How to Play

Project: ELITE

1-6 players 60-60 min 7.9 Board Game Geek Rating

Players command ELITE soldiers defending Earth from alien invaders through frantic two-minute combat phases. Teams rapidly roll dice during real-time rounds, battling enemy waves in fast-paced tactical encounters. After each player turn, aliens counterattack. Victory depends on completing mission objectives before the extraterrestrial forces overwhelm humanity's defenses.

Published 2020

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Prepare Mission Dice

Each Hero starts the mission with 1 Move Die and 4 Action Dice

Separate Equipment Cards

Divide cards into Weapons and Gear (Items & Attachments)

Place ESD Tokens

Set up 3 Emergency Supply Drone tokens available each round

Designate Turn Master

One player should keep track of turns taken using Turn Tokens

Set Up Alien Tech Markers

Place numbered Alien Tech Markers (1, 2, 3) and corresponding cards aside for when bosses are defeated

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Roll Dice at Turn Start

Roll Move Die and all available Action Dice at the beginning of each turn

Move Aliens First

For each Alien Symbol rolled, move an Alien 1 space, then set aside that Action Die

Calculate Movement Points

Move Die result equals Move Die Points (MDP) available for the turn

Move Hero

Spend 1 MDP to move Hero 1 space

Pay for Dashing

When a figure moves 3 or more spaces, pay 1 extra Move for each consecutive even-numbered diagonal (diagonals 2, 4, 6 cost extra)

Allocate Action Die

Place an Action Die on a card with a matching slot; if not locked, may roll it next turn

Spend Action Die/Dice

Use allocated dice on a card to activate its ability; set aside spent dice unless the die has been locked

Tip Action Die

Use 1 MDP to make a one-time tip of an Action Die to a showing face

Exchange Cards

Trade cards with adjacent Hero unless any dice are in a Locking Slot

Use ESD for Equipment

Allocate an Action Die showing the ESD symbol to gain equipment

Access Emergency Supply Drone

Place Action Die on adjacent ESD Token (must be able to move 1 space onto it), draw 1 Weapon card and 1 Gear card, check inventory and decide what to discard, then remove ESD Token

Use Range Stick

Always use the Range Stick for a Range of 3 or more; Hero can take the shot if able to reach the middle of the target square

Shoot in Straight Lines

Weapons with this rule affect Aliens in a straight line; use Range Stick to choose affected Aliens; connect 2 Range Sticks end to end for long lines

Complete Three Turns

Each Hero takes exactly 3 turns during the Action Phase

Handle Out Of Time Event

Heroes take only 2 turns in the Action Phase when this occurs

End Round

Regain all Action Dice and reset ESD Tokens