GALACTIC EMPIRES: The Science Fiction Trading Card Game!

Universe Edition Rulebook Version 2.1

Galactic Empires is a trademark of Companion Games, Inc.
All cards & rules are copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Companion Games, Inc.

Illustrations added for clarity by John Bullington.
Illustrations and Artwork added by Eric B. Smith.
Rulebook v2.1 revision by Eric B. Smith.
Last modified on 09/19/22.
Return to The Galactic Empires Card Museum.

Download this rulebook as a single ZIP file.
Download the original Version 2.0 Rulebook (PDF)

Errata     FAQ     Q&A

    Beginner's Note: A number of the rules sections have beginner's notes associated with them. It is recommended that new players follow the suggestions contained in these beginners' notes.


R/O2 Shipping Delays

©1995 Susan Van Camp

    Why am I working on the revision v2.1? There are quite a few rule additions that were never included in the Universe v2.0 rulebook, including all information on the Allied Forces empires. Additionally there were optional rules that were dropped from the rulebook along the way that I've placed back, as well as adding in a few new optional rules. I've also compiled a brief history of the various expansion sets that were released (and a couple that weren't). I cleaned up the HTML coding from the previous online versions and added a far more complete Table of Contents. It's important to note that the purpose of this revision is to collect and organize the rules, not to change them. I've tried very hard to stick to that goal.
Share and enjoy,
Eric B. Smith


Table of Contents

Introduction To The Game

Introduction To Background

Introduction To Game Mechanics

Crucial Rules

Starter Deck

Card Nomenclature
Card Type
Card Strength
Point Requirements
Card Title
Generated Points
Shields / Nodes / Armor Systems
Fleet Modifier Points
Card Modifier Points
Card Rules
Weapon Symbols
Card Diagram
Play Area Diagram

Pregame Setup

The Sector HQ Card

Deck Construction
Announce Deck Empire
Stocking The Deck
Number of Cards and Type
Using Major Empire Cards
Using Minor Empire Cards

Reserve Fleet
Creating The Reserve Fleet
Using The Reserve Fleet
Reserve Fleet Restrictions

Getting Started / Ante

How To Win

Beginning Play

Turn Definitions

Player Turn Sequence
1 - Point Allocation Phase
––Record Keeping Step
––Allocation
––Ship Movement
2 - Engagement Phase
3 - Play Cards Phase A
4 - Weapons Fire Phase
––Standard Targets
––Fleet Targeted Weapons
––Weapons Volley
5 - Play Cards Phase B
6 - Discard Cards Phase
7 - Draw Cards Phase

Cards Have Rules

Different Versions Of The Same Card

Restrictions On Card Play, Turns 1/2

Position Of Cards Played

Effects Of Being Disengaged

Card Locations

Two Of The Same Card At The Same Location

There-and-Back Mission Rules

How Long Cards Remain In Play

Discard Pile

Limit On Card Actions

Playing Reaction Cards

Command Limits, Command Slots and Command Points
Minor Empire Command Rating Bonus

Control

Playing On Yourself / Opponent

Fractions

Applying Weapons Damage To Targets

Keeping Track Of Damage

Unresolved Interactions

Explanation Of Kinds Of Points
Resource Points
–– ❍ Economy
–– Supply
–– ✸ Energy
–– ◼ Ammunition
–– ❏ Research
–– ♦ Repair / Healing
Other Kinds Of Points
–– ✪ Command
–– ❧ Lobster
–– ✖ Damage
–– ✧ Shield
–– ➎ Armor System Indicator
–– ✦ Node
–– ✜ Phaser
–– ◼ Heavy Weapon

Types Of Cards
'A' Ability Cards
–'B' Base Cards
–'C' Crew Cards
–'D' Dragon Cards
–'E' Equipment Cards
–'F ' Field Cards
–'G' aGenda Cards
–'H' Hazard Cards
–'I' Installation Cards
–'L' Luck Cards
–'M' Monster Cards
–'N' aNcient Cards
–'O' Occurrence Cards
–'P' Psy Cards
–'Q' headQuarter Cards
–'S' Ship Cards
–'T' Terrain Cards
–     Rules Cards

Special Ship Systems
Armor System
Auxiliary Shields
Drone Special Ship Systems
––Deflector Grid
––Tractor Beams
––Command Encryption
Electronic Warfare System
Electromagnetic Field (EMF)
Ion & Nova Cannons
Maneuvering System
Maneuvering Thrusters
Mine Deployment System
Transgate

General Weapon Rules
Non-Heavy Weapons
––(Phasers, Subspace Whips, Seltzer Cannons, Physical Damage, Time Damage Generator, & Cyber Damage)
––Phaser Magnifier
––Psy Damage
––Pulse Phaser
––Time Damage
––Time Phaser
Standard Heavy Weapons
––(Antimatter Pellet, Bi-tritium Boomerang, Breath Weapon, Ectoplasmic Trail, Energy Flux, Hypertrail Seeker, Neutronium Torpedo, Plasma Degenerator, Plasma Stream, Sabot, Thunderbolt Devastator, & Tram).
Non-Standard Heavy Weapons
––Aesthetic Weapons
––Damage Adjuster
––Deck Wrecker
––Distortion Cannon
––Detonium Bolts
––Gravidic Distorter
––Hand Wrecker
––Hyperspace Detonator
––Positron Emitter
––Shield Penetration Device
––Specialized Weapon Mount
––Tarrac Projector
––Time Breath
––Variable Plasma

Major Empires
Aqaaran
Argonian First Republic
Clydon Empire
Comedy Club Network
Corporate Aggressors
Filarian Infesters
Gekonauak
J'xar
Krebiz Capitalist Alliance
Leopan Conquistadors
Mechad Holdfast
Plasma Occupied Territory (P.O.T.)
Psy Empires
––Visonic
––Psycanti
Scorpead Dominion
Tufor Protectorate
Zedan Defensive Initiative (ZDI)

Minor Empires
Aesthetic Empire
Bolaar Pirates
Collector Empire
Corporate Pirates
Cyber.Noughts
Indirigan Nomad Tribes
––Andromeda Bound
––Grand Chieftain's Touring Fleet 
––Infected
––Invincible Loner
––Lone Wolf
––Nagiridni Pirates
––Propagationists
––Psychotics
––Scientists
––Vacaters of Bolaar V
––Vicious Six
Nobles
Orgons
Space Dragons
Time Knights
Tranoan Empire
Treglean
Vektrean Mercenaries

Allied Empires
Drone (Allied - Mechad)
Erodi (Allied - Tufor)
Pakta'don (Allied - P.O.T.)
Paraloid (Allied - Clydon)
Shon-ti (Allied - Zedan)
Tarra'ki (Allied - Argonian)
Trochilidae (Allied - Leopan)

Special Playing Structures

Card Class
Aesthetic & Collector Class Rules
Allied Class Rules
Attrition Class Rules
Conjectural Class Cards
Cyber Class Cards
Infected Class Rules
Persona Class Rules
Prototype Class Cards

Cyberspace Rules

Psy Rules
Ship Movement Rules
Technology Slot Rules

Time Gates Rules

Narrative Example

Definitions

Other Playing Structures
The 200 Point Challenge
The Gamblers
Everyone Plays To The End
Free For All
The Ego Game
A Few More Variations

Designer's Notes

Universe Edition Revision 1.0 Design Credits

Universe Edition Revision 1.0 Art Credits

The Sets And Expansions
Galactic Empires on the Internet

INTRODUCTION TO BACKGROUND
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    On the Far Side of the galaxy, a number of galactic empires are fighting for supremacy and survival. These empires include numerous races from many different star systems. Galactic Empires is your chance to represent the empire of your choice in a battle of wills and wits with representatives of other empires. Each empire's history is explained later in this rulebook.
    Galactic Empires is a science fiction trading card game. While in command of Sector Headquarters you conquer terrain, deploy bases, ships, crew and special equipment; and cautiously avoid space monsters, hazards and other occurrences. The objective: Eliminate your opponents Sector HQs, conquering the sector and eventually the galaxy.
    Players choose which of over 50 empires they will represent: Aesthetic Empire, Andromeda Bound, Aqaaran, Argonian First Republic, Clydon Empire, Bolaar Pirates, Collector Empire, Comedy Club Network, Corporate Aggressors, Corporate Pirates, Council of Six, Drone, Erodi, Filarian Infesters, Garshain, Gekonauak, Grand Chieftain's Touring Fleet, Gray Death, Indirigan Nomad Tribes, Infected, Intrepid Wanderer, Invincible Loner, J'xar, Krebiz Capitalist Alliance, Leopan Conquistadors, Lone Wolf, Mechad Holdfast, Meerkats, Nobles, Nagiridni Pirates, Orgons, Pakta'don, Paraloid, Plasma Occupied Territory (P.O.T.), Propagationists, Psycanti, Scorpead Dominion, Shon-ti, Space Dragons, Tarra'ki, Time Knights, Tranoan Empire, Treglean, Trochilidae, Tufor Protectorate, Vacaters of Bolaar V, Vektrean Mercenaries, Vicious Six, Vinciennes, Violator, Visonic, or the Zedan Defensive Initiative (ZDI).
    Game Mechanics: Each players uses his own deck of cards (Basic Game allows two players to use one deck). There can be as many or as few cards in the deck as you wish. Each turn consists of applying the output from your terrain to your bases & ships, playing cards from your hand, firing weapons and playing more cards
    The Cards Themselves: Each card is in dazzling full color from an assortment of different artists and illustrators. Each card has the rules needed to operate that ships, system, crew person, etc.
    This card game is deceptively simple to learn. Even non-gamers pick it up quickly. But, more importantly, the game has all the rich flavor and history of the Far Side of the Galaxy, the strategy of spaceship combat and the fantastic science fiction flair.
    This game will be the easiest, most fun way of introducing new players to your unique hobby than anything you've ever tried before. And best of all, you will be able to start play within minutes. Don't be surprised if you find yourself playing Galactic Empires more than anything else!

    Playing Time: 1/2 to 3+ Hours.– Ages 10+ – Number of Players: 2-10+ (3-6 recommended)


INTRODUCTION TO GAME MECHANICS
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    Galactic Empires is a science fiction collectible trading card game designed for 2 to 12 players. Each player uses his own deck of cards that he has stocked with the cards he wishes to use for that game. Rules limit the number and types of cards that a player may use to stock his deck for a game. New cards are added within each new expansion.
    Each player is vying for control over the same sector of space and has established a Sector Headquarters (Sector HQ) in that sector. Players deploy starships (play cards) in order to protect their Sector HQ and destroy the Sector HQs of their opponents. Terrain is required to produce the supply and energy needed to operate the ships (allocation and engagement). If a player's Sector HQ is destroyed he is no longer capable of controlling his fleet (all his cards are removed from play). Play continues until only a single player remains.


CRUCIAL RULES
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    The following four rules are the cause of the majority of rules questions received by Companion Games, Inc. Players who concentrate on learning these four rules will have a very clear understanding of Galactic Empires.

CARDS HAVE RULES: This is the most important rule in the game! Most of the cards have rules defined on them. The rules on the cards may contradict the rules contained in this rulebook. In that event, the rules on the cards take precedence. Most often, reading the cards when an obscure situation occurs will resolve the situation.
    - Rules on the cards are indicated with a '-'.
    - Flavor text does not have a dash and is not considered rules.

LAST REACTION CARD PLAYED HAS PRECEDENCE: This is the second most important rule. In a reaction sequence, the most recently played reaction  card will take its action(s) before previously played reaction cards.

PLAYER TURN SEQUENCE: Players who follow the 7 phases of the player turn sequence closely during the first few games will learn quickly and develop a good insight into tactics. Each turn of Galactic Empires is played in a linear fashion, one phase at a time. Once a phase is completed and a player has moved on to the next phase he cannot return to a previous phase.

LIMIT ON CARD ACTIONS: Cards in play may only perform each of their functions once per complete turn (from the point of view of the controlling player). Additionally, functions of a card used as a reaction may only by used once per complete turn.

GENERAL ERRATA - DISCARD AFTER USE: As a general rule most Luck, Hazard, and Occurrence cards are played, have their effects, and are then Discarded after use. Most of these cards either explicitly state this or have a rule explicitly stating when the card is discarded (e.g. "Lasts 2 turns. Discard after use.") If one of these cards doesn't state when it's discarded and there's no Errata listed it is likley that the card is intended to be discarded after use or after its duration has expired.


STARTER DECK
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    Universe Edition Starter Decks include 100 cards and this rulebook. Each starter deck contains a random set of cards, but is ready to play. It contains the specific cards needed to represent one galactic empire.


CARD NOMENCLATURE
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    All cards have information on them in specific places:
CARD TYPE: A card's type is the letter in the top left corner of the card. 'T'=Terrain, 'S'=Ship, etc. Occasionally a card will have 2 card types (such as 'T/H', 'T/B, but not 'R/'). In this case the card is considered only one of those card types (player's choice) for purposes of stocking a deck.
CARD STRENGTH: The strength of a card is the number in the top left corner of the card next to its card type. Strength ranges from 1 to 10. Some cards have two strengths; see the rules for the Time Origin and Aqaarans for details.
POINT REQUIREMENTS: (Engagement Cost) The symbols listed immediately after the type and strength. These are the points required to engage that card.
CARD TITLE: The card title is the name of the card shown above the illustration and often repeated below. When the title below the illustration differs from the title above, both are considered part of the cards title (e.g. Twin Planets - Verkish I & II).
GENERATED POINTS: Point symbols on the top right of the card are points generated by that card each turn (Beginner's Note: Cards from Alpha & Beta Editions generally had generated point symbols in the top right corner. A few cards from the Primary Edition also have point symbols at the top right that are not actually generated points (e.g. E3 Heavy Weapons Refit). As usual, use these cards by the rules of the version that appears in later printings).
SHIELDS/NODES/ARMOR SYSTEMS: Also on the top right, Shields, Nodes, and Armor Systems protect the card from damage. These are not generated points.
FLEET MODIFIER POINTS: The symbols above the illustration on the right, preceded by a mathematical symbol (such as -❍❍❍) are modifications to the points produced by a fleet. This is always explained in the card's rules. These symbols are found in the same place as generated points.
CARD MODIFIER POINTS: The symbols below the illustration on the right are modifications to another card. These are almost always explained in the card's rules. If not explained in the card's rules these modifiers are applied to the card's location.
CARD RULES: The rules of that card listed below the illustration and preceded by a "-".
WEAPON SYMBOLS: Some cards have weapon symbols on the bottom of the card.

Card Nomenclature


PLAY AREA DIAGRAM
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PREGAME SETUP
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    Each player needs a Universe Edition starter deck to begin play. Alternatively, tournament legal player designed decks may be used. Beginning players should use a Universe Edition starter deck each and skip over Deck Construction. Companion Games, Inc. has already constructed your deck for you.


THE SECTOR HQ CARD
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    This card is separated from the deck and set aside. It is only used as a location for keeping track of damage scored to the Sector HQ. This card is not required to play, it is just a place to keep score. It does not count as a card in the deck.
    - The Sector HQ cannot be repaired.
    - Cards may not be played on the Sector HQ.


DECK CONSTRUCTION
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    Beginner's Note: Skip this section for now and proceed to the Reserve Fleet.
    Each player will play with his own deck and must stock that deck with cards based on the rules given below. During the game, each player draws only from his own deck and maintains his own Discard Pile.

ANNOUNCE DECK EMPIRE: Players may stock their decks with cards from only one main empire. (Note that a major or minor empire may be used as the main empire of a deck if desired.) The empire you will stock your deck with is announced to all the other players before decks are stocked for the game.

STOCKING THE DECK: Each player selects which cards he wishes to use from his collection after learning the empire(s) of his opponent(s). Most players have a deck ready and merely need to insert several empire specific defensive cards or simply use their deck as is.

NUMBER OF CARDS AND TYPE: Any number of cards and types of those cards may be used within the following guidelines:

  1. The total deck must consist of at least 40 cards.
  2. There are different card types: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, Q, S, T and possibly others (but not R/ : A reaction card is always considered to be a card of the type designated by the other letter on the card). There must be at least 8 different card types in a deck and 5 cards of each of those 8 types. More than 8 different card types may be used and the 9th and subsequent card types are not restricted by the minimum 5 cards per type rule (therefore, as few as one card of each of these card types may be used).
  3. For each card type in the deck there must be at least 1 card of each strength up to the highest strength card of that type in the deck. EXAMPLE: If a player wishes to place one or more S6 ship cards in his deck he must also have at least five other ship cards, one each of strength 1-5. One each of strength 1-5 is sufficient no matter how many S6 ships were to be used.
  4. Players are allowed 1/2 of an exception to #3 for every 25 cards in a deck. This means that a 150-199 card deck would be allowed the former standard 3 exceptions. EXAMPLE: A player has an M9 he wishes to use but does not have an M8 or an M7. He can use the M9 as one of the three exceptions to rule #3. An M8 or another M9 would count as a second exception, i.e. each card past a gap is an exception. The gap itself is not considered an exception.
        NOTE: The original v2.0 rulebook allowed 3 exceptions no matter the deck size. The official Tournament Rules (presented above) from Galactic Fire #3 superseded that rule.
  5. STRENGTH LEVELS:
    - For every 25 cards in the deck, 1 may be a strength 10 card (e.g. 25-49=1; 50-74=2; etc.). Each strength 10 card in the deck must be a different card.
    - No more than 2 exactly identical cards of strength 9 or 8 may be used.
    - No more than 3 exactly identical cards of strength 7 or 6 may be used.
    - No more than 4 exactly identical cards of strength 5 or 4 may be used.
    - No more than 8 exactly identical cards of strength 3, 2 or 1 may be used.
    - For purposes of stocking a deck, two cards are defined as being "exactly identical" if they have the same card type, card strength and card name (both above and below the illustration). Additionally, Vektrean asteroid bases are considered exactly identical whether they have a 'T' or 'T/B'. Different language versions of the same card are considered exactly identical to each other. The pictured image and precise text is not necessarily the same for exactly identical cards due to possible changes between print runs and editions of the game.
  6. See also Technology Slot Rules. Beginner's Note: Most beginners' can safely ignore the Technology Slot rules, especially if they do not possess any Promotional cards.

USING MAJOR EMPIRE CARDS: As stated in the Announce Deck Empire section above, players may stock their decks with cards from only one major empire. Empire cards are defined as cards with an empire's name in the card's title as well as ships, bases, dragons, psys and installations with an empire's color texture (the art pattern behind the text). Note that other card types with an empire background must have the empire's name in their title to be considered a card of that empire.

