Discover the Exciting Galaxy Trucker Game

Are you ready to embark on an intergalactic adventure? If so, I have just the game for you – Galaxy Trucker! Strap in and get ready to build your own spaceship, dodge asteroids, and deliver goods across the galaxy. It’s a thrilling journey that will challenge your engineering skills and test your luck.

In Galaxy Trucker, you play the role of a space trucker, navigating your way through a treacherous universe. But here’s the catch – you’ll need to construct your ship from scratch before you can embark on your mission. Don’t worry, though, because I’ll guide you through the process.

To begin, you’ll be given a set of ship tiles that you’ll use to build your vessel. Each tile represents a different component of your ship, such as engines, weapons, and cargo holds. It’s up to you to strategically place these tiles together to form a sturdy and functional spaceship. Keep in mind that your ship will be tested against asteroids, pirates, and other dangers, so make sure it’s well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead.

Once you’ve built your ship, it’s time to launch into space! But beware – the journey won’t be a walk in the park. Along the way, you’ll encounter various obstacles and hazards that could potentially damage your ship or derail your mission. And here’s where luck comes into play – you’ll need to rely on your dice-rolling skills to determine the outcome of each encounter. Will you come out unscathed, or will your ship suffer a catastrophic failure? The choice is in your hands.

But Galaxy Trucker is not just about luck – it also requires careful planning and strategy. As you progress through the game, you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade your ship and acquire new tiles. These upgrades will enhance your ship’s capabilities and give you a better chance of completing your missions successfully. So make sure to make wise decisions and prioritize your resources to maximize your chances of success.

In conclusion, Galaxy Trucker is an exciting and challenging game that will test your engineering skills, luck, and strategic thinking. It’s a cosmic adventure like no other, where you get to build your own spaceship and navigate through the vastness of space. So, are you ready to take on the challenge and become the ultimate space trucker? Get your dice rolling and let the intergalactic journey begin!

• 1 flight board
• 8 ship boards
• 60 adventure cards
• 64 cosmic credits
• 144 spaceship tiles
• 4 numbered tiles
• 40 white figures
• 8 alien figures
• 8 rocket markers
• 36 battery tokens
• 56 goods blocks
• 1 two-sided card with rules
• 2 dice
• 1 timer
• Instructions

The Game’s Progression

The game has three rounds. At the start of each round, we all dig through the Warehouse, aiming to snatch the top-notch parts and construct the best spaceship.

When I start sailing on the ships, I gotta be careful not to get caught in traps and obstacles. At the same time, I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to make money. My ultimate goal is to be the first one to finish the journey with a ship that’s still in good shape.

In the first round, I build small Class I ships and take a short but safe trip.

In the second round, I’m ready for a bigger challenge, so I build larger Class II ships for a more daring adventure.

By the time the third round comes around, I’m a pro. I’m building massive Class III ships and heading to the farthest and most dangerous parts of the Galaxy.

What I’m Trying to Achieve

My main aim in this game is to have the most cosmic credits when Round 3 ends. That’s how I’ll know I’ve conquered the Galaxy!

Getting Started with My First Ship

I don’t have to read all the rules before starting Round 1. I can just focus on building my ship and getting ready for launch. That’s all I need to know right now.

So, here’s the deal. First things first, you gotta check out the test flights section. And I mean, actually take the test flight. Trust me, it’s a game-changer. Once you’ve done that, then you can move on and dive into the rest of the rules. This way, you’ll be all set to rock Rounds 2 and 3 like a pro.

Getting Started

When you play this game, you’ll need a space ship board that’s marked with an “I”. That’s where your starting component goes – it’s like the pilot cabin. You can choose from four different colors for your cabin, but if there are less than four players, you can keep the extra cabins in the box.

Alright, here’s what we’re going to do. First, let’s turn all the other pieces face down and mix them up into a pile right in the middle of the table so that everyone can reach them. This pile is what we’ll call the Warehouse.

Next, we’ll place the tiles with numbers “1” through “4” – or, if there are only three players, “1” through “3” – in a row near the Warehouse. If there are just two players, we only need tiles “1” and “2”.

For now, we can leave the rest of the game pieces in the box.

The Exciting Part: Grabbing Components

Here’s where the fun begins! When we’re all set and ready, the bravest player in the group shouts, “Go!” and we all grab a component from the pile in the middle of the table. Remember, we can only take one at a time. Once we have it, we place it on our own space ship board and turn it face up.

Now, we have two options: we can either add the component to our space ship or return it face up to the center of the table. When we return it, it becomes available for other players to pick up. They can either grab it or choose to take a chance and go for a face-down component, hoping for something better.

