Fantasy Flight Games

Enter the Sol System

Published 29 May 2015 | Relic

Enter the Sol System

Relic: Halls of Terra Is Now Available

"The Imperium of Man stretches across the galaxy and encompasses over a million worlds. To a great many of the unnumbered souls of its population, Terra, the fabled cradle of humanity, the mythical seat of the immortal Emperor and the spiritual heart of the Imperium, is but a legend."
–Warhammer 40,000

Halls of Terra, the first side board expansion for the Warhammer 40,000 board game Relic, is now available at your local retailer and in our online store.

A bloody interplanetary battle against heresy and Chaos rages in the besieged Antian Sector, threatening untold billions of innocents with unspeakable doom. In Halls of Terra, your quest to defeat the powers of darkness ravaging the Antian Sector takes you to the Sol System. There, you have the rare opportunity to earn the favor of the Imperium’s great ruling powers. You may even perhaps even stand at the foot of the Golden Throne and be named a champion of humanity by the God-Emperor himself. But you’ll find that Terra, too, is filled with perils and will test your Cunning, Strength, and Willpower to the utmost.

In addition to the Sol System side board, Halls of Terra introduces a host of new Threat cards, Missions, and Corruption cards to Relic. Three characters equally adept at combating the horrors of the Antian Sector and navigating the ruthless politics of Holy Terra join the game, along with a powerful new nemesis from one of Chaos’ deadliest legions, the Iron Warriors. Rules for initiating vicious skill duels against apotstate characters are introduced for the first time in the rulebook, downloadable from the Relic support section.

The Powers of the Imperium

The path to becoming a Champion of the Antian Sector leads through the gates of the Imperial Palace, deep into the Sanctum Imperialis where sits the terrible and sublime Golden Throne. But to pass through those gates you need at least one affiliation with a great Imperial organisation.

Our first preview revealed how you can gain those affiliations, from winning over the Imperial Nobility with your Cunning to praying alongside the Adepta Sororitas at the Ecclesiarchal Palace. You might also earn an affiliation by completing one of the new Terra-based missions, such as Psychic Training .

If you arrive at the Golden Throne with an affiliation in hand, the God-Emperor will name you a champion of that affiliation. Each Champion gains a powerful and permanent ability. The Champion of the Inquisition , for instance, can easily earn the endorsement of other organisations and possesses an attribute bonus that can be used in any skill test.

The Sacred Sol System

The Sol System side board opens up not only Holy Terra, but also the Forge World of Mars and the moons of Titan and Luna. But there as many lethal threats on these worlds as there are ancient, magnificent, and sacred locations. A new orange Threat deck, explored in our second preview, immerses you in the dire perils, unforeseeable Encounters and extraordinary Events unique to the Sol System. Seeing massive, desperate hordes of psykers pouring out of Black Ships could test your Willpower. Another character might suddenly challenge you to an Honour Duel and force you to fight for your life. Or, you might unexpectedly discover an Archeotech Shrine where you can desposit wargear to curry favor with the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Iron Competitors

Halls of Terra includes three characters, introduced in our third preview, who can face Corruption without falling victim to it, grant other characters renewed life, and withstand the most fearsome enemy onslaughts. They each belong to a different Imperial organisation and possess vastly different abilities, but all of them are fit to become a Champion of the Imperium. All of them are capable of defeating the powers of Chaos that incessantly pour forth from the Warp. With these servants of the Imperium, however, comes a new nemesis, Abraxis Synethi, a warpsmith of the legendary Iron Warriors who took up the banner of Chaos during the Horus Heresy. His diabolical and grotesque Daemon Engines promise to relentlessly hunt and savagely harm those who take up arms in the service of the Emperor.

Become a Champion

The deadly politics and ancient glories of the Sol System await you. Pick up your copy of Relic: Halls of Terra today!

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Warhammer 40,000: Relic are © Games Workshop Ltd. 2012. Talisman © Games Workshop Ltd. 1983, 1985, 1994, 2007. Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000, Relic, Talisman, the foregoing marks' respective logos, and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products and illustrations from the Warhammer 40,000 universe and the Talisman game are either ®, ™, and/or © Games Workshop Ltd. 1983-2013, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. This edition published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing Inc. Fantasy Flight Supply is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

For the Emperor or for Chaos

Published 5 May 2015 | Relic

For the Emperor or for Chaos

Preview the Characters and Nemesis of Relic: Halls of Terra

“Those who witness such battlefield miracles are left in no doubt that the spirit of the Emperor indeed walks with these pious warriors.”
–Warhammer 40,000

Relic charges you with a heroic quest: to save the Antian Sector’s untold billions from heresy and Chaos. In Halls of Terra, you have the chance to undertake that quest as a mighty champion, endorsed by the Emperor himself. Yet only the most stalwart and intrepid heroes can conquer Terra’s capricious nobility and ruthless Adepts as well as the Antian Sector’s daemons and xenos.

Today’s preview features three characters introduced in Halls of Terra who can take on any threat in the galaxy, from machinating politicians to Orks on the rampage. It also introduces a new nemesis from one of Chaos’ mightiest armies.

The Imperium’s Steadfast Defenders

Even among Space Marines, the Imperial Fists are renowned for their uncompromising self-discipline and unquestioning steadfastness. Masters of siege warfare, heavy weaponry, and marksmanship, the Imperial Fists are always on the move, dedicated to bringing the Emperor’s justice to every corner of the galaxy. The Imperial Fists Terminator is one of the most deadly warriors you can play in the game. He not only begins the game with a strength of six, but his enemies’ battle rolls cannot explode against him, so he can fearlessly battle bloodthirsty traitors like Roghrax Bloodhand . His dedication to the Imperium allows him to complete a mission every third time he levels up, putting a Relic – and perhaps victory– easily within his reach.

Similarly devout and utterly devoted to the Imperium, the Sister Hospitaller can both take life and give it, working battlefield miracles to save the Imperium’s soldiers and slay its enemies. Any time during her turn she can spend a character token to reset another character’s life to its starting value and gain a completed mission – of course, resetting life could mean either healing a character or taking some of their lives away. Being a member of the sanctified Adepta Sororitas, the Sister Hospitaller also has opportunities to discard corruption cards as she levels up, purging herself of any taint of Chaos or heresy. Beyond these special abilities, the Sister Hospitaller begins the game balanced between Strength, Willpower, and Cunning with a skill bonus that will help her gain entrance to the Sanctum Imperialis and earn the Emperor's favor.

A Manipulator of Corruption

The Sister Hospitaller rejects corruption, but the House Belisaurius Navigator exists immersed in it, her mind constantly open to the fluctuations of the Warp. With her third eye always watching the Astronomican’s bright psychic beam, the Navigator manipulates the Warp for her own benefit: she can discard any of her faceup Corruption cards to move the distance of its activation number, rather than using her movement result. As a level reward, she can draw a Corruption card and choose whether to activate it immediately or wait for a more opportune moment. Being a member of the Imperial Nobility, she also readily gains influence, which she can spend at the Great Crossroads of Luna to gain passage anywhere in the galaxy, and which she needs to navigate the labyrinthine archives within the Imperial Palace.

Lord of Chains, Breaker of Wills

Long ago, a vehement enmity between the leaders of Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors thrust the Iron Warriors towards Chaos. The two factions remain bitter archrivals, so as the Imperial Fists Terminator joins the battle for the Antian Sector, so does the Iron Warriors’ Warpsmith, Abraxis Synethi , as a Nemesis. Like the Imperial Fists, the Iron Warriors are experts in heavy weaponry, methodical and murderously efficient.

As a Warpsmith, Abraxis Synethi forges terrible daemon engines, chaining unholy daemon to thundering machine. Servants of the Imperium who defeat his daemon engines cannot take them as trophies or permanently destroy them. Instead, eternally shackled to the will of the Warpsmith, these daemon engines remain a permanent threat to the servants of the Imperium. Nor are they the only weapons of Abraxis Synethi, who joins the game with his own Nemesis deck. His Soul Furnace makes the daemon engines even more lethal, draining a life from anyone they defeat and enhancing their battle score. The Battle Cannon grants daemon engines an additional battle die and makes them impossible to evade, so that Abraxis Synethi can gain as much infamy as possible from the ruthless slaughters he has engineered.

