Review Report: Starfaring (1976) & The Zosma Sector
By: Captain Earl C. Hedges Jr. / Royal Cartographer
The Morning Log: Coffee, Crystals, and the Zimrala 6
Before we dive into the star charts and the technical specifications of the Zosma System, I want to talk about the "Why."
Lately, the Shreveport Cabin has been humming with the sound of rolling D6s and the bright colors of new maps. Angela, the kids, and I have been diving deep into a new campaign. We wanted a Sci-Fi Space Opera with the scale and drama of Star Wars, but we wanted a system that felt personal, fast, and imaginative. Naturally, we turned to Ken St. Andre’s Starfaring (1976).
To us, it isn't just a game from the 70s—it’s the engine that powers our journey across the Urland Universe. We aren't just playing "space travelers"; we are the defenders of Zimrala.
In this narrative, I make up #7—the Royal Cartographer and Hedge Wizard—and my crew, my family, are known as the Zimrala 6. Together, we man the Z.S.F. Manticore, navigating the Ether Dragon portals and standing as the thin line of defense against the Serpent Threat. Using Ken’s "Star Crystal" rules has allowed the kids to grasp the power of the ship, while Angela’s incredible artistry brings the moons we discover to life.
What follows is the fruit of our labor: a full report on the Zosma System, the construction of our ship, and the rules we use to keep the "World of Monsters" safe. This is how we play... this is how we explore.
1. The Game: Historical Significance
Released in August 1976, Starfaring holds a contested but vital place in history as the first space-exploration tabletop RPG. While Metamorphosis Alpha beat it to the "Science Fiction" label by one month, that game was focused on generation-ship "dungeon crawling," whereas Starfaring was the first to offer true interstellar travel and planet-hopping. It predates the industry giant Traveller by nearly a year.
2. Core Mechanics & Gameplay
True to Ken St. Andre’s design philosophy (seen in Tunnels & Trolls), the game is designed for speed and imagination rather than hard simulation.
Role Transition: Players are called Ship Masters. The "player character" is effectively the ship itself. The GM is the Galaxy Master.
The Ship as Character: Built using Star Crystals providing energy (Power Units) for Shiva (weapons), Vishnu (shields), and Brahma (power).
Conflict Resolution: Primarily D6-based. The 1976 text famously recommended using a calculator or cards for system generation.
Psionics: Features a unique system fueled by the alien drug LSDX-6000, discovered during humanity’s war with super-intelligent robots.
3. The Result: Case Studies Below -
Character Case Study: Captain Earl C. Hedges Jr.
Role: Ship Master / Royal Cartographer
Assignment: Z.S.F. Manticore (Zosma Sector)
In the 1976 rules, character creation focuses on the Abilities that allow a human to interface with alien technology and survive the rigors of deep space.
1. The Attribute Roll (D6-Based)
Using the standard 3D6 per attribute, the Captain’s "Old School" spread reflects a veteran traveler who relies on his mind and his fortune:
Intelligence (IQ): 18 – A "Perfect" roll. This justifies the Royal Cartographer title. In Starfaring, a high IQ is required to calculate jumps through Ether Dragon portals without a computer.
Luck: 15 – Vital for surviving the "Wild Die" on portal transits. The Captain has survived implosions and cosmic apocalypses that would have claimed a lesser man.
Constitution: 12 – Average for a human, but bolstered by a unique campaign trait: Immunity to Acid and Poison.
Charisma: 14 – Necessary for maintaining the "Zimrala Six" coalition between Tygerians, Elves, and Dwon.
2. The Psionic Potential (LSDX-6000 Interface)
In the Starfaring lore, psionics are a "wild card."
The Hedge Wizard Factor: The Captain is not just a pilot; he is a Hedge Wizard. Using the 1976 psionic rules, he possesses Spatial Intuition. He can "feel" the layout of the Zosma System and the movements of the seven moons before they appear on the Manticore’s viewscreen. This makes him the only navigator capable of finding the "Parchment of Echoes" in the deep Ether.
3. Equipment & Signature Items
A Ship Master is only as good as his tools. The Captain’s loadout includes:
The Scope of the True Meridian: A custom-built optical interface that bypasses Radiant Interference.
