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2023/10/08 15:44:15
Subject: Mars: Code Aurora - Agnostic sci-fi skirmish game - Studio Tomahawk/Northstar
Long time since I last posted on this forum, but some of you might remember me from the Painting & Modeling section.
Anyway, lately I have been very busy for a good reason, since I wrote a rulebook for a game named Mars: Code Aurora, that was released earlier this year in its English version.
Mars: Code Aurora is a miniature agnostic game, which means that you can use any range of miniatures as long as they fit with the game theme and the story you want to tell on the tabletop. The game takes place on Mars, as you would have guessed, after mankind had to escape the Earth to rebuild a new civilization. Of course, lots of things went wrong and powerful corporations, companies and militias are in competition, economically, politically and militarily.
Each players controls a dozen miniatures (most generally 8 to 14), and it is possible to include small combat vehicles such as war-walkers, buggies, or little tanks. A game plays on a 3x3 (90x90cm) board, with a lot of terrain. There are in total 8 factions in the game, each based on a specific Archetype, each with its specific profiles and special rules.
What are the specificities of the game?
- Activation system relies on an activation deck, each player has a card color, the card that is drawn tells you who plays next. There are 3 additional cards named Patrol cards that activate drones on the battlefield. When the third Patrol card is drawn, the turn ends immediately.
- At the beginning of the game, drones are placed on the table, they will then move when Patrol cards are pulled. Drones create a null zone around them where it is impossible to use a shooting weapon.
- Games are objective based, we encourage players to create narrative scenarios, but the rulebook also includes a mission generator, to create a wide number of possible missions in 3 easy steps. Works for 2 players and also 3-4 players.
- There are also tactical objectives that don’t give victory points, but grant in-game bonuses instead.
- It is possible to place combatants in overwatch, to react during an opponent's activation.
- Officers can give orders to allies.
- Army lists include vehicles.
- The game includes a universal action system that you can use to introduce roleplay in the game, by letting the combatants do whatever action you have in mind. Do you want to start this machine to crush a guy that passes by? Do you want to use a cable to slide to another building roof? You can do it.
- The game mechanic is easy to learn. No tables to remember, no dice value to keep in mind, every roll in the game is a certain number of dice, each dice has ½ chance of failure and ½ chance of success.
- Therefore, you can use any miniature, but also any dice, pick your favorite.
- Army lists are easy to make, and you can pick a handful of models and do the list in less than 5 minutes. If you want, of course you can also spend more time looking for optional equipment, specialist roles and so on.
- Though the game is agnostic, it has its own universe described in the book.
So if you have 40k, SW, Stargrave, AT-43, Infinity, Antares, Core Space or any other sci-fi miniatures, come join us on Mars!
The game is published by Studio Tomahawk (Saga, Mousquet & Tomahawk, Congo…) and the English version of the book is distributed by Northstar.
https://www.facebook.com/northstarmilitaryfigures http://www.studio-tomahawk.com/congo/
Also Glenn from the Rules of Carnage channel – and co-author of games like Gaslands or A Billion Suns – made a video review of the game, getting into details regarding game mechanics.
Tabletop_Magpie wrote: Hey Minus - glad to see you posting here! My buddy and I bought the book a few months ago. I have yet to play it but he had a great time with it.
Hi !
I am happy that you enjoyed the game. I see that you have a youtube channel (I have already watched some of your videos in the past, no idea how I came to your channel ^^), if you make videos about the game someday, let me know I'd be curious to watch and glad to share.
Tabletop_Magpie wrote: I've just seen the components box so I'll be sure to pick that up - can you tell me how I can get hold of it? I have an image but no link.
I think that you're talking about this box ?
We don't produce it by ourselves, it's a small company that we met during a convention, and we agreed that he could produce accessories for our game.
The french version was just released last month, and we have already translated all the cards. It is now up to him to make an english box, the problem about that is the brexit that doesn't help for shipping costs.
You can check his website here. When he'll be close to release for the english box I'll post here of course.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/10/11 18:02:31
Oh that's good to hear! I'll get in touch when I get around to an M:CA video.
Understood regarding the accessories. I have a friend who lives in the EU who travels back here frequently so I'm sure we can sort something out between us!
