HardPort — space marine commanding a fleet
HardPort Games Studio

One Rule.
Infinite Scale.

HardPort is a hex-based tactical space combat game with a single unified ruleset that scales seamlessly from a lone space marine to galactic fleets. Zoom in. Zoom out. The math never breaks.

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Design Pillars

Built Different.
Designed to Scale.

CORE MECHANIC

Infinite Regress Zoom

The defining feature of HardPort. One unified Action vs. Resistance mechanic scales from a marine's marksmanship check to a faction's espionage network. The math is identical — only the resolution changes.

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TABLETOP + DIGITAL

Dual Format Design

HardPort is built from the ground up to play equally as a physical hex wargame and a digital video game. The rules are elegant enough for dice and tokens, and rich enough to power a full digital campaign engine.

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MODULAR DEPTH

Play at Any Scale

Want a pure squad-level skirmish game? HardPort is complete at the Fireteam scale. Want a full galactic campaign? Every layer is there, adding richness rather than obligation. You choose your resolution.

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SHIP SCALE — THE ANCHOR

Where Tactics Live

The Ship scale is the mechanical heart of HardPort. Every other scale borrows its vocabulary from here — shields, arcs, power, damage. Master the Ship scale and every other layer becomes intuitive.

Shield Facings

Directional shields that can be overloaded from specific arcs

Weapon Arcs

Every weapon has a firing cone — positioning is everything

Power Management

Allocate reactor output between shields, weapons, and engines

System Damage

Targeted hits disable specific ship systems, not just hull points

Formation Bonuses

Squadron formations provide combined fire and defensive bonuses

Zoom Transitions

Collapse detailed battles into summary values, or expand them into full tactical play

The Scale Hierarchy

Eight Scales.
One Ruleset.

Every scale uses the same underlying Action vs. Resistance mechanic. Zoom in and the math expands into rich tactical detail. Zoom out and it collapses into clean summary values. The game never breaks — it just changes resolution.

01
SCALE 01
Individual
Single Crew Member
Stats & SkillsEquipment LoadoutBoarding ActionsPersonal Combat

At maximum resolution, every marine is a unique combatant with distinct stats, skills, and gear. Breaching a bulkhead or holding a corridor — every action matters at this scale.

ZOOM OUT → FIRETEAM SCALE
02
SCALE 02
Fireteam
3–8 Individuals
Squad TacticsBreaching ActionsObjective ControlSuppression

A fireteam operates as a coordinated unit. Formation, suppression, and objective control become the dominant language of conflict.

ZOOM OUT → SHIP SCALE
03
SCALE 03
Ship
Single Vessel
Shield FacingsWeapon ArcsPower ManagementSystem Damage

The anchor scale of HardPort. Every ship is a complex system — shields have facings, weapons have arcs, power must be allocated. A single decision can turn the tide.

ZOOM OUT → SQUADRON SCALE
04
SCALE 04
Squadron
3–6 Ships
Aggregate SpeedCombined WeaponsFormation BonusesShield Sharing

Individual ships collapse into a squadron aggregate. Combat effectiveness, formation bonuses, and combined fire arcs define the tactical space.

ZOOM OUT → FLEET SCALE
05
SCALE 05
Fleet
Multiple Squadrons
Strategic PositioningLogisticsCommand RangeFleet Maneuvers

Squadrons become chess pieces on a strategic board. Command range, supply lines, and positioning determine whether your fleet can even fight.

ZOOM OUT → THEATER SCALE
06
SCALE 06
Theater
Multiple Fleets
Campaign MapSupply LinesPlanetary ControlFleet Routing

The theater of war spans star systems. Fleets move across a campaign map, supply lines can be cut, and planets change hands.

ZOOM OUT → FACTION SCALE
07
SCALE 07
Faction
Star Systems
DiplomacyEspionageAlliancesResource Management

At the faction scale, combat gives way to politics. Espionage networks, diplomatic pressure, and economic leverage become your weapons.

ZOOM OUT → GALAXY SCALE
08
SCALE 08
Galaxy
All Factions
Trade RoutesEconomic PressurePolitical BlocsGrand Strategy

The outermost zoom. Every faction, every fleet, every marine — all of it resolves into trade routes, political blocs, and the slow grind of galactic history.

The Zoom Model

How the Math
Never Breaks

HardPort warship tactical view
SHIP SCALE // ACTIVE
HULL INTEGRITY78%
SHIELDSPORT OFFLINE
GUNNERYREADY
POWER91%
ZOOM IN

Summary values expand into plausible tactical detail

ZOOM OUT

Detailed results collapse into clean summary values

ZOOM EXAMPLE — SHIP SCALE
INPUT: Ship takes 3 hull damage,
        port shields offline, fire in engineering

ZOOM OUT → Squadron scale:
                 Status: DEGRADED
                 Combat Effectiveness: −15%
THE UNIFIED MECHANIC — SAME MATH, DIFFERENT RESOLUTION
ScaleActive UnitAction ValueResistance Value
INDIVIDUALMarineMarksmanshipEvasion / Armor
SHIPCruiserGunnery ArrayShield / Hull
FACTIONTerran RepublicEspionage NetworkCounter-Intelligence
The resolution mechanic is identical at every scale. Only the narrative and specific stats change.
About the Studio

HardPort
Games Studio

HardPort is an independent game studio building the tactical space combat game we always wanted to play. Our mission is to create a game that respects both the physical and digital traditions of wargaming — a game that can be played with dice on a kitchen table or on a screen at any scale.

The infinite-regress zoom model is not just a feature — it is the design philosophy that shapes every decision we make. One ruleset. Every scale. No compromises.

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Early Access & Updates

Be the first to hear about playtest invitations, rulebook previews, and the HardPort launch. No spam — only signal.

8
SCALES
2
FORMATS
RESOLUTION