Objective: In Cosmic Encounter, players take on the role of various alien species, each with unique abilities, aiming to establish colonies in five foreign star systems. The first player to have colonies in five foreign systems wins the game.

Components:

• 1 Warp

• 5 Player Colony Markers

• 20 Plastic Ships

• 5 Planet Tiles

• 1 Destiny Deck

• 1 Encounter Deck

• 1 Hyperspace Gate

• 1 Cosmic Token

• 1 Warp Token

• 1 Flares Deck

• Various Alien Sheets

• Alien Power Cards

• Tokens and Markers

• Rulebook
  

Setup:

1. Choose Aliens:

   • Each player selects or is dealt an Alien Sheet which details their special power and starting setup.

2. Set Up Home Systems:

   • Each player receives 5 Planet Tiles and places them in front of them as their home system.

   • Place 4 ships on each of your planets.

3. Prepare the Decks:

   • Shuffle the Destiny Deck and Encounter Deck separately.

   • Place the Warp and Hyperspace Gate in the center of the table.

4. Deal Cards:

   • Deal each player 8 cards from the Encounter Deck.

5. Determine First Player:

   • The first player is determined by any agreed method. This player will be the starting offense.
     

Gameplay:

1. Start of Turn:

   • The active player (the offense) starts their turn by drawing from the Destiny Deck to determine which player's system they will attack.

2. Launch:

   • The offense selects one of their ships and places it in the Hyperspace Gate, targeting one of the defender’s planets.

3. Alliance Phase:

   • The offense and the defender may invite allies. Players offer ships to either side. Allies can join by placing ships in the Hyperspace Gate (for the offense) or the targeted planet (for the defense).

4. Planning Phase:

   • The offense and defender each choose an Encounter Card (either an Attack or a Negotiate card) from their hand and place it face down.

5. Revelation Phase:

   • Both the offense and the defender reveal their Encounter Cards simultaneously.

6. Resolution Phase:

   • Attack vs. Attack: The side with the higher total (Attack Card value plus the number of ships) wins. The losing side’s ships go to the Warp, and the winning side’s ships establish a colony on the targeted planet.

   • Attack vs. Negotiate: The attacking side wins. The negotiating side’s ships go to the Warp. The negotiating player may take cards from the offense’s hand as compensation.

   • Negotiate vs. Negotiate: Both sides have one minute to make a deal. If no deal is made, each player loses three ships to the Warp.

7. Second Encounter:

   • If the offense successfully establishes a colony, they may have a second encounter by repeating steps 1-6. Otherwise, play passes to the next player.
     

Winning the Game:

• The game continues until one or more players have established five colonies in foreign systems. That player or players are declared the winners.
  

Special Abilities:

• Each alien species has unique abilities that can alter the rules in specific ways. Players must consult their Alien Sheet to use these powers effectively.
  

Additional Rules:

• Artifacts and Flares: These special cards can dramatically alter the course of play. They are played according to their specific instructions.

• Cosmic Tokens: These are used to track various effects and can influence gameplay based on specific scenarios or alien abilities.
  

Strategies:

• Diplomacy: Negotiating and forming alliances can be crucial. Choose your allies wisely and know when to break deals.

• Timing: Use your alien powers and special cards at the most opportune moments to maximize their impact.

• Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust your strategy based on the changing dynamics of the game.