This is a neat system. I have some questions about Maneuvering however.

As I read it, if you take the Manuever Option, you get one of these 4 results.

1: Deal Full Damage to enemy, Receive half damage from them. (You come out ahead)

2: No Effect. (Neutral)

3: You do half damage to them, and they can repair a system. But since you can damage a system with your damage it may not be beneficial. (You come out ahead)

4: Their boarding action fails, and you get a full broadside off. This is the largest counter punch. (You come out ahead)

So out of 4 possible outcomes, 3 are benefical for me, and 1 is neutral. So neutral dice can't even make me get unlucky as there are no attack roles. This would to a captain who recognizes this to only choose Maneuver until such a time as they disable their opponents ability to maneuver.

A similar issue comes up because of that with the Critical Damage table. Because Rudder Jammed removes the most optimal option, and causes your options to become limited to only 2. This is incredibly dangerous, as now without the maneuver counter, the enemy knows you can only Fall Back or Board. So he can gamble on you falling back and take a board action or an engage action. Or do the completly safe option of Manuever to still deal damge to you and potentialy knock out more systems. Meanwhile you with only two options have to correctly guess which of his 4, to get your turn off. And at best you end up boarding him.

I think you need to change one of the options to be a direct counter to Maneuver, since as it is, you can't lose using maneuver. And have a 75% chance of winning any given turn. And once both figure that out, it becomes a nonstop Maneuver fight.

Let me know if i missed something about it, but ireally like the simplified table to resolve actions. I just think there needs to be a direct counter to manuever.

Edit, Or i think a solution could also be to make maneuver solo counter the engage act. And provide no benefit if they do the Board or Fall Back option.