Star Wars: Rebellion Game Rules

Hey there! Welcome to the world of Star Wars: Rebellion, a game that will take you on an epic adventure through the galaxy! Below, I’ll guide you through some of the important rules and concepts of the game. So let’s jump right in and have some galactic fun!

First up, let’s talk about the players. In Star Wars: Rebellion, two players go head-to-head in an intense battle for control of the galaxy. One player takes on the role of the Rebel Alliance, fighting to overthrow the oppressive Empire. The other player becomes the leader of the Galactic Empire, seeking to crush the Rebellion and maintain their hold on power.

As the Rebel Alliance, you’ll be fighting against the might of the Empire with a smaller and more nimble fleet. Your goal is to complete missions, gather support from various planets, and ultimately destroy the Death Star!

On the other hand, if you’re leading the Galactic Empire, you’ll have a larger and more powerful fleet at your disposal. Your objective is to crush the Rebel Alliance, discover their hidden base, and eliminate their leaders. But be careful, as the Rebels are always plotting in secret!

The game is played over a series of rounds, with each round representing a span of time in the Star Wars universe. You’ll take turns, alternating between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire, making strategic choices and taking actions to further your goals.

One of the key aspects of the game is the use of leaders. Each side has a pool of leaders with unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle. These leaders can be assigned to lead your forces in combat, undertake daring missions, or infiltrate enemy systems to gather valuable information.

Combat in Star Wars: Rebellion is resolved using a simple and intuitive system. Battles are fought using a combination of dice rolls and cards, with each faction having their own specific combat deck. Players will strategically play cards and roll dice to resolve the outcome of each individual battle.

Throughout the game, you’ll also have the opportunity to recruit and deploy various units to help you in your quest for victory. Each unit has its own strengths and abilities, so it’s important to choose the right ones for the job at hand.

And that’s pretty much the gist of Star Wars: Rebellion! It’s a game of strategy, tactics, and a whole lot of excitement. So gather your forces, choose your side, and may the Force be with you as you embark on this thrilling adventure in a galaxy far, far away!

Hey there! So, picture this: a time of civil war. Imagine that the Old Republic is no more, and the Empire is now in charge, ruling the galaxy through fear. Not only that, but they’ve built a massive battle station called the Death Star, which can wipe out any opposition. Pretty intense stuff, right?

But wait! There’s hope! A brave group of Rebels has decided to take a stand against the Empire. They’re hiding out in a secret base, strategizing and planning to deliver a major blow to the Empire and bring freedom back to the galaxy. Talk about a courageous bunch!

Welcome to Star Wars: Rebellion, a game that lets you relive the incredible struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. In this game, you get to take on the roles of iconic characters from the Star Wars saga. You’ll send them on secret missions and lead troops in epic battles that span across the galaxy. It’s an adventure you won’t want to miss!

When it comes to the two factions in this game, they each have their own unique strategies and goals. Let’s take a closer look.

The Rebel Alliance is at a disadvantage because they are greatly outnumbered. They know they can’t win a direct confrontation with the Empire, so they focus on staying hidden. The Rebels rely on tricks, clever tactics, and peaceful negotiations to weaken the Empire’s control. They win the game by gaining enough support to start a massive galactic revolt and overthrow the Empire.

On the other side, we have the Galactic Empire. This powerful empire rules over many systems in the galaxy with an iron fist. They have the ability to produce large quantities of terrifying weapons. Despite their superior numbers, their only hope of defeating the rebellion is to spread their forces throughout the galaxy, crush any rebellions, and relentlessly search for the hidden Rebel base. The Imperials win the game by discovering the location of the Rebel base and conquering it.

Let’s Talk About the Components

Let’s Get Set Up!

Here’s what you need to do to set up the game:

Pick Your Factions: First, decide who will control the Imperials and who will control the Rebels. If you can’t agree, go ahead and choose randomly. Each player will take the plastic miniatures, leaders, loyalty markers, faction sheet, mission cards, and action cards for their chosen faction and place them in front of themselves.
Set Up the Starting Leaders: Next, take the four leaders that don’t have a recruit icon and put them in the area marked “Leader Pool” on your faction sheet. Any leaders with recruit icons should be placed near the game board, as they can’t be added to the leader pool just yet.
Setting up the Game Board and Time Track: First, I’ll take the two halves of the game board and put them side by side in the center of the play area. Then, I’ll take the time marker and place it on space “1” of the track. Lastly, I’ll put the reputation marker on space “14” of the track.
Preparing the Objective Deck: I’ll start by sorting the objective cards into three separate piles, based on the numbers on the card backs (I, II, or III). Once sorted, I’ll shuffle each pile individually. Now, I’ll place pile III on the “Objectives” space of the game board. Then, I’ll put pile II on top of pile III, and finally, pile I goes on top of pile II, creating a single objective deck. Now, it’s time for the Rebel player to draw one card from the objective deck and keep it a secret from the Imperial player.