USING MINOR EMPIRE CARDS: A player may use a maximum of 1 minor empire card in their deck for each every 4 cards of the same type that are not a minor empire card.
    - If playing a minor empire as the main deck empire, cards belonging to that empire don't need to be supported and in fact can be used to support minor empire cards belonging to other minor empires.
    - Generic ships stocked in a deck do not count for the purposes of this rule.
    - For this purpose only, Indirigan Tribe cards (Indirigan Nomads, Nagiridni Pirate ships, Indirigan Females, etc.) count as only 1/2 a card (do not drop fractions here).
    - For this purpose only, when stocked in a deck of the empire they're allied with, Allied cards count as 1/2 a card and they support non-allied minor empire cards. EXAMPLE: If you have 8 Tufor ships you may stock 4 Erodi ships. Those 4 Erodi ships would allow you to stock 1 additional non-allied minor empire ship.
    - 'D' dragon cards are considered to be the same type as 'S' ship cards for the purpose of using minor empire ships/dragons (Beginner's Note: 'D' dragon cards are still a separate card type from 'S' ship cards for the purposes of the Number of Cards And Types rules above).
Optional Rule: 'I' installation cards (Comedy Clubs) and 'P' psy cards can be used to support 'S' ship and 'D' dragon minor empire cards.
Optional Rule: Rather than supporting minor empire cards with cards of the same type, count all of the main empire cards in the deck and allow them to support minor empire cards of any type. This will limit the total number of minor empire cards a player can use, but will better balance the number of main empire cards against the number of minor empire cards.


RESERVE FLEET
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    The reserve fleet is a number of cards that can be brought into play more or less at will, without having to rely on the luck of the draw from the deck.

CREATING THE RESERVE FLEET: Remove a number of cards of any type from your deck equal to or less than the number of players at the start of the game. These may be any cards of any type of your choice selected from the deck. They are set aside, face down and are not exposed to the other players until after the ante has been drawn.
    Beginner's Note: A T4, S3, T5, S4, R/C4 ... (or cards that are close in strength to these).

USING THE RESERVE FLEET: As a Card Play, a player may swap a card from his hand with a card in his reserve fleet. The card placed into the reserve fleet must be of equal or higher strength then the card removed. The removed card is placed into the hand. This swap counts as 1 of the Card Plays that a player may make on his turn. To play this card from the player's hand to his active fleet requires another second Card Play.
    Note that the reserve fleet will always contain a number of cards equal to the number it contained at the beginning of the game, since a card must be played into the reserve fleet in order to remove a card from it.

RESERVE FLEET RESTRICTIONS: Cards with the word 'reserve' in the title and cards that are restricted to one copy per deck (by whatever game rules are being used) cannot be placed into the reserve fleet at the start of a game. Cards that are restricted to one copy per deck (by whatever game rules are being used) cannot be placed into the reserve fleet.


GETTING STARTED/ANTE
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    After you have stocked your deck and created your reserve fleet, shuffle the remaining cards in your deck. Then set it down in front of you. Any player may shuffle your deck. The player to your left then cuts your deck. After all decks have been cut each player draws the top card from his deck and exposes it. This card is the ante.
    - The player with the highest strength ante goes first. The second highest ante goes second, third highest third, etc. Ties are resolved by die roll. It is best for players to seat themselves in a clockwise rotation around the table in the order of play.
    - Each player's ante becomes the first card in his Discard Pile.
Optional Rule: The winner of the game gets to keep all of the ante cards after he has won the game. In this case, the ante cards are set aside, not placed into the Discard Piles. All players must agree to use this rule before play begins.


HOW TO WIN
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    The object of the game is to have fun. To win you must be the last remaining player. Once an opponent has sustained 25 points of damage to his Sector HQ he is removed from play the game.
    When an opponent is removed from play the game, all his cards are removed from play. Any card played to or against that player is placed on the owner's Discard Pile unless that card says it can affect multiple fleets or is able to move to new targets in different fleets.
VICTORY CELEBRATION: Any time a player scores 6 or more points of damage on another player's Sector HQ with weapons fire, that player may immediately draw 1 card from the deck to add to his hand. (It's amazing what your civilians will do for you when you are winning the war.).
    Players may wish to alter the victory conditions so that the first player to cause 50 points of Sector HQ damage to any Sector HQs wins. This way all players can play to the end of the game.


BEGINNING PLAY
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    - After the ante has been drawn, all players expose their reserve fleets to the other players by placing them face up on the table in an area designated for the reserve fleet. Care should be taken not to confuse the reserve fleet with the active fleet that will be formed by playing cards.
    - All players draw 9 cards from their decks. The first player begins his turn by following the Player Turn Sequence. When finished, the second player goes and so on.


TURN DEFINITIONS
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COMPLETE TURN: A complete turn is from the beginning of a player's turn to the beginning of their next turn. Players keep track of the duration of their own cards during their Allocation Phase. A complete turn is one player turn for each player, i.e. once around the table. For cards with a duration a complete turn starts when the card is played and lasts until the Engagement Phase of the next turn of the player who played it. When a card uses the word 'turn' it refers to a complete turn.
PLAYER TURN: The turn of one player only. Each player turn is described below in the Player Turn Sequence:


PLAYER TURN SEQUENCE
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1 - POINT ALLOCATION PHASE
2 - ENGAGEMENT PHASE
3 - PLAY CARDS PHASE A
4 - WEAPONS FIRE PHASE
5 - PLAY CARDS PHASE B
6 - DISCARD CARDS PHASE
7 - DRAW CARDS PHASE

1 - POINT ALLOCATION PHASE
RECORD KEEPING STEP:
    - Previously played cards whose duration's have expired are discarded at this time as the first action of this phase. Psy functions whose duration's have expired deactivate. Cards that produce or modify point output generate their effect before being discarded (EXAMPLE: a periodic comet will produce its research on its last turn).
    - All Shields regenerate 1 point during this phase at no cost, i.e. one damage point is removed from the Shields of each card with damaged Shields in the player's fleet.
ALLOCATION:
    Terrain and some other cards generate points. Generated points are allocated to other cards as desired by the owning player. Points must be allocated to cards each turn. All such point allocation occurs only in the Allocation Phase.
    - Only a card that will receive all of its point requirements may receive additional points for the operation of heavy weapons, ship systems or equipment. However, crew cards on disengaged cards can receive points.
    - Points that are not used during the Allocation Phase are lost.
    - Cards that have point requirements and generate points will generate points if they will be engaged. Cards that modify point output will modify point output if they will be engaged. Cards that will not be engaged cannot generate or modify points.
SHIP MOVEMENT:
    - Ships may change locations at this time (see the Ship Movement Rules for details).
    Beginner's Note: Ship Movement is an advanced rule introduced in the Piracy TM expansion. Beginning players may safely skip it until they have a better grasp on the game.

2 -ENGAGEMENT PHASE
   
Cards that received all point requirements are considered engaged and are placed in a vertical position in this phase. Cards without point requirements remain engaged. Cards that did not receive their point requirements are considered disengaged and are placed in a horizontal position (they cannot operate).
    For the sake of player convenience, the Engagement Phase may be merged with the Allocation Phase since it is easier to allocate to one card, engage it and then go on to the next card.
    For the sake of player convenience, card may be engaged as points are allocated to them since it is easier to allocate to one card, engage it and then go on to the next card.

3 - PLAY CARDS PHASE A
    - A player may play a maximum of 3 cards during his turn.
    - All engaged cards in play may take their action(s) once each turn. Card Actions (of cards in play or just played) may occur only once each turn during this phase or in Play Cards Phase B.
    - Cards that cause Card Damage (damage symbols on the top right, only) may cause their damage during this phase or in Play Cards Phase B.

4 - WEAPONS FIRE PHASE
    STANDARD TARGETS: The following card types are considered standard targets and may be fired at with weapons: terrain, ships, dragons, psys, bases, installations, free flying shuttles and any cards that say they are destroyed by damage.
    FLEET TARGETED WEAPONS: Some weapons (Distortion Cannons, Gravidic Distorters, Time Phasers, etc.) must be fired at the beginning of the Weapons Fire Phase, before any weapons volleys are declared. These weapons affect all of a given type or types of targets in the targeted fleet (read the weapon descriptions for details). They are not considered a weapons volley, but are resolved similarly.
    WEAPONS VOLLEY: Each weapons volley consists of 5 steps:
a - Declare weapons fire to a single target (card or stack of cards) from any number of engaged cards in the firing player's fleet with one or more unfired weapons. This is a weapons volley.
b - Players may play reaction cards in reaction mode. The firing player cannot react unless another player has reacted.
c - Resolve the effect of reaction cards.
d - Resolve the effects of the weapons volley, i.e. target destroyed or damaged, etc.
e - Repeat the above sequence, declaring weapon volleys to new targets until there are no more targets or there are no more weapons to fire. A player may declare only one weapons volley against each target during a Weapons Fire Phase.

5 - PLAY CARDS PHASE B
   
A player may only play 3 cards during his player turn. Cards played during an earlier phase Play Cards Phase A and during the Weapons Fire Phase count against this limit and may prevent any cards from being played during this phase. Engaged cards that did not take their card actions or card damage in Card Play Phase A may take them now.

6 - DISCARD CARDS PHASE
   
- Remaining unused Card Plays may be used to discard cards from the hand.
    - A player may discard any number of cards from his active fleet.
    - Cards that are yours but under the controll of another player or cards that you cannot control because of the effect of a card played against that card may not be voluntarily discarded (not even by that other player) until you regain control. Note, this card could indirectly be discarded by discarding the basis of the stack to which it is played. EXAMPLE: A C9 Admiral with an O9 Insanity played against it may not be discarded, however the B4 Base Station on which the C9 Admiral is played may be discarded, thereby discarding the insane admiral.

7 - DRAW CARDS PHASE
    If the player has 9 or fewer cards in his hand, he may draw 2 cards from the deck. If he has 10 or 11 cards in his hand, he may draw 1 card from the deck. If the player has 12 or more cards in his hand, he draws 0 cards from the deck.
    - If there are no more cards in the deck the player cannot draw cards, i.e. the Discard Pile is not reshuffled.
    - The player who just completed his turn advises the next player that he is finished.
    Beginner's Note: Galactic Empires is a step-by-step game. Once you do something, it is too late to go back to an earlier phase in the sequence of play and do something there. Mistakes happen and you will make mistakes. When learning it is OK to go back and redo things, but when playing on a competitive level you will be expected to go on when you make a mistake, sacrificing the portions of your turn you forgot to use.
    You may want to refer to the Narrative Example to get a better understanding of turn sequence.


CARDS HAVE RULES
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    This is the most important rule in the game! Most of the cards have rules defined on them. The rules on the cards may contradict the rules contained herein. In that event, the rules on the cards take precedence.


DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SAME CARD
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    When different versions of the same exactly identical card exist, all versions play as the most recently printed version. Cards are considered exactly identical if they have the same type, strength, and card name (both above and below the illustration). Vektrean asteroid bases printed as 'T' cards are considered identical to their 'T/B' version.


RESTRICTIONS ON CARD PLAY, TURNS 1/2
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TURN 1 RESTRICTIONS: Only terrain cards may be played during the first turn. Reserve fleet swaps may also be made on turn 1.
TURN 2 RESTRICTIONS: Any card types may be played on turn 2 except that a maximum of 1 ship, base, dragon, installation or psy card may be played to the active fleet.


POSITION OF CARDS PLAYED
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    All cards with point requirements (on the card; regardless of modifiers elsewhere in play) are played in the disengaged position. Cards without point requirements are played engaged. Cards are not considered to be in play until after they have been played.
    Beginner's Note: Since point allocation is the first phase of the player turn, those cards with point requirements which were not in play during the Allocation Phase could not receive any points and therefore could not be engaged during the Engagement Phase.


EFFECTS OF BEING DISENGAGED
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    - A disengaged card may not take any action. Cards may be played to disengaged cards, opponents may score weapons damage on them, etc.
    - A disengaged ship or base can only operate its Shields, conduct repairs by use of repair points and operate passive equipment.
    - Engaged cards on disengaged cards function. The only exceptions are that crew must be engaged to use an ability card and non-passive equipment on a disengaged unit must be disengaged.
    - Rules on a disengaged card may still affect the disengaged card. Rules such as how the card is destroyed, specific immunities, etc. are not affected by being disengaged.


CARD LOCATIONS
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    Once a card is played it cannot change location unless a rule on that or another card causes its location to be changed. Only ships and dragons can voluntarily change location once each turn during the Record Keeping Step (see the Ship Movement Rules).


TWO OF THE SAME CARD AT THE SAME LOCATION
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    If two of the same cards (or possibly cards that do the same thing) are played to the same location, they can both function. Generally, if two or more cards are affecting a location, all of them will apply. Exception: Terrain modifiers.


THERE-AND-BACK MISSION RULES
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    A there-and-back mission is a means for crew cards to assault an opponent location by transporting to that location with a shuttle, fighter or transporter, making an attack and transporting back. There-and-back missions are a 3 step process:

1- TRAVEL THERE: The transport to the target location.
2- THE MISSION: The crew's card action (Beginner's Note: many crew perform functions at their location, these crew use equipment to do there-and-back missions to affect opponent locations).
3- TRAVEL BACK: The transport back.
    - Any of these 3 steps can be reacted to.
    - When played in reaction mode, shuttles, fighters and transporters may be played simultaneously with any reaction crew card.
    - Shuttles and fighters travel with the crew, while transporters remain at their location.
    - Any crew card can perform a there-and-back mission to perform one of its card functions, even if the crew card doesn't explicitly say it can. EXAMPLE: An R/C7 Doctor can go on a there-and-back mission to negate an injury or illness at another location.

    For a more detailed explanation of There-and-Back Missions see the article on Shuttles & Transporters in Galactic Fire #2.


HOW LONG CARDS REMAIN IN PLAY
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    Once played, cards remain in play until the actions of another player cause them to be removed from play and discarded (firing weapons, effects of occurrence cards, etc.). Some cards are instant and after applying their effects are immediately discarded (discarded after use). Some cards last a specific amount of turns and are discarded after that many turns have elapsed.
    - Any card that reaches a strength of ZERO is discarded.
    - When a card is discarded all cards played on or against it are discarded also (except ships and dragons in play on destroyed terrain cards and cards played to or against several locations).
    - Voided Card Plays: Cards that state they are discarded after use and which are voided by a reaction card are discarded even though they did not get used.
    - Returned to the Hand: When a stack of cards is returned to the hand, each card in the stack is returned to its respective owner's hand.


DISCARD PILE
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    Cards placed in the Discard Pile must remain in the order in which they are discarded. Some cards require a search through or removal from the Discard Pile and so the cards should not be disordered. When cards are discarded as a group they may be placed on the Discard Pile in any order, but once in the Discard Pile they may not be reorganized. Any player may look through any discard pile at any time.


LIMIT ON CARD ACTIONS
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    Cards in play may only perform each of their functions once per complete turn (from the point of view of the controlling player). Additionally, functions of a card used as a reaction may only be used once per complete turn.
    NOTE: Cards were always limited to active once per turn. The fact that "each turn" was listed on most cards led some people to believe that cards without this clause could function multiple times.


PLAYING REACTION CARDS
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    Only cards designated with an 'R/' may be played in reaction to an opponent player's actions on an opponent's turn. They cannot be played in reaction on your own turn unless reacting to an opponent's reaction card play. Reaction card actions occur just before the action they are reacting to.
    - Cards played in reaction do not count against the Card Play limit when played during another player's turn. They DO count as a Card Play when played during your own turn and may not be played if all Card Plays have already been used.
    A reaction card may only be played in reaction mode if one of its functions is used at the time it is played. Any of the reaction card's functions may be used when it is played (regardless of the play phase), except reaction cards can only fire their weapons if played in an opponent's Weapons Fire Phase and only if those weapons do not need resource points to function.
    - Cards played in reaction can generate points and apply them to another card. They cannot cause that card to engage unless they specifically say so. Reaction cards that are not played in reaction mode will not generate points outside of the Allocation Phase.
    - Reaction cards cannot be played in phases where the playing player takes no actions.
    - The following things can be reacted to: Point allocation, a card being played, a card action, weapons fire, and the discarding of cards during the Discard Phase.
    - If a card is removed from play as a reaction before being resolved, the card will be resolved upon returning to play.
LAST REACTION CARD PLAYED HAS PRECEDENCE: In a reaction sequence, the most recently played REACTION card will take its action(s) before previously played reaction cards.
REACTION MODE ACTIONS OF CARDS ALREADY IN PLAY: Some cards can perform actions in reaction mode even if they are already in play as long as they are engaged. These cards must state, "As a reaction, can ..."
EXAMPLE: Minesweepers (which can prevent an opponent's mine from doing damage) and escorts (which can intercept some incoming damage directed at certain other ships) may take these actions as if they were played in reaction mode.
    - Reaction cards already in play CANNOT react unless they actually state "As a reaction, ..."


COMMAND LIMITS, COMMAND SLOTS AND COMMAND POINTS
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    A player's fleet has a command limit. The command limit is the maximum number of cards that require a command slot that a player may normally have in play.
    - Cards that consume 1 command slot each include ship, dragon and base cards of strength 3 or higher.
    - Cards that consume 1/2 of a command slot each include all psy cards, strength 2 ships, strength 2 dragons and strength 2 bases.
    - No other cards consume command slots.
    - Combined cards require the command slots of their combined strength.
    During the Allocation Phase, each player automatically generates a number of command points equal to the number of players that started the game (this does not change as players are eliminated). This number, plus any other generated command points, is the number of command slots that player has available for that complete turn.
EXAMPLE: If there are four players then each player may have up to four cards that consume command slots in play at any given time. If a player has a ship in his hand, but all of his command slots are in use, he may not play it until a command slot is available.
    - Cards that generate command points only do so in the Allocation Phase. Therefore, a card just played that generates command points cannot use that command point to create a command slot until the Allocation Phase of the next turn.
    - If a player has full command slots and loses some command points he does not have to discard cards that consume command slots, but he may not play another card requiring command slots until a free slot becomes available.
    - Cards that require command points as a point requirement cannot receive command points during the Allocation Phase until all other cards occupying a command slot have had command points allocated to those slots.
    - Unused command points always create empty command slots for that player.
    - When calculating the number of command slots used, never drop fractions.

MINOR EMPIRE COMMAND RATING BONUS: One minor empire ship (but not a generic ship) in play in the fleet does not consume a command slot and may be played even if all command slots are full. However, if that minor empire is being used as the main empire of the player's deck, then ships of that main minor empire do not get this benefit.


