Overview

Darkover, subtitled “The Ages of Chaos,” is a board game published by Eon Products in 1979. Based on the Darkover novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley, the game features players competing to control the central Elhalyn Tower using armies and psychic powers. Created by the team behind Cosmic Encounter, Darkover blends wargame mechanics with party game elements – players write dares that can be invoked during play, adding an unusual social dimension to the strategic competition.

Components

• 1 game board depicting the world of Darkover with the Elhalyn Tower at center
• Clan tokens (multiple per player)
• Power discs
• Peril chips
• Crown marker
• Dare slips and a cup
• Castle tokens
• Rules booklet

Setup

1. Lay out the game board.
2. Each player selects a clan color.
3. Clan tokens are randomly placed on the board.
4. All players write dares on slips of paper and place them in the cup.
5. One player is selected as the Monitor; one receives the Crown.
6. Distribute starting Power discs to each player.

Turn Structure

Each turn:

1. Power Collection: Each player fills their Power disc allotment to three.
2. Resource Draw: Each player draws their choice of two peril chips OR two clan tokens.
3. Bonus Tokens: Players who own the Crown or castles receive extra tokens.
4. Actions: Players take turns spending Power discs and clan tokens to move forces, attack, and contest territory.
5. Tower Check: Check if any player controls Elhalyn Tower with four clan tokens.

Actions

Moving Clan Tokens

• Spend Power discs to move your clan tokens across the board toward the Elhalyn Tower.

Combat

• When clan tokens from different players occupy the same space, combat is resolved.
• Psychic powers and clan abilities affect combat outcomes.

Using Psychic Powers

• Power discs can be spent to activate psychic abilities for various effects (movement, combat bonuses, defense).

Dares

• During certain game events, a dare is drawn from the cup and must be performed by the affected player.
• This party-game element adds unpredictability and humor.

Controlling Castles

• Capturing castles provides bonus tokens each turn, improving your resource generation.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

A player wins by having four of their clan tokens on the Elhalyn Tower at the start of their turn (meaning they must maintain control for a full round, surviving other players’ attempts to dislodge them).

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Dares: The dare mechanic is unusual for a strategy game. Written at the start, these add a social/party element that can affect gameplay.
• The Crown: The Crown holder receives bonus resources each turn. Control of the Crown can shift during play.
• The Monitor: One player serves as Monitor, with special adjudication duties.
• Peril Chips vs. Clan Tokens: The choice between drawing peril chips or clan tokens creates a strategic resource management decision each turn.
• Cosmic Encounter Pedigree: Designed by the Eon Products team, the game shares the irreverent, player-interaction-heavy design philosophy of Cosmic Encounter.
• Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover: The setting, factions, and psychic powers are drawn from the Darkover novel series.

Player Reference

Win: 4 clan tokens on Elhalyn Tower at the start of your turn

Turn: Collect Power → Draw peril chips or clan tokens → Take actions → Tower check

Resources: Power discs (fuel actions) and clan tokens (board presence)

Dares: Written at start; drawn and performed during play

Crown/Castles: Provide bonus resource income