Vertium

Description

Captain John Brooks: Log 2373-9 The Complex crushed all opposition on Earth and banished the remaining rebel factions to Pluto. Although historical enemies, we worked together to survive the frigid conditions, stockpiling resources and launching probes across the Milky Way. One probe returned compelling data from the Copernicus System in Quadrant 1. Coper has a yellow dwarf star and an intriguing group of planets. A dazzling radioactive element, that we named Vertium, was discovered. Our physicists think it could heat our colonies, and upgrade weapons and armour. As word spread, the rebel groups bolted for Coper. The fragile cooperation evaporated. Each faction is out for itself - claiming planets and mining Vertium. The stakes are clear: whoever controls the Vertium will control Coper and perhaps the galaxy. Brooks out. Vertium is a strategic game of space colonization for 2-4 players. Players work through a deck of cards looking for a set of resources to colonize a planet. There are 4 resources: Water, Agri, Metal and Energy. A planet must have one of each to be colonized. But which planet will you target as they have different values (some of which are revealed before the game starts)? The spheres with a lower value have fast-moving moons and could yield more Vertium than planets with a higher value but slower moons. And do you really want to gamble on a planet with an orbiting blue moon, and risk a devastating Winter Eclipse? As Commander of your faction, you must take all possibilities into consideration, and direct your Captains to the optimal planets. When a player lays down a set of 3 resource cards, she places the corresponding Colonization Token on a planet of her choice. As each turn progresses, the tension builds, because whoever adds the fourth resource is the faction who claims the sphere. And if you think the other rebels are going to just let you have your way, think again. You'll also have to make contingency plans should you encounter disaster: a water leak, an agri virus, a mine blast, or a nuclear meltdown. And watch out for those pesky raiders! When a planet is colonized, its orange moon reveals the value of the planet. Place a Captain and the corresponding amount of Vertium on the sphere. Orbiting moons will add additional V each month. When all planets have been colonized, the true nature of the three blue moons is revealed. The game now ends for those who don't wish to battle. Victory Points are awarded for claimed planets and total amount of Vertium. The faction with the most VP is the winner. For those who want to battle, the last phase of the game begins, with the leader in points targeting a rival planet and attacking (sending a Captain with a provision of Vertium into the skirmish). Battles are decided with the Skirmish Dice System. The game will end with one faction in total control of Copernicus or with the factions no longer being able to attack, at which point the faction with the most planets is the victor. If there is a draw, the faction with the highest value of planets (in total), is the winner.