CONTROL
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    The owning player controls the actions of his cards unless an opponent has assumed control by the means of some card. In order to assume control of an opponent's card that requires a command slot, the player assuming control must have a command slot available for that card. Once controlled by an opponent that card does not occupy a command slot in its original fleet.
    - On the turn that control of an engaged opponent card is established, that card can be used normally if it was engaged when control was established. If a controlled card has point requirements the controlling player must allocate these points during his Allocation Phase in order to use that card on subsequent turns. Phasers on the controlled card can be used normally, but heavy weapons can only be used if they were armed (and not used) by the previous controlling player.
    - A controlled ship protects the Sector HQ of the player controlling it. A controlled psy protects the Psy Network of the player controlling it.
    - Control may revert back to the owning player even if there is no command slot available.


PLAYING ON YOURSELF/OPPONENT
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    The card type rules specifically state where that card type is played.
    When a card is played against an opponent, it is usually best to keep the bottom end of the card facing toward the person who owns the card (upside down to the affected player) and place a color marker bead on the card. This will help to prevent confusion when cards are discarded or otherwise returned to their owners if each player is using different color beads.

CARD PLAY TERMS:
   
ON: Many cards are played on other cards. This generally means they become part of a stack of cards originating with the card they are played on.
    AGAINST: Cards played on an opponent card are played against that opponent's card.
    PLAYED TO: Many cards say where they must be 'played to'. This refers to the actual location the card must be placed when it is first played. The card may change location afterwards.
    BASIS OF A STACK: Any card with other cards played to or against it, but not the card(s) played to or against it.
    THE FLEET: All cards played by a player are in that player's fleet. This includes cards played against an opponent fleet.


FRACTIONS
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    Whenever a fraction is generated by the mechanics of the game it is dropped (not rounded). The rules require that full points are required to do things. Thus 1/2 a repair point does nothing, 3/4 of a damage point does not destroy a ship with only one point left, etc.


APPLYING WEAPONS DAMAGE TO TARGETS
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    During the Weapons Fire Phase, the firing player designates a target and further designates how many damage points are being applied to the target, which units from his fleet are firing and which weapons they are firing. This is a weapons volley.

DAMAGING THE SECTOR HQ: The 25th damage point applied against it destroys a Sector HQ or Psy Network.
    - A Sector HQ or Psy Network may only be fired at if there are no cards protecting it (ships, dragons or psys).
    - Only ship, dragon, or psy cards may fire at a Sector HQ or Psy Network. Equipment cards in play on these cards may also fire at the Sector HQ or Psy Network.

SPLASH DAMAGE: Splash damage may only occur when a player plays a card in reaction to weapons fire at a target that the reaction card would protect. If there is sufficient damage to destroy the reaction card then it is destroyed and then the remaining damage is applied to the original target.

VOIDED DAMAGE: Weapons fire which becomes illegal due to reaction card play is lost and cannot be reapplied.


KEEPING TRACK OF DAMAGE
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    Use dice (6 sided and always the least number of dice possible). If a ship takes four points of damage place a die on that card with the four showing. As damage is inflicted and repaired, simply change the number on the die to reflect the current amount of damage on the ship.
    - Damage to Shields and damage to the ship itself should be tracked separately by using two different color dice. Dice should also be used to keep track of research points applied to monsters, current strength of Mechad EMFs, etc. Try to be consistent; always use red dice for damage to ships and bases and monsters, green for Shields, white for applied research points, black for permanent damage, etc.
    - Dice may also be used to keep track of duration on cards that only last a specific number of turns.


UNRESOLVED INTERACTIONS
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    Occasionally, an interaction between two or more cards might become difficult to resolve. This is extremely rare and even if it occurs players should be able to come to an agreement about how to resolve the interaction. These interactions are resolved by vote and play continues as usual (resolve ties with a die roll).
    Unresolved interactions will be formally resolved in the Galactic Empires bimonthly magazine, Galactic Fire. After resolution in Galactic Fire, votes are no longer used. Call Companion Games, Inc. at 1-607-XXX-XXXX to receive your free first issue. Subscribers receive an exclusive card with each issue!
    Companion Games, Inc. answers rules questions by several means (on-line, phone, mail, at conventions, etc.). All answers given by Companion Games' personnel are tentative until published in Galactic Fire.


EXPLANATION OF KINDS OF POINTS
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    There are many different types of points generated by terrain and other cards. The representative symbol is given with each.


RESOURCE POINTS
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ECONOMY: Economy points are the most useful type of points. They can be declared and used as supply points, energy points, ammunition points, research points, repair points or healing points. During the Allocation Phase of each turn the player declares what his economy points will be used for. Each economy point may be used as a different point type each turn.
    - Economy points are not modified by point modifiers that modify other types of points even when the economy points are used as that point type.

SUPPLY: Supply points are consumables needed by many cards in order to function.

ENERGY: Energy is the power needed for operation.

AMMUNITION: Ammunition points are required to fire heavy weapons. The number of heavy weapon points are listed at the bottom of some cards by the use of heavy weapon symbols (identical to the ammunition symbol). A maximum of 1 ammunition point may be allocated to each of these heavy weapons.

RESEARCH: Research points represent scientific study.

REPAIR: Repair points represent the ability to fix damage. Each repair point may fix one point of damage. Only a card in your active fleet may be fixed with repair points. There are two types of repair points, the general repair point and the healing point.
Repair Point: A repair point may only be used to fix damage to a Shield point or a strength point on a ship card (but not a dragon card), or a base card. It may also be used to repair damage on a terrain card, but not card damage applied to the structure of a terrain card.
Healing Point: A healing point is always designated by card rules. A healing point will 'cure' a point of damage (or applied research points) on a being (dragon, psy, monster, etc.). The being type will always be specified on the card generating the healing point(s). An economy point used as a healing point may NOT be used to heal monsters, but may be used on all other types of beings.


OTHER KINDS OF POINTS
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COMMAND: Command points allow extra ships, bases, dragons or psys to be in play. Command points are generated during the Allocation Phase. Each command point creates a command slot at that time (see command limits).

LOBSTER: Lobster points are found in the Comedy Club on the Far Side of the Galaxy expansion. Lobster points allocated to a monster equal to the monster's strength disengages the monster for one complete turn.

DAMAGE: Damage points cause one point of damage each.
General Damage Points: They are only found at the top right of cards that cause damage. This damage is considered card damage not weapons fire.
Weapon Damage Points: This symbol is used to represent several different weapon types at the bottom of the card (see the weapon rules for details on these weapons).

SHIELD: Shield points are found at the top right of most ship and base cards. Shields always function (even if the card is not engaged). Each Shield point is eliminated by one point of damage. After the Shields are gone, the unit may sustain structural damage. One Shield point is automatically repaired during the Allocation Phase of a player's turn; any number may be repaired with repair points.

ARMOR SYSTEM INDICATOR: Leopan ships use Armor Sytems rather than Shields. Armor System indicators are located at the top right of cards equipped with armor. Only one such symbol will be present and it will contain a number indicating how many uses of that Armor System are allowed before the Armor System no longer works. See the Armor Sytems rules for a full description of how these work.

NODE: Node points are used only on Mechad ships. Energy allocated to the Electromagnetic Field (EMF) is multiplied by the number of Nodes to determine the Strength of the EMF. See the EMF rules for a full description of how these work.

PHASER: Phaser points are found at the bottom of many cards. The number of Phaser points shown indicates how many Phasers the card has. Phasers cannot cause structural damage to terrain (see the weapon rules for Phasers). Any weapon represented with a Phaser point is considered a Phaser regardless of the name used.

HEAVY WEAPON: Heavy weapons are different for each empire. For instance, the Krebiz use Sabots, the Argonians use Energy Fluxes and the Dragons use Breath Weapons. Each heavy weapon requires one ammunition point to fire. Heavy weapons can damage terrain (see the heavy weapon rules).


TYPES OF CARDS
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    Beginner's Note: Beginners' should start out by reading the Ship and Terrain card descriptions first, then move on to the other card types. Card types listed with a * before them do not appear in Primary or Universe Editions, so can be safely skipped by beginning players.

A1 Infestation Inhibitor
A1 Infestation Inhibitor
©1994 Melissa Benson

A6 Captain's Bluff
A6 Captain's Bluff
©1994 Melissa Benson

ABILITY CARDS: Ability cards are designated with an 'A'. Ability cards modify the characteristics or abilities of other cards.
    - Ability cards are played to crew in your fleet unless they specify they can be played elsewhere.
    - An ability card may not be engaged on a disengaged crew.

B6 Evil Temple
B6 Evil Temple
© 1995 April Lee

BASE CARDS: Base cards are designated with a 'B'.
    - A base card must be played on a terrain card. A base cannot be in play independent of terrain. The terrain card on which a base is played may not be targeted by weapons fire until the base is destroyed. A base will not protect a terrain card from card damage. Excess damage applied to a base does not splash to the terrain card unless the base is played in reaction mode.

CREW CARDS: Crew cards are designated with a 'C'.
    - A crew card is played on a ship, base or terrain card. Most crew cards have an illustration of a specific empire being, this illustration is only an example and does not necessarily mean that the crew card may only be used in a deck of that empire. Only crew cards with an empire's name in their title are empire crew. See the deck stocking rules.
    - Crew cards with point requirements may have points allocated to them even if their location is disengaged.

DRAGON CARDS: Dragon cards are designated with a 'D'. Dragon cards are a subset of 'S'hip cards.
    - Dragon cards are exactly the same as ship cards except no equipment cards, crew cards or occurrence cards may be played to them or against them. Note that it is possible for a card action from one of these card types to affect a dragon (EXAMPLE: A mine card is an equipment card. It is played on a friendly ship. Its card action is to cause damage to an enemy ship. Therefore, it can cause damage to a dragon).
    - Effects that apply to ship cards, including weapons fire, monsters, etc. also apply to dragon cards.
    - Dragon cards can be played independently or on a terrain card. A dragon does not block damage to the terrain on which it is played nor is the dragon destroyed if the terrain is destroyed.
    - Some dragons may be played to other dragons. When this happens, both dragon cards are considered one dragon combining their strength.

E5 Antimatter Mine
E5 Antimatter Mine
©1994 Melissa Benson

EQUIPMENT CARDS: Equipment cards are designated with an 'E'.
    - An equipment card may only be played to a ship or base.
    - Equipment cards have a small 'P' or 'NP' beneath the bottom left corner of the art window. This indicates whether the card is passive or non-passive. Passive equipment is always played in the engaged position. A non-passive equipment card without point requirements is played in the same position (engaged or disengaged) as the unit to which it is played. A non-passive equipment card cannot be engaged on a disengaged unit.
EMPIRE SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT: Some equipment cards are indicated as being the exclusive or foreign technology of a specific empire. These cards may only be engaged when in play on a unit of that empire.
    - Exclusive Technology: Other empires cannot use exclusive technology.
    - Foreign Technology: Foreign Technology cannot be used by other empires except by means of a special card that specifically permits the use of foreign technology, such as an engineer, some science officers, etc.
    - Adapted Technology: Empires defined as being able to 'adapt technology' can use foreign technology of other empires normally and may use exclusive technology by means of a special card that specifically permits the use of foreign technology, such as an engineer, some science officers, etc. (See Vektrean, Bolaar, and Allied rules.)

*FIELD CARDS: (found in Powers of the Mind TM and later sets) Field cards are designated with an 'F '.
    - Field cards are played on terrain cards in the fleet.
    - A maximum of one field card may be played to a terrain card.
    - Field cards are only destroyed by the destruction of the terrain card on which they are played.

AGENDA CARDS: Agenda cards are designated with a 'G'.
    - Each agenda card has a hidden agenda rule and/or an exposed agenda rule.
    - Hidden agendas must be accomplished entirely before the agenda card is played. When the hidden agenda is accomplished, the agenda card is immediately exposed from the hand (not a Card Play) and the benefit is immediately gained.
    - Exposed agendas are played prior to accomplishing the agenda. Their benefit cannot be gained until 1 complete turn after the agenda card has been played. After that turn, the benefit is immediately gained when the agenda is accomplished.
    - A player may not accomplish the same agenda twice (two exactly identical cards) during a single complete turn.
    - When an agenda has been accomplished, place it on the Sector HQ (or Psy Network).
    - A player who accomplishes 25 strength points of agendas immediately has his Sector HQ or Psy Network restored to 25 points. At this time, all agenda cards on the Sector HQ are discarded. Any player may only do this once per game. Subsequent agenda cards are discarded when accomplished.

HAZARD CARDS: Hazard cards are designated with an 'H'. Hazards represent the dangers of space travel.
    - Each hazard card indicates where it is played and what its effects are. Hazard cards that do not say where they are played, are played to or against the card or cards that they affect. Hazards cards that affect things other than cards (weapons fire, opponent volleys, etc.) are considered played to the owning player's fleet.

*INSTALLATION CARDS: Installation cards are designated with an 'I'. The lost empire known only as the 'ancients' left gigantic stellar installations throughout the Far Side. While attempting to conquer a given sector these abandoned installations were occasionally used by the various empires.
    - Installations are played independently.
    - They are not considered bases.
    - Crew Complement: The player who plays an installation card is assumed to have a 'crew complement' on board the installation equal to the strength of the installation card plus the strengths of all of his engaged crew cards in play on the installation. All other players have a crew complement equal only to the summed strengths of their engaged crew cards in play on that installation.
    - Control: The player with the highest crew complement (ties go to the installation player) controls the installation.
    - Transport: Crew cannot be played directly to installations; they must be moved (via transportation) to the installation. Ancients ('N' cards) are an exception and may be played directly to installations.

LUCK CARDS: Luck cards are designated with an 'L'. Luck cards deal with lucky and unlucky situations.
    - Each card defines how the luck card is played and how it works. Luck cards are played to or against the card or cards that they affect. Luck cards that affect things other than cards are considered played to the owning player's fleet.

M3 Cyber Beast
M3 Cyber Beast
©1994 Melissa Benson

M3 Invinco Guardian
M3 Invinco Guardian
©1994 Melissa Benson

M4 Harvesters
M4 Harvesters
©1994 Melissa Benson

MONSTER CARDS: Monster cards are designated with an 'M'. Space monsters are creatures or beings which live in space and often cause damage to terrain or starships.
    - Each monster card defines where it is played, how it works, what damage (if any) it causes and how it is killed or negated.
    - Monsters may only be repaired by cards that generate monster healing points.
    - When a monster's location (the card or cards it is affecting) is discarded the monster is also discarded.
    - A monster with multiple locations or which can change locations is not discarded until the last of these locations is discarded.
    - An 'M' space dragon is not a 'D' dragon card.

*ANCIENT CARDS: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) Ancient cards (no, not millennia old GE cards gated in from the future and sold on eBay) are designated with an 'N'.
    - Ancient cards are a subset of 'C'rew cards. Ancient cards are treated as crew cards for all purposes. Cards that can be played on crew can be played on ancients, and anything that can affect crew cards can affect ancient cards.
    - Ancients may be played directly to installations.
    - Ancients in play on an installation may move to another location without transportation once each turn (not on a there-and-back mission). If in play on an installation being discarded, they may be moved to another location.
    - A player with an engaged ancient in play on an installation (under his control) may target opponent Sector HQs, Psy Networks or the Time Origin with the weapons of that installation
    IMPORTANT: Ancients are a subset of crew cards, but crew cards are never treated as ancient cards.
    - Only 'N' cards are considered ancient cards.
    NOTE: Only one Ancient card was ever printed, the N3 Traveller from Galactic Invaders TM. More were planned in the Realms of the Ancients TM expansion that was never released.


O9 Illness
O9 Illness
©1994 Melissa Benson

O5 Evasive Maneuvers
O5 Evasive Maneuvers
©1994 Melissa Benson

OCCURRENCE CARDS: Occurrence cards are designated with an 'O'. An occurrence card is simply a significant event.
    - Each card defines how the occurrence is played, how it works, what damage (if any) it causes and how it is negated (if that is possible). Occurrence cards are played to or against the card or cards that they affect. Occurrence cards that affect things other than cards are considered played to the owning player's fleet.

*PSY CARDS: (found in Powers of the Mind TM and other expansions) Psy cards are designated with a 'P'.
    - Psy cards are a subset of 'C'rew cards. Psy cards are treated as crew cards for all non-psy-specific purposes. Cards that can be played on crew can be played on psys, and anything that can affect crew cards can affect psy cards.
    - IMPORTANT: Psys are a subset of crew cards, but crew cards are never treated as psy cards.
    - Only 'P' cards are considered psy cards.

Q5 Long Range Transporter
Q5 Long Range Transporter

*HEADQUARTER CARDS: Headquarter cards are designated with a 'Q'.
    - Headquarter cards are played to the Sector HQ.
    - Headquarter cards are destroyed by weapons damage equal to their strength. They may only be targeted by weapons eligible to target the Sector HQ (if the Sector HQ is not exposed, 'Q' cards are not exposed).
    - Only 'Q' cards may be played to or against 'Q' cards.
    - Headquarter cards do not protect the Sector HQ.
    NOTE: Only three 'Q' card was ever printed, they were all Promo cards.

SHIP CARDS: Ship cards are designated with an 'S'.
    - There are two basic types of ship cards: Empire ships and generic ships. Empire ships have a specific empire written on them such as Argonian, Bolaar, etc. Generic ships (freighters, tugs, etc.) can be used by any empire. Generic ships do not have an empire stated on them and have a blue lined background. Both types of ship cards work as follows:
    - Ship cards can be played independently or to a terrain card. A ship does not block damage to the terrain on which it is played nor is the ship destroyed if the terrain is destroyed.
    - Some ships may be played to other ships. When this happens, both ship cards are considered one ship combining their strength, Shields, and weapons.

TERRAIN CARDS: Terrain cards are designated with a 'T'.
    - The main function of terrain cards is to provide resource points.
    - The only cards that can cause card damage to the structure of terrain cards are those cards that specifically state they can damage terrain.
    - Heavy weapons are the only weapons that CAN cause damage to the structure of terrain cards.
    - Terrain cards are played independently and can become the basis of a stack.
Terrain Output Modifiers:
    - A number of cards (freighters, tugs, bases etc.) modify the point output of terrain cards. Positive additive modifiers are not cumulative; only the greatest modifier is used (i.e. a terrain with two freighters, +2 economy each, only gets a single +2 modifier). Positive multiplicative modifiers are not cumulative; only the greatest modifier is used (i.e. a terrain with a base station, 2x supply and a starbase, 3x supply, only gets the 3x modifier not a 6x).
    - Always apply additive modifiers first, and then apply multiplicative modifiers.
    - Some terrain may be played to other terrain. Terrain that combine are considered one terrain combining their strength and output. Rules on a specific element of a terrain stack do not necessarily apply to the entire stack. EXAMPLE: A T5 Ring System played to a T3 Crystal Planet (immune to weapons fire) may have up to 5 points of heavy weapons damage applied to it It will not be discarded until the remaining 3 points are applied to the crystal planet portion as card damage.

