Star Chamber (game)
Encyclopedia
Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga is an online collectible card game
(CCG) first released in 2003 by Matrix Games
and Worlds Apart Productions, and now owned by Sony Online Entertainment
. The game runs on both the Microsoft Windows
and Mac OS X
platforms. It is free to download and play, with additional card available for purchase. To date, there have been one base set and five expansion sets released for Star Chamber.
The game may be played as single-player (in practice matches, in “skirmish” matches, or with any of four campaigns, each of which comprises seven separate scenarios) or with between two and four players live over the internet. Two-player games usually require half an hour to complete, while three- and four-player games average closer to an hour.
One of the game’s primary distinctions is that it combines traditional CCG elements (card collecting and trading, deck building, the use of cards in-game, etc.) with a board wargame
-style map and unit production based on locations on that map, in some ways similar to the classic Master of Orion
series. There are 43 unique maps, with random elements incorporated into some of those maps. The titular Star Chamber is a location at which voting session between players’ citizens takes place every sixth turn. Players vote for the Power Play, Alien Support, and Peacekeepers (see Voting below).
There are three ways to win a game of Star Chamber: Military Victory (conquering the opponent’s homeworld), Cultural Victory (having a “destiny point” advantage of 30 or more points; destiny points are generally gained by controlling “artifact planets”), and Political Victory (winning three Power Play votes).
A collection of articles about the game, a database of the cards in the game, and a list of estimated values for each of the cards can be found at Kit's Database.
Players distribute their votes between three categories
Origins Block:
Harbinger Block:
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
(CCG) first released in 2003 by Matrix Games
Matrix Games
Matrix Games is a publisher of computer games, specifically strategy games and wargames. They are based out of Staten Island, New York.Their focus is primarily but not exclusively on war games and turn-based strategy...
and Worlds Apart Productions, and now owned by Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
. The game runs on both the Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
platforms. It is free to download and play, with additional card available for purchase. To date, there have been one base set and five expansion sets released for Star Chamber.
The game may be played as single-player (in practice matches, in “skirmish” matches, or with any of four campaigns, each of which comprises seven separate scenarios) or with between two and four players live over the internet. Two-player games usually require half an hour to complete, while three- and four-player games average closer to an hour.
One of the game’s primary distinctions is that it combines traditional CCG elements (card collecting and trading, deck building, the use of cards in-game, etc.) with a board wargame
Board wargame
A board wargame is a wargame with a set playing surface or board, as opposed to being played on a computer, or in a more free-form playing area as in miniatures games. The hobby around this type of game got its start in 1954 with the publication of Tactics, and saw its greatest popularity in the...
-style map and unit production based on locations on that map, in some ways similar to the classic Master of Orion
Master of Orion
Master of Orion is a turn-based, 4X science fiction computer strategy game released in 1993 by MicroProse on the MS-DOS and Mac OS operating systems. The purpose of the game is to lead one of ten races to dominate the galaxy through a combination of diplomacy and conquest while developing...
series. There are 43 unique maps, with random elements incorporated into some of those maps. The titular Star Chamber is a location at which voting session between players’ citizens takes place every sixth turn. Players vote for the Power Play, Alien Support, and Peacekeepers (see Voting below).
There are three ways to win a game of Star Chamber: Military Victory (conquering the opponent’s homeworld), Cultural Victory (having a “destiny point” advantage of 30 or more points; destiny points are generally gained by controlling “artifact planets”), and Political Victory (winning three Power Play votes).
A collection of articles about the game, a database of the cards in the game, and a list of estimated values for each of the cards can be found at Kit's Database.
Techs
There are five different technologies, or “techs,” in Star Chamber. Each tech represents a different facet of sentient society- Order - Order represents the ability to create thriving societies. Abilities include production bonuses, ship defenses, and removal of enemy modifications.
- Mind - Mind represents greater psychic capabilities or enhanced thinking. Abilities include card drawing and political bonuses.
- Life - Life represents a love of biology and nature. Abilities include bonuses to leaders, planetary influence, and destiny point gains.
- Cyber - Cyber represents the ability to construct advanced technology. Abilities include bonuses to ship speed and defense.
- Entropy - Entropy represents a love of destruction. Abilities include bonuses to ship offense, destruction of enemy entities outside of combat, and the deployment of neutral “pirate” ships.
Races
There are ten different races in Star Chamber, each of which combines two techs- Android – The Androids receive offensive and defensive bonuses to all of their ships, but each of their ships cost slightly more to produce. They combine the techs of Cyber and Entropy
- Clave – A warlike race of anthropomorphic cats. The Clave receive bonuses to the “leadership” of their heroes, and combine the techs of Life and Entropy
- Ferrier – A politically minded race, the Ferrier begin the game with a citizen at the Star Chamber location. They combine the techs of Order and Mind
- Human - Usually constructing large fleets of scout ships, the Humans combine the techs of Order and Life
- Ixa – An octopus-like race that often employs pirate ships, the Ixa combine the techs of Order and Entropy
- Kej – An race of insect-like robots, the Kej receive speed bonuses for all of their cruisers. They combine the techs of Order and Cyber
- Omior – A race of sentient plants, the Omior generally focus on “culture” and “destiny” more than any other race. They combine the techs of Mind and Life
- Silica – A race of mineral-based life forms, the Silica’s ships do not have shields, but receive a bonus to their hulls and are the only ships to regenerate their hulls. The Silica combine the techs of Life and Cyber
- Thrass – A race of parasitic insects that inhabit and control the minds of the other races. The Thrass have weaker ships that cost less to produce, and their cruisers reduce the opponent’s “influence” at minor planets. They combine the techs of Mind and Entropy
- Zhikanii – A race of economically minded slugs. The Zhikanii combine the techs of Mind and Cyber
Voting
After every sixth turn, a voting session takes place at the Star Chamber location. Players’ citizens must be present at the Star Chamber location in order to vote, and each citizen usually has one vote. Cards may be played in order to increase or decrease the number of votes each citizen gets.Players distribute their votes between three categories
- Power Play – Winning three Power Play votes wins a player the game, and each Power Play further allows a player an option between various bonuses. These include “declaring war,” “assassination” of an opponent’s hero, and a bonus to the player’s tech production.
- Alien Support – The Alien Support vote grants a player a bonus to his “destiny” total. Winning subsequent Alien Support votes grants an increasingly large “destiny” bonus.
- Peacekeepers – The Peacekeepers vote gives the player control of a Peacekeeper cruiser. Like the Alien Support vote, winning subsequent Peacekeepers votes gives the player control of an increasing number of Peacekeeper cruisers.
Expansion Sets
Expansion sets are divided into "blocks", which fit in to the Star Chamber storylineOrigins Block:
- Origins (November 2003)
- Incursions (July 2004)
- Rebellions (January 2005)
Harbinger Block:
- The Atok Incident (November 2005)
- Descent (May 2006)
- Maelstrom (February 2007)
External links
- Official Star Chamber site: starchamber.station.sony.com
- The Star Chamber Card Trade Database: Kit's Database
- Mac Client: http://homepage.mac.com/mattness/starchamber/
- A card resale store: Star Chamber Cards
- GameSpot review of Star Chamber: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/starchamber/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review