XORAKUS

Xorakus is a cooperative, sci-fi, deck-building and exploration board game for 1–5 players, where a stranded crew must explore an alien world. Will they survive long enough to escape the planet?

The Game

The spaceship, Daedalus, has crashed on the planet Xorakus! ...and you're part of the crew! To win the game you'll need to work together to survive, find resources, repair the ship, and escape the planet. Along the way your characters will have opportunities to learn new skills, find new items, and have exciting encounters! What will you do when you meet the native Xorakians - try to communicate & trade or will you come out guns-a-blazin'? Do you and your friends have what it takes to explore and survive on a dangerous alien world? Pledge now!

Characters, Skills, & Deck Building

You’ll take on the role of 1 of the 7 Daedalus crew members. Each character has a character mat and a tuck box full of skill cards curated just for them. 

The character mat tells you a little about the character - their special rules, abilities, and hit points. Each one also has 3 item slots, and spots to check off once you’ve deciphered the Xorakian Language or Technology.

Each character's skill cards include: 10 base skills, which are their starting play deck, representing skills they were already good at before the start of the game; 20 improvement skills, representing the skills they may potentially learn during the game; and 1 reference card, showing a list of their skills on one side and a quick reference player turn guide on the other.

Your character can learn new skills throughout the game! To do so, you'll play the "Improve" skill, which lets you draw 3 cards from your improvement deck and choose 1 to gain into your discard pile (shown above). When your play deck runs out, you'll shuffle the discard pile to become your new play deck.

Map Building & Encounter Cards

The Daedalus has crash landed on Xorakus, so at the start of the game the spaceship is in its impact crater surrounded by 6 starting terrain tiles. That's all you know of this planet, but to find the resources you'll need to repair your ship, you're going to have to venture into unexplored terrain (bare tabletop). Simply take a tile from the stack of hexagon terrain tiles and place it where you want to move; then move there. You'll build out the map as you explore! 

Each tile has an icon that tells you how many encounter cards to draw from the 4 corresponding encounter decks: Verdant, Wetland, Arid, and Deviant. Encounters might be items, vehicles, or skills to help you survive. They might be enemies that can hurt or capture you. They could also be events, conditions, and side missions.

Interactive Enemy & Status Display

Each round has an enemy movement phase. At the start of each movement phase someone will draw a movement card, which directs some of the enemies' movements. Sometimes they also spawn new Xorakians. 

The movement deck gives different directions to Single Xorakians, Groups of Xorakians, and Xorakians with Prisoners. There's enough randomness to keep you guessing, but odds are: single Xorakians want to group up, groups of Xorakians want to charge, and Xorakians with a prisoner want to move to the nearest city to lock up their captive. 

The movement deck also limits the number of rounds. If it runs out, the players lose!

Each time a Xorakian enemy is killed, you must add 1 to the "Xorakian Body Count" on the Status Display dial (shown above). Rotating the dial does a couple of things: 

• There's a "Loot & Consequences" window that sometimes reveals icons for items or resources dropped in the space (loot) and sometimes reveals icons for adding more Xorakians to the board (consequences). 
• There are also communication abilities listed in the large window on the right side of the dial. You get to choose one of these abilities to use when you play skills like Communicate or Negotiate. However, as the body count continues to rise, the Xorakians become angry and less trustful, so these abilities begin to shift out of view and once they're gone, they are no longer available!  

There are also many other threats waiting to be encountered: giant worms, sacred beasts, water serpents, and volcanic eruptions, just to name a few.

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Contents of Xorakus

Exploded View of the Box and Its Contents

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Included: These pieces are included in both the Xorakus Essential Set and the Acrylics Upgrade

Box Top

Box Bottom

Launch Guide / Set Up & Play: This instruction booklet tells you how to set up the game and how to play. On the back, you'll find a handy resource finding chart, which shows you how to locate or craft the resources you'll need to win the game.

Operations Guide / Reference: This reference booklet gives rule clarifications for: the status display dial and for each terrain tile, character, skill, encounter, item, and resource. It also has a glossary of terms and a glossary of icons. We've put the rules for Xorakian cities on the back for easy access.

6 Quick Reference Cards: A quick reference for: enemy movement phases, reading Movement cards, moving Xorakians, enemy engagement, Xorakian & Xorakian Warrior (as shown on encounter cards), and rules for prisoners.

5 Quick Start Tutorial Cards: These cards show players exactly what to do on the first  2-3 rounds of the game and each card has instructions for a different player. 

