Pulsar 2849

To set up Pulsar 2849, place the main cluster board in the center, with the black hole in the middle for dice placement and pulsars around it. Arrange the gyrodine board with its three types of tokens, the three end-game objective tiles, and the three technology boards. Place the transmitter tiles in a stack, with 'C' tiles at the bottom, then 'B', and 'A' on top. Each player receives a headquarters board, starting victory points (5, 6, or 7 depending on player order), and places their shuttle on a random starting portal on the turn order track. Tokens for initiative and engineering tracks are stacked in reverse turn order.

The main objective in Pulsar 2849 is to lead your inter-planetary company to expand its influence across the galaxy. This is achieved by constructing large spatial mega-structures called gyrodines around pulsars. These gyrodines transmit energy instantly over long distances, which you can use to power habitable planets. Players also earn victory points by exploring new worlds, establishing stations, developing and patenting new technologies, improving their headquarters, and completing various objectives throughout the game.

Each round begins with a preparation phase where dice are rolled and placed on the preparation board. The median die value is determined, and a marker is placed accordingly; if there are more dice to one side of the median, the marker moves to that side. Players then take turns, in order, to choose one die and move one of their markers (initiative or engineering) a number of spaces equal to the difference between the chosen die's value and the median. In the action phase, players use their chosen dice to perform actions like moving their shuttle, claiming pulsars, building gyrodines, or patenting technologies. A die's value can be modified, but only one modifier can be used per die. When moving a shuttle, the exact die value must be used, and segments cannot be reused in a single move. The first player to traverse or stop on a planetary system tile flips it, placing a token on a dead planet if traversing, or on a habitable planet and gaining an exploration bonus if stopping. Claiming a pulsar involves placing one of your rings on it.

Victory points are accumulated throughout the game and at the end. During the game, points are earned by activating transmitters (which may require multiple dice), exploring planets (gaining exploration bonuses or bonus tiles), and patenting technologies. At the end of each round, activated transmitters provide production bonuses. For gyrodines in rotation, the first player to place two of the same size earns 7 victory points, and the second earns 4. At the end of the game, players score points based on their final position on the initiative track, the number of gyrodines in rotation, the number of established stations in planetary systems, completed objectives, and patented technologies. The player with the most victory points wins.

The game concludes after 8 rounds. At the end of the final round, players proceed to the final scoring. All shuttles on the turn order track are updated, and their positions contribute to end-game victory points. Gyrodines in rotation on the main board yield points indicated on their tokens, plus additional points from the technology board for the current round. Players also score for their established stations in planetary systems, completed end-game objectives, and patented technologies. The player with the highest total victory points is declared the winner.