RULES CARDS: Rules cards have no designation and no game effects. These cards include the Points Symbol card, the Sector HQ cards included in Universe Edition Starters, and the Rules Cards from Allied Forces. They are meant only to be references and cannot be stocked in a deck.


SPECIAL SHIP SYSTEMS
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ARMOR SYSTEM: Leopan ships use Armor Systems rather than Shields. Armor System indicators (➎) are located at the top right of cards equipped with armor. Only one such symbol will be present and it will contain a number indicating how many uses of that Armor System are allowed before the Armor System no longer works.
    - Armor Systems may only be used once every time damage would be applied to the unit's structure. They may not be used, however, to prevent damage from cards or weapons which specifically cause structural damage [boarding parties, Shield Penetration Device, Tarrac Projectors (structural portion only), etc.].
    - When an Armor System is used against an opponent volley (or other source of damage), the damage applied as structural damage is decreased by the current strength of the Armor System. After each use, the Armor System decreases 1 point in strength. Use a die to indicate the current strength of the Armor System.
    - Ships possessing an Armor System are not required to activate it. Armor Systems are passive and can be activated on engaged or disengaged ships.
    - Shields are always damaged before Armor Systems can decrease damage. Armor Systems only affect structural damage.
    - All other reductions to opponent volleys are applied before Armor Systems may be activated.
    - Armor Systems cannot be repaired.

AUXILIARY SHIELDS: Tarra'ki ships mount secondary Shield banks. The stronger Shield bank applies (main bank on ties). Both regenerate.
    NOTE: The original rules card doesn't specify, but Shield refits should apply to both the primary and secondary Shield banks.

DRONE SPECIAL SHIP SYSTEMS: Drone ships use a variety of special ship systems.
    - Points in parenthesis represent a single system. Multiple points not in a parenthesis indicate multiple systems that may be used separately.
Deflector Grid: Whenever damage is applied to this ship, damage up to the strength of the grid may be transferred to any unit.
Tractor Beams: Activated against a ship as a reaction, tractoring the ship for 1 turn or until tractored by another tractor beam. The tractored ship may only fire at this unit. Current fire from the unit is intercepted.
Command Encryption: Prevents miscommunications and command disjunction from being played against the fleet by a player without a cryptologist in their fleet.

ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEM: Each Electronic Warfare Systems on a ship costs one energy point to activate. When an electronic warfare card ('electronic warfare' in the title) is played to a ship with an activated Electronic Warfare System, it is not discarded after use. During the Record Keeping Step of the next turn, the electronic warfare card is placed back into the hand. The first electronic warfare card (and second for ships with 2 Electronic Warfare Systems) played always consumes an Electronic Warfare System and cannot be discarded after use.
    There are only three cards that may be used with an Electronic Warfare System: R/O3 Defensive Electronic Warfare (UE/PE), R/O3 Offensive Electronic Warfare (UE/PE), R/O3 Offensive/Defensive Electronic Warfare (UE/PE).

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD (EMF): Mechad ships use an Electromagnetic Field (EMF) defense instead of Shields. The EMF has a strength equal to the number of Nodes (✦) multiplied by the number of energy points allocated to the EMF. Note that most Mechad ships have only one node and so the field strength will usually be equal to the number of energy points applied to the node. The maximum strength of the EMF is twice the strength of the ship; any energy applied in excess of this amount is wasted. The EMF strength represents the number of defensive points the Mechad ship has for that turn.
    A Mechad ship that is not engaged during the Engagement Phase, or a ship which is played from the hand is given a free EMF strength equal to the strength of the ship. If a Mechad ship is disengaged by any means other than during the owning player's Engagement Phase, the EMF strength does not change. (EXAMPLE: An M3 Alien Parasite card is played against an engaged S5 Mechad Heavy Cruiser with a current EMF strength of 10. Although the ship is immediately disengaged by the parasites, the EMF strength remains 10.) The EMF may not be repaired; it must be re-energized from scratch during each Allocation Phase.
    - Shield refits may not be applied to Mechad ships.
    - The EMF will not block the function of transporters.
    - The EMF is not treated as Shields for the purposes of cards that affect Shields.
    When tracking EMF strength, it is best to "count down" by using a die to indicate the current strength of the EMF rather than the damage that it has sustained.
    - The EMF may only be increased in strength by an amount equal to the strength of the ship. EXAMPLE: A strength 7 ship has an EMF at strength 7, it sustains 4 damage, during the next Allocation Phase it can be re-powered to a maximum strength of 10 (not 14, the ship's ultimate maximum).

ION & NOVA CANNONS: Erodi ships can manipulate Ion storms and Nova explosions. 1 Ion or Nova hazard card ('ion' or 'nova' in the title) may be played to an Ion or Nova cannon (respectively). The Ion or Nova may be activated each turn. The hazard is discarded after use IF the energy allocated to the system does not equal or exceed the strength of the hazard.
    There are three cards which may be used with an Ion Cannon and three with a Nova Cannon: H1 Ion Storm (AF), H2 Ion Storm (UE/PE/B/A), H3 Pocket Supernova (AF), H4 Nova (PE/B/A), H5 Ion Storm (UE/PE/B/A), and H6 Type II Supernova (UE/PE/B/A).

MANEUVERING SYSTEM: Each Maneuvering System on a ship costs one energy point to activate. When a maneuver card ('maneuver' in the title) is played to a ship with an activated maneuver system, it is not discarded after use. During the Record Keeping Step of the next turn, the maneuver card is placed back into the hand. The first maneuver card (and second for ships with 2 Maneuvering Systems) played always consumes an activated Maneuvering System and cannot be discarded after use.
    There are seven cards that may be used with a Maneuvering System: R/L6 Lucky Maneuver (UE/PE), O3 Tight Maneuver (GI), R/O4 Formation Maneuver (Pir), R/O5 Evasive Maneuvers (UE/PE), R/O5 Fleet Maneuver (GI), R/O6 Crash Maneuver (GI), and R/O6 Surprise Maneuver (GI).

MANEUVERING THRUSTERS: Trochilidae ships are extremely agile; they avoid taking damage through the use of their Maneuvering Thrusters. Maneuvering Thrusters reduce card damage and opponent volleys (against the unit) by an amount equal to the energy applied if 1 (or more) card(s) causing the damage is of greater strength than the unit.

MINE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM: The Tufor are masters of mine warfare and most of their ships use a device known as the Mine Deployment System (MDS). Each MDS requires one mine card and one supply point to function. An MDS permits one mine card to be used each turn but the mine card is not discarded after use, it remains on Tufor ship indefinitely. An MDS can have a supply point allocated to it prior to having a mine card played to the ship. Any mine cards played to that ship (over the number of activated MDSs) and activated are discarded after use.

PHASER MAGNIFIER: This is technically a non-heavy weapon. See the entry below.

TRANSGATE: A J'xar ship may use each Transgate only once each complete turn as a card action or in reaction mode. A Transgate may be used in one of two modes:
    - A Transgate allows a J'xar unit to bring a J'xar ship into play fully engaged. The ship being 'gated in' must be a J'xar ship whose strength does not exceed the energy allocated to the Transgate.
    - A Transgate allows a J'xar unit to be recalled from play (returning the ship stack to the hand). The ship being 'recalled' must be a J'xar ship whose strength does not exceed the energy allocated to the Transgate.


GENERAL WEAPON RULES
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CARD DAMAGE IS NOT WEAPONS FIRE: Card damage is only indicated on the top right of a card with damage point symbols. Card damage is not weapons fire and only occurs in either of the Card Play phases as a card action.

STANDARD TARGETS: The following card types are considered standard targets and may be fired at with weapons: terrain, ships, dragons, psys, bases, installations, free flying shuttles and any cards that say they are destroyed by damage.


NON-HEAVY WEAPONS
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    All non-heavy weapons can be fired if the card is engaged. They cost no points to be fired. Non-heavy weapons cannot damage the structure of terrain cards. All of these weapon types are distinct and different. All non-heavy weapons cause a single point of damage unless specified otherwise. The following is a list of standard non-heavy weapons: Phasers (most empires), Subspace Whips (Drone/Mechad), Seltzer Cannons (Comedy Club Network), Physical Damage (Dragon/Orgons), Time Damage Generators (Tranoan) and Cyber Damage (Cyber.Noughts).

PHASER MAGNIFIER: A Phaser Magnifier allows a Scorpead ship to multiply the amount of damage done by each of its Phasers. If 1 energy point is allocated to the Phaser Magnifier, each Phaser will do 2 points of damage; if 2 energy points are allocated to the Phaser Magnifier, each Phaser will do 3 points of damage. The maximum amount of energy that may be allocated to a Phaser Magnifier is noted on the card.
    - A ship's Phaser Magnifier may not be armed on a turn when the Hyperspace Detonator is armed.

PSY DAMAGE: Psy Empire cards can cause Psy Damage. Each Psy Damage point causes 1 point of damage. Some field cards include functions which produce Psy Damage. Since Psy Damage points are considered to be weapons fire for all purposes, functions which generate Psy Damage points must be activated during Play Cards Phase A so that those damage points may be used during the Weapons Fire Phase.

PULSE PHASER: Each Pulse Phaser may be fired by a Pakta'don ship a number of times (in separate volleys) equal to the energy allocated to the Pulse Phasers.

TIME DAMAGE: Each Time Damage point causes 1 point of damage. Some cards have two printed values for Time Damage (e.g. all Time Knights). The first value is the amount of Time Damage that can be generated outside the time origin, and the second value is the amount of Time Damage that can be generated inside the time origin.

TIME PHASER: Time Phasers may be fired by a Tranoan ship once each turn, damaging all available targets in one fleet. This is a fleet targeted weapon (i.e. fired at the beginning of the Weapons Fire Phase with Distortion Cannons, Gravidic Distorters, etc.) and is not considered a weapons volley. A Time Phaser's damage is both Phaser damage and Time Damage. A Time Phaser is a Phaser and can be affected by those things that can affect Phasers.


STANDARD HEAVY WEAPONS
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    - Heavy weapons are the only weapons which can damage the structure of a terrain card.
    - Standard heavy weapon require 1 ammunition point to cause one point of damage. The following is a list of standard heavy weapons: Antimatter Pellet (Gekonauak), Bi-tritium Boomerang (Indirigan), Breath Weapon (Dragon), Ectoplasmic Trail (Orgons), Energy Flux (Argonian), Hypertrail Seeker (J'xar), Neutronium Torpedo (Clydon/Paraloid), Plasma Degenerator (Leopan/Trochilidae), Plasma Stream (P.O.T./Pakta'don), Sabot (Krebiz), Thunderbolt Devastator (Erodi/Tufor), Tram (Drone/Mechad), and pretty much every Heavy Weapon used by the Comedy Club Network.
    - Any heavy weapon not defined below as a non-standard heavy weapon is to be considered a standard heavy weapon.


NON-STANDARD HEAVY WEAPONS
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AESTHETIC WEAPONS: Allows an Aesthetic ship to target individual terrain cards in a terrain stack, destroying them separately. Aesthetic damage to part of a terrain stack should be tracked separately but may not be used to destroy the basis of any part of the combined terrain stack.

DAMAGE ADJUSTER: Allows a player to pick up a marker die on the target, roll it and then return it.

DECK WRECKER: Allows a player to discard the top card on the opponent deck it's fired at.

DETONIUM BOLTS: Detonium Bolts are used by the Zedan to counter attack their enemies. Each Detonium Bolt requires 1 ammunition point to cause 1 point of damage. Each armed Detonium Bolt (whether it was fired or not) may be fired 1 time on 1 opponent turn, as a reaction to weapons fired at the ship equipped with the Detonium Bolt. This fire must be at one of the cards that fired at the ship equipped with the Detonium Bolt.

DISTORTION CANNON: Distortion Cannons are area affect weapons used by the Mechad affecting a huge area of space.
    - Each Distortion Cannon will do 1 point of damage to every ship, base, dragon, monster (susceptible to heavy weapons damage) and free-flying shuttle in 1 opponent fleet.
    - The Distortion Cannon cannot affect terrain cards or the Sector HQ.
    - The Distortion Cannon may be used against all monsters in play against the Mechad player's own fleet (instead of against 1 opponent fleet); in this case, 1 point of damage is scored against each hostile monster (susceptible to heavy weapons damage) in play against the fleet.
    - Distortion Cannons are fleet targeted weapons (i.e. fired at the beginning of the Weapons Fire Phase with Gravidic Distorters, Time Phasers, etc.). This damage is not considered a weapons volley.

GRAVIDIC DISTORTER: A fleet targeted weapon (i.e. fired at the beginning of the Weapons Fire Phase with Distortion Cannons, Time Phasers, etc.) used by the Drone which causes 1 point of damage to each terrain not protected by a base. This damage is not considered a weapons volley.

HAND WRECKER: Allows a player to discard 1 card from the opponent hand it's fired at.

HYPERSPACE DETONATOR: The Hyperspace Detonator is the Scorpeads heavy weapon. When loaded, each Phaser on the card is treated as a heavy weapon causing 1 point of damage for each armed Hyperspace Detonator.
    - A ship's Phaser Magnifier may not be armed on a turn when the Hyperspace Detonator is armed.
    - Scorpead units may not have heavy weapon refits (refits adding heavy weapons) applied to them.

POSITRON EMITTER: A heavy weapon used by the Tarra'ki ship causing damage equal to energy allocated. The firing card takes damage equal to energy loaded after the slash. EXAMPLE: If a ship has (✸✸/✸✸) it can allocate up to 4 energy to do 4 damage; if it allocates 2 energy it can do 2 damage and will take no damage; if it allocates 3 energy it can do 3 damage but will take 1 damage itself, and if it allocates all 4 energy it can do 4 damage but it will take 2 damage. 

SHIELD PENETRATION DEVICE: The Shield Penetration Device is a heavy weapon used by the P.O.T. that ignores Shields, Armor Systems and EMFs. Each Shield Penetration Device requires 1 ammunition point to cause 1 point of structural damage.

SPECIALIZED WEAPON MOUNT: Each Specialized Weapon Mount requires 1 ammunition point to cause 1 point of damage. Special Modification: When a specific heavy weapon modifying equipment card is applied to a ship with Specialized Weapons Mounts, the Specialized Weapon Mounts on the ship may be considered to be the heavy weapon type modified by that equipment card (and will then function by the rules for that heavy weapon type). Each Specialized Weapon Mount may only function as one heavy weapon type at a time. Many empires use Specialized Weapon Mounts, including the Bolaar, Corporate Pirate, Nagiridni Pirates, and Vektrean.

SWARM BOLTS: The Shon-ti use Swarm Bolts to attack multiple targets at a single location. Swarm Bolts cause 1 point of damage to the target and every eligible target not already targeted this player turn in the stack. May target terrain protected by a base, causing no damage to the terrain.

TARRAC PROJECTOR: Each Tarrac Projector requires 1 ammunition point to causes 1 point of damage. When the Aqaaran unit is functioning as a base, the weapon also causes 1 point of structural damage, ignoring Shields, Armor Systems and EMFs.

TIME BREATH: Some Dragons have Time Breath. Any number of ammunition points may be allocated to a single Time Breath weapon. Time Breath may be fired once for every ammunition point allocated to the weapon. Each firing of a single weapon must occur during a different weapons volley. Time Breath damage is both heavy weapon damage and Time Damage.

VARIABLE PLASMA: Corporate and Corporate Pirate ships use Variable Plasma as their heavy weapon. Each Variable Plasma requires 1 ammo point to function. Each will do a number of damage points equal to the number of energy points allocated to that ship for use by its Variable Plasma weapons. All the damage points from a single Variable Plasma must be scored on the same target. The range of energy points that may be allocated to a ship's Variable Plasma weapons and the number of such weapons is noted on each ship card. EXAMPLE: If a ship has 2 Variable Plasma weapons which can do a maximum of 3 points of damage each, the ship will need 2 ammo points and 3 energy points in order to do the maximum of 6 damage - 3 damage points each - with its Variable Plasmas


MAJOR EMPIRES
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    The major empires are the most powerful forces on the Far Side of the galaxy. Cards of a major empire may only be used in a deck if that empire is the main empire of the deck. See Using Major Empire Cards in the deck stocking rules.


O4 Amphibian Desire
(Aqaaran)

©1996 Pat Morrissey

AQAARAN: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) Aqaaran society is highly religious in nature. They are invading the Far Side in a religious crusade to convert the savage empires to a more righteous path. Their huge framework crafts are designed to travel through space as well as establishing a planetary base of operations. Aqaaran units may be played as either a ship or a base. Each card has a strength and engagement cost for both a ship and a base. Aqaaran units use Tarrac Projectors to cut through enemy Shields.
    - Aqaaran units must be stocked as the card type ('S' or 'B') with the greater strength.
    - When in play on terrain, an Aqaaran unit is considered a base for all purposes, except that it may be moved off the terrain via ship movement during the Allocation Phase. An Aqaaran unit in play as a base on terrain will be discarded by the destruction of the terrain.
    - When played independently, an Aqaaran unit is a ship for all purposes.

C7 Doctor
(Argonian)

©1994 Robert A. Kraus

ARGONIAN FIRST REPUBLIC: (found in Alpha and later set) The Argonians are a race of gaseous beings who can assume semi-solid form. They originated from within the Homecloud Nebula. Argonian ships use circular hulls; their engines rotate about the hull allowing Argonian ships superior maneuverability. They're armed with Energy Flux.

