Essen 2008 (Almost) – Carpe Astra

At this year’s fair, Reiver Games will be demoing their new game, Carpe Astra, designed by Ted Cheatham and Jackson Pope. The game is a tile laying and networking game for 2 – 4 players aged 12+, with games lasting 30 to 90 minutes depending on the number of players.

10,000 years in the future, humanity has claimed the stars. But all is not well. The Emperor is weak, without strong guidance the Empire is crumbling. Powerful guilds within the empire are squabbling, positioning themselves for their own gain. If the Empire is to survive, it needs a strong leader – that means you! You must build a powerbase throughout the Empire by connecting with important guilds: the military, traders, priests, engineers, settlers and politicians and then claim the throne. Time is running out though, others also struggle for the throne. You must form a network of support with powerful guilds and slandering your opponents. Each connection gains the support of some guilds, at the end of the game the player with the most support grasps the Galactic Throne. Take advantage of events that occur for further gain. Be careful though, as each slander you receive reduces your support.

Unfortunately the game won’t be available for sale until the end of November but Reiver Games are taking pre-orders with a 30% discount off the retail price. More info about the game, including the rulebook, can be found at the Reiver Games site.