Ephemeris - A Game of Astronomical Strategy

What shall it be? - Strategy and Luck or Cleverness and Cunning?

EPHEMERIS is a game of astronomical strategy for 2 to 4 (or 7) players that can be played in two quite different ways. The first is a game of strategy (and luck), the second adds some cleverness (or lucky guesses) to the equation. Either way, itʹs a fun game!

First impressions: Unwrapping the parcel

Having asked the maker of the game, Freddie Holding, to send me a review copy, it didnʹt take long for the parcel to arrive from the UK. Out came a beautifully made and solid box featuring the heavens (a real treat for my sensual Taurean Sun!). The box contains a playing board showing the zodiac and the orbits of the different planets - or rather planet categories (inner and outer planets, the Sun and the Moon). The pieces representing the planets are made of wood and come in different colors, according to their category. Like the whole set, they are a pleasure to the senses and proof of the care that went into the making of the game.

Having a first go: Game variant 1

This is about strategy and luck. The rules are quite simple, but, hey, things can get tricky. All planets start off on their ʹorbitʹ in their ʹhomeʹ fields which correspond to the signs they rule, i.e. Mars is in Aries, Venus in Taurus, etc.

Each player gets 5 planet cards and 5 zodiac cards, and the aim is to move all the planets in your hand into the signs in your hand; itʹs up to you to decide which goes where - this is where strategic thinking comes into play.

Still, this sounds easy enough, if it werenʹt for a little snag: the overtaking rules! All planets move counterclockwise, however, only the Sun and Moon can overtake all planets orbiting around the zodiac. Mercury, Venus and Mars (the inner planets) can overtake each other and the slower moving planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The latter, however, are only allowed to overtake each other. So, more strategic thinking is required.

But of course, there is also quite a bit of luck involved. One player may have all the goodies and get the Sun, Moon and some inner planets, while another gets only outer planets. Challenge!

When we played the game, there were only two of us, and it took us a little while to get the hang of things. But once, weʹd worked out the best strategies, it was quite a lot of fun. I would say, though, that the game gets more exciting with 3 or 4 players, because there are more complications. With only two players, the luck of the cards weighs quite heavily, whereas I can imagine that with more players, it gets much harder to achieve the goal of bringing all oneʹs planets ʹhomeʹ into the allotted signs.

Variant 2: Who knows best?

This is the quiz variant, and itʹs all about the solar system. So, you can certainly test your knowledge of the universe, and/or learn a lot! For example, do you know …

… Who composed the classical theme music to ʹ2001, A Space Odysseyʹ?
… How many ʹofficialʹ constellations are there in our solar system?
… How many moons are there in the solar system?

Luckily, each question gives you two answers to choose from. So, you donʹt have to despair, if you donʹt know the answer - a good guess is a 50% chance to get it right.

The set-up is the same as in variant 1: all the planets are in their starting field. This time, however, there are only as many planets as there are players, since each player is assigned one planet.

The aim is to move your planet around the zodiac and back in your home field, while observing the overtaking rules explained in variant 1. However, you may only move your planet - or any other planet for strategic reasons - if you get the answer to the quiz question right.

Once a planet has reached home, the round is over. The ʹwinnerʹ gets 12 points, while the others receive one point for every field they have moved forward. The game ends when either all quiz cards have been answered (which may take a loooong time), or when the first player reaches a score of 24 points.

All in all

EPHEMERIS is a well-made and beautifully laid-out game that offers something for everyone: fun, luck, strategy, knowledge, and - above all - a good time together.

Variant 1 can be played as a board game like any other, as no special field of knowledge or interest is required - though it is a nice feeling to travel through the solar system.

The quiz variant requires a certain interest in astronomy. Beware astrologers, it really IS more about astronomy than astrology. But still, it is well worth the while to get to know the more ʹmaterialʹ sister science of the art of astrology.

Have fun!