TI3_SE_Rules.pdf

At the end of empire, a faint wind rustled through Salai’s robes. It was a calm,

warm evening, and the bruised purple outline of the setting sun was still visible

on the horizon. An evening made for calm contemplation and peace.

“This traitor?” Verus could barely contain his frustration. “Rats flee a sinking

ship, my Lord, not a captain!” As he spoke, he immediately regretted his words.

The acidic fear within him twitched again.

Instead it was neither.

The emperor’s lips curled in stark amusement. “Is our ship sinking, Verus?”

For most of his adult years, Salai had come to this balcony to breathe the clean

air and admire the lights of Mecatol City. Yet tonight, the lights were scattered

and few, the usual bustling traffic was scarce, and the air was tainted with the

acrid scent of burning and foreboding. Salai glanced to the west, where distant

columns of dark smoke still rose, obscuring the western stars.

“Of course not, my lord! I certainly did not…”

“What I mean, Verus, is that I envy the freedom of the rat.”

Verus paused. “Not words I would use at your dinner speech, my Lord.”

The emperor burst into friendly laughter, his spirit raised for the moment. “No, I

better not.” The emperor took his friend’s arm as they walked. “I am glad to

employ so esteemed a councilor. Especially when he saves me from rhetorical

folly involving vermin.”

“Your Highness?”

Salai did not turn to greet the owner of the voice. It belonged to High Councilor

Verus Da Ishnu. The councillor knew his emperor’s displeasure at being inter-

rupted on his evening balcony stroll, yet for months Verus had interrupted him

regardless. Salai gently shook his head and sighed. He could hardly blame his

old friend. These were difficult times.

Verus smiled back, it was good to see Salai jest; it did not happen often.

They continued their walk in a rare moment of silence. The emperor’s smile

soon faded. “I stand with the ship, Verus. Sinking or not. I stand with the ship!”

“The fire continues.” The emperor gestured towards the plumes of smoke in the

west. “It has been burning for months. Please tell me that we are making

progress?”

“Of course, my Lord. And we stand with you.”

The emperor nodded. “Well, Verus. Will you please tell me why you interrupted

my evening walk this time?”

Verus emerged from the doorway and approached his emperor. “They have con-

tained the spread of the fire, but the work goes on. The Hall of Cartography was

vast, and our resources are now limited.…”

***

Verus led the emperor into the throne room. On a normal night, the room would

be bustling with councilors, ambassadors, military officers, and representatives

from every corner of the galaxy. Court staff would be busy filling cups and pro-

viding light meals to a crowd buzzing with intrigue and ploys of power.

“The continuing call for reservists has drained our public sectors.” Salai shook

his head. “Is that not what we tell the citizens?”

It was a question that Verus Da Ishnu knew better than to answer. Verus felt a

twang of the gnawing fear that had been growing within him since the Hall of

Cartography was destroyed. The nagging fear of the impossible.

Instead, tonight the room was dimly lit, strangely hot, and only the inner circle

of Salai’s councilors was present.

“And Ibna?” Salai Sa Corian, the last Lazax emperor, turned to his advisor.

And the visitor.

“There is still no word of Ibna Vel Syd.” Verus didn’t understand or appreciate

the emperor’s empathy for the renegade junior councilor. Even before his trea-

son, Ibna’s presence had become destructive in court. His nervous outcries, bor-

dering on panic, had been far from useful in procuring any long-term solution

to the crisis.

The stranger stood taller than even the Lazax. Entirely cased in a gold-bronze

metal, only its glowing eyes could be seen burning beneath an expressionless

golden mask. Salai could feel the strange heat emanating from the creature, a

pulsing, living heat, unlike any that Salai had known in the past.

The creature, somewhat clumsily in its heavy armor, bowed gently. Its eyes, flick-

ering with a living fire, dimmed in respect.

“And his ships?” Salai glanced towards the stars, resuming his slow walk along

the balcony. Verus followed.

Aservant brought Salai his translation device on a golden tray. Salai placed the

device over his ear. “Who are you?” Salai’s voice was kind.

“Still unaccounted for, I’m afraid. Our navy…”

“Yes, I know,” Salai sighed, “It is stretched thin.” His eyes seemed to glaze over

as he studied the distant suns that shone in the Mecatol night sky. “Ah, Ibna.

Where have you gone?” Salai lowed his eyes to look at his old friend. “I envy

him, Verus.”

“I am Feramon Azh.” The voice of the stranger was like that of coals grinding

in a furnace. “I am of the Gashlai people from distant Muaat.”

Salai spread his arms in the traditional welcome. “Be well received here on

Mecatol. Even in these troubled times, the empire is glad for your arrival and

your presence!”

“We ask for your help,” the Gashlai began. “We are a people enslaved.” The

creature inched forward towards the emperor, its fiery eyes pleading.

“My lord,” Verus began. “The Hacan and the N’orr…their entire diplomatic

contingents have secretly departed. Their districts are empty.”

The emperor listened to the tale of the Gashlai and their mistreatment by the Jol

Nar. As the creature finished its tale, Salai moved towards it, reaching to touch

its armor, but as he felt the boiling heat of the metal, he slowly returned his

hand to his side.