Fight for the Antian Sector

Restore life and mercilessly root out heresy as a Sister Hospitaller or storm throughout the galaxy annihilating your enemies as an Imperial Fists Terminator. Immerse yourself in corruption for the sake of the Imperium as the House Belsaurius Navigator, or as Abraxis Synethi unleash the violence of Chaos throughout both the Antian Sector and the Sol System. Whether you serve the God-Emperor and seek his endorsement or haunt the galaxy as a Nemesis to mankind, Relic: Halls of Terra offers you the chance to experience fierce battles and dangerous quests in the grim, dark 41st millennium.

Pre-order Relic: Halls of Terra today!

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Cunning and Corruption

Published 14 April 2015 | Relic

Cunning and Corruption

Preview the Threats and Scenarios of Relic: Halls of Terra

As widespread and calamitous as mutation of the body may be, it is in the mind of Man where the greatest peril lies.
–Warhammer 40,000

In the unending war for the Antian Sector you have battled plague-bearing daemons and warbands of feral Orks, tainted Imperial bureaucrats and the Striking Scorpions of the Eldar. Now, the Halls of Terra expansion for Relic takes you on a mission to the sacred birthplace of humanity to garner the support you need to save untold billions of human lives.

Yet enemies to mankind thrive even in the ancient heart of the Imperium, and the Chaos emanating from the Antian Sector’s Warp Rift spawns heresy and corruption throughout the galaxy. In Halls of Terra, a new orange Threat deck brings to life the obstacles you may encounter on Mars and Terra, from ruthless Inquisitors to painful ritual purifications. Today’s preview introduces the perils of this Threat deck, along with two new scenarios in which Chaos and corruption spread beyond the Antian Sector, endangering the Sol System and your character’s soul.

Rely on Your Cunning

The very air of Holy Terra may be sacred, but that does not mean that the planet is safe. In your quest to gain the affiliations that can secure your entry to the Imperial Palace (as described in the last preview), you’ll face as many enemies and obstacles as you would in the Antian Sector. These foes are not often conquered, however, with bolters or bombs. Instead, you’ll need superior Cunning to defeat them.

Meeting a self-interested House Courtier is only to be expected on Terra. This clever and savage schemer could outwit and slander you, costing you an affiliation. Winning a courtier’s favor gives you an affiliation with the Imperial Nobility, as well as some helpful influence. Similarly, the best way to gain the support of the secretive and stealthy Officio Assassinorum is to prove yourself to an operative of the Inquisition's Ordo Sicarius that oversees it. Be careful, though: the operative will use your own Cunning against you.

There are also those who seek to undermine the Imperium from within its ranks. A Traitorous Adept could steal your painstakingly earned affiliation, simply because he senses your good intentions. Because of such internal threats, the Inquisition operates even on Terra, ruthlessly hunting down heresy and treason. If accused by them, your innocence won't help you . Your best bet is to use your Cunning to blacklist a rival– if you succeed, you’ll earn the Inquisition’s affiliation for handing over to them the apparently guilty party.

Battle the Black Crusade

Your journey to the Sol System is just part of the greater quest to save the Antian Sector. Yet what erupts from that sector’s Warp Rift can still affect Terra, countless light years away. When the legendary Warmaster of Chaos, Abaddon the Despoiler, resurfaces in the Antian Sector, the corruption of the Warp threatens even the Sol System. Twelve times Abaddon has lead his villainous Black Legion to war in the hope of tearing the Emperor from the Golden Throne. Twelve times the Imperium has vanquished his nightmarish army. Now, you and your fellow players are challenged to defeat this Champion of Chaos a thirteenth time.

In the cooperative Black Crusade scenario, you gradually fill the galaxy with the daemons, traitors, and heretics that herald Abaddon’s approach by drawing a Threat card at the start of each turn. In addition, every turn players place a Corruption card on a space in the Sol tier. When you begin your Engagement phase on a corrupted space, you must take the Corruption card as if you drew it. If the Sol tier fills with Corruption, all the players lose. But every time a character enters the Warp Rift and wins a Confrontation against Abaddon, each player removes a Corruption card from the Sol tier. When that tier is free from corruption, all players win.

Affiliation with the pious and merciless Adepta Sororitas may be your salvation in this corrupted and dangerous universe. With it, you might have the fortune to take a Sister of the Order Dialogus as an ally. She causes dice results of both five and six to explode, doubling your chances of incredible success. Affiliation with the Adepta Sororitas also enables you to more easily survive purification through pain , which could purge you of all Corruption cards and grant you more life.

Succumb to Corruption

Some humans give in to corruption in exchange for immediate advantages, even though they recognize the evils of Chaos. The Lure of Chaos scenario provides an incentive to corrupt yourself: once per turn, after a die roll, you may draw one Corruption card to turn a die to any result you want. This could enable you to move exactly where you wish, beat the odds in a dangerous battle, or gain crucial affiliations. Moreover, the scenario allows you to choose whether to activate the Corruption cards you draw, regardless of their number. You can thus avoid an Atrophied Soul while embracing a Mutanous Growth that enhances your abilities.

If any players are free from corruption when someone enters the Warp Rift, those players win the game. Yet, in the grim, dark future, remaining pure is no simple feat and comes at a high cost. You may only avoid corruption in this scenario if you are willing to lose an attribute for every Corruption card you would otherwise draw, as the struggle against Chaos strains your Willpower, Strength, and Cunning. Or, you can fully give in to Corruption and become a secret servant of Chaos operating under the banners of the Imperium. If all players are tainted to some extent, each player adds the activation numbers of his corruption cards, and whoever has the highest total– the direst corruption– wins.

Confront the Impending Chaos

Chaos is emanating from the Antian Sector, stretching its black claws towards the sacred Sol System and no planet, not even Holy Terra, is completely protected from its ruinous powers. In Halls of Terra, you have a choice. Do you strive to remain pure as you vailiantly defend the Imperium of Man? Or do you surrender to the lure of Chaos, and allow your body and mind to be corrupted on the road to victory?

The Warp Rift is expanding and your ship to Terra awaits. Pre-order Relic: Halls of Terra from your local retailer today!

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The Heart of the Imperium

Published 2 April 2015 | Relic

The Heart of the Imperium

Preview the Sol System and Affiliations in Relic: Halls of Terra

Although pilgrims in untold billions journey to Holy Terra, the doors of the Eternity Gate have long been shut and few are given leave to enter. Of those who have basked in his glory, the fortunate few who have stood at the foot of the Golden Throne, no records tell of what they beheld. But who could put into words such an experience?
–Warhammer 40,000

Enter the Sanctum Imperialis and stand before the God-Emperor in Halls of Terra, an upcoming expansion for Relic! Your struggle to rescue the besieged Antian Sector from Chaos and heresy leads you on a mission to Holy Terra, where you must win the favour of the Imperium’s ruthless leaders and even plead your case to the immortal Emperor himself. If you succeed, you will return to the Antian Sector with incredible power, but failure in this notoriously dangerous political arena may cost you your life.

Today’s preview explores some of the sacred landmarks on the Sol System side board where you must undertake treacherous negotiations with the Imperium’s rulers. It traces the path of your pilgrimage from the moment you enter the Sol System to the very foot of the Golden Throne.

Entering the Sol System

As a stalwart servant of the Imperium of Man, you avoid the fate of those billions of pilgrims who endure appalling conditions simply to gaze upon Terra from afar. You may simply spend two influence to move into the Sol System from either the Battlefleet Antias or the Grey Knight Envoy spaces in the Outer Tier of the Antian Sector. From the former, you approach Terra via Luna, where billions of people dwell beneath the moon’s lifeless surface, and myriad ships cross paths on the way to and from Terra. At this great crossroads, you can use whatever influence you have to secure passage to any space in the Sol System Outer, or Middle Tiers, or you can use your Cunning to gain an affiliation with the selfish and decadent Imperial Nobility. At least one affiliation is necessary to enter the Imperial Palace. Affiliations may also allow you to escape conflict or gain new allies. An affiliation can also be exchanged for two influence.

If you enter the Sol System via the Grey Knight Envoy, you must pause at Saturn’s moon, Titan. Amid the ice and liquid methane lies the fortress of the mysterious Grey Knights, the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Malleus. There, you may be identified as an Aspirant hero and sent to the Chamber of Trials, where you will tested in combat against all manner of daunting enemies. If you prove victorious, you gain a completed mission. If you want to secure an affiliation with the Inquisition, however, you must pass a difficult test of Strength – or lose a life in the attempt.