Iam going to tell you how to play Star Wars Rebellion. The game consists of two players, the Rebel Player and the Imperial Player. The Rebel Player’s goal is to complete a certain number of missions and prevent the Empire from discovering the Rebel base. On the other hand, the Imperial Player’s goal is to locate and destroy the Rebel base.

To start the game, both players need to get their action decks ready. The action deck is made up of cards that have a recruit icon on them. Each player takes all of their recruit cards and shuffles them to create their action deck. This deck is placed facedown next to their faction sheet on the side labeled “Action Deck”. The cards that do not have a recruit icon are not used in the first game and should be returned to the game box.

Next, the tactic decks, markers, and dice need to be prepared. The space tactic and ground tactic decks are shuffled individually and placed within easy reach of all players. All remaining markers and dice are gathered and placed nearby for easy access during the game.

Once these preparations are complete, the game can begin. The players will take turns performing actions and moving their units to accomplish their respective goals. The Rebel Player will need to carefully plan their missions and try to stay one step ahead of the Empire. The Imperial Player will need to strategize and use their resources wisely to locate and destroy the Rebel base.

Remember, the fate of the galaxy is in your hands. May the Force be with you as you embark on this epic Star Wars adventure!

How to Prepare Mission Cards: First, I want you to get your mission cards ready. Here’s what you need to do:

Starting Missions: Look for the cards with a curved arrow at the bottom. These are your starting mission cards. Take all four of them and set them aside for now.
Projects: Now, we have project cards. You can recognize them by the white star in the bottom-right corner. The Imperial player should take all the project cards and shuffle them together. Once shuffled, place the deck on the designated “Project” space on the game board.
Remaining Missions: Finally, it’s time to deal with the rest of your mission cards. Take all the remaining cards and shuffle them. This will create your mission deck. Place the deck facedown next to your faction sheet, on the side labeled “Mission Deck”.
Setting Up Starting Units and Loyalty: When you’re starting your game, the first thing you’ll do is place units and loyalty markers on the game board. You can find the instructions for this on page 16. Once you’re familiar with the game, you can use the “Advanced Setup” option on page 18.
Choosing a Base Location: As the Rebel player, it’s important to ensure that all systems with Imperial units have been removed from the probe deck. From the remaining cards, secretly pick one and place it facedown under the Rebel base “Location” space on the game board. Shuffle the probe deck and put it in the “Probe Deck” space. For your first game, make sure to choose a system that isn’t adjacent to any Imperial units.

Let’s Get Started: Drawing the Starting Hand

To begin playing Star Wars: Rebellion, each player takes their four starting missions and draws two cards from their mission deck. These cards will create their starting hand, which they will keep secret from their opponent.

Game Play

Star Wars: Rebellion is an exciting game that unfolds over several rounds. Each round consists of three phases, which players resolve in a specific order.

Assignment Phase: In this phase, players assign their leaders to missions. It’s crucial to strategically assign your leaders to ensure success in your missions.
Command Phase: This is where the action happens! Players take turns resolving missions or placing leaders on the game board to move units and initiate combats. It’s a thrilling phase where you have the opportunity to make strategic moves and outsmart your opponent.
Refresh Phase: In the final phase of each round, players regroup and prepare for the next round. This includes resetting exhausted units and resolving any ongoing effects.

Now that you’re familiar with the game flow, you’re ready to dive into the world of Star Wars: Rebellion and experience the epic battles and strategic maneuvers that await you. May the Force be with you!

Refresh Phase: Now it’s time to refresh. We’ll take care of things like retrieving leaders, drawing mission cards, launching probe droids, recruiting new leaders, and building new units.

I’ll explain each of these phases in more detail below.

We’ll keep playing rounds until one faction comes out on top and wins the game. I’ll explain how that works later.

I. Assignment Phase

During this phase, we assign leaders to missions.