When playing this game, there are some important rules to keep in mind. First and foremost, you don’t take turns like in other games. Instead, you play as fast as you can grab! Let me explain the rules to you:

• When grabbing a component, remember that you can only use one hand. Your other hand must stay above your spaceship board.
• It’s important to keep the components face-down until they are above your spaceship board. No peeking allowed!
• Once you’ve grabbed a component, you can’t grab another one until you either add it to your spaceship or return it to the center of the table.
• Here’s where the tricky part comes in. Once you’ve added a component to your spaceship, you can’t move it. However, you can still move your newest component around while deciding whether to add it or where to put it. Until you grab another component, you can change your mind about its placement or even decide not to keep it at all.

Now, Let’s Build Some Ships!

So, here’s how it works: I start with one piece and keep adding more. But here’s the catch – I can only place new pieces on empty squares next to the ones I’ve already placed. Easy enough, right?

Now, each piece has two important things – a functional part and some connectors. The connectors can be simple, double, or universal. They play a big role in how the pieces fit together. It’s like a puzzle!

Have you ever wondered how connectors work? Well, let me break it down for you. Connectors are like puzzle pieces – they come in different shapes and sizes, and they have specific rules for how they can fit together.

First, we have simple connectors. These connectors can only join with other simple connectors. They’re picky like that! They don’t want to be bothered with anything too complicated.

Then there are double connectors. These connectors are a bit more special. They can join with another double connector or a universal connector. They’re like the social butterflies of the connector world – they can get along with anyone!

Now, universal connectors are the real MVPs. They can join with any type of connector – simple or double. Talk about versatility!

But not every side has a connector. Some sides are smooth – that means they don’t have any connectors at all. Think of them as the odd ones out. And here’s the thing: smooth sides can’t join with any connectors. They’re all alone in the connector world.

So, remember this: connectors have rules. They can only join with certain types of connectors. Simple connectors stick with simple connectors, double connectors can join with double or universal connectors, and universal connectors can join with any type of connector. And if a side doesn’t have a connector, it’s a smooth side – and smooth sides can’t join with anything.

When I’m building my space ship, I know that every part I add needs to connect properly with the rest of the ship. It’s like a puzzle where all the pieces need to fit together perfectly. If a component touches the ship on more than one side, it needs to form a valid connection with each side. But if there are two smooth sides next to each other, that’s fine as long as the new piece I’m adding connects properly on another side. It’s important to make sure that my ship stays intact and doesn’t fall apart during my interstellar adventures!

The Sturdy Vessel

Above all, when constructing your ship, it is imperative to follow the regulations. Additionally, it should be robust, adorned with cannons and engines, equipped with cabins, batteries, and holds, and fully safeguarded by shields.

Vulnerable Links

Links that are not joined, meaning they are not adjacent to another component, are classified as vulnerable.

This ship has 8 vulnerable links

Vulnerable links are permissible, though they escalate the risk of damage to your ship and can impede its speed in certain cases. The extremities of exposed pipes become distorted during transit, hence Corporation Incorporated offers a bonus for ships arriving with minimal vulnerable links.

Finalizing your Ship

Hey there, Captain! Ready to set sail on your epic adventure?

Once you’ve designed your dream ship (or if you can’t fit any more awesome upgrades), it’s time to finalize your creation. Don’t worry, you don’t have to place a component on every single square of your ship board. It’s all about finding the perfect balance.

Now, let’s talk strategy. Choosing the right components is crucial for success. Think about what you need most on your journey. Do you want a powerful weapon to fend off enemies? Maybe you need extra cabins for your crew or a sturdy hull to withstand rough waters.

But, like a swashbuckling double-edged sword, you also have to consider the limitations of your ship. Each addition comes with a cost and takes up precious space. So, it’s important to prioritize and make tough decisions.

Once you’ve made your choices, it’s time to set sail. Embrace the unknown, Captain, but remember to trust your instincts. Your ship is more than just a floating vessel – it’s a reflection of your spirit and determination.

So, prepare to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. With your ship complete and your crew by your side, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

To complete your ship, all you have to do is choose the tile with the lowest number left. If everyone else finishes before you, don’t worry. You’ll end up with the highest-numbered tile, but you’ll have all the time you need to finish building your ship.

(In the full game, there’s a time limit. But for your first game, we’ll assume that if someone takes too long, a gentle thump on the head with the box lid will do the trick).

The order in which the spaceships launch is determined by the tiles. It’s not enough to build a perfect spaceship that’s loaded with everything and has no uncovered connectors. You need to be the first one to finish.

