Designer:  David Turczi (Anachrony, Cerebria: The Inside World, Kitchen Rush, Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula)

Artist:  Jakub Politzer (Adrenaline, Sanctum, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization)

Publisher:  PSC Games (Blitzkrieg!: World War Two in 20 Minutes, The Great War, Quartermaster General: 1914)

Genre/Mechanisms:  grid movement, hand management, miniatures, point to point movement, team-based game, variable player powers, wargame

Funding Status:  At the time of this posting, The Defence of Procyon III is already fully-funded. Pledges currently total almost 1.5x the initial funding goal with 4 days left to go on the campaign.

Player Count:  1-4

Solo Mode:  yes

Complexity:  heavy

Risk:  medium-high

What It’s About:  “One to four players take control of unique factions as part of a team-based conflict in this sci-fi wargame. The card-driven battle wages over two boards using 120 amazing miniatures, with humans defending against invading aliens on the surface and orbital space of Procyon III.”

How It Works:   “Defence of Procyon III is a game for two teams. One player from each team will be in charge of the ground battle, the other player will be in charge of the space battle. The ground battle is more of a push-and-pull of threat and defence, while the space battle is more of an exercise in tactical combat and multi-prong positioning.”

There is also a solo mode/2-player co-op version, where one person (or 2 players working together, each playing one half of the human faction) battles against AI aliens. There’s also nothing stopping players playing the main game as a 1v1, with each player controlling one of the alien/human factions in full.

When playing the “regular” 2v2 game, turn order always follows this designation: Principal (Aethyn Ground Force), Armada (Human Space Force), Expedition (Human Ground Force), Meld (Aethyn Space Force).

“Principal is the primary alien aggressor faction of the game. Their job is to make the most of the cards they have to break through the Human defense lines, score points fast and hard, and not be slowed down by their Combat bag’s constant fluctuations. Their one weakness is the centralised power of the Empress, and they need to prevent the Humans from exploiting it. Principal mechanisms include resource allocation, bag building, and multi-use cards; and the faction has a medium luck factor.”

“Armada is the shining space navy, the human cavalry. While they’re limited in movement, they’re blessed with overwhelming firepower and strong shields that can pack a huge punch. A card-play mechanism determines their attack strength, but at the risk of reducing their maneuverability, so every move will involve a series of tough decisions. Their strongest abilities depend on managing and using their scarcely available Prometheum crystals. Armada mechanisms include turn programming, randomness mitigation, resource management; and the faction has a medium-to-high luck factor.”

“Expedition are the brave human defenders of the colony. Four Heroes with unique abilities and tense card-play that will see their strengths dwindle more the better they do! Hold out until relief arrives or organize a desperate dash against the Aethyn Empress. Expedition mechanisms include deck destruction and action point allowance; and the faction has a low luck factor.”

“Meld is the alien space force of organic ships, deploying Spore Clouds of their nano-machinery and trying to blockade the Human fleet from providing help to the surface with a mixed die/card selection system. This is the faction where the most careful planning is needed. While their ships are limitless, their time and resources are not. They need to carefully balance surviving the UN Armada’s onslaught and utilizing orbital bombardment to help the Principal deliver the killing blow to the colony. Meld mechanisms include dice pool management, card selection, and hand construction; and the faction has a low luck factor.”

“Teams score Victory Points for certain feats. Either team reaching 42 Victory Points signals the battle’s upcoming climactic end: the team with the most points at the end of that round (or at the end of the 10th round if no team reaches 42 points) wins the battle for this previously insignificant corner of the galaxy. Alternatively, the Human team automatically loses the game if their morale breaks down.”

Comparisons:  Because of the nature of the variable player powers in this game and how each player is essentialy playing a different mini-game with different mechanics, it bears strong similarities to the likes of Root and the Vast series. But considering how this game is also a 2v2 team-based game (with the ability to also play solo, 2 player co-op, or 1v1), the game has some similarities with Mindclash’s Cerebria: The Inside World (also co-designed by David Turczi), where players are encouraged to play in teams, either 2v2 or 2v2v2, but could also play 1v1 or 1v1v1.

What Should I Pledge?:
$100 Standard Pledge: includes a copy of the base game, the Aethyn mothership miniature, and all unlocked stretch goals.

Add-Ons:
$36 Rome & Roll
$36 Blitzkrieg!
$112 Red Alert: Space Fleet Warfare

KS Exclusives
None listed, but considering the type and scope of the game, it’s very likely this game may never reach normal retail outlets outside of retailers who pledge this Kickstarter campaign.

All-In Total: In the continental U.S. (and assuming you’re not interested in any of the other PSC Games available as add-ons), you’re looking at $100 for the Standard Pledge plus $17 in shipping for a total of $117.

The Defence of Procyon III completes its Kickstarter on Monday, May 11th and tentatively ships in May 2021.