I keep waiting for somebody to make a space platform from the old XvT computer games. ( one of a dozen examples that showed up in game, http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/XQ2_Platform ) Ships could start docked on them, defend/attack them, etc. Plus, the actual spokes of the platform could be flat so as to not interrupt gameplay with only the central hub being three dimensional, acting as an obstacle. Turrets could be affixed and everything.

Give each of the three spokes/landing platforms its own shield and hull points, equal across all three, and unique ones for the hub. Each section has appropriate hard points. Crew can be stationed on the central hub. Grant it the same/similar action bar as an epic huge ship.

Friendly ships can be repaired if they enter a marked off landing zone using a 1 forward as an action. If the entire base doesn't land within the marked zone, roll one attack die and suffer the result. Ship must remain for a full round, adopting the same agility as the station (0), for every hull or shield they wish to recover.

Other ships on the same platform can be 'jumped' into if you land beside it, abandoning your vehicle and entering the battle on the next round at the appropriate PS. If that's all too complicated, make it part of an epic size map and let one side rush in and the other launch their fighters on the 2/3 round to simulate the shock of a surprise attack. Ships can 'take off' by their PS, highest to lowest since Wedge likely suits up faster than a rookie, and it adds a distinct balance: The defenders get the platform's support but the attacks get air superiority at first as they catch defenders trickling into battle with either no or only a Xpts worth of ships already on station.

Turrets cannot fire on ships parked directly on the platform (too low an angle of depression for the guns) allowing for boarding parties to have a chance to set charges, steal prototype ships, seize the hub, etc.

Possible scenarios:

Defend/Attack station

Intercept VIP arriving at or fleeing station

Steal prototype fighter

Seize the station

Defend docked epic ship for repairs long enough for it to escape

Surprise attack on station

I mean, COME ON GUYS! This has to be easy enough to do, the hardest part is finding somebody with decent chops to make the image of the landing platforms. After that, carve the styrofoam central hub -- a section that could vary from faction to faction or just for variety's sake -- and print the platforms on card stock.

It could even be an expansion FFG, psst! Box the hub, make the platforms detach, and include it one one box for ease of transport/packaging. Throw in some free decals of blaster scoring, faction appropriate markings, and space station "clutter" for players to personalize their space station. Make the reverse of each platform piece a debris/crippled pattern for when it is destroyed. (If the hub goes, the whole thing goes.) Hell, just sell the central hub and make 5 different landing platforms for download on the FFG print on demand site. Totally adds flavor to the epic battles and creates endless scenario opportunities. OR you could make us an official playmate with star field on one side and the platform on the other, package the hub to go along with it along with a single generic "boarding craft" for scenario play, and presto. I'd be all over this. Heck, you could LITERALLY relive the appropriate missions from the XvT PC games. Plus, it would breathe new life into the heavy hitters, Y-wings and TIE Bombers, setting up a truly tactical battle as fighters duked it out while bombers tried to get through to the station.

WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN DONE YET?

[catches breath]

Okay, I'm done. Now that I'm out of school I might do this but I just can't believe nobody else has/I wish they would because I'm sure they'd make it better. If anybody is has graphic design skills to make the platform 'wings,' PM me because I am seriously interested in doing this. I have all the ideas but none of the imaging ability.

Sounds great to me! I'd definitely buy one.

Would be especially cool in Epic, with CR90s and Vigils duking it out over the station while a hundred little fighters swarmed about...

Sounds like a good idea. How soon can you make them?

Interested parties PM me, I'm looking into doing a kickstarted for it but I've never done anything like it. Also, and perhaps more importantly, what are the legal issues of making something like this? The whole idea works so well because the space station design set out in the SW X-wing/TIE Fighter games lends itself so well to the tabletop. But I imagine they are copyrighted?

Just a thought: since Gencon is just two weeks away, you should probably wait until then, just to make sure that you aren't re-inventing the wheel. I doubt that FFG is developing anything like this, but you never know.

Curiously enough, I started planning out something earlier this week. The model seems simple enough to make a papercraft model, otherwise something out of foamcore. I'll be doing some 3D work in Sketchup during the weekend.

It doesn't even to fit the whole board in my opinion, even if it just protruded onto it. Or it could be rescaled slightly.

Curiously enough, I started planning out something earlier this week. The model seems simple enough to make a papercraft model, otherwise something out of foamcore. I'll be doing some 3D work in Sketchup during the weekend.