The Ink of Anticipation: Used to hand-draw the star charts of the Tygerian Isles, allowing the maps to "update" as the moons shift.
Standard Sidearm: A Shiva-Pulse pistol (for when the Trolls or the Serpent Threat get too close).
Why this matters for our Blog Readers
"Building the Captain in the 1976 system shows you that Starfaring was never just about the ship—it was about the will of the person steering it. It allows for a 'Royal Cartographer' to be just as dangerous and essential as a combat marine. It’s a system where your Intelligence and Luck rolls actually dictate whether your crew sees the sunrise over Zimrala or ends up as space dust."
Case Study: Construction of the Z.S.F. Manticore
To build a ship in Starfaring, a Ship Master must allocate Power Units (PU) derived from Star Crystals. The Manticore was designed for the "Zimrala Six" expedition, prioritizing endurance and modularity over speed.
1. The Power Plant (Brahma Crystals)
Starfaring Rule: Brahma Crystals provide the "Base Power" for all life support and movement.
The Manticore Build: As an experimental prototype, the Manticore uses a Heavy Brahma Lattice. This gives it a high fuel capacity but makes the engine room notoriously hot and cramped. In game terms, this ensures the ship can make long-haul jumps to the outer moons like Shannar without refilling at a Stargate.
2. Offensive Systems (Shiva Crystals)
Starfaring Rule: Shiva Crystals power the weaponry (lasers, plasma, or the "Roar Cannon").
The Manticore Build: It is equipped with a Front-Mounted Shiva-Pulse Array. Because it’s a clunky ship, its firing arc is limited. Ship Masters have to maneuver the entire vessel to aim, reflecting that "low-tech, high-stakes" 1970s sci-fi aesthetic.
3. Defensive Systems (Vishnu Crystals)
Starfaring Rule: Vishnu Crystals generate the screens that protect the hull from radiation and enemy fire.
The Manticore Build: Given the intense Radiant Interference from the star Zosma, the Manticore was over-engineered with Vishnu Heat-Shielding. While the shields are tough, they are "loud" on sensors, making stealth almost impossible.
4. The "Experimental" Quirk
Using the Starfaring "special equipment" rules, the Manticore carries the Scope of the True Meridian integrated into its sensor array. This allows the crew to navigate the Ether Dragon Portals with a +1D bonus, a necessary custom modification for the Zimrala sector.
Updated Blog Section: Ship Construction
"When you sit down to build a ship like the Z.S.F. Manticore in the 1976 system, you aren't just picking stats; you are balancing the 'Soul' of the ship. Every Brahma Crystal you add for speed is a Vishnu Crystal you can't have for protection. It’s a game of trade-offs that makes the Manticore feel like a living, breathing character in our campaign."
The Zosma System (Zimrala)
To demonstrate the power of the Starfaring (1976) engine, I applied its planetary generation rules to the Zosma System (Delta Leonis). By rolling on Ken's original tables, we generated the "World of Monsters."
The Planetary Profile: Zimrala (Zosma Quarta)
Starfaring Class: Type III (Habitable) with a high Planetary Density roll.
The Moon Roll: A rare High Multiplier resulted in an eight-satellite cluster.
The Hazard Event: A "Double One" roll resulted in the destruction of the 8th moon, Lumis, creating the Crystalline Ring that defines Zimrala today.
The Unabridged Satellite Register
| Moon | Starfaring Class | Notable Feature | Metaphysical Link |
| Zoaror | Type I (Rock) | 1.5 orbits/day; Airless stone. | Dwon Dark Presence |
| Dantza-Hoatza | Type IV (Ice) | Reflective crystal dust surface. | Moon Elf Shift |
| Taslian | Type III (Habitable) | Breathable atmosphere in canyons. | Mothmen Guardian Shift |
| Choartor | Type II (Metallic) | Red Iron oxides; Prison colony. | Dwon Prisoner Shift |
| Quartsto | Type VI (Artifact) | Quartz-veined planetoid remnant. | Were-Spider Shift |
| Harshavar | Type V (Volcanic) | Tropical greenhouse ecosystem. | Seasonal Rage Shift |
| Shannar | Type VII (Frost) | Outer research base / Akashic Records. | Scholar's Prophecy Shift |
4. Final Verdict: 2026 Perspective
Pros:
Imagination-Heavy: A "storytelling in your living room" experience.
