Space Empires: Close Encounters is the first expansion to Space Empires: 4X. Alien races meet up close as they encounter each other for the first time in ship boarding engagements and planetary invasions with different types of ground troops. The strengths and weaknesses of each alien empire are brought out with roughly 20 unique racial abilities. The expansion takes advantage of the streamlined nature of the game system to add more technology and cool sci-fi things in very simple ways. While it is designed to be used as a whole, the expansion is modular and players can choose to use only the parts that they like.

Also included in the expansion is an experience system so that your ship groups become more proficient over time. There is a big benefit if you can keep ships alive! The game gives more counters of each ship type to accommodate groups at different experience levels. Military academies in your empire can give your new groups a head start in accumulating experience.

Titans, super large ships beyond dreadnaught, make their appearance and can both carry fighters and destroy planets, but have liabilities too. As requested, fleet counters and a fleet display are in the box. In addition to racial advantages, there are also unique Technological Advantages. There are more technologies and some more money is added into the game because of the larger tech tree.

New scenarios are added for both 3 and 4 players. A new alien empire solitaire scenario is included as well as another solitaire scenario where a player can attempt to fight off an invading mass of Space Amoebas.

The system is exactly the same, but more awesomeness is added!

Ownership of Space Empires: 4X is required to play.

Players: 1-4
Play time: 1-4 hours, depending on the scenario

COMPONENTS

• Three New Countersheets
• 25 Racial Advantage Cards
• 30 Alien Technology Advantage Cards
• Four Cardstock Fleet Displays
• One Cardstock Battleboard
• Four Double-sided Reference Cards
• One Production Pad w/o Facilities
• One Production Pad w/ Facilities
• One Rulebook
• One Scenario Book

Designer: Jim Krohn
Developer: Oliver Upshaw
Cover Art: Eric Williams
Art Director, Packaging: Rodger B. MacGowan
Counter Art: Mark Simonitch
Producers: Andy Lewis, Gene Billingsley, Mark Simonitch, Rodger MacGowan, & Tony Curtis