Beyond the Gates of Antares: Beta rules for download

Here it is, free to download BETA rules for upcoming table-top hit: Beyond the Gates of Antares.

click to download

Beyond the Gates of Antares: Alpha rules

After a long silence Beyond the Gates of Antares, a new sci-fi game by Rick Priestly has returned. Alpha rules are released for the purpose of playtest and available in low and high color variant.(links are below). File is 52 page and cover most of the know development of this game, including history of the Spill, technology, major races and factions.

I'm posting these files based on Rick Priestley opinion:

If you want to share copies with your playtesting partners just share them - that's what the pdf is there for.  

The rules are based on Bolt Action, a great game by Master Priestly. But ruleset itself does not have a rules for vehicles and most definitely will expand in near future. Files are represented on basis that you will not use them for commercial purposes. All copyrights and trademarks belong to Warlord Games Ltd. no challenge of intellectual property is intended.

Beyond the Gates of Antares: Alpha rules (printer friendly low-color version)

Beyond the Gates of Antares: Alpha rules (full color version)

Beyond the Gates of Antares: after kickstarter

I just had to return to this old news to make a conclusion on this project's fate. 
Current status: Kickstarter canceled, development continues.

After much consideration we have decided to withdraw our project from Kickstarter.
We’d like to thank you all for believing in us and backing us, GoA will still become a reality but through different means.

We will take the next month to reassess our plans, during this time you will still see us on the forums and we will continue to post updates to our website. Once we have a plan set we will let you all know what it is so that we can continue to build GoA together.

Well, the reasoning for this decision was obvious. The requested sum was quite substantial, time was short and amount of completed stuff by the start of campaign was tiny.  Withdrawing the project was a good step, better leave undefeated and carry on next time.    

The good news is there is an Outline version of the rulebook!

Good afternoon everyone and a very warm welcome to our newer backers! Today we finally have the outline rulebook for you to play with - Hurrah! you can get it here : http://www.darkspacecorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Beyond-the-Gates-of-Antares-Outline-Rulebook.pdf

A MASSIVE THANK YOU to Krazus for helping us put this together! This is still a work in progress document so do try not to be overly critical at this stage, we're very much wanting you guys to be involved in the progress and this is a very early stage to be releasing anything. We're getting some great feedback on how it plays so we'd like as many of you as possible to start playing games with your friends as that will both help to get more backers on board and of course we want your feedback!

Thanks
Rik

So if things will go as Rik Priestly have announced, the Beta version of the game will come in Autumn 2013. Fingers crossed. :-D 

P.S. just i case if upper link will disappear: the outline book is here.
 

Ankerstad Alliance: concept

This faction or species was inspired by Ravan Technocracy posted here by Skjold http://www.darkspacecorp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=140. I took a basic concept and played around it a bit. That's the result.



Technocracy of Ankerstad
 
Name: Ankerstad Alliance
Race: NuHumans
Homeworld: Ankerstad
Ankerstad is a low-gravity planet extremely rich in natural resources. Its positioned on the fringe of its solar system orbiting a blue giant star. Planet's orbit brings it into direct vicinity of the Gate once per cycle. This attributes to early settlement of Ankerstad as well as it's civilization dependence on space fleet and orbital defences against unexpected arrivals from the gate. Majority of planetoid is covered in ocean hidden by thick ice and molten rock islands. Atmosphere is rich with ammoniac and nitrogen. Ecosystem and presence of oxygen breathing life forms depended on volcanic activity until Great Families crated artificial system of oxygen production and climate control. Main defence and production system are based on ego-stationry orbit of planet as a belt of docks, elevators to surface, defence and radar outposts.

Origins:
Ankerstad has been colonized and settled in order to control its natural resources and utilize proximity of the Gate. However difficulties in exploiting those resources meant that only highly advanced civilizations had a chance of retaining its grip on the shifting icy surface of the planet.
All of them human, each dating to various times of arrival and settlement, but all of them eventually united into Ankerstad Alliance which consist of seven great Families which rule over Seven Great Atolls. The Great Seven Families are:

1. Lepanto
2. Midway
3. Tsushima
4. Gangut
5. Salamis
6. Jutland
7. Trafalgar

Each Family attributes certain set of unique skills, technology and resources into Ankerstad Alliance's production of spaceships and other goods.