Legacy Value: For fans of Monsters! Monsters! 2.7, this is the "missing link" for sci-fi play.
Cons:
"Archaic" Design: Some find the presentation "crude" or the art "miserably drawn."
Conclusion: Starfaring is a relic of pure creativity. It is perfect for GMs who want a loose, fast-moving space opera where "the quality of your imagination" is more important than the rulebook. In 2026, it remains the only way to truly explore the Tygerian Isles and the Urland Universe.
BONUS CONTENT!
The Expedition Report: The Zosma System & The World of Zimrala
From the Desk of the Royal Cartographer
Location: The Shreveport Cabin
Status: Classified / Archive Entry
While the astronomers of Earth gaze at Zosma (Delta Leonis) and see a rapidly rotating white main-sequence star 58 light-years away, we who have navigated the Ether know the truth. Zosma is more than a "rump" in the constellation of Leo; it is the Healing Node of our sector and the anchor for the world of Zimrala.
The Radiant Hearth: Zosma
Zosma burns with a blue-white intensity that defines life in the system. Its rapid rotation creates an equatorial bulge that ripples through the local Ether, creating the "Radiant Interference" every pilot fears. This solar flare-up causes a -1D penalty to all long-range sensors, providing a perfect natural cloak for our fleets—and a deadly hazard for the unwary.
Zimrala (Zosma Quarta)
The fourth planet, Zimrala, is a world defined by its history of survival. Known as the "World of Monsters," it serves as the ultimate sanctuary for the Troll Diaspora and the brave Tygerian Marines.
The Tygerian Isles: Situated in the strategic Northwest, the Isles are the heart of our culture. From these rugged coastlines, we monitor the tides of the Aetheric Sea and the movements of the Sumer Empire.
The Fallen Eighth: The sky of Zimrala is dominated by the shimmering remains of Lumis, the eighth moon. Shattered in the Great Cataclysm, its crystalline fragments now orbit the planet twice daily, raining down the Moon Crystals that power our portals and fuel our magic.
The Seven Moons: The Sentinels of Transformation
The rhythm of life on Zimrala is dictated by the dance of the seven remaining active satellites. Each moon holds its own secrets and dictates the "Were-Cycles" of our people:
The Seven Sentinels of Zimrala: An Unabridged Guide
The heavens of Zimrala are defined by the Shattered Ring of Lumis, but it is the seven surviving moons that dictate the ebb and flow of magic, gravity, and the shifting forms of the world’s inhabitants.
I. Zoaror: The Swift Shadow
Orbital Profile: The innermost active moon, Zoaror is a frantic traveler, orbiting Zimrala approximately 1.5 times every standard day.
Physicality: A dark, stony, airless rock scarred by billions of years of micro-meteoroid impacts. Because of its proximity to the star Zosma and its lack of atmosphere, it suffers from violent temperature swings—incinerating heat on the sunward side and absolute zero in the shade.
Inhabitants: It is the primary domain of The Curators and the Dwon. The Dwon live in deep, pressurized tunnel networks to escape the surface radiation.
Metaphysical Link: It governs the Dwon’s Dark Presence. Its rapid cycle means the Dwon feel the pull of their ancestral home constantly, fueling their subterranean industry and restlessness.
II. Dantza-Hoatza: The Crystalline Beacon
Orbital Profile: A steady 14-day orbit.
Physicality: This moon is a perfect sphere covered in a thick layer of highly reflective crystalline dust. From the surface of Zimrala, it glows with a piercing white light. The dust itself is chemically reactive and fatal to most biological life if inhaled.
Inhabitants: Despite the hazards, it is home to the Moon Elves, who use their "crystal-singing" to navigate the surface and maintain the numerous ancient portals located at its poles.
Metaphysical Link: It is the primary trigger for the Moon Elf Crystalline Shift. When Dantza-Hoatza is at its zenith, the Elves’ connection to the Aether is at its peak, allowing for the "Were-Wolf/Cat" transformations recorded in the Tygerian Isles.
