After players have played their first game, they should use the advanced rules found in this section.
Complete Setup
This booklet contains rules for an abridged "First-Game Setup" to facilitate players' first time playing the game. During setup for a standard game, players have a wider array of factions to choose from, many of which are more complex than the factions suggested in the "First-Game Setup".
During setup, players are dealt a hand of system tiles to create the galaxy instead of using a preset map. Full rules for setup can be found in the "Complete Setup" section on page 2 of the Rules Reference.
Additionally, during setup, players will receive promissory notes, a type of card that players can use to facilitate negotiations with other players. Finally, players who wish to play a longer game may use the 14-space side of the victory point track.
Promissory Notes
Each player begins the game with five promissory note cards; four of which match his player color, and one faction-specific card. A promissory note helps players negotiate with each other by creating an enforceable contract between them.
A player can offer a promissory note to another player as part of a transaction. Each promissory note contains text that describes the card's effect and indicates when the card can be resolved. A player cannot resolve his own promissory notes, but he can resolve other players' notes that he receives from a transaction.
When a player resolves a promissory note, he reveals the card and resolves its text effect. Though some promissory notes will stay in play after they are resolved, a promissory note is usually returned to its original owner and may again be offered by that player as part of a transaction.
When a player offers a promissory note to another player as part of a transaction, the offering player may allow the receiving player to view the card being offered if he wishes. A player cannot trade more than one promissory note during a single transaction.
Players can also exchange promissory notes that they have received from other players. This does not require permission from the promissory note's original owner.
Three-player Galaxy Setup
Match the numbers in the leftmost corner of each system tile to the preset map on the right to create the three-player galaxy.
After placing the system tiles of the preset galaxy, each player places his home system in the space indicated on the diagram by the green system tile that is nearest to his position around the table.
Four-player Galaxy Setup
Match the numbers in the leftmost corner of each system tile to the preset map on the left to create the four-player galaxy.
After placing the system tiles of the preset galaxy, each player places his home system in the space indicated on the diagram by the green system tile that is nearest to his position around the table.
Five-player Galaxy Setup
Match the numbers in the leftmost corner of each system tile to the preset map on the right to create the five-player galaxy.
After placing the system tiles of the preset galaxy, each player places his home system in the space indicated on the diagram by the green system tile that is nearest to his position around the table.
During a five-player game, the player who is closest to two other players receives four additional trade goods to start the game. The two players on either side of that player each receive two additional trade goods, and the remaining two players, who are not within two tiles of any other player, do not receive additional trade goods.
Six-player Galaxy Setup
Match the numbers in the leftmost corner of each system tile to the preset map on the left to create the six-player galaxy.
After placing the system tiles of the preset galaxy, each player places his home system in the space indicated on the diagram by the green system tile that is nearest to his position around the table.
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