By Other Means: Tau Ceti

Humanity reached for the stars. Pride, greed and fear followed...

The year is 3376. From the capital world of Aurelius to the wild moons of Sango, the Tau Ceti project is the greatest effort of space colonisation ever achieved. Now, it's on the verge of ruin. Seven hundred years of tension and grievances have escalated as corporate powers wane, uprisings find their feet, and new fleets arrive to stake opportunistic claims.

Starships are being equipped with weapons for the first time in recorded history. Bright detonations join the starlight backdrop, but cautious hope may yet prevail as diplomats and negotiators sit down at the table and strive to find a settlement by other means.

This is a megagame

By Other Means: Tau Ceti is a game for around 40 players. You'll be part of a team of 1-5 players, each of you high-ranking diplomats empowered to strike deals on behalf of a major power - and to dispatch your ships when things don't go to your liking. A certain amount of deception and trickery will be necessary, but you'll also need to find teams you can build long-term alliances with if you're going to survive.

The game has simple board game style rules, and a complex political situation without easy solutions. Your focus will be on negotiation, alliance-building, and strategic compromise. There's also space for you to come up with creative solutions to problems - if there isn't a rule for the thing you want to do, we'll make one on the fly. Unlike many games, there's no single winner; many teams can achieve their goals, and even for those who don't, their journey through the day forms part of the wider narrative.

Welcome, honoured guests

You'll be assigned a role in the run-up to the game - and you'll have the chance to let us know what sort of team you want to be on. While all of the roles focus on negotiation, there are a range of teams with more or less aggressive or devious mindsets. With plenty of variety we'll aim to put you in the role that you'll find most fun.

Due to safeguarding limitations, we unfortunately aren't able to accommodate players under the age of 18 at this game.