Starship Merchants
Economic · Science Fiction

Starship Merchants

4049: The galaxy hums with prosperity and peace two millennia after the dawn of space travel. But as mankind and its neighbors colonized the stars, the burgeoning need for resources was apparent. One by one, new geological discoveries revolutionized terraform, construction and energy technology. The sub-temperature properties of the mineral Ice-9 allowed life-giving water to flow on uninhabitable planets. Crystallized Cobalt was accidentally found to be incredibly strong, resistant to extreme pressure. And a single chunk of Deuterium could power a sprawling metropolis for a month!

2–4 players90 minages 14medium difficulty
About the game

What is Starship Merchants

4049: The galaxy hums with prosperity and peace two millennia after the dawn of space travel. But as mankind and its neighbors colonized the stars, the burgeoning need for resources was apparent. One by one, new geological discoveries revolutionized terraform, construction and energy technology. The sub-temperature properties of the mineral Ice-9 allowed life-giving water to flow on uninhabitable planets. Crystallized Cobalt was accidentally found to be incredibly strong, resistant to extreme pressure. And a single chunk of Deuterium could power a sprawling metropolis for a month!

As a plucky entrepreneur you must explore the edges of space searching for precious minerals. Will you buy the fastest ship in the sector or hire the best pilot in the galaxy? Purchase the latest state-of-the-art gadgets, invest in planetary refineries, or pay off your rising debt? The cargo you haul could be worth fortune, so grab your helmet and suit up! The cosmos and a mountain of credits call!

In Starship Merchants, each player runs a fledgling corporation looking to stake a claim in the lucrative mining business. Player will buy starships, explore the galaxy and deliver cargo for interstellar credits, all the while expanding their operations.

Starting at the shipyard and ending at the dock, players will move clockwise around the four quadrants on the board to complete an entire Business Cycle. During each turn, a player either performs one action at the current quadrant or advances to the next, performing an action there. As players take actions or advance they spread apart across all four quadrants while completing individual Business Cycles.

Specs

Game details

Players
2–4
Age
+14
Duration
90 min
Difficulty
Medium
Type
Board game
Year
2012
Mechanics
Commodity Speculation · Pick-up and Deliver · Track Movement
Categories
Economic · Science Fiction · Space Exploration
Designer
Thomas Lehmann · Joe Huber (I)
Publisher
Toy Vault, Inc.
Images

Starship Merchants gallery

Community data

Starship Merchants on Meeplay

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6.7Average rating
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Reviews

What the community says about Starship Merchants

christianlafferla
christianlafferla6.3/10
self-designed player aid: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/117408/starship-merchants-player-aid
FAQ

Everything about Starship Merchants

How many players is Starship Merchants for?

Starship Merchants plays with 2–4 players.

How long does a game take?

A game takes about 90 minutes.

What age is it suitable for?

It is recommended from age 14.

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