Star Chamber (computer game)
| Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga | |
|---|---|
| Studio | World Aparts Productions |
| Publisher | Matrix Games |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
2003 (Harbinger Saga 2005) |
| platform | Windows , Mac OS X |
| genre | Online trading card game |
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer |
| control | Mouse , keyboard |
| language | country-specific versions |
| information | Designer Paul Dennen |
Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga is an online trading card game from Matrix Games and Worlds Apart Productions that was released in 2003 . The game works under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X . In 2007 a fully translated version should be available in Germany.
Star Chamber is characterized by a combination of traditional trading card games in connection with a star map, unit production and conquest (comparable to Master of Orion ).
A game lasts on average half an hour with two players. With two or three players, one hour is more likely. Players can compete against other players over the Internet , or go into battle against a computer opponent . In addition, Star Chamber offers two single player campaigns in which a pre-made set of cards ("deck") is available for each mission. The main focus, however, is on the human versus human games, the artificial intelligence of the game is not a challenge for experienced players.
A game can be won in three ways: militarily (conquer the opponent's homeworld), culturally (collect 30 "destiny points") or politically (three times the "power play" (power games) in the Star Chamber, a kind of intergalactic parliament, win). In contrast to comparable games, it can very rarely be said that a game is "as good as won". Apparently inferior players can often snatch victory in the last second.
Game flow
Each player starts the game with a home planet, a scout, a population unit and a hand made from randomly drawn cards from his deck. The home worlds are connected to other systems via jump routes:
- Artifact worlds that generate Destiny Points
- Industrial planets on which new units can be built
- dead worlds that deliver no bonuses
- the Star Chamber, where all six rounds of elections take place.
There are four basic units that can be built on the homeworld and industrial planets:
- Reconnaissance vehicles are light reconnaissance ships that can usually cover the jumps between two planets within one turn and are suitable for transporting troops.
- Cruisers are slower than reconnaissance planes, but better armored and armed.
- Residents create influence. The player who has the most influence in a system controls it. In addition, if residents are in the Star Chamber, they can vote in elections.
- Bombers may only be built after a declaration of war. They destroy residents.
In addition, there is the option of bringing special ships, ground troops and heroes into play using the maps. The use of the cards requires certain basic requirements. In order to play a card, technology points must be spent that are obtained through research or the acquisition of artifact planets.
There are four types of cards:
- Ships
- People (includes heroes and civilians)
- Modifications (can affect everything from a ship's weapon strength to a production bonus for industrial planets or poison that kills an enemy hero after several rounds)
- Zaps, cards that have a one-time effect (5 damage to an enemy ship, a ship is beamed to a certain planet)
Races
There are 10 different races in Star Chamber, each using two different technologies.
Android - Cyber and Entropy
The androids are the villains in the Star Chamber universe. They are robots that imitate the appearance of humans. However, they are based on famous personalities and ideals of beauty so that they are recognizable at first glance (people can't be that beautiful). Androids are incredibly cruel and enjoy the suffering of others.
In the game, androids are characterized by their expensive but powerful ships, which they can further strengthen with their technologies. Androids hardly have cards that give them political advantages, so they are most likely to play for a military victory, which they can certainly achieve due to their strong ships.
- Clave - Life and Entropy
The Clave are a race of feline humanoids who live in a tribal system and who did not develop space travel themselves, but copied it from the Kej.
Clave are distinguished by their heroes. While the humans have the best non-military heroes, the clave offers the best commanders. The Clave use guerrilla tactics, and a lot of their cards deal with destroying enemy ships.
- Ferrier - Order and Mind
The Ferrier are the rulers of the old empire. For a long time the Kej thought that the Ferriers were their creators and that they built an empire with them.
Ferrier are excellent politicians. Many of their cards affect the number of votes a person has in the Star Chamber. To hold out to a political victory, Ferriers have many cards that strengthen their defenses or keep enemy ships in a system.
- Human - Order and Life
People have a difficult lot. The earth was subdued by the Zhikanii and humanity enslaved. While fleeing from the Silicia, the Omior came to earth and drove out the Zhikanii in order to colonize the earth as their new home planet. Since then, people have lived with the peace-loving Omnior.
Humans have the best non-military heroes. Many of their cards give their civilians more leverage. People play very flexibly, they can quickly create large fleets with the production bonuses of the order cards or quickly collect Destiny points with the cards from the life area.
- Ixa - Order and Entropy
- In progress -
- Kej - Order and Cyber
- In progress -
- Omior - Mind and Life
- In progress -
- Silica - Life and Cyber
- In progress -
- Thrass - Mind and Entropy
- In progress
- Zhikanii - Mind and Cyber
- In progress -
Techs
There are 5 different "techs" (technological orientations) in Star Chamber. Each represents a different aspect of each culture.
- Order represents the possibility of creating wealth and cooperation in a society. The focus is on production bonuses and removing enemy modifications.
- Mind refers to the ability to think. The focus is on political manipulation.
- Life symbolizes an interest in all that is living. Maps that stimulate leaders or make it easier to collect Destiny Points can be found here.
- Cyber stands for advanced technological know-how. Among other things, the speed and defense of ships can be improved.
- Entropy is the lust for destruction. Improved weapon systems and ways to eliminate enemies outside of battle can be found here.
Extensions
The expansions are divided into different blocks, which represent sections in the Star Chamber backstory. A block is divided into several "sets".
Origins Block:
Harbinger Block:
Web links
- Official Star Chamber website: www.starchamber.net