Missions are important moments from the Star Wars saga, like stealing the Death Star plans. Each player has mission cards for their leaders to attempt.

First, the Rebel player assigns their leaders to missions. Then, the Imperial player does the same.

When you want to put someone in charge of a task, you need to pick a mission card from your hand and place it facedown next to your group’s information. Then, you choose one or two leaders from your group of leaders and put them on top of that card.

Each mission has a requirement for a skill, which is shown in the top left corner. We’ll explain all about skills later in the sidebar that talks about “What are Skills?”

If you don’t assign leaders to missions, they stay in your group of leaders. You can use them later during the Command Phase to move your units or to stop enemy missions.

Once the Imperial player has chosen who will lead their missions, everyone moves on to the Command Phase.

The Imperial player put two of their leaders in charge of missions and left the other two in their group of leaders.

WHAT ARE LEADERS, ANYWAY?

In the Star Wars universe, there are some pretty famous characters who serve as leaders. You might recognize Princess Leia and Darth Vader, among others. These leaders play a crucial role in the game, driving all the important actions.

When it comes to moving units and attempting missions, leaders are essential. Each leader has a number associated with them, which represents the combat bonus they provide. Additionally, there are skill icons below their names that show how strong they are for different mission types. I’ll explain all of this in detail a little later.

In my game, I had two leaders on missions, while the other two leaders stayed in the leader pool.

The Command Phase

During this phase, we can move our units and reveal our missions. It starts with the Rebel player, and then we take turns doing one of the following:

Activate a System: I use a leader from my leader pool to move units on the game board and maybe start a fight.
Reveal a Mission: I use a leader on a mission card to show the card’s ability.

I can pass if I want to, and once I do, my turn is over for the rest of the Command Phase.

When all players have passed, we move on to the Refresh Phase.

Activate A System

We can move our units and start a fight by activating a system with a leader.

So here’s how it works: I want to activate a system, right? Easy peasy. First, I grab one of my leaders and plop them down in the system. Boom! Activation complete. Now, the fun part. I can move any of my ships from the systems next door and bring them into the activated system.

Oh, but hold on! There’s a catch. Once I’ve got a leader in a system, I can’t take any of my units out of that system. Gotta keep my faction’s leader safe and sound, ya know?

When a ship arrives, it can carry a certain number of ground units, determined by its transport capacity. This capacity can be found on the ship’s faction sheet. It’s interesting to note that TIE Fighters are treated as ground units and also require transport.

Once you move your units into a system where enemy units are present, it’s time to engage in combat. Don’t worry, I’ll explain the details of combat later on.

If a leader doesn’t have any tactic values, they won’t be able to activate a system. Keep this in mind as you make your decisions.

Hey there! Let me tell you about a cool game strategy that I’m using in my Star Wars game. So, I have this awesome character named Cato Neimoidia, and with Emperor Palpatine’s help, I can make some pretty cool moves. Here’s how it goes:

First, I activate Cato Neimoidia with Emperor Palpatine. This allows me to take some actions there.

Next, I can move my powerful Star Destroyer and AT-AT from Sullust to Cato Neimoidia. That really gives me an advantage!

But hey, here’s the catch – I can’t move my Stormtrooper from Corellia to Cato Neimoidia. You see, it requires a ship with transport capacity to bring it along, and unfortunately, I don’t have one available.

Oh, and one more thing – I can’t move any units from Coruscant to Cato Neimoidia because they’re not adjacent. Bummer, right?

WHAT ARE SYSTEMS AND REGIONS?

Hey there! Let’s dive into the game board and explore the captivating Star Wars galaxy. It’s filled with 32 key systems, each represented by awesome planet art. You’ll find the name of the system right there next to it, cool huh? The systems have their own space area surrounding them, with borders marking their territory.

Now, the game board is divided into eight regions, all separated by these large orange borders. In each region, you’ll discover four unique systems, each with its own charm.

Most of these systems are populous, meaning they have a lot going on. You’ll notice a loyalty space and cute little resource icons. These icons tell you what kind of units the system is producing, making each system unique and exciting. But hey, if a system doesn’t have these loyalty spaces or resource icons, don’t worry, it’s just a remote system.

Ah, see those shaded areas? If they’re completely enclosed by an orange line, they’re impassible. Don’t even try to move through them, it’s a no go.