A7 Imperial Clydon
A7 Imperial Clydon
© 1995 Douglas Chaffee

CLYDON EMPIRE: (found in New Empires TM and later sets) Clydon Citizens are of several distinct subspecies, known as broods. Each brood serves a distinct function in Clydon society. For instance, Blood Clydon are the common warrior caste. Several broods are of very low caste and do not have Citizen status; some are only marginally intelligent. The Clydon Empire is the most aggressive major empire on the Far Side. Their ships use Neutronium Torpedoes.
    Clydon cruisers carry warcraft. A Clydon warcraft functions as follows:
    - Only certain Clydon ships can carry warcraft. Each card indicates if it may do so.
    - Playing a warcraft to a ship always requires a card play, a warcraft and ship may not be played as a single card play.
    - Most Clydon warcraft are designated as cards that may be played in reaction mode. However, they may only be played in reaction mode if:
    a- they are played independently (i.e. not played onto a cruiser) and
    b- they are played during another player's Weapons Fire Phase in order to block weapons fire that otherwise would have damaged the Sector HQ.
    - Clydon warcraft in play can separate from or attach to a ship. When this is done (only in a Card Play Phase) it consumes as a Card Play.
    - Paraloid and Clydon cruisers capable of carrying warcraft may carry either Paraloid or Clydon warcraft.

NOTE: The Universe Edition rulebook does not state that Clydon ships and warcraft combine. However, the New Empires rulebook originally said the following:
The Clydon use warcraft, which are similar in most respects to Krebiz capsules. A Clydon warcraft functions as does a Krebiz capsule (see Krebiz above) with the following exceptions:
The exceptions listed were the rules for Clydon above. If treated like Krebiz capsules this would mean that warcraft do, in fact, combine with the ship they are carried by. In addition, three cards from the later expansions (Persona and Galactic Invaders) specifically describe warcraft as "combining" with the ship or base they are attached to. It seems this was an accidental omission from the Universe Edition rulebook.
This also implies that a ship may be played to an already in-play warcraft, and a warcraft may be played to an already in-play ship, just like Krebiz ships and capsules.

I2 Road Sign

©1996 C. Henry Schulte

COMEDY CLUB NETWORK: (found in Comedy Club on the Far Side of the Galaxy TM and later sets) The Ancients left behind massive installations, some of which were comedy clubs. Mimes and space penguins use these Comedy Clubs to defend their CCN (Comedy Club Network) Sector HQ from hostile and often less humorous empires. Comedy Clubs mount a large variety of Standard Heavy Weapons as well as Seltzer Cannons.
    - Comedy Club installations protect the Comedy Club Network Sector HQ while controlled by a Comedy Club Network (CCN) player. They will not protect a controlling player's Sector HQ unless that player is playing CCN.
    - When controlled by a CCN player, the weapons on a Comedy Club may target any player's exposed Sector HQ, Psy Network or the Time Origin.

S2 Corporate Troop Ship

©1995 Gregg Glymph

CORPORATE AGGRESSORS: (found in Primary Edition and later sets) The Corporation was a mega-corporation performing many operations for the Indirigans before the latter became space nomads. When the Indirigans abandoned their planets, the Corporation seized control of several planetary systems within the newly formed Free Trade Zone. It was the first time that a business operated as a galactic government. Many different humanoid and alien beings work for the Corporation. Corporate units use Variable Plasma weapons.

A2 Filarian Infester
A2 Filarian Infester
© 1995 Melissa Benson
A7 Filarian Infester
A7 Filarian Infester
© 1995 Melissa Benson
A8 Filarian Infester
A8 Filarian Infester
© 1995 Melissa Benson

FILARIAN INFESTERS: (found in Powers of the Mind TM and later sets) The Filarians are intelligent parasitic beings. When an outbreak of infestation occurs, the Far Side goes into a panic. Filarian Infesters board ships and take control of the entire ship (and all accompanying cards).
    - Infested ships are moved to the fleet of the Infester player at the moment control is established. They are totally controlled by the Infester player and are considered to be in his fleet. They protect the Infester player's Sector HQ, not the ship owner's Sector HQ. Neither the ship owner nor the Infester can voluntarily discard the ship. The ship owner cannot move cards off of it, etc. because the ship and all the cards are treated as if they were in the Infester's fleet (except of course when they are discarded they go into the Discard Pile of their rightful owner). The ship is moved back to the fleet of the owning player at the moment the infestation is eliminated. IMPORTANT: Mark controlled cards with a color bead or marker to keep track of which cards belong to which players.
    - A Filarian deck is a standard deck, but the only ship cards permitted are generic ship cards. No major or minor empire ships, no dragons, and no psys are allowed.
    - Filarian Infesters can only infest ships; they cannot infest dragons, bases, or any other card type.
    - A Filarian player may not play cards on an opponent ship that he controls.

S6 Gekonauak Commander

©1996 Robert A. Kraus

GEKONAUAK: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) The Gekonauak are massive organic creatures who use ships designed to support a single organism. The Gekonauak social structure is determined by valor in combat and often dictates the size of a given creature and his vessel. When a Gekonauak advances within their society, they are granted a larger vessel that they grow to fit. Their ships mount Antimatter Pellets.
    - Crew may not be played or moved against a Gekonauak ship. Only one crew in the fleet may be in play on a Gekonauak ship. While a crew is on the ship, other crew may not be played or moved to the ship. This does not affect any player's ability to perform there and back missions to or against the ship.

C3 J'xar Gravidic Engineer

©1996 Lissanne Lake

J'XAR: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) The origin of the J'xar is unknown. They have technology allowing them to cross vast distances of space at near instantaneous speed. J'x ships were first spotted on the Far Side by a small system which claimed the entire J'xar fleet appeared through a transdimentional gate. J'xar use Transgates to gate in small ships directly to combat sites. This tactic proved effective against most of the Far Side empires. Their ships make effective use of Hypertrail Seekers.

R/A4 Thick Shelled Crab (Krebiz)
R/A4 Thick Shelled Crab
© 1995 Darryl Elliot

E2 Heavy Patrol Capsule Refit
E2 Heavy Patrol Capsule Refit
© 1995 Christina Wald

E3 Patrol Scout Refit
E3 Patrol Scout Refit
© 1995 Christina Wald

KREBIZ CAPITALIST ALLIANCE: (found in Alpha and later sets) The Krebiz appear similar to man-size hermit crabs. Krebiz ships consist of two pieces: The cruiser (aft hull) and the capsule (forward hull). Krebiz Ships fire Sabot.
    - Krebiz ship cards come in three types: Cruisers, capsules and combinations. A combination card counts as 1 card for deck stocking rules (#1-3), but counts as 1 cruiser and 1 capsule (of that specific type) for purposes of duplicate card rules.
    Beginner's Note: Universe Edition contains only combination ship cards for the Krebiz and these ships need not be separated, etc. Simply use them as complete ships and skip the Krebiz rules section.
    If a capsule or cruiser is played by itself then it counts as 1 ship all by itself. A Krebiz cruiser with a capsule played on it counts as one ship of a strength equal to the sum of both cards. Only 1 cruiser and 1 capsule can combine at one time. A combination card has information for both the cruiser and capsule on it. It may be played as a cruiser, as a capsule or as the combination itself, it may even be played with other capsules or cruisers representing the opposite component. If played from the hand as one component, the other component is considered lost and unavailable for use.
    - A player may play a cruiser and a capsule at the same time as a single ship. This counts as the play of only one card for purposes of the three cards per turn limit, even though this one ship may actually consists of two cards.
    - A capsule may be played onto a previously played cruiser. A cruiser may be played onto a previously played capsule. When this happens, the two cards are immediately combined to form a single ship. Once combined, the two components can only be separated on the owning player's turn.
    - Separating the two components requires one Card Play to complete even though no card is actually played. Any accompanying cards, friendly or enemy, can be placed on the cruiser or capsule in any combination at the Krebiz player's option. Damage may be placed on the cruiser or capsule in any combination at the Krebiz player's option, however Shield damage must remain Shield damage and structural damage must remain structural damage. Furthermore, damage may not be divided so as to destroy either the cruiser or the capsule. The two cards cannot be separated if there are not sufficient command slots.
    - Two components may be combined by using a Card Play, but not on a turn when either component has been separated.
    A cruiser and capsule combination may receive a number of supply and/or energy points sufficient to engage only one component of the combination. During the first Card Play Phase of that turn, the components must be separated as defined above and the one component that received enough supply and/or energy may be immediately engaged at that time, outside the Engagement Phase.
    Proxy card elements can be used as temporary substitutes for separated components of combination cards (EXAMPLE: Use a capsule or cruiser card from Primary Edition to represent separated components).
Optional Rule: With the introduction of the Combination Krebiz ships in Universe Edition there's no reason why players can't treat the Primary Edition ships as combination ships. Take both cards that are part of the intended combination ship and put one in your deck while setting the other one aside next to your Reserve Fleet. Mark the card that you are placing in the deck somehow; for instance using a sharpie write the name of the card that is the other half of the combination on the face of the card you're putting in your deck, or on the card protector; or put a small slip of paper in the deck protector with the name of the other half into the card protector. When the card is played take the other half and place both in play as a single ship. Thereafter they will be treated as two separate cards; one can be discarded while the other remains in play, or if both are destroyed then both are put into the discard pile as separate ships. If a later card play allows you to retrieve them from the discard pile each card must be retrieved separately.
    For all intents and purposes treat both cards as if they were in the deck, and in addition treat the combination as if it were it's own card in the deck.
EXAMPLE: Take an S3 Krebiz Dreadnought Capsule and a S7 Krebiz King Kraken. On the front of the Dreadnought Capsule you write "S7 King Kraken." You place the S3 into your deck and set the S7 aside. This will count as a single S10 ship in your deck, and you may not have another exactly identical combination. You could, however, create a second S10 using the S3 Krebiz Dreadnought Carrier and the S7 King Kraken. This would use up two of your Entity slots in the deck, and count as two out of the three copies of the S7 King Kraken allowed in the deck as well as counting as an S3 Dreadnought Capsule and S3 Dreadnought Carrier.
    When you draw and play the S3 you will take the S7 and place both units in play as a single combination unit. Thereafter they are treated as the two separate cards until the end of the game.


C3 Leopan Raiding Party

©1996 David A. Cherry

LEOPAN CONQUISTADORS: (found in Piracy and later sets) The Leopans are a feline race originated from a dark matter nebula just beyond the galactic rim. They were first encountered by the Argonians and the P.O.T. and have established territory on the Argonian edge of the Free Trade Zone. The Leopans invaded the Far Side in an effort to gain a strategic edge in their war with the Zedan for control of the dark matter nebula. The Leopans are the most violent empire ever seen on the Far Side. Leopan ships use Armor Systems instead of Shields, and they mount Plasma Degenerators.


C8 Mechad Overlord

©1994 Robert A. Kraus

MECHAD HOLDFAST: (found in Primary Edition and later sets) The Mechad originate from a planet orbiting a double star near the edge of the galaxy. Their homeworld is an extremely mechanized society where machines control every process. Mechad ships use Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) instead of Shields and Distortion Cannons to lay waste to entire fleets. They use Subspace Whips and Trams as their standard weapons.

NOBLES: With the introduction of the Noble starter decks in the Allied Forces TM expansion the Nobles were redefined as a minor empire. See their listing below.

PLASMA OCCUPIED TERRITORY (P.O.T.): (found in New Empires TM and later sets) The Territory is a loose confederation of several minor empires which act in concert for mutual defense but maintain politically distinct identities. Each sub empire of the P.O.T. that contributes to the common defense is known as an element. Elements include the Tequan, Peladine, Centaurians and a number of others. Some elements are larger than others and so have more ships in the combined P.O.T. starfleet. Players may elect to represent the overall P.O.T. or one distinct element. When playing one distinct element only ship cards of that element and generic P.O.T. ships may be used. Ships from multiple elements may not be used together. All P.O.T. ships in Universe Edition are generic. P.O.T. ships make use of Shield Penetration Devices and Plasma Streams.


P1 Visonic Muse

©1994 Ed Beard Jr.

P9 Psycanti Sub-Master

©1995 Ron Rousselle II

PSY EMPIRES: (found in Powers of the Mind TM and later sets) The Visonic and Psycanti Empires are not space-farers who use fleets of starships to protect their territory. Instead they are races of beings with advanced mental powers such as telepathy, teleportation, matter control, mind assault, mind control, and even possess the ability to attack ships by lash out with their minds causing Psy Damage. They have no territory that they claim as their own, but travel throughout space within the areas controlled by other empires. Their sole concern is to protect their Psy Network, a mystical mind-linking network formed by mentally accessing a parallel universe. Only 1 psy empire can be used in a deck at one time.
    Beginner's Note: If you are playing with (or against) either of these Psy empires you will need to familiarize yourself with the Psy Rules.
VISONIC History: The Visonics are an ancient power existing for millions of years. They originated from a desolate desert-like planet. The recent appearance of the Psycanti has forced them to become more active and competitive in the politics and conflicts of the other empires.
PSYCANTI History: The recent appearance of these young upstarts has created a stir on the Far Side. While not actually waging war on the Visonics, the Psycanti don't hesitate to capitalize on the Visonics' misfortune (whether or not they caused the misfortune is irrelevant).


R/C4 Security Officer (Scorpead)
R/C4 Security Officer
©1994 Melissa Benson

SCORPEAD DOMINION: (found in New Empires TM and later sets) Scorpeads have the shape of bipedal humanoids with large mandibles and fearsome jaws as well as a long tail with a stinger which is poisonous to most species, including themselves. The Scorpead Dominion is ruled by an elected Dominator whose family has absolute power until his death, when a new election is held and a new Dominator and Ruling Family is elevated. Scorpead Ships make use of Phaser Magnifiers and Hyperspace Detonators.


C4 Science Officer
(Tufor)

©1995 Paul 'Prof' Herbert

TUFOR PROTECTORATE: (found in New Empires TM and later sets) The Tufor Protectorate is located in a region of calm within the Tuforeous Dead Zone, a place near the galactic rim that is a site of many strange phenomena, most especially warp funnels. The Tuforeous Dead Zone appears to be a sort of "energy release valve" for the galaxy. The Tufor are masters of mine warfare and most of their ships use a device known as the Mine Deployment System (MDS). Their ships are typically armed with Thunderbolt Devastators.
    The Tufor do not control very much territory, are economically fragile, do not have a large or powerful star fleet and in most ways would qualify as a minor empire. However, their ships are never made available for hire by other empires and so for game purposes they are treated as a major empire.


Zedan Sector HQ

©1996 Alan Gutierrez

ZEDAN DEFENSIVE INITIATIVE (ZDI): (found in Galactic Invaders TM) The Zedan, also known as the ZDI, are a race of assassins originating from the same dark matter nebula as the Leopans. The ZDI are infiltrating the Far Side to prevent a Leopan conquest that would theoretically shift the balance of power in their dark matter nebula. Zedan Ships mount Detonium Bolts which they use to counterattack their enemies.


MINOR EMPIRES
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    Most of these politically less powerful empires may be used as the main empire of a deck but are most often used as minor empires of a deck to supplement the main empire ship cards. Cards of the following empires, when not used as the main empire of a deck, must be supported by four non-minor empire cards of the same type; see Using Minor Empire Cards.

AESTHETIC EMPIRE: (Promo release) The Aesthetic empire is dedicated to the beautification of the universe by eradicating anything they considered to be in the way of their attempt to cleanse the Far Side. See also Aesthetic & Collector Class Rules. Aesthetic ships have heavy weapons capable of damaging combined terrain separately.


C6 Science Officer
(Bolaar)

©1994 Douglas Shuler

BOLAAR PIRATES: (found in Alpha and later sets) The Bolaar Pirate Clan is a lesser empire that turned to piracy to survive. They often hire out their ships for use by the other empires but have a reputation for treachery and self-interest. Like the Vektreans, they are known for adapting all kinds of equipment and technology for their own use. Bolaar ships use Specialized Weapon Mounts.
    - Bolaar ships can use adapted technology: Bolaar ships may use foreign technology cards without any restrictions. In addition, an exclusive technology card may be used on a Bolaar ship if that ship possesses a card that would normally provide the ability to use a foreign technology card.

COLLECTOR EMPIRE: (Promo release) The Collectors roam the Far Side collecting small samples of everything. Their flagship may mimic the weapons of the enemy. See also Aesthetic & Collector Class Rules.

CORPORATE PIRATES: (found in Piracy TM and later) The second branch of the Corporate Aggressors was the 'Enforcement Division', commonly called the Corporate Pirates. This pirate group was essentially a paramilitary agency run by the Corporation. They are a minor empire, leasing their units to those who are willing to pay for the service. They have access to all corporate technology, abilities, etc. Corporate Pirate Ships use Variable Plasma and Specialized Weapon Mounts.
Optional Rule: Since the Corporate Pirates predate the Allied Forces rules addition, rather than giving Corporate Pirates "access to all corporate technology, abilities, etc." treat them as Allied - Corporate. This will slightly limit the Corporate cards they may use, but will allow Corporate decks to stock more Corporate Pirate cards.

CYBER.NOUGHTS: (found in Cyberspace TM) Cybermages have just begun to detect the existence of a growing movement within the realm of the Galacticnet. Some cybermages have begun to warn the empires of the Far Side, others have formed an alliance with this power and have retreated within cyberspace.
    - Cyber.Nought ships are played directly into cyberspace.
    - When engaged, their ships project a holographic reality on the fabric of real space allowing them to exist in both realities.
    - Cyber.Nought ships may not be engaged while a cyber card in play on the ship also exists at a location in the fleet (The ship would be projecting itself on top of this fleet location). Such a ship must move during the Allocation Phase before engaging.
    NOTE: Cyber.Noughts were meant to be in the Cyberspace TM expansion that was never released.