However, before you select the tile, make sure your spaceship is built correctly according to the rules. We’ll be lenient with you in your first game. If you spot a mistake, simply remove a part that violates the rules and carry on.

Alright, let’s talk about some common errors that people often make. These mistakes can trip us up, but once we understand them, we can avoid them and communicate effectively.

One thing to watch out for is using words in the wrong way. Sometimes it’s tricky to know which word to use in a given situation. For example, people often mix up words that sound similar but have different meanings. It’s important to choose the right word so that we can clearly convey our thoughts.

Another common mistake is not using proper grammar. Grammar rules help us to structure our sentences in a way that makes sense. When we don’t follow these rules, our writing can become confusing, and others might not understand what we’re trying to say.

Spelling errors are also something to be mindful of. Misspelled words can change the meaning of a sentence or make it hard to read. It’s always a good idea to double-check our spelling to make sure we’re using the right words.

Lastly, punctuation is often overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in clarifying our meaning. Using commas, periods, question marks, and other punctuation marks correctly helps to make our writing clear and easy to understand.

By being aware of these common mistakes and taking the time to review our writing, we can improve our communication skills and ensure that our messages are clear and effective.

• One thing I want to clarify is a simple connector next to a double.
• Another thing to keep in mind is any type of connector next to a smooth edge.
• Plus, an engine that is not facing the rear is a no-no.
• Oh, and don’t forget, a component should never be placed right behind an engine.
• Also, avoid placing a component right in front of the cannon’s barrel.
• And, of course, no components should be placed outside of the designated building area.
• Last but not least, make sure each component is attached to the rest of the ship.

Getting Ready to Launch

Double Check

Before we’re ready to fly, it’s important that we all take a look at each other’s ships and make sure they’ve been built according to the rules. If someone’s ship doesn’t follow the rules, they’ll need to give up their number tile and fix the mistake.

Next, we’ll take the number tiles that were returned and redistribute them among those with legal ships. The highest numbers should go to the ones who are rebuilding their ships.

Bank

Imagine this: you have a sack filled to the brim with all types of game components like figures, blocks, markers, and dice. It’s a treasure trove just waiting to be explored! This is what we call the “bank.” It’s like a safe place to keep everything organized and ready for your gaming adventures.

The Flight Board

So, here’s what you need to do: remove everything else from the table and place the flight board in the center. In the middle of the flight board, you’ll find a price list and some rules for Round 1, all presented in a neat graphic.

Now, pay attention to the circle of triangular shapes surrounding the information boxes. These shapes represent the spaces on the game board that will show where your ships are. Each shape represents one day of flight.

Grab the two markers that correspond to your color. Put one marker in front of you, and place the other one on the flight board.

Look at the rules summary. It shows how your ships should be initially positioned. The player with tile number 1 puts their ship on the starting space, as indicated. The player with tile number 2 places their ship two spaces behind it.

So here’s the deal: you and your friends are about to embark on a thrilling adventure. Imagine a game where you get to control your own ship, navigate treacherous waters, and race against your buddies to reach the finish line. Exciting, right?

Before we dive in, let me show you how to set up the game. Start by arranging yourselves in a line, with some space between each player. Keep in mind that we need to leave one empty space between each figure, just like the diagram on the game board.

Now, let’s talk about those number tiles. Put them aside for now – we won’t be needing them just yet. Instead, focus on your figures on the flight board. These figures represent your order of flight, but remember, it can change as the game progresses. The player at the front of the line will be the leader, so keep an eye on them!

Getting Your Ship Ready

Imagine you’re aboard a spaceship exploring distant galaxies. Inside each cabin, you’ll find two grey figures, which represent humans wearing grey space suits. Don’t worry about the figures in different colors right now, they’re aliens.

Now, let’s move on to the battery components. Every component is marked with a symbol representing E-cells. On each of these components, place two or three green tokens, depending on the number of E-cells shown.

Oh, and don’t forget about the adventure cards! These cards hold exciting possibilities for your space journey. Get ready for an exhilarating ride!

Hey there! Let’s talk about the adventure cards. These cards represent all sorts of cool things that can happen to you while you’re on your journey.

First things first, I want you to grab the deck labeled “I”. In that deck, you’ll find eight cards with an asterisk in the lower left corner. Take those cards, shuffle them up, and put them next to the flight board.

Now, let’s talk about Cosmic Credits.

Now comes the fun part: grab those cosmic credits and stack them neatly by the bank. As I embark on my journey, I can’t help but gaze at the stacks with anticipation, imagining just how much money I’m going to make.

When I earn cosmic credits, I place them face down in front of me, keeping my total hidden from view.

The Exciting Flight

The test flight is the ultimate test of who built the best ship. It’s made up of 8 adventure cards that hold all the surprises.

