw Repair 8+ to jury-rig a damaged or disabled
system back to functioning with a handful of spare
parts. These repairs are temporary. The system will
stop functioning again after 1D hours. Breaches are
easier to repair, as noted above.
Properly repairing a disabled system costs 2D6x10%
of the vehicle or system’s original cost. Throw Repair
10+ to repair the system in the field using spare parts.
If this throw is unsuccessful, the damage requires a
workshop to repair. Unless the Referee decrees that
the vehicle itself is damaged beyond repair, a
character with at least the Repair 1 skill will be able to
replace or repair the system, at this cost, at a
properly-equipped workshop.
GROUND FORCE WEAPONRY AGAINST STARSHIP-
SCALE TARGETS
“A plasma gun’s blast can ruin a scout’s day.”—
Anonymous.
All spacecraft are immune to Small Arm fire. Support
Weapons that hit an unarmored space craft of 99
tons or less will cause one ship damage hit. Roll for
damage location normally (per the Space Combat chapter).
Gunnery weapons can harm small craft or a ship in
the 100-1000-ton range, causing one damage hit.
Heavy weapons that hit an armored small craft or a
starship with displacement up to 1000 tons or up to 4
points of armor are immune to Small Arms or Support
Weapon fire. Gunnery weapons that strike such
vessels will inflict one ship damage hit. . Starships
with 5 or more points of armor, or those that are
above 1000 displacement tons, are immune to all
personnel and vehicle scale weapons.
STARSHIP-SCALE WEAPONRY AGAINST VEHICLE
TARGETS
Civilian ship lasers have AV 6D. Civilian ship missiles
also have AV 6D but cause 1D hits when penetrating
vehicle armor. Any heavier starship weapons will
destroy any vehicle on a successful hit. Starship
weapons will utterly vaporize human-sized targets.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
OFF-WORLD TRAVEL
The stars await! Adventurers ply the star-lanes and
boldly go into the unknown; others may serve in a
INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL
navy, hunting pirates, or raiding enemy shipping. Still Starships and other spacecraft in Cepheus Light have
others may mine asteroid belts for valuable ores, reactionless real-space thrusters with an acceleration
smuggle goods to distant planets, or even engage in rating from 1Gs to 6Gs. Ships normally travel under
piracy. This chapter covers interplanetary and full acceleration halfway to their destination, then
interstellar travel, as well as starship operations and decelerate for the other half of the journey. The
procedures. following table presents abstracted in-system travel
times according to the ship’s acceleration.
Travel times are abstracted and, as noted above,
generally assume constant acceleration up to the
halfway point and then constant deceleration down
to the destination
Common interplanetary travel times by acceleration
Destination 1-G 2-G 3-G 4-G 5-G 6G
Planetoid Jump Point 10m 7m 6m 5m 5m 4m
Ground to Planetary Orbit 33m 23m 19m 16m 14m 13m
Ground to Typical Planetary 5h, 30m 4h 3h 3h 2h, 30m 2h
Jump Point
Small Gas Giant to Jump Point 12h 8h 7h 6h 5h, 30m 5h
Large Gas Giant to Jump Point 17h 12h 10h 9h 8h 7h
Planet to Close Neighbor 1d, 13h 1d, 2h 22h 19h 17h 15h
Planet to Far Neighbor 3d, 17h 2d, 15h 2d, 3h 1d, 20h 1d, 16h 1d, 12h
Mainworld to Close Gas Giant 5d, 16h 4d 3d, 7h 2d, 20h 2d, 13h 2d, 8h
Mainworld to Far Gas Giant 6d, 23h 4d, 22h 4d 3d, 11h 3d, 3h 2d, 20h

55

INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL
Interstellar travel in Cepheus Light uses a faster-than-
light engine called the Jump Drive. Jump Drives are
rated according to the maximum range in parsecs
(map hexes) they may travel in a single jump. Jump-1
drives can propel a vessel to an adjacent hex, while
Jump-3 drives will move a ship up to three hexes. A
single voyage through jump-space takes 1 week
regardless of the distance traveled. Jump drives
require a significant gravity well (star system) at both
ends of the jump, but not too much gravity. It is
impossible to purposefully jump to a destination
without a star system. Jump drives are safe to use
only at a certain distance from a planetary or stellar
body. This is called the Jump Point or Jump Distance.
A jump requires an amount of liquid hydrogen fuel
equal to 10% of the ship’s volume per parsec
traveled. For example, a 200-ton ship making a 3-
parsec jump would burn 60 tons of fuel.
The jump drive propels the ship into a parallel
dimension – called Jump Space. The jump fuel serves
to envelope the ship with a hydrogen bubble, at a
distance of approximately 5m in every direction from
the hull – the so-called "Jump Bubble" – to protect it
from the alien nature of Jump Space. Characters can
safely go on EVA within the bubble but will be lost
(i.e. their fate left to the Referee's vile imagination) if
they leave it and enter real, unprotected Jump Space
– even if still tethered to the ship.
INTERSTELLAR JUMP PROCEDURE
1. Calculate Plot: A jump requires a “jump plot”.
Starports rated D or better sell up-to-date jump plots
to nearby populated worlds and vessels for Cr1000
per parsec. A skilled pilot can also calculate their own
jump plot. Throw Piloting 4+ to calculate a jump plot;
this takes 1Dx6 minutes (i.e. 1D ship combat turns). It
is possible to rush this calculation, to guarantee that
it will only take one ship combat turn, but the Piloting
throw is 8+. A failed check requires repeated
calculation, or the ship will misjump (see below). It is
possible to calculate a jump plot in advance, but it
will become obsolete within 1D days.
2. Engage Drive: Once the jump plot is ready, the
ship’s engineer must throw Engineering 6+ to power
the Jump Drive. This procedure takes a second and
can be done in the same round as the jump throw
itself.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
3. Jump!: To jump, throw 2D with the following DMs.
A throw of 0 or less causes a misjump. A bad jump
plot causes an automatic misjump.
DM+the Effect of the Engineering throw
DM-1 per day the jump plot is out of date
DM-2 if the Jump Drive is damaged.
DM-2 if using Unrefined fuel.
DM-8 if within a hundred-diameter limit of the
nearest planet or star? (not at jump point)
4. In Case of a Misjump: A misjump causes a Critical
Hit on the ship (see the space combat rules) and may
destroy it. Furthermore, the ship travels 1D x 1D
parsecs in a random direction. If this leads to an
empty hex on the map, the ship emerges from the
misjump at the closest star system to that empty hex.
In case there are multiple adjacent systems, choose
one randomly.
STARSHIP EXPENSES
A starship’s owner must handle several expenses,
detailed below.
MORTGAGE
A mortgaged ship’s owner must pay 1/240th of the
ship’s cash price per month for 480 months (40
years). This means that the owner pays 200% of the
ship’s purchase price back to the bank. For example,
a TL11 400-ton Explorer costs MCr163. If fully
mortgaged for 40 years, the monthly payments
would equal Cr682917.
CREW SALARIES
A ship needs the following crew-members:
Captain: Cr6000 per month if hired (i.e. when the
captain is not the owner). The Captain leads the crew
and manages the ship and requires at least
Leadership-1. Any crew member can serve as captain
in addition to another job (at no additional pay), but
this limits their capability to lead the crew in battle or
other emergency. Thus, a dedicated captain is
advised if the ship expects combat.
Pilot: Cr6000 per month. Requires at least Piloting-1.
The Pilot flies and maneuvers the ship, as well as
plots interplanetary movement and interstellar
jumps. Every ship requires a pilot. Small craft of 10
tons and above sometimes have dedicated pilots.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Sensor Operator: Cr3000 per month. Requires at
least Computer-1. Many civilian ships forgo this
position and let the pilot operate the ship's sensors,
but this limits their utility in the case of emergency or
combat. For this reason, military vessels will have dedicated
sensor operators. Note that the sensor operator replaces
the navigator position in the Cepheus Engine SRD. A
ship requires a single Sensor Operator, though
military craft often always carry multiple Sensor
Operators for the sake of redundancy and having
someone operate the sensors.
Engineer: Cr4000 per month. Requires at least
Engineering-1. The Engineer maintains the ship and
operates its drives. Any ship must have at least one
engineer per 35 tons of drives and power plant. Ships
with less than 35 tons of drive and power plant do
not require a full-time engineer. On larger ships, the
engineer may have assistants, who are also required
to have at least Engineering-1 so that there is one
level of Engineering per 35 tons of drives and power
plant. (thus, an Engineering-2 could cover 70 tons of
drive).
Medic: Cr3000 per month. Requires at least
Medicine-1. At Medicine-3 or better, the Medic is
referred to as the Surgeon instead. The Medic
provides medical assistance to passengers and crew,
and oversees any Low Berths, if present. Any
legitimate ship carrying passengers requires a medic,
and many ships without passengers employ one as
well to care for their crew. Each level of the Medicine
skill allows the Medic to care for 50 persons.
Purser: Cr3000 per month. Requires at least Admin-1.
The Purser manages accounts and supplies. This
position is often combined with another job, usually
a Steward, at no additional pay. Smaller ships with a
single Stewards rarely have a Purser.
Gunner: Cr1000 per month. Requires at least
Gunnery-1. Any armed ship requires one gunner per
turret, unless the guns are automated.
Security and Marines: Cr1000 per month. Requires at
least Gun Combat-1. This position is optional.
Security personnel protect a civilian starship against
criminals and pirates and handle rowdy passengers.
Military ships often carry marines for boarding
actions and planetary operations.
Support Crew: Cr1000 per month. Requires at least
Repair-1. Military ships carrying small craft often
carry support crew members to main these craft, one
support personnel per craft.
Steward: Cr1000 per month. Requires at least
Steward-1. Any ship carrying passengers requires one
or more stewards to care for passengers., as
described later in this chapter.
57
FUEL
A ship requires liquid hydrogen fuel. Starports rated
A or B sell refined fuel at Cr500 per ton. Starports
rated A to D sell unrefined fuel at Cr100 per ton.
Military or exploration ships usually have on-board
fuel processors capable of producing refined fuel
avoid using refineries to save cargo space and
because the purification process is too long to be
economically viable.
Ships may also refuel, free of charge, by two other
means:
A ship can draw water from any world with a
hydrographic rating of 1 or higher. Fuel extracted in
this manner is unrefined. Most worlds with starports
discourage or ban this practice, but it is in common
use on the frontier. Water drawn in this manner is
considered Unrefined.
A ship can scoop gas giants for hydrogen fuel. Fuel
gathered in this manner is unrefined. This takes 1D
hours per 40 tons of fuel. Note that gas giants are a
favorite ambush spot for pirates. Fuel scooped from a
gas giant is Unrefined.
Fuel processors, if installed, can refine unrefined fuel
into refined fuel. A ton of fuel processing equipment
can refine 5 tons of liquid hydrogen per day.
LIFE SUPPORT
Each person, passenger or crew, costs Cr2000 per
month for life support, other expenses, and
overhead. Luxury life support costs Cr4000 per
month. Note that High Passage does not require
luxury life support. However, advertising luxury life
support – gourmet food and other luxurious
amenities – grants an additional die to the High
Passenger availability roll at Starports rated C or
better on the passengers and cargos table (see
below).
Each occupied low passenger berth costs Cr100 per
month for life support in standard travel. Low berth
occupants can survive much longer – decades of
more – without external life support by deeply
freezing the occupant, but that imposes DM-2 on
their revival throws.
Purchasing life support in bulk reduces costs and
allows the ship to operate for a longer time away
from port. A ton of life support supplies – enough for
20 persons for a month – costs Cr34000 instead of
Cr40000.
PORT FEES
A starport berth costs Cr100 for 6 days, and Cr100 per
day afterwards.

MAINTENANCE
Ships require maintenance work at a starport rated C
or better once per year. This costs 0.1% of the ship’s
listed price. If the ship skips maintenance, the
Engineer must throw Engineering 8+ each month to
avoid a mishap; each mishap means that a single ship
system has broken down: roll a single combat Hit and
apply the damage to the vessel. There is a DM-1 for
every additional month that maintenance is skipped.
However, reroll any "Critical Hit" rolled in this case –
ships do not explode (other than in a misjump) due to
faulty maintenance.
STARSHIP REVENUE
Ships generate revenue by carrying passengers, cargo
freight, mail, or by hiring out as charters. Speculative
trade, described later in this book, can also generate
revenue.
PASSAGE
There are five types of ship passage tickets. Prices are
per parsec traveled – so, for example, traveling two
parsecs by Jump-2 by Middle Passage would cost
Cr16000 and take one week. The same ticket bought
on a Jump-1 ship would cost the same but take 2
weeks minimum.
High Passage is first-class travel with excellent service
and cuisine, and costs Cr10000 per parsec travelled.
The baggage allowance is 1000kg. Each level of the
Steward skill, from 1 and up, allows the ship’s steward
to serve 3 High Passengers during the journey. For
example, Steward-2 allows the steward to care for up
to 6 high passengers. A late-arriving High Passenger
may “bump” a Middle Passenger or two Steerage
passengers. In these cases, the bumped passenger’s
ticket is returned but there is no further
compensation.
Middle Passage is standard travel with second-class
service and cuisine, and costs Cr8000 per parsec
travelled. The baggage allowance is 100kg. Each level
of the Steward skill allows the steward to serve 6
Middle Passengers
Available Freight and Passengers
Starport Class Freight (tons) High Passengers
A 3Dx10 3D
B 3Dx5 2D
C 3Dx2 1D
D 3D 0 1D
E 1D 0 1D/2*
X 0 0 0
* Round down.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Steerage Passage is economy-class travel at double
occupancy (2 passengers per stateroom) with simple
self-service cuisine. Steerage costs Cr5000 per parsec
traveled. The baggage allowance is 20kg. Each level of
the Steward skill allows the steward to serve 12
Steerage passengers.
Low Passage travels in cryo-sleep, it is unsafe but
cheap, costing Cr1000 per parsec traveled. The
baggage allowance is 10kg. Cryo-sleep is dangerous
and potentially lethal. The ship’s Medic throws
Medicine 5+ to thaw and revive Low Passengers.
Failure means that the passenger dies from cryogenic
shock. In the absence of a medic, the low berth
(cryotube) itself can revive its occupant with an
effective Medicine skill of 0. Apply the passenger’s
END DM to this throw.
A ship’s captain may hire an individual to fill a vacant
position on a starship by arranging Working Passage.
This provides the passenger with free travel,
accommodations, and food in return for working at
that shipboard post. The baggage allowance is
1000kg. Labor laws often require that the captain hire
the passenger on as crew at full salary if they
continue to work for more than three jumps.
Stowing Away on a starship is ill-advised, as this
entails a prison sentence if handled by the
authorities. Some captains avoid the bureaucracy by
throwing the stowaway out of the airlock, or illegally
selling them to slavers or organleggers.
Note that each point of Steward skill can serve either
3 High Passengers, 6 Middle Passengers, or 12
Steerage passengers. The same point can serve only
one class of passengers. For example, a steward with
the Steward-1 skill can serve 3 High Passengers, 6
Middle Passengers, or 12 Steerage Passengers, but
not, say, 2 High Passengers and 2 Middle Passengers.
A steward with Steward-2 may serve 6 High
Passengers, 12 Middle Passengers, 24 Steerage
Passengers – or 3 High Passengers and 6 Middle
Passengers (or 12 Steerage Passengers) and so on.
The availability numbers below assume a tramp
freighter with no fixed schedule. The Referee should
allow DMs if the ship sets up a regular schedule
between worlds,
Mid Passengers Low Passengers
3D 3Dx3
3D 3Dx3
2D 3D
2D
1D
0
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
BULK FREIGHT
A ship can transport cargo in bulk. This pays Cr1000
per ton of cargo per parsec jumped. For example,
transporting a ton of cargo in a single Jump-2 pays
Cr2000. Roll on the above table for available freight.
A ship may remain in port to look for more cargo; roll
again every 3 days. A ship can take all or part of the
available cargo. A ship may break up the available
freight but must take the cargo in lots of each die
rolled. For example, if the ship is at a Class B starport,
there is 3Dx5 tons of freight available. The Referee
rolls the 3D getting a 5, 3, and 6 – therefore, there are
3 available lots of freight 25 tons, 15 tons, and 30
tons. A ship’s Purser may select any or all of the lots,
but must take them in the full tonnage of each lot.
PASSENGERS
Ships can carry passengers at the rates described
earlier in this chapter. Roll on the above table for
available passengers of each class. A ship may remain
in port to look for more passengers; roll again every 3
days after the first six, but they must now use the
new number of passengers, even if that number is
lower than originally rolled. A ship can take on all or
part of the available passengers. Roll an additional
die for High Passengers if luxury life support is
available.
MAIL AND INCIDENTALS
An armed merchant can sign up to carry 5 tons of
mail. This pays Cr25000 per parsec. Throw 1D-1 for
the actual tonnage of mail carried.
Other ships may carry private messages and parcels
to a specific location. This pays Cr20 to Cr120
(Referee’s discretion) per message or parcel. As a rule
of a thumb, one ton of cargo can contain up to 50
typical parcels. Messages are electronic, and the
ship’s computer may hold an effectively limitless
number of them.
Computers and Electronics
Computer TL
Baseline - -
Model/1 7 Jump-1
Model/2 9 Jump-2
Model/3 11
Model/4 12
Model/5 13
Model/6 14
Model/7 15
59
CHARTERS
A private individual or concern may charter a ship.
Payment for in-system charters is Cr2 per ton of the
ship per hour, with a 12-hour minimum. For example,
a 100-ton scout would cost Cr200 per hour, minimum
Cr2400. Payment for interstellar charters is in 2-week
blocks at Cr1500 per ton of cargo hold plus Cr12000
per passage stateroom and Cr1500 per low berth.
The owner of the vessel still pays the overhead and
supplies a crew. For example, a 100-ton Scout has
four staterooms (Cr48000), one low berth (Cr1500),
and 14 tons of cargo (Cr28000) for a total potential of
Cr70500 for a charter of two weeks. Details of
possible charters are left to the Referee.
COMPUTERS AND SENSORS
All starships have computer and assorted electronics
and avionics. The computer model determines two
things. The first is the highest jump rating the ship can
achieve, and the other is a DM to all sensor throws,
as shown in the following table.
Throw Computer 6+ to use a ship’s sensors for
scanning and detection purposes. Apply the ship’s
Sensor DM to this throw. The Referee may determine
various further DMs to this throw based on the task
at hand.
Starship sensors automatically detect any civilian ship
present in the local planetary system if it is using a
transponder. Smugglers, pirates, and naval vessels
often turn off such transponders and thus require a
Computer 8+ throw to detect at long range. A
stealthed ship applies DM-4 to detection throws.
Detecting small craft applies a further DM-2.
Detecting ships at short range is done at DM+2.
Sensors are also useful in ship combat, as described
in the ship combat chapter.
Max. Jump Rating Sensor DM
DM-4
DM-2
DM+0
Jump-3 DM+1
Jump-4 DM+2
Jump-5 DM+2
Jump-6 DM+3
Jump-6 DM+4
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
SPACE ENCOUNTERS Pirate: ”Avast ye scurvy space dogs and prepare to be
boarded! Yarr!”
Space is vast, but most starships tend to congregate Patrol: "friendly" legal authorities. Throw 2D: if lower
in a few locations: the planetary Jump point, near than the system’s Law Level, the patrol ship will
hydrogen-rich gas giants, and close to stations and demand to inspect the players' ship.
other artificial structures. When the players' ship
enters or prepares to leave a star system, throw 2D Hostile: enemy craft. Depending on mission and
with the following DMs (based on the system's orders, may attempt to attack or board the players'
starport) to determine if the ship encounters another ship, or perhaps even ignore it.
vessel. Friendly: friendly naval forces engaged in military
Ships without a notation in parenthesis are civilian action against the enemy.
craft and may react to the players' ship or ignore it at Modify the ship encounter tables by the starport as
the Referee's discretion, based on the players' follows:
actions.
Core: safe area, far from any war's front lines and Starport DM
heavily patrolled by a "friendly" navy. Allows (almost) A +6
uninterrupted commerce. B +4
C +2
Frontier: edge of civilization, open to exploration but D +0
enjoying less trade than the core. Patrols are spotty at E -1
best and there is serious risk of piracy. X -2

Contested: active warzone – BEWARE! Enemy forces

present, as well as "friendly" naval craft.