S10 Dread Savior (Infected)
S10 Dread Savior (Infected)
© 1997 C. Henry Schulte

O4 & O5 Wandering Desire
O4 & O5 Wandering Desire
© 1994 Melissa Benson

C1 Indirigan Female
C1 Indirigan Female
© 1994 Melissa Benson

S10 Garshain Battleship
S10 Garshain Battleship
© 1997 C. Henry Schulte

S10 Intrepid Wanderer
S10 Intrepid Wanderer

INDIRIGAN NOMAD TRIBES: The Indirigan Nomads are wandering tribes of spacefarers. They live exclusively on their starships. These tribes often temporarily align themselves with one empire or another. Each player who has Indirigan ships in his deck represents a different tribe (even if the cards are of the same tribe, they are treated as different tribes for rules purposes). Almost every Indirigan ship makes use of Bi-tritium Boomerangs.
    The following are all Indirigan Tribes: Grand Chieftain's Touring Fleet (all PE/UE Indirigans), Andromeda Bound (GI), Council of Six (Pro), Garshain (Pro), Gray Death (Pro), Infected (Pro), Intrepid Wanderer (Pro), Invincible Loner (AT), Lone Wolf (Per), Meerkats (Pro), Nagiridni Pirates (NE/Pir/Pro), Propagationists (Pro), Psychotics (never printed),  Scientists (never printed), Vacaters of Bolaar V (AT), Vicious Six (Pir), Vinciennes (Pro), Violator (Pro), etc.
    - Indirigan Tribe Rule: All Indirigan ships from other Indirigan tribes (even within the same fleet) must be destroyed before an Indirigan ship may fire on bases or non-Indirigan ships. Indirigan ships must obey any rules printed on the card, in addition to this rule. Indirigan ships in another player's fleet are considered to be from another tribe.
    - Indirigans as a main empire: Any Indirigan tribe may be used as the main empire of a deck. Main empire Indirigan ships are exempt from any weapons fire restrictions regarding other Indirigan ships. However, the ships of other tribes and ships of the same tribe in other fleets must still obey the rules, even with regard to the main empire Indirigan ships.
ANDROMEDA BOUND: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) This tribe, known only as 'Andromeda Bound', cut through the Krebiz Capitalist Alliance and exited this galaxy bound for the galaxy of Andromeda. It totally ravaged a Krebiz Capitalist Alliance core world before leaving the Milky Way. Half of this tribe has returned. Having encountered the Gekonauak on their intergalactic journey, they returned to warn the Grand Chieftain.
    - Andromeda Bound ships regenerate 2 Shields (not 1) each turn.
GRAND CHIEFTAIN'S TOURING FLEET: (all Primary and Universe Edition Indirigans) Grand Chieftain Marchias was the leader of the terrestrial Indirigans and led the first pre-tribe into space. His tribe simply toured the galaxy, collecting taxes from the other tribes whenever they were encountered.
INFECTED: (Promo release) The infected were not always the hunted outcasts that they are today. Many years ago they were known as the Healers. Welcomed by nearly all space faring species with open arms, the Healers traded their vast medical knowledge for much needed supplies and resources. Unlike many Indirigan tribes, the Healers traveled the Far Side of the Galaxy seeking to cure the sick, not to raid the weak!
    Since their infection they have self-imposed a quarantine on their ships. Sadly, this has not stopped them from being hunted by almost every empire in the Far Side because of the fear of contamination. Even the Mechad seeks to destroy them, leading many to conjecture that the plague may be an advanced form of nanotech virus.
    - All Infected Tribe ships are also Infected class and follow those rules.
INVINCIBLE LONER: (found in Advanced Technologies TM) This tribe consisted of only one ship, the SSCS 'Invincible Indirigan'. Noaha, the captain, often engaged in unnecessary combat just for the challenge of doing so.
LONE WOLF: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) Wolf was the Chief of Indirigan Security Forces when the 'calling' came. He was unable to leave his law enforcement beliefs behind to assume nomadic (and often criminal) ways. He therefore took to defending various worlds from marauding Indirigan Tribes.
    - Indirigan ships in the fleet are not required to destroy Lone Wolf ships.
    - Lone Wolf ships are not required to destroy other tribes in the fleet.
NAGIRIDNI PIRATE TRIBE: (found in New Empires TM and later sets) This tribe was one of the few to actively take up piracy. Through dealings with the Corporate Pirates, Specialized Weapon Mounts were installed on Nagiridni ships. The Nagiridni tribe established a stationary home port on Nagir XII in the Free Trade Zone near Argonian territory.
PROPAGATIONISTS: (Promo release) The Propagationists sought to spread Indirigan settlers throughout the galaxy. A fair portion of Indirigan people did not want to leave their terrestrial lives, but were forced to. Later, many chiefs realized that this was not a good decision. The chief of the Propagationists decided to make goon this initial error by dropping off these settlers on various planets throughout the galaxy. After 40 percent of his tribe elected to go terrestrial, he instituted a law that each male must produce at least five children with each of his wives before being allowed to settle.
PSYCHOTICS: (never printed) This tribe is made up of of individuals brought to a Space Asylum by the other tribes; the most incurable of the clinically insane. A tribe of mental health health experts known as the Psychiatrists governed the Space Asylum. They were on the verge of creating a device to cure insanity when the inmates rebelled and took charge of their vessels. The inmates corrupted this device and managed to turn it into a weapon which caused temporary insanity, called the Gray Matter Disruptor (GMD).
    - When the GMD is activated (through the application of Research points) it causes all crew at the target location to go temporarily insane, disengaging them for 1 complete turn.
SCIENTISTS: (never printed) The Scientists consisted of a fleet of science ships on a survey mission when 'the calling' came. This tribe now wanders the Galaxy in search of interesting points of study. They generally do not attack (except for social combat) but sell any interesting findings to the local powers that be in exchange for supplies.
VACATERS OF BOLAAR V: (found in Advanced Technology TM) The Vacaters consisted primarily of the Indirigans who were occupying Bolaar V when the 'calling' came to abandon terrestrial life within Indirigan Space. This tribe conducted trade in Indirigan Space for some time before it went through a wormhole in the Homecloud Nebula in Y158, causing all kinds of trouble on the near side (Earth side) of the galaxy.
VICIOUS SIX: (found in Piracy TM) One of the most aggressive Indirigan Tribes, the Vicious Six would ruthlessly ravage any planet in their path. After departing Indirigan Space this tribe chose a spiraling path, starting in Clydon territory, to strike every major race on the Far Side before entering unexplored space near the Mechad Holdfast.
Most Vicious Six ships have the following rule:
    - Vicious Six ships may move against terrain via ship movement (during the Allocation Phase), stealing their engagement cost from that terrain.

C9 Noble Sovereign

©1996 Heather Bruton

NOBLES: (found in Persona TM and later sets) The Nobles are a small band of banished nobility from the Plasma Occupied Territory. They are amassing a small fleet of civilian ships in an effort to reunite the various P.O.T. elements into a single hierarchy (under their tight-fisted control of course).
    - The Nobles are crew, represented by 'C' cards. Minor Empire ships may not be stocked in a Noble deck; Only generic ships may be used to defend their Sector HQ.
    - When defending the Noble Reclaimed Space Sector HQ, P.O.T. cards may be stocked as minor empire. Generic ships may support P.O.T. ships.
    - When defending the Noble Amassed Fleet Sector HQ, generic ships may be used to support Minor Empire ships for deck stocking purposes.
    NOTE: With the introduction of the Noble starter decks in the Allied Forces TM expansion the Nobles were redefined as a minor empire.

Orgon Sector HQ

©1996 Scott Werner

ORGONS: (found in Galactic Invaders TM) The Orgons have migrated to the Far Side from a distant galaxy. They are an organic species somewhat similar to space dragons. Orgons use Ectoplasmic Trails and can cause Physical Damage.
    - Orgons can cause damage to a location using card damage located in the upper right corner of their card. This is not weapons fire and is done as a card action during either Play Cards Phase. This damage may not be applied to the structure of terrain.
    - Orgons are designated as 'D' dragon cards; therefore any card or effect that affects "dragons" can affect Orgons.
    - Orgons are not considered Space Dragon empire cards.

"Dragons of Space" Puzzle

©1994 Ed Beard Jr.

L6 Artifact - Dragon Gem of Protection
L6 Artifact - Dragon Gem of Protection
©1994 Melissa Benson

SPACE DRAGONS: (found in Primary Edition and later sets) Space dragons come in two varieties. The first is 'M' monster cards that just happen to have the word "dragon" in their titles and the second is 'D' dragon cards. The 'M' dragons are marginally intelligent males and are not treated as part of the Dragon Empire. The 'D' dragons are highly evolved and social females. The female dragons determine the breeding status of the lesser male in an effort to advance the dragon race. Eggs are deposited on the surface of suns and other celestial bodies hatching millennia later. Each female seems to be of a different species, yet all females select their mating partners from a single pool of dragon males. Dragons use Breath Weapons and can do Physical Damage.
    - Some dragons can separate from or attach to other dragons. When this is done (only in a Card Play Phase) it consumes a Card Play.
    - Orgons are not considered Space Dragon empire cards.

TIME KNIGHTS: (found in Time Gates and later sets) Time knights are a race of nonaligned entities that are in continuous battles with each other throughout time. Their exact social structure is unknown. Time knights appear at different instants in time temporarily aiding one empire or another. Time Knights can cause Time Damage.
    - Time Knights have a normal strength and a time strength.
    - Time Knights are not affected by any kind of damage points, including time damage, when they are outside the time origin (the same as other crew cards). When at the time origin, they can only be damaged by cards that cause time damage. Time knights are crew and, as such, can be attacked as crew while in the fleet or at the time origin.

TRANOAN EMPIRE: (found in Time Gates TM and later sets) The Tranoan Empire travels through time attempting to destroy the time knights. They have built special ships that allow them to move to the time origin (when destroyed). Often, Tranoan ships will appear through time and aid a given empire. Tranoan ships use Time Phasers to attack entire fleets and Time Damage Generators to attack individual targets..
    - These ships are moved to the time origin when they are destroyed in the fleet.

C7 Treglean Fleet Coordinator

©1996 Alan Clark

TREGLEAN: (found in Galactic Invaders TM and later sets) A race of arachnosauroid with a biological imperative to assist other races of the Far Side. The origins of the imperative are unknown. It has channeled their social evolution along a communistic line in which scientific rationality is much prized.
    - Weapons in a group (indicated by parenthesis) must fire together in a single volley.

C9 Admiral (Vektrean)
C9 Admiral (Vektrean)
©1994 Melissa Benson

VEKTREAN MERCENARIES: (found in Alpha and later sets) The Vektrean Mercenaries are a bunch of arms-dealing, weapons-smuggling, tactical strategist warmongers who hire out their ships to the highest bidder. Once they make a contract, they honor it to the letter. The Vektreans are known for adapting all kinds of equipment and technology for their own use. Vektrean ships use Specialized Weapon Mounts.
    - Vektrean ships can use adapted technology: Vektrean ships may use foreign technology cards without any restrictions. In addition, an exclusive technology card may be used on a Vektrean ship if that ship possesses a card that would normally provide the ability to use a foreign technology card.


ALLIED EMPIRES
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    Cards belonging to these empires follow the Allied Class Rules in addition to any special rules for their ships and weapons. They are considered minor empires, and may be stocked in any deck like any other minor empire card, though stocking them in the deck of the empire they're allied with confers a special bonus.

DRONE (Allied - Mechad): (found in Allied Forces TM) A sector of Drone escaped Mechad control when their sentient programming was altered due to viral infection. Drone ships use a variety of Special Ship Systems to protect their fleet, and used Gravidic Distorters to take out an entire fleets terrain. They  mount Subspace Whips and Trams as standard weapons.

ERODI (Allied - Tufor): (found in Allied Forces TM) Developing along parallel lines to the Tufor, the Erodi originated from within the Tuforeous Dead Zone. Having just recently left the Tuforeous Dead Zone, they allied with the Tufor in exchange for starship technology. Their humanoid form may tie them genetically to the Tufor. If their Sector HQ was destroyed, they had the fallback position in the Tuforeous Dead Zone.
    The hazardous conditions of the Tuforeous Dead Zone forced the Erodi to manipulate hazards for survival. While not actually cannons, Erodi equipment manipulated local hazards to damage opponents. The Nova Cannon was used in fleet actions; the explosive nature of the nova could defeat entire fleets. The Ion Cannon proved most effective in ship-to-ship conflicts. Their weapon of choice is the Thunderbolt Devastator.
    NOTE: Two Erodi ships apparently lost Phaser points they should have had due to printing errors. The S4 Erodi Light War Cruiser probably should have had 2 Phasers; the S7 Erodi Battleship probably should have had 3 Phasers.

C7 Boarding Party (Pakta'don)

© 1995 April Lee

PAKTA'DON (Allied - P.O.T.): (found in Allied Forces TM) The Pakta'don specialized in fleet operations. They would often deploy militia squads from their smaller units to draw fire away from key units in the fleet. They were well suited to aid other empires due to their ability to handle a number of threats with their Pulse Phasers, which allowed massive firepower to be contained within reasonable sized weapon mounts. Their standard heavy weapons are Plasma Streams.

PARALOID (Allied - Clydon): (found in Allied Forces TM) The Paraloid come from an parallel universe where they operated as an analogue to the Clydon. Methods of parallel galactic shifting are known only to the Paraloid. Speculation abounds upon the genetics of these identical races. Their ships fire Neutronium Torpedoes.
    - Paraloid and Clydon cruisers capable of carrying warcraft may carry either Paraloid or Clydon warcraft.
    - A Paraloid cruiser may return one warcraft played to it to the hand when the unit is discarded.

SHON-TI (Allied - Zedan): (found in Allied Forces TM) The Shon-ti are a large, slow-moving insect race. However, their brood are small and agile for the first few years of their lives.  Shon-ti do not gain their beliefs in assassination until after their brood stage. This empowered elders to eliminate undesirable brood stock without risking assassination. They avoid hand-to-hand combat at all cost, preferring to observe physical violence from a distance, preferably with a heavy blast rifle in hand.
    Their alliance with the Zedan was due to their mutual belief of promotion through assassination. However, Shon-ti would consume their defeated Shon-ti prey out of respect. Both Zedan and Shon-ti engaged in an annual contest of assassination where the contestants competed until only one remained. They're rumored to be the only empire which know of the true nature of the Zedan.
    The Shon-ti always developed sector HQs on planetary surfaces. Shon-ti ships use Swarm Bolts to engage multiple targets at a single location.

TARRA'KI (Allied - Argonian): (found in Allied Forces TM) The Tarra'ki once worshipped the Argonians as gods. They now serve the Argonian First Republic out of respect. Tarra'ki are amorphous beings made of a substance similar to mud, clay and rock, with lava like blood.
    To the Tarra'ki, antimatter technology was child's play, allowing them to use their devastating weapon on mass-produced hull designs. They designed their Auxiliary Shields to allow more effective use of the Positron Emitters. They began designing starships to defend the borders of Argonian space when the homecloud began to collapse; the depletion of the Argonian nebula caused the Tarra'ki to ally with their neighbors.

TROCHILIDAE (Allied - Leopan): (found in Allied Forces TM) Trochilidae migrated from the same dark matter nebula as the Leopan Conquistadors. The avian nature of Trochilidae has ties with some of the known time knight beings. Their alliance with the Leopan is one of the most tentative on the Far Side.
    The bird-like agility of the Trochilidae is apparent in their maneuverable ship designs thanks to their Maneuvering Thrusters. They would use their smaller ships for target practice to hone the skills of fledgling captains. Capable of surviving prolonged abuse, once provoked, Trochilidae could turn on an opponent with lightning speed. Their heavy weapon of choice is the Plasma Degenerator.


SPECIAL PLAYING STRUCTURES
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    If cards from these add-on sets are being used, then the following rules are used in addition to the standard rules.
    Beginner's Note: Beginning players should skip these rules until they have come to understand the standard rules. Skip right to the Narrative Example.


CARD CLASS
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    Certain cards fall into different card classes; cards of a particular class follow special rules. These classes will be indicated under the illustration, above the lower title.
    The following are all card classes: Aesthetic, Allied, Attrition, Collector, Conjectural, Cyber, Infected, Persona, and Prototype.


AESTHETIC & COLLECTOR CLASS RULES
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    Aesthetic class and Collector class were designed by Mint Card Co. and Cards 4U, Inc. respectively. These cards were only released as Promotional cards.
    - All Aesthetic Class cards should be considered Aesthetic Empire cards.
    - All Collector Class cards should be considered Collector Empire cards.


ALLIED CLASS RULES (found in Allied Forces TM)
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    Allied class cards, when stocked in a deck of the empire with which they are allied, follow these rules:
    - They stock as 1/2 of a minor empire card (similar to Indirigans) and they support non-allied minor empire cards.
    - Allied ships can use adapted technology: Allied ships may use foreign technology cards belonging to the empire they're allied with. In addition, an exclusive technology card of their allied empire may be used on an Allied ship if that ship possesses a card that would normally provide the ability to use a foreign technology card.
Optional Rule: Major empire ships use adapted technology of their ally.
Optional Rule: When using the Allied empire as the main empire in a deck, cards belonging to the empire that they're allied with may be stocked as minor empire cards, counting as 1/2 card each and supporting non-allied minor empire cards. Note that this breaks the general rule that Major Empire cards may not be used in the deck of another empire.
    See also the entries for the Allied Empires.


 

ATTRITION CLASS RULES (found in Galactic Fire #3 TM)
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Attrition Class Picture Border    Attrition class represents items that are either made or can be found in great abundance.
    - During the Draw Cards Phase, as a card play, the top most Attrition class card in the Discard Pile may be moved to the hand.
    - The number of card plays that may be used in this manner during the Draws Cards Phase may not exceed the number of card draws allowed during the phase.
    - Each turn, 1 Attrition class card may be played without consuming a card play.

 

 

CONJECTURAL CLASS CARDS (Found in Galactic Fire #3 TM)
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Conjectural/Persona Class Picture Border    Conjectural class ships are one-of-a-kind designs.
    - Conjectural class cards are limited to 1 of each exactly identical card in a deck.
    NOTE: This restriction of 1 per deck also prevents a Conjectural class card from being placed in the reserve fleet at the start of a game.
    - When stocking a Conjectural class card in a deck, the card will consume 1 technology slot.
    - Unused exception slots may be used as technology slot.
    NOTE: The sample picture also has the rounded corners of of a Persona class card.

 

 

CYBER CLASS RULES (Found in Galactic Fire #3 TM)
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    Beginner's Note:  The rules for Cyber class cards were intended for use with the Cyberspace TM expansion that was never released. These rules can safely be ignored.
    Cyber class cards exist in cyberspace.
    - Cyber class cards are considered cyber cards regardless of whether they have cyber in their title or are considered a cyber mage.
    - In addition to cyber class cards, any card with cyber in the title of the card and any card that is considered a cybermage is a cyber card.
    The Cyberspace Rules are found below.


INFECTED CLASS RULES
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    All Infected class cards belong to the Infected Indirigan Tribe.
    - Infected locations CANNOT be the target of boarding actions by non-automaton Crew cards.
    - Infected locations cannot perform boarding actions with non-automaton crew against non-Infected locations (prevents the disease from spreading, you see...).
Optional Rule: There were a couple of rules changes concerning the Infected about cyber-enhanced Crew cards. A crew with an ability card that could reasonably protect the crew from infection, such as an A5 Battle Suit, may be allowed to attack to and from Infected locations.
Optional Rule: A non-automaton Crew card may not move from an Infected location to a non-infected location, or vice versa.
Optional Rule: A crew that does perform a there-and-back mission to an Infected location becomes infected itself, so cannot return to it's originating location. The crew card must be discarded during it's controllers discard phase along with any fighters, shuttles or troop ships used to transport them.