(In the full game, these cards are randomly chosen. However, for your first flight, we use the 8 cards with asterisks to ensure that you experience every type of event). Each adventure card comes with its own unique effects.

What Could Happen to You

Your Ship Takes a Hit

In the corner of the game board, there’s a box showing the dangers your ship might face. These threats come from different directions and rows or columns. Let me give you a quick summary:

– You can defend your ship against small meteors by building it well or using a shield.

– If you encounter large meteors, you can shoot them with a cannon.

– To safeguard against light cannon fire, a shield will do the trick.

It’s important to plan ahead and protect your ship, or else you might face some rough challenges during your journey. But don’t worry, I’ll explain everything in more detail. Are you ready to dive in? Let’s go!

Hey there! I’ve got some exciting information to share with you about ship protection in the game “Galaxy Trucker.” So, let’s dive right in!

First things first, it’s crucial to know that nothing shields your ship from getting bombarded by heavy cannon fire. Yep, you heard it right! There’s no defense mechanism in place.

Now, here’s the deal. If your ship happens to get hit (because, well, you either can’t or won’t protect it), the specific component that gets hit must be removed. But wait, there’s more! Removing that component might cause some other parts of your ship to become disconnected. In that case, you’ll have to remove them as well. So be prepared for some serious reconfiguration!

Oh, and here’s where it gets even more interesting. If your ship ends up getting broken into two pieces (yep, it happens), you get to make a decision. You can choose which piece you want to pilot towards your destination, and unfortunately, the other piece will be lost.

So, as you embark on your cosmic adventuYes, it’s true! In “Galaxy Trucker,” there’s no way to protect your ship from heavy cannon fire. When and if your ship is hit, the component that was hit must be removed. If removing that component results in other components becoming disconnected, you have to remove them as well. If your ship breaks into two pieces, you choose which piece to pilot and which piece will be lost.e in “Galaxy Trucker,” always keep in mind that there’s no safety net against cannon fire. If you lose a component, you might just lose some others along the way. And remember, in the unfortunate event that your ship breaks into two, it’s up to you to decide which piece will reach its destination and which one will be lost forever.

Hey there! I wanted to talk to you about lost components in the game. When you lose a component, like crew members or battery tokens, they go to your discard pile. It’s on the right side of your ship board. But here’s the thing: when you finally reach your destination, you have to pay a cosmic credit for each lost component. So, let’s say you lost three crew members and a battery token. You would have to pay four cosmic credits. And anything that was on those lost components, like crew members or goods, goes back to the bank.

Getting and Losing Flight Days

So here’s the deal. See that number in the corner of those cards? Yeah, that’s important. It tells you how many days you’re gonna lose if you decide to use that card. So, pay attention to it.

Now, here’s the thing. Whenever you lose some flight days, whether you do it willingly or not, you gotta move your marker back. And how many spaces? Well, that’s easy. Just go back the same number of spaces as the days you lost. Simple as that.

If Blue loses 3 flight days, I’ll be stuck right in front of Red.

And if you gain flight days, you’ll move your marker forward the same number of spaces. Remember, no two markers can be on the same space.

Acquiring Items

When you find a card that lets you load goods onto your ship, you need to take colored blocks from the bank and put them in your cargo containers.

Each cargo hold can hold 1 to 3 containers.

Each container can only hold 1 block. If you have extra goods, you have to throw them away into space and return them to the bank. You can use the price list to decide which goods to keep and which ones to get rid of.

The most valuable goods are the red blocks, but they’re also dangerous. You have to keep them in special cargo holds with reinforced containers. If you don’t have enough reinforced containers, you have to get rid of the extra red blocks.

If you have enough space, you should take as many goods as you can, even if you have to store cheap goods in special cargo holds.

When you load new goods, you can always rearrange or throw away any amount of cargo.

What Happens When You Lose Goods or Crew Members

When you come across a card that asks you to surrender goods, the rule is simple: return the most valuable goods to the bank.

But what if you don’t have enough goods? That’s where the green battery tokens come in. You can give up these tokens to make up for the difference. However, once you run out of goods and battery tokens, they can’t take anything else from you. So be strategic with your choices!

When it comes to playing cards in the game, there’s a rule that states if a card requires you to give up crew, you must return that many figures to the bank. It’s important to remember that if you don’t have enough crew to meet the card’s requirement, you should just give up all the crew you have. Keep in mind that not having enough crew can be a problem in the full game.

Your Ship’s Parameters

There are times when you need to calculate the strength of your engines or cannons. For double engines and double cannons, power is needed. Whenever you have to calculate the strength of your engines or cannons, you have to decide which double engines or cannons you want to power and spend batteries for them.