Ship Encounter Table

2D Core Frontier Contested
8- No encounter No encounter No encounter
9 Free Trader (Pirate) Free Trader Free Trader
10 Scout Corsair (Pirate) Scout
11 Free Trader Scout Frigate (Patrol)
12 Frigate (Patrol) Subsidized Merchant Frigate (Hostile)
13 Subsidized Merchant Subsidized Merchant Corsair (Pirate)
14 Freighter Frigate (Patrol) Subsidized Merchant
15 Frigate (Patrol) Explorer Cruiser (Friendly)
16 Yacht Freighter Cruiser (Hostile)
17 Cruiser (Patrol) Frigate (Patrol) Frigate (Friendly)
18 Roll Twice Roll Twice Roll Twice

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
TRADE AND SMUGGLING
A ship can generate a steady profit from hauling cargo
and passengers. However, speculative trading offers a
chance for far greater profits – at the risk of
significant losses. The following simple system is
designed to allow merchant traders to engage in
speculative trade.
SPECULATIVE TRADE PROCEDURE
For speculative trade, follow the procedure below:
1. Find a supplier.
randomly chosen trade goods. To the 1D roll, apply
DM+1 if Starport C, DM+2 if Starport B, DM+4 if
Starport A, or DM-2 if Starport E. This can never be
less than one. Throw “D66” on the following table to
determine available trade goods. This means
throwing 2D, but rather than adding them together,
read them consecutively, that is – one as the “tens”
digit and the second as the “ones” digit. Remember
to declare which is which before rolling.
Reroll the results of 61-65 unless dealing with a black-
market dealer – these are universally illegal or
otherwise highly questionable goods.

2. Determine goods available. If certain regular trade goods are illegal on a planet, a
black-market supplier will offer them as well. The
3. Determine purchase price. Referee should use the world’s Law Level as a guide
4. Travel to a new world. to what is legal and illegal on a particular world.

5. Find a buyer.
6. Determine sale price.
Remember the first rule of trading: Buy low, Sell high.
FIND A SUPPLIER
Throw the listed skill below to find a supplier. If you
fail the throw, you may look for additional suppliers,
but at DM-1 per previous attempt per planet per
week.
To find a corporate supplier, throw Liaison 6+.
To find a black-market supplier for illegal goods,
throw Streetwise 6+.
SMUGGLING
Running contraband – such as results 61-65 on the
trade table – runs the risk of being caught by the
authorities. Apart from inspection in space, covered
by the ship encounter rules earlier in this book,
selling or buying illegal goods requires a throw of 2D
below the world's Law Level for police harassment.
Such harassment does not necessarily mean that the
characters were caught smuggling, but rather that
they are in the risk of being caught; avoiding the Law
in such a case is an adventure all by itself. The Referee
can abstract this interaction to a single Streetwise or
Admin throw to avoid trouble, or fully role-play the
encounter.

To find a private supplier, throw Carousing 6+.
DM+6 for Starport A; DM+4 for Starport B; DM+2 for
Starport C; DM -1 for Starport D and DM-2 for
Starport E.
DETERMINE GOODS AVAILABLE
There are two types of goods – common and trade. A
given supplier has all Common Goods and 1D
In cases where goods are deemed illegal due to the
local planetary Law Level (see the Worlds chapter), it
might serve the Referee to lower the Purchase Price
of goods by DM-1 or DM-2. Conversely, when selling
goods on worlds where the Law Level has deemed
them illegal, it might be useful to increase the Sale
Price of said goods by DM+1 or DM+2.
Like freight, Common Goods may be purchased in lots
of a single die. However, Trade Goods can only be
purchased in the full tonnage rolled.

Common Goods
Item Cost per ton Tons Purchase DMs Sale DMs
Basic Consumable Goods Cr1000 2Dx5 Ag+3. Ga+2 Hi+1, Ri+2
Basic Electronics Cr25000 2Dx5 Ht+2, In+4 Ni+2, Po+1
Basic Machine Parts Cr1000 2Dx5 In+3, Ri+2 Na+1, Ni+2
Basic Manufactured Goods Cr20000 2Dx5 In+3, Ri+2 Ag+1, Ni+2
Basic Raw Materials Cr5000 2Dx5 As+3 Ni+1 In+2 Ri+2
Common Unrefined Ore Cr2000 2Dx5 As+2, Va+1 In+2, Na+1

61

DETERMINE PURCHASE PRICE
Speculative purchase prices vary wildly based on local
supply, political or economic conditions, and the
suppliers themselves. To determine the purchase
price, throw 2D on the above table, modified by the
character’s INT or SOC DM, or by the character’s
Liaison skill level. Use whichever is greatest and
consult the Purchase Price column. Further modify
this result by a trade good’s Purchase DM based on
the world of origin. Only one trade code applies to
each transaction – in the case where multiple trade
DMs apply to a single world, use the highest one.
Multiply the base price by the resulting purchase
percentage to get the final purchase price per ton.
Then multiply that price by the number of tons of
goods within a lot to determine the final purchase
price of that lot.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
highest of INT DM, SOC DM, or Liaison Skill level.
Apply the highest sale DM for that world to the roll on
the Sale Price table. Characters may avoid selling
goods to a certain buyer or on a certain world and
may throw again as they search for another buyer
after one week. Alternatively, they may try their luck
on another world.
LOCAL BROKERS
A local broker, well-versed in the local market and
well-connected to suppliers and buyers, can improve
the trader’s chances to gain favorable prices. A broker
adds a +DM to purchase and sale price throws but
takes a commission from the transaction sum (always
paid by the speculative trader). Brokers are always
available, limited by the starport class, as noted
below.

SELLING GOODS
The procedure for selling goods is the same as
purchasing goods: find a buyer using the same throws
as finding a supplier. Roll 2D on the Price Table,
consulting the Sale Price column, applying the

Modified Price Table

2D Purchase Sale
2- 200% 40%
3 180% 50%
4 160% 60%
5 140% 70%
6 120% 80%
7 110% 90%
8 100% 100%
9 90% 110%
10 80% 120%
11 70% 130%
12 60% 140%
13 50% 150%
14 40% 160%
15 30% 180%
16+ 20% 200%

Local Brokers
Broker DM Commission Minimum starport class
DM+1 5% E
DM+2 10% C
DM+3 15% B
DM+4 20% A

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING

Trade Goods
D66 Trade Goods Base Price per Ton Tons Purchase DMs Sale DMs
11 Advanced Electronics Cr100000 1Dx5 Ht+2, In+4 Ni+2, Po+1
12 Advanced Manufactured Goods Cr200000 1Dx5 In+3, Ri+2 Lo+1, Ni+2
13 Agricultural Equipment Cr150000 1D In+3. Ri+2 Ag+2, Ga+1
14 Animal Products Cr1500 4Dx5 Ag+2, Ga+3 Hi+2, Ri+1
15 Collectibles Cr50000 1D In+2, Hi+3 Hi+2,Ni+1
16 Computers Cr150000 2D Ht+3, In+2 Na+1, Ni+2
21 Crystals and Gems Cr20000 1Dx5 Ni+3, Ic+2 In+1, Ri+2
22 Cybernetic Parts Cr250000 1Dx5 Bt+3, Ri+2 Na+1, Ni+2
23 Food service equipment Cr4000 2D In+3, Na+2 Ag+1, Ni+2
24 Furniture Cr5000 4D Ag+2, Ga+3 Hu+1, Ri+2
25 Gambling Devices & Equipment Cr4000 1D Hi+2, Ri+3 Na+2, Ni+1
26 Grav Vehicles Cr160000 1D Ht+3, Ri+2 Ni+2, Po+1
31 Grocery Products Cr6000 1Dx5 Ag+3. Ga+2 Lo+1, Ri+2
32 Household Appliances Cr12000 4D Hi+2, In+3 Na+1, Ni+2
33 Industrial Supplies Cr75000 2D In+3, Ri+2 Na+1, Ni+2
34 Liquor Cr15000 1Dx5 Ag+3, Ga+2 In+1, Ri+2
35 Luxury foodstuffs and fabrics Cr150000 1D Ag+2. Ga+3 In+1, Ri+2
36 Manufacturing Equipment Cr750000 1Dx5 In+3, Ri+2 Na+1, Ni+2
41 Medical Equipment Cr50000 1Dx5 Ht+2, Ri+3 Hi+1, In+2
42 Petrochemicals Cr10000 2Dx5 Na+2, Fl+3 Ag+1, In+2
43 Pharmaceuticals Cr100000 1D Ht+3, Wa+2 Lo+1, Ri+1
44 Complex chemical compounds Cr7000 4Dx5 In+2, Ri+3 Ni+2, Va+1
45 Precious Metals Cr50000 1D As+3, Ic+2 In+1, Ri+2
46 Radioactives Cr1000000 1D As+2, Ni+3 In+2, Ht+1
51 Robots and Drones Cr500000 1Dx5 Ht+3, Ri+2 Ni+1, Ri+2
52 Scientific Equipment Cr50000 1Dx5 Ht+3, Ri+2 Hi+2, Ni+1
53 Survival Gear Cr4000 2D Ga+1, Ri+2 Fl+2, Va+1
54 Textiles Cr3000 3Dx5 Ag+3, Ni+2 Na+1, Ri+2
55 Uncommon Raw Materials Cr50000 2Dx5 Ag+3, Ni+2 In+2, Na+1
56 Uncommon Unrefined Ores Cr20000 2Dx5 As+2, Va+1 In+2, Na+1
61 Illicit Luxury Goods Cr150000 1D Ag+2, Ga+3 In+4, Ri+6
62 Illicit Pharmaceuticals Cr100000 1D Ht+3, Wa+2 In+6, Ri+4
63 Medical Research Material Cr50000 1Dx5 Ht+2, Ri+3 In+6, Na+4
64 Illegal Military Equipment* Cr150000 2D Ht+3, In+2 Hi+6, Ni+4
65 Illegal Weapons and Armor* Cr30000 2D In+3, Ri+2 Ni+6, Po+4
66 Unusual Cargo ** ** ** **
* See the world's Law Level for details.
** Unusual cargo denotes highly unusual items such as alien artifacts, high-tech prototypes, stolen artwork, or unique
lifeforms.

63

STARSHIP DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Starships come in many shapes and configurations.
Players will typically operate a small vessel, though
larger-scale naval, exploration, or merchant-marine
campaigns are also possible. This chapter presents a
system for designing ships from scratch and for
upgrading existing ships.
These rules classify ships by their volume rather than
mass, for reasons of tradition and since the use of the
gravitic maneuver drive makes volume more
important in design than does mass. They list a ship’s
size in displacement tons: this is how many tons of
liquid hydrogen the ship displaces. 1 displacement
ton (d-ton or ton, for short) equals approximately 14
cubic meters (a cube roughly 2.4m per side). On a
square grid map where each square is 1.5m a side,
each ton is represented by approximately two
squares on the deck plan.
SHIP DESIGN CHECKLIST
Follow the steps below to design a starship from
scratch.
1. Choose hull size
1.1 Choose configuration
1.2 Add armor, if desired.
2. Choose maneuver drive, jump drive, and power
plant
3. Determine fuel requirements
4. Add bridge
5. Choose computer
6. Optionally, add weaponry and screens
7. Determine crew and passengers
7.1 Add staterooms and low berths
accordingly
8. Add other components or small craft
9. Allocate remaining space to cargo
10. Calculate final cost and construction time.
10.1 Mass-produced ship classes (models) enjoy a
10% discount.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
SHIP HULL
Designs start by selecting the total hull tonnage,
which also determines its construction time. Under
these rules, starships range from 100 to 5000 tons in
volume. The Ship Hulls table overleaf provides the
hull details.
HULL CONFIGURATION
There are three general starship hull configurations:
Standard: The ship is robust enough to enter an
atmosphere but will maneuver very poorly. It cannot
fly like an aircraft but only land and take off again to
space. The ship may skim gas giants for fuel. No
additional cost is required.
Streamlined: The ship will operate and maneuver like
an aircraft in an atmosphere. The ship may skim gas
giants for fuel and comes equipped with Fuel Scoops
at no extra cost. Streamlined hulls cost 10% more
than the table price.
Distributed: The hull is designed with only space
operations in mind. The ship is non-aerodynamic and
will break up if it enters an atmosphere. It may not
skim gas giants for fuel; ships with distributed hulls
will often carry small craft to interface with worlds.
The hull costs 10% less than the table price.
SHIP ARMOR
You may add armor to the hull in increments of 5% of
the ship’s overall tonnage, per the Ship Armor by
Type table overleaf. Armor reduces the chance of
penetrating hits in combat, though certain weapons
may bypass it. Minimum armor volume is 1 ton.
STEALTH
Specialized emissions-masking systems and stealth
structures can render a ship difficult to detect by
sensors at any range. Stealth costs MCr0.1 per ton of
the ship’s hull. Stealth modifications provide DM-4 to
any Computer throws to detect the ship (whether in
combat or not) or to lock on to it during combat.
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Ship Hulls
Hull Price Construction Time (Weeks)
100 tons MCr2 36
200 tons MCr8 44
300 tons MCr12 52
400 tons MCr16 60
500 tons MCr32 68
600 tons MCr48 76
700 tons MCr64 84
800 tons MCr80 92
900 tons MCr90 100
1000 tons MCr100 108
1200 tons MCr120 124
1400 tons MCr140 140
1600 tons MCr160 156
1800 tons MCr180 172
2000 tons MCr200 188
3000 tons MCr300 268
4000 tons MCr400 348
5000 tons MCr500 428

Ship Armor by Type

Armor Type TL Protection (in points) Cost per 5% increment
Titanium Steel 7 2 per 5% of ship tonnage 5% of base hull cost
Crystaliron 10 4 per 5% of ship tonnage 20% of base hull cost
Superdense 12 5 per 5% of ship tonnage 30% of base hull cost
Bonded Superdense 14 6 per 5% of ship tonnage 50% of base hull cost

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
SHIP DRIVES
All ships require a power plant (P-Plant). Any mobile
ship – as opposed to a space station – must have a
maneuver drive (M-Drive). Interstellar travel requires
a jump drive (J-Drive). Engine performance is
determined by hull volume and drive code, as given
below.
For maneuver drives, the performance result on the
above table is the number of Gs of acceleration
available. For jump drives, the performance result is
the maximum jump distance in parsecs (map hexes).
The power plant drive code must be equal to or
greater than both the maneuver drive and jump drive
codes. For example, if a ship has a maneuver drive
rated F (11 tons), and a jump drive rated A (10 tons),
it must have a power plant rated F (19 tons).

Drive Volumes and Costs

J-Drive M-Drive P-Plant
Drive Code Tons MCr Tons MCr Tons MCr
A 10 10 2 4 4 8
B 15 20 3 8 7 16
C 20 30 5 12 10 24
D 25 40 7 16 13 32
E 30 50 9 20 16 40
F 35 60 11 24 19 48
G 40 70 13 28 22 56
H 45 80 15 32 25 64
J 50 90 17 36 28 72
K 55 100 19 40 31 80
L 60 110 21 44 34 88
M 65 120 23 48 37 96
N 70 130 25 52 40 104
P 75 140 27 56 43 112
Q 80 150 29 60 46 120
R 85 160 31 64 49 128
S 90 170 33 68 52 136
T 95 180 35 72 55 144
U 100 190 37 76 58 152
V 105 200 39 80 61 160
W 110 210 41 84 64 168
X 115 220 43 88 67 176
Y 120 230 45 92 70 182
Z 125 240 47 96 73 192

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Drive Performance by Hull
TL Drive 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 3000 4000 5000
9 A 2 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
B 4 2 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
C 6 3 2 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
D - 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - -
10 E - 5 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
F - 6 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - -
G - - 4 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 - - - - - -
H - - 5 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 - - - - -
11 J - - 6 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 - - - -
K - - - 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 - - -
L - - - 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 - - -
12 M - - - 6 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 - - -
N - - - 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 - - -
P - - - - 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 - - -
13 Q - - - - 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 - -
R - - - - 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 1 - -
S - - - - 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 1 - -
14 T - - - - - 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 2 - -
U - - - - - 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 2 - -
V - - - - - 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 2 1 -
15 W - - - - - - 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 1 1
X - - - - - - 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 3 3 3 1 1
Y - - - - - - 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1
Z - - - - - - 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 2 2

FUEL The following table lists power plant fuel

A jump consumes an amount of fuel equal to 10% of
the ship’s volume per parsec jumped. For example, a
single 2-parsec jump by a 200-ton ship requires 40
tons of fuel.
consumption, in one-week increments, according to
the power plant’s code. Most ships carry 2 to 4
weeks’ worth of fuel for in-system maneuvering and
use during jump. The maneuver drive does not
consume fuel in addition to the power plant.

