I wanted to show another side of Advanced Space Crusade, something that you can add in to the gaming mix from time to time.
ASC has the story mode as previously described in brief, where you use a set of small tile 'cards' to work out exploration of the ship and encounters such as battles or other things.
However, if you want to just lay out a massive battle assault upon the Hive Ship and the organ systems that keep it alive, you can do that as well. It's especially nice if you have 2 or 3 sets of the game for a larger Hive Ship.
You don't need a whole army of anything to have a great ASC setup either, just a few squads of Marines with various gear, and a handful of Tyranids. Plus, just like Space Hulk, setting up the modular sections makes the game infinitely playable as you can completely change the map setup by swapping around a few of the panels, and even adding your Space Hulk tiles to create a sort of half/half setup since they all fit together perfectly.
Mostly, it's a great game for those who love old 'nids and enjoy a setup that doesn't need a 12x12 table and 1000's of D6's to play in the 40K universe.
Here's one sort of layout that you could do, using 2 games sets (12 map boards).
The Space Marine Blood Angels Chapter assaults a Hive Ship that threatens their solar system.
Space Marines in Power Armor gain a beach-head into the right flank of the ship using Plasma and Bolter weapons, which is defended by expendable Chaos Marine Mind Slaves. An Imperial Inquisitor directs the attack.
A Terminator squad supports a breach on the left flank, confronting a rampaging Carnifex Screamer-Killer. Purify with hate and flame!
Space Marine Scouts advance up the left flank towards one of the chambers where a Hive Ship organ, but it's protected by a fierce ancient Tyranid Warrior and a handful of Hunter-Slayer Termagaunts. The veteran sergeant lobs a frag grenade into the room!
A Space Marine scout has been hunted by the deadly Lictor!
Another Space Marine scout, probing deeper into the Hive Ship, has been distracted with the Spore Mines that are drifting towards him and fails to see he has been ambushed by a viscous Grabber-Slasher squig while a Genestealer lurks in the shadows awaiting new prey.
A Terminator armed with Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield advances slowly, as a Zoat and a Genestealer bear down on the intruder. A Space Marine Captain in Terminator Armor offers fire support.
I'm hoping to see some activity on this post besides my own, letting me know that SOMEONE hopefully has gotten themselves a copy and had a great time with it! Show me what you've got community!