Setup
Set Sequence. Roll for the initial First Player (Player 1). Give that player the First-Move token. The token will move each turn. Play clockwise from the current Player 1.
Distribute to each Player: (a) a Player Mat, (b) ŧ100 (100 teracredits) plus ŧ3 for each position after first, and (c) their initial Confirmed Contract Stockpile (“Stockpile”):
1 Outpost, 1 Rig, 1 Security, 1 Colony, and 1 Refinery
Place two world Boards in the center of the play area. Use the 4-quadrant side. Each player chooses the quadrant in which they will place their units during the game.
Build World Traits – The World Traits are Habitability (HAB), Water (H2O), Resources (RES), and Hostility (HOS). Their values are represented by 16mm dice (green, blue, black, and red, respectively).
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- For one world, the Players 1 and 2 each roll a separate set of world-trait dice, and place the best set* in the corresponding dice slots on the world.
- For the other world, Players 3 and 4 follow the same process. (For 3-players, Player 1 takes the Player 4 slot.)
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*The best set, in each case, is the one with greatest total of HAB, H2O, and RES minus HOS, unless the two rolling players agree otherwise.
Advance Units – Each Player, in turn order, may place a startup Outpost, Rig, or Security on the world of their choice. Players are not required to place startups on the same world as each other. For each Security startup, reduce that world’s Hostility by 1 (or 2 if less than 4 players). Note: This Security effect only occurs during Setup, not during Play.
Banker and Supplier. You may appoint a Banker to handle money in and out of the Bank, and a Supplier to handle the market (units acquired or removed).
Go to Play.
Copyright (c) 2026 John Conway
East of Orion Games 