Engine Strength

Let me break down the different types of engines and how they affect your score:

First, we have the simple engine. This one counts as 1 in your score.

If you choose to spend a green battery token on a double engine, it’s a bit more powerful. Each double engine with a green battery token counts as 2 in your score.

Now, let’s talk about the strength of your cannons.

Cannon Strength

Let me break it down for you: every simple cannon that points forward is worth 1 point. But if you use a green battery token on a double cannon that points forward, it’s worth 2 points. Remember, these are the things to consider when tallying up your score.

When operating cannons, it’s important to remember that each cannon pointing to the side or rear only counts for half its value (1/2 for a single cannon or 1 for a double cannon when a green token is spent).

Adventure Cards

I, as the leader (initially, the player with tile number 1), reveal the first adventure card. We deal with this card according to the instructions below or on the following pages.

(Each adventure will appear once, so I will explain them one by one as we reveal the cards). Next, I, as the leader (which may be a different player if the adventure changes the order), reveal the next card, and so on, until all eight adventures have taken place.

Journey’s End

Your journey is complete once we have dealt with the last of the eight adventure cards.

Rewards and Penalties

When you look at the flight board’s center, you’ll see important information about the rewards and penalties you’ll get when your flight is over. It’s crucial to handle these in a specific order, starting from the left side and moving to the right. First, deal with bonuses, then focus on selling goods, and finally, address any penalties that may apply.

Bonuses

Hey there! Let me fill you in on the awesome bonuses up for grabs in Round 1.

When you arrive at your destination in the game, the number of credits you receive depends on your position.

After all the adventure cards have been resolved, the leader is awarded 4 cosmic credits, the person in second place gets 3, and the pattern continues.

I’m here to explain how the scoring system works in this game. The number in square brackets shows the bonus for the player with the best-looking ship. To determine this, count the number of exposed connectors on your ships. Each exposed connector counts as one, no matter if it’s simple, double, or universal.

The player with the fewest exposed connectors receives the indicated bonus. If multiple players tie for the fewest, they all get the bonus.

Now let’s talk about the goods.

Hey there! Don’t forget to return all your items to the bank and get the cosmic credits that match their prices.

Things you lose

So, here’s the deal. You need to bring all the parts of your ship back to Corporation Incorporated. When you lose a part, you lose 1 cosmic credit. It’s pretty straightforward.

Now, when you lose a part, you just put it in the discard pile on your spaceship board. That way, you can easily keep track of how many parts you’ve lost. Makes sense, right?

Fortunately, the Department of Stellar Vehicles obliges all spaceships to have insurance, so there’s a limit to how much you can lose. This limit is specified in the discard area on your ship board. For Class I ships, the limit is 5 cosmic credits. Even if you lost more components than this, you only have to pay this many cosmic credits.

Luckily, Pangalactic Insurance Company will cover the remaining cost and pay Corp Inc. as soon as a claims adjuster can reach the edge of the Galaxy.

But beware, if you lose more than twice the limit, you still only pay the maximum. But Corporation Incorporated will fire the person who signed you up for this job. How you ease your guilty conscience is entirely up to you.

Now, let’s move on to the end of the round. Congrats on completing your first flight! Please return all tokens, blocks, and figures to the bank.

Alright, let’s get started on our intergalactic adventure! First things first, gather all the components for your space ship, except for the pilot cabin. Place them in the Warehouse pile at the center of the table. Don’t worry about the adventure cards for now, we’ll be using different ones in the upcoming rounds.

Next, let’s organize our cosmic credits. Keep them in front of you, face down, in a neat pile. You wouldn’t want anyone else eyeing your hard-earned money, right? Let them focus on making their own cosmic fortunes!

Now that we have everything in order, it’s time to dive into the full rules. But before we do that, let me just mention that these rules assume you’ve already taken your first flight. This section will provide you with additional rules that are used in the full game. For now, let’s focus on Rounds 2 and 3 of your first game. Don’t worry, in future games, we’ll also use these rules in Round 1.

Setup

When we play the game, we need to use the ship boards that match the round number we are on. For example, in Round 3, we should use board III, not board IIIa. This is important to keep in mind because each board offers a different gameplay experience.

Alright, let’s get started! First things first, grab the flight board and put it next to the Warehouse.

If we’re in Round 2 or Round 3, find the right rules card and cover up the Round 1 rules on the board with it.

Time for Adventure!

In the full version of the game, you can use Corporation Incorporated’s prognostics division to check out the adventure cards while you build your ship.

But hold on! Before we all start grabbing components, let’s make three piles of adventure cards. Choose them randomly and place them on the designated squares on the flight board.