Power Plant Code Fuel Tonnage Consumed per week

A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
E 5
F 6
G 7
H 8
J 9
K 10
L 11
M 12
N 13
P 14
Q 15
R 16
S 17
T 18
U 19
V 20
W 21
X 22
Y 23
Z 24

67
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
BRIDGE
Any ship has a bridge based on its total tonnage. The
bridge costs MCr0.5 per 100 tons of ship. A ship may
have a larger bridge than the required minimum to
allow a larger bridge crew. See the table below for
bridge size and available sta�ons.
Ship Size Bridge Size Bridge Positions
200 tons or less 10 tons 4
300-1000 tons 20 tons 6
1100-2000 tons 40 tons 8
More than 2000 tons 60 tons 12

SHIP COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS neither perfect nor complete; see the radiation attack
rules in the Ship Combat section.
Each ship has a central computer. The computer core Starships need at least Model/1 computers. Small
itself is very small; even with hardening and craft may have baseline computers with minimal
redundancy, this mainframe is rarely larger than a electronics: this is covered by their cockpit costs and
small 21st century beer refrigerator. The actual tonnage. However, baseline computers are
tonnage includes various electronic systems: recommended only for non-combat craft.
terminals, sensors, and communication systems.
You may add a “bis” option to any computer. It
Computers are required for calculating interstellar increases its cost by 50% and allows a jump rating
jumps. The electronics included in a computer system higher by 1 than its standard rating. For example, a
grant a DM to sensor throws in and out of combat. Model/1bis computer is a Model/1 computer in
The computer may also assist in targeting, as noted in every respect, except that it is powerful enough to
the space combat chapter. compute Jump-2.
All computer systems are hardened against radiation
and electromagnetic pulses, though this hardening is
Computer TL Cost Electronics Tonnage Max. Jump Rating Sensor DM
Baseline - 0 0 - DM-4
Model/1 7 Cr45000 1 Jump-1 DM-2
Model/2 9 Cr290000 2 Jump-2 DM+0
Model/3 11 MCr4 3 Jump-3 DM+1
Model/4 12 MCr10 5 Jump-4 DM+2
Model/5 13 MCr20 6 Jump-5 DM+2
Model/6 14 MCr38 8 Jump-6 DM+3
Model/7 15 MCr50 10 Jump-6 DM+4

68
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
ARMAMENT
Military craft, as well as civilian craft operating on the
frontier, often carry weaponry. Each weapon requires
one or more hardpoints to mount on a ship. There is
one hardpoint available per 100 tons of hull size. Fire
control is subsumed in the turret or bay tonnage.
Ship weapons have the following stats:
Weapon: weapon’s name.
TL: minimum tech level to construct the weapon.
Damage: the weapon’s damage, that is its armor
penetration dice.
Hits: The number or damage table rolls the weapon
causes. Some may cause radiation table rolls as well.
A turret occupies a single hardpoint and displaces 2
tons, one ton for the turret itself, and one ton for fire
control. There are single, double, and triple turrets
carrying 1, 2, and 3 weapons each, respectively. A
single turret costs MCr0.2; a double turret, MCr0.5;
and a triple turret, MCr1.
A fixed mount holds one weapon and does not cost
anything beyond the weapon's cost. However, the
weapon cannot be used to attack unless the ship has
Advantage in a given combat round (see the ship
combat rules)
Turrets may mount the following weapons:
Regular missiles cost Cr1200 each; h, Cr2500 each;
nuclear missiles, Cr50000 each but are not normally
available to civilians. Smart missiles hit on a throw of
6+ regardless of the gunner’s skill, and if they miss
their target, they may re-roll this throw once the
following round. Nuclear missiles cause 3D damage
and 2 hits + 1 radiation hit. The Space Combat
chapter explains the missile attack procedure.
A single missile rack holds 3 missiles and each ton of
Turret Weapons
Weapon TL Damage
Missile Rack 6 2D per missile
Pulse Laser 7 1D
Sandcaster 7 Special
Particle Beam 8 2D
Beam Laser 9 1D
Plasma Beam 12 3D
Fusion Beam 14 4D
69
cargo space can accommodate 12 missiles. Loading a
rack from nearby ordinary cargo takes the gunner a
full space combat round. A pre-designated missile
magazine allows automatic loading but prevents that
space from being used for cargo when not carrying
missiles.
Pulse lasers are ideal for point defense and hit
incoming missiles at a base throw of Gunnery 6+
rather than Gunnery 10+. They are powerful but
accurate, causing 2 hits on impact, but attacking at
DM-2 to hit ordinary targets.
Sandcasters launch anti-laser sand canisters, as
described in the ship combat chapter. A single
sandcaster holds 6 sand canisters, and a single ton of
cargo can hold 24 sand canisters. Magazines can
serve for sand just like for missiles, and a magazine
can be used for both interchangeably, at an exchange
rate of two canisters per missile.
Particle Beams blast enemies with beams of charged
particles, causing both structural and radiation
damage. This is the lightest military-grade energy
weapon available, and many polities restrict its use to
military and paramilitary ships.
Beam Lasers are weak but accurate lasers firing
continuous beams. Beam lasers ignore the penalty
for firing turret weapons when the ship has no
Advantage.
Plasma Beams: beam weapons firing superheated
plasma.
Fusion Beams: beam weapons emitting plasma
undergoing a fusion reaction.
Hits Cost
2 MCr0.75
2 MCr0.5
Special MCr0.25
1 + 1 radiation MCr4
1 MCr1
2 MCr6
3 MCr10

BAYS
A bay weapon is a massive, military-scale gun
emplacement designed for large-scale naval warfare.
Each bay displaces 50 tons.
The following bay weapons are available:
Missile banks launch a salvo of 12 missiles per attack.
They may use specialized missiles as described above.
Note that one ton of cargo-hold or missile magazine
may hold 12 missiles.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Gravitic lances send a focused wave of intense gravity
at a target, causing incredible damage due to gravity
shear.
SCREENS
A meson screen forces incoming meson beams to
throw 9+ on 2D to penetrate it. TL12. Costs MCr60
and displaces 50 tons. (put this in the weapons
section)

Particle cluster are a heavier, bay-mounted version of
the turret-mounted charged-particle weapon
Meson guns fires beams of mesons – particles
capable of penetrating any other matter, calculated
to decay and release energy at the designated target.
This weapon ignores regular armor but is susceptible
to meson screens.
Fusion guns blast a powerful beam of superheated
gas, undergoing gravitically-controlled fusion, at the
target, causing massive structural damage.
A nuclear damper reduces the damage of incoming
nuclear missiles to 2D and negates radiation hits by
all weapons. TL12. Costs MCr50 and displaces 50
tons.
Each screen requires a single gunner. Note that
multiple screens do not stack, and their effects are
not cumulative. However, some large ships may carry
multiple screens for redundancy.

Weapon TL Damage Hits Cost

Missile Bank 6 2D per missile 2 per missile MCr12
Particle Cluster 8 4D 2 + 1 radiation MCr20
Meson Gun 11 Ignores armor 3 + 1 radiation MCr50
Fusion Gun 12 6D 3 MCr80
Gravitic Lance 15 8D 5 MCr100

70
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
SHIP CREW is ideal for combat vessels and required on all military
vessels.
All vessels require a crew to operate and maintain the
ship. A single person can run a 100-ton ship if they
have the requisite skills, though a larger crew is ACCOMMODATIONS
advisable. A larger ship will require a larger crew.
The standard accommodations for ship crews are one
Any ship or small craft requires a pilot to fly and steer
stateroom per crew member. A stateroom displaces
the ship, as well as plot its course and calculate
4 tons and costs MCr0.5.
jumps. Military ships often have 3 pilots, working in
four or eight hour shifts for constant monitoring of Military ships and more rugged freighters often
the flight controls and sensors, when not in jump institute a policy of double occupancy: housing two
space. crew members or passengers in each stateroom. This
does not increase the life support cost but is quite
Some civilian ships and all military ships have a
cramped. Highly-skilled (skill 2 or higher) civilian crew
sensor operator, using the Computer skill. On smaller
members usually demand their own staterooms.
civilian ships, the pilot often fulfills this role, though
Double occupancy for all crew except for the bridge
this limits the utility of sensors in emergency or
crew or even for just the captain is standard practice
combat. Thus, all military ships carry a sensor
on smaller military ships.
operator, and sometimes at least three of them to
ensure round-the-clock sensor monitoring. Note that High and middle passengers require their own
the sensor operator replaces the navigator given in staterooms. Steerage passengers always travel in
the Cepheus Engine SRD. double occupancy, unless the ship takes off with an
odd number of Steerage passengers, in which case
All ships require one engineer per 35 tons of drives
the captain will organize a draw and one Steerage
and power plant. Ships with less than 35 tons of
passenger will have their own stateroom
drives and power plant, as well as small craft, do not
require dedicated engineers, as their drives are small Low berths (cryotubes) carry passengers in cold
enough for the Pilot to handle during flight. However, sleep. This also serves for emergency transport and
even then an Engineer may be beneficial in ship for carrying prisoners or captured life-forms. A low
combat. berth displaces 0.5 tons and costs MCr0.05.
Any ship carrying passengers requires one or more Emergency low berths carry four persons each, who
stewards. See the discussion of Stewards in the Ship all share the same risky revival throw as noted in the
Revenue section. Passage Section. They serve in emergencies, as well
as for transporting large livestock. Most polities
Any ship must have a medic to tend to the
forbid carrying passengers in emergency low berths.
passengers' and crew’s health needs. Even ships
Each displaces 1 ton and costs MCr0.1
without passengers often carry a medic to maintain
the crew's health and handle medical emergencies.
There must be one medic per 50 crew and passengers
carried, including low passengers.
Each gun turret requires a gunner to operate it,
weapons bays require two gunners, and each screen
requires one gunner. Ships with Model/2 or better
computers may automate one turret per Sensor DM
(including DM+0); the computer has a Gunnery-1
skill. Military craft often prefer living gunners for all
guns.
Military ships often carry marines, as well as flight
crew – one pilot and one support crew per small craft
on board. Larger civilian ships often have a purser and
security staff aboard as well. Note that small craft
pilots and service personnel are optional – many
civilian starships do not have such dedicated
personnel for their small craft.
All ships have a captain, though on smaller ships this
is usually a part-time job performed by the pilot in
addition to their regular duties. A dedicated captain

71

OTHER COMPONENTS AND SMALL
CRAFT
Military ships often carry an armory, providing
military-grade small arms, armor, and equipment.
Each 2-ton block of armory costs MCr0.5 and equips
10 marines.
Fuel processors can refine unrefined fuel into refined
fuel. A ton of fuel processing equipment can refine 5
tons of liquid hydrogen per day. Processors cost
MCr0.1 per ton.
All streamlined ships have built-in fuel scoops for
collecting hydrogen fuel from gas giants. For a
standard hull, fuel scoops cost MCr1 and do not
displace any tonnage.
Every ship has a galley (kitchen and lounge) and a
medbay. These are subsumed in the stateroom
tonnage and costs. A medbay counts as a medical
facility for purposes of healing wounds. A basic
medbay accommodates up to 2 patients. A dedicated
medlab, costing MCr2 and displacing 8 tons,
represents better, hospital-grade care, and grants
DM+2 to all Medicine tasks and halving wound
recovery times (round up). Each additional 2 tons and
MCr0.25 allocated allows another patient.
A laboratory can be used for various scientific
research purposes and comes in 4-ton blocks, each
costing MCr1. A laboratory provides DM+1 to Science
throws by the scientist using it. At the Referee's
discretion, certain scientific investigations of
processes will require a laboratory to perform.
Every ship includes a ship locker containing various
technical and survival supplies, vacc suits, and civilian
small arms such as pistols and shotguns. We
recommend that the Referee determine the exact
contents of the ship’s locker only when the players
wish to access it. In any case, it should include vacc
suits and various useful items and supplies.
Small Craft and Vehicles
Craft or Vehicle Tons
ATV 10
Air/Raft 4 MCr0.6
Dropship 65
Escape Pods 0.5 per passenger
Fighter 13
Gig 13
Mining Drones 10
Launch 26
Pinnace 52
Probe Drones (5) 1 MCr0.2
Repair Drones 1% of ship’s hull
Ship’s Boat 39
Shuttle 122
CEPHEUS LIGHT
The following table describes small craft and vehicles
often carried on ships.
Tonnage and costs include hangar space and thus are
greater than those of the individual craft or vehicles.
The Equipment chapter describes vehicles. The
Common Space Craft chapter describes small craft.
Escape pods cover rescue bubbles and interplanetary
escape vehicles.
Mining Drones allow a ship to mine asteroids. Each
set of mining drones takes up ten tons and allows the
ship to process 1Dx10 tons of asteroid per working
day. The tonnage allocated includes ore handling
machinery, allowing the ship to take on ore and
transfer it to the cargo bay.
Probe Drones are designed for planetary surveying.
The ship drops them from orbit in disposable re-entry
capsules; they must be recovered manually.
Alternatively, a probe drone in orbit can serve as a
survey and communication satellite.
Repair drones allow the ship to make one repair
attempt per space combat round. Cost includes
software.
CARGO AND FINAL COST
The designer can now allocate any remaining
tonnage to the ship’s cargo bay.
Add up the cost of various components for the ship’s
final cost. Mass-produced ships enjoy a 10% discount
to the final cost.
The question whether a ship is mass-produced is left
to the Referee. Custom ships designed by players
should not be mass-produced, as compared to
standard models pre-designed by the Referee.
Cost (MCr)
MCr0.09
MCr20.3
MCr0.1 per passenger
MCr10.3
MCr5.3
MCr2
MCr5.4
MCr17.4
0.5 per ton of drones
MCr17.4
MCr32.6
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
SMALL CRAFT DESIGN
SMALL CRAFT HULL AND ARMOR
Small craft are those ships that displace less than 100
tons. Designing small craft works just like designing The following table lists small craft hulls. Calculate
ships: they use the same checklist, with a few streamlining, distributed, or stealth configurations as
exceptions noted below. usual. If desired, add armor using the regular rules
above.
Hull Price (MCr) Construction Time (Weeks)
10 tons MCr1.1 28
20 tons MCr1.2 29
30 tons MCr1.3 30
40 tons MCr1.4 31
50 tons MCr1.5 32
60 tons MCr1.6 32
70 tons MCr1.7 33
80 tons MCr1.8 34
90 tons MCr1.9 35
95 tons MCr1.95 35

Small craft drives
Small cra� drives work like ship drives but uses much
smaller and weaker engines. Unlike ship drives, there
is no TL limita�on on small cra� drives – they are all
available from TL9 and on. Note that small cra� are
unable to carry or use Jump drives.
Note that small cra� use their own drives and cannot
mount ship-grade drives due to the need of
addi�onal support structures, leading to a larger
engine size.

Small Craft Drives

Drive Code M-Drive Tonnage MCr P-Plant Tonnage MCr
sA 0.5 1 1.2 3
sB 1 2 1.5 3.5
sC 1.5 3 1.8 4
sD 2 3.5 2.1 4.5
sE 2.5 4 2.4 5
sF 3 6 2.7 5.5
sG 3.5 8 3 6
sH 4 9 3.3 6.5
sJ 4.5 10 3.6 7
sK 5 11 3.9 7.5
sL 6 12 4.5 8
sM 7 14 5.1 9
sN 8 16 5.7 10
sP 9 18 6.3 12
sQ 10 20 6.9 14
sR 11 22 7.5 16
sS 12 24 8.1 18
sT 13 26 8.7 20
sU 14 28 9.3 22
sV 15 30 9.9 24
sW 16 32 10.5 26

73
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
Small Craft Performance
Code 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95
sA 2 1 - - - - - - - -
sB 4 2 1 1 - - - - - -
sC 6 3 2 1 1 1 - - - -
sD - 5 3 2 2 1 1 1 - -
Se - 6 5 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
Sf - 6 5 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
sG - - 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 1
sH - - 6 5 4 3 2 2 1 1
sJ - - 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 1
sK - - 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 2
sL - - - 6 4 3 3 3 2 2
sM - - - - 5 4 4 4 3 2
sN - - - - 6 5 4 4 3 2
sP - - - - - 6 5 4 4 3
sQ - - - - - 6 5 5 4 4
sR - - - - - - 6 5 4 4
sS - - - - - - 6 6 5 5
sT - - - - - - - 6 5 5
sU - - - - - - - - 6 5
sV - - - - - - - - 6 6
sW - - - - - - - - - 6

SMALL CRAFT FUEL SMALL CRAFT COCKPIT AND ACCOMMODATIONS

The following table shows small craft fuel A small craft control cabin or cockpit costs MCr0.1 per
requirements in one-week increments. 20 tons of craft. A cockpit is cramped and will be
uncomfortable for more than 24 hours of continuous
Power Plant Code Fuel Tonnage Consumption use. A control cabin is far more comfortable for
per week longer journeys.
sA 0.4
sB 0.5 In addition, small craft may also mount acceleration
sC 0.6 couches, allowing it to carry passengers for short
sD 0.7
flights of 12 hours or less. These accommodate a
Se 0.8
single person each for short-term flight, displace 0.5
Sf 0.9
sG 1 tons and cost Cr25000 (MCr0.025) per person. It is
sH 1.1 possible to install staterooms in small craft as well.
sJ 1.2 Note that small craft do not require additional
sK 1.3 computers beyond the baseline model, though
sL 1.5
military and exploration craft greatly benefit from
sM 1.6
them.
sN 1.9
sP 2.1 Each extra person in a Control Cabin adds 2 tons and
sQ 2.3 MCr0.05 (twice the cost of an acceleration couch
sR 2.5 because they also have some control capability). Only
sS 2.7
control cabins can have this added feature. Each
sT 2.9
cockpit or cabin includes Acceleration Couches for
sU 3.1
sV 3.3
each occupant.
sW 3.5 Controls Tonnage
1-Person Cockpit 1.5 tons
2-Person Cockpit 3 tons
1-Person Control Cabin 3 tons
2-Person Control Cabin 6 tons

