Sidereal Confluence

2017

Sidereal Confluence: A unique and immersive board game where 4-9 players navigate through intergalactic trade, technology research, and negotiation to build the most successful civilization.

180
minutes

4 - 9
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Sidereal Confluence is an intricate and immersive trading and negotiation board game that is sure to captivate both new and experienced players. Set in a vibrant science fiction universe, the game is a fascinating blend of interstellar commerce, technology development, and strategic diplomacy.

The game is set in a distant future, where different alien races, each with their unique abilities and advantages, come together in a grand coalition known as the Sidereal Confluence. Players assume the roles of these races, each aiming to contribute the most to the coalition while securing their civilization’s prosperity.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Sidereal Confluence is a complex and intricate trading and negotiation game. It contains a vast array of components, each with its own specific role in the gameplay. Below, I will detail each component and explain its function.

1. Player Mats (9): Each of the nine player mats represents a different alien race. Each has unique abilities and a different set of starting resources. The player mats guide players on their trading, technological advancements, and resource production.

2. Converter Cards (36-45 per race): These cards represent technology that converts resources. Each race has its own unique set of converter cards. They are used to convert resources into other resources, ships, or victory points.

3. Resource Cubes (390): The resource cubes represent six different types of resources: Biochemical, Energy, Information, Labor, Materials, and Ultra-Tech. They are used in trades and to power converter cards.

4. Trade Ships (100): Trade ships represent your ability to trade with other races. They are used to hold and transport resources during trades.

5. Research Teams (90): Research teams represent your ability to develop new technologies. They are used to bid on technology cards during the research phase.

6. Technology Cards (60): Technology cards represent new technologies that can be researched. Players bid on these cards using their research teams.

7. Colony Ships (50): Colony ships are used to establish new colonies, which can produce more resources and house more converter cards.

8. Victory Point Chips (70): Victory point chips represent the player’s progress towards winning the game. They are earned by developing technologies, establishing colonies, and other achievements.

9. Bid Tokens (9 sets of 4): Bid tokens are used to bid on technology cards during the research phase. Each player has a set of four bid tokens.

10. Player Screens (9): Player screens are used to conceal a player’s resources and plans from other players. They add an element of surprise and strategy to the game.

Each component in Sidereal Confluence plays a crucial role in the game’s mechanics, contributing to its depth and complexity. The game’s focus on trading and negotiation, combined with the unique abilities of each alien race, makes for a rich and varied gameplay experience.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the board game ‘Sidereal Confluence’:

Step 1: Choosing Player Races

Each player chooses a race to play. Each race has unique abilities and starting conditions, which are detailed on the race’s player sheet. A race cannot be chosen by more than one player.

Step 2: Setting Up Player Area

Each player arranges their player area according to the layout on their race’s player sheet. This includes placing their ships, colonies, and other resources as indicated.

Step 3: Placing the Game Board

The central game board is placed in the middle of the table. This board is shared by all players and is where players will be trading resources and making deals.

Step 4: Distributing Initial Resources

Each player receives the initial resources indicated on their race’s player sheet. These resources are placed in the player’s resource area.

Step 5: Setting Up Technology Cards

Shuffle the technology cards and place them in a pile next to the game board. Draw 3 cards and place them face-up next to the pile. These are the technologies that can be researched in the first round.

Step 6: Random Elements

Some races have random elements. For instance, the Zeth may draw from a deck of special cards during setup. Follow the instructions on the player sheet to set up these elements.

Step 7: Final Preparations

Each player places their score tracker on the 0 space of the score track.

The first player is determined randomly. Give this player the first player marker.

Prepare the timer. This will be used to limit the trading phase of each round.

Once these steps are complete, you are ready to begin playing ‘Sidereal Confluence’. The game is played over several rounds, each of which consists of a trading phase and a resolution phase. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

Game flow Round and round we go

Sidereal Confluence: Trading and Negotiation in the Elysian Quadrant is an intricate game of trade and negotiation. The game structure is divided into three primary phases: the Negotiation Phase, the Conversion Phase, and the Economic Phase. Each round of the game is composed of these three phases.

Negotiation Phase

This is the initial stage of each round in Sidereal Confluence. The main aspect of this phase is trading. Players can negotiate and trade anything that isn’t on their race sheet, including technologies, ships, resources, and colonies.

