for Vassal
Designed using VASSAL 3.1.15
also including:
and
First
off, a requirement set by Fantasy Flight Games for the making of this
module is that all action cards, political cards, and agenda cards have
had their text removed. This requirement was set so that a player must
own the game in order to play the module. Therefore, using this module
implies that you own a copy of the game.
Now
that we have the formalities out of the way....
This
is a very complex game of exploration, combat, trade, and political
intrigue. This help guide will not tell you how to play the game, just
explain the use of the module. If you have never played TI3 on tabletop
format, you might not want to try that first to get a feel for the game.
For
ease of reference the rules for the game are hosted by FFG at the following
locations:
Basic Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition:
http://fantasyflightgames.com/
Shattered Empire:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.
Shards of the Throne:
FAQ and Errata:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.
The
module has many sections to help keep the hundreds of different parts
of the game organized. These sections are along the top of the module.
From left to right they are Setup, Markers (flags), Leaders, Technology
Cards, Galaxy Map, Political Area, items of the Fall of the Empire Scenario,
Transfer Area, Player Private windows, Dice, and a Reference Section.
Setup: In this section is everything that you will need to set up a game board. Many of the different items are labeled. From top left to bottom right the sections are as follows:
-Top Row: Home System Tiles for all player races (Randomized), Trade Agreements, Home System planet cards for each race, representatives for each race, and the flagship card for each race. If you want to select a particular race the Home Systems right click on the home systems and select 'Move to searchable' and then right click on the home systems in the searchable area, and select the one you want. The race specific cards also have a right click option to draw specific cards for the race you choose.
- Second Row: Preliminary Objectives, Secret Objectives, Classic TI3 Stage I and II public objectives, Shattered Empires Stage I and II public objectives, and Mercenary Cards. All of these decks of cards are randomized and re-shuffle every time a card is added or taken away.
-Third Row: Mecatol Rex Custodian Tokens, Artifacts, Space Domain Counters, Low Risk Distant Suns, High Risk Distant Suns, , and Mercenary Tokens. The Space Domain, Distant Suns, and Artifacts are randomized automatically, but the Distant Suns counter can be moved to a searchable pile, and all 3 must be flipped on the board by the player who initially placed them. Mercenary Tokens are initially on their ground side because the rules state that mercenaries must initially be placed on a planet. To change a mercenary to its space token right click on it and select 'Convert to Space Symbol'.
-Fourth
Row: All
board tiles are here (with the exception of Home Systems). They are
separated into their different types to make it easier to set up a galaxy
following the guidelines in the rulebooks. It is possible to combine
these tiles into one large pile, via right-click options, and then an
option to shuffle them together is available to create a completely
random map. To add a board tile to the main map open both the setup
window and the main map window and click (hold) and drag the tile from
the setup area to the main map.
Markers: This
section just has drop down menus with control markers for all the races
in Twilight Imperium. These tokens can be added in infinite quantities,
by dragging, to any other window in the module to help keep track of
many items.
Leaders: This section
contains generic, smaller, leader icons as well as race-specific leader
tokens if you should want those instead. They can be added to the map
by drag and drop.
Technology Cards:
All technology cards currently released by FFG are in this section.
Any player can drag and drop all cards from here to their personal window
or to the main map area to help keep track of researched technologies.
Racial technologies are here as well including replacement technologies
for Winnu and Norr.
Main Map:
This
section is where all the action takes place. It contains everything
you will need quick access to during regular game play.
Race
Area: This area includes
your Race Card, units, and an area for your cards (this 3rd area has
a label P1-P6 for whichever player you are). Once you have chosen a
race you can change your race card to the corresponding sheet by shift+clicking
on the race card and using hotkeys or right-click options to scroll
through the race sheets. Your Command counters will scroll through as
well so that you have the correct counter for your race. Each unit has
multiple color options available, they can be changed individually or
if you select all units at once you can change all of their colors simultaneously.
