A cosmic power struggle for 3 to 6 players.
Published by Salagames
Designed by Alan R Moon
Art by Ralf E Kahlert
Edited by Mick Ado
Translated by Brent Jackson (brentj@advgroup.co.nz)
Somewhere in the depths of the Universe, Robots, Plant-creatures, Insectoids and the Confederation of the First Dominions fight over their Galaxy. Thanks to their high level of development, however, they carry out their struggle in peaceful ways: in their unusual games and under engagements that test Intelligence and Endurance, as decided on by their regents. But, they make their plans without consideration of the power of the legendary Metamorphs. With their incredible abilities of transformation, they will bring confusion, before the final victor is established.
Each player receives a set of 7 small action cards and power chips totaling 15. The remaining chips will be a stock situated in the middle of the table.
| The Power Cards | The Score Cards | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag | Confederation | Plus | Positive |
| Compound Eyes | Insectoid | Minus | Negative |
| Bolt | Robots | ||
| Leaf | Plant Creatures | ||
| Black X | No Trump | ||
A player is appointed as dealer for the first round [suggest cutting for highest card]. The dealer shuffles and deals all the cards to the players. The dealer begins play on the first hand. The deal moves to the left at the end of each hand.
Each hand is divided into two sections. During the first section the players decide by using their power chips, which race in this hand possesses the power, and also whether the scoring basis is to be positive or negative. In the second section the cards will be played and the supply of power chips will fall and increase. In the end, the player with the most power chips, wins the game.
Before beginning the first hand the players should agree on the number of hands to play. We recommend for 3 or 4 players, at least 6 hands, and for 5 or 6 players at least 4 hands. It is up to the players themselves, how many hands to which the stress of this cosmic struggle grows.
In the 60 game cards we find pictures of the four races of the remote galaxy. It has Plant Creatures (green), Insectoids (Yellow), Robots (Grey) and the Union of the Confederation (Red). Each colour has values from 1 to 15. Also in the remote galaxy, there exists, almost unrecognised, a fifth race, the so-called Metamorphs. Their special ability allows them to assume the shape of another race. In order for the Metamorphs to be recognised in this game we have made them a strong blue, which, however, does not mean that their ability of conversion has been lost. In this game they have assumed the values of cards 10 and 12 in all races. We recommend that attention is paid to this particular condition.
The 42 Action Cards are always used in the first section of a hand. With them the players determine the controlling race and the type of scoring. A set of 7 Action Cards has one of each colour of the power cards of the participating races, one neutral card, with which comes the exception of no race having the power, and finally one card each for the positive and negative scoring.
From their set of power cards the players decide which race will be in power as the hand is played. To do this they use the action cards. Each player secretly chooses one of the 5 power cards and puts it face down on the table. Normally you choose a race of which you possess particularly many or else high values. Finally you decide whether this round should have positive or negative scoring. If you have mainly high cards you choose positive, if mainly low cards then negative. This chosen card you put likewise, face down on the table.
Simultaneously all players turn over their score cards. The power cards remain face down until later.
Beginning with the dealer and then clockwise each player must carry out one of the three following actions in their turn:
(1) Pass - When they wish to withdraw, they pass and turn their scoring card back over. They are then out of the bidding and take part again only in the second section.
(2) Bet - In order for their selected and face down power card to come to power, a player must bet power chips. The first bet in a hand usually by the dealer, can be however high. Each later bet must be at least one power chip over the previous one. Players without chips cannot bet. Maybe no player bets more chips than you have yet . It is completely possible, that a player pass, although their last bet has not yet been overbid. If all other players after them pass and their bet remains the highest, they win the betting.
(3) Espy - The player may look at a face down power card. They must in return pay that player a power chip. When they look at the card of the opposing player, they should be careful that no other player can see the cards colour. Even if a player is later in a hand, they can still be espied.
Once all players have passed, the first section is ended. Only the player that has played the most power chips puts these into the stock. Only they turn over their power card. For the second section the power is possessed by their chosen race. As well, their score card determines the scoring at the end of the round. Both cards remain face up. When the neutral power card is played, then in this round no race has the power. Should all players pass and the highest bet be nothing, then the dealers cards are valid for this hand.
The victor from the betting begins and plays out the first card. When a players turn comes, they must play a card. They must play a card of the colour of the first card played. If for example, a red card is played as the first card, all other players must likewise play a red card. If you have no card the colour of this race, then in this trick if you have the power, trump.
After each player has placed a card, then we find out who has taken this trick, and they take the cards. The trick is won by the player who has played the highest card of the colour of the first played card. If however, one or more cards of the colour of the race in power have been played, then in this trick the power is used (trumps), so the player who wins the trick is that who played the highest card of this race, independent of the colour that was first played.
The Metamorphs use their power of conversion always according to the one same principle. When a blue 10 or 12 is played, and already at least one card has been played, then the blue card will automatically take the form of the race that was first played.
Example: A red 11 was the first card played. Each blue card in this trick will automatically be a red card.
When a blue 10 or 12 is the first card played, then the player decides to which of the four races the card converts.
Example: The first card played is a blue 12. The player names this as the green race. Therefore the blue 12 is for this trick a green card. If in this trick another blue card is played, then it will automatically become a green card.
A player who cannot play a card of the race of the first card played, is not forced to play a blue card. They can discard any card or even trump. In the hand of the player a Metamorph is always blue, until from their play they take the colour of one of the four races.
The player who wins the trick, puts the cards in a pile before them on the table. If they receive later tricks, then they put them here as well, so that at the end of the round one can quickly look at the count of the most tricks. The player who has won the trick leads to the next.
When all cards have been played, each player counts the total of their tricks. The worth of each card is now not important. After scoring you now receive further power chips.
Each player receives as many power chips from the stock as tricks that they have won. So getting 3 tricks also gets 3 power chips. The player who in this round won the betting, receives double count power chips. For 3 tricks they receive 6 power chips.
For the negative scoring the player with the least tricks receives power chips. The chips they receive is the total tricks of the player with the most tricks. If many players have the least tricks, they each receive chips. If among them is the player who has won the betting, then they receive double the chips.
Additionally, the player with the most tricks in total, also puts power chips into the stock. If there are several players with the same total of most tricks, then each lose the corresponding number of chips. If among them is the player who has won the betting, then they of course lose double the number of chips.
Example: Player Alpha has won the most tricks with 6. Player Beta has only one trick. Alpha must now pay 6 power chips and Beta receives 6 power chips. Had Beta also won the betting in this hand, then they receive a superb 12 chips.
A player can never be in negatives. If they have no more chips, then they can also pay no more.
The game ends after the number of hands decided at the beginning of the game. We recommend for 3 and 4 players six rounds, and for 5 and 6 players 4 rounds. The players themselves decide how many hands are played. In any case, after the arranged number of rounds the player with the most power chips wins.