Description

An abstract skirmish level squad combat board & card game for 2 players, based on the X-Com video games. One player plays X-Com units, the other the Aliens.

Use a large hex-map as the playing area. Every hex has 2 ratings: terrain and elevation. These affect defence ratings and line of sight. Terrain is selected at the discretion of the players.

Players use figures, miniatures or chits to represent units. Each unit represents a single soldier or alien.
- X-Com units come in a variety of types: civilian, military, squaddie, specialist, officer, hero or SHIV robot. Each has a hit value between 1 and 4, cost between 1 and 4, and can, through card play, undertake actions from one or more tables according to their type.
- Alien units come in 15 different types. Each has a hit value between 1 and 5, a cost between 1 and 5 and can, through card play, undertake actions from a table that is unique to their type

Players share a common action deck. Cards are of a number of type: Move, Attack, Defence or Special.

Players take turns with each turn comprising 3 Phases:

1. Tactical Phase
- Draw 5 cards (or 4 if you only have 2 units left or 3 if you only have 1 unit left)

2. Move and Fire Phase
- Your units may individually move and fire in either order as you decide. All of your units get one free move of 1 hex. In addition to the free move, you can play one move card on one unit (per turn) to move it again a number of spaces as stated on the card. Normally only one unit is allowed per space. Exceptions include units being carried such as a soldier carrying a wounded comrade or a captured alien or flying units passing over or hovering over other units
- Play an attack card to have a unit attack. The attack card has a number which is the range of the attack. All attacks do a base of 1 hit of damage. A unit reduced to 0 hits is killed.
- Your opponent may play defence cards to negate damage. A defence effect negates a base of 1 hit of damage.

3. End Phase
- Max hand size = 5 cards (4 if you only have 2 units, or 3 if you only have one unit left). Discard excess cards.

The winner of the game is the first to achieve complete destruction of all opposing units.