III. Taslian: The Verdant Cradle
Orbital Profile: A slow, majestic 20+ day orbit.
Physicality: Unlike its sisters, Taslian possesses a thin but breathable oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere trapped within massive, deep canyon systems. These canyons contain liquid water and a unique bioluminescent flora.
Inhabitants: The Mothmen are the native masters here, gliding through the heavy air of the canyons. It is one of the few places in the Zosma system where life thrives outside of Zimrala.
Metaphysical Link: It governs the Mothmen’s Guardian Shift. The light of Taslian is said to bring a sense of calm and protective instinct to those sensitive to its phase.
IV. Choartor: The Crimson Forge
Orbital Profile: A 30-day "monthly" orbit.
Physicality: Known as the "Blood Moon," Choartor is rich in iron oxides, giving it a deep red hue. It is riddled with volcanic caverns and active lava tubes.
Inhabitants: It serves as a high-security Dwon Prison Colony, where the most dangerous threats to the Zosma Union are kept. The facility is guarded by a detachment of Mothmen who monitor the surface from high-altitude spires.
Metaphysical Link: Tied to the Dwon’s Prisoner Shift (Were-Badger/Mole). It represents the grounding, heavy aspect of the Dwon spirit—stubborn, enduring, and fierce.
V. Quartsto: The Iron Core
Orbital Profile: An 81-day orbit.
Physicality: Quartsto is not a natural moon in the traditional sense; it is the dense, metallic core of a destroyed planetoid captured by Zimrala’s gravity. Its surface is a maze of quartz channels and exposed veins of heavy metals.
Inhabitants: It has been converted into a steampunk industrial hub. Massive forge-engines built by the Gristlegrim Dwarves use the moon’s internal heat to refine rare ores.
Metaphysical Link: It is the ancestral focus for Were-Spiders. The vibration of the moon’s machinery and its quartz structure resonate with the subterranean shifting patterns of the arachnid races.
VI. Harshavar: The Volcanic Jungle
Orbital Profile: A long 141-day orbit.
Physicality: A strange paradox of fire and ice. Harshavar is intensely volcanic, but its thick, moist atmosphere traps heat to create a global tropical greenhouse. It is a world of constant rain, steam, and towering ferns.
Inhabitants: A war-torn moon where Moon Elf settlements are in a perpetual struggle against escaped-slave Dwon factions who have adapted to the jungle environment.
Metaphysical Link: Its cycle is so long that its "shift" is seasonal. It represents a slow-burning rage and the indomitable will to survive in harsh conditions.
VII. Shannar: The Silent Librarian
Orbital Profile: The outermost satellite, with a 216-day orbit.
Physicality: A silent, frozen world of ice and mystery. It is the furthest point of the Zosma Union’s reach.
Inhabitants: It serves as the ultimate isolated research base for The Curators. It is the location of the Akashic Records (The Library of Zosma), where the history of the Urland Universe is etched into the very ice. There are no natural portals here; all travel to Shannar must be done via void-ship.
Metaphysical Link: Known as the "Scholar’s Moon," it dictates the rarest of transformations—those tied to memory, prophecy, and the long-term preservation of the Tygerian heritage.
The Ether Dragon Portals
Navigation between these bodies is only possible through the mastery of the Ether Dragons. By utilizing the Scope of the True Meridian and the Ink of Anticipation, a skilled navigator can traverse the dimensional folds, though one must always beware the "Wild Die"—for the Ether is as unforgiving as it is beautiful.
Product Identity & Legal The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala, the Tygerian Isles, the Ether Dragons, the Tiger Force Shadow Saga, the specific "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, the "Royal Cartographer" archetype, the character "Emperor Rajah," and unique Items: The Ink of Anticipation, The Compass of Lost Things, Parchment of Echoes, The Scope of the True Meridian, The Rod of Infinite Spanning, and The Plumb of Gravity’s Anchor. Monsters! Monsters! and Humans, Humans (1st Edition) are trademarks of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and are used with permission. The statistics and game mechanics provided herein are designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian Isles campaign setting. © 2026 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved. Ask me to edit or delete your scheduled action at any time.
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