 

PERSONA CLASS RULES (found in Persona TM)
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Persona/Conjectural Class Picture Border    Persona class are one-of-a-kind personalities and items.
    - Only one of a given persona class card may be in play in any of the fleets at any one time. If a persona class card is in play no player may play a second such persona class card until the first is discarded.
    - If 2 cards designated as being the same persona are found to be in play at the same time, the most recently played persona card remains in play, the other is discarded. Note this can only occur if the first persona is under the affect of a time warp, time skip or similar card when the second persona is played.
    NOTE: The sample picture also has the inverted corners of a Conjectural class card. Starting with the Persona expansion Persona class cards have rounded picture borders. Persona class cards from earlier sets only have the class designation listed under the picture (and above the lower title).

 

 

PROTOTYPE CLASS CARDS (Found in Galactic Fire #3 TM)
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Prototype Class Picture Border    Prototype class ships are cutting edge designs.
    - Prototype class cards are limited to 1 of each exactly identical card in a deck.
    NOTE: This restriction of 1 per deck also prevents a Prototype class card from being placed in the reserve fleet at the start of a game.
    - When stocking a Prototype class card in a deck, the card will consume 1/2 of a technology slot.
    - Unused exception slots may be used as technology slot.

 

CYBERSPACE RULES (found in Cyberspace TM)
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    Beginner's Note:  The rules for Cyberspace were intended for use with the Cyberspace TM expansion that was never released. These rules can safely be ignored. Skip to the Psy Rules.

C6 Cyber Mage
C6 Cyber Mage
©1994 Melissa Benson

    Cyberspace is an artificial parallel dimension created by the cybermages inside the Galacticnet.
    - Cards in cyberspace do not affect the active fleet and cards in the active fleet do not affect cyber space. Cards in cyberspace cannot protect, damage or affect the Sector HQ or Psy Network. Cards that exist in both the active fleet and cyberspace may affect and may be affected by both.
    - Cyber cards (or cards that state they may by played to cyberspace) may be played to or against cyberspace or the active fleet. Only cyber cards may be played to or against cyberspace (non-cyber cards may not be played to or against cards in cyberspace).
    - Any cards in play on a card in cyberspace also exist in cyberspace (EXAMPLE: An A5 Greater Automaton on a C4 Cybermage).
    - Energy from the active fleet may be allocated into cyberspace. The maximum amount of energy that may be allocated in cyberspace is equal to the sum strength of all engaged cybermages in the active fleet.

    Pseudo-locations in cyberspace:
    - All locations in the active fleet have a pseudo-location in cyberspace. A pseudo-location is not a real location, but merely a link from real space to cyberspace. A pseudo-location is not capable of supporting cards that require a location, it is merely a point where a cybership can link to the active fleet.
    - Cyber cards in the active fleet always exist at both the fleet location and the pseudo-location in cyberspace.
    - Only cyberships may be played or moved to a pseudo-location. Cyber crew, equipment, etc. must be played to a location (not a pseudo-location) in cyberspace, such as a cybership.
    - Cyberships (ships existing only in cyberspace) may be moved during the Allocation Phase from one pseudo-location to another. Players may only have cyberships in play at pseudo-locations in their own fleet. A player may only have one cybership at a given pseudo-location.
    - When a cybership is moved to a pseudo-location, cyber cards on the location in the active fleet are considered to be in play on the cybership also. Additionally, any cards on the cybership may be considered to be in play on the location in the fleet.
    - If either of a cyber card's two locations (cybership or location in the fleet) is destroyed the cyber card is considered to be in play on only the remaining location.
    - If a cybership moves while a cyber card on the cybership coexists at a location in the active fleet, the cyber card may only remain at one of the two locations (either the cybership or the location in the fleet).


PSY RULES (found in Powers of the Mind TM)
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PSY NETWORK: The Psy Network is functionally similar to the Sector HQ in most respects but note the following:
    - 25 points of damage to the Psy Network knocks that player out of the game.
    - Only 'P' psy cards protect the Psy Network; ships, bases, dragons etc. do not.
    - Cards that protect the Psy Network do not protect the Sector HQ and cards that protect the Sector HQ do not protect the Psy Network
    - Visonic and Psycanti psys can protect their respective Psy Networks only.

TARGETING PSY CARDS: Weapons fire can damage psy cards and the Psy Network:
    - Shields of a ship, base, terrain or other location protect the psy cards at that location as though the Shields were on the psy.
Optional Rule: Psy cards protect the structure of their location from weapons fire, though Shields still protect the Psy card. EXAMPLE: If a Psy is played on a Base first the Shields of the base must be damaged, then the Psy, then finally the structure of the Base itself. This can be done in a single volley by targeting the Base directly, as the Psy automatically intercepts the damage to the base. However, if any damage is done to the Psy it counts as a volley aimed at that Psy, so it cannot be targeted again that turn.

DISCIPLINES: Most psys are capable of using one or more psy disciplines. Field cards are categorized by one or more of the following discipline groups:
    Psycanti Discipline: The discipline used primarily by the Psycanti.
    Visonic Discipline: The discipline used primarily by the Visonics.
    Elder Discipline: The discipline used primarily by the Elders.
    Cyber Discipline: A technical discipline merging technology with mind powers.
    Kinetic Discipline: A discipline revolving around heat and other forms of energy.
    Fleet Discipline: Any and all field cards in play in the fleet.
    Any Discipline: Any and all field cards in play in all of the player's fleets.
    Non-Fleet Discipline: Any and all field cards in play outside the player's fleet.

PSY FUNCTIONS: A psy card can use functions from engaged field cards as indicated on the psy card.
    - This will usually cost a number of resource points allocated in a manner similar to the way ammunition points are allocated. The psy can only use functions from field cards that are categorized as being in the discipline at the bottom of the psy card. (EXAMPLE: If a psy card has (✸✸✸: Cyber Discipline), that card can use up to 3 functions (at a cost of 1 energy each) from field cards categorized as being in the cyber discipline).
    - Psys may only use functions from engaged fields in play in their own fleet unless noted by a card rule.

FIELD CARD OPERATION: A number of psy functions is listed at the bottom of a field card. Each function has a number before it. This number indicates the minimum strength that a psy must be in order to use that function.
    - For psys to use functions from the field card, the field card must be engaged.
    - Reaction-mode field cards are played engaged when played in reaction mode and allows one psy capable of using the field to use one of its functions as a reaction at no cost.
    - Each function of each field in play may only be used once per complete turn. A color bead should be placed on the function and on the psy that activated that function. This will help players keep track of functions that last through a complete turn. This applies even when an opponent has used one of your psy functions (you can't use it since it's in use until the Record Keeping Step of the opponent's next turn).
    - A function deactivates in the next Record Keeping Step of the player who activated it. They are activated (or possibly reactivated) during either Card Play Phase.
    - If a psy is discarded functions it activated cease immediately, but these functions may not be used again until the end of the complete turn.
    - Any functions that have a stated duration of more than one turn may not be reused until their duration expires.
Optional Rule: Psy decks can be a little weak, and become very dependent on Terrain. When a Field card is played to a Terrain it combines with the Terrain, adding its strength to that off the Terrain. This makes Terrain more resilient while not making them indestructible. This rule should only be used if promotional Terrain with shields aren't being used, as those Terrain are already more resillient.


SHIP MOVEMENT RULES (found in Piracy TM)
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    - Ships in the fleet may be moved once each Allocation Phase. They may move to a terrain card or be moved into space (independently).
    Some cards allow one player's ship to be moved into position against another player's terrain. A ship in play against an opponent's fleet does not protect its Sector HQ.
    - A ship in play on a terrain (defending) prevents an opponent ship of equal or lesser strength from being moved into position against that terrain (attacking). A ship in play against a terrain (attacking) prevents an opponent ship of lesser strength from being moved into position on that terrain (defending).
    - When a ship is moved to a terrain with a ship of equal or lower strength played against it, the ship played against the terrain is moved off of the terrain. The ship moved off the terrain does not protect its Sector HQ until it is moved back to a location where it can do so.
    - When a ship is moved against a terrain with a ship of lower strength played to it, the ship played to the terrain is moved off of the terrain. The ship moved off the terrain still protects its Sector HQ.


TECHNOLOGY SLOT RULES (Found in Galactic Fire #3 TM)
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    Each deck will be allowed 1 technology slot for every 25 cards in the deck. This means a 150-174 card would be allowed 6 technology slots. Unused exception slots may also be converted into technology slots. For deck stocking purposes Prototype class cards consume 1/2 of a technology slot and Conjectural class cards consume 1 technology slot.


TIME GATES RULES (found in Time Gates TM)
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O10 Time Portal
O10 Time Portal
©1994 Melissa Benson

TIME ORIGIN: The time origin is a shared location at the center of the table. The time origin is not a card or stack of cards, and cannot have cards played on it or against it.
    - Time knights, Tranoan ships and some other cards have two strengths. The first value is their strength when they are in the fleet (normal strength), the second value is their strength when they are at the time origin (time strength).
    - All cards with a split strength are stocked in the deck using the first value (their fleet strength).
    - No card may be played to the time origin from the hand unless that card says it can do so.
    - Cards at the time origin can only affect cards at the time origin, and cards outside the time origin can only affect cards outside the time origin.
    - Cards at the time origin do occupy command slots just as they would if they were in the fleet. Cards at the time origin never protect the Sector HQ or Psy Network.
    - Cards at the time origin are considered in play and can be allocated to, engaged, and take their actions (within the time origin only, of course).
    - Cards with a time strength (time knights, temporal snakes, Tranoan ships etc.) can only be completely destroyed (discarded) when at the time origin. If in the fleet at the time an action would normally force them to be discarded, they are moved to the time origin instead. When a card is moved to the time origin (along with any other cards in play on that card) all damage applied to it and all opponent cards played against it while outside the time origin are removed and discarded.
    - Cards at the time origin may only move back into the fleet by use of special cards. When a card moves to the fleet from the time origin, all damage applied to it and opponent cards played against it while inside the time origin are removed and discarded.
    - The time origin can be (temporarily) destroyed by 25 points of damage applied by anything that can score damage on a Sector HQ or Psy Network. These points must be scored from outside the time origin. These points are cumulative. Any player may score points against the time origin. No card can protect the time origin. All cards of all players at the time origin when it is destroyed are discarded. When the time origin is destroyed in this way, it immediately reforms (empty, of course, until cards are moved into it).


NARRATIVE EXAMPLE
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    We strongly recommend that novice game players place cards on the table while following the narrative below. Mimicking Bob and Sue's actions will give you the feel for game mechanics more quickly. If you do not have a card that is mentioned below, substitute another card of the same type and strength as necessary. See also the Card Play diagram in the centerfold of this booklet.
    Bob and Sue are playing a standard game. Each has a deck of cards and has shuffled, cut and drawn an ante. Sue's ante is higher in strength and she goes first.
    Sue plays a T3 Asteroid Belt. She has no other terrain cards to play. She has 8 cards in her hand so she draws two cards from her deck.
    Bob plays a T4 Small Planet. He also has no other terrain in his hand. He has 8 cards left in his hand and so he draws two cards, ending the first complete turn.
    Sue plays a T1 Small Moon. Then she plays a disengaged S1 Fleet Freighter on her T3 Asteroid Belt. She draws two cards, ending her turn.
    Bob plays a disengaged B4 Base Station on his T4 Small Planet and an M1 Small Phaser Eel on Sue's S1 freighter. Sue plays an R/C4 Science Officer onto her freighter in reaction to Bob's Phaser eel. Bob's turn ends and he draws two cards.
    Sue now allocates her terrain points. The freighter requires one supply and one energy point. Her two terrain cards provide this easily and she engages the freighter by turning the freighter upright. Sue then plays an E2 Phaser Refit and an E1 Shield Refit on her freighter. Bob's Sector HQ is vulnerable because he has no ships in play; his base cannot defend his Sector HQ. She declares weapons fire on Bob's Sector HQ. The freighter has 2 Phasers plus 1 from the refit, for a total of 3. The Phaser eel does not block these because the science officer suspends the hostile effects of monsters. Bob places a die in front of himself with the 3 showing to represent the damage to his Sector HQ. Sue now plays her last card, an H2 Ion Storm on Bob's base. He places a die at the upper right side of the card, near the Shield symbols, with a 2 showing to represent the damage to the base's Shields. Sue draws two cards.
    First Bob repairs his one free Shield point changing the 2 to a 1. Bob then allocates his terrain points. His base needs one energy point to be engaged and his T4 planet provides one energy point. The planet also provides one economy point that Bob declares as a repair point, removing the die from his base. His planet also produces 2 supply points, but Bob has no use for these points so they are lost. Bob now plays a disengaged S4 Indirigan Frigate. He declares weapons fire on Sue's freighter causing 2 points of Phaser damage from his B4 Base Station. Bob then plays an E2 Nuclear Mine on his base and uses it against Sue's freighter causing 2 more damage points. Sue places a die near the freighter's Shield points with a 4 showing. Bob discards the mine card and then ends his turn by drawing 2 cards.
    Sue changes the 4 to a 3 for her one point of automatic Shield repair that turn. She has two economy points left over after maintaining her freighter's engaged status. She allocates these as repair on her freighter's Shields turning the die to a 1. Sue plays a disengaged S5 Light Cruiser. She also plays an M3 Shield Fiend on Bob's S4 Indirigan Frigate. The Shield fiend damages all of the frigate's Shields and is then discarded. Sue then plays an M4 Space Dragon to the frigate, causing two more points of damage. Sue then declares weapons fire from her freighter for 2 more damage points and the frigate is destroyed. The frigate and the space dragon are discarded. Sue then declares her last point of weapons fire on Bob's Sector HQ, bringing him to 4 points total.
    Play continues in this manner.


DEFINITIONS
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Ability - 1) An 'A' ability card. 2) A card function.
Active Fleet - Each player's active fleet includes all of one player's cards in play, including cards played against an opponent, but not cards in the deck, Discard Pile or reserve fleet.
    NOTE: Though not specified in the v2.0 rulebook, cards in the Time Origin should also be considered part of the Active Fleet. 
Adapted Technology - Foreign technology equipment cards that may be freely used by empires capable of using adapted technology. Exclusive technology equipment cards that may be used via engineer, science officer, etc. by empires capable of using adapted technology.
Ante - The card offered by each player as a prize for the winning player.
Basis of a Stack - Any card with other cards played on or against it, but not the card(s) played on or against it.
Captured - 1) Captured crew is discarded. 2) Captured ships or bases: see control.
Card Action - The operation of a card in play. This is not a Card Play.
Card Damage - Only cards with one or more damage symbols on the top right of the card can cause card damage. The use of card damage is a card action.
Card Play - The act of actually playing a card on the play area. Generally, 3 Card Plays are allowed during your turn.
Class - An 'x' class card is a card with 'x' in small text below the lower left corner of the art window. EXAMPLE: Persona class cards use the word Persona in small text.
Combined Cards - Combined cards add their strength (damage equal to the sum of their strengths is required to destroy combined cards) and output. They are considered 1 item of their type. EXAMPLE: A T6 Vorn with a T2 Captured Satellite played to it are 1 terrain, but are two cards for stacking rules (i.e. Vorn is the basis of a stack.).
Destroyed - A card that is "destroyed" is discarded. A card is destroyed when it reaches zero points.
Discarded - Cards that reach a current strength of 0 or less, or are discarded after use, or are discarded due to being voided are discarded to the top of the Discard Pile. Cards played to the Discard Pile, or placed on the bottom of the Discard Pile, etc. are not considered as being discarded.
Discarded after use - Cards that are discarded after use are not discarded until they are done performing any functions that they perform.
Disengaged - Cards that are in play but are not available for use. These cards are positioned horizontally.
Discipline - A study category of a psy being. Field cards are defined as being used by the practitioners of one or more types of disciplines.
Empire cards - Cards with an empire's name in the card's title as well as ships, bases, dragons, psys and installations with an empire's color texture (the art pattern behind the text). Note that other card types with an empire background must have the empire's name in their title to be considered a card of that empire.
EMF - Electromagnetic field, the Mechad defense system.
Fleet - A players fleet consists of all cards under their control in their main play area. Cards in the Time Origin, Discard Pile, reserve fleet, cards played against another players fleet (except ships), and any card considered to be out of play are not considered to be in their Fleet.
    NOTE: This definition did not appear in the Universe v2.0 rulebook.
Engaged - Cards that are in play and which can be used. They are positioned vertically.
Entity - A strength 10 card (such as the D10 Deinos Nameh - Dragon King or C10 Primordial Warrior). Typically these were packaged at a rate of one entity card per booster box of cards, and starters did not contain entities (except for the Comedy Club at the Far Side of the Galaxy expansion).
Exactly Identical - For purposes of stocking a deck, two cards are defined as being exactly identical if they have the same card name, card strength and title. Additionally, Vektrean asteroid bases are considered exactly identical whether they have a 'T' or 'T/B'. Different language versions of the same card are considered exactly identical to each other. The pictured image and precise text is not necessarily the same for exactly identical cards due to possible changes between print runs and editions of the game.
Exclusive Technology - Empire technology that cannot be used by other empires.
Field - 1) 'F ' Field cards. 2) A small selection of psy functions.
Fully Engaged - A card which is Fully Engaged is Engaged and has all it's Heavy Weapons armed, it's EMF fully charged, and all it's other ship systems activated.
Function - 1) A rule on a card. 2) That card's abilities.
Foreign Technology - Equipment cards that can be used by only one empire. Some cards allow an empire to use foreign technology belonging to another empire.
Generated Points - Points on the top right of some cards. These points are produced each turn during the Allocation Phase.
Generic Ships - Ships which can be used by any empire.
Healing Points - Special repair points used to repair damage to dragons, psys and monsters.
Immune - A card that is immune to something cannot be affected by cards that do that something.
Health-Affecting Cards - These include such cards as illness, injury, insanity and plague.
Immediate - Actions that happen immediately happen during the same phase, and do not have to wait for the appropriate phase to function.
Killed - A card that is "killed" is discarded.
Location - A location is the card on which other cards can be played.
Main Empire - The empire which the player represents with his deck.
Major Empire - The major empires are the most powerful empires on the Far Side of the galaxy. They cannot be used as a minor empire in a deck.
Minor Empire - The minor empires are less powerful forces which can be used as the main empire of a deck or as supplements to another empire.
Non-Passive Equipment - Equipment cards that do not function when the unit on which they are played is disengaged. Universe Edition cards have a 'NP' under the illustration indicating it as non-passive.
Opponent Volley - All the damage points from weapons fire (not Card Plays) allocated to a single target at a single time from any number of firing units.
Passive Equipment - Equipment cards that function whether the unit on which they are played is engaged or disengaged. Universe Edition cards have a 'P' under the illustration indicating it as passive.
Pirate Ship -  A pirate ship is any ship with pirate in the name, plus any ship of the following empires: Bolaar, Corporate Pirates, Nagiridni and Vicious Six.
Plasma Weapons - Any weapon with 'plasma' in its name.
Point Modifier - Arithmetical changes which a card makes to the generated points of another card.
Point Requirements - The number and type of points that a card needs to be engaged. Those points on the top left of the card.
Psy - A 'P' psy card.
Psy Being - Any card that can use psy functions.
Psy Damage - Weapon damage points caused by many psy cards and some functions on field cards. Allocated during the Weapons Fire Phase like any other weapons fire.
Psy Function - A function on a field card.
Psy Network - Similar to the Sector HQ. This is what the psy empires are protecting.
Reserve Card - Cards with the word 'reserve' in the title. They cannot be placed into the reserve fleet at the start of a game.
Reserve Fleet - A number of cards equal to or less than the number of players at the start of the game set to the side. Each player selects these cards before shuffling.
Reaction Card - Reaction cards are cards played in reaction. Only cards designated with an 'R/' can be played in reaction mode.
Sector HQ - Each player has a Sector Headquarters. It can sustain 25 points of damage before being destroyed.
Shields - The defensive system on most ships.
Shuttle - Any card with 'fighter' or 'shuttle' in the title.
Splash Damage - Damage left over, after destroying a reaction card played to absorb damage, which is applied to its original target.
Spy Card - Any card with 'spy' in the title.
Stack - A stack is any card in play including any card stacks in play on those cards. A single card is a stack, however it is not a stack of cards (cards being plural).
Star Card - Any card with 'star' in the title.
Strength - The number in the upper left corner of a card that defines its relative durability. When strength is referenced it always refers to the strength of the card (as modified by other cards) but not the current strength (as modified by damage).
Structural Damage - Damage applied against the strength of a card, as opposed to damage applied to Shields.
Terrain Modifier - Arithmetical changes which a card makes to the generated points of a terrain card.
There and Back Mission - The relocation of a crew card to an opponent location for the crew card to perform it's action at that location and return.
Time Card - Any card with the word 'time' in the title.
Time Strength - On cards with two strengths (EXAMPLE: C2/8 Time Knight) the second is the time strength. Time strength represents that card's strength when it is in the time origin.
Turn 1 Restrictions - Only terrain cards may be played. Swaps to the reserve fleet may be made.
Turn 2 Restrictions - A maximum of one ship, base, psy or dragon may be played.
Unit - A base,  ship, or a dragon (but not a psy).
Type - The letter designation in the upper left corner of a card that defines the card's type. Cards with an 'R' and a second letter are considered a card type of the second letter.
Weapons - Includes such things as Phasers and Subspace Whips and heavy weapons such as Sabots and Energy Fluxes.