The 3rd area is where I recommend you keep your planet cards. The player
label can be changed by shift+click then right-click menu. It can also
be moved by shift+click and drag+drop, if you don't want it in the middle
of your planets area.DO NOT KEEP ANY
CARDS YOU WANT TO BE SECRET IN THIS AREA.
Use your private area for that.
Top-Middle:
Pre-shuffled Action Cards, and Political Cards, a section where you can keep track of the current order by placing control markers in the boxes, and Strategy Cards. The first 3 are self explanatory. The strategy cards are pre-set on the most commonly, or most recent, choices. To choose a different strategy card right click on the one you want to change and choose 'Next Strategy'. Doing so multiple times will scroll through all possible options for that strategy number. Also in this area are also trade goods, tons of em, bonus counters, and space mines. Who even uses space mines?
Middle:
This is
the map. You can change the map between several blank setups to find
one for the number of players you have. This is achieved by clicking
the 'Next Setup' button at the top of the map screen. Currently the
maximum is 6 players (8/31/2011) but I will be working on increasing
this to 8 soon. Drag and drop tiles from the Setup screen to the map
in order to create your galaxy. Drag units from the set of units next
to your race sheet onto the map once you're set-up. Make sure to change
your color so things don't get confusing. Once you've put a GF or a
Fighter on the map you can right click on it to change its quantity
so that you don't clutter up the map. GF also have a right-click option
to set the number of shock troopers present.
Bottom-Middle:
Here you'll
find a victory point track, 10 point with right-click option to flip
to 14 point track, non-home-system planet cards, facility cards, speaker
and high alert tokens, spaces for public objectives, and special objectives.
Drag flags from the Markers tab, in the main
module screen, to the VP track or objectives as needed. The non-home-system
planet cards can be searched to draw the specific planet you want. Only
draw 1 planet card at a time, if you get them stacked they're annoying
to un-stack. The planets are already exhausted so if you get Nano-Technology
you will have to right click on the planet and refresh it individually. The spaces
for public objectives are just that, spaces. They cannot be flipped
to reveal objectives automatically. You must drag and drop objectives
from the Setup window and then
flip them. Remember to use objectives from only one set. The objectives
from Shattered Empire have that label beneath them.
Politics Tab: This is one of the
simplest areas. There are clearly defined areas for laws that are elected
and areas that players can place their representatives when executing
Assembly III.
Scenario Items: Most things needed
to play the Fall of the Empire scenario released with Shards of Throne
are in this section. The 2 scenario strategy cards are selected by scrolling
through the strategy cards in the main map area. Drag and drop as needed.
(I will be creating pre-made setups for all different numbers of players
so watch for newer versions of the module.)
Transfer Area:
Use
this area for transferring cards from one player to another. Simply
put, place the cards you want to trade or give in the area marked for
your player number and the person you're giving it to grabs it. Useful
for trade agreements, planet cards, treaties, promissory notes, etc.
The only thing starting
in this area is a set of promissory notes for each player. Anything
in this window will be concealed from other players, not that it will
be invisible, but it will show the back of the card in most cases. You
should keep Action and Political Cards here if you do not wish your
opponents to know what you're holding. I typically also use this area
for my Trade Agreements, Representatives, and Technology advances in
order to help keep the main map un-cluttered.
Self-explanatory.
Simple Icons for 1d10, 2d10s, and 3d10s, as well as dice where you can
choose the minimum success number.
Reference:
This section is For REFERENCE ONLY. I stress this
because if you drag cards from this area they will not work correctly.
I added this section so that you can study enemy players basic information
in detail without having your attention divided by actions taking place
in the main map area.
Last but not least: When in doubt right click and try to find an option for what you want to do. If you cannot select something shift+click usually does the trick.
Other than
that.... the undo 
button is your friend. Just tell everyone to stop what they're doing
so you can fix a mistake.