Board Game - Chase for the Aurora

The action of the board game "Chase for the Aurora" takes place after a nuclear war that has partially devastated the Earth's environment, leaving only a frozen radioactive shell behind. The last handful of people, left alone in the cold desert tundra, have already lost all hope of salvation. However, recent events have instilled in them a final hope – a radio message reached them that an icebreaker "Aurora" has appeared nearby, ready to pick up survivors, and then there is a chance to head south, where there are still the necessary resources for life. Otherwise, they will have to undertake such a journey by their own means, which is too long and very dangerous.

About the Game
Players will take command of columns of survivors seeking to reach the "Aurora". During the game, they will have to allocate their scarce resources, upgrade their vehicles, hire new crew members, and fight dangerous threats and enemies encountered along the way. After all, it's worth remembering that you are not the only ones wishing to board the rescue ship, and those who do not manage to get on board will most likely perish in the fierce cold of the impending winter.

How to play
On the "Alpha" side of the game board, special points of the upcoming route are randomly placed, at the end of which the icebreaker token is set. Outcome, reconnaissance, loot, and item decks are formed, and game tokens and markers are laid out next to the field, in stock. In the reconnaissance zone, cards from the corresponding deck are placed, after which each participant receives the necessary game components. 

A single game session consists of several rounds, each of which is divided into five stages. 

In the first stage of Reconnaissance, players take turns interacting with cards in the reconnaissance zone and performing actions, gathering resources and items, improving their column, recruiting survivors to their team, as well as encountering various characters. Plus, here players can perform bonus actions, repairing damage to the column, replenishing supplies of fuel, food, and ammunition. Players can also remove contamination tokens from survivor cards or gain additional contamination, which, by the way, can be fatal.

By the way, players are free to choose either to go on the aforementioned reconnaissance or simply to pass. In this case, one of the survivors from the active zone moves to the rest zone, simultaneously removing damage from the column. The Reconnaissance stage ends when all players have no survivors left in active zones.

After Reconnaissance comes the Resting stage, during which the survivors from the fatigue zone move to the rest zone, after which they will subsequently move to the active zone.

Having restored health and replenished for future achievements, the columns set off. Of course, this is provided that at least one survivor token is in the truck; otherwise, what’s the point? Depending on the speed of the trucks and other factors, the player moves the column token the corresponding number of spaces, and if the column stops at a special point on the route, the effect indicated on the token must be applied. It is worth mentioning that in special cases, the column can move by circuitous, or rather, shorter routes, however, such a road will not always be safe.

Up to this point, everything was relatively quiet and peaceful. Here, whether you want it or not, you will have to face an enemy, starting the Shooting stage. If an enemy has infiltrated the reconnaissance zone, players find themselves in an ambush. By defeating the enemy and dealing a certain amount of damage, the players open fire from the columns, attacking nearby enemies and obtaining loot in case of success. After these actions, they will have to feel the strength of enemy fire. Here, it is possible to take damage or get ambushed again. However, the enemy can always miss. Those who managed to survive after all this move on to the final stage of the round.

In the fifth stage, it is determined whether the game can be completed. If any player has reached the coveted icebreaker, or perhaps even passed a bit further, or in the case if the "Aurora" stands on the division with the number 6, then a winner can be determined. Otherwise, the ship token moves one space forward, the reconnaissance cards are updated, and the game continues.

Who Won?
When the conditions for ending the game, defined in the fifth stage of the round, are met, the glory points accumulated during the fierce race by all participants are counted. The one who scored the most points is declared the winner. Their column stands in close proximity to the icebreaker "Aurora" and, with tears of happiness, looks at the rescue ship, dreaming that all this cold horror around will soon come to an end.

In the event of a tie, the column that has advanced furthest on the game board wins. During the game, it is unlikely, but still possible, for a player to suddenly lose all their survivors. In this case, they immediately exit the game.

Game Features
You can complicate the process by adding mine cards to the game, as well as using the "Beta" side of the game board. The rules of the game also offer a solo mode, for which the game provides separate necessary components. In this case, players will have to compete against Automoy (a game character that will replace your opponent).

Components: 
- Double-sided game board
- 5 player boards
- 117 cards
- 82 tokens
- 65 wooden tokens
- Game rules

Game Duration: 60 to 90 minutes
Number of Players: 1 to 4