Page 2 of 4 Gameplay The gameplay is turn based, and each turn consists of a number of phases. There is first the deployment phase, where you summon pieces from your group depending on the number of control points you have and the control points the pieces cost. After this phase is the attack phase, when any pieces occupying the same space can attack each other. Next comes the movement phase, during which time you can move your pieces or your Q itself. Click to enlarge In advanced games, two more phases come into play, the auction and specials phases. In advanced games, the special auction and event pieces in your group come into play. At the beginning of every advanced game, each player's auction and events pieces are taken out of each player's groups and thrown together into a pool. Thus, in advanced games, there will be a pool of 20 auction and event pieces. The auction and specials phases take place between the deployment and attack phases. During the auction and specials phases, the computer will randomly draw a piece from the pool. If it is a unit, such as a starship or character, both players will begin bidding on the unit in question, spending control points to purchase it. If it is a special event, the players also bid on it to see who controls it. In some cases, some events are negative, and you are actually spending control points to not have it affect you and to have it affect your enemy. In either case, the auction is a blind, one-time deal. You specify the amount you want to bid on a particular piece, and if your amount is greater than your rival's, you win. It isn't an escalating auction, and you lose the control points you bid no matter the outcome. Click to enlarge This auction phase adds an element of randomness to the games and also a degree of tension. You'll have to balance how much you spend, because if you lose, you'll have that much less to spend on the pieces in your group. Of course, if you spend enough to win the auction, you could garner a valuable new unit or sway an event to your benefit. Click to enlarge As you move your pieces to the neutral planets, you'll occupy them and thus gain control points from them. Each type of planet (there will be several) will give you a different number of control points, which you then use to summon pieces or bid at auctions. The number of neutral planets will be limited to one to three, so there aren't many places your rival Q can run to. Once you control the planet the enemy Q is on, you win the game. In advanced games, you also win when you accumulate ten Q points. Q points come from special units and abilities. The Enterprise game piece, for example, can produce one Q point a round. Next: The game pieces