74
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
SMALL CRAFT CREW
Each small craft requires a pilot, who can also fire the
small craft's weapons. A dedicated gunner allows
performing more complex gunnery actions, as given
in the Starship Combat chapter below.
SMALL CRAFT ARMAMENT
All small craft have 1 hardpoint and may carry one
turret. However, the power plant’s output limits the
number of energy weapons it may carry. There is no
power plant requirement for mounting missiles or
sandcasters.
Small Craft Maximum Energy Weapons
Power Plant Energy Weapons
sA-sF 0
sG-sK 1
sL-sR 2
sS-sW 3
REFITTING SPACECRAFT
It is possible to refit an existing starship or small craft,
removing or installing different components. The
total ship tonnage in unchangeable and it is
impossible to change the configuration of a ship.
Anything else is open to modification. Removing a
component costs Cr10000 (MCr0.01) and takes 12
hours per ton of equipment. Installing a component
costs 125% of the component’s base price and takes
1 week per MCr1 of base price. For example,
installing a stateroom (4 tons, MCr0.5 base price
takes 3.5 days to install and costs MCr0.625). Refitting
any system except for Jump drives requires at least a
B-Class Starport. Refitting a Jump drive requires an A-
Class Starport.
STARPORT CAPACITY AND CONSTRUCTION TIME
The construction and refit times given above assume
a relatively standard-sized crew working 12-hours per
day. Buyers may pay extra to have a larger crew
assigned to their project, thus reducing the
construction time of any build or refit.
If desired, the construction time can be reduced by
25% by doubling the cost of the project. This
increased priority can be done twice on any single
project, thus construction time can be reduced by
50% (half the listed time) for four-times the total cost
of the project.
Only Class A starports can construct Jump-capable
ships, Class A or B starports can construct non-jump-
capable ships.
75
STARSHIP DESIGN EXAMPLE
Aaron, a Referee, is looking for an interesting ship to
give to his players. While one of them – Jenny - rolled
a Free Trader four times, allowing for a fully-paid-for
40-years-old rustbucket of a trader, Aaron has a more
interesting idea in mind. What if, in lieu of the trader,
Jenny's character will get an old, decommissioned
military transport? However, looking at the Common
Space Craft chapter, he can't quite find a suitable
ship. So, he'll have to make one.
First, Aaron needs a full concept in mind for the ship.
This would be an old light military transport. Not a
warship by any means, but a light freighter used to
"fill holes" in the Wartime logistics networks and
fulfill light transport duties. It wasn't fit for front-line
space-combat duty but could defend itself when
needed. This means something tougher than a trader,
even if it falls within the typical trader-merchant
tonnage range. Now that the War is over, the military
had no need of so many old light transports and
decommissioned them, selling them on the open
market. Jenny's character, Maraella Worthbuckle,
managed to get her hands on one through her old
military contact. The ship's tech level was at the
lower end of Terran Wartime military tech, as these
ships were designed to be repaired anywhere, even
on low-tech backwaters.
A 300-ton hull will suffice – this is a light ship, after all,
but not a fully-fledged bulk freighter. A 300-ton hull
costs MCr12, but Aaron wants a ship that can go
anywhere – a streamlined ship – so this costs 110% of
that, at MCr13.2. As a ship expecting some enemy
fire, for example when landing at a hot LZ, having
armor would be prudent; 4 points of TL10 Crystaliron
will do the trick. This requires 5% of ship tonnage (15
tons) and costs 20% of the hull's base cost (which is
MCr12), that is – MCr2.4.
Now, on to the engineering compartment. The Light
Military Transport does not need fully-fledged Naval
speeds, but it does need reasonably good legs; this
means 2-G acceleration and Jump-2 capability. Cross-
referencing these performances with the ship's hull
on the Drive Performance by Hull table, Aaron finds
out that he needs C-rated engines for all three drives.
This means Jump Drive C (20 tons, MCr30 – J-Drives
are expensive!); Maneuver Drive C (5 tons, MCr12);
and Power Plant C (10 tons, MCr24). Now, the
engines need fuel – for a single Jump-2 capability, the
ship needs 20% of its tonnage in liquid hydrogen fuel
to form the jump bubble. That means 60 tons jump
fuel. The Transport needs a relatively good endurance
due to its frontier and wartime use, so Aaron elects to
add power plant fuel for 4 weeks; a Power Plant C
requires 3 tons of fuel per week, so for four weeks
this is 12 tons. Together, the fuel tank holds 72 tons.
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
The ship needs a bridge. At 300 tons, the bridge Finally – other components. Aaron installs a 1-ton
displaces 20 tons; Aaron also notes that it affords 6 magazine for the sandcaster, holding 24 sand
bridge positions, even though this won't be canisters. That doesn't cost Credits, only space. He
necessary on this ship. The bridge costs MCr0.5 per also adds 16 escape pods, to supply a measure of
100 tons of ship, so MCr1.5 for a 300-ton ship. safety to all occupants even when all staterooms are
Adjacent to the bridge is a computer and its in double occupancy; this displaces 0.5 tons per
associated (and bulky) electronics. As Aaron wants escape pods, for a total of 8 tons, and costs MCr0.1
reasonable sensor capabilities, he chooses a Model/2 per escape pod, for a total of 1.6. As a frontier vessel,
Computer, costing MCr0.29 and having 2 tons of the Light Military Transport can benefit from fuel
electronics and avionics. processors for frontier refueling; Aaron installs 4 tons
of fuel processors, capable of processing 20 tons a
On to the fun part – guns! As Aaron noted above, this
day – it will take almost 4 days to fill the entire fuel
isn't a warship, so there is no need for heavy
tank from unrefined or skimmed fuel. This displaces,
weapons, but a bunch of lasers and some defensive
obviously, 4 tons – and costs MCr0.1 per tons, for a
sandcasters will provide some protection in times of
total of 0.4.
need. This is especially important as Aaron plans to
introduce pirates as primary antagonists in his There are 95 tons remaining out of the Transport's
campaign, so the group will need some lasers to blast 300, so Aaron designates them as cargo space.
at them! He chooses to install 3 triple turrets. Each
Now it is time to sum up the costs. The Light Military
turret requires a ton by itself and another ton of fire-
Transport costs MCr99.62; however, Aaron decides
control equipment, so 2 tons per turret – 6 tons in
that it was mass-produced during the War, so it
total. Triple turrets cost MCr1 each themselves. One
enjoys a 10% mass-production discount, for a final
turret will have 3 beam lasers – accurate but weak
price tag of MCr89.66. For a final ship, it is customary
weapons; each costing another MCr1, so, together
to round the price to the nearest whole number,
with the turret, MCr4 in total. The second turret will
which is MCr90.
have 3 pulse lasers – inaccurate but powerful and
great for point-defense fire; each costing another A fine ship for frontier adventuring!
MCr0.5, so, together with the turret, MCr2.5. The
third turret will carry 3 sandcasters; each costing
MCr0.25, together with the turret this means
MCr1.75.
Now is a good time to determine the ship's crew, as it
affects the number of accommodations and other
components. The ship needs a Pilot, who, due to its
small size, is also the Captain; it requires a Sensor
Operator and a Medic; its 35 tons of engines require
one Engineer; one turret is automated (thanks to
Computer/2) and the two other guns require a
gunner each. In total, 6 crewmembers
It would have been simplest to install 6 staterooms to
accommodate this crew. However, it would be handy
to be able to carry some occasional passengers – such
as military officers needing transport and unable to
get an available berth on a larger troop transport – so
he installs 8 staterooms instead, as well as 20 Low
Berths for additional operational flexibility. If you
cram the crew (except for the Pilot/Captain) into
double occupancy (i.e. 2 crewmembers per
stateroom), you can have 4 available staterooms for
passengers. However, when carrying passengers, the
ship will require an added Steward, potentially
forcing the Pilot/Captain to share their stateroom
with another crewmember.
The staterooms displace 4 tons and cost MCr0.5 each,
so it is 32 tons and MCr4 together; the low berths
displace 0.5 tons each and cost MCr0.05, so all the
berths together displace 10 tons and cost MCr1.

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
TL10 300-ton Light Military Transport Design Sheet
Component Notes Tonnage Cost (MCr)
Hull Streamlined, construction time 52 weeks 13.2
Armor 4 points Crystaliron 15 2.4

Maneuver Drive Maneuver-C; 2-G acceleration 5 12

Power Plant Power Plant C 10 24
Jump Drive Jump-C; Jump-2 20 30

Fuel 1-Jump-2 and 4 weeks of operation 72

Bridge 6 positions 20 1.5

Computer Model/2 2 0.29

Armament Hardpoint #1: triple beam laser turret 2 4

Hardpoint #2: triple pulse laser turret 2 2.5
Hardpoint #3: triple sandcaster turret 2 1.75

Other components Sand Magazine; 24 sand canisters 1

16 Escape Pods 8 1.6
4 tons fuel processers; 20 tons/day 4 0.4

Accommodations 8 staterooms 32 4
20 Low Berths 10 1

Cargo 95
Crew: 6 Pilot/Captain, Sensor Ops, Engineer, Medic, 2 Gunners
Total before discount 300 99.64
Total after discount 10% mass-production discount 300 89.67

Its compact stat block will look like this:

TL10 300-TON LIGHT MILITARY TRANSPORT
The subsidized merchant is a common interstellar merchant vessel, financed by the government to provide
services on the less profitable frontier routes.
Light Military Transport Tonnage: 300 Armor: 4 Crystaliron Streamlined
Maneuver: C Jump: C P-Plant: C Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 72 tons for: 1x Jump 2, 4 weeks endurance
Model/2 computer Armament: 3x triple turrets; 1x beam laser, 1x pulse laser, 1x sandcaster
Fittings: 16 escape pods, 8 staterooms, 20 low berths, 95 tons cargo
Crew: 7 total – pilot, sensor operator, engineer, medic, 2 gunners
Cost: MCr90; Construction Time: 52 weeks

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COMMON SPACE CRAFT
Some ship classes are common in a typical Cepheus Light setting. Many other classes and designs certainly exist,
but the following are very useful for a typical campaign.
These designs provide the minimum tech level required to construct each ship; in many cases, more advanced
shipyards often construct them. However, lower tech guarantees universal production and maintenance across
many worlds with varied technological capabilities.

COMMON SMALL CRAFT

Below are a few common small craft. In all cases, power plant endurance is 2 weeks. All prices include the mass-
production 10% discount

TL11 50-TON DROPSHIP

The dropship is a military ground-assault craft designed to deploy a platoon of troops – approximately 40
commanded by a Lieutenant - into contested territory.
Dropship Tonnage: 50 Armor: 4 Crystaliron Streamlined
Thrust: 4 G
Fuel: 2.2 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
Model/2 computer Armament: double turret w/sandcaster and pulse laser
Fittings: 42 acceleration couches
Crew: 2 in total – pilot and gunner, in a 2-person cockpit
Cost: MCr20.3; Construction Time: 32 weeks

TL11 10-TON FIGHTER

The fighter is a light attack craft and interceptor.
Fighter Tonnage: 10 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 6 G
Fuel: 2 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
Model/1 computer Armament: 1 ton reserved for weapons; may only mount one energy weapon and up to 2
non-energy weapons
Fittings: None
Crew: Pilot in a 1-person cockpit
Cost: MCr10.3; Construction Time: 28 weeks

TL9 10-TON GIG

The gig is a general-purpose utility runabout.
Gig Tonnage: 10 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 2 G
Fuel: 0.8 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
No computer Armament: None
Fittings: None
Crew: Pilot in a 1-person cockpit
Cost: MCr5.3; Construction Time: 28 weeks

TL9 20-TON LAUNCH

The Launch often serves as a lifeboat or small transport craft.
Launch Tonnage: 20 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 1 G
Fuel: 0.8 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
No computer Armament: None
Fittings: 16 tons of cargo space (other fittings are usually added as required)
Crew: Pilot in a 1-person cockpit
Cost: MCr5.4; Construction Time: 289weeks

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TL9 40-TON PINNACE
The pinnace is a medium-sized fast shuttle craft.
Pinnace Tonnage: 40 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 5 G
Fuel: 2.2 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
Model/1 computer Armament: 1 ton reserved for weapons; may only mount one energy weapon and up to 2
non-energy weapons
Fittings: 27 tons of cargo space
Crew: Pilot in a 1-person cockpit
Cost: Mcr17.3; Construction Time: 31 weeks

TL9 50-TON CUTTER

The cutter carries a sealed 30-ton module from surface to orbit, allowing for a wide range of customized uses,
depending on the contents of the module, as noted in the table below.
Cutter Tonnage: 50 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 4 G
Fuel: 2.2 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
Model/1 computer Armament: 1 ton reserved for weapons; may only mount one energy weapon and up to 2
non-energy weapons
Fittings: cutter module, 6.5 tons of cargo space
Crew: Pilot in a 1-person cockpit
Cost: Mcr17.4; Construction Time: 32 weeks

Common Cutter Modules

Module Type Cost (MCr) Notes
Cargo 1.5 Cargo (29 tons), 1 airlock
Commuter 2.5 Acceleration couches (18 people), 1 airlock, 1 small fresher/kitchenette
Fuel 1.25 Fuel tankage (30 tons),
Laboratory 8 Laboratory (7 scientists), 2 airlocks
Low Berth Transport 4 58 low berths, 1 airlock
Luxury Suites 4.5 7 staterooms, 2 airlocks
Vehicular Transport 6.75 Hangar (23 tons of vehicles), allows repairs/maintenance

TL9 30-TON SHIP’S BOAT

The ship’s boat is a small multi-use vessel with powerful engines.
Ship’s Boat Tonnage: 30 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 6 G
Fuel: 2.2 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
Model/1 computer Armament: 1 ton reserved for weapons; may only mount one energy weapon and up to 2
non-energy weapons
Fittings: 15.5 tons of cargo space
Crew: Pilot in a 1-person cockpit
Cost: Mcr17.4; Construction Time: 30 weeks

TL9 95-TON SHUTTLE

The shuttle is a heavy transport craft often used to ferry passengers and cargo between surface and orbit.
Shuttle Tonnage: 95 Armor: None Streamlined
Thrust: 3 G
Fuel: 4.2 tons of fuel, 2 weeks endurance
No computer Armament: None
Fittings: 69.5 tons of cargo space. Some of the cargo space is often traded for acceleration couches.
Crew: Pilot in a 2-person cockpit (allowing another crewmember)
Cost: Mcr32.6; Construction Time: 35 weeks

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
STARSHIPS
The following are common and archetypal starships useful in the typical Cepheus Light universe.

TL11 800-TON ASSAULT SHIP

The assault ship is a front-line troop carrier capable of deploying a platoon (42 troopers including the
commanding Lieutenant) of marines across interstellar distances.
Assault Ship Tonnage: 800 Armor: 8 Crystaliron Standard
Maneuver: K Jump: K P-Plant: K Thrust: 3 G
Jump Rating: 3 Fuel: 260 tons for 1x Jump-3, 2 weeks endurance
Model/3 computer Armament: 3x pulse laser turrets, 2x P-Beam turrets, 2x Missile rack, 1x Sandcaster (all turrets
are triple turrets)
Fittings: Dropship, 60 escape pods, armory for 50 marines, fuel scoops, fuel processor (65t/day), 31 staterooms, 15
emergency low berths, 71 tons of cargo space
Crew: 61 total - captain, 3 sensor operators, 3 pilots, 3 engineers, 1 medic, 8 gunners, 42 marines. All crew double occupancy
except captain.
Cost: MCr430; Construction Time: 92 weeks

TL11 300-TON CORSAIR

The corsair is a light attack vessel intended for raiding enemy commerce and now often employed by
independent pirates and mercenaries.
Corsair Tonnage: 300 Armor: 4 Crystaliron Streamlined
Maneuver: F Jump: E P-Plant: F Thrust: 4 G
Jump Rating: 3 Fuel: 260 tons for 1x Jump-3, 2 weeks endurance
Model/3 computer Armament: 3x triple turrets: 1 missile and 2 pulse lasers
Fittings: 60 escape pods, armory for 10 marines, fuel scoops, fuel processor (25t/day), 10 staterooms, 5 emergency low
berths, 35 tons of cargo space
Crew: 19 total – captain, pilot, sensor operator, medic, 2 engineers, 3 gunners, 10 ship's troops. All crew at double occupancy
except for the captain.
Cost: MCr158; Construction Time: 52 weeks

TL13 1000-TON CRUISER

The cruiser is a ship-of-the-line capable of extended independent operations. It carries two squads (total 16
troopers) of marines.
Cruiser Tonnage: 1000 Armor: 10 Superdense Standard
Maneuver: P Jump: N P-Plant: P Thrust: 4 G
Jump Rating: 3 Fuel: 356 tons for 1x Jump-3, 2 weeks endurance
Model/4 computer Armament: meson bay, 5x triple turrets: 2x plasma beam, 2x pulse laser, and 1x sandcaster
Fittings: Dropship, 36 escape pods, meson screen, armory for 20 marines, fuel scoops, fuel processor (90t/day), 36
staterooms, 15 emergency low berths, 22 tons of cargo space
Crew: 36 total - captain, 3 sensor operators, 3 pilots, 4 engineers, 1 medic, 8 gunners, 16 marines. All crew enjoy individual
staterooms.
Cost: MCr650; Construction Time: 108 weeks

TL11 400-TON EXPLORER

The explorer is a long-range survey vessel equipped for prolonged excursions to unknown stars.
Explorer Tonnage: 400 Armor: None Streamlined
Maneuver: F Jump: F P-Plant: F Thrust: 3 G
Jump Rating: 3 Fuel: 168 tons for 1x Jump-3, 8 weeks endurance
Model/3 computer Armament: none; 4 tons reserved for weapon systems
Fittings: 6 escape pods, laboratory unit, 20 probe drones, 10 tons of mining drones, ATV, fuel scoops, fuel processor (45t/day),
6 staterooms, 10 low berths, 71 tons cargo
Crew: 6 total – pilot, sensor operator, 2 engineers, medic, science officer.
Cost: MCr164; Construction Time: 60 weeks

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
TL10 600-TON FREIGHTER
The freighter carries goods between orbital starports without entering planets' atmospheres.
Freighter Tonnage: 600 Armor: None Dispersed
Maneuver: C Jump: F P-Plant: F Thrust: 1 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 132 tons for 1x Jump-2, 2 weeks endurance
Model/1bis computer Armament: none; 4 tons reserved for weapon systems
Fittings: gig, 4 escape pods, 4 staterooms, 353 tons cargo
Crew: 4 total – pilot, sensor operator, and 2 engineers.
Cost: MCr174; Construction Time: 60 weeks

TL12 400-TON FRIGATE

The frigate is a light naval ship used for anti-piracy patrols and customs inspections.
Frigate Tonnage: 400 Armor: 10 Superdense Standard
Maneuver: H Jump: F P-Plant: H Thrust: 4 G
Jump Rating: 3 Fuel: 356 tons for 1x Jump-3, 2 weeks endurance
Model/3 computer Armament: 4x triple turrets: 2 particle beam, 1 pulse laser, 1 sandcaster
Fittings: ship's boat, 23 escape pods, armory for 10 marines, fuel scoops, fuel processor (140t/day), 12 staterooms, 10
emergency low berths, 9.5 tons of cargo space
Crew: 21 total – captain, 3 pilots, sensor operator, medic, 3 engineers, 4 gunners, and 8 marines. All crew at double occupancy
except for the captain.
Cost: MCr245; Construction Time: 60 weeks

TL12 100-TON PROSPECTOR

The prospector is a light asteroid mining vessel often operated by independent belters.
Prospector Tonnage: 100 Armor: None Standard
Maneuver: A Jump: A P-Plant: A Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 24 tons for 1x Jump-2, 4 weeks endurance
Model/2 computer Armament: 1x single beam laser turret
Fittings: Gig, 2 escape pods, 10 tons of mining drones, fuel scoops, fuel processor (5t/day), 2 staterooms, 12 tons cargo
Crew: 2 total - pilot and gunner.
Cost: MCr35; Construction Time: 36 weeks

TL9 400-TON SUBSIDIZED MERCHANT

The subsidized merchant is a common interstellar merchant vessel, financed by the government to provide
services on the less profitable frontier routes.
Subsidized Merchant Tonnage: 400 Armor: None Streamlined
Maneuver: D Jump: D P-Plant: D Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 88 tons for 1x Jump-2, 2 weeks endurance
Model/1bis computer Armament: none; 2 tons reserved for weapon systems
Fittings: 14 escape pods, 14 staterooms, 10 low berths, 179 tons cargo
Crew:6 total – pilot, sensor operator, 2 engineers, medic, steward.
Cost: MCr113; Construction Time: 60 weeks

