Polish board game manufacturer Archon Studio – one of the largest miniature studios in Europe after Games Workshop – announced the upcoming crowdfunding campaign of Master of Orion: Ad Astraa turn-based 4X sci-fi strategy miniatures game based on the video game of the same name. Gamefound’s crowdfunding campaign will launch on January 14, with additional benefits for backers who follow the campaign ahead of its official launch.
In Master of Orion: Ad Astraplayers will act as one of six alien species battling for dominance over the far reaches of the galaxy. While it’s not the first tabletop adaptation to call Archon Studio Advertisement 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 Xs of any good strategic conquest game: EXplore, EXpand, EXploit, and EXterminate.”
Backers who finance Advertisement Astra receives a core game with 280 miniatures from a studio that Polygon’s Charlie Hall says was created using “Polish space magic,” and a range of technology cards and unique components. Designed for up to four players, Advertisement Astra also includes a fully realized solo ruleset for players who want to experience the game for themselves. The game will be available in five languages: English, German, French, Polish and Spanish.
Archon Studio is organizing a livestream on YouTube to mark the launch of the crowdfunding fund. Donors who follow the campaign will receive a free dice tray and have the option to pay for the campaign in six installments instead of in one go. The Master of Orion: Ad Astra crowdfunding campaign goes live on January 14th at 7pm PST.