Uncovering the Rebel Base

When Imperial ground units move into a system, I have to tell you if the Rebel base is there.

If the Rebel base is in that system, I will reveal it before we fight. I’ll explain how to reveal the Rebel base later on.

Revealing A Mission

To reveal a mission, I’ll choose one of my leaders and flip over a mission card. Then, I’ll read the card out loud to you.

Most mission cards will tell me to “attempt” or “resolve” the mission in a specific system. I’ll let you know which system I choose, but I won’t make any other decisions right now.

So, here’s what happens: I start by placing my leader in the system that’s mentioned on the card. Simple, right? Let’s say the card says “Attempt in any system.” In that case, I can take my leader from the mission card and put it in any system on the game board. Easy peasy.

But here’s the important part: if I’m trying or completing a mission in the “Rebel Base” space, my leader goes in the “Rebel Base” space on the game board, not in the system where the Rebel base is hiding. Got it? Good.

Missions have two different terms that tell us what happens when we play the card:

The term “resolve” means the card’s ability happens automatically and can’t be stopped.
The term “attempt” means the card’s ability only happens if the mission succeeds. It’ll usually succeed unless another player’s leader tries to stop me.

Important: Every time you use a starting mission card, you must bring it back to your hand. However, all other mission cards should be discarded once you’ve used them.

Going Against a Mission

When you declare that you’re attempting a mission, your opponent has a chance to send one leader from their leader pool to oppose your mission. This opposing leader is placed in the system where your mission is taking place.

If both players have a leader in the system, the mission will be opposed. To determine if the mission succeeds or fails, both players need to roll dice. Each player should roll dice (of any color) equal to the combined number of skill icons on all of their leaders in the system. However, the roll only counts for skill icons that match the mission’s skill requirement.

Every time I roll a or a , it counts as one success. But when I roll a ??, it counts as two successes. My mission succeeds if I roll more successes than my opponent, and then I can use the special ability on the card. However, if I roll equal to or fewer successes, my mission fails, and I cannot activate the ability.

What are Skills?

Each mission has a skill requirement in the top-left corner of the card. This shows the minimum number of skill icons that the leaders assigned to the mission must match in order to reveal it. Here are the different skill types:

Diplomacy: These missions usually provide loyalty in systems or give players more units.
Intel: Rebel intel missions help acquire objective cards, while Imperial intel missions assist in locating the Rebel base.
Spec Ops: Rebel spec ops missions destroy Imperial units, while Imperial spec ops missions capture and exploit Rebel leaders.
Logistics: Rebel logistics missions move units to and from the Rebel base, while Imperial logistics missions build special units or speed up the construction of Imperial units.

Let’s talk about other mission rules. There’s one important rule to remember: when you’re going up against a leader, you have to do it in their system. That means if you want to take on a leader, you have to go to their turf. It’s like a home game for them.

When you look at some mission cards, you’ll see an image of a leader below the skill requirement. Any leader can try these missions. But if the indicated leader tries this mission, they’ll get two extra successes on their dice roll.

If you resolve the mission instead of attempting it, the card’s ability will have an extra effect if the matching leader resolves this mission.

The color of the leader’s frame only matters in the team game.

Here’s an example of a mission:

I start my turn by revealing Princess Leia’s mission during the Command Phase. I flip the card over and it’s “Infiltration,” which allows me to attempt the mission in any Imperial system.

Now, I have to decide where I want to attempt this mission. I choose Coruscant and place Leia there.

The Imperial player, on the other hand, decides to send Emperor Palpatine to oppose my mission. They take their leader from the leader pool and place it at Coruscant.

Since “Infiltration” has an intel skill requirement, we count the number of intel icons on our leaders in the system. Both Leia and the Emperor have two intel icons, so each of us rolls two dice.

I roll a die and get a [result], while the Imperial player rolls a die and gets a [result]. Because [result] counts as two successes, my mission succeeds, and I can activate the mission card’s ability.

As a result of my successful mission, I get to look at the top two cards of the objective deck. I choose one to place on the top and put the other on the bottom.

Since “Infiltration” is a starting mission card, I return it to my hand.

Now that I’ve finished resolving my mission, it’s the Imperial player’s turn to either activate a system or reveal one of their missions.