TL12 200-TON RESEARCH VESSEL

The research vessel allows scientists to carry their laboratories to the stars and conduct interstellar studies.
Research Vessel Tonnage: 200 Armor: None Standard
Maneuver: B Jump: B P-Plant: B Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 48 tons for 1x Jump-2, 4 weeks endurance
Model/2 computer Armament: none; 2 tons reserved for weapon systems
Fittings: gig, 10 escape pods, 6 laboratory units, 10 staterooms, 12 low berths, 13 tons cargo
Crew: 10 total – pilot, sensor operator, engineer, medic, 6 scientists.
Cost: MCr71; Construction Time: 44 weeks

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TL9 100-TON SCOUT SHIP
The scout ship is a small exploration and courier vessel operable by a single scout but often operated by a team
of 3 or 4 explorers.
Scout Ship Tonnage: 100 Armor: None Streamlined
Maneuver: A Jump: A P-Plant: A Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 24 tons for 1x Jump-2, 4 weeks endurance
Model/2 computer Armament: 1 ton reserved for weapon systems
Fittings: 4 escape pods, 15 probe drones, ATV, fuel scoops, fuel processor (5t/day), 4 staterooms, 1 emergency low berth, 14
tons cargo
Crew: 1 Pilot; optionally, also sensor operator/science officer, engineer, and gunner
Cost: MCr28; Construction Time: 36 weeks

TL9 200-TON TRADER

The trader is a light, often independent, commercial vessel.
Trader Tonnage: 200 Armor: None Standard
Maneuver: B Jump: B P-Plant: B Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 44 tons for 1x Jump-2, 42weeks endurance
Model/1bis computer Armament: 2 ton sreserved for weapon systems
Fittings: 10 escape pods, 10 staterooms, 20 low berths, 53 tons cargo
Crew: 5 total – pilot, sensor operator, engineer, medic, steward.
Cost: MCr61; Construction Time: 44 weeks

TL9 100-ton Yacht

The yacht is a plaything and a transport for people of wealth and power.
Yacht Tonnage: 100 Armor: None Streamlined
Maneuver: A Jump: A P-Plant: A Thrust: 2 G
Jump Rating: 2 Fuel: 24 tons for 1x Jump-2, 4 weeks endurance
Model/2 computer Armament: 1 ton reserved for weapon systems
Fittings: 8 escape pods, fuel scoops, 8 staterooms (2 of them joined together to form a luxurious suite), 3 emergency low
berth, 10 tons cargo
Crew: 4 total – pilot, sensor operator, engineer, steward.
Cost: MCr30; Construction Time: 36 weeks

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SPACE COMBAT
The spacelanes can be dangerous. Pirates lurk near
gas giants and jump points. Vessels belonging to
enemy interstellar polities might raid a system and
prey on the player characters’ ship. The player
characters might decide to engage in some piracy
themselves, or they may be the crew of a patrol
frigate that has found some pirates or raiders. Use
the following rules to run the combats in such
occasions.
SPACE COMBAT BASICS
Ships typically fight at a range of several thousand, or
tens of thousands, kilometers. However, Cepheus
Light abstracts ranges in ship combat. There is no
need to track ranges, though creative Referees and
players might describe their maneuverings and
tactics in terms of range.
Space combat typically occurs in 6-minute rounds.
This time accounts for weapon recharge cycles and
long-range missile travel, as well as emergency
repairs. Since range is abstracted using the Advantage
mechanic (below), it is possible to run space combats
at different time frames. This allows for furious
dogfights between fighters, intense chases as
smugglers attempt to run blockades, as well as nail-
bitingly slow cat-and-mouse actions between pirates
and patrol frigates, all using the same basic rules.
However long a round is in space combat, each
round, every crew member may take one action, as
detailed below. This means that crew members
staffing two posts – such as a pilot also serving as a
captain – must choose only one post they are filling in
each round. This is the main reason most larger ships,
and all military vessels, have a dedicated captain and
specialized personnel for each crew position. A
character may man two positions at once, but in each
given turn, they may only act in one position. For
example, smaller civilian starships often have the
pilot double as the captain. In such cases, the
character must choose every round if they take a
piloting action or a captain's command action.
ADVANTAGE
There is no initiative or range to track in space
combat. Each space combat round, all participating
ships' pilots throw 2D + Piloting + the ship's
maneuver drive acceleration. The winner of this
opposed throw has Advantage and may attack with
the following modifiers:
83
Space Combat Advantage
Effect DM
0 DM-2
1 or 2 DM-1
3 or 4 DM+0
5+ DM+1
The loser of the Advantage throw suffers DM-3 to
attack anyone with a higher Advantage number than
them, for the round. This penalty applies to turrets
and bays. Weapons in fixed mounts cannot attack
without Advantage. Note that two vessels that have
the same result for their Advantage throw can still
attack each other, albeit at DM-2 to their attack
throws.
Vessels with disabled Maneuver drives automatically
lose Advantage. Note that fixed space stations roll
Advantage normally. They simply do not have a bonus
from maneuver drives. Instead of Piloting, station
commanders throw 2D + Gunnery for Advantage. It is
difficult, but not impossible, to stay in the blind spot
of a station-mounted turret.
It is possible to have multiple ships engaged in
combat. Simply record the different Advantage
results in descending order. The ships higher on the
“ladder” have Advantage on any ship below them.
The battle ends either when one participant is
disabled or destroyed, or if one participant
disengages.
ACTIONS
Each character may act once in each combat round.
There are five positions aboard a ship: Captain, Pilot,
Sensor Operator, Gunner, and Engineer, each with its
own actions. There may, of course, be multiple
characters acting as gunners or engineers. The same
goes to pilots, but only in the case of jump calculation
– one character with the Pilot skill, at the helm, may
perform evasive maneuvers while the other plots the
jump from another bridge position.
No matter how large or small the crew of a ship is,
during a combat situation, all hands are working and
can take actions
A ship with Advantage may choose when to take its
turn – before or after its opponents. All characters on
a ship act on its turn.

CAPTAIN ACTIONS
The ship’s captain may engage in the following
actions:
Support Crew: throw Leadership 8+. If successful,
gain a pool of positive DM points equal to the Effect
(minimum 1) that the captain may distribute as they
see fit for the next round. For example, a roll of 12
generates a pool of 4 points, which can be given to
one crewmember for a DM+4, or to four separate
crewmembers, for a DM+1 each.
Outmaneuver: the captain throws Tactics 10+. If
successful, apply a DM+2 to the ship's next round's
Advantage throw.
PILOT ACTIONS
The pilot may also engage in the following actions, in
addition to the Advantage throw.
Attack Vector: the pilot may throw Piloting 8+ and
apply the Effect to a single gunner’s attack throws for
the round. If the Effect of the throw is 2 or greater,
the pilot may distribute the Effect "points" as +DMs
to various gunners. If the ship does not have
Advantage, this action allows firing fixed weapons at
the enemy, albeit at DM-3 to hit.
Dock: Docking is only possible with a friendly ship, or
with an enemy ship without a functional maneuver
drive. You may not dock with an actively maneuvering
enemy ship.
Disengage: To disengage from ship combat, a ship can
use their Pilot action that round to throw Piloting
10an+ opposed Pilot skill throwing roll vs. the
pursuer's Pilot, adding each ship’s thrust rating. Add
a DM+2 for having Advantage. The quarry escapes if
its pilot wins the opposed throw. In a situation where
a ship is attempting to escape multiple targets, use
the Pilot skill and thrust rating from the fastest ship of
the pursuing side and subtracting the highest thrust
rating of the enemy. Alternatively, a jump-capable
ship may jump out of combat, as described below.
Evasive Maneuvers: the pilot throws Piloting 12+,
modified by the ship’s available maneuver drive
Thrust. On a success, apply a negative DM equal to
the Pilot’s skill (to a maximum of DM-2) to all
incoming attacks. This does not require Advantage.
Plot Jump: Plotting a jump requires the pilot's
attention (they may still make Advantage throws) for
6 – (Pilot Skill) space combat rounds. As well, the pilot
must succeed at a Piloting 4+ throw. It is also possible
to plot a jump faster, but this imposes a DM-2 per
round reduced, to a minimum of 1 round. A failed
throw means that the jump must be plotted again.
Example: A pilot with Pilot-3 skill can plot a jump in 6
– 3 = 3 combat rounds. If they want to reduce that by
CEPHEUS LIGHT
two rounds, they may, albeit at a DM-4 penalty on a
Pilot 4+ throw.
Emergency Jump: throw Piloting 6+ to initiate an
emergency jump while under fire; if successful, the
ship’s engineer must throw Engineering 8+ to power
the jump. Failures may be retried in the next round.
See the Ship Operations chapter above for the jump
procedure itself. Note this applies DM-2 to the Jump
Throw, increasing the chance of misjump. This
requires a jump plot, as noted above – either
prepared beforehand or generated during combat.
SENSOR OPERATOR ACTIONS
The ship’s sensor operator may act as follows:
Spoof Missiles: Electronic warfare can defeat
incoming missiles; throw Computer 8+ to spoof an
incoming missile due to impact that round, or the
next round. The sensor operator must roll to
successfully spoof each missile. Multiple missiles may
be spoofed each round.
Jam Sensors: Electronic warfare can provide “cover”
to a ship. Roll Opposed Computer against one enemy
vessel. If successful, the target of the Jamming suffers
a DM equal to the skill level of the sensor operator (to
a DM-3 cap) to any attack throw made against the
jamming ship. This is cumulative with a pilot's Evasive
Maneuvers.
Scan: throw Computer 6+ to detect vessels and other
objects; this is modified by the ship’s sensor DM and
by stealth.
Target Systems: throws Computer 10+. If successful,
a single gunner in the crew may choose to target a
specific system on the enemy ship with one attack. If
that gunner’s next attack is successful and does
damage, they may select which system the attack has
hit.
GUNNER ACTIONS
Each gunner may take one of the following actions –
one action per weapon in the turret they control:
Fire Energy Weapons: throw Gunnery 8+ to hit a
target with an energy weapon such as a laser, particle
beam, meson gun, or fusion gun in their turret or bay.
Launch Missiles: the gunner launches one missile per
rack in the turret; a missile bank shoots a salvo of 12
missiles. Throw Gunnery 5+ before launch to lock the
missile on its target. Failure to lock prevents
launching but keeps the missile intact (and it may be
attempted launch again in future rounds).
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Missiles ignore Advantage modifiers but are
vulnerable to point-defense fire and electronic
warfare spoofing. Missiles will hit their target the
next round after their launch, allowing the target to
target the missile with point-defense and spoofing, if
desired. On the round missiles reach their target,
throw 4+ to hit the target, unmodified by any skill.
The Evasive Maneuvers Pilot action affects this
missile attack throw. Smart missiles may retry this
throw once at 8+, in the following round.
Point Defense: any energy weapon can perform point
defense fire against incoming missiles, though pulse
lasers are the most effective for this task. Throw
Gunnery 10+ to destroy an incoming missile, or
Gunnery 6+ when using a pulse laser. The gunner may
make multiple point defense attacks with the same
turret in the same action, but each attack after the
first suffers from a cumulative DM-1, so the third
shot, for example, will suffer DM-2 to hit the missile.
Using this basic rule, throw against each incoming
missile, but note that unlike regular attacks, here the
gunner may try to gun down multiple missiles per
combat round, with the penalty noted above. If a
turret has multiple energy weapons in a turret being
used for Point Defense, each weapon is rolled for
separately – negative DMs for multiple attacks to not
transfer between weapons. However, all weapons in
a turret must be used for point defense against
missiles coming from the same enemy ship.
Launch Sand: throw Gunnery 6+. If successful, all
incoming laser and particle beam fire from a single
target suffer DM-2 to hit. Sand clouds last for one
round. Each sand canister can block fire from one
ship, so a double or triple sandcaster turret can help
the ship defend against multiple threats at once or
provide a denser defense against multiple threats.
Note that this modifier does not stack; each ship can
be affected only once by a given target's sand clouds.
Note: each weapon in a double or triple turret has its
own attack throw. However, energy weapons
mounted on the same turret may only attack the
same target. The gunner may launch missiles and
sand at any desired target. Also note that weapons
mounted on a fixed mount cannot be used to attack
unless the vessel has Advantage. Each weapon within
a given turret can only be used once per combat
round, but the gunner may fire all or part of the
weapons in the same turret at the same round. In a
triple turret, a gunner can fire all three weapons
every turn – so the actions are not per weapon, but
per turret.
Also note that, for the sake of simplicity, a missile bay
must fire all its missiles against a single target each
round.
85
OPTIONAL RULE: STREAMLINED TURRET FIRE
To reduce the amount of die rolls in ship combat, we
recommend that for ships with over 3 turrets, each
double or triple turret should carry the same type of
weapons. This allows all weapons to share the same
attack throw, causing a single hit but attacking at
DM+1 for a double turret or at DM+2 for a triple
turret. Under this optional rule, all weapons in such a
turret must attack the same target. If launching
missiles, all missiles in the same turret share a single
locking throw but hit their target individually. We
recommend that when using the streamlined turret
fire rules, you should also use the streamlined point
defense rules (see below) for the sake of simplicity.
OPTIONAL RULE: STREAMLINED POINT DEFENSE
In large battles involving large numbers of missiles
and lasers, attacking each missile individually by
point defense fire is quite impractical. To simplify
such combat, use the following rule. At the beginning
of each round, the defender decides how many, if
any, energy weapons will be dedicated to point
defense. This applies a -DM to all incoming missiles'
hit throws, per the following table.
Streamlined Point Defense
Weapons DM to incoming missiles
1 -1
2-4 -2
5-7 -3
8+ -4
ENGINEER ACTIONS
Any character with the Engineering skill can perform
Damage Control – emergency repairs of damaged
systems and breaches. Multiple characters with this
skill may perform damage control at the same time,
each on a different system. Throw Engineering 8+ to
repair a damaged system or to jury-rig a single
disabled system back into operation. Success
temporarily repairs one hit on the system. The
damage will reappear in 1D hours.
Characters without the Engineering skill but with the
Repair skill may assist an engineer in damage control;
each such assistant grants DM+1 to the engineer’s
damage control throw per level of skill, to a maximum
of DM+2 per throw. A person with a Repair skill above
1 can assist on multiple Engineering repairs up to
their maximum skill level; or they may attempt
repairs on their own, as if they have Engineering-0.
Repair drones can make one damage control check
per combat round.
 CEPHEUS LIGHT
Overcharge Weapon: the engineer can disable the Critical Hits
safeties on an energy weapon for extra damage. 1D Starship Critical Hit Small Craft Critical Hit
Throw Engineering 8+ to boost a single energy 1 Power Plant Destroyed M-Drive Destroyed
weapon’s Hits rating by +1. 2 M-Drive Destroyed M-Drive Destroyed
Redline Engines: the ship’s chief engineer throws 3 Jump Drive Destroyed Power Plant Destroyed
Engineering 8+. On a success, the ship’s thrust 4 Critical Crew Hit Critical Crew Hit
increases by 1 for next round (including the 5 Computer Destroyed Computer Destroyed
Advantage throw). 6 Ship Destroyed Ship Destroyed

DAMAGE AND HITS PENETRATION DESCRIPTIONS

When an attack hits an armored ship, throw the The following is a description of ship system
weapon’s damage dice. If the throw is equal to the penetration hits. Note that if a system is destroyed,
target’s Armor rating or higher, the attack penetrates any further damage on the same system has no
and causes damage. Attacks always penetrate further effect.
unarmored ships. For example, when a beam laser Armor
hits a ship with Armor 4, throw 4+ on the laser’s 1D
damage to penetrate. The armor will block any lower Reduce the ship’s armor rating by 1. Ignore if the ship
roll. Note that meson weapons ignore armor and has no armor.
always penetrates and causes damage. Breach
For each weapon that Penetrates, make one throw on The ship suffers a hull breach and is exposed to
the following table. Each "hit" a weapon causes (see vacuum. On larger ships, each Breach depressurizes
the weapon description) brings a separate roll on this 1000 tons of the ship. Anyone not wearing a Vacc Suit
table. So, for example, a weapon causing two "hits" or in a sealed compartment suffers exposure to
will roll twice on the damage table when it penetrates vacuum per the environmental hazard chapter.
a target. Staterooms are considered sealed for the purposes of
this damage.
Starship Combat Penetration Location Bridge
2D Starship Penetration Small Craft Penetration
The bridge is hit.
2 Breach Breach
3 Power Plant Power Plant First Hit: the crew suffers a Crew Hit (see below). DM-
4 J-Drive Hold 2 on all future Advantage rolls.
5 Weapons M-Drive
6 M-Drive Fuel Second Hit: bridge disabled; Captain, Pilot, and
7 Armor M-Drive Sensor Operator actions are impossible until the
8 Hold Armor bridge is repaired, and Gunnery throws suffer DM-2.
9 Crew Weapons The crew suffers a Crew Hit (see below).
10 Computer Computer Third Hit: bridge irreparably destroyed, and each
11 Bridge Crew
bridge crew member suffers 4D damage.
12 Critical Critical
Crew
Certain weapons cause Radiation damage, as noted 1D crew members and passengers suffer 2D damage
below. each. If there are fewer people than the number
rolled, one or more of them, randomly determined,
Radiation Penetration will receive multiple hits. This damage can be
1D Radiation Penetration
1 Lucky escape – no radiation damage
reduced by personal armor.
2 Crew Critical Crew Hit
3 Crew
4 Computer All crew and passengers suffer 4D damage each. This
5 Computer damage can be reduced by personal armor.
6 Critical Crew Hit

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Computer term power supply.
The ship’s computer is hit. Weapons
First Hit: computer's sensor DM reduced by -2. The ship's weapon systems are hit.
Second Hit: computer disabled. Jumps and sensor use First Hit: disable one weapon (random turret or bay)
are impossible.
Second Hit: disable 1DX10% of all weapons (round up
Third Hit: computer irreparably destroyed. turrets or bays)
Fuel Third Hit: All weapons are disabled.
The fuel tank is hit.
First Hit: 1Dx5% of fuel tank capacity is destroyed. REPAIRING DAMAGE
Second Hit: 1Dx10% of the fuel tank capacity is A jury-rigged system will fail within 1D hours. After
destroyed. This fuel loss is in addition to the losses of that, the system requires full repairs. Throw
the first hit. Engineering 6+ to repair a damaged system; this takes
1D hours and requires 0.02 ton of spare parts per ton
Third Hit: Fuel tanks destroyed.
of repaired system. A successful throw returns the
Hold system to full functioning. A failed throw may be
repeated but will require additional spare parts.
The cargo hold is hit.
Spare parts cost Cr100,000 per ton, and may be
First Hit: 1Dx5% of the cargo is destroyed. stored in the ship's cargo bay.
Second Hit: 1Dx10% of cargo is destroyed. This cargo Replacing a destroyed system requires a shipyard and
loss is in addition to the losses of the first hit. costs 2Dx10% of the system’s original cost.
Third Hit: the cargo hold and all its contents are
destroyed.
J-Drive
The ship’s jump drive is hit.
First Hit: DM-2 to any attempt to jump.
Second Hit: jump drive disabled.
Third Hit: jump drive irreparably destroyed.
M-Drive
The maneuver drive is hit.
First Hit: halve the ship’s remaining thrust (round
down).
Second Hit: maneuver drive disabled. The ship is
adrift and will always lose Advantage.
Third Hit: maneuver drive irreparably destroyed.
Power Plant
The power plant is hit.
First Hit: halve the ship’s thrust and jump rating
(round down).
Second Hit: power plant disabled. The ship is
functioning on emergency power. Energy weapons
fire is impossible. The ship will always lose
Advantage.
Third Hit: power plant irreparably destroyed.
Emergency power remains for 1D hours; afterwards,
life support systems will fail. Low berths are
unaffected by this as they have their integral long-

