NO PEACE AMONG THE STARS FACTIONS

Distant stars and lost planets seemed to hang motionless in the Four of the main factions from the Warhammer 40,000
void before Ulixes Ithanos, but he knew better. The machinery of universe are represented in Forbidden Stars. Each faction has
the galaxy churned ever onward, inexorable and eternal. In his faction-specific components that are distinguished by their
mind’s eye, the Rogue Trader could see the expanse before him colour or their faction symbol. Players use these colours and
filled with barges bursting with conscripted labourers, shrine- faction symbols to identify which components belong to
ships gilded with icons of the Imperial Creed, and grand cruisers which players.
of the naval battle fleets.
Now that the Warp Storms had abated, the sector populations The UItramarines: The Space Marines
and resources were to be returned to their rightful service of the of the Adeptus Astartes are the finest
Imperium—inevitably that would mean conflict. soldiers ever created by mankind. Each is a
genehanced post-human clad in ceramite
Ulixes knew that, surely, word of this long-forgotten sector would and adamantium power armour and wielding the most
soon reach xenos and heretics alike, if it had not reached them advanced weapons produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
already. Horrors would descend upon the realm, each sowing They are the Angels of Death, and they know no fear. The
only death and destruction in their wake, each seeking to turn the Ultramarines, the Space Marines who owe their genetic
benighted worlds to their own ends. War was coming to the once- heritage to Primarch Roboute Guilleman, are known
lost Herakon Cluster, and Ulixes Ithanos knew that the price for throughout the galaxy for their loyalty, their honour, and
these forbidden stars would be paid in blood. their unwavering dedication to their duty to safeguard the
Imperium of Mankind.

GAME OVERVIEW World Eaters Chaos Space Marines: Ten-

thousand years ago, during the darkness of
Forbidden Stars is a game of galactic warfare set in the the Horus Heresy, half of the Space Marine
Warhammer 40,000 universe. Two to four players command legions turned their backs on the Imperium
the Space Marines, Orks, Eldar, or Chaos Space Marines. of Man, profaned their oaths to the Emperor of Mankind,
Each faction seeks to reclaim lost relics and sites of power and joined the vile gods of Chaos. These traitorous Space
that are vital to their survival. To accomplish this, they must Marines nearly brought the Imperium to its knees, and have
harvest resources, upgrade their forces, and conquer the spent the millennia since that dark time plaguing humanity,
worlds of the long-lost Herakon Cluster. seeking the ruination of all that has been built in the name
of the God-Emperor. The warriors of the World Eaters
Chaos Space Marines are bloodthirsty berserkers, even
by the standards of their foul brethren, having submitted
USING THIS BOOKLET themselves to the murderous urges inspired by Khorne, the
This Learn to Play booklet is designed to teach new Blood God.
players how to play Forbidden Stars. In an effort to
teach the game quickly and simply, this booklet Craftworld Iyanden Eldar: The Eldar are
omits many rules exceptions and complex game cunning and mysterious beings, xenos
interactions due to the wealth of unit types and who ruled the stars since before mankind
combat cards. Players should use the included could comprehend its own existence. They
Rules Reference to resolve these situations. are seers and warriors, mystics and patient hunters who
combated the horrors of the galaxy for aeons without
end. Their methods are inscrutable and their goals are
unknowable. The ghost warriors of Iyanden know well the
price of hubris and have suffered much for it, yet they fight
on, plying the stars aboard their massive Craftworld.

Evil Sunz Orks: The savage green-skinned

xenos known as the Orks are a species of
brutish, barbaric warriors whose only desire
is the thrill of battle. Gathering together
in teeming hordes with numbers beyond
counting, the greenskins work themselves into frenzies of
savage violence and unquenchable rage, boiling from one
planet to the next across the galaxy in a green tide of war,
or “Waaagh!” as the Orks call it. The Orks of the Evil Sunz
howl “Waaagh!” from the seats of smoke-belching bikes
or packed into ramshackle trukks, their love of bloodshed
surpassed only by their lust for break-neck speed.

LEARN TO PLAY
 COMPONENT LIST
Adeptu
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112 Combat Cards 32 Event Cards 20 Order Upgrade Cards

1 Rules Reference (28 per faction) (8 per faction) (5 per faction)

Order Re
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strike. art a

4 Reference Cards

1 Round Track and 1 First Player Token 36 Asset Tokens

1 Round Marker (12 of each)

16 Custom Dice 12 Combat Tokens 4 Materiel Dials

(A front, E back)
CITY FACTORY

3 2
Bastion

2 2 3 2
0 Scouts

Space Marines
Ultramarines Chapter
For the Emperor: When you resolve a
dominate order, you may spend 1 materiel
2 1

Strike Cruisers
2 2
4 Warp Storm Tokens
to either replace 1 Scout in the active 2 2 2 2
system with 1 free Space Marine, or replace
1 Space Marine in the active system with
1 free Land Raider.
Space Marines
1 3 2 3 3

Objective Tokens Land Raiders

4 3 4 3
2 Battle Barges

5 4 5 4

Warlord Titans

3 5 3 5 4

12 Double-Sided 4 Faction Sheets 35 Plastic Structures (10 Factories,

System Tiles 15 Cities, and 10 Bastions)

DIAL ASSEMBLY
Before playing Forbidden Stars for the first time,
carefully assemble the four materiel dials as
shown below. 105 Plastic Units (27 Space Marine, 24 Eldar,
27 Ork, 27 Chaos Space Marine), and 27 Plastic Stands

SHIP ASSEMBLY
Before playing Forbidden Stars,
carefully insert a plastic stand into
each ship as shown to the right.

LEARN TO PLAY
 SETUP

Finally, he claims a materiel dial and sets the number at
“6”—this value is also listed in the “Initial Forces” box on
the back of his faction sheet.
Before starting a game of Forbidden Stars, players must
perform the following setup steps: 3. Determine First Player: Mix one of each player’s
structure control markers in the box lid and draw one
1. Choose Factions: Each player chooses one faction randomly. That player is assigned the first player token.
and gathers that faction’s corresponding faction sheet,
4. Construct Game Board: For the first game, arrange the
tokens, event cards, upgrade cards, combat cards,
necessary system tiles in the centre of the play area as
and units.
depicted in the “Introductory Setup” diagram below—


For the first game only, if playing with fewer than four when playing with fewer than four players, part of the
players, exclude the Orks and Eldar factions from a two- game board is excluded.
player game, and Eldar from a three-player game.


