Constellations
This is an expansion that directs the objectives for each player at the start
of the game.
History:
When certain stars and planets are lined up, they form shapes in the sky. In
the game, players try to capture specific planets in different systems.
Additional Equipment:
A set of Constellation cards, kept separate from the regular deck.
Additional Set-up:
Each player draws a Constellation card at the start of the game. Cards may be
played face-up, or secretly.
Play:
Each player has a Constellation card that outlines which planets in various
planetary systems they must occupy in order to win the game.
Typically, they will detail six specific planets in varying systems, sometimes
all different, sometimes more than one in a system.
In cases where the planet listed is a home planet, the player must occupy that
base in their home system, regardless of how many external bases they occupy.
When the card depicts more than one home base, the player must occupy all home
bases depicted on the card, in addition to the others depicted (and how ever
many additional external bases one needs in order to win).
Notes:
This has a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) effect on game play.
Obviously, when one player is attacking a base they need, other players may not
be so anxious to ally on the offensive side if it is not a base they also need.
Uninvolved players will ally with the Defensive Main Player more often than in
regular games (if there is such thing as a "regular" game).
Players will also have to defend certain home bases more fervently, or actually
make challenges against their home system in order to regain a base (something
that rarely occurs in games with our group).
The cards themselves will have many duplicate bases (depending on the number of
players), so that joint attacks are still potentially beneficial for more than
one party. The set of cards can continue to grow, depending on whether or not
players wish to include moons in their win objectives, as well as other
expansions.
In order to account for many different scenarios, I have constructed different
Constellation "decks" for different numbers of players in a game.
The actual formations of the Constellation are, of course irrelevant, but feel
free to connect the planets and decide what shape they make.
You may use the Terrorist Paper to create your own Constellations.
Variant by Jack Reda  
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