Government:
Ankerstad Alliance has two levels of governance: Atolls are ruled by Families and their courts. All matters of external relations with other space faring nations, including warfare, production of ships and trade agreements are carried out by Alliance's representatives which arecoming from the Great Families. Alliance plays pivotal role in solving disputes between the Families, but if diplomacy fails they retain their right to solve matters on the field of battle. Luckily it happens very rare. Head of Alliance – The Great Commodore is chosen once per 14 cycles by votes of leaders of the Great Seven Families. In case of his death or inability to perform his duties to the Great Seven he is replaced by someone from Alliance's staff until next elections.

Alliance's form of governance is technocracy: decision and policy making depends on specialist with both administrative and field experience. Officials are called to serve time on the ships of Ankerstad fleet often as a commanding officers before any progress on other career path. Though progress through ranks is relatively small, the amount of skill and knowledge officer gain is vast. Captains of Ankerstad are well versed in negotiations, fleet tactics, technology development and boarding actions. However the majority of information is acquired by the means of Virtual Minds: a sophisticated artificial intelligence created to support human decisions.

Physical:
Ankerstad have seen several waves of habitation and both those who failed and succeeded as civilizations left their mark in the bloodlines of Families. Though not a single bloodline remains completely dominant. Great Seven Families are usually identified by following dominant gene-types:

Lepanto: tall, medium build, olive or dark skin, brown and black eyes, bird like face traits.
Midway: dark brown skin, grey hair, black or brown eyes, short and muscular build
Tsushima: frail, small build, purple or brown eyes, black hair
Gangut: broad and wide build, pale white skin, red, blonde and light brown hair, green or grey eyes
Salamis: broad and wide build, dark olive skin, brown or olive eyes, round nose and lips
Jutland: slim build, thin lips, blonde hair, blue or grey eyes, hawk-like noses
Trafalgar: medium and short build, pale white or blue eyes, light green hair and skin.

Religion:
Ankerstad Alliance is secular society which emphasizes the power of technology and inventive human mind over speculative religions of others. However almost all ships and private quarters on Atolls have a shrines of Neptoo: a form of meditation room, where people come to burn incense to the spirits of Ship or Atoll and be in solitude for a short time being. No other religion is known to take root among practical and hardy people of Ankerstad.

Technology:
Ankerstad Alliance has mastered several technological disciplines: spacecraft building, surface and sub-surface ship building, artificial intelligence creation and training, advanced metallurgy and nano-material modification, long range space detection sonar and equipment. In form of weapon design their guns retain a significant range superiority in comparison with similar types of other factions.

Society and Cultural Priorities:
Ankerstad Alliance is not a totally unified society and each Atoll retains its own identity and cultural peculiarities, but all share following priorities:

Humans takes a decisions - Machines provide support.
The rationale behind this cultural priority is unknown, but some suspect that it may be rooted in long forgotten fight with renegade Virtual Mind. After the victory people of Ankerstad decided to rely on their own reasoning and limit the roles of artificial intelligence. However master's of Trafalgar family are known to produce AI with very high levels of independent thinking for undisclosed customer. On the human side, free general education system strongly emphasizes ability to think, take decisions and analyse world around with sufficient information.

People-Family-Atoll-Alliance.
This passage is shortened part of national anthem of every Family and is repeated on the flag of Ankerstad Alliance. This principle represents the uncommon camaraderie among the people, ability to help and share resources, be polite and supportive in time of need regardless of origins and social status. As a result of this cultural trait and accessibility of info-clouds of NuHu implants information passes between the common people and specialist in a matter of seconds. This creates unusual freedom of speech and thought but restricted by in-native responsibility and trust to the Family. Loyalty despite the social tension and disagreements remains unquestionable. In full this passage is following:

People protect the Family.
Family serves Atoll.
Atoll serves Alliance.
Alliance protects the people.