The Forge World of Mars

From either Titan or Luna you may penetrate the Ring of Iron and set foot on Mars, the Imperium’s first and greatest Forge World and the homeworld of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Mars is ruled over by the Fabricator General, who possesses at least one example of every technological construct and design that exists in the galaxy. If you visit his gargantuan palace, he may grant you the affiliation of the Adeptus Mechanicus, offer you a weapon from his seemingly infinite stockpile, or insist that you contribute one of your armaments to his collection. Mars is also the ancient home of House Taranis, oldest of the Imperial Knight Houses and loyal servants of the Machine God. On the Titan Legion Staging Field these knights train alongside newly-constructed Titans before being deployed to battlefields across the galaxy. Here, you can gain an affiliation with the Adeptus Astartes, or they may charge you with a mission in the service of the Imperium.

The Holiest Hive World

Most inhabitants of the Imperium of Man must be content to dream of setting foot on Holy Terra. Billions of devout pilgrims clog its wide avenues, and within the closed gates of its immense halls, countless Adepts toil to keep the Imperium running. You are among the privileged few who can enter the Halls of Terra, yet privilege does not come without peril. Failure in your negotiations with the Adeptus Arbites in the Halls of Judgement or the Adeptus Astra Telepathica in the Scholastia Psykana may cost you a life, an affiliation, or a Power card. Only the sprawling sanctuaries of the Ecclesiarchal Palace are a true safe haven. There you are certain to gain the affiliation of the devoted Adepta Sororitas, whose convent lies within the Palace. If you already have their favor, by visiting them can earn you a life.

At the end of a massive avenue of ten thousand colossal statues, honoring the greatest heroes of human history, stand the enormous gates to the Outer Palace, surrounded by hordes of fervent pilgrims who might riot at the least provocation. With a single affiliation in hand you can pass through these gates, traverse the labrynthine hives of the Outer Palace, and approach the Sanctum Imperialis.

Inside the Imperial Palace

All your efforts have lead you here, to the gates of the Inner Palace. Here, the ever-vigilant Adeptus Custodes will harshly test your best attribute. If you fail, you must return back to the Palace Gates. If you succeed, you have a choice. You may attempt to navigate the Imperial administration's cyclopean bureaucracy in the hope of standing before the Imperial Senate. Reaching the Senatorum Imperialis requires copious amounts of influence, but the High Lords of Terra reward their petitioners well. They will at least give you more influence and an affiliation of your choice. If you are very forunate, they may even bestow upon you a Relic, perhaps the brightly burning Flame of Nocturne , or the sacred Vessel of St. Basileus .

The other option is to step past the nine towering Titanoliths, travel the mile-long Hall of Heroes, pass through the Eternity Gate's adamantium doors, enter the Sanctum Imperialis, and approach the Golden Throne. There within his fettered, ancient body, the Emperor’s mind stretches out across time and space. Your mere presence before him attests that you deserve to be named a Champion of some Imperial order. A Champion of the Imperial Nobility easily gains influence; a Champion of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica can acquire new Power cards with every test of Willpower. If you have all nine affiliations, the Emperor will transport you instantly to the Daemon World Braxias, on the edge of the Antian Sector's Warp Rift.

Champion Your Cause

Your mission to the Sol System promises unprecedented rewards and unknown dangers. To succeed and return to the Antian Sector as a Champion of the Imperium, you’ll need perseverance and a sound strategy as well as incredible Willpower, Strength, and Cunning. Billions and billions of the Imperium’s inhabitants yearn to visit the majestic halls of Terra. You have the chance not only to enter them as a privileged emissary, but to win the endorsement of the God-Emperor himself.

Upcoming previews will explore the enemies, encounters, and corruptions of the Sol System, as well as the new characters and nemesis introduced in this expansion. Prepare for your mission to the heart of the Imperium, and pre-order Halls of Terra from your local retailer today!

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Halls of Terra

Published 2 February 2015 | Relic

Halls of Terra

Announcing a New Expansion for Relic

He stood in front of the massive, ancient, marble doors of the Sanctum Imperialis, feeling the pitiless gaze of the Adeptus Custodes penetrating him as he waited. He hoped that the rusted dents on his armor, the long scars across his face, and the token of the Inquisition’s support would attest to his piety and loyalty. He knew that what he was asking for – an audience with the God-Emperor – was a privilege unknown to any but the most dedicated and uncorrupted servants of the Imperium. He could only pray to be deemed worthy of it. At long last one of the guards approached and tonelessly spoke. “Your wish has been granted. You may enter the Eternity Gate and approach the Golden Throne.”

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Halls of Terra, a side board expansion for the Warhammer 40,000 board game, Relic.

The Antian Sector is on the brink of succumbing to heresy and Chaos. In Halls of Terra, your quest to save the Antian Sector takes you to mankind’s homeworld, where you must persuade the ruling powers of the Imperium to endorse you as an Imperial Champion. Not only the fate of the Antian Sector, but also your life and honor are at stake in your negotiations with the devout Adepta Sororitas, the ruthless Inquisition, the cold-blooded Adeptus Arbites, and even the God-Emperor himself. You’ll soon find that politics and diplomacy can prove as deadly as any battles inside the Warp Rift, and that corruption haunts even the Imperium’s capital.

Relic: Halls of Terra features a side board depicting locations in Holy Terra and nearby Mars. A new orange Threat deck brings these worlds to life and challenges players as they strive to gain affiliations and prove themselves worthy to appear before the God- Emperor. Three new characters and another terrifying Nemesis enter the game, while additional scenarios reshape the struggle against the forces of Chaos.

The Ancient Home of Humanity

The most sacred place in the entire Imperium is Holy Terra, the teeming birthplace of humanity and home of the immortal God-Emperor. An endless stream of pilgrims travels to Terra seeking merely to touch its sanctified soil, but you have much greater ambitions: to win the support of one of the Imperium’s governing organizations and with that support, enter the Sanctum Imperialis and seek the Emperor’s endorsement.

On your journey towards the Palace Gates, you’ll likely visit one of the satellites Titan or Luna. The former is home to the fortress-monastery of the secretive and uncorruptable Grey Knights, the latter is a Civilised World and major crossroads where you may use Cunning to win the favor of the Imperial Nobilty. You may also choose to visit the Forge World Mars, headquarters of the Adeptus Mechanicus whose arcane knowledge produces the technology that fuels the Imperium’s eternal war effort. Once on Terra you may face trial at the Halls of Judgement or discover the secrets of the Scholastia Psykana, the training center for the mysterious Adeptus Astra Telepathica. Then you may approach the fearsome Titanoliths that surround the Palace and the Adeptus Custodes who guard it. They only permit characters with the utmost Cunning, Willpower, or Strength to stand before the Senate and the God-Emperor, and therefore will challenge you in your best attribute.

War by Other Means

For every organization whose favor you earn in the Sol System, you’ll collect an affiliation token, but these are hard to win and easily lost. At least one affiliation is necessary merely to pass through the Palace Gates. The more affiliations you possess, the more likely you are to earn a Relic from the High Lords of Terra or the Emperor.

You may arrive on Terra thinking that political battles cannot possibly be as lethal as the bloody fights you have endured in the Antian Sector, but some Imperial powers will take your life if you fail to conquer them in a battle of Cunning, Willpower, or sheer brute Strength. Political battles may also yield military rewards. If you manage to enter the Sanctum Imperialis and lay eyes upon the immortal God-Emperor, he will name you a Champion of one of the Imperial powers, such as the Adepta Sororitas, and grant you a lasting advantage in the ongoing war against Chaos.

Corruption Is Everywhere

Even in the Sol system, the holiest part of the Imperium, you can encounter corruption and heresy. A False Pilgrim may be attempting to hide among the hordes of religious devotees, or you may meet a Fugitive Witch on the crowded streets. The Inquisition itself could even question your innocence, forcing you to use Cunning to convince them of your piety. Indeed, some citizens of the Imperium thrive on corruption, manipulating it in order to achieve their own ends. The darkly pragmatic House Belisarius Navigator, a member of the Imperial Nobility, accumulates Corruption easily and even has some immunity against it. Her character abilities allow her to both exchange Corruption cards for movement points and decide when certain Corruption cards activate. So, although constantly welcoming Corruption, she nevertheless may keep her mind and body pious and pristine.