Then, place the units, structures, structure control tokens,
2. Claim Starting Components: Each player claims all objective tokens, and Warp Storm tokens on the game
components listed in the “Initial Forces” box on the back board as indicated in the diagram. Do not place the tokens
of his faction sheet. Then, he flips his faction sheet faceup or units of the unused factions. The reinforcement token
and places these claimed components on top of it. listed in the Ork’s “Initial Forces” are not placed on the
game board but remain near his faction sheet until used.

INTRODUCTORY SETUP

10a 1a 11b 2b

5a 3b 8a 6b

7a 12a 4b 9a
2 Player Game
3 Player Game
4 Player Game
4

LEARN TO PLAY


Note: After playing one game using the “Introductory
Setup” diagram, players can set up a game using the
“Constructing the Game Board” rules on page 16.
PLAYING THE GAME
Those rules allow players to create a unique game board Forbidden Stars is played over a series of game rounds.
for each game by choosing where to place system tiles, Each game round consists of three phases resolved in the
units, objective tokens, and Warp Storms. following order:

5. Create Event, Combat, and Upgrade Decks: Each player 1. Planning Phase: During this phase, players take turns
shuffles his event cards and places them in a facedown placing order tokens on the game board.
deck in his play area. 2. Operations Phase: During this phase, players take turns
Ambush


Then, each player finds the ten combat resolving the order tokens they placed on the game board.
cards with his faction symbol printed 3. Refresh Phase: During this phase, players collect
on the upper-left corner and shuffles Faction Symbol on objectives, collect materiel, rally their routed units, move
them to form his combat deck. a Combat Card
Warp Storms, and resolve event cards. Then, the first
player passes the first player token and advances the


Finally, each player forms two upgrade
round marker on the round track.
decks using all of his faction’s order upgrade cards and
his remaining combat cards; these decks do not need After resolving the Refresh Phase, players begin a new
shuffling. He places them faceup next to his faction
Gain 2 A.
sheet round starting with a new Planning Phase. They continue
making sure not to mix them with his combat deck. resolving
Scout/Strike Cruiser: When an enemy unit game rounds until a player has won the game
destroyed unless your opponentby spendscollecting enough objective tokens (explained in
is routed during this execution round, it is
1 C.

6. Prepare Round Track: Place the round track near the detail later).
game board, and place the round marker on the “1”

Phase 1: Planning Phase

space on the track.
7. Create Supply: Separate all reinforcement tokens, cache
tokens, forge tokens, dice, and plastic structures in piles During the Planning Phase, players take turns placing order
and place them near the game board where all players tokens facedown on the game board. Players reveal these
can reach them. tokens and resolve their effects during the Operations Phase.
After completing the setup steps, each player’s World Areas
To start the Planning Phase,
components should be in his play area as displayed below.
the first player places one of
Then, players are ready to begin the first round of the game.
his order tokens facedown
on the order token box
of a system tile. Then,
Order
proceeding clockwise,
PLAY AREA EXAMPLE each other player places
Token
Box
Structure one order token on any
Event Plastic Units Materiel Control
system tile. Players repeat
Deck Order Tokens Dial Tokens
this process until each
player has placed four order
tokens on the game board. Void Areas
Players place order tokens facedown so the type of order is
3
CITY FACTORY

2
hidden from other players. If a system already contains one
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2222 Crusade
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Crusade
Crusade
22 Crusade
Crusade
Crusade Space Marines 2 1 2 2
Ultramarines Chapter
For the Emperor: When you resolve a Strike Cruisers
dominate order, you may spend 1 materiel
to either replace 1 Scout in the active 2 2 2 2

the top of the stack is always the order token that was
system with 1 free Space Marine, or replace
1 Space Marine in the active system with
When you start aacombat with this 1 free Land Raider.
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Bastion/Space Marine/Strike Cruiser: Gain
units. 2 Battle Barges
Bastion/Space
Bastion/Space Marine/Strike
Marine/Strike Cruiser:
Cruiser: Gain
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eitherBastion/Space
11D or 11C.Marine/Strike
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Cruiser: Gain
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Warlord Titans

3 5 3 5 4

Order Combat Combat

Upgrades Upgrades Faction Sheet Deck

Order tokens are placed Multiple order tokens can

facedown on the order be placed on top of each
token box. other to form a stack.
Important: A player cannot place an order token in a system
if he does not have a unit or structure either in or adjacent
to that system. Each system is adjacent to the systems with
which it shares an edge. If two systems share only a corner
and not an edge, they are not adjacent. 5

LEARN TO PLAY
 ORDER TOKEN TYPES
Players use order tokens to perform Forbidden Stars’ main
Phase 3: Refresh Phase
During the Refresh Phase, each player collects materiel and
actions such as moving units, attacking with units, and
objective tokens from friendly worlds—worlds that contain
building new units and structures.
only his units or structures. Also during this phase, each
There are four types of order tokens. When a player reveals player rallies his routed units so they are ready for the next
an order token, he resolves the effect corresponding to the game round.
type of token revealed.
During the Refresh Phase, each player resolves the following
Deploy: The player can spend his materiel to steps in order:
purchase new units and structures in the system.
1. Collect Objectives
2. Collect Materiel
Strategize: The player can purchase an order
upgrade, a combat upgrade, or both. Then, he 3. Rally Routed Units
places the order token on top of his event deck 4. Draw Events and Move Warp Storms
which will allow him to draw an event card
5. End of Round
during the Refresh Phase.
After resolving this phase, players begin a new game round.
Dominate: The player gains assets from each
friendly world in the system. He can also use the
special ability on his faction sheet. COLLECT OBJECTIVES
Each player collects any of his objective tokens that are 3 CITY FACTORY

