User Guide

CHAPTER 1

be able to bring the travelers back? Once firmly established on a distant world,

will we be able to cooperate with one another there long enough to establish

a new society that can attain the same levels and quality of life that we have

achieved here after almost 5000 years of civilization? But the deteriorating

conditions on Earth leave us little choice.

From the beginning, there are problems aboard the U.N. Starship Unity. An

unexpected reactor malfunction damages the ship, waking the travelers early

from cryo-sleep. It soon is evident that the accident has damaged the com-

munications equipment and contact with Earth is lost, and cannot be re-

established. The leadership of the mission is faced with the prospect of going

it alone and soon begin to argue obstinately about the best way to proceed.

The game begins when the Unity Mission reaches Chiron. But, by this time, the

mission has fallen into chaos. The most powerful leaders on board have built

ideological factions and surrounded themselves with dedicated followers. It is

clear that each faction has established its own agenda for the future of

mankind and is desperately serious about carrying it through.

GOOD LUCK

We hope you will find a multitude of ways to solve the problems the Unity

travelers face. There are nearly unlimited options and you can experiment

relentlessly as you explore, discover, build and conquer. Please feel free to con-

tact us to pass on criticism or praise, or just your point of view, at

WWW

.FIRAXIS.COM. Have fun and Good Luck. — FIRAXIS Games

USING THE MANUAL

If this is the very first time you’ve ever played Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri or

any game like it, we recommend you do not sit down and read this book

cover-to-cover before you start playing!

Instead, we strongly suggest you put down this book, start up the game, and

play through the tutorial scenario provided. Also, check out the five “tours”

provided in the game’s Help menu. These two resources are the easiest (and

most fun) way to learn the basics of the game.

GETTING STARTED