Each pile should have the cards shown in the bottom left corner of the rules card. Each pile will have 2 cards from the deck that matches the current round, and 1 card from each deck with a lower number.

Looking at Cards

If I’ve added at least one component to my ship, I can take a break from building and choose one of the three piles to look through.

When I’m done, I can go back to building or pick up another pile. I can take as much time as I want to look at the cards, and I can do it as many times as I like. It’s important to put each pile back where I found it so that everyone knows which piles have already been seen.

Of course, looking at the cards takes away time that could be used to grab more components, but knowing what I might encounter in different parts of the Galaxy can be really useful. For example, if I see a lot of planets, I might want to get more cargo holds.

Preparing the Adventure Cards

Once everyone has finished building their structures, it’s time to introduce a pile of unknown cards. This pile is created in the same manner as the previous three. Mix all four piles together, making sure to shuffle them thoroughly.

If the number on the top card doesn’t match the number of the current round, don’t worry. Simply continue shuffling until it does. However, this won’t be a problem in Round 1 since you start with a clean slate.

In Round 1, you will have three piles, each consisting of two cards. When you add the fourth pile, you’ll end up with eight cards, just like you did during the test flight. In the following rounds, you’ll have more cards because the flights become longer.

The Timer

Saying “go!”

In Round 1, I step up as the boldest player and shout out “Go!” to kick off the game. For Rounds 2 and 3, the honor goes to the player who landed first in the previous round.

But it’s not just about saying “Go!” – there’s more to it. The player who starts the round must also activate the timer and place it in the circle on the flight board that matches the current round number.

Now, let’s talk about the timer. It’s there to keep track of how much time we have left to build our ships. Once the time runs out, anyone can grab the timer, flip it over, and move it to the next circle with a lower number. Usually, this is done by someone who’s doing well in the game and wants to stay ahead of the others.

And finally, the last flip before the game ends.

I’m sitting here thinking about what happens when the timer runs out. Circle number 1 starts feeling a little nervous as the time ticks away. But then, something magical happens – the timer can be flipped over! It’s like a secret switch that turns everything on. And where does it go? Well, there’s a special place marked “Start” just for it.

But wait, there’s a catch. Only the lucky player who finished building and grabbed a numbered tile can do this final flip. It’s a reward for their hard work and creativity.

Now, here’s where things get really interesting. The last flip measures how much time the rest of us have left to finish our ships. It’s like a challenge being thrown down, urging us to complete our tasks before it’s too late.

And when that time runs out, it’s game over for adding any more components. We have to stop building and claim a numbered tile for ourselves. But here’s the twist – the lowest numbered tile goes to the quickest player who snatches it up.

Let’s talk about Round 1 of a full game. It’s quite a scene! The bravest player steps up and sets the timer on circle 1, all while shouting “Go!” It’s a signal for everyone to start building their ships. And the player who finishes first gets to proudly claim tile number 1.

By now, you’ve probably run out of time, so go ahead and flip the timer over and put it on the circle that says “Start.” That signals to the other players that their countdown is about to begin. If the timer is still running, you’ll have to wait until it’s done before moving on.

In Round 2, the timer starts on circle 2. When it’s done, anyone can flip it over and place it on circle 1. But here’s the catch: you can’t go directly from circle 2 to the “Start” circle, even if you’ve finished building and taken a numbered tile. You have to let it run out in circle 1 first.

Putting Components to One Side

When I’m building my ship, I can choose to set aside up to two components. These components go in the upper right corner of my ship board, also known as my discard pile. Nobody can take these components from me, but I can’t put them back in the Warehouse either. The only thing I can do with them is add them to my ship. When I add one of these components, I make space to set aside a new one. However, I can never have more than two components set aside at the same time.

If I set aside a component but don’t end up adding it to my ship, I leave it in my discard pile. At the end of my trip, it will count against me as a lost component.

Aliens

Life Support Components

So, what are these mysterious components we mentioned earlier? Well, the orange and purple components are actually life support systems for aliens.

In order for the life support system to work, it needs to be connected to a cabin. This allows aliens of the same color to live in that cabin. However, you can’t put an alien in your starting component, which is the pilot cabin.

Now, us humans in our gray spacesuits don’t need any special life support components. We can go in any cabin without any issues.

Where to Put the Crew

Here are the rules for placing the crew figures:

• The pilot cabin is where you’ll find two humans. Now, neither of these humans is actually you, but you’ll be spending a lot of time with them on a long voyage, so you might start feeling like they are you.
• A cabin that is not connected to a life support system also gets two humans.

