I have been interested in this game since I think the 90s? I think I finally decided to pull the trigger and buy some stuff.

Where can I read about the background? Are any of the old books available in PDF form?

 How does this game play? It’s hex based right? About how many figures per side? 

I think I will get further in if and when the new rulebook materializes later in the year

Details on the Metal Express Home Page, just in case you happen to be one of those who skips the intro and goes straight to the Forum... 

Fess up! Here's what's on mine:

Attached Files

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And my feeble attempts at google have only shown me a couple of them posted elsewhere.  Any chance of taking a peek at those ships before I order some?

Should Missiles be given speed restrictions?

If the target has a Drive of 12 or less then the Missile's have not problem

But for every Drive above 12 the target give the Missile pack a -1 to hit.

Alternatively another more extreme method is Missiles have a SR0

This would mean that small fighters may get a chance of not being hit by 5 packs

If that is too much add the number of missiles hitting the target as a plus one.

Pitviper with a pokey Drive 19+15 DV means that a 10pack missile Launcher has an average 35pts to hit the target.

If this is too much maybe a SR of 5?

Just an idea floating around my head.

If a Brood activates a Jump Pod could the it's rating be added to the Drive Rating for the purposes of weapons shooting at them with Speed Restrictions?

Maybe take some more limitations off of the ink splots too?

every time I go to the store the page is blank(the logo is there bot nothing else0 hopefully this is temporary

Archer (Medium 1500T MPAC)

Drive 11
DV 11
DR 6/1/1/1
DC 1-8
Decoys 3
PD 1-8(6)

Pilot                  
Impulsegun  F

Gunner A
Ion Ram 360
ML20 360

Gunner B                    
Sext Splatterguns, FQL, RQL, F

Gunner C
Sext Splatterguns, R, FQR, RQR, F

Poor Structural Integrity
Poorly Shielded Drive

30 MK 30 Torpedoes

90/67/45 hits

233 pts
 
The Archer is one of the most frightening sights.  The payload is enough to make other gunboats wince.  Fighters don’t like the idea of getting near it.  However, it is a strike vessel and don’t rely on it to hold its own after the payload has been spent.
 
Front Track
-----------tA----------T-A---wC----t—A--------T---A-------WtC—A------XT----A-----t-----X

Side Tracks
----t----T----t----T-MC-t----T---Awt---T----MtC—T---Xt----T----t-X

Rear Track
--M---M---Mt--MC—M---MawTM—XMC--Mt--M---M-X

2 Pilot killed – DV5 Quack
3 Throttle Jam: Move D8 forwards only
4 Shields damaged -1DV
5 Too Tough
6 Pilot’s weapon cannot fire until next turn
7 Gunner A’s weapon cannot fire until next turn
8 Cockpit smashed, no move and DV5 Quack
 
2 Left and Right damage tracks take D8 more pts of damage each
3 Targeter Gunner B’s weapons/Gunner C’s weapons now have -2 to hit
4 D8 Torps Jettison
5 Shields damaged -1DV
6 Targeter offlined: Unable to lock missiles or torpedoes
7 Gunner B/C is killed
8 EW damaged, can no longer jam torps and -2DV
 
2 Take D8 extra hits on Left, right and rear tracks
3 EW damaged DV-2, cannot Jam Torps
4 Shields damaged -1 to DV
5 Gunner A’s weapons now have -2 to hit
6 Manoeuvre thrusters damaged all turns cost 1 extra 
7 Gunner A Killed
8 Reactor detonates: Blasted Apart!
 
Arrow (Medium 1500T MPAC)

Drive 11
DV 11
DR 6/1/1/1
DC 1-8
Decoys 3
PD 1-8(6)

Pilot                  
Twin Meld Lasers F

Gunner A
Sext Blatguns 360

Gunner B                    
Sext Splatterguns R, FQL, RQL, F
ML20 360

Gunner C
Sext Splatterguns R, FQR, RQR, F
ML20 360

Poor Structural Integrity
Poorly Shielded Drive

4 MK 40 Torpedoes

90/67/45 hits

195 pts
 
The Arrow has taken the Archer’s frame and sealed up the torpedo ports.  The weapon arrangement has also been beefed up.  The joy is a formidable platform at a low cost.
 
Claymore (Medium 1500T MPAC)
Drive 11
DV 11
DR 6/1/1/1
DC 1-8
Decoys 3
PD 1-8(6)

Pilot                  
Twin Meld Lasers F

Gunner A
Heavy Plazgun 360

Gunner B                    
Sext Splatterguns R, FQL, RQL, F
ML20 360

Gunner C
Sext Splatterguns R, FQR, RQR, F
ML20 360

Poor Structural Integrity
Poorly Shielded Drive

4 MK 40 Torpedoes

90/67/45 hits

195 pts
 
The Claymore is similar to the Arrow but gives a dedicated punch with its heavy plazgun.
 
Front Track
------------A---------w—A---C--------A-----tW-----A-------C----A---w—X-----A------------X

Side Tracks
---------------------MwtC--------A----------MWTC-----X------------X

Rear Track
--M---M---M---MC—M---Maw-M—XMC—M---M---M-X
 
2 Pilot killed – DV5 Quack
3 Throttle Jam: Move D8 forwards only
4 Shields damaged -1DV
5 Too Tough
6 Pilot’s weapon cannot fire until next turn
7 Gunner A’s weapon cannot fire until next turn
8 Cockpit smashed, no move and DV5 Quack
 
2 Left and Right damage tracks take D8 more pts of damage each
3 Targeter Gunner B’s weapons/Gunner C’s Missile Launcher loses D6 missiles
4 Torps Jettison
5 Shields damaged -1DV
6 Targeter offlined: Unable to lock missiles or torpedoes
7 Gunner B/C is killed
8 EW damaged, can no longer jam torps and -2DV
 
2 Take D8 extra hits on Left, right and rear tracks
3 EW damaged DV-2, cannot Jam Torps
4 Shields damaged -1 to DV
5 Gunner A’s weapons now have -2 to hit
6 Manoeuvre thrusters damaged all turns cost 1 extra
7 Gunner A Killed
8 Reactor detonates: Blasted Apart!

The About Silent Death section of this Website is odd, and I thought I'd register to point out the oddities.

The trivial one: "Overkill was soon followed by Black Guard: The Ptolemean Wars Continue. Only 20 pages of text, Overkill was still a handy addition, as it introduced the Star Raven ..." - I think you mean Black Guard was still a handy addition.

Less trivially, no mention of the 1992 first edition Night Brood? It reads here rather as if the Night Brood came in with TNM...