Any taint of corruption is so unwelcome in Terra that you may be given a mission to root out corruption and combat it. The Cleanse Holy Terra mission charges its bearer to eradicate any unclean souls who have violated the sanctity of the Sol System. The rewards is not only a completed mission, but also affiliation with the Inquisition. You might even please the Emperor and gain the Adeptus Arbites affiliation by revealing another character’s apostasy or corruption. If you are already affiliated with the Adeptus Arbites, you can force the corrupt character to lose an affiliation – or two lives.

A Deadly Game

A visit to Terra is no secure undertaking. You may lose your life attempting to win over the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, or become a victim in the Inquisition’s merciless war on heresy. But with the support of the High Lords of Terra or the God-Emperor, you will be far better equipped to conquer the horrors of the Antian Sector and triumph in the ultimate confrontation with Chaos.

The voyage to the Sol System begins in the second quarter of 2015. Stay tuned for upcoming previews of the dangers and rewards that await you on Holy Terra.

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About Relic: Nemesis

Published 7 November 2014 | Relic

About Relic: Nemesis

Learn more about this expansion for Relic

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Nemeses Arrive in the Antian Sector

Published 9 May 2014 | Relic

Nemeses Arrive in the Antian Sector

Relic: Nemesis is Now Available

Nemesis, an expansion for Relic is now available at your local retailer and through our webstore.

As the war in the warp-rift torn Antian Sector rages on, deadly new threats to the Imperium converge, drawn by the dark powers of Chaos. These new Nemeses are eager to carve out a place for themselves, dislodge the Imperium’s hold on the sector, and crush the Emperor’s agents once and for all.

Along with four new scenarios, new threat cards, and new wargear to tempt even the most puritanical agents of the Imperium, the Nemesis expansion also adds up to two more players to Relic for epic, six-player games and the Enemies of the Imperium game mode, which allows up to two players to take on the role of a Nemesis, seeking to thwart the Imperium’s agents at every turn.

Enemies of the Imperium

In our first preview, developer Alex Davy previewed the Enemies of the Imperium game mode. This mode adds a sort of doomsday clock to the Relic experience, and the game feels more like a race than ever. With a Nemesis in play, the defenders of humanity can no longer afford to be complacent. Once a Nemesis reaches 25 infamy, the game is over, the Nemesis player wins, and a grievous blow is dealt to the Imperium of Man.

Our second preview focused on two of the playable Nemeses introduced in this expansion, Moarn Goreheart and Specimen X. We also showcased the Master Collector Scenario, which requires even the most devout player characters to become Apostate in order to become victorious.

With the Apostate versus Devotee mechanic introduced in Nemesis, players who become Apostate will become vulnerable not just to attacks by Nemeses on the game board, but by other, more devout players as well.

Purchase Your Copy Today!

After reading our past previews, head to your local retailer or to our webstore to purchase your copy of Relic: Nemesis today! Then, wage war on the Imperium as a Nemesis, or defend the Antian Sector in the name of the Emperor. Keep checking back for more news and information related to Relic.

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The Berserker and the Broodlord

Published 1 May 2014 | Relic

The Berserker and the Broodlord

A Preview of Relic: Nemesis

In January, we announced Nemesis, an expansion for Relic in which dangerous new threats to the Imperium converge on the Antian Sector, pitting agents of the Imperium against their most fearsome foes yet.

Along with four new scenarios, new threat cards, and new wargear to tempt even the most puritanical agents of the Imperium, the Nemesis expansion also adds up to two more players to Relic for epic, six-player games and the Enemies of the Imperium game mode, which allows up to two players to take on the role of a Nemesis, seeking to thwart the Imperium’s agents at every turn.

In our last preview, developer Alex Davy provided a more in-depth look at player versus player combat in the Enemies of the Imperium game mode. Today, we’ll look at two of the game’s playable nemeses, and reveal more about one of the new scenarios included in Nemesis.

Moarn Goreheart

Moarn Goreheart is a World Eaters Berserker, hellbent on the destruction of the Antian Sector and beyond that, the Imperium of Man.

Known far and wide for his foul deeds, Moarn gains infamy for discarding minions, and Moarn also gains two infamy each time he defeats a character in battle. When Moarn is in the game, you can expect that his hunger for battle will drive him to fight often with player characters.

When engaged in a fight, Moarn has twice the opportunity to explode his battle dice results (his dice explode on a one as well as a six result), making him a ferocious opponent. He can also use his Infamy to add to his movement score, making it easier for him to get to the locations where there are foes to crush.

Moarn’s arsenal includes cards like Skulls for the Skull Throne which can increase his battle score by a maximum of three, or his Chaos Bolter which gives him an additional three Strength in battle.

Moarn relies on sheer force and brutal strength to utterly destroy his enemies on the field of battle. He is crushingly strong and unrelenting in his pursuit of dominion. Imbued with the foul powers of Chaos, Moarn Goreheart is a formidable Nemesis.

Specimen X

Specimen X, the Genestealer Broodlord works to spread his Tyranids across the Antian Sector, and eventually overwhelm the Imperium with their vast number.

He gains Infamy by defeating characters, but each of the Tyranids on the board work to aid him as well - Specimen X also gains one Infamy each time one of his Tyranids defeat a character.

The more Tyranids that swarm across the Antian Sector, the more powerful Specimen X becomes: his battle score increases for each Tyranid Threat Card on the board, and he gains an addition Infamy for every three Tyranid Threat cards on the board.

Specimen X’s Arsenal relies on spreading the Tyranid threat. His Ovipositor Tongue allows him to place one of his Nemesis tokens on any Tyranid in his Tier. Tyranids with a Nemesis token on them add one to their battle scores for each token they have, making them a both a vast and a resistant enemy force.

Fortunately, defeating some of Specimen X’s myriad Tyranids will occasionally weaken him. His cultist, for example, forces him to lose an Infamy if an Imperium character can defeat it.

Master Collector

The Master Collector scenario in Relic: Nemesis forces players to become Apostate in order to enter the inner tier, by requiring them to possess an Apostate asset such as the Harlequin’s Kiss or the Kineblades. With the Apostate versus Devotee mechanic introduced in Nemesis, this means that players who become Apostate will become vulnerable not just to attacks by nemeses on the game board, but by other, more devout players as well.

Becoming victorious with the Master Collector scenario in play relies on a keen sense of timing - become Apostate before your opponents in order to reach the inner tier first and work to claim victory and risk being targeted by your rivals. However, if you wait too long, other players have the opportunity to begin placing their character tokens first, making your race to victory that much more difficult. Since placing a character token on a space requires discarding an Apostate asset, it may be wise to stock up before entering.

No matter how you approach the Master Collector scenario, the competition will be fierce, and the struggle brutal. Will you defy the wishes of the Emperor’s more devout servants? Or will you revel in the technology of your enemies as you work to claim victory over the Antian Sector?

Nemesis is Coming

Relic: Nemesis will soon make its way to store shelves. Are you prepared for the bloody battles against both friend and foe in the Antian Sector? Will you hold the line for the Imperium, or work to destroy it as one of the new, playable nemeses?

Pre-order your copy of Nemesis today, and keep checking back for more news and previews related to Relic!

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Enemies of the Imperium

Published 20 February 2014 | Relic

Enemies of the Imperium

A Preview of Relic: Nemesis

Recently we announced Nemesis, an expansion for Relic. With the option to add up to six players to Relic, along with four new Scenarios, two new playable Imperium characters, and four playable Nemeses, Nemesis also adds player versus player combat to Relic.

In today’s preview, expansion designer Alex Davy takes a closer look at player versus player combat in the Enemies of the Imperium game mode.

A Word from the Developer

Playing the Enemies of the Imperium mode adds a sort of doomsday clock to the Relic experience, and the game feels more like a race than ever. With a Nemesis in play, the defenders of humanity can no longer afford to be complacent. Once a Nemesis reaches 25 infamy, the game is over, the Nemesis player wins, and a grievous blow is dealt to the Imperium of Man.

From a gameplay perspective, players can no longer spend tons of time leveling up and collecting relics until they are all-powerful before entering the inner tier. They must either face and vanquish the Nemesis in direct player-vs.-player combat, or race to the center before they are entirely ready, trusting the Emperor to guide them to final victory.

Relic is also more interactive than ever before. Each Nemesis brings a unique threat to the table, and a new way for the Nemesis to menace the other players. With Specimen X in play, Imperium players must frantically clear away Tyranids from the board before the Broodlord grows overwhelmingly powerful.