Lakedonian Empire: concept

To be honest I have posted this concept on the forum of Dark Space Corporation [http://www.darkspacecorp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1159&p=8869#p8869], but decided to re-post it here as note to myself. This is basically a "sketch gone wild", I was playing with idea of organization for one of futuristic settings and Beyond the Gates of Antares gave me a spark to put it on paper.
 
 

Images are taken from site http://mandragoreminiatures.free.fr. Sculptor is Gael Goumon. Used without permission. No challenge to property rights intended. 
Name: Lakedonians
Race: Revers
Homeworld: Lakedonia Prime

Planet Lakedonia is 1,6 bigger than Terra, has oxygen based atmosphere, with harsh climate, arid plains and mountainous terrain divided by great number of lakes, seas and rivers. Planet is moderately rich in natural resources. Lakedonia has three moons: Melitele, Arisaka and Shakta. 

Origins: 
Lakedonian's are descendant of humans who settled on Lakedonia countless ages ago. Current civilization has been re-build after previous has made a contact with unknown group of Concord. The result of this contact was an uncontrolled spread of unknown lethal disease which affected mostly male population of planet. Disease, or Male Sin as was latter called was stopped when scientist created an genetic modification which prevented the micro-drone technology from hosting and affecting human bodies. This event dramatically changed world perspective of this nation, creating a fusion of technology  and religion.


Physical:
Not so different from normal humans, Lakedonians normally stand at 1 meter 70 centimeters. Majority has blue, green and grey eyes, pale or olive skin and have a slim and frail looking physique. However as their planets gravitation is more than standard Terran, they are strong and muscular. Major slim body type attributes to the fact that certain bloodlines fared much better than other during eradication of Male Sin.    

http://mandragoreminiatures.free.fr/

Government:
Lakedonians are governed by matriarchal theocracy, where the High Priestress of Melitele and Sekmerra appoints the planetary government every twelve cycles in accordance with prophetical visions and reading of their dual deity will. Citizens share all wealth of Empire, but not allowed to have more than certain limit of personal possession. All members of society (except Ilhotes) are provided with education and financial support. Those who excel in during harsh educational process usually are provided with  better career chance and more responsibilities.  

Religion:
Religion of Lakedonian's is monotheistic in nature. It worships two aspect of their main unnamed, but certainly female deity: Melitele and Sekmerra. Melitele is an aspect of love, fertility and growth through work and improvement. Her primary color is white. Sekmeraa is aspect of war, oppression and deceit. She creates destruction in order to give way for new life. Her main color is red. Both deities have came to rescue Lakedonian's in times of Male Sin, when previous civilization was being absorbed by Concord and majority of male population was losing its fertility and independence. Both are worshiped in same temples in accordance of calendar and have their Saints. Religion of Melitele and Sekmerra contains not only popular texts, but predictions on return of the Concord and instruction on how to boost human bio-resistance to its influence.

Technology:
Lakedonian's are relatively young space faring nation of Antarean space. Their technology emphasizes robustness and mulch-purposeness. For example Lakedonian infantry mag-gung could be upgraded in field conditions to a heavy support weapon. Major achievements of Lakedonians lie in the area of bio-resistance and genetic modifications. It's a common practice for Lakedonian units to be accompanied by guardian animals designed for task of spotting and harassing enemy.    

Society and Cultural priorities:
Male population of Lakedonia is less than 1/7 of entire population. This is a direct consequence of Male Sin and contact with Concord. As a result most of active roles in society is are filled by females. Male are generally divided into two separate castes: the Breeders and the Ilhotes. Breeders are those few bloodlines which survived Male Sin and remained generaly unaffected. They provide seed for legal fertilization and procreation. Breeders are controlled by the Cult and are priceless in terms of preservation of Lakedonians. The Ilhotes are bloodlines which has been affected but were retained for the use as slave workforce. They are generally genetically modified or lobotomized for the task purposes and under no conditions they are allowed to breed.

