This module includes all extensions available for Eclipse. Credit for the original base game implementation goes to Juuso Marttila (juuso.h.marttila@jyu.fi). Some game mechanics have been altered and automation increased. Support for 7-9 player game has also been added. Just as the original module, this is open beta and there is probably still room for improvement. The module is still fully playable.

Hope you enjoy!

First, setup game by using button on main map. To do this, select one of the player colors by clicking the "Retire" button. This function automatically draws the correct number of techs and developments to the supply board, removes extra tier III hexes and marks starting hex locations based on the number of players and selected extensions. As specified in Shadow of the Rift rules, the Deep Warp Sector hex 389 is always included in the draw pile. For 7-9 player game, also the number of tier II hexes is automatically set. During the game setup, you can choose which extensions you want to include in game play. You can also select the maximum number of Rare Technologies in game (default 12). Select 0 if you don't want Rare Technologies and 99 if you don't want to limit the number. After you have completed the setup, click the "retire" button and change your player color according to your choice. If you select Ancient Homeworlds to be used, the starting hex placement is changed accordingly.

Once selected, these choices can be reversed only by starting a new game. After all players have selected their color and flipped their player board, you can use the lock symbol to set the status for "Unlocked" to "All Set." This prevents accidental flipping of the player boards, start hexes and Ambassador tiles. It also prevents deletion of extra colony ships (Green and Grey Player) and Influence Discs (Red Player). Even if you don't set the lock status, these functions are automatically blocked after the first Action round ends.

If you wish to change the player color you chose when joining the game, just click retire button and choose the correct player/species. You can also join as observer, but as such you cannot interact with most of the components (like hexes, reputation tiles etc.) After completing the setup use the lock button to prevent player board side selection and deletion of extra colony ships and influence discs. If you forget to do this, these actions are automatically prevented when you finish the first action phase.

If you would like pick player sides randomly, you can use the Faction Randomizer on the Player Sequence Board. Just send the player order markers to the Faction Randomizer. Either use the context menu by right-mouse clicking or simply draw the markers to the deck. The randomizer deck can be found to the right of the player order tab. You can include all markers or just a subset in the draw. The markers are organized so that you can easily select them based on the expansions you are going to include in the gameplay.

Moving another player's Population Cubes, Influence Discs and Resource Markers is prevented. Ships can still be moved to enable damage marking and automatic damage reset. Colony Ships can also be moved to enable automatic flipping at the end of the Upkeep phase. Ambassador tiles can also be moved to make it easier to exchange and return diplomats. Only the Purple player can move Shrines and Shrine bonuses that can be found on the Supply Board.

The Supply Board has been extended to the right to accomodate Developments, Rare Technologies and the corresponding ship parts. You might need to drag the board border to the right to see these tiles. The number of new Technologies and Rare Technologies drawn at the beginning of the round is shown in the text box between Developments and Rare Technologies. The total number of Rare Techs is also shown. The maximum total number of Rare Techs is based on the input given at the setup phase. It is recommended not to exceed 12.

In 2 or 3 player game, you might want to omit the Security Council Development. To do so, right-mouse click the Development Deck on the Supply Board and Draw Specific Cards. Then Select the development and click OK. Now you can draw the tile to the board from the deck. Use the right-mouse context menu to delete the tile. You should do this before the game setup. If you want to remove the tile afterwards, simply move it away from the available Developments area.

You can draw a randomly selected Galactic Center Defence System. To do so, keep the Shift button down and right-mouse click the Galactic Center Hex. The deck contains 2 ships from the RotA expansion and 2 ships from the Ship Pack One expansion in addition to 2 original GCDS Ship types. If you wish to select the ship manually or to remove the original ships from the deck, you can find the deck on the Draw Piles board. You might need to extend the board to the right so the deck becomes visible.

If you wish to select the Black Hole Hex manually, you can find the deck by clicking the question mark and then selecting Black Hole Expansion. Draw the two hexes and select the one you want. Return the hex to the original deck on the Black Hole Expansion board or use the right-mouse context menu to send it to the Start Pile. Leave the other hex outside of the deck.

Pulsar Markers on the Supply board can be used on Pulsar Hexes to mark that the action allowed by that Hex has already been used on this round. Flip the marker when you have used the action. The marker is flipped back automatically at the end of the Upkeep phase.

If you want to use Ancient Homeworlds, you can find them at the right edge of the Draw Piles board. Use the right-mouse context menu to place a Discovery tile and a randomly selected Ancient Cruiser on the Hex.

A red star has been added to each player board. This is a counter to keep track of Mulligan usage if you use that variant.

Starting hexes can be found on player boards. To change a player board to its other side, use the button on player board window’s toolbar. If you want to play Shadow of the Rift species, select Vanguard or Autonomy as your "Player Color". You can change your player piece color by right-mouse clicking the Mulligan counter (red star). This option is affected by the locking mechanism so remember to choose a color before the game commences (see "lock symbol" above).

Hexes can be selected and moved by shift+click. After you have selected a hex, you can right-click it to pop up a dialogue where you can e.g. rotate the hex or easily place a discovery tile and an ancient on hex.

Other playing pieces can be interacted by drag-and-dropping or right clicking and using some shortcuts there.

Remember to remove extra colony ship from green player board if playing green player, but not Planta. The same applies if you play Rho Indi Syndicate. Likewise, remove two influence discs if you are playing Eridani Empire. To remove extra colony ships or influence discs, use the context menu by right mouse clicking.

Play Sequence Board is meant as a way to mark playing order. If you use the Player Order variant, you can use the round species symbols and numbers to mark passing order. If you can't see these tiles, extend the board downwards to reveal them. See Rise of the Ancients rules for details.

Please use the “clock” –button to track phases and turns. Even though these can be done manually on Play Sequence and Supply Boards, any automation built into the module is triggered only by using “clock” –button. Automation includes flipping Colony Ships and Pulsar Markers, resetting damage on ships and drawing new techs in cleanup phase.

Use the button with ship symbol to indicate which for ship type you’re going to roll dice next. This is purely for information and easy logging purposes and by no means mandatory to if you prefer to communicate your rolls verbally.

To pick just one counter (e.g. tech tile) from a stack, double-click on the stack first. Now you can draw only one counter from the stack.

Discarded hexes can be re-shuffled back to draw piles by right-clicking the respective discard stacks This can also be done by drag & drop.

If automatic centering on other players actions feels awkward, it can be turned off using game preferences.

Other player's reputation tiles are masked and they cannot be revealed manually during the game. They are automatically revealed at the end of game turn 9. This is controlled by the “clock” button.

To easily inspect hexes value and other vital information, use “hide/show pieces button” in the toolbar. This hides all other pieces except hexes so that you have an unobstructed view.

If you pile up more than 40 resources, use the right-mouse button on the resource marker to add +40 a storage marker.

The scoring board is filled manually. Just choose a field and press ENTER.

N.B. There is a bug with game setup. Sometimes, when you move your starting hex, the tier III Hex stack moves as well. This is caused by the automatic setup functions which can leave the stack active. You can avoid this by clicking somewhere on the Draw Piles board before moving your starting hex. Another trick which seems to help is to move your starting hex slightly and letting go.