If facing the subtle threat of Luxuria, Imperium players must keep their corruption low and avoid hoarding influence less they fall victim to the allure of Slaanesh.

The Nemesis expansion also changes the nature of the game board. Much as Imperium players must travel the sector battling Threat cards and completing missions, the Nemesis player (or players) must do battle with the Imperium’s finest, drawing cards from the brand-new Imperium deck and doing battle with Imperial Guardsmen, Space Marines, Leman Russ battle tanks, and more! If the Nemesis fails to defeat these cards, they will remain on the board, aiding the Imperium players and tilting the tide of battle in favor of the loyal servants of the Emperor. Conversely, the more Enemy threat cards that accumulate on the board, the better the Nemesis player will do in its battles.

Finally, the Enemies of the Imperium mode brings not one but three totally new ways to play. Add a Nemesis player to any scenario from the base game to heighten the tension and up the challenge level. Play the Dark Alliance scenario, however, and the game is entirely different. Two to three teams fight each other for supremacy, each team composed of a twisted alliance between an Imperium player and a Nemesis player. Finally, the Shoulder to Shoulder scenario allows the Imperium players to team up against a single super-charged Nemesis, putting aside petty rivalries to achieve victory as a team.

Thanks, Alex!

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Nemesis

Published 22 January 2014 | Relic

Nemesis

Announcing an Expansion for Relic

Chaos has engulfed the far-flung Antian Sector. In its centre, the great Warp Rift pulses like a raw wound, drawing the dark attentions of powerful new foes, dreadful beings who even now circle the sector like predators stalking an injured beast of prey. In this time of strife, can a divided Imperium survive against so many foes––or will the sector run red with the blood of the faithful while the great works of mankind burn?

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce Nemesis, an expansion for the Relic board game. As the war in the warp-rift torn Antian Sector rages on, deadly new threats to the Imperium are converging there, drawn by the dark powers of Chaos. These Nemeses are eager to carve out a place for themselves, dislodge the Imperium’s hold on the sector, and crush the Emperor’s agents once and for all.

Player Versus Player

For the first time, Nemesis introduces player versus player combat in an optional new Enemies of the Imperium game mode. Enemies of the Imperium allows up to two players to play as Nemeses instead of characters, such as a World Eaters Beserker, or a Eldar Dire Avenger.

Nemesis players work to gain infamy by defeating agents of the Imperium, and resolving engagements throughout the Sector. As each side vies for control of the Antian Sector, Nemesis players and Imperium characters can clash in battle. By gaining enough infamy, Nemesis players can prevent the Imperium from resolving the scenario in the Inner Tier, delivering a mighty blow to the Imperium’s presence in the Antian Sector and winning the game.

The Enemies of the Imperium game mode isn’t the only way players can oppose each other. The Nemesis expansion also adds player versus player combat through a standalone Apostates versus Devotee mechanic. Nemesis introduces new Apostate wargear, proscribed technology created by enemies of the Imperium. Characters who choose to try to use these weapons become Apostates, subject to the prosecution of other, more puritanical, Devotee characters.

New Playable Characters

Meanwhile, two new playable Imperium characters make their way to the Antian Sector: an Eversor Assassin and a Storm Trooper Sergeant. Eager to push back the encroaching Chaos in the Emperor’s name, these two new characters will battle their way throughout the sector, facing deadly new enemies and gathering an arsenal of new wargear.

Nemesis also allows your group to add up to two more players to Relic for epic, six-player games, and four new scenarios add even more dangerous and deadly twists to Relic than ever before.

New Threats to the Antian Sector

Relic: Nemesis is scheduled to arrive in the second quarter of 2014. Whether you’re bent on the destruction of the Imperium, or seek to bring the Emperor’s light to the Antian Sector, Relic: Nemesis is a must-have for enhancing your Relic experience.

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Your Epic Adventure Begins

Published 21 March 2013 | Relic

Your Epic Adventure Begins

Relic, a Warhammer 40,000 Adventure Board Game, Is Now Available!

Over the past several weeks, we’ve explored myriad threats to the Antian Sector, such as foul xenos and the tempting power of corruption. We’ve also seen how the Imperium’s mightiest heroes rise against these threats by collecting powerful wargear and improving their skills in pursuit of dangerous missions. Finally, we shared not only the complete rules, but a full tutorial video!

It has all led up to this: Relic, the Warhammer 40,000 board game based on the Talisman system, is now available at your local retailer and on our webstore!

Relic is a board game in which two to four players each assume the role of a powerful hero from the Warhammer 40,000 universe and bravely venture forth to shield the Antian Sector from certain doom. By completing missions and defeating enemies, characters compete to gain rewards and experience, furthering their chance of being the first to defeat whatever evil lies beyond the Warp rift.

Ten Characters, Five Scenarios, Infinite Adventure

Building on the foundations of the Talisman system, Relic is a standalone game in which seemingly straightforward choices mask scores of possibilities. On each turn, a player rolls a single six-sided die, then moves his playing piece that number of spaces clockwise or counter-clockwise around the region (outer, middle, or inner) of the board it currently occupies. Players then draw cards from one of three distinct decks, pitting their heroic personas against foul enemies, dangerous locations, and fantastic strangers. And all the while, these intrepid heroes rise in power, as they work their way toward the ultimate goal at the center of the sector.

Click the image above to view the tutorial video.

Although it’s based on Talisman, however, a number of noteworthy differences set Relic apart. First, rather than one deck of Adventure cards that determines the allies and obstacles to found on each space, Relic has three distinct Threat decks, each of which focuses on a different foe in the Antian Sector. After landing on a space with a red icon, for instance, a player draws from the red Threat deck, which features tests of strength and an abundance of Ork-related events, enemies, and locations. Similarly, the blue Threat deck tends to challenge a character’s willpower attribute and features the vile Tyranids, while the gold Threat deck includes tests of cunning and a focus on the clever Eldar.

This, along with a sophisticated and varied system for “leveling up,” corruption cards that bestow both benefits and disadvantages, and secret missions that reward players with powerful equipment (among much more!), ensures that Relic is its own unique game experience while still staying true to its familiar Talisman roots.

Immerse Yourself in a Grim Future

A beautifully detailed game board depicts the major areas of the Antian Sector, immersing players in the grim darkness of the far future. The Outer Region is where all characters begin, taking their first steps toward epic success or ignominious failure, and its twenty-four spaces circle the edge of the board. Beyond lies the Middle Region, separated by the perilous Webway Portal and beckoning all true heroes to face its many challenges. Finally, in the deadly Inner Region, where only the Imperium’s mightiest dare travel, the final test can be found. Dare you face it?

Each region consists of areas, adjacent spaces distinguished by a title and unified by a single panoramic art piece. In addition to the various game effects that interact with them, these areas add to the sense of a living, breathing sector of space. Will you face the mutant warlord of the Hive World Vaulgast? Try your luck against the cunning Vexigar on Morgaryth, the burning Death World? The galaxy is full of both dangers and riches, and it’s up to you to explore both.

In addition, ten plastic playing pieces represent your characters with striking detail. Each character is represented by a small plastic bust that attaches to a colored base. These detailed playing pieces representing characters like the Ratling Sniper, Ogryn, and Callidus Assassin with style.

Start Your Adventure

Relic offers an entirely new take on a classic, beloved adventure game. Will you save humanity, or fall to the powers of Chaos? Visit our Relic website to learn more, then head to your local retailer to Venture into the depths of the Antian Sector!

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Prove Your Worth to the Imperium

Published 1 March 2013 | Relic

Prove Your Worth to the Imperium

A Preview of Missions, Relics, and Scenarios in Relic

The release of Relic is less than three weeks away! In this upcoming board game set in the universe of Warhammer 40,000, heroes from the Imperium of Mankind have been sent to secure a Warp rift that has opened in the Antian Sector. The Imperium is trying to coordinate the efforts of their emissaries as best it can when faced with such tremendous opposition, and each hero must prove his mettle before being given access to the area immediately surrounding this pestilent portal into the Immaterium.

In today's preview, we’ll examine the tasks that these stalwart servants of the Emperor may be assigned in order to prove themselves, the rewards of loyalty, and how these powerful champions might win the day against all odds.