Getting Ready Again

During this phase, we’re getting ready for the next round. Here’s what we need to do:

Gather Our Leaders: I’ll take all of my leaders off the game board and put them back in my leader pool. If any of my leaders were still on a mission card, they go back to the leader pool too, and I get the card back.
Get Some Missions: I’ll draw two mission cards. If I already have more than 10 cards in my hand, I’ll have to get rid of some until I have 10 left.
Send Out Probe Droids: The enemy, the Imperial player, will draw two probe cards. The cards will show systems where they think the Rebel base isn’t. But they won’t tell me where they chose.
Pick an Objective: I get to draw one objective card and add it to my hand.
Advance Time Marker: Move the time marker forward one space on the track. If there are any icons shown in the new space, recruit and/or build according to those icons.
Recruit Icon: Both players draw two cards from their action deck. Choose one leader from either card and add that leader to your leader pool. In your first game, ignore the abilities on both cards and return them to the game box.
Build Icon: Each player builds one unit for each resource icon in their loyal and subjugated systems (explained later). For subjugated systems, only use the left-most resource icon.

So, I take these units from the supply and put them on my build queue. The build queue is where I organize the units I want to build. Each space on the build queue has a number that corresponds to a resource icon. I place the units on the space that matches the number next to the resource icon. Now it’s time to deploy the units: First, the Rebel player moves all his units down on the build queue. This means sliding them toward his side of the board. If any units slide off the “1” space, they are ready to be deployed. I then place these units in systems where I have my loyalty or subjugation markers. In each system, I can deploy a maximum of two units.

That’s how you build and deploy units in the game!

1. When it’s time to Refresh, I move the time marker to a space with a build icon.

2. I search for all the systems that are loyal to the Rebels and check their resource icons.

Ryloth is loyal to the Rebels and has one resource icon. According to the Rebel faction sheet, this means I get a Rebel Trooper.

3. The number “1” next to the resource icon tells me to place the Rebel Trooper on space “1” of the build queue, next to the X-wing already there.

4. After I build units from all my loyal systems, I slide each unit in the queue one space closer to the Rebel edge of the game board. The Rebel Trooper and X-wing slide off the board, which means they’re ready to be deployed.

5. I decide to deploy both of these units to Ryloth, so I place them in the system.

I can build and deploy units from the “Rebel Base” space as if it were a system. But if there’s an opponent’s unit or a sabotage marker in a system, I can’t build or deploy units there. After deploying units, we start a new game round with the Assignment Phase.

Now, let’s talk about the end of the game. If the Imperial player conquers the Rebel base’s system, that’s an immediate win for them. If there’s an Imperial unit in the system with no Rebel units, it ensures Imperial dominance. On the other hand, if the reputation marker and time marker are in the same space of the time track, the Rebel player wins. This means the Rebels have gained enough sympathy and reputation to set the decline of the Empire into motion.

So, here’s the deal: I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. If you want to boost your reputation as a Rebel, I’ve got just the trick for you. You ready? It’s all about those objective cards. Yup, you heard me right.

Objective Cards

As a Rebel player in the game, I start with one objective card, and I get to draw an additional card in every Refresh Phase. If I fulfill the requirement of an objective card at the specified time, I can play it from my hand.

When I play an objective card, I discard it and gain the reputation points shown in the top-left corner of the card. I then move my reputation marker that number of spaces towards the time marker.

During each combat and Refresh Phase, I can only play one objective card. This card can be fulfilled during combat and will grant me one reputation point.

Now, let’s talk about the Death Star.

This is about the Death Star, which is a really scary thing. It can blow up whole systems, which is pretty crazy. The Imperials have to do a “Research and Development” mission to get a “Superlaser Online” card from the projects deck.

When the Death Star blows up a system, they put a destroyed system marker there and all the Rebel ground units get destroyed. If the Death Star blows up the system where the Rebel base is, the game is immediately won by the Imperial player.

The only way to destroy the Death Star is with the “Death Star Plans” card from the objective deck.

I want to share with you some crucial game rules that you need to know to make the most out of your gaming experience. Let’s dive right in!

Before we get started, I just want to remind you about the importance of following these rules. They are designed to enhance your gameplay and ensure fairness for everyone involved.

Now, let’s talk about the first rule – The Rebel Base. This is a central location within the game where rebel forces gather to strategize and plan their next moves. It is a vital part of the game and serves as a safe haven for rebels.

Moving on, let’s discuss some additional rules that you should be aware of. These rules are essential for understanding the game mechanics and making informed decisions.

