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Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sawbladex (talk | contribs) at 15:31, 28 March 2007 (elections is a bit of a misnomer as no positions are up for grabs. Also the term in-game is voting session.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga
Developer(s)Worlds Apart Productions
Publisher(s)Matrix Games
Designer(s)Paul Dennen
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
ReleaseInitial Release 2003, The Harbinger Saga 2005
Genre(s)Online collectible card game, turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga is an online collectible card game (CCG) from Matrix Games and Worlds Apart Productions, first released in 2003. The game runs on both the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

One of the game's main attractions is that it combines traditional CCG elements (card collecting and trading, deck building, etc.) with a star map, unit production and planet conquest, a bit like the classic Master of Orion series.

Two player games usually require an average of half an hour to complete, while three and four player games average closer to an hour. Players can play against other people over the internet, or against the computer in 'Practice' matches. In addition, a number of set single-player campaigns, with prebuilt decks, are included. The main focus of the game is human versus human combat, and the 'Practice' AI does not provide a challenge for the advanced gamer.

There are three ways to win a game: Military (taking over the opponent's homeworld), Cultural (having a "destiny point" advantage of 30 or more points) and Political (having 3 "power play" victories at the Star Chamber itself, which is a central location where no battles can normally take place, and where voting sessions occur after every 6th turn). Contrary to many other similar games (both CCGs and computer strategy games), the game is almost never "all but won", and last minute comebacks are frequent.

Races

There are 10 different races in Star Chamber, with each race utilizing two techs.

  • Android - Cyber and Entropy
  • Clave - Life and Entropy
  • Ferrier - Order and Mind
  • Human - Order and Life
  • Ixa - Order and Entropy
  • Kej - Order and Cyber
  • Omior - Mind and Life
  • Silica - Life and Cyber
  • Thrass - Mind and Entropy
  • Zhikanii - Mind and Cyber

Techs

There are 5 different "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 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 and creation of destiny.
  • 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 and destruction of enemy entities outside of combat.

Expansion Sets

Expansion sets are divided into "blocks", which fit in to the Star Chamber storyline. Blocks are further divided into sets.

Origins Block:

  • Origins (November 2003)
  • Incursions (July 2004)
  • Rebellions (January 2005)

Harbinger Block:

  • The Atok Incident (November 2005)
  • Descent (May 2006)
  • Maelstrom (Release event Sat 24th of February 2007)
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