Advance: The player can move his units to the 2

on friendly worlds. He places the tokens on the “Objective Bastion

system and start one combat. 2 2 3 2

Token” box of his faction sheet so that all players can0 easily Aspect Warriors

see how many tokens he has collected. Eldar

2 2 1 2

Craftworld Iyanden Hellebore Frigates

The details for resolving each order type are described in Webway Portal: When you resolve a
dominate order, you may take 1 of your
units from 1 world in the active system and
2 3 2 1

detail later.
place it on 1 friendly world in any system.
Wraithguard
1 3 2 4 2

Phase 2: Operations Phase

Objective Tokens Falcons

4 3 4 3
2 Void Stalkers

5 4 5 4

Warlock Battle Titans

During the Operations Phase, players take turns resolving 3 5 4 5 3

the order tokens placed during the Planning Phase. Starting

with the first player and proceeding clockwise, each player
chooses one of his order tokens on top of a stack. He reveals The Eldar player collects an objective
the chosen order token, resolves its effect, then removes token from a friendly world.
it from the game board. The Operations Phase ends when
players have resolved all order tokens on the game board. A player wins the game if he collects a number of objective
tokens equal to the number of players in the game (see
When the active player reveals an order token, he chooses “Winning the Game” later).
to either resolve the token’s effect or place the token faceup
on the top of his event deck. Each token on his event deck
allows him to draw one event card during the Refresh Phase. COLLECT MATERIEL
Note: If a player does not have any order tokens on the top Most worlds have a materiel value, which is indicated by a
of any stack, he must skip his turn. He must resolve an order number on a green materiel icon.
during his next turn if he has one on top of a stack at that time.
This world’s
materiel value
is two.
WHAT ARE UNITS & STRUCTURES? During the Refresh Phase, each player gains materiel
Ground units and ships are types of units equal to the materiel value of each friendly world. When a
represented by plastic pieces. Players move units, player gains materiel, he increases his materiel dial by the
attack with them, and position them to control appropriate amount.
areas on the game board, which ultimately lets
them collect their objective tokens. Structures
provide players with combat boosts (bastions),
allow players to purchase units (factories), and
increase the player’s command level (cities), which
is necessary to acquire better units and upgrade This materiel dial
cards. Thus, a careful balance of both structures and is set to “4.”
units is necessary for a player to achieve victory.

LEARN TO PLAY
 RALLY ROUTED UNITS
Each player rallies all of his routed units. Units can become
WHAT ARE WARP STORMS?
routed during combat and are placed on their side to denote
this. A routed unit cannot move or be used to trigger combat Beyond the fabric of reality exists an infinite,
card abilities. It also cannot contribute its dice or morale powerful, and unpredictable realm known as the
during a combat or orbital strike. To rally a unit, the player Warp. Interstellar travel and psychic powers in
stands the unit back up to its unrouted state. the Warhammer 40,000 universe are both made
possible by the power of the Warp. Unfortunately,
the Warp is volatile, unpredictable, and sometimes
bleeds into our reality in the form of devastating
Warp Storms. These rips in the universe can
consume entire star systems and are almost
impossible to navigate through.
In Forbidden Stars, Warp Storm tokens are placed on
Unrouted Unit Routed Unit the game board along the edge of some system
tiles. Units cannot move through Warp Storms.
Warp Storms move at the end of each game round,
DRAW EVENTS AND MOVE WARP STORMS making the game board an ever-changing and
Each player draws a number of cards from his event deck unpredictable environment.
equal to the number of order tokens on top of it, returning
the order tokens to his supply of unused order tokens.
Order tokens are placed on top of this deck after resolving a
Strategize Order (explained later).
Moving Warp Storms
Then, starting with the first player and proceeding To move a Warp Storm, the player
clockwise, each player chooses one event card from among chooses one Warp Storm that has not
those he just drew. He moves one Warp Storm on the game moved this phase. Then, he moves
board following the Warp Storm movement icon depicted the token in one of the two directions
on his chosen card (see “Moving Warp Storms” to the right). indicated by the Warp Storm movement
Then, he may resolve the event card’s ability. icon on the right side of his event card. Warp Storm
Movement Icon
There are two types of event cards: tactics and schemes.

The Emperor Protects Adeptus Mechanicus

TACTIC SCHEME

Either place 1 free bastion on a friendly world Place this card in your play area and discard
Tactic Event Card
not containing a structure or spend 2 materiel
to place 1 free bastion on a friendly world not
Scheme Event Card
all of your other schemes.
At the start of an assess damage step of
containing a bastion. combat, you may discard this card to gain
2 and 1 additional for each forge
After resolving a tactic event card, the player shuffles it back
token you have.

into his event deck. Scheme event cards remain faceup next These are the eight directions in which a Warp Storm can move.
to the player’s faction sheet, and their effects can be used in Players cannot move a Warp Storm token onto another
the future as described on the card. Warp Storm.
After a player resolves his event card, he shuffles all When choosing both a Warp Storm and a direction to move
unchosen event cards from his hand back into his deck. it, the player must always make choices that result in a Warp
Storm moving, if able.
Important: If a player did not draw any event cards, he must
still move a Warp Storm. To do so, he reveals the top card of
his event deck and moves one Warp Storm using the Warp
Storm movement icon on that card as explained above.
Then, he shuffles the event card back into his deck without
resolving its ability.

END OF ROUND
The first player gives the first player token to the player to
his left. Then, he advances the round marker one space on
the round track. If the round marker would advance off the
“8” space of the track, the game ends and the player with
the most objective tokens wins the game. 7

LEARN TO PLAY
 WINNING THE GAME ORDERS IN DETAIL
A player wins the game when he has collected a number of Each faction has two tokens for each of the four orders.
his objective tokens equal to the number of players in the When a player resolves an order during the Operations
game. For example, during a two player game, a player wins Phase, the system tileCITY
on which the order was placed is the
FACTORY
the game whenCommander,
he collects tworeceived
we have of his an
objective
astropathictokens. active system. This section describes how players resolve
relay from the expeditionary
fleet of Ulixes Ithanos who has uncovered a safe Warp passage to the
If no player has wonCluster.
the game by the end
each of the four orders. 3 2
Herakon The Warp Storms thatofsurrounded
the eighth that lost region have
game round, abated
the gameand theends
worldsand
once the player
thought thatare
consumed has
intact and inhabited.
collected the most objective tokens wins the game.
Our strike cruisers are en route to Captain Ulixes’s passage. Orders Deploy Order Bastion
2 3 2
s
have been disseminated throughout the company. The inhabited systems are
to be secured for Imperial compliance. All traitor or Xenos threatsPlayers 2
are to use Deploy Orders to place new
unitsbeand structures on the game board.
WHAT ARE OBJECTIVE TOKENS?
be purged and the loyal worlds made safe. Any rebellious worlds must
brought to heel. 0
To resolve a Deploy Order, the active
Scouts
Objective tokens represent
For the Emperor, important
Guilleman, objects,
and Macragge! player follows these two steps in order:

