Battleship™
Dire Straits Ruleset

Optional Extra Rules for the Battleship™ Game by Hasbro Gaming! Includes Tactical Nukes, SCUBA Attacks, Torpedo Attacks, Experimental Weapons, and Bomber Flight Attacks.

Rules Developed by:
Marc Carson, Ben Carson, Hugh Carson, and Lucy Carson, with Critical Logistical Support by Megan Carson

Dice Needed: One D20 die (Optional. This is a 20-sided die, available at a hobby shop). Or a six-sided die (D6). If you have them, three of these are better. You can also use a smartphone dice app, a dice-roller website like random.org, or a computer desktop application like “rolldice” for Linux.

Other Items Needed: You will need paper and a pencil to track who has used which weapons.

Tactical Nuke Rules

A tactical nuclear weapon is detonated amidst the enemy fleet!

Each player can use the Tactical Nuke ONE time per game.
Tools Needed: One D20 (20-sided) die or a D6 (six-sided) die; if using a D6, it will be rolled three times (this is called 3D6).
Usage: The player designates a middle square. Then the player rolls. If the player rolls a 1 on the D20, or a 3 on the 3D6, the Nuke fails to deploy or is intercepted.

If the player rolls anywhere from a 2 to 19 on the D20, or a 4 to 17 on the 3D6, the player’s nuke explodes and destroys the following red pattern around and including the dark red center coordinate:

Bonus	Bonus		Bonus	Bonus
Bonus				Bonus
		CENTER COORDINATE
Bonus				Bonus
Bonus	Bonus		Bonus	Bonus

Example: If the player calls out a center coordinate of D4, the following squares would be hit: B4, C3, C4, C5, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, E3, E4, E5, and F4. If there is a cruiser on C5, D5, and E5, it is now destroyed. If only one part of a battleship is on, say, F4, only that one part of the battleship is destroyed.
The enemy player must tell the attacking player whether each square was a hit or a miss. (This can take some time, so please be patient and enjoy the variety.)
Bonus: If the player rolls a 20 on the D20, or an 18 on the 3D6, the Tactical Nuke goes into “Condition Bravo.” This means that the squares marked “Bonus,” above, are also hit, destroying a full 5x5 square area.

SCUBA Attack Rules

SCUBA diving commandos attempt to either destroy or capture the smallest enemy ship!

Each player can use the SCUBA Attack TWO times per game. Keep track!
Tools Needed: Dice as indicated in “Dice Needed” above.
Usage: A player announces: “I’m making a SCUBA attack.” Then the player rolls the D20 or 3D6. If they roll an 8 or higher on the D20, or a 7 or higher on the 3D6, the enemy’s smallest ship still afloat is destroyed! If they roll a 12 or higher on the D20, or a 10 or higher on the 3D6, the enemy’s smallest ship still afloat is captured!
Be careful: On their turn, the enemy can use the SCUBA Attack to re-capture their own ship!
Notes: If the smallest ship still afloat is also the only ship still afloat on the enemy’s side, the game is now over, and the captor won.

Torpedo Attack Rules

A torpedo races across the battle sea, blowing up anything in its path!

Keep track of who used torpedoes and how many times they were used! Each player can use the Torpedo Attack TWO times per game, as long as their submarine is not destroyed.
Tools Needed: None. Dice are optional to use the bonus rule, below.
Usage: A player designates a grid point to start the attack. This has to be on the edge of the board. For example, A3, or A1, or B1, or F10, or H10. A torpedo is assumed to be fired from this point. It travels in a straight line opposite of its starting point, and stops when it has hit something.
Example: The attacking player calls out “torpedo attack starting on F10!” The other player looks at his board and sees that if the torpedo starts at F10 and goes to the left, it will hit his submarine at F7. “Hit on F7,” the player says. The torpedo attack is now over.
Optional Bonus Rule: If the player also rolls a 20 on a D20, or an 18 on a 3D6, any ship that is hit is destroyed completely, not just damaged.

Experimental Weapon Attack Rules

New technology allows for a uniquely destructive display of force amidst the enemy forces!

Each player can use the Experimental Weapon Attack TWO times per game. Keep track!
Tools Needed: 1D6 die. (A six-sided die)
Usage: The player can indicate a blast pattern that occupies the same number of squares that they rolled on the 1D6, as long as the squares are next to each other, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
Be Careful. Experimental weapons are dangerous for all involved! Rolling a “1” results in the attacking player’s own submarine OR next-largest ship being completely destroyed! If this happens they must tell the enemy player which ship was destroyed and where it was located.
Example: The player rolls a “3” on the 1D6. They announce, “This experimental weapon has a blast pattern of B2, B3, and B4,” for example. Or if they roll a “5,” they could say that the blast pattern was G2, H3, H4, H5, and G6. (This would make the bottom of a smiley face on the enemy’s board). Then the enemy player tells them whether those spots were hits or misses.
Bonus Experimental Weapon Rule: If the player rolls a “6,” the new weapon achieved Massive Criticality and the player can keep rolling the die until they stop rolling sixes! Note: It is theoretically possible to destroy the entire game board this way. This is known as “Runaway Experimental Catastrophic Criticality” or RECC. If this happens, it is customary for the winning player to buy the losing player a soda and reflect upon the striking creative/destructive potential of humanity.

Bomber Flight Attack Rules

A flight of strike bombers makes a daring attack against the enemy!

Each player can use the Bomber Flight Attack TWO times per game, as long as their aircraft carrier is not destroyed.
Tools Needed: Dice as indicated in “Dice Needed” above.
Usage: The player indicates a middle bombing point. For example, “G6.” Then they roll the dice. If they roll an 8 or higher on the D20, or a 6 or higher on the 3D6, the attack is a success! Every square surrounding G6 is hit, including G6, for a total of 9 bombs dropped! The enemy player tells the attacking player whether each bomb was a hit or not.

Taking it Further: Please feel free to modify these rules! Make it fun and interesting.