II. What is Infinite Frontiers?

The Essence of the Game

Infinite Frontiers is not just another tabletop game; it's a universe of endless possibilities. At its core, it's a game that combines elements of strategy, exploration, and storytelling. Here, you're not just moving pieces on a board; you're commanding fleets, exploring unknown worlds, and shaping the course of interstellar events.

Gameplay Styles

Tabletop Wargame

Overview

In this mode, you'll engage in tactical warfare, commanding units and fleets in large-scale battles. The game emphasizes strategic planning, resource management, and tactical execution.

Key Features

  • Strategic Planning: Before the battle begins, you'll need to plan your strategy, considering factors like unit placement, objectives, and potential enemy tactics.

  • Resource Management: Throughout the game, you'll manage resources like Action Points, which are used to perform various actions like moving and attacking.

  • Tactical Execution: Once the battle is underway, your strategic plans come to life as you maneuver units, make attack rolls, and utilize special abilities to gain the upper hand.

Solo/Co-op Adventure

Overview

For those who prefer a narrative-driven experience, the solo/co-op adventure mode allows you to undertake quests, solve puzzles, and face challenges in a story-centric setting.

Key Features

  • Quests: Embark on missions that range from diplomatic negotiations to treasure hunting, each with its own set of challenges and rewards.

  • Puzzles and Challenges: Solve intricate puzzles and overcome challenges that require both wit and skill.

  • Dynamic Scenarios: The game offers a variety of scenarios with branching paths, allowing for multiple outcomes based on your decisions.

Tabletop Role-Playing Game (RPG)

Overview

In RPG mode, you'll assume the roles of characters in a story crafted by a Game Master. This mode focuses on character development, decision-making, and narrative arcs.

Key Features

  • Character Development: Create and develop your own characters, complete with backstories, skills, and flaws.

  • Decision-Making: Your choices matter. The decisions you make will have a lasting impact on the story and could influence the outcome of the entire campaign.

  • Narrative Arcs: Engage in long-term storytelling where your actions and decisions contribute to overarching narrative arcs that can span multiple sessions.

Core Mechanics

While the game offers various modes of play, they all operate on a set of core mechanics. These include elements like attack rolls, movement, and special abilities. Understanding these mechanics is crucial for mastering the game, as they form the foundation upon which all actions and decisions are made.

The Essence of the Universe

Infinite Frontiers is a gritty sci-fi space opera where cyberpunk meets spacepunk. It's a universe where the neon glow of mega-corporations contrasts with the rustic life of frontier farmers. From royal armies to pirate clans, humanity's diversity is on full display, even as it reaches for the stars.

Human Factions

The base game focuses on the diverse human factions that have colonized distant planets and star systems. These range from influential corporations wielding immense power to small communities of frontier farmers trying to eke out a living in harsh conditions. Each faction brings its own set of values, technologies, and challenges to the table.

Corporations

Mega-corporations are influential entities that often have resources and technologies that rival entire nations. They play a significant role in shaping the political and economic landscape of the universe.

Frontier Farmers

On the fringes of colonized space, frontier farmers represent the pioneering spirit of humanity. Often facing harsh conditions and isolation, these communities are a testament to human resilience.

Royal Armies and Pirate Clans

From the disciplined ranks of royal armies to the chaotic freedom of pirate clans, the universe is a battleground where different ideologies and lifestyles clash, often violently.

Beyond Humanity

While the base game is human-centric, the universe is teeming with other civilizations, advanced technologies, and lost arts waiting to be discovered. Encounters with these elements can range from peaceful diplomatic missions to high-stakes conflicts.

Cosmic Phenomena and Environments

The universe is a dynamic setting filled with cosmic phenomena like asteroid fields, black holes, and nebulae. These not only add a layer of visual splendor but also introduce unique gameplay elements such as navigation challenges and environmental hazards.

The Lore

The lore of Infinite Frontiers is a rich tapestry that weaves together elements of ancient prophecies, technological marvels, and intricate political webs. It's a living history that players can influence and contribute to, making it an ever-evolving narrative.

Your Role in the Universe

As a player, you have the opportunity to leave your mark on this expansive universe. Whether you're altering the balance of power between factions, discovering new civilizations, or unraveling ancient mysteries, your actions have the potential to shape the course of events in Infinite Frontiers.

Players and Their Roles as Runners

In the universe of Infinite Frontiers, players often assume the role of "Runners," specialized agents who operate on the fringes of legality and morality. Runners are the unsung heroes and anti-heroes of this gritty space opera, taking on jobs that range from corporate espionage and sabotage to search and rescue missions on uncharted planets.

The Life of a Runner

Being a Runner is not for the faint of heart. It's a life filled with danger, uncertainty, and moral ambiguity. You might find yourself hacking into a secure corporate database one day and negotiating with pirate clans the next. It's a role that demands versatility, resourcefulness, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.

Types of Runners

Runners come in various specializations, each with its own set of skills and tools. Whether you're a Hacker skilled in cyber warfare, a Soldier with expertise in combat, or a Diplomat capable of navigating complex social landscapes, your unique abilities will be crucial in determining the success of your missions.

The Runner's Code

While Runners operate in the gray areas of the law, many adhere to an unspoken code. This code often involves principles like loyalty to your crew, completing the job at all costs, and maintaining a certain level of professional ethics, even if those ethics might be skewed by conventional standards.

Your Impact as a Runner

As a Runner, you're not just a cog in the machine; you're a wrench thrown into it. Your actions and decisions have the potential to disrupt the status quo, influence the balance of power, and shape the future of the Infinite Frontiers universe. Whether you choose to use this influence for personal gain, ideological reasons, or the greater good is entirely up to you.