Now, when someone mentions the term “additional rules,” it can sound a bit daunting, but don’t worry! I’m here to break them down for you in a simple, easy-to-understand manner.

One of the key rules you need to know is about interpreting the game. Interpreting is a crucial skill that will help you understand the game world and make informed choices. Remember, the way you interpret the game can greatly impact your gameplay.

To make things even clearer, let me give you an example. Imagine you’re exploring a mysterious cave in the game. If you interpret the cave as a dangerous place filled with treasure, you might approach it cautiously and be rewarded with valuable loot. On the other hand, if you interpret it as a trap, you might avoid it altogether and miss out on exciting opportunities. See how important interpretation can be?

In conclusion, understanding and following these game rules is key to having an enjoyable and successful gaming experience. By embracing the rules, you’ll be able to navigate the game world with confidence and make strategic choices. So, are you ready to take on the challenge? I believe in you! Embrace the rules and let the adventure begin!

When I’m setting up the game as the Rebel player, I have a secret mission. I must choose a system where I’ll hide my Rebel base. This base will stay hidden throughout the game, but I can reveal it later if I want to. Let me explain how it all works.

While my Rebel base is still hidden, I have a special power. I can deploy my units in the “Rebel Base” space on the game board without giving away the location of my hidden base. So whenever I see the “Rebel Base” space mentioned in any effect, it’s talking about this space on the game board, not the system where my base is actually hidden.

Moving To And From The Rebel Base

Hey there! Let me explain a cool concept in this game I love called Rebel base hiding.

So, you see, the Rebel base is like a secret hideout. It’s tucked away somewhere, and we call that place the “Rebel Base” space. The base is sneaky, and Rebel units can move between the “Rebel Base” space and the systems next to it. Sounds fun, right?

Oh, but here’s the trick! When Rebel units move to or from the “Rebel Base” space, they have to reveal one of the systems that is right next to the base. Makes sense? That way, we keep things interesting and keep everyone on their toes.

Now, every once in a while, there are special missions that allow Rebel units to move between the base and any system without giving away any information. Those missions are super cool and give Rebel units more flexibility.

So, what happens when the Rebel base gets revealed?

Ah, good question! If those sneaky Imperial players manage to get their loyalty or ground units in the same system as the Rebel base, guess what? Yep, the Rebel base is immediately revealed! It’s like a big reveal before any combat happens.

Isn’t it exciting? I think it adds an extra layer of strategy to the game. Now go, have a blast playing and remember, keep that Rebel base hidden!

When the base is discovered, I, as the Rebel player, will flip the probe card in the “Location” space. This reveals the base, and I will move the card to the “Rebel Base” space. All units and leaders that were in the “Rebel Base” space will now be placed in the system shown on the probe card. Just remember, the probe card will stay faceup on the “Rebel Base” space so we don’t forget that the base has been revealed.

Now that the base has been revealed, we can still use the resource icons in the “Rebel Base” space. However, we cannot deploy or move any units into the “Rebel Base” space anymore. If we try to place units here, we’ll have to instead place them in the system shown on the base’s faceup probe card.

Time to Establish a New Base

The “Rapid Mobilization” mission card is pretty cool. It lets me, the Rebel player, find a new base. Here’s how it works: I grab the top four cards from the probe deck. Out of those four, I get to pick one to be my new base location. But here’s the catch – I can’t choose a system that already has an Imperial loyalty or Imperial units.

If I do decide to choose a new base location, I have to reveal where my old base was. Then, I move all my units from the “Rebel Base” space to the old base’s system. It’s important to note that I won’t have any units at the new base until I either move or deploy some there.

Then things get interesting. I have to give the Imperial player the probe card for my old base. And I have to put the probe card for the new base facedown under the “Location” space. Lastly, I shuffle all the probe cards I didn’t choose and put them facedown at the bottom of the probe deck.

Oh, and one more thing – there are also “Sabotage Markers” involved. But that’s a whole other story.

Imagine this: You’re a Rebel, fighting against the Empire’s tyrannical rule. Sometimes, during your missions, you come across a system with a sabotage marker. This is not good news because it means that you can’t use any of the system’s resource icons to build new units, and you can’t even deploy units there!

But there’s hope! Some Imperial missions can remove these sabotage markers, giving you back control over the system’s resources and allowing you to deploy your units once again.