Brother-Sergeant Corialus
rine Space Marines
people, or places that are vital to a faction’s
survival. The back of each objective token displays
2
1. Purchase Units: If the player has
1 2 2
Deploy
Order Token
Ultramarines Veteran Sergeant
what the objectiveUltramarines
token thematically Chapter represents. a factory in the active system, he
AlthoughForeach may purchase units and place them on any friendly or
thetoken
Emperor:hasWhena unique image,a this is for
you resolve Strike Cruisers
theme only and has
dominate no you
order, game may play
spend effect. The back
1 materiel uncontrolled (not containing any units or structures)
Imperial
to eitherfaction
of each player’s replace Relic: We
1 Scout
sheet incannot
has the
brief let the
active
descriptions areas in the
Warp
2
system. 2
Navigation Beacon: The light 2 2
uiser system with bones of St. Sarissa fall into the
1 free Space Marine, or replace of the Astronomican is faint in this
of the stories surrounding his objectives.
hands of corruption. Make safe her 2. Purchasefar-flung
Structure: Theactivated,
sector. Once playerthismay purchase one
1 Space Marine in the
sanctuary, active system with
Brothers!
1 free Land Raider. structure beacon will guide
and place ituson
to safety.
any friendly world in the active
system that does not already Spacecontain
Marines a structure.

y
System Lord: Lord Halovar has sworn
compliance and declared his allegiance 1 Orbital Defence Platform: This
3 2
ancient edifice is a testament to the will 3 3
to the Imperium. He now requires our
aid in safely escaping the darkness.
PURCHASING UNITS
of mankind. With its might we shall
drive back the darkness.
A player purchases a unit by spending an amount of materiel
Objective Tokens
Archeotech Vault: The artefacts equal to the materiel cost
Ultramarines forCome,
Relic:
Land Raiders
thatBrothers!
unit as displayed on his
El
Objective Token
that reside Description
within that vault were
crafted by the machine priests of old.
faction sheet.The
ToEmperor 4
spendhasmateriel, 3
granted us a mighty 4
the player decreases his
boon. We must but take the planet
3
They must be rescued. materiel dial by the
below andappropriate
the prize shall be amount.
ours! Then, he places the
Objective tokens always remain
faceup so that players can see 2 unit on any friendly or uncontrolled area in the active system.
Battle Barges
the faction icon. This is important Some units cost a forge token in addition to their materiel
because a player cannot collect 5 4
cost. To spend a forge token, a player takes a forge token 5 4
objective tokens belonging to other from his play area and places it in the supply.
players. However, players may wish
to place units on worlds containing Faceup Objective Warlord Titans
enemy objective tokens so that they Token
can prevent their opponents from 3 5 3 5 4
Unit’s Materiel Cost
achieving victory. Unit’s Forge Token Cost

Players can only place ground units on worlds and ships on

voids. In addition to these basic restrictions, a player must
adhere to command level restrictions.
The maximum number of units that a player can purchase
with one Deploy Order is dictated by his deploy limit. His
deploy limit is equal to the unit capacity of the world in the
active system where his factory is located. Unit capacity is
shown as skulls on the world’s banner.

This world’s unit capacity is two.

LEARN TO PLAY
 CITY FACTORY

3 2
Bastion

2 2 3 2
COMMAND0LEVEL ASSETS
Each player has a command level that indicates Scouts can gain assets from friendly worlds by
Players

Space Marines
which units and upgrades he can purchase. A
player’s command level is equal to the number 2 1 2 2
resolving a Dominate Order. Each asset has a
unique effect, as described below:
Ultramarines Chapter
of cities he controls.
Forge Tokens: Some units require the player to
the Emperor: When youunit
Each resolve
anda upgrade card has a command level Strike Cruisersa forge token to purchase them. This is
spend
minate order, you may spend 1 materiel
requirement. A player can only purchase units and
ither replace 1 Scout in the active 2 2 2 2
displayed on the faction sheet below the unit’s
upgrades
em with 1 free Space Marine, with a requirement equal to or less than
or replace materiel cost.
pace Marine in thehis command
active level.
system with
ee Land Raider. Alternatively, a player may spend a forge token
Space Marinespurchasing a unit to reduce its command
when
Unit’s Command
Level Requirement 1 3 2 3 3
level requirement by one. This allows him to
purchase a unit he would normally be unable to
purchase (see “Command Level” on the left).
Objective Tokens Land Raiders

4 3 4 3
PURCHASING STRUCTURES
2
A player purchases a structure (city, bastion, or factory) by Battle Barges
spending an amount of materiel equal to the materiel cost This world provides one forge token.
for that structure as displayed on his faction sheet. Then, 5 4 5 4
he places the plastic structure on any friendly world in Cache Tokens: When purchasing a unit or structure,
the active system on top of one of his structure control a player can spend a cache token to reduce the
tokens. The token underneath each structure indicates who Warlord Titans cost of that unit or structure by two.
materiel
owns that structure.
3 5 3 5 4
Important: A player cannot place a structure on a world that
already has a structure.

This world provides one cache token.

Reinforcement Tokens: During the reinforce step

of combat, the attacker and then the defender may
place some of their reinforcement tokens into the
This structure is controlled
contested area.
by the Eldar player.
A reinforcement token remains for the duration of

Dominate Order the combat and is treated as the corresponding

faction’s ground unit or ship at command level
zero. While in an area, it follows all rules and
Players use Dominate Orders to gain
restrictions that apply to units.
assets from worlds and resolve their
special faction abilities. To resolve For example, each reinforcement token that the
a Dominate Order, the active player Ultramarines player places on a world is treated as
resolves the following steps in order: Dominate a Scout unit.
1. Gain Assets: The player gains the Order Token
assets granted by each friendly world
in the active system. Assets are displayed on the right
corner of a world’s banner.
The player takes the corresponding tokens from the
This world provides one reinforcement token.
supply and places it in his play area. If the world provides
multiple assets, the player collects all of them.
Prosperity: When a player gains this asset, he gains
2. Resolve Faction Ability: The player may resolve the one asset token of his choice.
special ability listed on his faction sheet.

This world provides one asset of any type.