For 4-5 player games, the yellow sides are: 1st player - Engineer, 2nd player - Pilot, 3rd player - Captain, 4th player - Scientist, 5th player - Space Marine 

For 1-3 player games, the white sides are: 1st player - Engineer, 2nd player - Pilot, 3rd player - Captain, solo play - Engineer, and solo play continued 

1 Status Display Punchboard Dial

7 Skill Decks + 7 Punchboard Character Mats: Each of the 7 characters (Captain, Communications Officer, Doctor, Engineer, Pilot, Scientist, and Space Marine) has 1 character mat + 1 tuck box + 1 unique skill deck (30 skill cards + 1 reference card).

8 Punchboard Essential System Mats: 1 Bridge Controls mat + 1 Computer mat + 1 Hull mat + 1 Fuel System mat + 1 Life Support System mat + 1 Reactor mat + 1 Sensors mat + 1 Thrusters mat.

3 Punchboard Nonessential System Mats: 1 Communications System mat  + 1 Infirmary mat + 1 Weapons System mat.

1 Punchboard System Abilities Mat

1 Punchboard Starting Hex:  1 punchboard Start hex with Crater and Daedalus spaces.

35 Punchboard Terrain Tiles: 12 punchboard set up hexes + 23 other punchboard hexes divided into 4 terrain types (Verdant Terrain, Arid Terrain, Wetland Terrain, and Deviant Terrain).

4 Encounter Decks With Deck Mats: 1 Verdant Encounters deck (25 cards) + 1 Verdant deck mat + 1 Arid Encounters deck (25 cards) + 1 Arid deck mat + 1 Wetland Encounters deck (25 cards) + 1 Wetland deck mat + 1 Deviant Encounters deck (25 cards) + 1 Deviant deck mat.  

1 Resources Deck + 1 Items Deck + 1 Movement Deck + 1 Fatigue Deck: 1 Resources deck (25 cards) + 1 Resources deck mat + 1 Items deck (25 cards) + 1 Items deck mat + 1 Fatigue deck (25 identical cards) + 1 Fatigue deck mat + 1 Movement deck (54 cards: 18 Phase 1 cards + 18 Phase 2 cards + 18 Phase 3 cards) + 1 Movement deck mat.

50 Chips: 30 bright green plastic chips + 20 dark red plastic chips.

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Punchboard Pieces: Included in the Xorakus Essential Set only (not in the Acrylics Upgrade) 

Daedalus: 1 punchboard Daedalus tile.

Characters: 7 punchboard character standees (with plastic stands).

Native Xorakians: 10 punchboard Xorakian standees + 4 punchboard Xorakian Warrior standees (with plastic stands).

Other Punchboard Enemies: 2 Sacred Beast standees + 2 Rhinotiger standees + 2 Large Carnivorous Plant standees + 1 Water Serpent disk + Herbivore Behemoth standee + 1 Flying Acid Spitter standee + 1 Xorakian Aircraft standee + 1 Giant Worm standee (with plastic stands). 

Movement Disk: 1 punchboard Movement disk.

Check & X Tokens: 60 punchboard Check & X tokens.

5 Transport Figures: 2 Crawling Tanker standees (with plastic stands) + 1 Mech Loader assembly + 1 Planetary Rover assembly + 1 Battle Mech assembly (assemblies are 4 pieces slotted together; designed for character standees to ride in). 

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Acrylic Pieces: Included in the Acrylics Upgrade only
(not in the Xorakus Essential Set) 

Daedalus: 1 clear acrylic Daedalus tile.

Characters: 7 clear acrylic character meeples.

Native Xorakians: 10 clear acrylic Xorakian meeples + 4 clear acrylic Xorakian Warrior meeples.

Other Clear Acrylic Enemies: 2 Sacred Beast meeples + 2 Rhinotiger meeples + 2 Large Carnivorous Plant meeples + 1 Water Serpent disk + 1 Herbivore Behemoth meeple + 1 Flying Acid Spitter meeple + 1 Xorakian Aircraft meeple + 1 Giant Worm meeple.

Movement Token: 1 clear acrylic Movement disk. 

Check & X Tokens: 60 acrylic Check & X Tokens.

5 Clear Acrylic Transport Figures: 2 Crawling Tanker meeples + 1 Mech Loader assembly + 1 Planetary Rover assembly + 1 Battle Mech assembly (assemblies have 3 pieces held together with magnets; designed for character meeples to ride in).

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Pledge Tiers

Space Explorer - Punchboard

You'll receive the Xorakus Essential Set: Includes everything you need to play!

In this set, all of the pieces you move around the map are sturdy punchboard with full-color illustrations on both sides. Plastic bases are included for the Xorakian, creature, and character standees. Vehicle assemblies, tokens, and disks are also made of durable punchboard.