Mission Cards

Though each of these heroes has come to the Antian Sector to secure the Warp rift and its surrounding space, they have also been given additional tasks to complete in the area. A grievous problem like a tear in the fabric of reality itself is not to be taken lightly, and the Imperium must know that the heroes sent to the Antian Sector are up to the task before entrusting them with the most powerful tools they can provide.

Mission Cards are orders from the Imperium to deal with certain threats in the Antian Sector. Each player draws one mission card at the beginning of the game, and may draw a new one each time a mission is completed, or if a special effect on a board space or card instructs him to do so.

Some of these threats are simply a matter of destroying the enemy by whatever means necessary. The Imperium may order you to confront and defeat Ork forces in battle by issuing you an order to Stop the Waaagh! Perhaps you must Liberate the Forge World of the Omnissiah after it falls under attack by unknown assailants. Your mission may also simply require you to Take Initiative and start killing as many enemies of the Imperium as possible.

Not all the enemies of humanity are xenos or horrifying mutants. All members of the Imperium of Mankind must remain vigilant for heresy. If your superiors have warned you to Watch Your Back, you may be given authority to confiscate some goods from a fellow champion. Perhaps you’ll be asked to Find the Traitor, allowing you to mark a fellow hero in order to uncover evidence of his corruption and confront him with the harsh consequences of his actions.

Whether you are fighting xenos or informing the Imperium of heresy, success in these missions will prove your loyalty to the Emperor without question. Once you’ve proven yourself in service to humanity, you can be entrusted with both new tasks and greater power. Completing three missions and turning them in to the Imperium gains you one of the legendary Relics, and opens the way to the Warp rift.

Relics

The Imperium has managed to procure items of great power over the millennia, and they do not part with these artifacts lightly. Worthy heroes may be allowed the tools he needs to take on the monumental task of securing the Warp rift’s immediate surroundings. Completing three Missions allows a player to draw two Relic cards. The player must choose one of the two potent items to lend him strength as he wades into the dangerous area surrounding the Warp rift.

The Imperium’s relics come in many forms, and each brings a unique and formidable power to the aid of the champion that possesses it. The Bones of a Fallen Saint can wash your character clean of the taint of the Ruinous Powers by allowing you to discard one Corruption card each turn. The great sword Daemonbane will reinforce your hero’s willpower both in and out of combat. Perhaps you will take on the Ark of Secrets and gain an edge in anticipating the challenges that emerge from the Threat deck.

Any of these venerable objects will mark your hero as a true champion of Mankind, and this badge of loyalty will grant him access to the Inner Region of the board where the Warp rift awaits.

Inner Region and Scenario cards

While players are in the Inner Region, they no longer roll for their movement phase normally. Your hero will progress one space at a time as he approaches the center of this turbulent region, with each space testing his abilities to the utmost. Each space in this region has a difficult test for the brave champions, and they will only advance one space at a time per turn. When first entering the area around the Warp rift, a player has the chance to get his hero ahead a few spaces, but the cost is great.

Simply arriving at the center of the board is not enough to secure the Antian Sector against the forces of Chaos and the xenos that would wreak havoc on the Imperium if left to fester. In many scenarios, there are additional challenges that the Emperor’s champions must overcome. Special Game Rules are featured on some of the scenario cards, and if your champion survives the ordeal of the Inner Region and reaches the center of the board, he must then satisfy the Confrontation section of the scenario card.

Click the above image to view its other side.

In the Chaos Manufactorum scenario, the heroes must shut down an infernal machine that has been corrupted by Daemonic forces and turned from its once noble task of creating war machines for the Imperium. This monstrous engine belches forth destructive energy, and it must be stopped in order to save the Antian Sector. This effulgence of Daemonic energy forces the players to draw extra Threat cards, and the final Confrontation will test the endurance of even the toughest of humanity’s champions.

Will you be the hero that conquers the challenges of the Antian Sector? Can you secure the area around the turbulent tear in reality that spews forth horrors from the Immaterium? Look for the rules to be posted next week, and discover if you have what it takes to deliver the Antian Sector safely into the hands of the Emperor in Relic!

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The Consequences of Chaos

Published 21 February 2013 | Relic

The Consequences of Chaos

A Preview of the Corruption Cards in Relic

In Relic, the heroes of the Imperium of Mankind fight to secure the Warp rift that has opened in the Antian Sector. These brave few must face not just foul xenos, but also agents of Chaos. Though this battle must be fought, prolonged exposure to these corrupted creatures can only spell disaster for these intrepid members of the Imperium.

The powers of Chaos are not to be trifled with. The heroes of the Imperium have taken a great risk just by coming into contact with the space surrounding the Warp rift. Daemons pour out from this unholy window into the immaterium, and agents of Chaos increase in number with each passing day. Though a few of the champions of Mankind may succumb to the lure of Chaos willingly, corruption can also seep into those of stalwart and unwavering conviction, sometimes causing horrible physical mutations and madness.

A deck of Corruption cards represent the effects of Chaos in Relic. When drawing cards from any of the three Threat decks, players may be forced to draw a Corruption card or be faced with the chance to strike a deal for power and riches.

A Brush With Chaos

The heroes sent into the Antian Sector are not a crowd of fresh-faced recruits. These men and women are well acquainted with the field of battle and the lure of Chaos. Though these paragons of the Imperium are fighting for the future of Mankind, sometimes corruption comes simply as a result of making contact with the enemy while battling for the Emperor’s cause. Encountering some enemies can force a player to draw a Corruption card and resolve its effects.

Chaos is unpredictable by definition, and the effects of prolonged contact with its followers can take hold of an unfortunate soul immediately or fester over time before manifesting into something sinister. Each Corruption card raises that character’s Corruption by one point, and each card has an activation number and a series of effects. If a hero’s corruption is greater than or equal to a newly drawn card’s activation number, then the card’s effects take hold of the hero.

In this example, both Corruption cards have an activation of three. Unnatural Vigor did not take effect and is placed facedown, but Limb Loss did and is placed faceup.

If a champion of the Imperium is not sufficiently corrupt for Chaos to truly change them, then the effects of contact with its agents don’t take hold. If a hero’s current corruption is less than the corruption card’s activation number, then the card counts towards the character’s corruption value but it does not activate. The card is placed facedown to represent the accumulated pollution that inhabits the body and soul of your hero. Each card counts as one point of corruption.

Members of the Imperium who have not delved deeply into the ways of Chaos will generally suffer more negative consequences in their early contacts with the Ruinous Powers. Cards that possess a lower activation number, and therefore a higher likelihood of affecting the hero, tend to have adverse effects. A hero can be immediately inflicted with Emaciation and have his strength hobbled, or have his wits suppressed in a Stupor and lose one point of cunning.

Bargaining Body and Soul

If Chaos bred nothing but horrific mutations, gibbering madness, and other undesirable side-effects, then its lure would be quite limited. Unfortunately for the wills of warriors of Mankind, Chaos can have its benefits. Some Threat cards will promise power and wealth for a hero if a player draws a corruption card. Will your champion succumb to the wiles of an Alluring Daemonette, or will he make a Pact of Power to gain a quick and easy level? Can a hero of Mankind resist the temptation to work with the Dark Magos to enhance his attributes, or will he take on the taint of the Ruinous Powers to gain an edge in fighting a Possessed Chaos Space Marine?

Beyond the promise of immediate gain, corruption can have its own rewards for those who court Chaos. As corruption spreads through a hero, it becomes more boon than burden for most. Players that accept or are forced to draw more Corruption cards will find that, the higher the activation number, the more likely it is that the Corruption card will actually benefit their hero. A hero may be blessed with Beweaponed Extremities, gaining an edge in every battle. Your champion could gain the ability to evade any enemy with the onset of Invisibility. Though power and profit beckon, the various corruptive benefits that Chaos bestows upon the emissaries of Mankind come at a high price.

A Fate Worse Than Death

The very humanity of the heroes of the Imperium is at stake each time they are cursed with the touch of the Ruinous Powers.When the heroes take on corruption, they step ever closer toward heresy, the most grievous of crimes against Mankind. Any of the mighty defenders of Mankind can fall prey to the insidious powers of Chaos, and should a hero accumulate too much corruption, he is mutated into a Chaos spawn, and is lost to the Imperium forever.

The cost of becoming a Chaos spawn is far higher than simple defeat. As we saw in our last preview, if a hero is vanquished in battle, he is stripped of some of his belongings and then revives at the St. Antias’ Sanctuary Space to continue his mission.

