Freedom in the Galaxy (Vassal Notes 2.05)

Created under Vassal Version 3.2.16

Tap the Notes tab to view the current scenario notes. This will include set-up conditions, game length, and victory conditions. For the Galactic Game, Rebel Player should note under the delayed notes tab, his/her selection for the Rebel Secret Base. Players can toggle the Rebel Bases Overlay (Located under the “Imperial Menu”) to quickly see all the planets that can be possible Rebel Secret Bases. The Imperial player can use this overlay to keep track of which planets are still suspect (Alt-Right-Click on a planet to remove it from the overlay while the overlay is toggled on - ONLY THE IMPERIAL PLAYER MAY DO THIS).

Additional Star-faring Race overlays exist to easily identify planets affected by the domino effect. Toggle them on/off from the main tool bar.

When setting up Secrets for the Galactic Scenario, the Imperial player will draw them one at a time from the “Secrets Deck” located in the Secrets Window. A random Secret will be drawn each time the Imperial player draws one. The Imperial player will place them in the 16 orbit boxes with the word “Secret” printed in them, one Secret marker per Orbit box, 16 Secrets total. Care must be taken to position them directly over the word “Secret” in the orbit boxes. When correctly positioned, the text label located in the top left corner of the map will indicate number of secrets correctly placed. Once this label indicates that all 16 Secrets have been placed, the Imperial player will lock the Secrets in place by clicking the “Lock Secrets” button on the main tool bar under the Secrets menu. Once locked in place, the Secret counters cannot be moved for the rest of the game and the Imperial player will then be able to inspect them. Secret counters can only be manipulated by the Imperial Player while they are face down. Detailed info can be accessed for each secret by right-clicking on the counter. Once a secret is revealed (Imperial player flipping the counter over), the Rebel player will then have access to read the detailed info.

When arranging the Strategic Assignment Deck for the Galactic Scenario, the Imperial player will drag all 14 cards to the turn boxes (Turns 1 thru 14) arranging them in his/her preferred order. Once this is complete, the Imperial player will lock these 14 cards in place by clicking the “Lock SA 14 Card Deck” button on the main tool bar under the Assignment Deck menu. Once locked these cards can never be moved again during the game. As turns progress, the Imperial player will “right-click” the current turn card to flip face up. On turn 14, the Imperial player will drag 6 of the available 13 cards to the remaining turn boxes (Turns 15 thru 20) arranging them in his/her preferred order. Once this is complete, the Imperial player will lock these 6 cards in place by clicking the “Lock SA 6 Card Deck” button on the main tool bar under the Assignment Deck menu. Once locked these cards can never be moved again during the game. The Imperial player should note that in order to lock the decks, one card, and one card only must be in each turn box; cards can only be flipped face up once the decks are locked. Only the Imperial player has permissions to set and lock decks. The Rebel player can only look to see the face up cards.

Detailed Environ Information can be accessed on the Main Board. Alt-Click on the Environ symbol in each Environ to access this info.

There are several map windows utilized throughout the game. The Main Board window is the primary area of play for counters. Each player has a Mission Group window which they access from the main tool bar at the top of the screen. Players should organize their cards on these windows; characters into mission groups and all missions should be conducted on these windows. In general, counters are used on the Main Board window while cards stay off the Main Board and are kept on the Mission Group windows. Each player has their own set of Mission Cards to facilitate play.

Die rolls are made on a specific Chart or Table. Select the Chart button on the main tool bar, select the chart/table tab for the one you want, right click the specific chart/table to access chart commands and roll the die. Die results will appear in the message Window.

The Symbolic 6-sided die is used this for any necessary die rolls that pop up during play (i.e Failed Assassination Mission requires a die roll). Alway message your opponent prior to making die roll specifying why the die roll is being made, then click the die button. Any die roll made without a prior message specifying its use can be considered invalid (or just testing the die roll button).

Card decks have their own map windows for drawing and maintaining the cards. Some card decks are restricted to a particular player (i.e. Strategic Assignments can only be manipulated by the Imperial Player, but the Rebel player can view the window to see the current assignment).

Details on each deck as follows:

1. Galactic Event Deck - Any player can access and draw the card. A random card is always drawn when you draw a card from this deck. Cards drawn cannot be placed back in the draw pile during current game. Current event is displayed face up in the discard stack.