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
SPACE COMBAT EXAMPLE goods, and the captain’s safe has documents worth
millions in secure loans for purchasing arms. The
The Zorya is attempting to run the blockade of the Zorya is a standard TL9 200-ton Trader with the
planet Tirna, the home of a nascent rebellion that has following combat-relevant stats:
hired the ship and its crew to purchase weapons and
equipment. The Zorya’s hold is filled with trade
Zorya Tonnage: 200 Hull: Standard
Armor: 0 Thrust: 2G Computer DM: -2
Jump Rating: 2
Weapons: 1 Double Turret
2x Pulse Lasers:
1D Penetration, 2 hits
Crew DM: +2

The Reaper is a TL11, 300-ton Corsair being used as a

blockade ship. Its combat-relevant stats are as
follows:
Reaper Tonnage: 300 Hull: Streamlined
Armor: 4 Thrust: 4G Computer DM: +1
Jump Rating: 3
Weapons: 3 Triple Turrets
Turret 1 Turret 2 Turret 3
3x Pulse Lasers 3x Pulse Lasers 3x Missile Launchers
1D Damage, 2 hits 1D Damage, 2 hits 2D Damage, 2 hits
Crew DM Modifier: +1

Note that in both cases the crew skill modifiers are
simplified to better illustrate the ship combat
example. In a real combat with a player character
crew, use the different PC skills.
The GM rules that the Zorya is going to have to avoid
getting captured for four rounds and will be able to
attempt a rushed Jump in the fifth round of ship
combat, or later. The Reaper will have at least four
rounds to disable the Zorya and board it. Fortunately
for the crew of the Zorya, they possess a pre-plotted
Jump course to the star system nearby.
Round 1:
Both ships roll for Advantage:
Zorya: 12 + 2 (Crew Skill) +2 (Thrust) = 16
Reaper: 10 + 1 (Crew skill) + 4 (Thrust) = 15
The Zorya gains the Advantage this round and will be
able to attack with a DM-1 to hit. The Reaper can
attack with a DM-3 to hit.
The Zorya opts to go first:
The Captain attempts to Outmaneuver the enemy
ship, rolling a 7 + 2 (Crew skill) = 9, and fails to gain
any tactical advantage.
The Pilot would like to Disengage, but the GM has
ruled that the Zorya has to survive for at least four
rounds before attempting to Jump out. Instead, the
pilot will attempt Evasive Maneuvers, rolling 5 + 2
(Crew skill) + 2 (Thrust) = 9, and fails to fool the
Reaper’s gunners.
The Sensor Operator attempts to Jam the Sensors on
board the Reaper, rolling a 9 + 2 (Crew skill) – 2
(Computer DM) = 9 vs. the Reaper’s sensor operator’s
roll of 3 + 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Computer DM) = 5.
Success! The Reaper is penalized by DM-2 (Sensor
Operator’s skill level) on all attack rolls against the
Zorya this round.
The Gunner takes careful aim and fires, despite the
sub-optimal conditions.
Pulse Laser 1: 7 + 2 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) =
8, a hit!
Pulse Laser 2: 5 + 2 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) =
6, a miss.
To do damage, the pulse laser must roll 1D and get a
result of 4+, equal to or greater than the Reaper’s
armor rating. With a result of 6, the shot penetrates
the corsair’s armor, and does two hits. Two separate
location rolls are made: the first being 7, Armor. This
reduces the Reaper’s Armor Rating by 1 to 3. The
second is a Crew hit, which affects 1D crew for 2D6
damage each. Three of the Reaper’s crew are hit for
7, 7, and 8 points of damage, which is reduced by
whatever armor the DM might rule they are wearing.
Finally, the Engineer decides to Redline the Engines
to squeeze out a bit more thrust for next round’s
Advantage roll. He rolls 7 + 2 (Crew skill) = 9, which is
enough for a +1 to the Zorya’s thrust rating (3G total).

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
Now, the Reaper acts. 12 + 1 (Crew skill) = 13, which provides a total of
DM+5 to divide up among different attack rolls.
The Captain decides to Support the Crew, rolling 8 +
1 (Crew skill) = 9, for an Effect of 1, giving a DM+1 to The Sensor Operator chooses to Target Systems, in
one roll. This modifier must be declared before the the hope of disabling the Zorya’s M-Drive. Rolling a 9
dice are rolled. + 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Computer DM) = 11, he sends the
sensor data to one of the laser turrets.
The Pilot must mitigate the DM-3 penalty for
attacking without Advantage, so she chooses to fly an The Engineer Redlines the Engine, rolling 9 + 1 (Crew
Attack Vector, rolling 8 + 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Support skill) = 10, for a +1 to Thrust (5G total) next round.
Crew DM) = 10, which provides a DM+2 to one attack
The Gunners attack with their pulse lasers. The first
roll, or DM+1 to two attack rolls.
shot is aimed at the Zorya’s maneuver drive. The rolls
The Sensor Operator chooses to Target Systems, in are as follows:
the hope of disabling the Zorya’s M-Drive. Rolling a 7
Pulse Laser Turret A:
+ 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Computer DM) = 9, the bid fails.
Laser 1: 4 + 1 (Crew skill) + 5 (Attack Vector DM) – 1
The Engineer Redlines the Engine, rolling 8 + 1 (Crew
(Advantage DM) = 9, a hit on the Zorya’s M-Drive! We
skill) = 9, for a +1 to Thrust (5G total) next round.
will resolve this after all the other attacks are made.
The Gunners know to not use missiles, since the goal
Laser 2: 6 + 1 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) = 6, a
is to capture the Zorya, not destroy it, so only the
miss.
gunners in the two triple pulse laser turrets open fire.
The rolls are as follows: Laser 3: 9 + 1 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) = 9,
another hit.
Pulse Laser Turret A:
Pulse Laser Turret B:
Laser 1: 9 + 1 (Crew skill) + 2 (Attack Vector DM) – 2
(Sensor Jamming DM) – 3 (Attacking without Laser 1: 4 + 1 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) = 4
Advantage) = 7, a miss.
Laser 2: 6 + 1 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) = 6
Laser 2: 3 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Sensor Jamming DM) –
Laser 3: 7 + 1 (Crew skill) – 1 (Advantage DM) = 7,
3 (No Advantage) = -1, a miss.
three misses.
Laser 3: 10 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Sensor Jamming) – 3
The first pulse laser automatically penetrates, as the
(No Advantage) = 6, miss.
Zorya has no armor. Two hits are applied on the ship’s
Pulse Laser Turret B: Maneuver Drive, disabling it!
Laser 1: 7 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Sensor Jamming) – 3 (No The second pulse laser’s two hits are rolled randomly:
Advantage) = 3 8, Hold and 7, Armor. Since the Zorya has no armor,
the second hit location is ignored. The hit in the old
Laser 2: 10 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Sensor Jamming) – 3
destroys 1D x 5% of the contents, in this case 1 x 5%
(No Advantage) = 6
= 5%.
Laser 3: 9 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Sensor Jamming) – 3 (No
The Zorya now may act.
Advantage) = 5
The Captain swallows hard, and attempts to
The crew of the Zorya breathe a sigh of relief. The first
Outmaneuver the enemy ship, rolling a 9 + 2 (Crew
round of combat is over.
skill) = 11. This will provide a DM+2 bonus to the next
Advantage roll, assuming the Engineer can get the M-
Drive operational. Ships without functioning M-
Round 2:
Drives do not roll Advantage!
Both ships roll for Advantage:
The Engineer performs Damage Control! The roll is 8
Zorya: 8 + 2 (Crew Skill) + 3 (Thrust) = 13 + 2 (Crew skill) = 10, which restores the M-Drive to
some functionality (half thrust is 1G). The crew
Reaper: 9 + 1 (Crew skill) + 5 (Thrust) = 15
breathes a much heavier sigh of relief than last
The Reaper has the Advantage this round, and will round’s!
attack with a DM-1 penalty to hit.
The Pilot performs Evasive Maneuvers, rolling a 4 + 2
Now, the Reaper acts first. (Crew skill) + 1 (Thrust) = 7, which is insufficient to
provide any benefit.
The Captain decides to Support the Crew, rolling 7 +
1 (Crew skill) = 8, for an Effect of 0, no effect.
The Pilot plots a very effective Attack Vector, rolling

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The Sensor Operator attempts to Jam the Sensors on
board the Reaper, rolling a 6 + 2 (Crew skill) – 2
(Computer DM) = 6 vs. the Reaper’s sensor operator’s
roll of 3 + 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Computer DM) = 5.
Success! The Reaper is again penalized by DM-2
(Sensor Operator’s skill level) on all attack rolls
against the Zorya in the next round.
The Gunner opens fire, despite being in a
disadvantaged position:
Pulse Laser 1: 7 + 2 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) =
6 Now, the Reaper acts:
Pulse Laser 2: 8 + 2 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) =
7, both shots miss.
Round 3:
The ships roll for Advantage:
Zorya: 9 + 2 (Crew Skill) + 1 (Thrust) +2
(Outmaneuver) = 14
Reaper: 3 + 1 (Crew skill) + 5 (Thrust) = 9
The Zorya regains the Advantage this round by an
effect of 5! This means that its attacks against the
Reaper will gain a DM+1 bonus to hit.
The Zorya opts to act first.
The Captain decides to Support the Crew: rolling an
8 + 2 (Crew skill) = 10. This provides a 2-point pool of
dice modifiers for one or two rolls this round.
The Engineer performs Damage Control again this
round: The roll is 9 + 2 (Crew skill) = 11, which
restores the M-Drive to full functionality. Note that
these are temporary repairs that will have to be
reinforced and fully repaired after combat is over.
The Pilot performs Evasive Maneuvers, rolling a 3 + 2
(Crew skill) = 5, which is not enough to make the
Zorya harder to hit.
The Sensor Operator maintains the Sensor Jamming
this round. The roll was made last round, but since
there were no attacks after the Sensor Jamming
began, the referee decides to allow last round’s roll to
cover this round.
The Gunner opens fire, despite their disadvantaged
position:
Pulse Laser 1: 9 + 2 (Crew skill) +1 (Advantage DM) =
12, a hit. Rolling for damage, a 6 means that the shot
has penetrated.
Pulse Laser 2: 5 + 2 (Crew skill) +1 (Advantage DM) =
8, another hit. The damage roll is a 3, which
penetrates the Reaper’s reduced armor of 3.
The first Pulse laser’s two hits are rolled: both results
are 5—weapon hits. The first disables one randomly
determined weapon, in this case, a missile rack. The
CEPHEUS LIGHT
second hit disables 1Dx10% of all weapons (in
addition to the first weapon hit), 20% of all weapons,
which accounts for two more weapons (rounded to
the nearest whole number). The referee determines
that another missile rack and a pulse laser are
knocked out.
The second pulse laser’s hits are 8: a hit on the Hold,
which destroys 25% of the contents of the Reaper’s
hold, and 7—another point of armor loss, reducing
the Reaper’s armor to 2.
The Captain Supports the Crew, rolling 7 + 1 (Crew
skill) = 8, for an Effect of 0, no effect.
The Pilot plots an Attack Vector, rolling 3 + 1 (Crew
skill) = 4, which fails horribly.
The Sensor Operator chooses to Target Systems,
rolling 4 + 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Computer DM) = 6. The
sensors are totally ineffective.
The Engineer carries out Damage Control, fixing a
missile rack, rolling 9 + 1 (Crew skill) = 10, which
successfully brings a single missile rack back on line.
The Gunners attack with their pulse lasers, though
they are very unlikely to make a successful attack,
given both the sensor jamming and the
disadvantaged position they’re in.
Pulse Laser Turret A:
Laser 1: 4 + 1 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) – 2
(Sensor jamming) = 0,
Laser 2: 7 + 1 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) – 2
(Sensor jamming) = 3,
Laser 3: 5 + 1 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) – 2
(Sensor jamming) = 1, all misses.
Pulse Laser Turret B:
Laser 1: 9 + 1 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) – 2
(Sensor jamming) = 5
Laser 2: 11 + 1 (Crew skill) – 3 (Advantage DM) – 2
(Sensor jamming) = 7, almost a hit!
Laser 3: Currently offline.
All the laser attacks miss, while the captain of the
Reaper refuses to authorize any missile launches.
Round 4:
The ships roll for Advantage:
Zorya: 8 + 2 (Crew Skill) + 2 (Thrust) = 12
Reaper: 7 + 1 (Crew skill) + 4 (Thrust) = 12
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A Tie! Both ships are jockeying for position and do
not gain advantage on each other. This means that
they are both penalized by DM-2 to hit each other.
To determine which ship goes first, the referee rolls
off randomly using a 1D6, highest chooses. The
Zorya rolls a 2, and the Reaper, a 2! Another tie! Re-
roll: The Zorya rolls 4, the Reaper 1, and the Zorya
opts to go first.
The Captain Supports the Crew: rolling a 6 + 2 (Crew
skill) = 8, no effect.
The Engineer returns to Redlining the Engine for
extra thrust: The roll is 10 + 2 (Crew skill) = 12, which
grants a +1 bonus to thrust this round (and for the
next Advantage roll).
The Pilot performs Evasive Maneuvers. Rolling a 2 +
2 (Crew skill) = 4, the Pilot curses his lousy luck!
The Sensor Operator begins a new round of Sensor
Jamming: 8 + 2 (Crew skill) – 2 (Computer DM) vs.
the Reaper’s 8 + 1 (Crew skill) + 1 (Computer DM) =
10. The sensor jamming is ineffective.
The Gunner opens fire:
Pulse Laser 1: 5 + 2 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM)
= 5, a miss.
Pulse Laser 2: 7 + 2 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM)
= 7, another miss.
Now, the Reaper acts:
The Captain Supports the Crew, rolling 5 + 1 (Crew
skill) = 6, no effect.
The Pilot plots an Attack Vector, rolling 6 + 1 (Crew
skill) = 47, no effect.
The Sensor Operator chooses to Target Systems,
hoping to disable the Zorya’s Jump drive.
The roll is 8 + 1 (Crew skill) = 9, which is not enough
to target the Jump drive.
The Engineer attempts to repair the disabled pulse
laser: 4 + 1 (Crew skill) = 5, a failure.
The Gunners attack with their pulse lasers, though
they are very unlikely to make a successful attack,
given both the sensor jamming and the
disadvantaged position they’re in.
Pulse Laser Turret A:
Laser 1: 4 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM) = 3,
Laser 2: 12 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM) = 11,
a hit.
Laser 3: 10 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM) = 9, a
hit.
Pulse Laser Turret B:
Laser 1: 7 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM) = 6,
91
Laser 2: 7 + 1 (Crew skill) – 2 (Advantage DM) = 6,
both misses.
Laser 3: Currently offline.
The Reaper’s captain authorizes the missile turret to
open fire!
Missile rack 1: 3 + 1 (Crew skill) = 4 no lock, no
launch.
Missile rack 2: 8 + 1 (Crew skill) = 9 a lock! The
missile flies off and will make its own attack at the
end of next round.
Missile rack 3: 8 + 1 (Crew skill) = 9, another lock and
launch!
The two pulse lasers hits each damage the Zorya.
Three 7s are rolled, for – 3 to the Zorya’s non-
existent armor rating. The ship has a lot of surface
scarring and damage though. However, the fourth
hit location is 8—the Hold. This is the Hold’s second
hit, which means that it destroys 1Dx10% of the
hold’s contents, in addition to the first hit: another
20% of the Zorya’s cargo is destroyed.
Round 5:
The final round. The Zorya is now free to Jump out
of this system. Nearly a half-hour of combat (24
minutes) has occurred at this point. The ships roll for
Advantage:
Zorya: 10 + 2 (Crew Skill) + 3 (Thrust) = 15
Reaper: 4 + 1 (Crew skill) + 4 (Thrust) = 9
The Zorya now has the advantage by an effect of 6.
All attacks against the Reaper will be at DM+1.
The Zorya opts to act first.
The Captain decides to Support the Crew: rolling an
8 + 2 (Crew skill) = 10. He gives the DM+2 to the
Engineer, who will act accordingly.
The Pilot performs an Emergency Jump, rolling a 9 +
2 (Crew skill) = 11, which is an Effect of 5 for this roll.
The Sensor Operator begins Spoofing the two
missiles that are incoming! The roll for the first
missile is 10 + 2 (Crew skill) – 2 (Computer DM) = 10,
which spoofs the first missile. The second roll is 6 +
2 (Crew skill) – 2 (Computer DM) = 6. The missile is
not disabled and will attack at the end of the round.
The Engineer must Power the Emergency Jump,
which involves pulling lots of levers and crossing his
fingers. The roll is 7 + 2 (Crew skill) + 2 (Captain’s
Support Crew DM bonus) = 11, a success with an
Effect of 3.

