Master of Orion tabletop game to launch crowdfunding campaign next week
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Polish tabletop board game manufacturer Archon Studio — one of the biggest miniatures studios in Europe, second only to Games Workshop — announced the upcoming crowdfunding campaign of Master of Orion: Ad Astra, a turn-based 4X sci-fi strategy miniatures game based on the video game of the same name. The Gamefound crowdfunding campaign launches Jan. 14, with additional perks for backers who follow the campaign before the official launch.
In Master of Orion: Ad Astra, players will act as one of six alien species vying for dominance over the far reaches of the galaxy. While not the first tabletop adaptation, Archon Studio calls Ad Astra a “true 4X game”, invoking a term coined by game writer Alan Emrich in his preview of the original video game Master of Orion in 1993. The term describes “the essential four X’s of any good strategic conquest game: EXplore, EXpand, EXploit and EXterminate.”
Backers who fund Ad Astra will receive a core game that includes 280 miniatures from a studio which Polygon’s Charlie Hall described as being created with “Polish space magic,” and a series of technology cards and unique components. Designed for up to four players, Ad Astra also includes a fully realized solo ruleset for players who want to experience the game on their own. The game will be available in five languages: English, German, French, Polish, and Spanish.
Archon Studio will be hosting a YouTube livestream to coincide with the launch of the crowdfund. Backers who follow the campaign prior to that will receive a free dice tray — and have the option to pay for the campaign over the course of six installments instead of one lump sum. The Master of Orion: Ad Astra crowdfunding campaign goes live Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. PST.