Trading: All players negotiate and trade simultaneously. There’s no limit to the number and scope of trades.
Research: Players may also trade for research. Once research is traded to a player, they can convert it into technology.
Ending Negotiation Phase: All players must collectively agree to end this phase. If any player wishes to continue negotiating, the phase does not end.

Conversion Phase

After the negotiation phase ends, the game moves to the conversion phase. In this phase, players can activate their converters to produce resources, ships, research or colonies.

Activating Converters: Players use the resources they’ve acquired to activate their converters. These converters transform resources into other types of resources, ships, or research.
Producing Colonies: Certain converters allow players to create colonies. These colonies can then be used in future negotiations or conversions.
Developing Technologies: Players can use research to develop technologies. These technologies give players unique abilities and advantages in future rounds.

Economic Phase

The final phase of each round is the economic phase. During this phase, players will manage their economy, preparing for the next round of the game.

Income: Each player receives an income based on their colonies. The more colonies a player has, the higher their income.
Upkeep: Players must pay upkeep for their converters. If a player cannot afford the upkeep, they must deactivate their converters.
End of Round: After all players have managed their economy, the round ends. The game begins a new round starting with the negotiation phase.

The game continues in this manner until a predetermined number of rounds are completed. At the end of the game, the player with the most points, obtained through colonies, technologies, and certain resources, is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Sidereal Confluence is an intricate game of negotiation and trade. During a player’s turn, several actions and strategic choices can be made that will significantly impact the gameplay. These actions can be divided into three phases: the Negotiation Phase, the Conversion Phase, and the Economic Phase.

The Negotiation Phase

The negotiation phase is the heart of Sidereal Confluence. During this phase:

Trading: Players can trade anything that isn’t locked down. This includes ships, colonies, converter technologies, and resources. It’s important to remember that all trades are binding.
Researching Technologies: Players may trade for technology cards from other players. These cards are important for advancing in the game and can provide a player with unique abilities and advantages.
Planning: Players should be planning for the conversion phase during this time. This involves ensuring they have the resources needed for their converters, and possibly negotiating for additional resources.

The Conversion Phase

During the conversion phase, players will use their resources to run their converters and gain even more resources or other benefits. During this phase:

Running Converters: Players can use their resources to run their converters. This will usually result in gaining more valuable resources or potentially other benefits. It’s important to remember that each converter can only be used once per turn.
Using Colony Points: Players can use their colony points to establish new colonies. Each colony will provide a specific benefit to the player.

The Economic Phase

The economic phase is the final phase of a player’s turn. During this phase, players will be able to gain more resources and prepare for the next round of the game. During this phase:

Collecting Income: Players will collect their income based on the number of colonies they have. The more colonies a player has, the more income they will receive.
Resetting the Board: All the used converters are reset, and players can now use them again in the next round.
Preparation for Next Round: Players should now be looking at what they will need for the next round and planning accordingly. This might involve negotiating for certain resources or technologies in the next negotiation phase.

By understanding these actions and strategic choices, players can effectively plan and negotiate to gain the most out of their turn in Sidereal Confluence, leading to a more engaging and strategic gameplay experience.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Sidereal Confluence’ ends after the conclusion of the sixth round. The player with the highest total points is declared the winner. However, calculating the final scores involves several steps:

1. Victory Points

Throughout the game, players accumulate victory points by researching technologies, which are the primary source of victory points. Players also receive victory points for leftover resources at the end of the game.

2. Conversion of Resources into Victory Points

At the end of the game, players have the opportunity to convert any remaining resources into victory points. The conversion rate is specified on each player’s race sheet. However, it’s important to note that not all resources can be converted into victory points – only those specified on the race sheet.

3. Final Scoring

Technology Cards: Each technology card has a point value, which is added to the player’s total score.
Remaining Resources: Players add the victory points from their remaining resources to their score.

4. Declaring the Winner

The player with the highest total points at the end of the game is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most leftover resources (not converted into victory points) is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who played first is the winner.

It’s important to note that ‘Sidereal Confluence’ is a game of negotiation and trade. Therefore, the key to winning is not just accumulating resources, but also effectively trading and negotiating with other players to gain the most beneficial technologies and resources.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Sidereal Confluence is a unique game of negotiation and resource management that awards points based on a variety of factors. These factors include the successful conversion of resources, fulfillment of contracts, and advancement of technologies.

