Source: Space Gamer #44 (October, 1981) Submitted and reformatted by: Eric Pass (epass@nyx.net) DESCRIPTION: Q&A GAME: The Air Eaters Strike Back (Metagaming) Questions by Eric B. Paperman Answers provided by Keith Gross, the designer. Q1: In the Terran counter mix, there is a single space unit marked FR 3 which is not mentioned in the rules. What is it? A1: The "FR" counter should be a "CA", a cruiser. Q2: Should the Alien Crawler unit be marked with a 1 instead of a U since it may only move one hex per turn on a planet? A2: Yes. Q3: The first sentence in rule 22.4 refers to a planet with a "destroyed" base on it. Was this supposed to be a deployed base? A3: Yes. Q4: If the Alien player has a Mothership orbiting a converted planet with a base on it, may he roll twice for Novaship production? A4: Yes. Q5: Rule 23.0 states that the Space Colony may be destroyed by space combat but it does not appear as a target in the space combat results table. What target column should be used, or is the Space Colony destroyed by any ALien attack? A5: The column for LN/ESC/TR/TRF/CORV should be used. Q6: The Set-up and Initial Control section 33.1 seems to be missing some details. What is the correct three-player set-up? A6: Rule 33.1 is missing some lines. It should read, "Terran units are set up normally (see 4.1). The Earth player controls the units and IUs on Earth. The Space Fleet player controls the seven Corvettes orbiting Mercury, Earth and Mars. The Mining Consortium player controls the units on Mars, the Corvette orbiting Jupiter and all IUs not on Earth." Q7: Is the initial force in 34.1 correct? It gives the Alien players the equivalent of 15 units including three Novaships, while rule 16.2 specifies 14 ships and a maximum of two Novaships. A7: Yes, 34.1 is correct. It supercedes 16.2 when the Aliens are split between two players. Q8: There are two abbreviations on the space combat table that don't correspond to any units: Firing unit WS and target unit TRF. What are they supposed to stand for? A8: "WS" should be deleted from the Space Combat Table. "TRF" should be "ITR" (Improved Transport). DESCRIPTION: OFFICIAL ERRATA FROM DESIGNER Box: The back states that the game has a "17x22 map, 360 counters, rules, and data sheets." Actually, it has a 22x27 map and 240 counters. (You aren't missing a countersheet.) Counters: 1. The one Terran "FR" counter should be a "CA", a cruiser. 2. The two Motherships should be identified as 1 and 2, so that players will know which holding box is for which MS counter. 3. In games with more than one Terran player, players may have difficulty telling which counters belong to which players, since the counters have no IDs or shading. This problem can be solved by writing on the backs of the counters. Rules: 1. The Space Colony is missing from the Space Combat Results Table. It should be in the same column (target type) as the ESC, LN, TR, etc. (unshielded units). It cannot fire, only be fired upon. 2. Rule 6.10, second to last sentence, should read, "Passenger units may not end the movement phase on a LANDER," not "... any planet." 3. Rule 22.3: "TWICW" should be "TWICE". 4. Rule 22.4: In the first sentence, "destroyed base" should be "deployed base". 5. Rule 33.1 is missing some lines. It should read, "Terran units are set up normally (see 4.1). The Earth player controls the units and IUs on Earth. The Space Fleet player controls the seven Corvettes orbiting Mercury, Earth and Mars. The Mining Consortium player controls the units on Mars, the Corvette orbiting Jupiter and all IUs not on Earth." 6. Rule 4.1: Add: "One CORV is placed in Mercury's In Orbit box."