The Imperium will support its loyal members, but Chaos spawn are beyond all hope. Should a player’s hero accumulate six Corruption cards, the character is horribly and hopelessly mutated by Chaos. The player’s character is removed from the game, loses his Power cards, influence tokens, trophies and Corruption cards, and the player must accept a new, randomly selected character who starts at level zero.

Whether the luck of the draw curses your character with corruption or encounters with Chaos are a conscious choice, such heretical practices can only lead to a disastrous demise. In our next preview, we’ll look at how these paragons of Mankind can acquire the powerful Relics that will give them a chance at securing the Warp rift for the Imperium!

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Battling the Threats of the Antian Sector

Published 31 January 2013 | Relic

Battling the Threats of the Antian Sector

Combat and Character Development in Relic

In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, war is constant, and the battle for control of a new Warp rift in the Antian Sector rages with extraordinary intensity. In Relic, the heroes of the Imperium of Mankind must battle an incredible array of alien creatures and agents of Chaos, and only the right combination of preparation and luck can spell victory for the forces of humanity.

In our past previews, we’ve shown you some of the threats the heroes of the Imperium will face, and some of the tools Mankind will use to eradicate the opposition. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at how the course of combat unfolds, and how a hero gains levels to advance his might to epic proportions.

Engage the Enemies of Mankind

Many factions are interested in gaining control of the Warp rift, and precious few are friends to humanity. When a hero lands on a space with a threat icon, he may be met with one of the many enemies of mankind. If a hero should fail to destroy any of the foul xenos or agents of Chaos, these denizens of deep space will simply linger there, awaiting their next chance to attack one of the heroes. Combat commences immediately when a hero encounters an enemy.

Battling the many enemies of the Imperium requires a varied approach to combat. A hero may engage in a battle of strength, willpower, or cunning depending on the enemy he faces. If a hero engages multiple enemies with the same attribute type, then the enemies combine their scores into one, making them much harder to defeat. Heroes should be wary of wading into battle with a group of enemies, since even the most powerful champion of Mankind can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Here a player has landed on a space with two blue threat icons. The space already contains one blue Threat card and one red card, so he draws one more blue Threat card, and now must face both blue enemies at once.

When the combatants are revealed, the hero then has a chance to prepare for battle. As mentioned in our last preview, Wargear and Power cards can be crucial in determining the outcome of battle, and the forces of Mankind have plenty of hardware at their disposal. The player determines if he’d like to use a weapon, armor, or Power cards to help him best whatever foul thing is attacking his hero.

Once the hero has fully prepared himself for battle, the player rolls a die. The rolled value is added to the hero’s strength, willpower, or cunning value, and then any other bonuses from equipment, items, or allies are also added to the combat score. The person to the left of the player in combat rolls for the enemy, and then adds that die result to the value of the enemy.

Luck can play a critical role in the outcome of any conflict, and the tide of an entire battled can be turned by a single, well-timed blow. When a player rolls a six, the die “explodes,” allowing the player to roll another die and add that value to his score as well, and sixes can continue to “explode” as long as they are continually rolled. While this can lead to your hero dealing some serious damage, it can also spell disaster, as your enemies can also benefit from this mechanic.

Taking a trophy from a fallen enemy is an ancient practice that has survived into the far flung future of Relic. Once an opponent is slain, the player gains that enemy’s card as a trophy. The trophy’s value is the same as the number that was used in combat. If the foul xenos and agents of Chaos should win the struggle, your hero loses one point of Life. Your hero will be vanquished in his quest to secure the Warp rift if his Life value is reduced to zero.

Being vanquished in battle is not the end of the story for your chosen warrior, for the heroes of the Imperium are made of sterner stuff than most. Vanquished heroes discard all of their Power cards and trophies, and are revived with their base Life value at the St. Antias’ Sanctuary Space. For the tough heroes of the Imperium, falling in battle is just a setback.

Spending the Spoils of War

Even for these powerful paragons of the human race, there is always room to improve. Players can spend six points worth of their hard-earned trophies to gain a level for their hero.

Each hero evolves differently as they gain experience through battling the endless hordes of enemies. In this preview, we’ll be using the Sanctioned Psyker as our example of a hero gaining power through practice:

Click the above image for a better look at the Sanctioned Psyker

Every hero starts with their level peg at the “Start” position above the character sheet, and they get their starting values of each attribute as listed along the bottom of the card. A character’s Power Limit and Asset Limit values represent, respectively, the maximum number of Power cards or Assets that a player can have. Assets can be weapons, armor, Allies, or other items, so choose your possessions wisely.

When a hero gains a level, the peg is moved on space to the right, and the hero gains the bonuses depicted in the column. A character may gain a point to a specific attribute, a Power card, Influence tokens, or he might get to use his special ability.

Each level gained by a hero grants him two level rewards.

The Sanctioned Psyker depicted above is currently at level three. When he gains his next level, the Sanctioned Psyker will first gain one more point of cunning. The icon in the second row indicates that the Sanctioned Psyker then has a chance to use the Special Ability on his character card that is marked with the same icon. For the Sanctioned Psyker, this means he would get the chance to trade Power cards for influence.

The Power Limit of a character can increase as he gains levels, allowing for more opportunities to leverage the potent Power cards. The Sanctioned Psyker will increase his Power Limit from two to three upon gaining his fifth level. Asset Limits do not increase with a hero’s level, so characters must continue to make careful choices regarding their inventory throughout the game.

Slay enemies as you work to secure the Antian Sector and gather enough trophies to level up your hero to epic proportions. In our next preview, we will explore the consequences of Corruption in Relic!

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Wargear and Power Cards

Published 25 January 2013 | Relic

Wargear and Power Cards

Arm Your Hero For the Antian Sector in this Preview for Relic

In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, a Warp rift can spell disaster for any bit of civilization caught too close to the corruption and creatures that pour forth. In Relic, an adventure board game based on the Talisman system, two to four players each assume the role of a powerful hero and bravely venture forth to shield the Antian Sector from the threats of a newly opened Warp rift. By completing missions and defeating enemies, characters compete to gain rewards and experience, furthering their chance of being the first to defeat whatever evil lies beyond this terrifying hole in reality.

In our last preview, we examined the wide range of threats that the Imperium would need to face and defeat in order to survive in the Antian Sector. In this preview, we’ll be looking at some of the weapons and powers that Mankind will bring to the battlefield. While the heroes of Relic are all fighting for the glory of the Imperium, each one is vying for the chance to be first to succeed in securing the Warp rift. Gathering Wargear and powers is a recipe for getting an edge on both your enemies and your fellow players.

Wargear of the Imperium

The forces of the Imperium of Man have not gone charging blindly into the dark reaches of the Antian Sector. The heroes of Mankind can leverage their influence to gain fearsome Wargear. The arsenal of the Imperium has a wide array of weapons, armor, and other equipment that the heroes can use to fend off those that would threaten Mankind.

Wargear is made for one thing: war. Equipping your hero with the right Wargear can have a range of benefits, potentially providing healing effects, extra options in battle, or a bonus to strength, willpower, or cunning. Toss a Frag Grenade into the fray to roll an extra die in combat. Equip an MK2 Combat Carapace to shrug off the damage from losing a strength challenge. Brandish your Imperial Seal to add a one point bonus to every check against your willpower, or blast your enemies with the Storm Bolter to gain a three point bonus in combat

Influence tokens (left) work as currency in Relic,
and charge tokens (right) represent the number of uses an item has remaining.

As powerful as these items are, they do have their limits. Some weapons and armor have a discrete number of charges. Charge tokens are kept on a card to represent how many charges are left for that item. If a piece of Wargear has charges, then one charge is spent each time that item is used, and the Wargear is discarded when all charges are spent. An overzealous hero may find himself unarmed if he spends all his charges vanquishing lesser enemies.

Power Cards

The heroes sent into the Antian Sector are some of the most powerful forces that the Imperium had to offer in the face of the Warp rift. These members of Mankind are capable of using Power cards in order to better even the odds against the onslaught of enemies and their competitors. These cards are kept hidden from the other players, as some can be used to frustrate the efforts of the other heroes.

Power cards are single-use cards that provide players with two options. The large number at the top of the card can be used to substitute for the roll of a die in movement, combat, or any attribute challenge. If a player isn’t willing to take the chance that his hero might lose an encounter, he can just spend a power card to ensure a certain value.