A cabin connected to a life support system can accommodate 2 humans or 1 alien of the same color. If a cabin is connected to one life support system of each color, it can hold either 2 humans or 1 purple alien or 1 orange alien. It’s important to note that your ship cannot have more than 1 alien of each color.

To help you understand how to place your crew, take a look at the image below. It shows the different possibilities for crew placement.

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When it comes to placing crew members, each player takes turns starting with the player who has tile 1.

Now, let’s talk about alien abilities. Aliens are considered crew members and are counted as such in a Combat Zone or an Abandoned Station. You have the option to send them away on an Abandoned Ship or trade them to Slavers.

The downside of having an alien on board is that it takes up the space of two humans. However, there are advantages to having aliens on your ship.

Purple aliens are a species that loves war. If you happen to have a purple alien on your ship, your cannon strength gets a +2 boost. However, if your cannon strength is already at 0 without the alien, you don’t get this bonus. I mean, come on, a purple alien can’t fight a space battle with its teeth, can it?

Now let’s talk about orange aliens. These guys are amazing mechanics. If you have an orange alien on board, your engine strength gets a +2 boost. But hold up, if your engine strength is zilch without the alien, you don’t get the bonus. Yeah, an orange alien won’t jump out of the ship and push it. That’s just crazytalk.

Now, let’s move on to the matter of life support systems. If your ship loses a life support system and there’s an alien in a cabin that can’t sustain it anymore, you gotta send that alien back to the bank. Don’t worry, though, they’ll leave in a nifty emergency escape pod. Safety first, right?

Alright, time to address ship building mistakes. We all make ’em, no shame. But here’s the thing, if you mess up and your ship loses a life support system because of it, and there’s an alien in a cabin that can’t handle it anymore, you have to return that alien to the bank. It’s all part of the rules, my friend. Gotta keep things fair and square.

If you ever realize that you’ve added a piece to your ship illegally, don’t worry. There’s nothing you can do about it now, unless you just added it and haven’t picked up a new one yet. The issue will be addressed during the spot check, which happens before the launch.

Spot Check

In the full game, the penalty for having an illegal ship is much harsher. During the spot check, it’s crucial to ensure that your ship is constructed in accordance with the rules. If your ship violates any rules, you’ll need to remove one or more components so that it complies with the regulations.

Removing these components doesn’t count as extra building, so you get to keep your number tile. However, you won’t be able to add any new components. The pieces that you remove must be placed in the pile of components that are lost along the way. And remember, you’ll have to pay a penalty for those pieces when you eventually reach your destination.

I made a mistake with my ship. To fix it, I have to take out either the cabin or the battery. I want to put an alien in the cabin, so I’ll remove the battery.

But when I do that, I also lose one of the engines. Both the cabin and the battery go into my discard pile on my ship board.

Problems I Noticed During My Flight

If someone finds out that my ship is not legal during the flight (anytime after the first adventure card is revealed), I have to fix the mistake right away by following the steps I mentioned earlier. Additionally, I have to pay 1 cosmic credit to the bank for breaking the laws of physics.

Tough Enemies in the Game

In the full version of the game, there are also Pirates and Slavers that you’ll come across. When you defeat them, you don’t get any goods in return; instead, you earn cosmic credits. Move your ship back the number of spaces indicated and take the credits from the bank.

If you don’t want to miss out on flight days, you have a couple of options. You can decide not to take any credits or goods (if you’re a Smuggler) and leave your ship where it is. This way, no one else can snatch up the reward once the enemy is defeated. It’s up to you how you want to handle it!

If the Slavers manage to defeat me, they have the power to make me give up some of my crew members. I have the difficult decision of deciding which of my fellow humans or aliens to sacrifice in order to secure my own freedom.

If the Pirates manage to conquer your ship, they’ll start blasting away with their cannons. And let me tell you, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of that! Just check the card to see how big and where the cannon shots are headed. It’s crucial to keep track of all the players who have been defeated so far. Then, it’s up to the first player who got defeated to roll a pair of dice. This roll determines which row or column the shots will go through, affecting everyone who has been defeated.

Now, brace yourself because here’s something you need to know: those pesky pirates have different types of cannon fire. Light cannon fire can be stopped, but only if you have a shield positioned in the right way and powered by a battery. But heavy cannon fire? Yeah, you guessed it. That cannot be stopped. It’s relentless and will blast right through any defense you have. It’s like a meteoric swarm coming your way! (By the way, if you’re not sure what I mean by “Combat Zone,” check it out below).

In the later stages of the game, you’ll encounter meteors that can approach your ship from either the left or the right side.