LEARN TO PLAY
 Strategize Order Advance Order
To resolve a Strategize Order, if the player Players use Advance Orders to move
has a unit or structure in the active units and begin combats. To resolve an
system, he may look through all cards in his Advance Order, a player moves units
upgrade decks. Then, he may purchase one into the active system. After moving
order upgrade and/or one combat upgrade Strategize units, the player resolves a combat if Advance
if he meets each card’s command level Order Token there is a contested area—an area that Order Token
restrictions (see “Command Level” on page 9). contains both friendly and enemy units
After resolving this order, he places the order token on top of or structures.
his event deck, which allows him to draw an event card during
the Refresh Phase. To resolve an Advance Order, the active player performs the
following steps in order:
To purchase an upgrade, the player must spend an amount
of materiel equal to the materiel cost displayed on the 1. Move Ships: The active player may move his ships in the
upper left of the upgrade card. To spend materiel, the player active system and one adjacent system to any voids in
decreases his materiel dial by the appropriate amount. the active system.
2. Move Ground Units: The active player may move his
ground units in the active system and one adjacent
0 Upgrade Card’s Required
Hold the LineCommand Level system to any worlds in the active system. If he moved
ships from an adjacent system, he cannot move ground
Upgrade Card’s units from a different adjacent system.
2 Materiel Cost 3. Resolve Combat: The active player resolves a combat if
there is a contested area (see “Combat” on page 12).
If there is not a contested area, he may resolve an orbital
There are two types of upgrades: order upgrades and strike instead (see “Orbital Strike” on page 11).
combat upgrades, as follows:
Important: Units cannot move through Warp Storms,
•• Order Upgrades: Order upgrades 1 and a player can create a maximum of one contested area
increase the functionality of order 2 Crusade while resolving an Advance Order. A player may move any
tokens. After purchasing an order number of units with a mobilize order, but a maximum of
upgrade, the player places it in his play five units can end their movement in each area.
area next to his faction sheet. Each When you start a combat with this
order in a system in which you
have no friendly worlds, gain 1

order upgrade corresponds to one of

reinforcement token.

MOVING SHIPS
limit once per round.

the four orders (Deploy, Strategize,

Dominate, Advance) and provides the When moving a ship, a player can move a ship from the void
player with a benefit when resolving the Order it currently occupies to any void in the active system, even if
Gain 2 E.
corresponding order. the two areas are not adjacent.
Upgrade Card
If you are defending, rally 1 of your units.
•• Combat Upgrades: Combat upgrades 0
MOVING GROUND UNITS
Hold the Line

are more powerful combat cards that 2

the player shuffles into
Bastion/Space his combat deck.
Marine/Strike Cruiser: Gain When moving a ground unit, a player can move a unit from
either 1 D or 1 C. the world it currently occupies to any world in the active
system connected via a path. A path is a series of contiguous,
PURCHASING COMBAT UPGRADES non-diagonal, friendly areas. A path can consist of worlds,
A player purchases combat upgrades in
Gain 2 E.
If you are defending, rally 1 of your units. voids, or a mix of both (see the “Advance Order Example” on
pairs. When a player purchases one combat Bastion/Space Marine/Strike Cruiser: Gain
either 1 D or 1 C.
page 11).
upgrade card, he receives both copies of
Combat Ground units can move from one world to an adjacent world
the card.
Upgrade Card without the use of a ship. Thematically, they are using non-
When a player purchases a pair of combat military transport ships or other mundane forms of travel that
cards, he must remove two copies of any other card from his are not represented in the game.
combat deck and place them both into his combat upgrade
There is no limit to the number of units that a player can
deck. Then, he adds both copies of the purchased upgrade
move through a friendly area.
to his combat deck and shuffles the deck.
A combat deck always contains two copies of five cards for
UNIT CAPACITY
a total of ten cards.
Each area has a unit capacity. Voids have
a unit capacity of three, and each world has a
unit capacity equal to the number of skull icons World’s
presented on the world’s banner. An area’s unit Unit Capacity
capacity indicates the maximum number of
units that can exist on an area after resolving an order.
After resolving an order, including any combat triggered by
that order, a player must destroy any of his units that exceed
10 an area’s unit capacity.

LEARN TO PLAY
 ADVANCE ORDER EXAMPLE
2

3
4 1
5

1. It is the Ultramarines player’s turn to resolve an area, he can move ground units through it.
order, so he reveals one of his Advance Orders by He moves his Space Marines through the void
flipping it faceup. area to the world in the upper-right corner of the
active system.
2. He must move ships first. He has no ships in the
active system, so he moves a Strike Cruiser from an 4. Then, the player moves his Scout through the void to
adjacent system into the void in the active system. the world in the lower-left corner of the active area.
3. Then, the player decides to move some of his 5. Finally, the player decides to move his Scout that
ground units from an adjacent system into the was already in the active system to the adjacent
active system. Now that he has a ship in the void world in the lower-right corner.

ORBITAL STRIKE
After resolving an Advance Order, if there are no contested
areas (and therefore no combat has been started), the active
player may resolve an orbital strike.
To resolve an orbital strike, the player chooses an enemy
world in the active system. Then, he chooses one void in
the active system that is adjacent to this world. He rolls a
number of dice equal to the combined combat value of all
of his ships in that void.
Enemy units on the chosen world suffer an amount of
damage equal to the number of offence icons (B) rolled.
Combat values and suffering damage are both explained in
detail later.
A player cannot resolve an orbital strike against a world
containing a bastion structure. Bastions are described later.

11

LEARN TO PLAY
 COMBAT c. Assess Damage: Starting with the attacker, both
players must suffer damage equal to his opponent’s
total number of offence icons ( ) from dice, combat
After a player moves units using an Advance Order, he must tokens, and faceup combat cards. Each defence
resolve a combat if he has
CITY units on an area containing
FACTORY both icon ( ) that a player has (from dice, combat tokens
friendly and enemy units or structures (i.e., a contested and his faceup combat cards) reduces the amount of
3
area). During combat, the player resolving the Advance 2 damage suffered by one. The rules for suffering
Order is the attacker and the other player is the defender. damage are explained on page 13.

