Astral Assembly

Astral Assembly is a fast-paced tactical dice game of celestial signs, courtly rivalry, and quick judgment. Players take the role of rival courtiers interpreting the stars, competing to assemble meaningful patterns before their opponents can turn the same celestial order to their advantage.

At the center of the game is the shared Celestial Pool, a shifting field of custom dice from which every player draws. On their turn, players may claim dice, recast them, shift dice between positions, negotiate through parley, or stir the pool itself, while building an Assembly Row of exactly four dice.

The aim is to complete one of three Astral Signs: an Omen, a Seal, or an Eclipse. Each Sign follows a different relationship between Crowns, the dice in the player's Assembly Row, and the current Oracle Stand. Omens contain three Crowns and score 1 point, Seals contain two Crowns and score 2 points, and Eclipses contain one Crown and score 3 points.

When a player completes a valid Sign at the end of their turn, they score its non-Crown dice and consult the Oracle. The type of Sign determines which Oracle dice are rolled, and the result can alter Assembly Rows, reshape future opportunities, or, in the case of an Omen, produce a more powerful intervention.

Because every player draws from and manipulates the same Celestial Pool, each action changes not only the player's own prospects but also those of their rivals. Success depends on recognizing patterns early, judging when to commit to a Sign, disrupting opponents at the right moment, and adapting as the Oracle and the shared pool change.

The end of the game is triggered when the Celestial Pool reaches the limit determined by the number of players. Play then continues until all players have taken an equal number of turns, followed by a final Sign check where applicable. The player with the highest score wins. Ties are broken by most Eclipses, then most Seals, then the fewest dice remaining in the Assembly Row, and finally by an Oracle roll.