At Space 12, the “Rebel Base,” there’s a marker that signifies an act of sabotage in the system. This marker is essential because it indicates an uprising by the rebel units against the ruling faction.

The Importance of Loyalty and Subjugation

In this ongoing war, both factions recognize the significance of gaining support from citizens across the galaxy. They understand that the loyalty of star systems is crucial for their success. Loyalty acts as a representation of the system’s alignment with a particular faction.

Furthermore, the Empire has an additional tactic at their disposal – subjugation. By occupying a star system, they enforce their dominion over the population, compelling them to aid their cause against the rebels.

Loyalty’s Role

In every populous system, there is a sense of loyalty. This loyalty can be towards the Rebels, the Imperials, or it can be neutral. The system’s current loyalty is determined by the loyalty marker present. If there is no loyalty marker, then the system is considered neutral.

The main way to earn loyalty in a system is by completing diplomacy missions. As a player, if you have loyalty in a system, you gain access to its resources and can use them to build new units.

If a system is neutral and you “gain 1 loyalty” in that system, you place your loyalty marker there. This means that the system is now loyal to your faction. On the other hand, if you “gain 1 loyalty” in a system that is loyal to the other player, you remove their loyalty marker. This will make the system neutral again.

Hey there! Let’s talk about Imperial systems and how they work in the game. So, any system that has an Imperial loyalty marker or a subjugation marker is called an Imperial system. Now, there’s one system that’s always loyal to the Imperial player, and that’s Coruscant. It can never gain or lose loyalty – it’s always on your side. Pretty cool, right?

Subjugation

Hey there! Did you know that the Imperial player can make systems do their bidding? It’s true! They have the power to compel the inhabitants of a system to construct units for the Empire. How cool is that?

Here’s what happens: when there’s at least one Imperial ground unit in a system that doesn’t have Imperial loyalty, the Empire subjugates the system. They do this by placing a subjugation marker in the system’s loyalty space. This marker represents the control the Empire now has over the system.

But wait, there’s more! If the system was previously loyal to the Rebels, the subjugation marker goes right on top of the Rebel loyalty marker. This signals that the inhabitants are now forced to work for the Imperials. They don’t really have a choice in the matter.

However, if there ever comes a time when there are no more Imperial ground units in a subjugated system, the subjugation marker is thrown away, and the system’s loyalty goes back to the Rebels. If the system wasn’t loyal to the Rebels in the first place, then it becomes neutral again.

When I’m an Imperial player, I can take advantage of a subjugated system’s left-most resource icon to create brand new units, which gives me an edge in the game.

But if you’re playing as the Rebel, things are a bit trickier. You won’t be able to build or deploy any units in a subjugated system, even if you managed to put a Rebel loyalty marker underneath the subjugation marker. It’s a tough break, but that’s how the game goes.

The Power of Attachment Rings

Did you know that some cards have special abilities that let you attach rings to leaders? It’s true! One example is the captured leader ring.

When you attach a ring to a leader, you need to press the leader’s stand snugly into the ring. This ensures that the ring stays securely in place.

The card that brings the ring into play will explain what effect the ring has. It’s important to note that if a leader already has a ring and receives another one, the previous ring is removed to make space for the new one.

Capturing Leaders

When you go on the “Capture Rebel Operative” mission, something interesting can happen – a Rebel leader might end up being captured. This means that the Rebel leader gets a special ring attached to them to show that they’re captured. Once a leader is captured, they can’t really do much to stop missions, and they can’t go back to the leader pool or be moved by the Rebel player. But don’t worry, they don’t stop Rebel units from leaving their system.

The Imperial player can actually move captured leaders around, just like ground units. And guess what? The Imperial player even has special missions they can do with captured leaders, like interrogating them to get information about the Rebel base. Even though they’re captured, a leader will still try to oppose a mission if it’s attempted against them.

As the Imperial player, I only have one captured leader ring. Once I capture a second leader, the first leader is saved, and I attach the captured leader ring to the new leader.

Rescuing Captured Leaders

If there are no Imperial units in the system where the captured leader is held (usually after the Imperial side loses a battle), the leader is immediately rescued. Some mission cards can also rescue captured leaders.

When we rescue a captured leader, we take off the ring from the leader and place the leader in the “Rebel Base” space.

Structures

Guess what? There’s something really cool I want to tell you about! Have you ever heard of the Shield Generator and Ion Cannon? They’re not just any old ground units – they’re special structures that are super important in the game.

