Episode 302: Shackleton Base

Shackleton Base is designed by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone and published by Pandasaurus Games. Shackleton Base is a 1-4 player relatively heavy Euro where you are a space agency sponsored by 3 different corporations (with their own agendas) developing the moon, specifically the Shackleton crater. During the setup of each game, 3 corporations are selected. Each corporation has their own setup and reference sheet. They each impact the game in different ways introducing mechanics and project cards that give you abilities, resources, and/or points. Through these corporations the majority of the points will be scored.

Also during set up the players are given a leader card that has an upgradeable power.

The game takes place over 3 rounds. At the start of each round the players draft a shuttle tile that gives them resources, credits, and more importantly 6 astronauts that come in 3 colors. Instead of multi-use cards, think of multi-use astronauts. During a player’s turn they will be playing these astronauts to 3 different locations on the board.

Now there are all kinds of costs and rules regarding how to play these astronauts, but this a gist so I wont go into those.

In Shackleton Base Players can play the astronauts to the crater and depending on the color and location will be collecting money, resources, or corporation specifics resources.

Players can play the astronauts to the command center, there they can build structures, fund a project, or perform corporate actions. Also depending on the astronauts color get some bonus stuff.

The buildings that you can build, generate resources, money, points, discounts, and reputation.

The reputation track offer another way to get resources and points.

At the end of the round, players have to pay an upkeep cost depending on the building they have built and their location to the reputation track.

At the end of 3 rounds consisting of 6 turns, the players add their points from the corporation boards, funded projects, certain buildings they have built, and their reputation level. Whoever has the most VP is declared the victor or Shackleton Base.

Now lets get back to the table and see what the Pegs thought of Shackleton Base!