Now the Jump Roll, as per the standard rules, though
penalized by DM-2: 7 +3 (Power Emergency Jump
effect) – 2 (Emergency Jump DM) = 7, which is
successful!
The Gunner is openly disappointed, but secretly
relieved that he does not have to try Point Defense
CEPHEUS LIGHT
fire to shoot down the incoming missile. The combat
is over as the Zorya disappears in a flash of high-tech
physics.
The Captain of the Reaper fumes, but then orders the
pilot to plot a Jump to the nearest system over. The
chase has just begun!
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WORLDS
Countless worlds await the hardy adventurer or
intrepid explorer. This chapter provides quick and
STAR MAPPING
simple rules for the generation of worlds and These rules greatly abstract astrography by using
subsectors of space with several worlds in them. two-dimensional star maps to represent three-
dimensional space. The standard map is a
“subsector”, 10 hexagons long and 8 hexagons wide.
UNIVERSAL WORLD PROFILE (UWP) Each hexagon represents a parsec (3.26 light years). 2
by 2 subsectors are a “quadrant” and 4 by 4
The Cepheus Engine and most compatible OGL 2D6 subsectors (2 by 2 quadrants) are a “sector”.
Sci-Fi games use a shorthand method to easily record
When randomly generating a subsector, a world is
planetary data. This works like the shorthand
normally present in each subsector hex on a throw of
Universal Personal Profile (UPP) given in the
4+ on 1D. If a world is present, it has a gas giant in its
character generation chapter. This encoding uses
system on a throw of 5+ on 2D. Gas giants are
pseudo-hexadecimal codes (as given below) for the
important for exploration as they allow accessible
numbers 10-16.
frontier refueling. The Referee is free to increase or
Pseudo-Hexadecimal Notations decrease the target number to represent denser or
Rating Letter
sparser regions of space, but remember, ships must
10 A
have a star at each end of their jump, so a very sparse
11 B
region of space might represent an unpassable
12 C
boundary.
13 D
14 E
15 F
16 G WORLD SIZES
Throw 2D-2 and consult the following table to
A UWP is a string of hexadecimal numbers presenting
determine the world’s size code.
basic information about a world in eight digits.
Surface gravity is an approximation using Earth
It lists the world’s characteristics in the following
standard gravity (9.8m/s2) as one “g”.
order:
1. Starport type. World Size
Rating Diameter Surface gravity
2. World size. 0 Asteroid belt Negligible
1 1600km 0.05g
3. Atmosphere. 2 3200km 0.15g
4. Hydrographics. 3 4800km 0.25g
4 6400km 0.35g
5. Population. 5 8000km 0.45g
6 9600km 0.7g
6. Government. 7 11200km 0.9g
8 12800km 1.0g
7. Law Level.
9 14400km 1.25g
8. Tech level. A (10) 16000km 1.4g

For example, a world with the UWP of E617311-8 has

the following characteristics:
1. Starport E (frontier starport).
2. World Size 6 (slightly smaller than Terra).
3. Atmosphere Code 1 (Trace)
4. 70% surface covered by water (in this case –
ice).

5. A population of 1,000 to 9,999 residents.

6. Government type 1 (Corporation)
7. Law Level 1 (minimal law enforcement)
8. Tech level 8

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
ATMOSPHERE deadly pressure at ground level; atmosphere is
breathable and habitable at high altitude, such as on
Throw 2D-7 and add the world’s Size rating to tall mountains. At lower altitudes, the pressure
determine the world’s atmosphere. If a world’s size is causes 1D damage per round to unprotected
0, the atmosphere is also 0. The atmosphere rating characters.
cannot be higher than F (15).
Thin, Low: a thin atmosphere which is only
Atmosphere breathable at low altitudes, where pressure is
Rating Atmosphere Survival Gear Required
sufficient to support unprotected human life. At
0 Vacuum Vacc Suit
1 Trace Vacc Suit
higher altitudes, treat as a Very Thin atmosphere.
2 Very Thin, Tainted Breather Unusual: left to the Referee’s discretion.
3 Very Thin Breather
4 Thin, Tainted Breather
5 Thin
HYDROGRAPHICS
6 Standard
7 Standard, Tainted Breather Throw 2D-7 and add the world’s size to determine the
8 Dense world’s hydrographic rating. The following DMs apply.
9 Dense, Tainted Breather A planet’s hydrographic rating cannot exceed A.
A (10) Exotic Air Supply Multiply this figure by ten to determine the
B (11) Corrosive Vacc Suit
percentage of the world’s surface that is covered by
C (12) Insidious Vacc Suit
water. For example, a planet with a hydrographics
D (13) Dense, High
E (14) Thin, Low rating of 2 would have 20% of its surface covered by
F (15) Unusual Varies water.
Hydrographics DMs
Vacuum: no atmosphere. Organic beings require a Condition DM
Size 0 or 1 Hydrographics must be 0
vacc suit to survive.
Atmosphere 0, 1, A, B, or C DM-4
Trace: extremely low atmospheric pressure. Requires Atmosphere E DM-2
a vacc suit.
Tainted: an otherwise breathable atmosphere, POPULATION
except that it contains some elements harmful to Throw 2D-2 to determine the world’s population
humans. Breathing this atmosphere without a rating. This represents the order of magnitude of the
breather-mask causes 1D damage every 10 minutes. world’s population. For example, Population 3 is
Very Thin: low air pressure; humans require a thousands of inhabitants, population 7 is tens of
Breather to condense the atmosphere to a millions, and Population 9 is billions of inhabitants.
breathable pressure. A Very Thin, Tainted Maximum population is A (tens of billions of
atmosphere uses both the breather's condenser inhabitants) per world, except for extreme cases at
function and filtration function. the Referee's discretion
Thin: low-pressure breathable atmosphere. Requires Apply the following DMs:
no protection gear but will be unpleasant for
Population DMs
unaccustomed humans.
Condition DM
Standard: Terra-like atmospheric pressure and Atmosphere A or greater DM-2
composition. Best environment for humans. Atmosphere 6 DM+3
Atmosphere 5 or 8 DM+1
Dense: high-pressure breathable atmosphere. Hydrographics 0 and Atmosphere less than 3 DM-1
Requires no protection gear but will be unpleasant
for unaccustomed humans.
Exotic: unbreathable by humans but otherwise
harmless to them. Humans require an air supply to
survive in Exotic atmospheres.
Corrosive: causes 1D damage per round to
unprotected characters.
Insidious: as Corrosive, but powerful enough to
breach a vacc suit within 2D hours. A Hostile
Environment Vacc Suit is immune to this corrosion.
Dense, High (D): thick N2/O2 atmosphere with

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
GOVERNMENT Captive Government (6): government answerable to
external authority.
Throw 2D-7 plus the world’s population rating to
determine its government type, as described below. Balkanized (7): several governments exist on the
same world. 21st century Terra is an example.
World Government
Rating Government Civil Service Bureaucracy (8): government by agents
0 None selected for their competence.
1 Corporation
2 Participatory Democracy Impersonal Bureaucracy (9): government by complex
3 Self-Perpetuating Oligarchy agencies insulated from the population.
4 Representative Democracy
5 Technocracy Charismatic Dictatorship (A): governed by a single
6 Captive Government leader who enjoys popular support.
7 Balkanized
8 Civil Service Bureaucracy Non-Charismatic Dictatorship (B): governed by a
9 Impersonal Bureaucracy single ruler who lacks popular support.
A (10) Charismatic Dictator
B (11) Non-Charismatic Dictator Charismatic Oligarchy (C): rule by a select group or
C (12) Charismatic Oligarchy organization enjoying popular support.
D (13) Religious Dictatorship
Religious Dictatorship (D): governed by a religious
E (14) Religious Autocracy
F (15) Totalitarian Oligarchy organization.
Religious Autocracy (E): rule by a single religious
None (0): no government, small family or loose clan
leader.
structure
Totalitarian Oligarchy (F): governed by a clique
Corporation (1): rule by a corporation or other
controlling every facet of the population's lives.
commercial enterprise.
Participatory Democracy (2): direct democratic rule
by the entire population. LAW LEVEL
Self-Perpetuating Oligarchy (3): a small, self- Throw 2D-7 plus the government rating to determine
contained group of people are in control. the world’s law level, as described below. This
represents how strict are the world’s laws and their
Representative Democracy (4): rule by elected enforcement. If the world’s government rating is 0,
officials. A republic. then its Law Level is also 0. The Law Level should
Technocracy (5): rule by unelected experts and never be less than 0 or greater than 10 (A).
professionals.
Law Level
Rating Commonly Forbidden Weapons
0 Lawless. All weapons allowed. Candidate for Amber Zone status.
1 Poison gas, explosives, undetectable weapons, weapons of mass destruction
2 Portable energy weapons (unless mounted on ships)
3 Heavy Weapons
4 All automatic weapons
5 Personal concealed weapons
6 All firearms except for shotguns and stunners. Carrying weapons is discouraged.
7 Shotguns.
8 All bladed weapons, stunners.
9 Any weapons outside one’s residence. Candidate for Amber Zone status.
A (10) Highly restrictive government. All weapons forbidden. Candidate for Amber Zone status.

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STARPORT
Most inhabited worlds have starports allowing travel
and interstellar commerce. Throw 2D-7 plus the
world’s population rating to determine the starport
class, as detailed below.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
A note on orbital facilities: starports A, B, and C
include both ground and orbital facilities, with
regular shuttle service between them. This allows use
by unstreamlined ships. Starports D, E, and X lack
such facilities.

Starports
Throw Class Description Best Fuel Annual Maint. Shipyard Possible Bases
2 or less X No Starport None No None None
3-4 E Frontier None No None None
5-6 D Poor Unrefined No None Scout
7-8 C Routine Unrefined No Can perform reasonable repairs Scout
9-10 B Good Refined Yes Can construct non-jump-capable Naval, Scout
craft
11 or more A Excellent Refined Yes Can construct starships Naval, Scout

TECH LEVEL cost. On isolated worlds, however, all or most local

Throw 1D, modified by the following DMs, to
determine the world’s Tech Level, as discussed in the
Equipment chapter. A world’s tech level cannot be
below 0. On a world enjoying significant interstellar
trade, the tech level denotes local manufacturing
capacity; higher TL gear should be available at double
technology will be according to the worlds TL.
Humans and human-like aliens require a minimal
technological level to live on certain worlds. If a
world’s Tech Level is below the minimum required for
survival on that world, increase it to the minimum
value.

Tech Level DMs

Rating Starport Size Atmosphere Hydro. Population Gov.
0 +2 +1 +1 +1
1 +2 +1 +1
2 +1 +1 +1
3 +1 +1 +1
4 +1 +1
5 +1 +1
6
7 +2
8
9 +1 +1
A (10) +6 +1 +2 +2
B (11) +4 +1 +3
C (12) +2 +1 +4
D (13) +1 -2
E (14) +1 -2
F (15) +1
X -4

Minimum Tech Levels

Conditions Minimum TL
Hydrographics 0 or A (10) and population 6 or more 4
Atmosphere 4, 7, or 9 5
Atmosphere 3 or less, or A (10) to C (12) 7
Atmosphere D (13) or E (14) and hydrographics A (10) 7

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
TRADE CODES
Use the following table to determine the world’s
trade codes from the world’s UWP, as described and
used in the Speculative Trade chapter. If a planet
fulfills all the characteristics listed in a row below,
then it gains the trade code for that row. For example,
a planet with Atmosphere 5, Hydrosphere 7 and
Population 4 would not gain the Agricultural Trade
Code (it would need a population between 5 and 7).
Apply all trade codes for which the world qualifies.
Agricultural: a world with an environment fit for
large-scale agricultural production.
Asteroid: an asteroid belt devoid of life but rich in
minerals.
Barren: an uninhabited world.
Desert: a world with a significant atmosphere but no
surface water.
Non-Water Fluid Oceans: a world with seas of liquids
other than water, such as methane or more complex
hydrocarbons.
Garden: a perfect world for Terran (or similar) life.
This world is populated enough for agricultural
production, but with a population small enough to
avoid significant ecological disruption.
High Population: a world with billions (or more!) of
residents.
High Technology: an advanced world capable of
interstellar-era technology.
Ice-Capped: a world where surface water exists as ice
deposits near the poles.
Industrial: a world capable of truly massive-scale
industrial production.
Low Population: an outpost or other sparsely-
populated world.
Low Technology: a primitive world with pre-industrial
technology.
Non-agricultural: a world incapable of feeding its
population by regular agriculture. May use synthetic
food, hydroponics, and other techno-agricultural
methods, or it may rely heavily on agricultural
imports.
Non-industrial: a world lacking a significant industrial
base.
Poor: a marginally-habitable world.
Rich: a comfortable world with a breathable
atmosphere and no overcrowding.
Water world: a world completely or almost
completely covered by water.
Vacuum: a world with no atmosphere.

Trade Codes
Classification Code Size Atmo. Hydro. Pop. TL
Agricultural Ag 4-9 4-8 5-7
Asteroid As 0 0 0
Barren Ba 0
Desert De 2+ 0
Non-Water Fluid Oceans Fl A+ 1+
Garden Ga 5, 6, 8 4-9 4-8
High Population Hi 9+
High Technology Ht C+
Ice-Capped Ic 0-1 1+
Industrial In 0-2, 4, 7, 9 9+
Low Population Lo 1-3
Low Technology Lt 5-
Non-Agricultural Na 0-3 0-3 6+
Non-Industrial Ni 4-6
Poor Po 2-5 0-3
Rich Ri 6, 8 6-8
Water World Wa A
Vacuum Va 0

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BASES
Some systems have naval or scout bases. Others are
pirate havens. Bases can help establish the
subsector’s politics, as naval bases tend to appear
along borders or on important core worlds, while
scout bases are often established near borders or on
an open frontier.
A Naval Base is a military base or depot serving an
interstellar navy. Naval craft can refuel and resupply
at a naval base. On an independent world, a Naval
Base indicates significant naval might. Naval bases
exist on worlds with starports rated A or B on a throw
of 8+.
A Scout Base is an exploration and communications
outpost operated by a scout service. A scout base on
an independent world represents well-organized
exploration capabilities and efforts. Scout bases exist
on worlds with starport D or better on a throw of 7+;
DM-1 for a C-class starport, DM-2 for B-class starport,
and DM-3 for A-class starport. Player characters with
detached-duty Scout Ships can obtain fuel and
repairs at a 50% discount at scout bases.
A Pirate Base harbors raiders, corsairs, and other
criminals. This is usually an independent hive of scum
and villainy, but sometimes governments tolerate the
existence of such bases to encourage raids against
enemy shipping. A pirate base exists in a system
without a naval base or A-class starport on a throw of
12+.
The following table lists shorthand codes for bases
present in a star-system.
Base Codes
Bases Code
Naval Base N
Pirate Base P world in the network.
Scout Base S Trade Routes represent strong and profitable
TRAVEL ZONES
Most worlds are nominally civilized, though dangers
still lurk even on the safest core world. However,
some worlds are far more dangerous than most.
Interstellar organizations, such as the Navy, the Scout
Service, and the Explorers’ Society, issue travel
warnings regarding these worlds. Such warnings take
the form of travel zones.
A world marked as an Amber Zone is unsafe. It might
have a hostile environment or a particularly
dangerous government; or it might be experiencing a
period of instability and strife. The Referee should
consider worlds as amber zones if they have
Atmosphere A+; government 0, 7, or A; or a law level
of 0 or 9+. The Referee may also designate worlds as
amber zones for other reasons.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
A Red Zone is deemed so dangerous it is forbidden
for non-military vessels to visit. The navy interdicts
such worlds to prevent unauthorized landings.
Marking worlds as red zones is up to the Referee’s
discretion, and the Referee should usually use this
designation sparingly.
ALLEGIANCES
Depending on the setting, worlds may be
independent, or may belong to larger interstellar
polities. Examples of interstellar states run the gamut
from very loose confederations to mighty empires.
The referee should mark the borders of such polities
on the map, as well as any sub-divisions (districts,
provinces, duchies, etc.) within.
COMMUNICATION AND TRADE ROUTES
Interstellar governments always try to establish lines
of regular communication between their member
worlds. As well, commercial activity will create
regular trade routes that connect viable trading
worlds in a given subsector. Such connections should
encompass only some of the worlds in the subsector.
There should also be some unconnected, less
frequently visited worlds for characters to explore.
Communication Lines: The Referee should connect
any worlds with A-class Starports, as well as B-class
Starports with any naval bases, using the shortest
possible routes. These represent the main arteries of
interstellar administration and naval activity. Thus,
they enjoy highly frequent courier and passenger
services, both military and civilian. Distances should
not exceed the Jump capability of the highest TL
commercial ties. There are a few criteria that two
worlds need to meet to establish a Trade Route
between them: 1. A pair of worlds that have Trade
Tags that appear in the same rows of the following
table; 2. The two worlds are within 4 hexes of each
other; and 3. It is possible to connect the two worlds
by a series of Jump-1 or Jump-2 routes. If the pair of
worlds meets all these criteria, then a trade route
connects them. The Referee should mark any trade
routes in the subsector on the map.
Trade Routes
First End Point Second End Point
High Tech or Industrial Asteroid, Desert, Ice-
Capped, Non-Industrial
High Population or Rich Agricultural, Garden, Water
World
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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
WORLD GENERATION EXAMPLE
Liza, a Referee, wants to generate a new world for her
next Cepheus Light session. She does not have an
idea in mind for this world and lets the dice roll – she
will interpret the results afterwards. This method is
common in Cepheus Light and similar games – using
procedural generation to get your creative juices
flowing and stimulate your imagination.
First, Liza throws 2D-2 for the world's size. She rolls an
8, so the world's size is 6. This is slightly smaller than
Earth, but not by much – the gravity will be
comfortable for humans and similar organisms.
Second, she throws 2D-7 for the world's atmosphere.
The dice come up with 2; so, the result is -5; the
world's size serves as a +DM to this throw, so, at size
6, the result is 1: a trace atmosphere (like Mars'
atmosphere). This means that the world won't be
habitable, but a rock with a trace atmosphere can still
harbor significant surprises for the players!
Next is hydrographics – how much water does this
world have? The throw is, again, 2D-7, plus the
world's size. Liza throws a 12, which means 5,
modified by the world's size of 6, this becomes 11.
However, the atmosphere is 1 (Trace), so this is
modified by DM-4, for a final hydrographic rating of 7
– 70% of the world's surface is covered with water!
Without a significant atmosphere, this water is
probably not liquid, at least not on the surface. Is it a
sheet of ice covering much of the world? Or
underground glaciers and oceans? Liza notes these
possibilities and moves on to the world's social
characteristics.
The world's population is thrown at 2D-2. The dice
turn up a 5, which yields a final result of 3. This means
thousands of inhabitants – a tiny population for a
large world covered in ice (or having massive
underground oceans?). The atmosphere is less than
3, but hydrographics are 7, so the world does not
suffer from the DM-1 for having a thin atmosphere
and no hydrographics.
Government is 2D-7 + the world's population digit.
The dice turn out a 5, which yields a final government
digit of 1. This is a corporate world! Liza starts to have
an idea in mind about this world – a tiny corporate
colony researching something beneath the vast ice
sheets. Could be interesting…
Law level is 2D-7 plus the government digit. She
throws a 7, for a final result of 1. This is very
permissive – hardly any law enforcement, and almost
all weapons allowed. Could be fun for her trigger-
happy players, who can bring there their sizeable
arsenal of small (and not so small) arms.
What starport should this world have? The starport
throw is 2D-7 plus the world's population. The dice
99
yield a 8, for a final result of 4. Liza refers to the
Starports table and notes the Starport-E – a very basic
frontier landing pad with no fuel, bases, or shipyard
services available. Very suitable for a beyond-frontier
colony with a tiny population. After all, a few
thousand people, probably with local hydroponics to
feed themselves, only need a periodic supply ship
and will not attract much starship traffic.
Last is the tech level. This is a 1D throw modified by
several DMs based on the world's characteristics. This
turns out as a 6 – the maximum possible! The world
does not benefit from DMs for its starport (E), size (6)
or hydrographics (7), or government (1), but it gets
DM+1 each from the atmosphere (1) and population
(3) for a total of 8. This isn't very advanced, but, after
all, a colony of a few thousand people can hardly
support a local tech base. The Company has to import
all advanced tech from elsewhere, but for such a tiny
population, even the meager Starport E will suffice
for this.
Looking at the trade codes table, Liza notes that the
world is Ice Capped (Ic; atmosphere 1 and
hydrographics 7) and Low Population (Lo; population
3). Cross-referencing with the trade goods table in
the Trade and Smuggling chapter, she sees that, for
example, precious metals are cheap here (maybe
there are some preliminary mining operations in
place?).
There is no reason for this world to be an Amber
Zone.
Liza names the world Skadi (Skaði), after a Norse
winter goddess, appropriate for its frigid nature. She
decides that this world is cold, its surface an endless
cold desert of rock and ice. However, deep beneath
its glaciers, where thermal springs still maintain a
warm environment, there are vast (and dark) liquid
oceans teeming with life. The corporate colony on
Skadi studies that life, hoping to find interesting – and
profitable - biological and chemical compounds and
useful life-forms. However, one thing lurks under the
surface – a vast cephalopod-like alien beast, as large
as a 300-ton ship, ready to tackle and eat research
submarines when they go too deep into the
subterranean oceans. In fact, one has already gone
missing a few weeks ago…
The final world, Skadi, has the following UWP:
Skadi E617311-8 Ic Lo

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Not all threats carry weapons. Starfarers must
consider disease, radiation, and extreme
environments when exploring distant stars. This
chapter provides simple rules for these hazards.
DISEASE AND POISON
When a character is exposed to a disease or poison,
they must make an Endurance throw. The target is
the pathogen’s Virulence number. If successful, the
character shrugs off the effect. If the throw is failed,
CEPHEUS LIGHT
the disease damages the character’s END according
to the listed damage. The infected character must
repeat this throw after the pathogen’s listed interval.
Success means recovery and failure causes the listed
damage, again. If this damage reduces the character’s
END to zero, additional damage applies to STR or DEX
(player’s choice). The character cannot heal this
damage until they recover from the illness or
poisoning. Note that most poisons do not have an
interval, but rather cause their damage immediately
upon poisoning and only once.

