Overview

Eclipse is a 4X (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) space civilization game. Each player controls a spacefaring species competing for galactic dominance over 9 rounds. Players explore sector hexes, colonize planets, research technologies, customize ships, and engage in combat. Every action taken costs Influence (and thus Money to maintain), creating a tension between expansion and economic sustainability. The player with the most Victory Points at game end wins.

Components

• 6 sets of player materials (Ships: 8 Interceptors, 4 Cruisers, 2 Dreadnoughts; 4 Starbase tiles; 33 Population Cubes; 16 Influence Discs; 3 Ambassador tiles)
• 37 Sector hexes (8 Inner, 11 Middle, 18 Outer, 1 Galactic Center, 6 Starting)
• 6 Player Boards (two-sided: Terran/Alien)
• 1 Supply Board
• 96 Technology Tiles, 154 Ship Part Tiles, 21 Discovery Tiles
• 22 Colony Ship Tiles, 21 Ancient Ship Tiles, 1 GCDS Tile
• 32 Reputation Tiles, 22 Orbital/Monolith Tiles
• 18 dice (8 yellow, 6 orange, 4 red), 12 Damage Cubes
• 18 Storage Marker octagons, 1 Starting Player Marker, 1 Round Marker

Setup

1. Place Supply Board with Ship Parts and Round Marker. Fill Research Tracks with random Technology Tiles (quantity based on player count).
2. Place Galactic Center hex in the middle with Discovery Tile and GCDS Tile.
3. Separate sector hexes into Inner (I), Middle (II), and Outer (III) stacks by player count.
4. Each player chooses a starting hex/species, places it in a starting position.
5. Each player places on their Player Board: Influence Discs on the Influence Track, Population Cubes on Population Tracks (leaving rightmost square empty), Storage Markers at starting positions (Money: 2, Science: 3, Materials: 3 for Terrans).
6. On starting hex: place 1 Interceptor, Population Cubes on Population Squares, 1 Influence Disc.
7. Each player gets 3 Colony Ships face up.

Turn Structure

The game lasts 9 rounds. Each round has 4 phases:

1. Action Phase

Starting with the Starting Player and going clockwise, each player takes one action or passes. Continue until all players have passed. First to pass gets the Starting Player Marker for next round. Each action requires moving an Influence Disc from the Influence Track to the Action Track (increasing Upkeep costs).

2. Combat Phase

Resolve all battles between opposing forces on shared hexes.

3. Upkeep Phase

Pay Money equal to the Upkeep cost shown by the leftmost visible circle on the Influence Track. Then produce Resources (Money, Science, Materials) based on exposed Population Track values.

4. Cleanup Phase

Return Influence Discs from Action Track to Influence Track. Draw new Technology Tiles. Flip Colony Ships face up.

Actions

Explore

Draw a hex from the appropriate stack and place it adjacent to a hex where you have a Ship or Disc, with wormhole connections matching. Take control by placing an Influence Disc; claim Discovery Tile if present. Ancient Ships must be destroyed before claiming.

Influence

Move up to 2 Influence Discs: from your track to empty hexes adjacent to your controlled hexes, or from hexes back to your track. Also flip 2 used Colony Ships face up.

Research

Choose an available Technology Tile from the Supply Board, pay its Science cost (with discounts from existing tech in that category), and place it on your Player Board.

Upgrade

Modify ship blueprints: return any number of Ship Parts to supply, then take up to 2 new Ship Parts and place them on your blueprints. All ships of that type are instantly upgraded. Must maintain energy balance and drive requirements.

Build

Build up to 2 Ships or Structures, paying Material costs. Place in hexes where you have an Influence Disc. Ships: Interceptor (3), Cruiser (5), Dreadnought (8), Starbase (3). Structures: Orbital (3), Monolith (10).

Move

Make up to 3 ship movements. Each ship moves up to its Movement Value (based on Drives). Ships can only move through full wormhole connections. Ships entering hexes with enemy forces become “pinned” (one per opposing ship).

Reaction (after passing)

A weaker action: Upgrade (take 1 part), Build (build 1), or Move (1 ship, 1 move).

Colony Ships

At any time during your action, activate face-up Colony Ships to place Population Cubes from your tracks onto Population Squares in hexes you control. Flip activated Colony Ships face down.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

After 9 rounds, score Victory Points:

• Controlled hexes: VP value printed on each hex
• Discovery Tiles: 2 VP each (if kept as VP rather than used for their benefit)
• Reputation Tiles: VP values from combat victories
• Ambassador Tiles: 1 VP each on your Reputation Track
• Monoliths: 3 VP each
• Technology category bonus: 1/2/3/5 VP for having 2/3/4/5+ technologies in a single category
• Traitor Card: -2 VP penalty

Highest VP total wins. Tiebreaker: most Resources remaining.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Trade: At any time, convert 2 units of one Resource to 1 unit of another.
• Diplomacy (4+ players only): Form diplomatic relations with connected players by exchanging Ambassador Tiles. Breaking diplomacy (attacking) gives you the Traitor Card (-2 VP).
• Galactic Center Defense System: Must be destroyed before controlling the center hex; engages all ships in the center.
• Gray Population Squares: Can receive cubes from any Population Track.
• Advanced Squares (star symbol): Require corresponding Advanced Technology to colonize.
• Bankruptcy: If you cannot pay Upkeep, you must remove Influence Discs (losing hexes) until you can afford it.
• Component limits: Ships, Population Cubes, Influence Discs, and Technology Tiles are limited. Ship Parts, Orbitals, Monoliths, and Damage Cubes are unlimited.
• Pinning: Ships in a hex with enemy ships must leave at least one ship per opposing ship present.

Player Reference

Round structure: Actions > Combat > Upkeep > Cleanup

Actions (each costs 1 Influence Disc): Explore, Influence, Research, Upgrade, Build, Move

Resources: Money (pays Upkeep), Science (pays Research), Materials (pays Building)

Colony Ships: Activate any time during your action to place Population Cubes

Combat dice: Yellow (safe), Orange (moderate), Red (powerful); roll to hit based on Computer vs Shield values

Game length: 9 rounds

Win condition: Most Victory Points