Female roles in society are divided into so-called Gifts to Lakedonia. Depending on age and social position Lakedonian female is either fulfilling and preparing for one of the Gifts.
They are:
Gift of Blood: initiation into adulthood achieved by killing at least one Ilhote.
Gft of Tears: the birth of at least one healthy child for the Cult.      
Gift of Spear: active military service either in planetary army or as Lakedonian mercenary
Gift of Craft: active service as foster parent, tradesmen or official.

Allegiance:
Will not ally with Concord or Isorian shard under no circumstances, will not commonly ally with aliens. Any Rever, PanHuman or Simhuman group.

What is waiting Beyond the Gates of Antares?

The Future is a mystery to all of us. 

It stands with its back turned, silent and 

unknowable until we reach it. 

Those who can predict it are often wrong,

 simply because they cannot see all the details

 the Future holds up its sleeves. 

Those who aspire and push forward may fail 

for the very same reasons. 

Because Future does not reveal its secrets easily or 

warn us of dangers ahead. 

Beyond the Gates of Antares is an extremely ambitions and promising project by Rick Priestly, the father of Warhammer and Warhammer 40000 universes. The renown and legendary game designer left Games Workshop in 2010 to pursue new goals as a freelancer. So far he created and participated in number of successful projects, like Bolt Action (WW2 squad-to-company size wargame) and Fanticide  (a homicidal warband tabletop top game). The latter was successfully promoted and launched using Kickstarter, and apparently gave an inspiration and confidence to repeat the experience with BGoA.

For the selfish purposes i will post a video of Rick  Priestly, John Stallard and Rik Alexander (Warlord Games) interview were they describe the "sausage" or the bright palns for new gaming universe to the Beasts of War website. In short and to save you one hour of listening i will summarize the goals of project as quite ambitious.

First of all they are trying to merge Massive Multiplayer Online game with table-top wargame, and give players a real-time online mirror of their table top efforts. So while you are playing the game with your mates and feed result to the website, the script (or admin) will change the big picture of entire universe.

Sounds revolutionary, at least. What is comforting is that big picture will be controlled by the company narrators. 

Secondly, the game mechanics (so far) is similar to tested in Bolt Action system of activation and units status, though system is still in development to adjust for the far far future, sometime couple of million years ahead.

Thirdly, the combat will be affected by pool of command action and every unit will react to enemy actions according to situation and impact, which promises to deliver a very intense game where both players are constantly engaged in the game.

That is IF the project will find required amount of supporters on Kickstarter. At the moment of writing this post, BGoA have collected 31% of £93.492 pledged money and it had 36 day to go. And if would be behind this project i would be worried. Unfortunately i'm not the only one who sees realities of BGoA.      

Blogger Mr. Zweischneid's (dont ask me how to pronounce this name) in his brilliant analysis describes the most obvious reason for worries. Check it yourself, http://pinsofwar.com/rick-priestleys-kickstarter-fail, and you might agree that at the moment, Beyond the Gates of Antares is an incomplete product. To summarize Mr. Zweischneid's post, 

• BGoA will be funded only if will get at last £5000 in donations each day
•  if the vision of game universe will suddenly became clear and focused so that people will know what exactly they are supporting 
• if game mechanics will be finished to at least 90%

             

Looking at the current situation of definitely an interesting project I wounder what might happen in likely case if project will not get requested amount of support.   

1.  Rick Priestly stated: "that this the game I've always wanted to create". We may believe in his commitment to the project, which mean that he will continue working on the game regardless of financial situation. That is promising. 
2. Warlord Games support: John Stallard (the boss) clearly understands that IF this project will take off, and people will start playing BGoA as they play MMOG these day, then his company will become a second Games Workshop. 
3. Arrival of undisclosed investor: frankly I'm speculating, but project of such novelty and potential could attract a third party investor, which means it will get required amount of money and production schedule will be met.