We are joined by Dr Dante Lauretta whose debut game, Xtronaut: The Game of Solar System Exploration, was launched on Kickstarter in October 2015. The game met with huge success, being named a Best Family Board Game for 2016 by Good Housekeeping magazine, a Top-5 STEM Toy by City Kids magazine, an Awesome Math Game by MathsInsider, the Top Solar System For Kids Science Toy from Fractus Learning, and more! Xtronaut has received positive reviews from players and parents. Based on this success, Dante and his team have launched Constellations: The Game of Stargazing and the Night Sky
Humans have gazed into the night sky since the dawn of time. Dreaming, wondering, and developing stories around patterns of stars. These star patterns are now associated with some of the most intriguing and well-known creatures from mythology and nature.
With the introduction of telescopes, we have learned so much more about stars. They have different sizes, colors, locations, and characteristics. This knowledge has made looking at constellations all the more fun. We developed the Constellations game to bring our amazing sky, with its rich history, mythology, and science to your game-playing experience!
In this game, players are stargazers, exploring the night sky and collecting stars to define constellations. They compete to find the right stars to fit the needed pattern — are B-type stars or F-types required to complete the constellation? Players compete with each other to strategically collect the right stars, reserve patches of the sky for observation, and explore the universe. Once you have your constellation, add it to the map of the night sky being assembled right in front of you. The closer you get to putting together the actual map of the heavens, the more points you score!
Here’s the Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/827615927/constellations-the-game-of-stargazing-and-the-nigh?ref=discovery
Overview of Constellations
The game involves drawing Star Cards, which represent the seven types of stars classified by astronomers. Each constellation requires a unique combination of star types to place in the sky. As the game progresses and more constellations fill up the night, players must use their puzzle skills to fit the hexes on the board to score the most points. The player with the most constellation points at the end of the game wins!
The game also includes an educational workbook about stellar evolution, star classification information, and the history and mythology of the real constellations.
Each Constellation Hex has two sides: the Illustration Side and the Information Side.
Setup
Setup is easy. Players tailor the length of the game to time available and age groups — shorter and simpler versions are available — or you may choose longer and more advanced gameplay.
Based on the desired length of the game, players randomly select a subset of the Constellation hexes for that round. Players start the game by placing a Zodiac or Milky Way hex in the middle of the table, illustration side up. This hex is the starting point for future placements.
Players shuffle and deal five Star Cards to each player. Then, they place five cards face up in a row. These are the available stars. The remaining cards are placed face down and become the draw pile.
Gameplay
The full rules are here: http://tinyurl.com/ConstellationsRules
On a player’s turn, they may take two of the following actions. The player can do the same action twice.
- Draw a Star Card
- Reserve a Constellation
- Play a Constellation
Player’s may draw Star Cards from either the face-up set or from the draw pile.
To reserve a Constellation, the player takes one of the available Constellation cards and places it in front of them. Only that player may complete that Constellation.
To play a Constellation, the player plays the required set of Star Cards for the desired Constellation. The player then places the hex adjacent to another Constellation on the board, illustration side up. The player scores points equal to the Constellation’s point value plus bonuses for matching gems and desired adjacent hexes.
Points are tracked using star tokens, which remain hidden from other players until the game is over.
Game End
The game ends when a player adds the last hex to the available constellations. Each player takes a final turn, and the game ends. The player with the highest score wins! As a bonus, a beautiful sky map has been created before your eyes!
Backer Exclusive Items
Backers that support us at the $22 level and higher will receive the Kickstarter-exclusive Constellations Mission Patch!
Backers that select a reward level that includes Xtronaut: The Game of Solar System Exploration will also receive an exclusive mission hex. In addition, backers of our original Xtronaut campaign will receive this mission when they back Constellations at the $22 level and higher. Players will be able to plan a mission to the Rosetta target Comet 67/P Churymov-Gerasimenko!
Sponsored by Meade!
Xtronaut is proud to have Constellations sponsored by Meade Instruments. Meade is acknowledged as one of the most innovative and dynamic companies in the telescope market. Known for its groundbreaking telescopic designs, Meade has introduced dozens of improvements over the years that have made amateur astronomy easier and more enjoyable than ever.
For the first time in 26 years, a total solar eclipse will occur in the United States. This is an opportunity of a lifetime – to see an amazing astronomical event, maybe even from your own backyard!
The Meade EclipseView™ 76mm Telescope comes complete with everything you need to view the wonders of the sky, DAY and NIGHT! This portable reflecting telescope comes with a removable white-light solar filter and is a SAFE and FUN way to view the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse! Even better, you can use this scope to view the wonders of the night sky including the Moon, Planets and more, by simply removing the solar filter and changing the viewfinder. Get your EclipseView™ Telescope through our campaign and receive a free copy of Constellations by selecting the $129 reward level.
The Sunless Citadel
dictate a legal table is between 3 and 7 players, we are going to strive to keep our tables at a max of 5 players as much as possible.
In addition to ou Thursday and Saturday games at Fun 4 All, we are working on adding Saturday games at a new venue, as well as Wednesday games at Fun 4 All. We will have more information as we get details finalized.
Hello, and welcome to the Role Playing Game Storytellers Collegium.
