SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Overview

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence is a science-fiction themed board game designed by Tomas Holek and published by Czech Games Edition (2024). Players lead space agencies competing to discover alien life by launching probes into the galaxy, analyzing signals, and researching technologies. Through judicious use of limited resources, players explore star systems, collect data, advance research tracks, and ultimately find evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The game blends engine building, resource management, and exploration with a thematic focus on scientific discovery.

Components

• 1 Main game board (galactic map with star systems)
• Player boards (one per player)
• Probe tokens (spacecraft sent to explore star systems)
• Signal cards (data from star systems)
• Research track board
• Technology cards
• Resource tokens (energy, data, funding)
• Discovery tokens
• Star system tiles
• Solo mode automa components
• Score track

Setup

Place the main board centrally. Each player takes a player board and starting resources (energy, data, funding). Set up star system tiles on the galactic map. Shuffle signal and technology card decks. Place probes in each player’s supply. Initialize research tracks. Determine first player.

Turn Structure

The game is played over multiple rounds. Each round, players take turns performing actions:

1. Action Selection: On your turn, select one of the available actions to perform.
2. Resolve Action: Pay costs and gain benefits.
3. Continue: Play passes to the next player. The round ends when all players have used their available actions.

End of Round

• Score interim points.
• Refresh available actions and resources.
• Advance the game timer.

Actions

Launch Probes

• Spend energy to launch a probe to a star system on the galactic map.
• Probes collect signal data from the star system they visit.
• Different star systems have different discovery potential and costs.

Analyze Signals

• Process collected signal data to extract meaningful information.
• Successful analysis can lead to breakthroughs on research tracks or direct discovery of alien evidence.

Research

• Advance on research tracks by spending data tokens.
• Research tracks provide increasingly powerful bonuses and unlock advanced capabilities.
• Multiple research tracks represent different scientific disciplines.

Develop Technology

• Acquire technology cards that provide permanent or one-time abilities.
• Technologies can improve probe efficiency, research speed, or resource generation.

Gather Resources

• Collect energy, data, or funding from your player board or other sources.
• Resource management is critical – each action has costs that must be balanced.

Collaborate

• Work with other players or neutral organizations for mutual benefit.
• Collaboration actions may provide shared bonuses.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Players earn victory points throughout the game and at game end from:

• Probe discoveries: Points for reaching and analyzing data from star systems.
• Research track advancement: Points for reaching milestones on research tracks.
• Technology cards: Some cards provide end-game scoring.
• Signal analysis: Successful breakthroughs earn significant points.
• Discovery of alien intelligence: The ultimate goal, providing the highest point rewards.

The player with the most victory points at game end wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Probe Range: Probes have limited range based on technology level. Researching propulsion extends range.
• Star System Depletion: Once a star system has been fully explored, it provides diminishing returns.
• Signal Interference: Some star systems produce false signals that waste resources.
• Research Synergies: Advancing in multiple research tracks can unlock powerful combo effects.
• Solo Mode: Includes automa for single-player play.
• End Game Trigger: The game ends after a set number of rounds or when specific discovery milestones are reached.

Player Reference

Action	Cost	Benefit
Launch Probe	Energy	Explore star system
Analyze Signals	Data	Process discoveries
Research	Data	Advance research tracks
Develop Technology	Funding	Gain ability cards
Gather Resources	Free	Collect energy/data/funding

Victory: Most victory points from probes, research, technology, and discoveries.