So, I've ordered my 3D basestars and decided to get a 3D Pegasus (and some missile-raptors as well). This has inspired me to try and create a simple and effective variant aimed at:

-simplicity above all else
-enhancing the military options of the fleet
-not messing with the core game very much
-getting more ships on the board, oh yeah!

Rules for the Pegasus:

The Colonial Fleet begins the game with +1 Morale and -1 Food

-Another crew to consume food, however everyone's pumped to have another warship protecting them

Each time a basestar is placed on the map, it is accompanied by 1 additional Raider (including the opening set-up).

1) The Pegasus begins the game in the back upper region (under the cylon action locations)

-For simplicities sake and due to the fact that Pegasus is a good few inches long (and the basestars larger still), I have in mind that Pegassus may only move between the 2 upper regions on the map.

2) Any Basestars that would normally spawn in the Region of the Pegassus now spawns in an adjacent region. If there is a revealed cylon (not a sympathizer) they may choose the new basestars location. If there is no revealed cylon, then the current player may choose.

3)The Pegasus receives +1 to its combat rolls (with respect to Galactica) and may fire on any basestar in an adjacent region or any cylon ships in it's own region.

-We all know the Pegasus is a brute...

4) The Pegasus cannot be boarded by humans or cylons in any way. Pegassus can only be utilized with an Executive Order. When a player uses an E.O. on Pegassus, it may move and fire, or fire twice.

5) If the humans ever lose 3 population due to an early jump, the Pegasus is also lost and the human fleet receives -1 Morale.

6) If the Galactica is damaged by a basestar, before revealing the damage token the Admiral may instead sacrifice the Pegasus to ignore the damage and the human fleet receives -1 Morale

So there you have it. I welcome advice and constructive criticism. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here, just put a little flash on it.

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Additional Missile-Boat Raptor Rules

I also have 2 missle boat raptors on order, though there's no reason you can just use regular raptors and just a little imagination.

1) Raptors may be piloted in the same manner as Vipers are. Players may only activate/launch 1 Raptor when using the Command Location.

2) Raiders receive +1 when attacking Raptors. Raptors recieve +1 when attacking Raiders or Heavy Raiders. Raptors receive +2 when attacking basestars.

3) Raptors may only be attacked by cylon Raiders AFTER there are no more vipers in the region.

4) Raptors in flight remain in the same region after Galactica makes a jump.

Raptors offer new offensive abilities to the colonial fleet. They are easy pickings when not accompanied by vipers but they have their own jump drives so they stay airborne when the fleet jumps.

This may be used in conjunction with the above Pegasus rules.

Again, would love feedback.

Enjoy!

Where are you getting the 3D figs from?

The idea to use use executive order cards to activate the Pegasus is genius. I think though that the essence of Executive orders is that it has to be played on a charachter. Modify your rule that you play the executive order on another charachter who is at communications who then orders the Pegassus to either move and do an action or do the 2 actions.

I like it, but I think that only the original Admiral should be able to use executive order on the Pegasus (since he is in command of the military). It will definitely lessen the Pegasus's impact on the game, but I think that's a good thing, otherwise it just becomes a crutch for the humans and that's all they'll do with their executive order cards (in combat anyway). What I mean by the 'original' Admiral is the player who starts the game with the title. He or she should be the only one able to order Pegasus around and ONLY when that player is Admiral (the idea being that the crew on Pegasus is somewhat beligerant and doesn't take orders from anyone except their commander and since Cain isn't a character, that 'role' can go to whoever starts the game in command).

Example: Adama starts the game as the Admiral. He can use executive order on Pegasus to control it. At some point in the game he gets tossed in the brig and the admiral card passes to the next in line. Let's say it's Starbuck. She is unable to use executive order on Pegasus, so it basically sits out until Starbuck is revealed as a Cylon or goes to the brig herself, thus passing the title back to Adama.

If the original Admiral is revealed as a Cylon, discard Pegasus from play.

I think the key thing here is balance. For every perk that comes from having Pegasus, there should also be a drawback.

@ aammondd

I got my 3D miniatures here: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Meteor/4155/thumbs/orderform.html

I haven't received them yet, so I can speak of their quality, but the guy has gotten a lot of great feedback.

@ Skyyhopper

That's a decent idea. I'll bring it up with my guys. After I playtest my variant as it stands, I'll think about implementing that idea if it seems too easy to just EO the Pegasus

@ Iceberg

I like and I don't at the same time. I agree that the Pegasus may become a crutch, but that can still be solved if only the Current Admiral is able to Order the Pegasus. This way Baltar can't order it around but other pilots will still be better off in their Vipers.

However, I do like the agonizing decision of the Admiralty changing hands and losing the ability to use the Pegasus effectively in combat. However, I also hate the idea of the Pegasus just drifting in space waiting to take a hit for Galactica while it's in the fight of its life.

Pegasus already has plenty of Drawbacks; loss of moral, loss of food, and more cylon ships in the air. It's benefit gives a slightly better chance of hitting enemy basestars and can take a damage. I would be OK if the Pegasus caused a further loss of Morale than just -1 so that if it dies it incurs a total of negative morale.

Other than that, I don't think it needs anymore drawbacks, but thematically I do like the idea of only the current Admrial being able to EO the Pegasus.

If I was to limit it to only the Original Admiral being able to EO the Pegasus, I would then allow the Pegasus to be ordered by anyone in the CIC, and then you don't really need EO's at all. For the sake of simplicity I would be hesitant to try this.

I like the idea of using Communications to ask/order Pegasus to attack. If people are concerned about theme, why not apply a die roll effect to the order; for example -- "Action: Roll a die. On a 5 or higher, you may attack a cylon unit in the same location as Pegasus at +1 to the attack roll. If you are the Admiral, you automatically pass this roll." This makes it in theme with the Pegasus, and also makes the location somewhat risky as opposed to just using Weapons Control.

I like how you also have the basestars launch extra units while the Pegasus is in play. Just like everything else in this game, it makes the use a Pegasus a double-edged sword.

The missile raptors are a neat idea, too. They seem to be far more advantageous over a viper in several regards (bonuses to hit, stay in space after a jump), so I would think one way of limiting their abuse would be to disallow Maximum Firepower being played while in a Raptor. The Raptors are not as mobile as a Viper, so this would make some sense.

I think you're right about how the raptors raptors should be limited on piloting cards. I might be ok if they could use Maximum Firepower but not Evasive Manouvering. It's a raptor after all.

However, for the sake of simplicity I would like to at least try them acting as much like Vipers as possible to make it as simple/smooth as possible.