Now, structures are interesting because they can’t move like other units. They stay put in one spot. But here’s the thing – they don’t give you any dice to use in combat. Bummer, right? But don’t worry, they still have a trick up their sleeve. They have special abilities that come into play during combat. Pretty neat, huh? You can find more information about these abilities on the Rebel faction sheet.

Let’s Get Started!

Alright, for your very first game, let’s keep things simple. You’ll start off with some units already in place. Take a look at the image below to see where everything goes. Easy peasy! Now, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to try out some different setups, you can check out the “Advanced Rules” for more options in future games.

First things first, let’s get the game set up. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Take out these cards from the probe deck: Corellia, Mandalore, Saleucami, Sullust, and Mustafar.

Go ahead and give the deck a good shuffle and put it back in its spot on the game board.

2. Now, for Kashyyyk, you’ll need to place 1 Rebel loyalty marker.

3. Bothawui requires a Corellian Corvette, a Rebel Transport, an X-wing, a Y-wing, 3 Rebel Troopers, an Airspeeder, and a Rebel loyalty marker.

4. Naboo is where you’ll need to place another Rebel loyalty marker.

5. In the “Rebel Base” Space, you’ll find an X-wing, a Y-wing, 3 Rebel Troopers, and an Airspeeder.

6. Now, for Saleucami, you’ll need to put down a Star Destroyer, 2 TIE Fighters, 2 Stormtroopers, an AT-ST, and an Imperial loyalty marker.

7. Mandalore is where you’ll find a Death Star, 4 TIE Fighters, 2 Stormtroopers, an AT-ST, and a subjugation marker.

8. Finally, for Coruscant, you’ll need a Star Destroyer, an Assault Carrier, 2 TIE Fighters, 3 Stormtroopers, an AT-AT, and an AT-ST.

In the game, there are several planets that you can explore and conquer. Each planet has its own set of challenges and rewards. Let’s take a closer look at some of these planets:

1. Alderaan: This planet is known for its peaceful and serene landscapes. However, it’s important to remain cautious, as there may be hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. When exploring Alderaan, always be on the lookout for unexpected encounters.

2. Tatooine: If you’re looking for a desert adventure, Tatooine is the place to go. This planet is known for its vast deserts and unique inhabitants. Make sure to come prepared with plenty of water and be ready for the scorching heat.

3. Hoth: Hoth is a frozen wasteland where only the strongest can survive. The extreme temperatures and treacherous terrain make it a challenging planet to conquer. However, if you can endure the harsh conditions, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking icy landscapes.

4. Endor: This forested moon is home to the Ewoks, a small and furry species. Exploring Endor can be a magical experience, but be cautious of the Ewoks’ cunning traps. They are known for their resourcefulness and can be formidable adversaries.

5. Kashyyyk: Kashyyyk is a planet covered in dense jungles and towering Wookiee villages. When visiting Kashyyyk, it’s important to respect the Wookiee culture and not intrude on their territory. Engaging in peaceful interactions with the Wookiees can lead to valuable alliances.

6. Dagobah: This murky and swampy planet is shrouded in mystery. With its thick fog and labyrinthine marshes, navigating Dagobah can be a challenge. However, if you can unlock its secrets, you may find hidden treasures and untold knowledge.

7. Kamino: Kamino is a water-covered planet renowned for its cloning facilities. The unique architecture and advanced technology make it a fascinating place to explore. Just be careful not to get lost in its labyrinthine corridors.

8. Naboo: Naboo is a picturesque planet with beautiful landscapes and ancient architecture. However, beneath its idyllic surface lies political intrigue and hidden dangers. Stay alert and be prepared to navigate complex social dynamics when visiting Naboo.

9. Corellia: Corellia is a planet with a rich history and a thriving underworld. Here, you’ll encounter a mix of law-abiding citizens and notorious criminals. Keep your wits about you and be ready for anything when exploring Corellia.

10. Sullust: Sullust is a planet known for its volcanic landscapes. The molten lava and toxic gases make it a hazardous environment. Make sure to come well-equipped with heat-resistant gear to ensure your safety on Sullust.

11. Mustafar: Mustafar is an unforgiving planet dominated by lava and volcanic activity. The scorching heat and treacherous terrain make it extremely dangerous. Only the most skilled and resilient explorers should attempt to conquer Mustafar.

How to play Star Wars Rebellion Official Rules