If we reach $26,000 and unlock the Acrylics Upgrade stretch goal, you’ll be able to upgrade later in the pledge manager.

With All Applicable Upgrades: If we reach some of the stretch goals, like an illustrated box interior or linen texture on cards, then those upgrades will be applied to all tiers, including this one.

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Intergalactic Hero - Punchboard

This is a collector's tier: At this level you'll get a signed copy of the Xorakus Essential Set, including everything you need to play. All of the pieces you move around the map are sturdy punchboard with full-color illustrations on both sides. Plastic bases are included for the Xorakian, creature, and character standees. Vehicle assemblies, tokens, and disks are also made of durable punchboard.

You get the hard bound book, "The Art of Xorakus" - exclusive to crowdfunded collector's sets, Offers a closer look at the vivid imagery from the game. There's also a peek into the process of illustrating and world building and a bit more narrative about the Xorakian culture and the story of the Daedalus crew.

Plus, your name in the credits! You'll not only join the crew, but you'll be recognized in a public way as being a big part of our launch crew! How cool is that?

If we reach $26,000 and unlock the Acrylics Upgrade stretch goal, you’ll be able to upgrade later in the pledge manager.

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Insterstellar Warrior - Acrylics Upgrade
(Locked until we get to $26,000)

You'll receive the Xorakus Deluxe - Acrylics Upgrade Set: Includes everything you need to play!

You may have seen wooden meeples in a board game; you may have also seen thin acrylic pieces; these are different. In this set, all of the pieces you move around the map are made of 8mm thick, clear acrylic and they stand on their own without needing a base. There are also vehicle assemblies that are made of 3 acrylic pieces that snap together with magnets! Tokens and disks are made of 3mm clear acrylic.

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Intergalactic Hero - Acrylic
(Locked until we get to $26,000)

This is a collector's tier: At this level you'll get a signed copy the Xorakus Deluxe - Acrylics Upgrade Set, which includes everything you need to play. You may have seen wooden meeples in a board game; you may have also seen thin acrylic pieces; these are different. In this set, all of the pieces you move around the map are made of 8mm thick, clear acrylic and they stand on their own without needing a base. There are also vehicle assemblies that are made of 3 acrylic pieces that snap together with magnets! Tokens and disks are made of 3mm clear acrylic.

You get the hard bound book, "The Art of Xorakus" - exclusive to crowdfunded collector's sets, which offers a closer look at the vivid imagery from the game. There's also a peek into the process of illustrating and world building and a bit more narrative about the Xorakian culture and the story of the Daedalus crew.

Plus, your name in the credits! You'll not only join the crew, but you'll be recognized in a public way as being a big part of our launch crew! How cool is that?

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Stretch Goals

All goals include manufacturing, an estimate for cargo shipping from China to the USA, 30% tariffs, and a 10% allowance for unforeseen expenses. Fulfillment shipping will be charged separately in the pledge manager.

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Content Creator Videos

Disclosure: These content creators were offered a copy of Xorakus (assuming the campaign is successful), but in most cases no money was exchanged for the creation of these videos (we did pay a small fee to Board Game Dad for his content). Our purpose in collaborating with all of them was to help promote Xorakus and expand our visibility in the gaming community, but we do believe they gave honest opinions.

The Meeple Marathon - Xorakus Preview

The Meeple Marathon - Mini Play Through (3 Rounds)

@Board.Game.Dad (Instagram) - Xorakus Promo

Tabletop Hero (YouTube) - Xorakus Preview

Co-op Guild - Full Playthrough

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Xorakus Origins + Contributors

Hi, I'm Martin Cline,
The designer, developer, illustrator, and producer of Xorakus. It's my first board game and this is my first Kickstarter! Although I'm new to the industry, I'm an educated and experienced artist and designer with a life-long love of board games. 

About me:
I grew up in South-East Texas, but have lived most of my adult life in Seattle. I've got a little condo in the city, where I live with my wife Brittney and our two little Italian Greyhounds. In addition to games, I like snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, cycling, reading, and listening to podcasts & audiobooks.

Education & Work Experience: 
I'm an alumni of the Rhode Island School of Design (Architecture), the University of Washington (Interdisciplinary Visual Art), Seattle Central Community College (General Education), and the Art Institute of Seattle (Computer Animation). 

In addition to being a board game designer, I've worked as a designer in the fields of architecture & product design, and as an illustrator for an advertising company. I've also sold several paintings and designed and built a fair amount of custom furniture.

