App Support for Traveller Squadron Strike

[Ad Astra News]

One of the problems with getting new players to the table for 3D game is that it can be intimidating and new players spend a lot of time wondering if they're recording their orientation on the AVID correctly. We're coming out with an app that automates changing attitude in 3D (pivoting and rolling), so that a new player can't do anything against the rules. (Frankly, it's also helpful for those who imbibe adult beverages during a game, regardless of their experience level.) For experienced players, it helps when they want to run a large number of ships because all of the attitude symbols get "rewritten" automatically.

So far, there's a web app that's been developed and the Kickstarter has raised enough money for the native Android app. The next stretch goal is a native iOS app, so we're hoping that the Apple fans get the lead out. The native apps should run faster and eliminate possible oddities with running in a browser, like weird behavior if you hit the Back button ... The Kickstarter is at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1386934735/ad-astra-games-avid-assistant if you want to watch the cool trailer of starships blowing each other up.

 

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The Big Functionality Increases

The next two stretch goals in the Kickstarter after the iOS app add huge functionality increases.* Even if you weren't getting rewards, the value of the app increases enough to justify increasing your backing--Mode 1 (cinematic) plotting and Mode 2 (vector) plotting. Traveller Squadron Strike uses Mode 2 plotting.** By wiring in the Vertical and Horizontal Plotting grids and adding a few more screens, this upgrades the AVID Assistant from a reference tool to a nearly fully automated play aid for Squadron Strike: Traveller and the related games. It won't track Action Points for you and it won't track weapons plotting and recycle times, but those are the only things it won't plot.

It's less than $1000 to the iOS app stretch goal, so we hope that all of the Apple fans will step up for that. After that, Traveller fans will need to help carry the app forward to make it as useful as possible for Traveller Squadron Strike. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1386934735/ad-astra-games-avid-assistant

If you have questions about rewards and how they apply to Traveller fans, please ask here or on the Kickstarter.

*Building them in native apps will be a lot easier than building them in the web app, which is why we want to fund the Android and iOS apps first.

**A million Traveller fans scream, "Why Mode 1 first? In the name of Marc Miller and all that is canon, why?" Mode 1 is just a lot easier to do. And there are a lot of folks out there with the original Squadron Strike that are flying whoosh-y spaceships. Unfortunately for the legacy of Strephon, the existing user base gets serviced first.

 

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Some Previews of the App

See the explanatory video on the Kickstarter for details.

 

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Hey, everybody! Just 48 hours left and we're closing in on a really big stretch goal: adding a full-fledged movement plotting tool to the app. We can use your help:

• If every current supporter add $2.75 to his or her pledge, we make the stretch goal. Whoa.
• If 20 more people become supporters at just $35 each, we make the stretch goal.
• If 10 more people become supporters by signing up for a boxed game ($75), we make the stretch goal.
• If 2 people order the nearly-indestructible 0.045" aluminum sheet movement cards, we really make the stretch goal!

Aluminum Squadron Strike AVID Cards:

Our vendor that makes the acrylic flight bases can also do laser dye sublimation on aluminum, and laser-cut the pieces to trim.

This would be three (3) Squadron Strike Move Cards, dye sublimated on both sides onto 0.045" thick aluminum. They can be written on (and erased) like the laminated cards, so they're practical as well as durable. Each would weigh about 2.15 oz.

 

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Cinematic plotting is funded for the app. We need another $620 to fund vector plotting for Squadron Strike: Traveller (it's more complicated to code).

 

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Vector plotting is funded! That means that Traveller is fully supported.

Thanks to everyone who supported the Kickstarter!

 

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Folks, please see the TAS News Feed section for our new announcement.

 

[SanDragon]

Oh, hey!

I was just wondering if your new product had this neat-o stuff with it.

It looks like it does!

If not, I've had my exercise for today, jumping to conclusions.

 

[Ad Astra News]

AVID Assistant 2

There's a completely new version of the web-based AVID out: http://services.adastragames.com/avid/beta

You can learn more about it, and get links to tutorial videos, on the Kickstarter update page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1386934735/ad-astra-games-avid-assistant/updates