Points Awarding System:

Technologies: Players earn points by advancing their technologies. The number of points rewarded depends on the level of the technology. For example, a level 1 technology might award 1 point, a level 2 technology might award 2 points, and so on.
Resources: Points are also awarded for successfully converting resources. The more valuable the resource, the more points it is worth. For instance, converting a basic resource like ore might only award 1 point, while a complex resource like energy might award 3 points.
Contracts: Fulfilling contracts is another way to earn points. The number of points awarded is dependent on the size and complexity of the contract. A small, simple contract might only award 2 points, while a large, complex contract might award 5 points or more.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In case of a tie at the end of the game, the tie-breaking rules are applied in the following order:

Most Technologies: The player who has advanced the most technologies wins the tie.
Most Resources: If the tie persists, the player who has converted the most resources wins. It’s not about the points value of the resources, but the total quantity converted.
Most Contracts: If there is still a tie, the player who has fulfilled the most contracts wins.

In the rare case that there is still a tie after applying all these rules, then the game is a draw and the tied players share the victory.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Sidereal Confluence is a uniquely cooperative trading and negotiation board game. While the core mechanics of the game are straightforward, there are some special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that are worth noting.

Trading Rules:

Players can trade anything and everything during the Trade Phase, including ships, resources, converter cards, negotiation cards, as well as promises and favors for future turns.
It’s important to note that while promises are binding, they can only be enforced in the current and next round.

Converter Cards:

Each species has different converter cards, which are used to convert resources. These cards are placed face up in front of the player and are unique to each species.
Converter cards can be traded, but the original owner can’t use it again unless it’s traded back.
When converter cards are traded, they must be used immediately and cannot be kept for future rounds.

Victory Points:

Victory points are calculated differently from most games. In Sidereal Confluence, victory points are accrued based on the player’s contribution to the confluence (the collective civilization).
Players can earn victory points by researching technologies, which also benefits all other players.
Victory points are also awarded at the end of the game based on the number of colonies a player has, the level of their technologies, and any leftover resources.

End of Game:

The game ends after a fixed number of rounds, which is determined by the number of players. For 4-6 players, the game lasts 6 rounds, and for 7-9 players, it lasts 7 rounds.
At the end of the game, there is no final trading round. Instead, players convert all of their remaining resources and colonies into victory points.

Special Species Rules:

Each species in Sidereal Confluence has unique abilities and strategies. These abilities are detailed on the species’ player aid card and should be carefully considered when playing.

Rule Clarifications:

During the Trade Phase, players can continue to negotiate and trade until all players agree to stop. There is no strict time limit.
Technologies can be traded, but the player who trades away a technology does not lose its benefits.
In the rare case of a tie at the end of the game, the player who has the most leftover resources wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most colonies wins.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Sidereal Confluence

One key strategy is to invest heavily in your economy early in the game. This might seem like a risky move, but it can lead to a significant advantage in the later rounds.
Understand the value of each race’s unique abilities. Each race in Sidereal Confluence has its own strengths and weaknesses. Utilizing these abilities to their fullest potential can be a game-changer.
Watch your opponents’ strategies closely. If you notice an opponent is collecting a certain type of resource, consider trading for it to limit their ability to use it, or to leverage it in future trades.

Beginner Tips for Sidereal Confluence

Focus on learning the basics first. The game has a steep learning curve with many intricate mechanics. Understanding the basic rules and structure of the game is essential before diving into more complex strategies.
Don’t ignore the power of negotiation. A large part of Sidereal Confluence involves trading and negotiation. Even if it feels uncomfortable at first, engaging in active negotiation can greatly improve your outcomes in the game.
Be flexible with your strategies. The game’s complex nature means there’s no one-size-fits-all winning strategy. Adapt your game plan based on the current situation and the actions of your opponents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Sidereal Confluence

Undervaluing your resources. Each resource in the game has a value and it’s a common mistake for beginners to undervalue what they have. Always consider the worth of your resources in the larger scope of the game.
Neglecting the importance of trading. Some players focus too much on their own strategies and neglect the importance of trading. Remember, trading is a core mechanic of the game and is crucial to your success.
Ignoring the unique abilities of your race. Each race has unique abilities that can greatly influence the game. Ignoring these can put you at a significant disadvantage.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in Sidereal Confluence

Plan your actions ahead of time. To optimize your gameplay, try to have a clear plan for each round. This will help you make efficient trades and decisions.
Stay aware of the game state. Always be mindful of the overall state of the game, including the strategies and resources of other players. This information can help you make more informed decisions and trades.
Experiment with different strategies. Sidereal Confluence offers a lot of strategic depth. Don’t be afraid to try different strategies and see what works best for you.