Combat in Forbidden Stars uses a combination

Bastion of both dice Ambush Blessed Power Armour
and cards. Players begin the combat by rolling a number of
2 2 3
dice based on their units’ combat values. Then, they play 2
combat cards to trigger special abilities and gain combat
0
icons, dice, and combat tokens. The player with the most
Scouts
morale ( ) at the end of the combat is the winner and his
es opponent must retreat his units.
2 1
The specific steps of combat are as follows:
2 2
pter Gain 2 A.
Gain 2 E.
solve a 1. Preparation: Players prepare Strike
for combat
Cruisers by performing
Scout/Strike Cruiser: When an enemy unit
d 1 materiel the following substeps:
active 2 2 2 2 CITY
Bastion/Space
is routed during
Convertyour
destroyed unless
Marine/Strike
this execution
up toopponent
round, itCruiser:
2 of yourspends
is
dice into
1 C.
FACTORY D.

e, or replace a. Roll Dice: Both the attacker and defender

stem with simultaneously roll a number of dice equal to the 3
The Ultramarines player has a total of 2
combined combat value ofSpace each of his unrouted units
Marines three offence ( ) and four defence ( ).
in the combat, as displayed on his faction sheet. For
1 3 2
example, if the Ultramarines player has two Land3 3 Bastion damage, if only
After both players have suffered
Raiders in the combat, he rolls six dice.
2
one player has units and/or bastions remaining
2
in the area, he wins the combat and proceeds to
3 2
ns Land Raiders the “Capture Structures” substep of resolution as
3 4 3 0 described below.
4 Scouts
3. Resolution: After resolving the third execution round,
2 Space Marines
Battle Barges
2 1
players finish resolving the combat by following these 2 2
Ultramarines
Unit’s CombatChapter
Value substeps:

5
For the Emperor: 4
on a Faction
When youSheet 5
resolve a 4 a. Determine Winner: The player
Strike with the highest total
Cruisers
dominate order, you may spend 1 materiel morale value wins the combat (defender wins ties), and
Each player organizes his rolled dice into groups
to either replace 1 Scout in the active 2 2
the enemy units must retreat (explained later). 2 2
of identical
systemicons
withso both
1 free he and
Space his or
opponent can
Warlord Titans replace
Marine,
easily evaluate the results.
1 Space Marine in the active system with A player determines his total morale value by adding
3 b. 3 draws
5 Each player
1 free Land Raider.
Draw Combat Cards: 5 five 4combat the number of his morale icons
Space ( ) on his dice and
Marines
faceup combat cards as well as the number of morale
cards from the top of his combat deck.
1 3 2
on his faction sheet that corresponds to each of his 3 3
c. Reinforce Step: First the attacker and then the bastions and unrouted units in the combat.
defender have an opportunity to place some of their
Objective Tokens
reinforcement tokens near their units in the contested Land Raiders
area. The number of reinforcement tokens that a player
can place is equal to the number of units he has in the 4 3 4 3
combat (see “Assets” on page 9).
2. Execution: Players resolve up to three execution rounds
2 Battle Barges
by playing combat cards from their hands. During Unit’s Morale Value
each execution round, players perform the following 5 4
on a Faction Sheet 5 4
substeps: b. Capture Structures: If the attacker wins the combat,
a. Choose a Combat Card: The attacker and defender he takes control of any structures on the world by
removing his opponent’s Warlord Titans control tokens and
structure
simultaneously choose one combat card from their
hands and place them facedown in the play area. 3 replacing them with his own.
5 3 5 4
b. Resolve a Combat Card: The attacker reveals and resolves c. Clean Up: Each player discards any reinforcement
his combat card. Then, the defender reveals and tokens he used to the supply and shuffles all of his
resolves his combat card as explained on page 13. combat cards back into his combat deck.

12

LEARN TO PLAY
 Blessed Power Armour
CITY FACTORY

Resolving Combat Cards S3 uffering Damage 2

All combat cards have one or two combat ability boxes. When a player suffers damage, he must choose any one
When resolving a combat card, the player first resolves all friendly unit on the area to suffer the damage. That unit must
Bastion
general abilities (green box), then resolves all unit abilities be unrouted unless all of his other units are routed. If the
(brown box). He resolves each ability in the order in which it 2 2 3
damage equals or exceeds the chosen unit’s health value, 2
is listed, from top to bottom. that unit is destroyed and removed from the game board.
Unit abilities are always preceded by at least one unit name. 0 Scouts
To use a unit ability, the player must have at least one of the
Space Marines
listed units in the combat, and that unit must be unrouted. 2 1 2 2
Ultramarines Chapter
Gain 2 E. For the Emperor: When you resolve a
General Ability StrikeValue
Cruisers
Unit’s Health
dominate order, you may spend 1 materiel
to either replace 1 Scout in the active
Bastion/Space Marine/Strike Cruiser: 2 2
on a Faction Sheet. 2 2
system
Convert up to 2 of with
your dice free Space Marine, Unit
into1D.
Ability
or replace
If the damage is lower than the health value of the chosen
1 Space Marine in the active system with
1 free Land Raider. unit, that unit is routed. If the damage exceeds the health
value of the chosen unit, any damageSpace Marines
that exceeds the unit’s
To use this unit ability, the player must have at least one Bastion,
unrouted Space Marine, or unrouted Strike Cruiser in the combat. 1 2 3
health value must be applied to another friendly unit. The
3 3
player repeats this process until either no more damage
COMBAT CARD ICONS remains or no more units remain.
Objective Tokens
Most combat cards contain one or more combat icons Important: When suffering damage Land Raiders
during an orbital strike,
( , , ) on the left side of the card. These icons function
like the icons on dice and persist until the end of the combat.
3 4
any units that are not destroyed do not become routed.
4 3
Example: The Ultramarines player has two Scouts in a combat.
2 Show No Fear
2 During the first round, he must suffer three damage. He chooses
Battle first.
Barges He compares its
one of his Scouts to suffer the damage
4 4 5 4
two health to the three damage; because the Scout’s health is
5
equal to or less than the damage, it is destroyed. Then, the player
Combat Icons on assigns the one remaining damage to his other Scout. This unit
a Combat Card is not destroyed but is routed instead, and
Warlord the damage is ignored
Titans
because the unit’s health exceeds the damage.
3 5 3 5 4
Routed Units
COMBAT DICE Units can be routed by combat card abilities, by retreating,
During this execution round, your units or by suffering damage that is less than their health value.
When a player gains a B, D, orcannot
C from an ability, he takes
become routed.
When a unit is routed, the plastic piece is placed on its side.
one die from the supply of unused dice and places it by his If the unit is represented by a reinforcement token, that
other dice with the indicated icon faceup.
Bastion/Space WhenCruiser:
Marine/Strike a player
Spend
token is flipped to its routed side.
1 C to rally all of your units.
loses a die, he takes one of his dice with the matching icon
and returns it to the supply. Routed units do not add their morale ( ) when determining
the winner of a combat and cannot be used to fulfil a unit
If a game effect allows a player to gain a V, he takes a die requisite on a combat card. Additionally, a player cannot
from the supply, rolls it, and places it with his other dice. assign damage to a routed unit if he has one or more
Important: The attacker and defender are each limited unrouted units or bastions in the area.
to eight dice during a combat. During the Refresh Phase, all routed units are rallied by
standing the plastic pieces back up.
COMBAT TOKENS
Some combat card abilities provide players
with combat tokens, represented by combat
Bastions
token icons (A and E). When a player gains Bastions are not units, but they do contribute dice and
a A or E, he takes a combat token from the morale during a combat. Additionally, bastions can be
supply and places it with the appropriate side Combat chosen to suffer damage. If a bastion suffers damage equal
faceup near his dice. When calculating offence Tokens to its health value, it is removed from the game board and
or defence during combat, a player’s combat returned to the supply. Bastions cannot be routed.
tokens add to his final value.
All combat tokens are temporary and are returned to the
supply at the end of the execution round in which they
were gained.