OTHER PLAYING STRUCTURES
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The 200 Point Challenge: The Standard Game rules are used, but each player stocks his deck with 200 strength points of cards (or 250, or 400... whatever is agreed upon ahead of time). This may mean the player will have to a select few strong cards or many weak cards. There are no restrictions as to strengths or quantities of cards chosen, but at least 8 different card types must be represented with at least 1 card each. This is often a better way for beginning players to stock their deck.

The Gamblers: Players play for keeps. Every five points of damage a player causes to another player's Sector HQ allows him to draw one card from that player's deck, keep it and place it in his hand. At this point the damaged player also draws one card from his own deck and places it in his own hand. Any rules can be used. Players are not eliminated by 25 points of Sector HQ damage, but may play until they just don't want to lose any more cards. Quitting is only allowed on your own turn before any actions are taken.

Everyone Plays To The End: In this variation, the winner is the first player to score a total of 50 points of damage to opponent Sector HQs. This damage may be scored on one or several Sector HQs. A player is not eliminated from play by the 25th damage point on his Sector HQ; all players continue to play until one player accumulates the 50 points needed to win. However, a player who scores the 25th damage point (and each multiple of the 25th damage point) on a player's Sector HQ gets a two card victory celebration as per the standard rules.
    This variation is best when playing with friends, since no one has to sit around and watch TV while everyone else continues to have fun with Galactic Empires just because of a knockout early in the game.

Free For All: Each player may use as many cards of any type or strength to play and the players are not required to stock their deck with only one empire' ships. Ships from more than one empire may be in play at the same time. All Standard Game rules apply.

The Ego Game: Players may pick and chose any rules or variations they with or even make up their own. The player with the biggest ego and biggest mouth (tape measure optional) will control which rules will be used.

A Few More Variations

Disengaged Ships are Out of Play: If a ship is disengaged, it does not protect the Sector HQ. Games will end much faster this way.

Stack Your Deck: Instead of shuffling your deck before play, put the cards in the order in which you wish them to be drawn. Do not cut the deck before play, either. This will eliminate ALL luck from the game– even the ante card can be selected since it will be the first card at the top of the deck, placed there by the owning player when he determines the stacking of his deck.

Defenders Shoot Back: Defending units shoot back at one attacking unit when fired upon. The defending unit may fire back only if it is disengaged, but it may fire all of its weapons. This defensive fire may not be made in reaction to card plays.

Bases Defend Ships: Ships may be stacked with a base. The ship and base may be fired at and have cards played on them normally. If an opponent fires at the ship, the base will fire all its weapons (whether Engaged or not) at one attacking unit. This defensive fire may not be made in reaction to card plays, only weapons fire. If the base is attacked, neither it nor the ship gets to fire. The ship is not destroyed if the base is destroyed.

Restricted Bases: Based cannot fire at terrain or other base cards.

One Target Only: Each ship and base and other cards with weapons may fire at only one target each turn; all of the unit's weapons damage is applied to that one target. Several firing units may combine their fire onto a single target into a single weapons volley as normal, or each firing unit may fire at a different target.

Border Defense: Weapons fire may only be at players sitting adjacent to each other. Card plays may be made on any player.


DESIGNER'S NOTES
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RULES CHANGES: This rulebook takes precedence over the Introductory Edition (alpha and beta), Primary Edition, New Empires, Powers of the Mind, Time Gates, and Universe Edition Version 1.0 rules. The rules changes that take precedence over the Universe Edition Version 2.0 rules have been noted as such. Rules additions have not always been specifically noted.


UNIVERSE EDITION REVISION 1.0 DESIGN CREDITS
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    Concept, Mechanics, Rules, Layout & Design: C. Henry Schulte
    Editor: George T. Henne Jr.
    Rules Team: Anthony Medici, Ted Peer, Vincent Bieksha, Andrew Smith, George T. Henne Jr., Alan Gopin, Tim Moyer, Richard Peterson, John Fitzpatrick, John Rigley Sr.
    Universe Edition Playtesting & Suggestions: John M. Hammer, Richard Van Alstyne, Alan Gopin, Anthony Medici, Bill Neumann, Jack Nelson, Vincent Bieksha, Patricia Bieksha, Nick Sauer, James Saliers, George Brown, Richard Peterson, Dave Van Cleef, Donald Clarke, John Barbiero, Ted Peer, Bill Rakowski, Jeremy York, Stephen Gopin, Russell Sheehan, Don Price, Bob Bradach, Dan Hyman, Mark Hyman, Tim Moyer, Andrew Smith, George T. Henne Jr., John Fitzpatrick, Jeffrey A. Yarter, Aaron Funke, John Rigley Jr., Eric Johnson


UNIVERSE EDITION REVISION 1.0 ART CREDITS
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    Art Director: Andrew Smith
    Cover Artists: Tim Adams, Randy 'Tarkas' Hoar, Ted Beargeon
    Card Artists: Tim Adams, Gary A. Kalin, Edward P. Beard Jr, Mark Poole, Melissa Benson, John Holland, Mark Maxwell, Debbie Hughes, Michael Carroll, Lawrence Allen Williams, Gregg Glymph, Ron Rousselle II, Paul "Prof" Herbert, Alex Keating, Ralph Pecchia, Ben Peck, Ted Beargeon, Doug Savage, Nivard, Christina Wald, April Lee, Gary A. Kalin, Ne'ne' Tina A. Thomas, Robert A. Kraus, Douglas Chaffee, Mitchell Davidson Bentley, Cline A. Siegenthaler, Susan Van Camp, Douglas Shuler, Michael Trapp, John D. Matson, Randy 'Tarkas" Hoar, Jay Muchala, Shawn Parrack, Dan Gilman, Randy Asplund-Faith, N. Taylor Blanchard, Bryon Wackwitz, Catherine Buck, Darryl Elliott, Josepha Haveman (from the CD Space, Time & Art), Ryan C. Gable, Leslie Rigley, Beth Fay, Cynthia A Mannino, Elvis McMadd, Sigmund Frye, Alan Gutierrez, Bob Wesson, Mutt Studios, Jim Pavelec, Heather Bruton, Kim Garvin, Alan Rabinowitz, Victor Yarter, Scott Werner, Todd Lockwood, Susan Dawe, Matthew Mastrogiovanni, Richard J. Rausch, C. Henry Schulte, George T. Henne Jr., Kris Macintyre, Andrew Smith.
    The art of Josepha Haveman is copyright Wayzata Technologies and is found on the CD Space, Time & Art.
    INSPIRATION: Shivaun, Taylor and Madison


THE SETS AND EXPANSIONS
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Set Code Series Date
Alpha A I 8/94
Beta B I 8/94
Primary Edition PE II 12/'94
German Gold Border GGB ? ?
New Empires NE III 3/95
Powers of the Mind PoM IV 3/95
Time Gates TG V 8/95
Universe Edition UE U 11/95
Advanced Technologies AT VI 1/96
Primary Tactics:
An Audio Guide
    12/95
Piracy Pir VII 5/96
Play Mat     6/96
Comedy Club on the
Far Side of the Galaxy
CC VIII 7/96
Persona Per IX 8/96
Galactic Invaders GI X 10/96
Allied Forces AF XI 12/96
Cyberspace CS XII N/A
Realms of the Ancients RoA XIII N/A
GE: The Board Game     N/A
Promotional Runs Pro #1-6  

Alpha - A - Series I - August 1994
    A 91 card set released in 50 card starters and 10 card boosters. All starters contain the same cards from the Argonian and Krebiz. The cards from Alpha and Beta have a different texture from later editions (they have a presses "weave" patern; later printings use standard CCG cardstock).

 

 Beta - B - Series I - August 1994
    A 90 card set released in 50 card starters and 10 card boosters. All starters contain the same cards from the Argonian and Krebiz. The cards from Alpha and Beta have a different texture from later editions.

 

Primary Edition - PE - Series II - December 1994
    A 440* card set released in 55 card starters and 12 card boosters. There were only two starters, Basic Deck A and Basic Deck B. Basic Deck A contains cards for Argonian and Krebiz ships. Basic Deck B contains cards for Corporate and Mechad. All starters contain the same mixture of cards except 12 random cards. The boosters contain many of the cards for Bolaar, Dragon, Indirigan, and Vektrean (including the only two Dragon entities, and the only non-promo Indirigan entity).
    *One card usually considered to be part of the Primary Edition, the C4 War Veteran, was actually a Promo card only given to tournament winners.

 
Powers of the Mind Display BoxGerman Gold Border
    A German set, probably released shortly after the Primary Edition. It contained most of the cards from the Primary Edition, excepting the Dragons, and may have contained a few cards from other sets. Had the same booster box cover as the American New Empires set.
 

Powers of the Mind Display BoxNew Empires - NE - Series III - March 1995
    A 210 card expansion released in 50 card starters and 12 card boosters. There was only one starter, Basic Deck C which contains ships for P.O.T., Scorpead, and Tufor. The boosters also contained most of the ships for those empires as well as Clydon ships, a Clydon Terrain entity, and a Tufor Base base. All starters contain the same 38 base cards and 12 random cards.

 

Powers of the Mind Display BoxPowers of the Mind - PoM - Series IV - March 1995
    A 152 card expansion released in 12 card boosters. Contains most of the cards for the Psycanti, Visonic, and Filarian empires, including both a Psycanti and Visonic Psy entity card.

 
Time Gates Display BoxTime Gates - TG - Series V - August 1995
    A 157 card expansion released in 12 card boosters. Contains most of the cards for the Tranoan and Time Knights, including a Time Knight Crew entity.
 

Advanced Technologies - AT - Series VI - January 1996
   
A 152 card expansion released in 12 card booster packs. Contains many "power" cards for a lot of different empires, including the strongest Mechad ship and entity Ships for the Argonian, Corporate, P.O.T., and Tufor.

 

Universe Edition - UE - Series U - November 1995
    A 564 card set released in 100 card starters and 14 card boosters. This set is made up from many cards from all of the previous sets (and some from Piracy, a later set). Starting with Universe Edition each starter contains a random assortment of 80 cards plus approximately 20 empire specific cards. Universe had starters for Argonian, Clydon, Corporate, Dragon, Krebiz, Mechad, P.O.T., Scorpead, Tufor, and Vektrean, and the Boosters contained most of the ships for those empires.
    Starters for later sets also say Universe Edition on the cover. The only way to distinguish between the 28 different Universe starters is by the picture of the ship that shows through the window on the box. Most of the non-empire specific cards from the later set Starters were from Universe Edition (that is, a Galactic Invaders Aqaaran Starter might contain 20 Aqaaran cards from the GI set and 80 cards from the Universe Edition).

 
Primary Tactics: An Audio Guide - December 1995
    The first (and only) in a series of audio works giving tactical guidance to all Galactic Empires players. Contained one of two exclusive promo cards. Starred Alexander Siddig (Dr. Bashir from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).
 

Piracy Display BoxPiracy - Pir - Series VII - May 1996
    A 205 card expansion released in 6 card boosters. Contains most of the cards for the Bolaar, Corporate Pirate, Leopan, Nagiridni Pirate, and Vicious Six. Also has the terrain cards for the Tranoan and the strongest Filarian, one of the two strongest Bolaar (the other can only be found in the Allied Forces starter), and quite a few specialty cards for these empires (including a lot of "Pirate" helper cards).
 

 

 Play Mat - June 1996
    This play mat is designed to protect cards. Laid out exclusively for Galactic Empires play, this mat includes play aids and graphics. Comes with an exclusive GE card found nowhere else.

 

 Comedy Club on the Far Side of the Galaxy - CC - Series VIII - July 1996
    A 177* card expansion released in 101 card starters. Contains all of the cards for the Comedy Club Network. Each Comedy Club starter contains an identical mixture of cards except 1 of 4 entity cards is randomly placed in each starter, and many of the cards have 4 different quote versions which are randomly placed in the starters. Except for the different quote versions, and the one card that has two different illustrations, there are 102 unique cards.
    *One card that appears on some card lists, the T4 Rock Lobster, was never actually printed.

 

Persona Display BoxPersona - Per - Series IX - August 1996
    A 205 card expansion released in 5 card boosters. First appearance of the Nobles, almost all of which were contained in this expansion. The Lone Wolf Tribe also show up here. Also contains power cards for just about every empire, including the strongest Clydon warcraft and cruiser and the only Comedy Club Installation that doesn't appear in the Comedy Club expansion and a Vektrean Asteroid Base entity.
 

 

Galactic Invaders Display Box  Galactic Invaders - GI - Series X - October 1996
    A 247 card expansion released in 100 card starters and 5 card booster packs. Included starters for Aqaaran, Gekonauak, J'xar, Orgon, and Zedan, plus entity Ships for the J'xar and Zedan, and two Aqaaran entities (One a Ship the other a Base). The Andromeda Bound Tribe played a pivotal role in the Invasion. Also contained the strongest Leopan and Treglean ships.

 

 Allied Forces - AF - Series XI - December 1996
    A 145 card expansion released in 100 card starters. Boosters may have been planned but were never released. Contained starters for the Drone, Erodi, Nobles, Pakta'don, Paraloid, Shon-ti, Tarra'ki, Treglean, Trochilidae, Bolaar, Corporate Pirate, and Leopan.
    NOTE: Allied Forces, being the last expansion actually printed before Companion Games went out of business, was apparently rushed. As such it had quite a few text errors; most of these were merely flavor text, however among the more significant errors two Erodi ships apparently lost Phaser points they should have had. The S4 Erodi Light War Cruiser probably should have had 2 Phasers; the S7 Erodi Battleship probably should have had 3 Phasers. 

 

Cyberspace - CS - Series XII - February 1997 (never printed)
    A 208 card expansion that was playtested but never actually released due to the demise of Companion Games. It would have contained the Cyber.Noughts as well as many Cyber Class cards. The Cyberspace Rules were included in the printed Universe Edition v2.0 rules in anticipation of its release.

 

 Realms of the Ancients - RoA - Series XIII - May 1997 (never printed)
    A planned expansion that died an early death.

 

 Galactic Empires: The Board Game (never printed)
    Planned, but never actually released. It was going to contain an exclusive Promo card, R/O4 Strategic Deployment.

 

 Promo Cards - Pro1 - Pro6
   
There were at least 7 different runs of promotional cards done over the years, over 300 promo cards (my count is 327, but I'm sure I'm missing a few from my list). Some of the promos are much easier to find than others. Included in these promo cards were quite a few new Indirigan Nomad Tribes as well as the Aesthetic and Collector empires. The 7th set was dubbed the Indirigan Touring Game, containing several unique Indirigan cards.

 

GALACTIC EMPIRES ON THE INTERNET
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John Bullington's Galactic Empires Page: http://www.galacticempires.org
Ted Peer's Galactic Empires Page (now gone): http://www.netins.net/showcase/tpeer/galactic.htm
Ted Peer's site through Archive.org: http://www.archive.org/
Skeeve's Galactic Empires Page: http://home.inreach.com/skeeve/ge
Eric B. Smith's Homepage: http://galacticempires.no-ip.org/GE
The Galactic Empires Card Museum:
Search eBay for current results: "galactic empires" -aldiss -NIS -hc -hb -short

Ed Beard Jr.'s Art Studio:  https://www.edbeardjr.com/
Melissa Benson's Art Studio:  http://www.melissabenson.com
Douglas Chaffee's Art Studio:  http://www.chaffeestudios.com
April Lee's Art Studio:  http://www.aprillee.com
Christina Wald's Art Studio:  http://www.christinawald.com
Susan Van Camp Art Studio:  http://www.artbysvc.com