“But why?” Salai demanded. But as he looked into the face of the High

Commander, he knew. “We are betrayed?”

The high commander only lowered his eyes, deep embarrassment in his face.

“We are at war against the Hylar. We have no control over their actions,” the

emperor said. Across the room, councilors nodded their silent agreement.

Salai moved calmly to the great western window. As he approached the glass,

the first bomb fell, splitting the night in yellow and orange. Hard shadows

flared across the room. In the night skies above, Salai could see the emerging

outlines of the Sol fleet. Like a vast swarm of black birds, the vessels soon

shrouded the stars.

The disappointment in the eyes of the Gashlai was evident. “But you are emper-

or! You are strong!” he continued. “You can free Muaat, and the Gashlai will

help you in your war!”

Salai turned to the people in the room. They looked longingly at him, as if some

secret legacy of the imperial blood would spring forth and vanquish the enemy.

Instead they saw only tears.

ALazax admiral came to whisper something in the emperor’s ear, but Salai

waved him away. “Our forces are hard pressed, Feramon. Despite my compas-

sion for your plight, we cannot spare even a single ship.”

Salai moved calmly to the Gashlai, who was clearly shaken over the sudden

events. “Go home, friend Feramon. I hope that you and your people find a safe

way out of the destruction in the years ahead. If you survive this night, tell your

people that they must carve their own destiny.”

“But you must help us!” The Gashlai inched forward again. “The hope of my

people rests with my mission here. You cannot fail them!”

“I am sorry, my friend.” The Lazax emperor was powerless. It seemed the whole

galaxy was pleading for help, while truly it was the empire that needed help from

the galaxy. This audience was over.

The last emperor returned the engineering device to the creature. Placing his

hand emphatically on its metallic arm, Salai ignored the instant blistering of his

skin. “This knowledge is too late for us. Keep it. It may yet benefit your people!”

The eyes of the Gashlai dimmed again in disappointment, but he did not step

back. “Wait!” There was a hint of tension in his voice, a taste of desperation.

The creature touched a small control at his side, and with a hiss of hot air a

small door opened in his chest armor. The palace guards sprung to the emper-

or’s side.

The Gashlai quickly retreated, the room palpably cooling at his departure.

Another explosion shook the city and the imperial tower trembled. The emperor

tore the imperial chain from his neck, precious metals and gemstones spilling on

to the floor. “This twilight imperium is no more. Save your families.”

Slowly the Gashlai brought out an engineering drafting device from the com-

partment. “If you save the Gashlai, we will give you this.”

The others in the room came alive with a sudden panic, most rushing blindly to

the doors. “Remember the peace of the emperors!” Salai shouted after them.

Salai took the device and glanced at the Hylar schematics. The emperor gestured

for the admiral to come forth once more. Their eyes grew in surprise as they

realized what the schematic meant.

As the echo of his words rang through the room, a sharp sound rang through

the low rumble of bombardament. The High Commander, having discharged

his service pistol on himself, instantly collapsed. His blood slowly saaking into

the imperial rugs. Salai hardly noticed.

“The Hylar are building this monstrosity?” Salai asked. The Gashlai blinked

and nodded. “My people have been slaving to build this vessel for years,” the

creature sadly announced.

Verus came to his emperor’s side for the last time. Together the two stood in the

trembling tower, silently witnessing a bloom of fires grow in their city like a gar-

den of destruction.

The emperor glanced at the admiral, who looked longingly at the schematic and

the powerful weapon it promised.

The next wave of bombardments destroyed the imperial palace and everyone

therein.

The emperor was about to speak again when the door to the throne room sprang

open with a clamor. Led by the High Commander of the Lazax forces, a group

of naval and diplomatic personnel burst into the room. Their faces were grave,

and hints of perspiration beaded on their foreheads. Wary of the alien in the

center of the room, the High Commander approached Verus, whispering news in

the councilor’s ear.

“Yes?” Salai inquired. Something was wrong.

Welcome

Components

The Shattered Empire Icon

Welcome back to the TWILIGHT IMPERIUM uni-

verse. In the SHATTERED EMPIRE expansion, the

galaxy is larger and more dangerous – and the glory

of conquering it is greater than ever before. Now four

new races enter the struggle for the Imperial Throne,

and up to eight civilizations can vie for control of the

galaxy. There are new planets to conquer and new

spatial anomalies to contend with, but there are also

new technologies – including new race-specific tech-

nologies – to aid each civilization. New Political

Cards and Actions Cards revitalize the game, and

players can also choose to use new variant Strategy

Cards, Public Objectives, and many new optional

rules.

War rages across dozens of planets, and only one race

will emerge to control the empire. Will you submit, or

lead the galaxy into a new age?

