Pandora: Survive the Wreck

Original game & artwork

A noncommercial fan adaptation of The Wreck of the B.S.M. Pandora, published by Simulations Publications, Inc. in Ares #2 (1980). Original design: James F. Dunnigan. Artwork and graphic design: Joe Barney and Redmond A. Simonsen. Original map and counter artwork © 1980 Simulations Publications, Inc.; respective rights holders retain their rights. This project does not claim ownership or grant a new license over those materials.

Board and counter scans sourced from the Vassal module v1.1, credited there to the Al Hay Archive. Rules reference: SPI Wargame Resources scan. Bot abilities checked against the equipment chart.

Adaptation notes

The map preserves the original three decks, seven pods per deck, three tubes per deck, and interdeck risors. Each human has three actions per turn; each specimen has two. Controlled bots have one optional action and use their printed movement speeds. Includes Ambot, Erobot, EVAbot, Imrebot, Ubot, Reconbot, Specibot; five named crew and ten named specimens.

This is a streamlined scenario, not an exact implementation of the published rules. Pod assignments are fixed. Repairs, combat, bot control, specimen reactions, supplies, victory requirements, and shutdown are adapted for computer play. Intelligence, Aggression, and Shield are generated from the original counter modifiers and attribute table; the reaction and stun rules use the computer adaptation described in the help. Exterior EVA, randomized character attributes, original reaction/repair tables, and berserk bots are not simulated. Standard play starts with 30 shutdown ticks; the short-clock option uses 20.

Discovery and equipment update

All unsearched pods, including crew starting pods, have gray backgrounds. Hull-damaged spaces are light red; a damaged unsearched pod still conceals its contents. Searching or scanning clears concealment only after any hull damage is repaired. Damaged rooms cannot be searched, including by a remote scanner. Unseen specimens continue to move and attack. Original portable-equipment chits remain on the map until picked up; carrying, dropping, bot ownership, and equipment bonuses are tracked per unit. Crew retain an emergency suit stunner using shared charges. Shared parts, charges, and medical supplies are separate from carried equipment. The personnel popup shows the live statistics implemented in this adaptation.

Information windows

Right-click a room, visible specimen, bot, carried or loose item, or crew member to read its record. Information windows do not use an action or change the selected crew member. Unsearched room records conceal their contents. Touch alternatives include Room details, item Details buttons, and tapping visible specimen chits.

Current action and inventory rules

Humans have three actions per turn, specimens two, and controlled bots one. Pickup, drop, and Give are free, even after actions are spent. Living humans and bots can transfer equipment when sharing a space. Shield absorbs stun power before a creature can be stunned and captured. Monster-card portraits are new AI-generated interpretations inspired by the original chit silhouettes, with print flaws corrected and bright, high-contrast lighting for thumbnail readability. Grendel has three legs, two short inner arms, and two long outer arms. Original map chits remain unchanged.