OBJECT OF THE GAME
In Escape From the Aliens In Outer Space, each player assumes the role of either a Human or an Alien. The Humans are trying to save themselves by reaching the Escape Hatches. The ALIENS seek to hunt down all the HUMANS. Each player’s identity and position is kept secret: you will need to interpret the movements and behaviors of the other players to learn who and what they really are!
THE BASIC GAME
SETTING UP
• I will keep a copy of the map in the OP. All players are encouraged to use copies of this map to keep track of any notes they like. Since this is the first time we are playing, we'll start with the GALILEI Zone.
• I will shuffle, and draw all DANGEROUS SECTOR cards for each player, after each of their movements.
• Half of the players must be Aliens, and the other half must be Humans. Your role is determined by the CHARACTER CARDS, which I will deal out at the beginning of the game. Do not reveal your identity!
• We will not be using ITEM CARDS or ESCAPE HATCH CARDS for our first, basic game.
YOUR OBJECTIVE
• Each Human player plays by himself, trying to be the first to reach one of the Escape Hatches.
• The Aliens try to work together and intercept the Humans before they reach an Escape Hatch.
But, at the beginning of the game you don’t know what side the other players are on! You will need to deduce their identity by watching their actions.
THE MAP
The Map shows a diagram of one Zone aboard the spaceship. A grid of hexagons has been placed over the ship to control movement. Each hexagon is called a SECTOR, and every Sector is identified by a letter and a number. The combination of letter and number is the Coordinates for that Sector. Special Sectors, such as the Alien Sector, are marked with symbols and do not have Coordinates. We're playing in GALILEI – the perfect Zone for new players: it is perfectly balanced between the Humans and the Aliens.
GAME TURNS
Begin by randomly choosing a First Player. The game will be played over a series of rounds. During each round, starting with the First Player and going clockwise, each player must move their character. Your character type determines the distance you can move:
• HUMANS move only one Sector
• ALIENS move one or two Sectors
There are no pieces to move in this game. Instead, choose your destination by looking at The Map and telling me your new location by PMing the Sector Coordinates. You can never end your turn in the same sector you started in. YOU MUST MOVE EVERY ROUND.
EXAMPLE: Silvano Porpora (a Human) is currently in Sector D09 of the Galilei Zone. He can move to D08, C09, C10, E10 or E09 this turn. He decides to move to Sector D08, and so PMs me: "I am moving from sector D09 to D08.", or whatever, as long as your intent is clear.
There are five different types of Sectors, which are shown on your Map Sheet. The Sector type determines what happens next:
• SECURE SECTOR:
If you end your move in a Secure Sector, your turn is over.
• DANGEROUS SECTOR:
If you end your move in a Dangerous Sector, you must draw a Dangerous Sector Card and follow its instructions. Then your turn is over. Exception: Do not draw a Dangerous Sector Card if you attack another player (see “Attacking”).
• HUMAN SECTOR:
This is the starting Sector for all Human players. After the game begins, no player can move through or end their move in this Sector.
• ALIEN SECTOR:
This is the starting Sector for all Alien players. After the game begins, no player can move through or end their move in this Sector.
• ESCAPE HATCH SECTOR:
Humans must reach one of these Sectors to win. Only Human players can end their move on an Escape Hatch Sector.
After moving, you may try to attack another player (see “Attacking”). If not, or after your attack is complete, your turn ends and the player to your left begins their turn.
EXAMPLE: Silvano has moved into Sector D08, which is a Dangerous Sector. So, he must draw a Dangerous Sector Card. If he had moved to D10 instead, he would not draw a card because D10 is a Secure Sector.
DANGEROUS SECTORS
If you end your move in a Dangerous Sector, you must draw a Dangerous Sector Card (unless you are attacking another player, in which case no card is drawn). There are three types of Dangerous Sector Cards:
•
: If you draw a Noise In Your Sector card, you must announce your current location by saying “NOISE IN SECTOR [X, Y]” where “[X, Y]” is the Coordinates of the Sector you just moved into.
•
: If you draw a Noise In Any Sector card, you may fake your posi-tion. You must announce “NOISE IN SECTOR [X, Y]” where “[X, Y]” is the Coordinates of any Sector you choose (including the one you moved into).
•
SILENCE
: If you draw a Silence card, you must announce “SILENCE IN ALL SECTORS”.
IMPORTANT: All Dangerous Sector Cards are never revealed to the other players! For the purpose of card-counting, there are 10
, 10
, and 5
SILENCE
cards in the DANGEROUS SECTOR DECK. I will announce when I am reshuffling the deck.
EXAMPLE: Silvano draws this card: this is a Noise in Any Sector card, so he can choose any Sector on the map. He declares:“There is noise in Sector N10”, hoping to confuse the Alien players looking for him.
ATTACKING
An Alien player may decide to attack at the end of his turn, after moving. If you attack, do not draw a Dangerous Sector Card, even if your move ends in a Dangerous Sector. Follow these steps to resolve your Attack:
1. Announce that you are attacking by saying “I ATTACK IN SECTOR [X, Y]” where “[X, Y]” is the Coordinates of the Sector you just moved into. Do this in-thread instead of PMing me your movement, as there's no point to doing both.
2. If any player is also in that Sector, they must declare it (or, I will
). That player’s character is automatically killed, whether they are Human or Alien, and that player is out of the game. The eliminated player's Character Card is also revealed to all players.
EXAMPLE: Paolo Landon, the “Fourth Alien,” is not tricked by Silvano’s subterfuge. He moves to Sector D08, guessing that Silvano is there. Instead of drawing a Dangerous Sector Card, he announces, “I attack in Sector D08!” Poor Silvano! He has been captured by the Aliens and killed. His player is now out of the game.
HINT: As soon as you attack, you will reveal that you are an Alien! Humans cannot attack. Be careful not to tip off your opponents too early!
THE END OF THE GAME
The Basic Game ends when one of the following happens:
1. One of the Humans reaches an Escape Hatch Sector. THAT PLAYER LEAVES THE SHIP AND WINS THE GAME!
2. All Human players are eliminated before any can leave the spaceship: THE ALIENS WIN THE GAME!
3. 39 rounds have been played before any Humans escape: THE ALIENS WIN THE GAME!