To destroy large meteors that come directly in front of you, you’ll need to use a forward-pointing cannon in the corresponding column. However, if the large meteors are approaching from the sides, you can use a cannon pointing in that direction in the same row or an adjacent row to destroy them.

It’s important to note that the ship adjusts its speed just enough to shoot the meteor. This rule doesn’t apply to small meteors, as they are too tiny to be hit by cannon fire.

And now, let’s talk about some special events that can occur during the game.

When I’m playing the game, there’s always a chance that an Epidemic will come up in Round 2 or 3. This particular adventure card has the power to make me remove 1 crew member, whether human or alien, from every cabin that’s already occupied and connected to another occupied cabin.

If I want to stay safe, the smartest move would be to construct my ship in a way that doesn’t have any connected cabins. But if I do have connected cabins, I can take a risk and try to empty one of them before the epidemic strikes. It would help a lot if I know whether an Epidemic card is part of the adventure cards for that specific round. Being prepared is key!

When I’m playing the game, sabotage can really ruin Round 3. It’s like a trick card that destroys something on the ship, but it only affects the ship with the smallest crew. If there are multiple ships with the same size crew, then the one in front gets hit.

To figure out which part of the ship gets sabotaged, the player who got hit has to roll 2 dice to find the column and 2 more dice to find the row. It’s all about luck. If the coordinates don’t point to a part of the ship, they have to roll again until they find one.

If they roll and there’s still no part of the ship, they have to roll again. If they roll three times and still can’t find a part of the ship, the saboteurs just give up and nothing happens. I guess they got tired.

But if they do find a part of the ship, things get really bad. That part is gone forever, lost in space. And any other parts that were connected to it also fall off.

The worst is when they hit the center of the ship. It’s like a huge explosion and it can cause a lot of damage. It’s like the worst thing that can happen.

When I’m Just Done

When playing the full game, there may come a point where you feel like giving up and abandoning your journey. Sometimes, you might even make the deliberate choice to quit. However, there’s good news – you can always rely on a nearby Corp Inc. warehouse to assist you.

• First, remove your marker from the game board. From this point on, you become a mere spectator for the remainder of the round, and none of the cards can have any impact on you.
• It’s important to note that you won’t receive any bonuses based on the order in which you finished, since you didn’t actually complete the game. When it comes to awarding bonuses for the ship with the fewest exposed connectors, your ship will not be taken into account.
• However, you do have the opportunity to sell your goods, although at a reduced rate. To determine your earnings, add up the total value of all your goods at their full sale price, and then take half of that amount in credits (rounded up).

Don’t Forget the Penalty!

When playing the game, it’s important to remember that you’ll have to pay a penalty for any components you’ve lost along the way. However, anything you still have can be returned to Corp Inc. without penalty. Just make sure to keep track of what’s in your discard pile and only pay for those items. Bear in mind that there is a limit to how big your penalty can be, so be mindful of that as well.

If you find yourself as the lone survivor after everyone else has given up, you have the option to keep going. You can try to complete the remaining adventures on your own. But, in this case, certain adventures like the Combat Zone and Sabotage won’t apply to you. You won’t face any penalties related to engines, cannons, or crew members, since you’re the only player left.

When You Lose All Humans

It’s time to throw in the towel if an adventure card leaves you without any humans on board your ship. Sorry, but aliens can’t run the show all by themselves!

It can happen that you lose crew members or your last occupied cabin gets destroyed, and this can make it difficult for you to continue the race. Whether it’s due to a Combat Zone, encountering Slavers, or making the choice to abandon ship, these obstacles can really throw a wrench in your plans.

If you find yourself in a Combat Zone, you won’t be able to withdraw your ship until you’ve dealt with all the consequences of the card you’ve drawn.

Traveling Through Space Without Engines

Believe it or not, your ship can still move forward even without engines. As long as you don’t come across Open Space, you can keep going thanks to inertia.

If you do encounter an Open Space card, you’ll have to give up if your engine strength is at zero. This could be because you don’t have any engines at all or because you only have double engines and no battery power left.

Remember, the orange alien doesn’t help improve your engine strength if you’re starting off with none.

Getting Left Behind

If the leader passes you (meaning they’re more than 1 full circle ahead), you need to give up.

But sometimes, it’s just smarter to throw in the towel and accept your losses. You can choose to give up, but you have to do it before the next adventure card is revealed. (If you decide to give up after seeing an adventure card, you’ll still have to go through that adventure first).

When Round 3 ends and all the rewards are collected and penalties paid, the game is over. Add up all your cosmic credits. If you have 1 or more, you win!

Your aim was to make money, and you did. So what if some other players made more?

Of course, the player with the most credits is a little more of a winner than everyone else.