2. Action Card Deck - Any player can access and draw cards form this deck. A random card is always drawn when you draw a card from this deck. Since this is the most used deck in the game with the deck reset and reshuffled for every Environ with Missions during the Mission Phase, it has a special reshuffle button on the main tool bar. This button will automatically take all currently drawn Action cards and reshuffle them back into the Action Deck for a full 30 card deck ready for the next Environ with missions to execute.

3. Imperial Strategic Assignments Deck (Lay-out) - Restricted to Imperial Player. Rebel can view it though.

4. Character Decks - Restricted to each player. The Rebel deck can only be accessed by the Rebel Player and the Imperial Deck can only be accessed by the Imperial Player. A random card is always drawn when you draw a card from the character deck. When a character dies, place the card in one of the “Dead Character” boxes on the Main Board. A random card is always drawn when you draw a card from any of the dead character decks. Players can view each other’s Character Deck windows.

5. Possession Deck - Restricted to Rebel Player. Imperial can view it though. A random card is always drawn when you draw a card from this deck. When a possession is permanently lost in the game, place it in the “Removed from Play” box on the Main Board.

6. Mission Decks - Each player has their own Mission Deck on their Mission Group window. Restricted to the respective player.

Random draw decks exist in both mission group windows (Rebel and Imperial). These are used to quickly select a random Mission or Character card during mission executions. For example, if you must randomly determine a mission to be aborted, drag your active missions to this deck and draw one to determine mission affected. Or if you must select a random character out of an active mission group, drag the mission group character cards to this deck and draw one to determine character affected.

Each player’s cards, counters, and Mission Group windows are restricted and can only be manipulated by the respective players. But all windows can be viewed by each player.

Each player’s counters can only be manipulated on the Main Board map window by the respective players.

Character counters (Imperial and Rebel) have a (Right-click) command that shifts control of the counter to the other player. This is necessary in the event a character becomes “Captured” by the opposing side. Once control is shifted to the capturing side, that character counter cannot be manipulated by the original owner until the new owner shifts control back to the original owner (i.e. the Character has been rescued - Free Prisoners Mission). Control can only be shifted when the counter is located on the main board. Character cards of captured characters can be given to the opposing side by dragging the card to the main board, where they can then be dragged to the opposing players Mission Group Window.

Dead character discard piles are located on the main board so that both players can inspect them. These piles are also used to draw random dead characters during specified events (Clone World Planet Secret and Galactic Event #119 Radical clone experiments). The possessions removed from game play is also located on the main board so that both players can inspect it.

Separate Turn Counters exist so appropriate turn sequence is used depending on whether Star-System, Province, or Galactic game is being played. To display the correct Turn Counter, press CTRL 1 for Star-System game, CTRL 2 for Province game, or CTRL 3 for Galactic game. Position Turn Counter window over the tool bar, out of the way. You will have to display the turn counter each time you begin play. RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT DOCK THE TURN COUNTER TO THE TOOL BAR - ISSUES EXIST WITH MULTIPLE TURN COUNTERS AND DOCKING.

Care must be taken when selecting counters and cards and moving them around the Map or Group Windows. A card or counter could accidentally be moved off the map (And become Inaccessible) if it is inadvertently “selected” when moving another piece. The Imperial and Rebel Menus on the tool bar both have a “Recover Inaccessible Counters and Cards” button. This button is essentially a safety feature that lets players recover “lost” counters and cards that have accidentally been moved off the playing area for whatever reason (it’s rare but it does happen). Selecting this button will recover all counters and cards currently not located on the main map (Main Map Window) or on the Rebel and Imperial Group Windows. Counters will be sent to their respective Force Pools. Cards will be sent to their respective Group Windows near the Mission Deck.

Character wounds are applied on the character cards by the (Right-click) command “Wounded“. Wounds are indicated by a check box symbol and Endurance and Combat values will automatically adjust to reflect the number of wounds. Character cards for Sovereigns have been included to keep track of current Sovereign wounds, endurance and combat values, as well as a convenience for executing Missions with Sovereigns.

Revealed planet Secret counters that are no longer applicable may be removed (hidden) from the map with the (Right-click) command “Hide/Show”. This command is not available for the six revealed Secret counters that are aways in effect (Cloning Complex, Dead World, Hyper World, Living Planet, Mutant World, Drug World).

AK April 2017

Design Credits

Game Design: Howard Barasch, John H. Butterfield

Graphic Design: Redmond A. Simonsen with John H. Butterfield

Illustrations: David Wenzel

Background: Neil Shapiro