''Nebula 19'' is a science fiction board wargame published by the
Mishler Company in 1971.
Gameplay
''Nebula 19'' is a two-player wargame of interstellar starship combat that takes place in a starcluster consisting of 15 stars and seven large nebulae.
In addition to using traditional two-dimensional X- and Y-axis coordinates on a
hex map
A hex map, hex board, or hex grid is a game board design commonly used in wargames of all scales. The map is subdivided into a hexagonal tiling, small regular hexagons of identical size.
Advantages and disadvantages
The primary advantage of a he ...
to track unit location, players also add a Z-axis coordinate indicating the unit's altitude above the map to simulate a three-dimensional combat system.
Each player makes their moves on a separate map in order to make hidden movements. At the end of each movement phase, the players compare their relative positions and engage in combat if ships are within range.
There are three levels of play:
* Basic
* Standard: Adds tracking (ship type and strength is not revealed until probed), and hyperspace movement
* Advanced: Adds supply points, and player ship design
Several scenarios are provided, including a four-player combat — which requires an extra set of maps for the two extra players — and a naval fleet combat in which several players can be divided between two forces.
Publication history
The game was designed by Harry Mishler, with artwork by Mike Gilbert, Dave Haugh, and
Dana Lombardy
Dana Lombardy is a game designer who has worked primarily on board games.
Career
Dana Lombardy designed the award-winning ''Streets of Stalingrad'' board wargame, published in 1979 with three separate editions since its first release. He is also ...
, and was published by Mishler Company in 1971. Mishler published a revised second edition in 1977.
Reception
Tony Watson reviewed ''Nebula 19'' in ''
The Space Gamer
''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...
'' No. 45, and was not impressed, saying, "Gamers seeking an interesting game of interstellar warfare would be wasting their money on ''Nebula 19'', especially when games such as ''
Stellar Conquest
''Stellar Conquest'' is a science fiction board game designed by Howard M. Thompson that was published in 1974.Preface to the third printing, Stellar Conquest rule book, Howard Thompson, June 1978. It is a prototype of the 4X strategy game genre ...
'', ''
Starforce
The Starforce is a supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Its first appearance was in the comic '' Avengers'' #346 released in 1992, as part of the " Operation: Galactic Storm" storyline.
The team are a ...
'', and ''
Star Fall'' are available."
Other reviews
* ''The S&T Guide to Conflict Simulation Games, Periodicals and Publications in Print'', Issue 2, p. 8
References
{{reflist
Board games introduced in 1971
Science fiction board games