If you’re feeling lucky and don’t fear the roll of the die, then each Power card also has a special text effect. These one-time use effects can give a hero a tremendous boost, but often have limiting factors that govern when you can utilize their aid. Play Righteous Crusade to take a second turn at the end of your current one, or use the Furious Assault card to double your strength value at the start of a battle. Utilize the Reconnaissance card to look at the top card of each of the Threat decks, or pick up your opponent’s recently used Power card with the Imitate card.

Each character has a Power Limit that defines how many Power cards your hero may possess at any one time. As your heroes level up (which we’ll examine in a later preview), their Power Limit increases, allowing them to have more Power cards ready to use. A well timed Power card, whether it be used for its number value or its special ability, can turn the tide of battle or lend an extra bit of strategy to your game.

Equipping your hero with the proper Wargear and Power cards will be instrumental in your attaining victory over the enemies of Mankind, the Antian Sector, and in gaining more glory than your competitors. Invest your influence and play your Power cards wisely, and you just may win the day. In our next preview, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at two of the mighty heroes in Relic who are trying to save the Antian Sector!

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Prepare for Battle in the Antian Sector

Published 18 January 2013 | Relic

Prepare for Battle in the Antian Sector

Explore the Threats to the Imperium in this Preview of Relic

In a far-flung corner of the universe, a Warp rift has opened in the Antian Sector, and the Imperium wants to investigate whatever secrets it may contain. In Relic, the Talisman system is adapted and interpreted to better suit the grim and war-torn universe of Warhammer 40,000. Two to four players each assume the role of a powerful hero and bravely venture forth to shield the Antian Sector from certain doom. By completing missions and defeating enemies, characters compete to gain rewards and experience, furthering their chance of being the first to defeat whatever evil lies beyond the Warp rift.

Exploring the Antian Sector

Those who have played Talisman will find a number of noteworthy differences in Relic. First, rather than one deck of Adventure cards that determines the allies and obstacles to be found on each space, Relic has three distinct Threat decks, each of which focuses on a different foe in the Antian Sector.

This, along with a sophisticated and varied system for “leveling up,” corruption cards that bestow both benefits and disadvantages, and secret missions that reward players with powerful equipment (among much more!), ensures that Relic is its own unique game experience while still staying true to its familiar Talisman roots.

The board features three separate regions with stunning artwork showcasing the dangerous and beautiful Antian Sector. Players will explore this Sector as one of ten unique and powerful characters from the Imperium of Man, and each individual is represented by a highly-detailed plastic bust. Players battle Chaos spawn, heretics, and xenos in three distinct threat decks, and can use the trophies they collect from their fallen enemies to level up their characters and compete against their fellow players.

Wits, Discipline, and Brute Strength

Survival for the heroes of the Imperium in the Antian Sector is a difficult task, requiring wits, discipline, and brute strength. As a reflection of a hero’s training and dedication to the Imperium, each one starts the game with a set amount of Strength, Willpower, Cunning, and Life.

Each hero's character sheet is fitted into a board to track their attributes and level

In the above image, you can see the character board that is used to keep track of your hero’s development as he strives to gain control of the Antian Sector. Each player will place this board at the top of his hero’s character sheet in order to keep track of his attributes and level. The red dial represents your character’s strength attribute, the blue is his willpower attribute, and the yellow dial is his cunning attribute. Each hero, despite formidable abilities and training, can only take so much punishment before falling in battle. A hero’s Life value is recorded by the green dial.

As in Talisman, players roll a die to move their heroes around the board and then, on most spaces, they draw cards to determine the perils they encounter in that space. In the Antian Sector, the Imperial forces have a wide array of enemies from different factions to contend with. The myriad dangers of the region surrounding the Warp rift are made manifest in the three Threat decks. Each space on the Relic board may contain one or multiple red, yellow, or blue threat icons. These icons indicate which deck the player should draw from.

Threats to the Imperium of Man

Each Threat deck features a myriad of agents of Chaos cults and their Daemonic overlords, but certain other denizens of deep space appear in just one type of Threat deck. Pick your battles wisely, as any hero may be quickly overwhelmed by a battle he is not equipped for.

The Ork hordes have made their way out to the Devastated Reaches of the Antian Sector, and facing them in brutal and bloody combat is inevitable. The red Threat deck contains challenges that focus on the threat of the Ork invaders as they try to gain a foothold in the area. A hero’s strength value will serve him well as he fends off the green-skinned barbarians.

For reasons unknown to the Imperium, an Eldar Craftworld has moved into the Twilight Fringe, and is jealously guarding the space surrounding the Warp rift. The ancient, mysterious race is sure to come into conflict with the forces of Mankind as the two groups struggle for control of the rift. The yellow Threat deck features clashes with the Eldar. These enigmatic beings are equipped with advanced technology and ancient knowledge, and will chiefly challenge the cunning value of a given hero.

In the Lost Front, a Tyranid Hive Fleet has expanded a few chitinous tentacles into the Antian Sector, and the ravenous Tyranids are scouring the area for any organic life they can devour and repurpose. The heroes of the Imperium will be facing off against the Tyranids in the blue Threat deck. One of the greatest strengths of the Tyranid forces is their overwhelming numbers. Heroes facing off against these insect-like abominations will need to use their willpower value to endure such a vast and unified onslaught.

Each of these Threat decks contains a wide array of challenges to lay before each hero. Though the Orks, Eldar, and Tyranids make up a portion of each of these decks, Heretics, traitorous Chaos Space Marines, and Daemons will also emerge from any of the three Threat decks to assault the envoys of Mankind.

Each Threat deck also contains a variety of Places, Events, Allies, and Wargear that can help the heroes face the onslaught. Event cards may give players special challenges or tasks to complete. Encounters could bring your hero face to face with a Stranger or uncover a Place of great power or peril. Fortunately, not all the forces in the universe have aligned against the Imperium, and Allies bring bonuses and special abilities to Mankind’s aid.

In our next Relic preview, we’ll explore the nature of Power cards and the variety of Wargear that the heroes of the Imperium make use of in their mission to secure the Warp rift!

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Adventure in the Grim Future

Published 27 July 2012 | Relic

Adventure in the Grim Future

Announcing Relic, a Board Game Based on the Talisman Game System

The Imperium of Man stretches across the known galaxy, encompassing millions of worlds. Yet it stands at the brink of annihilation. From without and within, malignant forces of Chaos are intent on corrupting mankind, while unending incursions of deadly alien races tear at its fragile boundaries. Bravely standing against eternal night are the beleaguered forces and noble orders of the Imperium, guided by the undying will of a deathless Emperor.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Relic, an adventure board game set in the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe!

The distant Antian Sector has known its share of horrors and strife, but even darker times lie ahead. A Warp rift has erupted nearby, and under its baleful influence Chaos infestations and other abhorrent phenomena have surfaced throughout the sector. To face this threat, agents of the Imperium have come forth: Space Marine, Inquisitor, Commissar, Rogue Trader, and more. To succeed, such heroes will need skill and weaponry, courage and faith, and even the assistance of ancient and powerful relics.

Ten Characters, Five Scenarios, Infinite Adventure

Although it’s based on Talisman, however, a number of noteworthy differences set Relic apart. First, rather than one deck of Adventure cards that determines the allies and obstacles to found on each space, Relic has three distinct Threat decks, each of which focuses on a different foe in the Antian Sector. After landing on a space with a red icon, for instance, a player draws from the red Threat deck, which features tests of strength and an abundance of Ork-related events, enemies, and locations. Similarly, the blue Threat deck tends to challenge a character’s willpower attribute and features the vile Tyranids, while the gold Threat deck includes tests of cunning and a focus on the clever Eldar.

Face the Mysteries of the Antian Sector

This, along with a sophisticated and varied system for “leveling up,” corruption cards that bestow both benefits and disadvantages, and secret missions that reward players with powerful equipment (among much more!), ensures that Relic is its own unique game experience while still staying true to its familiar Talisman roots.

Visit our description page to see more, including an overview of Relic’s ten characters, five unique scenarios, and hundreds of cards. Then, keep checking back in the coming weeks as we present previews. Can't wait to play? Find the FFG booth at Games Day in Chicago July 28th, or at Gen Con 2012 August 16th–19th, where we'll be running demos.

Then, in the fourth quarter of 2012, venture into the depths of the Antian Sector, and prepare to face its mysteries!

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