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Xia: Legends of a Drift System
Far Off Games · 2014
3–560–180 min12+ yrs3.2/5 complexity7.8 BGG#197 BGG17,1 KStrategy
⚡ short answer
How do you play Xia: Legends of a Drift System?
The primary objective of Xia: Legends of a Drift System is to accumulate the most fame points (FP) to become the most renowned player in the galaxy. There are numerous paths to victory, allowing players to choose their preferred playstyle, whether it's trading, exploring, bounty hunting, pirating, or mining. The game offers a sandbox experience where players define their own journey to renown.
To find the best price for Xia: Legends of a Drift System, howtoplay.ro compares deals from Romanian shops every day.
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the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
🧩
01
Setup
Players choose a unique ship, outfit it with engines, weapons, and shields, and place it on the hex-based board which expands as they explore.
The rules, step by step
Setup
Players begin by selecting a unique ship, each with its own special power. They then outfit their ship with various modules such as engines, weapons, and shields, fitting them onto their ship's template. Any remaining space can be used for cargo. The game board is a hex-based map that starts small and expands as players explore new sectors, revealing planets, asteroid fields, and nebulae. Players place their chosen ship miniature on the starting sector.
Objective
The primary objective of Xia: Legends of a Drift System is to accumulate the most fame points (FP) to become the most renowned player in the galaxy. There are numerous paths to victory, allowing players to choose their preferred playstyle, whether it's trading, exploring, bounty hunting, pirating, or mining. The game offers a sandbox experience where players define their own journey to renown.
On your turn
Each turn, players can perform up to four major actions, indicated by action markers placed on their ship's outfit. For example, using an engine involves placing a marker on it, granting movement based on a D8 roll. Players also get a free impulse drive movement (1-4 spaces) each turn, even if stranded. Minor actions, such as picking up missions or floating cargo, do not end a turn. Landing on a planet ends your turn, allowing you to refuel, thaw ice damage, and optionally repair permanent damage for credits. Business activities like upgrading your ship or exchanging exploration tokens can also be done on planets.
Scoring
Fame points are the currency of victory. Players earn 1 FP for every two exploration tokens collected (usually one per new sector). Completing missions, which are varied and can be legal or illegal, also grants 1 FP. Destroying other ships yields 1-3 FP depending on the target's tier. Selling a full cargo hold (at least two cubes) earns 1 FP, and buying a new ship also gives 1 FP. Players can even buy FP directly for 5,000 credits, though the final FP cannot be bought. Being kind, like helping a stranded player, awards 1 FP. Claiming title cards (1-3 FP) by achieving specific feats, rolling a natural 20 on a D20, or certain event cards can also provide FP.
Game end
The game concludes when a player reaches a predetermined number of fame points. This threshold is set at the beginning of the game, allowing for customizable game lengths. For instance, a beginner game might require 5 FP, while a longer game could go up to 20 FP or even higher. The player who first achieves this set fame point total is declared the winner.
Tips
Xia offers immense replayability due to its modular board, diverse ships, and varied missions. Players can choose to be traders, explorers, bounty hunters, pirates, or miners. Environmental hazards like asteroid fields, nebulae, and gravity wells add risk and challenge. The 'Embers of a Forsaken Star' expansion is highly recommended as it balances the economy and fixes core game issues, making it almost essential. The 'Missions and Powers' card expansion adds more mission variety and ship power balancing. Players should learn and remember their unique ship powers and claimed title cards, as these significantly alter gameplay. The game can be played cooperatively or competitively, appealing to various player types. Be aware that direct confrontation is possible, making it potentially unsuitable for very young children, though older children may enjoy the chaotic fun.
🔬 game anatomy
Complexity3.2 / 5
BGG rating7.8 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
Moderate text — a crib sheet helps
Play time
60–180 min
Players
3–5
Recommended age
12+ yrs
BGG rank
#197
✨ from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective of Xia: Legends of a Drift System is to accumulate the most fame points (FP) to become the most renowned player in the galaxy. There are numerous paths to victory, allowing players to choose their preferred playstyle, whether it's trading, exploring, bounty hunting, pirating, or mining. The game offers a sandbox experience where players define their own journey to renown.
Q2How do you set up the game?
Players begin by selecting a unique ship, each with its own special power. They then outfit their ship with various modules such as engines, weapons, and shields, fitting them onto their ship's template. Any remaining space can be used for cargo. The game board is a hex-based map that starts small and expands as players explore new sectors, revealing planets, asteroid fields, and nebulae. Players place their chosen ship miniature on the starting sector.
Q3How does a turn work?
Each turn, players can perform up to four major actions, indicated by action markers placed on their ship's outfit. For example, using an engine involves placing a marker on it, granting movement based on a D8 roll. Players also get a free impulse drive movement (1-4 spaces) each turn, even if stranded. Minor actions, such as picking up missions or floating cargo, do not end a turn. Landing on a planet ends your turn, allowing you to refuel, thaw ice damage, and optionally repair permanent damage for credits. Business activities like upgrading your ship or exchanging exploration tokens can also be done on planets.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Fame points are the currency of victory. Players earn 1 FP for every two exploration tokens collected (usually one per new sector). Completing missions, which are varied and can be legal or illegal, also grants 1 FP. Destroying other ships yields 1-3 FP depending on the target's tier. Selling a full cargo hold (at least two cubes) earns 1 FP, and buying a new ship also gives 1 FP. Players can even buy FP directly for 5,000 credits, though the final FP cannot be bought. Being kind, like helping a stranded player, awards 1 FP. Claiming title cards (1-3 FP) by achieving specific feats, rolling a natural 20 on a D20, or certain event cards can also provide FP.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes when a player reaches a predetermined number of fame points. This threshold is set at the beginning of the game, allowing for customizable game lengths. For instance, a beginner game might require 5 FP, while a longer game could go up to 20 FP or even higher. The player who first achieves this set fame point total is declared the winner.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
Xia offers immense replayability due to its modular board, diverse ships, and varied missions. Players can choose to be traders, explorers, bounty hunters, pirates, or miners. Environmental hazards like asteroid fields, nebulae, and gravity wells add risk and challenge. The 'Embers of a Forsaken Star' expansion is highly recommended as it balances the economy and fixes core game issues, making it almost essential. The 'Missions and Powers' card expansion adds more mission variety and ship power balancing. Players should learn and remember their unique ship powers and claimed title cards, as these significantly alter gameplay. The game can be played cooperatively or competitively, appealing to various player types. Be aware that direct confrontation is possible, making it potentially unsuitable for very young children, though older children may enjoy the chaotic fun.
Q7How much does Xia: Legends of a Drift System cost?
No store is currently tracking Xia: Legends of a Drift System. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q8Where can I buy Xia: Legends of a Drift System cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q9How do you play Xia: Legends of a Drift System?
Xia: Legends of a Drift System is a adventure game, for 3–5 players, taking ~60–180 minutes, featuring action points. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Xia: Legends of a Drift System — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Xia: Legends of a Drift System support?
Xia: Legends of a Drift System is played by 3–5 players.
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Xia: Legends of a Drift System (English Edition)
free over RON 149
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RON 549
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Xia: Legends of a Drift System (Complete Package)
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