Build Interesting Battlefields

Another key element of good space combat encounters is creating combat arenas that are interesting. Certainly, encounters involving two groups of ships engaging one another in open space can be fun, but adding a certain element of environmental challenge to the encounter makes it much more memorable. Perhaps while fleeing, the characters must fly through an asteroid belt wrought with peril, their pursuit detonating asteroids in an attempt to disable them. Just as in character-scale combat, adding terrain features to space battles creates more lively combat sequences that require creativity and tactical thinking on the part of the players.

The presence of environmental obstacles also creates a more dynamic battlefield, adding another dimension to the placement and movement of starships. Terrain challenges in space combat necessitate movement and encourage players to be more creative in their actions. The following terrain hazards can be part of any space combat sequence.

Asteroids, Debris, and Enclosed Terrain

Space is a lot less empty than one might think, and an environment that contains asteroids, debris, or enclosure is difficult to move through and can potentially damage a starship. Moving through the space of an object hazard requires an Intelligence (Piloting) check, with a DC equal to the size of the obstacle, as shown in the DC column below. On a failure, the ship takes kinetic damage equal to the Damage column.

Damaging Environment

Though most combat takes place in a vacuum, some battle might take place in thick dust clouds, the upper atmosphere of a corrosive gas giant, electromagnetically charged nebulae, or even in close proximity to a star--and any of these features can damage a ship. Each hazard functions differently.

Corrosive Gases

Occasionally encountered in planetary atmospheres and some nebulae, corrosive gases can also be the result of massive industrial accident. If a starship enters a corrosive gas field or starts its turn there, the crewmember at the helm must make a DC 12 Intelligence (Piloting) check. A starship takes 1d6 kinetic damage on a failed check, or half as much on a successful one.

Dust Clouds

Usually encountered as a part of an asteroid field, or as a part of a planetary ring system, light and moderate dust clouds provide very poor visibility. While in a dust cloud, a starship is considered heavily obscured.

Ionic Discharges

Some nebulae and planetary atmospheres produce nearly continuous discharges of ionic particles. If a starship enters an ionic discharged area or starts its turn there, the starship takes pulse damage equal to half the maximum value of the ship's Hit Die.

Radiation

In close proximity to a star or other source of intense electromagnetic radiation, a starship can take substantial damage. Generally, these hazards will cover a large radius, but you might designate some areas as being in the shadow of a planet or moon, negating the effects of the radiation. If a starship enters a radiation proximity or starts its turn there, the starship takes 1 energy damage.