Quick Answer
Start your first Empire's Edge game by choosing your role, preparing the board, and dealing out the cards—then follow the sequence below to avoid the most common setup mistakes.
Why Setup Order Matters
Empire's Edge is a role playing tactical game that blends narrative choices with tactical combat. The order in which you set up affects how smoothly your first session runs. If you jump straight to combat, you might miss key character abilities or map features that shape your strategy.
Taking a few extra minutes to set up properly pays off: you'll understand the flow of the game better and avoid mid-session rule lookups. This guide walks you through the setup sequence that works for most first games, with checkpoints to keep you on track.
First Game Setup Steps
- Choose Your Role: Decide who plays which character archetype: soldier, agent, officer, hacker, medic, psion, or something stranger. Each role has different strengths and weaknesses. Make sure each player understands their role's primary ability before starting.
- Prepare the Game Board: Lay out the game board or play area in a clear space. Ensure all players can reach the board and have room for their cards and tokens. Check that the board is stable and well-lit to avoid misreading map details.
- Shuffle and Deal Cards: Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal the starting hands to each player as indicated in the rules. Keep the remaining deck within reach for drawing during the game. Confirm each player has the correct number of cards before play begins.
- Place Starting Tokens: Set up any tokens or markers for characters, objectives, or special events as described in the scenario. Double-check that all pieces are in their correct starting positions. Use the scenario setup diagram to verify token placement.
- Review Key Rules: Before the first turn, quickly review the core mechanics: how turns work, how actions are resolved, and what triggers a round end. This prevents common misunderstandings. Keep the rulebook handy for quick reference during the first session.
Product Facts
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Empire's Edge - Role Playing and Tactical Game System: Empire's Edge is a role playing and tactical game system where you play a soldier, agent, officer, hacker, medic, psion, or something stranger in a humanity that left Earth and found it was never alone. Your role choice determines your starting abilities and how you interact with the game's tactical challenges, so pick a role that matches your preferred play style.
Empire's Edge - Role Playing and Tactical Game System