Papercraft I imagine isn't overly friendly to tabletop dangers (spills, frequent use, etc). The material we see the core set asteroids printed on or a thin slice of actual play mat material I imagine would be more durable.

Papercraft I imagine isn't overly friendly to tabletop dangers (spills, frequent use, etc). The material we see the core set asteroids printed on or a thin slice of actual play mat material I imagine would be more durable.

Sorry, I don't have an industrial grade paper cutter at my disposal. I'm going to work with what I have.

I have had a picture of this thing saved on my comp for over year with intentions to build as I think it would make a nice scenario piece. I will probably build it more game scale and practical though, probably from card. If I get a few spare days in the coming weeks I will knock one together, pretty simple design

Papercraft I imagine isn't overly friendly to tabletop dangers (spills, frequent use, etc). The material we see the core set asteroids printed on or a thin slice of actual play mat material I imagine would be more durable.

Sorry, I don't have an industrial grade paper cutter at my disposal. I'm going to work with what I have.

Fair enough, meant no disrespect. Kudos for doing it at all. Share if you do!

I tried my hand at it already...

Added foam backing. 3 layers to the hub for added elevation/3d appearance

I tried my hand at it already...

Added foam backing. 3 layers to the hub for added elevation/3d appearance

About how big are the platform wings would you say? Can you fit 3 ships comfortably?

I just ran a scenario last week where imperials attacked a rebel refueling station. I used the "pie plate" template for DS-9 from Star Trek:Attack Wing and made some boarding action rules using the old WoTC Star War Miniatures.

Imperials had to board the base and take control of the station while preventing any Rebel non-combatants from escaping the map.

Great scenario... need to tweak a few things but everyone seemed to enjoy it. BTW Imps win, captured the base (Stormtroopers were waaayyy too strong) and blew up the transport about two turns before it would have fled the board.

I will try and post some pictures here if I can, at work now... but I did post some on the Windy City Squadron's Facebook page. So mosey on over a take a look.

I tried my hand at it already...

Added foam backing. 3 layers to the hub for added elevation/3d appearance

About how big are the platform wings would you say? Can you fit 3 ships comfortably?

I'll measure them. Also l could take a pic with 3 ships on it .. May as well.

Hopefully his weekend I'll another full platform station. As well as work it into a 3x3 mat design that can be printed. Would be cool

We just did an Epic event this week and we should have done exactly this! Very cool man!

I was working out a space station idea and came up with a similar design but I never played the XvT games, I just like triangles. I decided to hold off on making it until the huge ships were out so I could see how energy worked. I might take a stab at it now.

Curiously enough, I started planning out something earlier this week. The model seems simple enough to make a papercraft model, otherwise something out of foamcore. I'll be doing some 3D work in Sketchup during the weekend.

I too have been considering making this station despite not a lot of players in my area and practically no experience in scratch building anything. I have started collecting materials though, beginning with 2 large styrene sheets. It does seem simple and straight forward. I found the pic the OP posted plus a 2nd that is from XvT(don't know really as I don't recall playing it myself). Going off the OP's pic from the TIE Fighter PC game(I think), I was figuring the flight decks at the edges were the length of 4 maybe 5 Y-wings(as there seems to be both an X and a Y sitting on the deck) nose to tail making the edge about 8-10", tapering back to the central hub about 10" as well.

Wow, what a awesome idea, I love to see working, but beyond the awsesome look, it has a use for the play???, greettings

Stupid forum putting stupid ideas in my head....like I haven't got enough projects on e go!

WIP

Nice! Love the random 40k bits I see there, I plan on using my bit box for the same!

Space platforms would be one of the things I would love to see as Imperial Huge ships, they make so much sense.

Stupid forum putting stupid ideas in my head....like I haven't got enough projects on e go!

WIP

did you make or buy this? if you bought it where? thanks.

It's a WIP, a work in progress so I think he made it, it's an awesome job, he could sell those on commision basis I'd wager.

Hi egudmunson, Dagonet is correct, its scratch built, and he is also right I could also make a fortune from commission work people ask me to do but stupidly I am an idiot when it comes to things like this, once I build something that's generally it, a limited run of, erm, ONE! I just get bored quickly with repetition, all the fun for me is making the original model and playing games with it. I don't make plans and usually just make things up as I go along too so again, multiple copies of my models would just be a boring prospect for me!

I sometimes list stuff on ebay when the shelves get full but I hate parting with stuff so its few and not often LOL

Ikka, cant beat a nicely stocked bits box can you!

Pretty cool