How the Galaxy Was Won

A science fantasy skirmish game in the Astral Frontier for one or two players

Playtest the game or Read the rules

Welcome to the Frontier

Your story begins here...

How the Galaxy Was Won is a cooperative tabletop skirmish game for one or two players. The game is inspired by character development found in role-playing games mixed with fast-paced, tactical combat of skirmish wargames.

How the Galaxy Was Won is miniatures-agnostic which means there are no separate model kits or game boxes to buy. You use models you already own or expand your collection as you see fit. Or, you can play with any plastic figures and spare bits you have available.

In this game, you are a Colonial Marshal managing a posse of deputies through a series of adventures along the Frontier. You will survey hostile lands, gather strategic resources, and protect fellow pioneers. Though armed with extraordinary technology, your Marshal and deputies are not superheroes. They are mortal and make mistakes – some more than others.

Your Posse will battle through exotic worlds forged from a combination of your imagination and procedurally-generated adventures. You will face cunning aliens, ferocious creatures, and mysterious apparitions controlled by a punchy enemy AI system that adds tactical depth to every game. Along the way, your posse will meet a surprising cast of characters equipped with a wide array of weapons, gear, and technologies.

Although How the Galaxy Was Won can be played as a one-off game, a rich experience awaits players who pursue an Expedition campaign. During a campaign, each player will deploy their posse across linked adventures, earning reputation which grants access to more dangerous territory and, if all goes well, culminates in the establishment of a homestead where you can kick up your feet and watch the setting suns.

Gameplay

Have yourself a tactical, dice chuckin' good time

How the Galaxy Was Won scrambles together science fiction, traditional fantasy, and space-gunslinger genres. The rules have been carefully crafted to deliver a unique experience for one or two players allied together against the forces of the Frontier. The mechanisms in this game will feel familiar yet fresh to players:

FAQs

With mildly helpful answers

If you would like to know something not described below, please send me a message on BGG, Reddit, or Twitter.

What do I need to play?

In short: the rules, a 36x36" table, a baggie full of twelve-sided dice, a ruler marked in inches, stuff that looks like tiny terrain (cups, blocks, toy buildings, etc.), some miniature figures from a skirmish game or board game you already play, and an appetite for adventure!

If you have science fiction and fantasy miniatures somewhere nearby, you probably have everything you need. Many enemies in How the Galaxy Was Won were inspired by models that I particularly enjoy. I plan to provide additional details about selecting miniatures in the future. For now, there are many indie and mid-market miniature manufacturers who produce incredibly detailed models. Consider Anvil, Artel W, Hasslefree, Heresy, Mercs, Reaper, Signum, Victoria Miniatures, and several 3D-print model sellers on Etsy. Larger publishers also produce a wide range of models that fit into How the Galaxy Was Won including CMON, Mantic, Fantasy Flight Games, Games Workshop, and – if you're into top-tier metal minis – Corvus Belli.

Once you're ready to cover your table in thematic terrain, check out Battle Systems, TinkerTurf, GameMat, TTCombat, Death Ray Designs, EnderToys, Lasercraft Workshop, Mantic Terrain Crate, March of War, and Mats by Mars.

Can I playtest the game?

Yes! I am actively recruiting playtesters who are willing to play one scenario against some new hostiles every few weeks or so. All playtesters will be credited in the final rulebook.

How long does the game take to play?

Most adventures are split into two "stages". Each stage takes 30-45 minutes plus some bookkeeping and prep work between stages. A campaign is expected to span 10 to 12 adventures.

Does the game support "true" solo?

How the Galaxy Was Won is designed for a single player to experience all of the game's content. Moreover, the player is represented as a single character — the Marshal — within the game. At the same time, the game experience is built around the player operating a team of characters, not a lone character. In other words, the answer depends on the definition of "true" solo. But I am a solo gamer and I consider this a solo game.

Rules

Ready to take a look?

Rules for How the Galaxy Was Won are in active development. Draft copies are available below and playtesters are wanted. This is the v0.3 edition of the game and is subject to change based on playtesting and balance adjustments.

The Core Rules file contains basic rules including movement, combat, turn structure, and warband creation. The Appendices file includes player unit profiles, hostile unit profiles, mission rules, and campaign rules.

About

Hi! I'm Kurt.

Hello and welcome! My name is Kurt and I designed How the Galaxy Was Won. Thank you for your interest in the game!

I've been playing tabletop games since the mid-90s, starting with Star Wars CCG. During middle school, I received a Tau Pathfinder kit for Warhammer 40k as a gift. To this day, I don't know how or why my parents discovered 40k. I eventually assembled and painted the minis — well, I use the word paint charitably; perhaps, “turned them non-grey” would be more accurate. But, I never played the game. I didn’t have an opponent and couldn't get myself to a retailer to find one. Also, I didn't have the rulebook...which would have helped. Still, I’ve been fascinated by miniature games ever since.

I found my way to hobby games in the late-2000s, around the release of Pandemic. As far as hobbies go, that game changed my worldview. There were games that I could play on my own, whenever I wanted?! Needless to say, my collection of solo and solo-friendly cooperative games expanded significantly over the years.

For whatever reason, dedicated solo and cooperative skirmish wargames are relatively rare. That said, most skirmish games have little or no hidden information and people like me manage to play both sides. But I know that "me-vs-me" is not as intriguing as "me-vs-game". Recently, support for solo and cooperative gaming has accelerated and I hope to continue that trend with How the Galaxy Was Won.

I am eager to hear from interested gamers. If you have questions, are curious about solo and cooperative gaming, or just want to chat about model collecting and painting, you can find me on BGG, Reddit, and Twitter.

Finally, for the curious, Black Tulip Labs LLC is a member-managed company that I own with my lovely wife, Jamie. The company serves as a financial and legal entity over our various consulting gigs, contract projects, and entrepreneurial pursuits.