Star Trek: Away Missions (2023) Board Game

Star Trek: Away Missions is a board game set in the iconic Star Trek universe. Designed by Henning Ludvigsen and featuring artwork by Gale Force Nine, LLC, this game allows players to take on the roles of Starfleet officers exploring dangerous and exotic alien planets.

Game Components of Star Trek: Away Missions

Miniatures for characters from the Federation, Borg, Romulans, and Klingons.

Modular boards representing different locations on Federation and Borg ships.

Mission cards and Support cards, which include equipment, events, and objectives.

Character cards with stats and abilities.

Tokens for tracking actions, damage, and other game elements.

Dice for resolving combat and skill tests.

How To Setup Star Trek: Away Missions

To set up the game, players first choose their factions and characters. The game board is constructed by deploying boards to build the map, either a Federation starship or a Borg cube. Each player then customizes their deck of Mission and Support cards. The game begins with a Core Mission card chosen during setup, which outlines the main objective for the game. Players then draw their initial hand of cards and prepare for the first round.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: The goal is to score the most points by completing Mission cards within three rounds.

Rounds: Each game consists of three rounds, each divided into Draw and Action phases.

Draw Phase: Players refill their hand with Mission and Support cards.

Action Phase: Players alternate activating characters, each performing two actions such as moving, attacking, or taking special actions.

Actions: Actions include movement, combat, skill tests, and using Support cards to enhance abilities or disrupt opponents.

Combat and Skill Tests: These are resolved using dice rolls, with the outcome determined by comparing attack and defense ratings or achieving specific skill test targets.

Balance Mechanism: If one team has fewer characters, they receive bonus action tokens to maintain balance.

Player Experience

**Star Trek: Away Missions** offers a dynamic and engaging experience with a strong focus on strategic decision-making. Players must navigate the modular board, manage their deck of cards, and optimize their character actions to achieve their mission objectives. The game captures the essence of Star Trek, with cinematic flair and emergent narratives, making each game session feel unique and memorable.

Pros

Engaging Choices: The game provides important and clear decision-making opportunities, enhancing player engagement.

Thematic Accuracy: It delivers a strong Star Trek theme, making it feel authentic and immersive.

Variety and Expansion: There is plenty of potential for variety with multiple factions, mission cards, and expansion sets.

Quick Gameplay: Despite the complexity, the game moves fairly quickly, thanks to streamlined mechanics like the space-based line of sight system.

Cons

Balance Issues: There is a perceived imbalance between the Federation and Borg factions, which can affect gameplay fairness.

Complex Combat: The dice-based combat system, while engaging, can be time-consuming and complex.

Miniature Style: The exaggerated style of the miniatures might not appeal to players seeking more realism.

Personal Thoughts on Star Trek: Away Missions

**Star Trek: Away Missions** is ideally suited for fans of skirmish games and the Star Trek universe. It offers a unique blend of strategy, character management, and thematic immersion, making it a great addition to any board game collection. The game’s design caters well to both casual and competitive players, with enough depth to keep gameplay interesting but not so complex that it becomes overwhelming. If you enjoy tactical battles and mission-based objectives, this game is definitely worth exploring.

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