Sample Pathogens
Pathogen Virulence Damage Interval
Pneumonia 6+ 1D 1D weeks
Anthrax 9+ 1D 1D days
Biological Weapon 12+ 3D 1D hours
Arsenic 8+ 2D -
Tranq Gas 10+ Unconscious -

EXTREME TEMPERATURES
Extreme environments damage unprotected
characters, as noted in the table below.

Extreme Temperatures
Temperature Damage Example
-100° or less 1D/round Deep space
-50° 2D/hour Mars
-25° 1D/hour Arctic
-10° to 40° None Typical Terra
50° 1D/hour Searing desert
100° 2D/hour Boiling point
200° or more 1D/round Mercury

FIRE FALLING
When attacked by fire, characters must throw DEX 8+ A character suffers 1D damage per 2m fallen, up to
to avoid catching fire. A burning character takes 2D 6D at terminal velocity. Multiply this damage by the
damage per round. Make another DEX 8+ throw each world’s gravity rating in Gs. For example, falling 10
subsequent round; if successful, the character puts
out the fire. If failed, the character suffers another 2D
damage. Putting out the fire by other means, such as
an extinguisher, also stops this continuous damage.

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
RADIATION significant exposure will cause more severe sickness
as any new exposure is added to all previous
A character exposed to radiation accumulates rads. exposures before determining damage.
Unless treated with anti-radiation medication, this Exposure to radiation might lead to radiation
radiation exposure remains forever. Even after a sickness, which follows the disease and poison rules
character has recovered from radiation sickness (see described above.
below), accumulated radiation remains. Additional
Radiation
Source Instant (rads) Extended (rads) Example
Constant, low - 1D/hour Cosmic radiation
Constant, moderate - 1Dx10/hour Nuclear fallout
Constant, severe - 1Dx100/hour Solar flare
Acute, low 3D - Far nuclear blast
Acute, moderate 1Dx10 - Particle Weapon
Acute, severe 1Dx100 - Near nuclear blast

Radiation Sickness
Irradiation Total rads Throw Damage Interval
Mild 99 or less None None None
Low 100-199 5+ 1D 1D weeks
Moderate 200-599 6+ 1D 2D days
High 600-999 7+ 2D 1D days
Severe 1000-10000 8+ 3D 1D hours
Extreme 10000 or more 12+ 6D 1 hour

STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION SUFFOCATION

A character requires two liters of water and 0.5kg of
food per day to stay healthy.
A character may go without water for 20 hours +
twice their END score with no ill effect. After that
time has passed, the character must throw END 6+
per hour without water or suffer 1D damage. There is
a cumulative DM-1 per each check.
A character may go without food for 3 days. After
that, the character must throw END 6+ per day
without food or suffer 1D damage. There is a
cumulative DM-1 per each previous check.
The character can recover this damage only after
drinking and eating.
In cases of insufficient oxygen, such as on a ship with
failing life support, characters suffer 1D damage per
minute. If the character has no access to any oxygen
whatsoever, such as when a character is being
strangled, or has been sucked out into space, this
becomes 1D damage per round instead.
VACUUM EXPOSURE
Contrary to popular belief, vacuum does not kill
immediately. A character exposed to vacuum suffers
regular suffocation damage (above). While exposed
to space they also suffer 3Dx10 rads of radiation per
round. Additionally, beginning from the third round
of vacuum exposure, the character must throw END
10+ per round or fall unconscious from
aeroembolisms – the forma�on of air bubbles in their
blood stream.

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 CEPHEUS LIGHT
APPENDIX A: ALIENS AND PSIONICS
The Cepheus Light rules encourage gri�y, yet ac�on- REPTILOIDS
packed, sci-fi roleplaying. They cater to
anthropocentric, semi-hard science fic�on where These warm-blooded reptile-like aliens bring the
gravi�cs and faster-than-light travel exist, but might of the monitor lizard and the agility of the
sen�ent aliens and psionic powers are uncommon or gecko to the stars. Males are taller and stronger than
even non-existent. For a more space-opera flavored humans, while females are human-sized. Civilization
game, we present the following rules for three transformed the male reptiloid’s murderous
sample alien species, as well as psionic powers. territorial instincts into a less destructive, but always
present, competitive streak. A male reptiloid lives
and dies for glory - constantly proving his mettle to
his peers and vying for higher spots in his social
ALIENS pecking order. Females, on the other hand, consider
the big picture issues important to reptiloid tribal
Grand interstellar drama often calls for sentient society: government, commerce, and technical
aliens. Unlike the unfathomable alien life of a hard- development. The males, and to a lesser degree the
science universe, the following three species follow females, are excellent warriors, though many try their
common space-opera tropes. They are humanoid, hand in commerce (and piracy!) as well.
reminiscent of Terran animals, and in one case –
inspired by pop-culture UFO lore. These aliens are Reptiloids have the following traits:
close enough to humans to be playable without much • See twice as far as humans in low-light
work. conditions.
Under these rules, aliens use the same careers as • DM+2 to all Athletics throws to climb. May cling
humans do, but have alien traits that set them apart to walls and ceilings on a successful throw of
from humanity. Athletics 8+ per round of clinging.
For more detailed alien species and cultures, as well • Reptiloids do no suffer hourly damage from hot
as advanced alien character generation, we weather exposure up to 50°C.
recommend our grand space-opera setting: These
Stars Are Ours! available from Stellagama Publishing • Males enjoy a +1 bonus to STR and a penalty of -
in PDF and print-on-demand formats. 2 to INT; females enjoy a +1 bonus to EDU and a
penalty of -2 to STR. This cannot bring INT or STR
to less than 1.
GRAYS
Short in stature but intellectually powerful, the gray
aliens are a staple of science fiction and popular
culture. Common lore has them flying in saucers and
abducting people for horrific scientific
experimentation. All grays are biologically female.
They reproduce asexually, each daughter being a
clone of her mother with minimal variation. Curiosity
drives the grays and they value rationality; they are
excellent scientists and strategists. They are,
however, poor fighters, and prefer to use technology
and the slave races they have subjugated to fight
their battles.
Grays have the following traits:
Injured or sick grays require a medical facility (or
tools) of TL10 or better, otherwise they suffer DM-2
to any related medical throws.
Grays do not need to acclimatize to low-gravity
environments.
At character generation, grays roll 1D for STR and 1D
for END, but 3D for DEX and INT.

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STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
INSECTOIDS
The Insectoids were once the pests living in the
detritus of another more advanced civilization. But
that civilization fell, and the Insectoids soon thrived in
their precursors’ ruins. Opportunistic and hardy,
these bug-folk quickly learned how to bring their
world’s old masters’ technology back to life. This has
enabled them to skip many millennia of cultural
evolution. They are expert tinkers, peddlers of
trinkets, and boundless opportunists. Terrans may
deride them as space cockroaches, but still enjoy
their trade and diplomatic neutrality nonetheless.
Insectoids have the following traits:
• Fast-growing. Start their career at the age of 10
and start aging after their third term, at the age
of 22. May use career tables for up to 5 terms.
• 2 points of natural armor. Non-cumulative with
worn armor heavier than Jack.
• Insectoids do not need to acclimatize to low-
gravity environments.
• -2 penalty to EDU. This cannot bring EDU to less
than 1.
• DM+2 to any throw to avoid poison or disease;
DM+2 to any throw to cure an insectoid from a
poison or a disease.
• As an action, an insectoid may throw Athletics 6+
to jump 6m in any direction.
PSIONICS
One day, science may unlock the powers of the mind,
allowing tangible psychic effects. Note that psionics
are rare and potentially very powerful and their use
in the campaign world is subject to the Referee’s
discretion.
PSIONIC TRAINING
The Referee may decide to allow one or more psionic
characters. In that case, roll 2D to determine the
character’s Psionic Strength (PSI) characteristic. Then,
the character chooses one of the following talents.
They may also attempt to gain further talents. For
each additional talent, throw PSI 8+ to receive that
talent, DM-1 per talent the character already has. The
talents are:
• Awareness – powers that allow the psion’s mind
to control the psion’s body.
• Clairvoyance – these powers permit perception
at a distance.
• Telekinesis – mind over matter.
103
• Telepathy – involving the reading of minds and
mental communication.
• Teleportation – moving from one point to
another instantly in open defiance of physics.
USING A PSIONIC POWER
To activate a talent, the psion must spend the listed
number of PSI points, which are taken directly from
the PSI characteristic. If this cost brings them below
zero Psionic Strength, then any excess points are
applied to their Endurance score as damage. A
character with no Psionic Strength points remaining
cannot activate a power. Using a psionic power in
combat is a significant action. Each power notes a PSI
level required for its activation, which is also the cost
in PSI points to activate. It also notes the power’s
range. Characters regain their full PSI points after an
8-hour rest.
AWARENESS
Awareness is the psionic talent which allows greater
control over one's own body.
Enhanced Characteristic (PSI 1+, Personal): the
character may add psionic points to their STR, END, or
DEX as desired. This costs 1 PSI point per
characteristic point added and lasts for 10 minutes.
Suspended Animation (PSI 3, Personal): enter a
meditative state for 7 continuous days without
requiring food or water or a breathable atmosphere.
The psion may terminate this power at will during this
period.
Regeneration (PSI 9 but see below for cost;
Personal): the psion can immediately (within 1
combat round) heal their own STR, DEX, or END
points lost due to combat damage. This requires 2 PSI
point per characteristic point healed but requires a
minimum of PSI 9 to use.
CLAIRVOYANCE
Clairvoyance allows the character to sense events at
a location away from the viewer. It usually cannot be
blocked.
Sense (PSI 1, 50m): the character learns the
rudimentary characteristics of a nearby location
when applying this ability.
Clairvoyance/Clairaudience (PSI 5, 25km): this ability
allows the character to view (clairvoyance) or to hear
(clairaudience) at a specific displaced point up to Very
Distant range (up to 500km range).
Clairsentience (PSI 7, 5km): the psion can both hear
and see from any point within Very Distant range.

TELEKINESIS
Telekinesis allows the psion to manipulate objects
without physically touching them.
Lift 1 gram (PSI 1, 50m): lift and maneuver up to a
1gm object for 1 minute (10 combat rounds)
Lift 1kg (PSI 2, 50m): lift and maneuver up to a 1kg
object for 1D combat rounds. Can cause 1D damage
if hurled at a target.
Lift 100kg (PSI 5, 50m): lift and maneuver up to a
100kg object for 1D combat rounds. This will cause
3D damage if hurled at a target.
Choke (PSI 8, 10m): Grab a single humanoid by its
throat, or equivalent, and suffocate them for 1D
damage per round, for a maximum number of rounds
equal to the character's full PSI score.
Microkinesis (PSI 10 but see below for cost,
Personal): Manipulate microscopic objects.
Microkinesis may be used for subtle, but highly
effective attacks on internal organs, causing 1D
damage per 2 PSI points invested. Alternatively, this
power may aid microsurgery by DM+1 per 3 PSI
points invested. Finally, the psion may assist
Engineering and Repair skill throws by DM+1 per 3 PSI
points invested in microkinesis.
TELEPATHY
Telepathy is the talent of establishing mind-to-mind
contact. It is usually subtle but can also be used to
bluntly crush the wills of those who oppose the
telepath.
Note that thoughts are universal, and thus psionic
communications ignores language barriers. However,
psionic scan or communication with a target
significantly different from the user (such as an
insectoid alien scanned by a human) incurs double
PSI cost).
Life Detection (PSI 1, 20m): detect the presence of
other minds, their general type (human, alien,
animal, etc.), and location.
Telempathy (PSI 2, 20m): read and communicate
basic emotions; may influence the behavior of
others, both sentient beings and aliens, subject to
Referee discretion.
Read Surface Thoughts (PSI 3, 20m): read active,
current thoughts. A non-Psionic target cannot notice
this power being used on them, but a Telepathic
Shield (see below) blocks the attempt.
Communicate (PSI 5, 5km): communicate
telepathically with one individual. The target does
not have to be a telepath to communicate with the
psychic.
CEPHEUS LIGHT
Emotion (PSI 6, 50m): causes one target to feel a very
strong emotion (such as fear) for 1D combat rounds.
Suggestion (PSI 7, 5km): plants a simple hypnotic
suggestion in the target. Note that targets will not
obey suggestions which may physically harm
themselves; if the suggestion is that the character will
harm a friend, they may throw INT 6+ to resist the
effect.
Probe (PSI 9, 1m): reads deep thoughts and long-
term memories.
Assault (PSI 10, 250m): a brute-force telepathic
assault, causing 4D damage to the target. Apply
damage first to the target’s PSI, then INT, and finally
END. Characters who are reduced to 0 in all these
characteris�cs die from brain hemorrhage. Lost INT
regenerates at a rate of one point per day.
Domina�on (PSI 12, 5km): mind-control one target
for 2D combat rounds. The control is complete and
may include harming the target's friends. Only when
the dominated target is forced to harm itself, it may
throw INT 8+ to shake off the mind control.
Shields and Telepathic Combat: all telepaths can
shield themselves, and other individuals in a 3m
radius from telepathic intrusion. Attempting to use a
telepathic power against a shielded target requires an
opposed PSI throw. The defender wins on a tie. If the
intruder wins, they may use their power as desired at
the usual cost, and the defender loses one point of
Psionic Strength. If the intruder loses, they fail to
penetrate the shield and expend one point of Psionic
Strength. Note that this uses both characters' current
PSI DMs: an exhausted telepath is more exposed to
mental intrusion.
TELEPORTATION
Teleportation allows instant travel between locations.
The psion may only teleport their body, clothes, and
personal equipment. Characters cannot teleport over
a height differential of over a kilometer, as the
difference in potential energy heats or cools the user,
and beyond one kilometer, the user's body
temperature will change to a lethal degree.
Blink (1 PSI, 5m): teleport 3m in any direction while
carrying up to a light encumbrance load.
Teleport Self (PSI 7, 5000km): teleport up to 5000km
with light encumbrance load.
Heavy Teleport (PSI 11, 500km): as teleport self, but
allows up the teleporter to teleport while carrying up
to a heavy encumbrance load, including carrying
another living being.
104
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
PSIONIC EQUIPMENT
The following psionic equipment is available in
settings using psionics.
Psionic Booster: restores up to 6 points of PSI. If
taken at full PSI, it temporarily increases PSI by 4.
Whenever taking more than one dose per week,
throw END 6+ or suffer 3D damage and permanently
lose one point of PSI.
Psionic Inhibitor: forces the subject to make a PSI 9+
throw to use any psionic power and prevents PSI
regeneration. This drug lasts for 4D hours, but the
character can throw END 6+ each hour to shrug off its
influence.
Psionic Shield (TL13, MCr1): as a psionic shield
helmet (below) but implanted and invisible to the
casual observer.
The Psionic Shield Helmet fully protects its wearer
from telepathic intrusion. However, a character
wearing this helmet cannot use psionics. This helmet
does not protect its wearer from the effects of other
psionic powers, such as telekinetic attacks

Item TL Cost
Psionic Booster 9 Cr500
Psionic Inhibitor 9 Cr4000
Psionic Shield Helmet 8 Cr8000
Psionic Shield 13 MCr1

OPEN CONTENT ENDS HERE

105

APPENDIX B: SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
Science fiction may deal with space, but no work of
science fiction exists in vacuum. Many works of art
and human creation – literature, film, television
programs and video games, among others – inspired
the writing of this book. They may also serve the
player and Referee as excellent sources of inspiration
for their games. Therefore, we provide a short list of
such sources of inspiration for your reading, viewing
and playing pleasure – as well as for inspiration for
your own games.
LITERATURE
Heinlein, Robert – Starship Troopers
Longyear, Barry B. – Enemy Mine
Niven, Larry – Known Space stories such as A Gift
from Earth, Ringworld and the Man-Kzin Wars
Robinson, Kim Stanley - Mars Trilogy (Red Mars,
Green Mars, Blue Mars)
Scalzi, John – Old Man's War
Silverberg, Robert – Across a Billion Years
Simmons, Dan – Hyperion Cantos
Strugatsky, Arkady and Boris – Roadside Picnic
CEPHEUS LIGHT
VIDEO GAMES
Dead Space Trilogy
Elite and its sequels Elite: Frontier, Frontier: First
Encounters and Elite: Dangerous
FTL: Faster Than Light
Mass Effect Trilogy
Red Faction and Red Faction: Guerrilla
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadows of Chernobyl and its sequels,
Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat
Star Control 2 and its free remake, The Ur-Quan
Masters
Starflight and its sequel, Starflight 2
System Shock and its sequel, System Shock 2
UFO: Aftermath
Wing Commander and its various sequels
X-Com: UFO Defense (also known as UFO: Enemy
Unknown), and its modern remake XCOM: Enemy
Unknown – and their sequel, XCOM 2
Xenonauts

FILM
Alien and its sequels
Enemy Mine
Outland
Serenity
Television
Andromeda
Babylon 5
Dark Skies
Firefly
Space: Above and Beyond

106
STELLAGAMA PUBLISHING
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109