Starting as a loose federation of planets the Empire has developed and grown to control nearly the entire galaxy. In recent times the Empire suffered revolts from the Veleks (a servitor race of cyborgs, used for labour through out the Empire now banished or hunted in every sector). During this troubled period other conquered races sought to throw off the domination of the Empire. These rebellions were crushed mercilessly, but the Oligarchy was shaken, and has started to reinforce each sector.
Out on the galactic rim, the Veleks have created new home worlds, and are ready to strike back at their oppressors. Three other races that have suffered the most under Empire rule have formed a loose coalition to confront the Empire and end their domination forever. However the coalition is tenuous, the races have little in common apart from a mutual oppressor.
A new era is dawning – will the Empire already weakened from internal strife hold off the rebellion, or will the coalition disrupt the Empire and liberate the conquered sectors? Can the coalition cooperate or will one galactic power seek to replace the Empire, reaching ascendancy?
In this game each player is in control of an alien race and aims to win by having their race achieve ascendancy at the end of the game. Ascendancy is measured in victory points that may be scored in a number of ways both during the game and at the end.
Each round the players choose what areas their race will focus on:
Build: - construct new ship yards, defences and monuments
Movement: - rearrange fleets for internal security or send them to conquer new territory
Research: - obtain new technology
Assemble Fleets: - generate new fleets at each shipyard
Politics: - gain resources or increase your fleet capacity
The game lasts for a set number of rounds (each round representing 100 years) at the game end each race gets a bonus for the number of sectors held and infrastructure build (shipyards, defences and monuments) which is added to any victory points gained during the game.
Two versions of the game are included, the Short Game lasting 6 rounds playable in an hour and the Long Game lasting 9 rounds taking about twice as long to play.
The long game adds achievement cards, which are targets the player sets for end of game bonus victory points along with Improved Technology and special racial powers.