The Origin Story of Xorakus
Xorakus was first imagined during a late-night conversation between my brother, Roger, and I. This project was a way to stay connected while living far apart. As we began brainstorming, we had the idea of exploring randomized tiles and we added the "crashed on an alien planet" theme. The game flowed from there - cooperative play, unique characters, the goal of repairing the ship, etc. I spent the next six months working on the first couple of drafts and Roger was a great sounding board. We eventually got together and played the game. He passed away a couple of years ago from complications with heart surgery - I miss him all the time.

Design & Development
In 2019 I got busy developing the game play of those early drafts a lot further. I began world building and creating concept art for the landscape and culture of Xorakus and for the Daedalus spaceship and its crew. I designed all of the pieces and wrote the rules of the game. I hand drew more than 150 digital illustrations.

Graphic Design
My wife, Brittney Roach Cline, who is a professional graphic designer, shaped a strikingly minimalist visual identity to complement my vivid illustrations. She worked on the logo, typography, icons, color pallet, card & mat layouts, rule book layout, etc.

Playtesting, Iteration, & Promotion
I've spent years developing the gameplay over hundreds of play tests and a bunch of iterative prototypes - refining the balance, difficulty, length of play, etc. I've also built a social media presence and started showing the game at conventions.

Website Design
In 2022 we needed a website and we turned to, Michael, one of Britt's design colleagues. Michael David Design built our amazing website. www.Xorakus.com

Promo Video
Our exciting promo video, which can be watched at the top of this page, was made by Hexy Studios in 2022. It was a fun process, getting animation updates and reviewing audio clips from voice actors. Hexy was a great help every step of the way.

After all that work, Xorakus has become:

• An intensely immersive and interactive world  
• The start of a new game company - Positive Space Games
• The start of a new game system, "Hex Tile Continuum (HTC)", which is hex tile mapping + deck building your character's skills. We hope to use this system for games with different genres, scenarios, goals, etc.

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Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/xorakus/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/Xorakus

https://www.tiktok.com/@xorakus

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Retailer Information

Are you a game store or professional reseller interested in carrying Xorakus?

We’ve created several retailer bundles designed to help stores introduce the game to their communities. These tiers include discounted bulk pricing and demo copies so retailers can teach the game, run demo nights, and display the game in store.

Day 1 pledges:

Retailers who pledge within the first 24 hours of the campaign will receive one additional demo copy with their order.

Retail pledges are available to:

• Brick-and-mortar game stores
• Online retailers
• Professional resellers

A couple of things to note about retail pledges:

• Our planned MSRP for an Essential-Punchboard Set is $100.
• The per unit rates for the Retailer Bundles are not quite "wholesale" rates, but still pretty good.
• Retailers may be asked to provide a link to their store or sales platform after the campaign.
• Demo copies are intended for in-store teaching and display only and are not for resale.
• Retail pledges will ship after Kickstarter backer fulfillment.

Retailer Bundles

Retailer Starter Bundle        
4 Xorakus Essential-Punchboard Sets + 1 Demo Copy 

Retailer Standard Bundle     
10 Xorakus Essential-Punchboard Sets + 2 Demo Copies 

Retailer Enterprise Bundle   
20 Xorakus Essential-Punchboard Sets + 3 Demo Copy

*The Acrylic Retail Bundle becomes available if the Acrylic Upgrade stretch goal is unlocked during the campaign.

Acrylic Retail Bundle              
5 Xorakus Acrylics Upgrade Sets + 1 Acrylics Demo Copy

If you have questions about retailer orders, feel free to contact us through Kickstarter messages.

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Shipping, Fulfillment, and Distribution

Shipping Locations

Fulfillment Timeline & Shipping Prices

Fulfillment Timeline: We intend to complete fulfillment in or around March of 2027 - so that's when you'll actually receive your game. One year out is pretty common for crowdfunded board game projects. Unfortunately, many of those projects are notorious for running over the estimated timeline. We fully intend to complete fulfillment in about 1 year or sooner. That being said, this is our first campaign, so we promise to do our best and keep you notified of the progress every step of the way.

Shipping Prices: The prices that we show for shipping your games to you are estimates only. They're based on current prices combined with trends to project what those prices will be next March.

Distribution

InDiPro is handling our distribution and fulfillment. They work with a lot of small independent board game companies like us to help them find their footing at conventions and in stores in the US.

Conditional Regional Fulfillment: Fulfillment will initially ship from our U.S. hub in Seattle. If enough backers appear in other regions (such as the EU, UK, or Australia), we will explore adding regional fulfillment hubs to reduce shipping costs and minimize import fees. Additional hubs will depend on final backer distribution and may be added after the campaign if the volume supports it.

Again, we'll keep you notified with regular updates about all the relevant shipping and fulfillment information as soon as we know about it.