13

LEARN TO PLAY
 COMBAT EXAMPLE PART I

Blessed Power Armour Howling Banshees

CITY FACTORY CITY FACTORY

3
1 3
CITY
2
FACTORY
3
CITY
2
FACTORY
Gain 2 E.
Gain 1 V.

Bastion Bastion Aspect Warrior/Frigate: Spend 1 C to

32 2 3 2 2 32 2 3 2 2 Bastion/Space Marine/Strike Cruiser:
Convert up to 2 of your dice into D.
force your opponent to choose and rout
1 of his units.

0 Bastion
Scouts
0 Bastion
Aspect Warriors
21 32 22 22 31 22
Space Marines 22 22
0 Eldar
5
Ultramarines Chapter
Scouts
0 Aspect Warriors
the Emperor: When you resolve a Craftworld Iyanden Strike Cruisers Hellebore Frigates

Space Marines
minate order, you may spend 1 materiel
22 21 22 22 22 32 21 21
6
either replace 1 Scout in the active Webway Portal: When you resolve a
tem Ultramarines
with 1 free Space Marine,
Chapter or replace
pace Marine in the active system with
Eldar
dominate order, you may take 1 of your
units from 1 world in the active system and

4
theLand
ee Raider.When you resolve a
Emperor: place it on 1 friendly world
Craftworld in any system.
Iyanden Strike Cruisers Hellebore Frigates
minate order, you may spend 1 materiel Space Marines Wraithguard
22 1 32 32 32 42 21
32 32
Webway Portal: When you resolve a
either replace 1 Scout in the active
tem with 1 free Space Marine, or replace
1
dominate order, you may take 1 of your
pace Marine in the active system with units from 1 world in the active system and
ee Land Raider. place it on 1 friendly world in any system.
Space Marines Wraithguard
Objective Tokens Objective Tokens Land Raiders Falcons
1
43 32 1 43 33
43 32 44 32

Objective Tokens 2
2 Objective Tokens
45
Land Raiders
Battle Barges
43
2
45 43 45 43
Falcons
Void Stalkers
45 43
2 Battle Barges
2 Void Stalkers
Warlord Titans Warlock Battle Titans
55 43 355 44 44 55 34
3 55
Warlord Titans Warlock Battle Titans

3 The Ultramarines
1. 5 3player
35 (blue)
4 is resolving
5 4 an 5 3 5. The Eldar player reveals and resolves his card.
Advance Order. After moving his units, he has First, he resolves the general ability in the green
two units on an area containing two Eldar units. box, which gives him one die. He rolls the die
The Ultramarines and Eldar players must now and places it near his other dice.
resolve a combat.
6. Then, the Eldar player resolves the unit ability in
2. Players reference their faction sheets to the brown box. He has an Aspect Warrior, and
determine how many dice their units provide. chooses to spend a C die to force his opponent
Both players simultaneously roll their dice. to choose and rout one unit. The Ultramarines
player chooses to rout one of his Scouts.
Then, each player draws five cards from his
combat deck, and keeps these cards hidden As the final step of this execution round, players
from each other (not shown). must suffer damage. Each player totals the number
of combat icons he has from his dice, his combat
First Execution Round: Each player chooses a combat cards, and his combat tokens.
card from his hand and places it facedown in front
of him (not shown). Then, the players resolve the Neither player has more offence icons ( ) than his
following steps: opponent’s defence icons ( ), so neither player
suffers damage (not shown).
3. The Ultramarines player is the attacker, so he
reveals and resolves his card first. First, he Players discard all combat tokens, then resolve the
resolves the general ability in the green box, next execution round (see “Combat Example Part II”
which gives him two defence combat tokens. on page 15).
4. Then, he resolves the unit ability in the brown box.
He has the Space Marine unit required to use this
ability, so he chooses to convert one of his B
dice into a D die.

14

LEARN TO PLAY
 COMBAT EXAMPLE PART II
CITY FACTORY
Blessed Power
Faith Armour
in the Emperor HowlingHit
Banshees
and Run HowlingHit
Banshees
and Run

3 2
Bastion

211 2Blessed Power 3Armour 2

9
Gain 1 V.
Gain 2 A.
0 CITY Gain 1 V.
Gain 2 A. Scouts
FACTORY
Gain 2 E.Gain 1 V.

Bastion/Space
Scout/Space
Marine/Strike
Marine/Strike Space Marines
Cruiser: Cruiser: Either
Aspect Warrior/Frigate:
Aspect Warrior/Frigate:
1 of
force your your units
opponent
Spend 1Spend
to an adjacent
to choose 3
C to 1 C to move
and routfriendly or 2 force your 21
Aspect Warrior/Frigate:
Aspect Warrior/Frigate:
1 of your units
opponent 2
Spend 1Spend
C to 1 C to move
to an adjacent
to choose and routfriendly or 2
8
Convert uprally
to 2 1ofofyour
yourdice
units
intoorD.
gain 1 C. 1 of his uncontrolled
units. area. 1 of his uncontrolled
units. area.