Your copy of SHATTERED EMPIRE should contain

the following components:

• 28 New System Tiles

• 2 New Sets of Plastic Units (2 sets of 5

Dreadnoughts, 4 Carriers, 8 Cruisers, 8

Destroyers, 2 War Suns, 12 Ground Forces,

10 Fighters, 6 Planetary Defense Systems,

and 3 Space Docks each)

• 4 New Race Sheets

• 64 Command Counters (16 for each of the

four new races)

• 88 Control Markers (14 for each of the four

new races, plus 2 additional markers for

each of the 10 original races)

• 12 Leader Counters (3 for each of the four

new races)

• 8 New Variant Strategy Cards

• 1 Variant Imperial Strategy Card

• 8 New Trade Contracts Cards

• 28 New Objective Cards

• 40 New Action Cards

• 32 New Political Cards

• 98 Technology Cards (including 2 new

Technology decks in grey and orange)

• 14 Race-Specific Technologies Cards

• 28 New Planet Cards

• 16 Facility Cards (8 Colonies and 8

Refineries)

• 8 Unit Reference Cards

• 12 Shock Troop Tokens

• 12 Space Mine Tokens

• 2 Mecatol Custodian Tokens

• 8 Artifact Tokens

• 1 High Alert token

• 22 Domain Counters

• 12 Fighter Supplement Tokens (in 3s)

• 12 Ground Force Tokens (in 3s)

• 12 Trade Goods

• 3 Wormhole Tokens

All the cards in this expansion are marked with the

SHATTERED EMPIRE symbol on their fronts, to

allow you to easily separate them from your base

TWILIGHT IMPERIUM game.

The Shattered Empire Symbol

R EPLACEMENT C ARDS

Several replacement cards for the Twilight

Imperium 3rd Edition base game are included

in this expansion. Some of these cards have

been revised to correct errata, while others have

been revised to work better with this expansion.

To use the replacement cards, simply remove

the original cards from their appropriate decks

and replace them with the new versions. The

replacement cards are:

T ECHNOLOGY C ARDS

6 Advanced Fighters (1 in each color)

6 Micro Technology (1 in each color)

6 Assault Cannon (1 in each color)

A CTIION C ARDS

4 Direct Hit Cards

1 Ruinous Tariff Card

P OLIITIICAL C ARDS

1 Open the Trade Routes Card

Expansion Overview

In this expansion you will find a number of additions

to the Twilight Imperium Universe as well as a num-

ber of new optional rules and variants. The first sec-

tion of the rulebook details the new additions (which

include new races, more systems, and many new

cards and counters) while the second section details

many new optional rules that may be added as play-

ers see fit.

Page 4

Component

Descriptions

New Strategy Cards and the Variant

Imperial Strategy Card

New Objective Cards

Below are brief descriptions of each component.

New Systems

The new sets of Stage I and Stage II Public Objectives

can optionally be used instead of the original

Objective deck. These cards tend to focus more on

military conflict than the original set. See page 7 for

details.

Also provided are 3 new Secret Objectives, to be

mixed in with the original set.

Finally, Special Objectives have been included for

use with two new optional rules: Artifacts (detailed

on pages 9-10) and the Voice of the Council option

(detailed on page 11).

The High Alert Token

There are 28 new system tiles in SHATTERED

EMPIRE, including Ion Storms (a new type of Special

System). Hope’s End, the imperial training ground, is

also among the new systems.

One of the new systems is the Wormhole Nexus,

which is easily distinguished by its non-hexagonal

shape. Use of this system is optional, and when this

rulebook refer to “systems,” the Wormhole Nexus

should be excluded unless stated otherwise.

SHATTERED EMPIRE features a new set of eight

variant Strategy Cards, with a white background, that

favor different strategies than the original set. In addi-

tion, there is a High Alert token for use with the new

Warfare II Strategy Card. For full details on the new

Strategy Cards, see pages 14-17.

The variant Imperial Strategy Card, with a black

background, may optionally be used with the original

set of Strategy Cards. Details on this card can be

found on page 18.

New Planet Cards

New Technology Cards

These cards correspond to the planets in the new

systems.

New Race Sheets

Four brand-new technologies are included for each

player, as well, as well as two complete decks of

Technology cards in grey and orange.

Facility Cards

Race-Specific Technologies

These cards represent refineries and colonies that

players may build on a planet to increase the planet’s

resources or influence value. See page 11 for details.

Four never-before-seen races join the struggle to con-

trol the galaxy.

Additional Control Markers, Command Counters,

Leaders, and Trade Contracts have been provided for

each of four new races. These function exactly the

same as in the base game.

Each of the 14 races now has one Race-Specific

Technology. These optional Technology cards may

only be acquired by the appropriate race (see page 9).

Unit Reference Cards

New Action & Political Cards

New Plastic Game Units

The unit reference cards provide players with an

image of each unit type and its game stats.

Shock Troop Tokens

Additional Political and Action cards provide players

with a wider variety of Galactic Council Agendas and

game events. To use these cards, shuffle them into

their appropriate decks.

Two new colors of plastic pieces representing military

personnel, defense systems, and spaceships have been

provided. These pieces allow players to play Twilight

Imperium with up to eight players.

Shock Troops represent battle-hardened, veteran

Ground Forces. These special Ground Forces are

much more powerful and have special rules governing

them (found on page 10).

Page 5

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