Ultramarines Chapter

7 For the Emperor: When you resolve a

dominate order, you may spend 1 materiel
10 Bastion Strike Cruisers

to either replace 1 Scout in the active 2 22 3Gain 2 E. 22 2 2

system with 1 free Space Marine, or replace
1 Space Marine in the active system with
1 free Land Raider. 0 12 Scouts
Bastion/Space Marine/Strike Cruiser:
Convert up to 2 of your dice into D.

Space Marines

Space Marines 1 2 31 2 22 3 3
Ultramarines Chapter
Second
For the Emperor: When you resolve a
Execution Round: Each player chooses a
dominate order, you may spend 1 materiel
Objective Tokens Strike Cruisers
11. Each player totals the number of offence icons ( )
Land Raiders
combat to card
front of
eitherfrom
system
his1 Scout
replace
him (not
with 1shown).
handinand
free Space
the places
Then,
active it facedown in
theorplayers
Marine, replace resolve the
2 42
he has from his dice, his combat cards, and his
combat tokens.
2 32 4 3
1 Space
following Marine in the active system with
steps:
1 free Land Raider. 2
The Eldar player is the only player that has more
Space Marines Battle Barges
7. The Ultramarines player reveals and resolves his offence ( ) icons than his opponent’s defence
card. First, he resolves the general ability in the 1 3 52
( ) icons. He has six offence icons and his
opponent has two defence icons, so his opponent
3 43 5 4
green box, which gives him one die. He rolls the die
and places it near his other dice. suffers four damage.
Objective Tokens
8. Then, he resolves the unit ability in the brown box.
Land Raiders
12. The Ultramarines player chooses to first assign
Warlord Titans

He has the Space Marine unit required to use this 3 4 53

damage to the Scout unit. It has only two health and
is destroyed. The remaining two damage is assigned
4 33 5 4
ability, so he chooses to rally his Scout.
9. Then, the Eldar player reveals and resolves his card. 2 to his other unit, which has three health. This is not
enough damage to destroy it, so the unit is routed.
Battle Barges
First, he resolves the general ability in the green box,
which gives him two offence combat tokens. 5 4
Players discard all combat tokens. Since both players have 5 4
units remaining, they resolve one more execution round.
10. The Eldar player can now resolve the ability in the If both players have a surviving unit, the player with the
brown box, but he chooses not to. most morale at the end of that Titans
Warlord round wins the combat
and his opponent must retreat all of his units (not shown).
3 5 3 5 4

Retreating DEFENDER RETREATS

When the defender retreats, he must move all of his
Units must retreat when they lose a combat. Additionally, remaining units from the contested area to either a friendly
some combat card abilities can force units to retreat. After a or uncontrolled area in either the active system or an
unit retreats, it is routed. adjacent system—ships must retreat to a void and ground
Attacking and defending units follow different retreat rules, units must retreat to a world along a legal movement path.
as follows: All retreating units must move to the same area.
If the defender is able to retreat to both a friendly and an
ATTACKER RETREATS uncontrolled area, he must retreat to the friendly area.

When the attacker retreats, he must move all of his

remaining units from the contested area to another area—
STOP!
ships must retreat to a void and ground units must retreat
to a world along a legal movement path. All retreating units You now know all the rules needed to play your
must move to the same area, and it must be an area that at first game. After playing with the introductory setup,
least one unit in the combat moved from. you are ready to learn the additional rules on page 16.
15

LEARN TO PLAY
 CONSTRUCTING THE GAME BOARD Placing System Tiles
When placing a system tile, a player can place either his
After playing a game using the game board provided in the faction tile or any of his other tiles. He can place the tile with
“Introductory Setup” diagram, players are ready to play by either side faceup and in any orientation; however, after the
building a unique game board during game setup. first player places his first system tile, all other tiles must be
placed adjacent to another tile.
Constructing the game board is a strategic exercise in which
players choose where to place system tiles and where to A player cannot place a tile in such a way that it violates the
deploy their initial forces. During the “Construct Game maximum game board size. This size varies depending upon
Board” step of setup, players follow these steps: the number of players:
1. Distribute System Tiles: Each player claims the system •• Two Players: Three tiles by two tiles
tile that has his faction icon on it. Then, the first player
takes all system tiles that do not have faction icons on •• Three Players: Three tiles by three tiles
them, randomizes them by shuffling them under the
table, and deals two to each player. •• Four Players: Three tiles by four tiles

2. Distribute Objective Tokens: Each player gives two of The orientation of the game board is not determined until
his objective tokens to each other player and returns any the maximum number of tiles are placed in one row or
remaining tokens to the game box. column. For example, a four-player game could be either
3. Build the Game Board: Starting with the first player and four tiles wide or four tiles high. This is determined as soon
proceeding clockwise, each player places one system as the fourth tile is placed in a row or column.
tile in the play area as follows:
a. Place a System Tile: The player chooses one of his
system tiles and places it adjacent to at least one TILE PLACEMENT EXAMPLE
other system tile (see “Tile Placement Example”
It is the Eldar player’s turn to place
to the right).
a tile during a four-player game. He
b. Place Units and Structures: The player may place any decides to place his faction tile.
number of the components from his faction sheet (in
the “Initial Forces” box) on the tile he just placed. He can place his faction tile in any
one of eight possible places, outlined in green. He
c. Place Objective Tokens: The player cannot place his tile on any of the three spaces
must place one of his opponent’s on the ends because doing so would violate the
objective tokens on each objective maximum game board size allotted for a four-
token space on the system tile he player game, which is three tiles by four tiles.
just placed, obeying the following
restrictions:
•• A player cannot place two tokens
from the same faction on the same Objective
system tile. Token Space
•• A player cannot place an objective token that
belongs to one faction if he has more objective
tokens that belong to another faction.
•• After he has placed all tokens received during
step 2, he does not place any more objective
tokens.
Players repeat this process until each player has placed
all of his system tiles and all of his components listed in
the “Initial Forces” box on his faction sheet.
4. Place Warp Storms: Starting with the player who placed
the last system and proceeding anticlockwise, each
player places one Warp Storm along any system tile edge;
this may include the outer edges of the game board.

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