The Foramen Campaign is the battle for the control and domination of four uninhabited worlds which are critical for the control of the Foramen Interdictum, the only stable route through the Cicatrix Maledictum in the sector.
The systems of Paradorn, Tarlius, Destino and Vandrax are being assaulted by all factions in order to dominate the Foramen and prevent their enemies from gaining easy access between the two halves of the galaxy.
All factions are represented but thes are: Imperium, Alliance (Tau and Federacy), Eldar, Chaos, Necrons and Tyranids.
So how does it work?
For each win you get a number of points equal to each 500 or part points played. So a win at 1500 points gets 3 campaign points. If you massacre (wipe out). Add 1. That's the easy bit. What can you *do* with these points?1 - Take Territory
Each system is broken into planetary systems with a number of squares. These squares represent the inherent value of the planet. Small number of squares, limited value. Large number of squares, more value. It doesn't necessarily mean the planet is smaller, just less value.
When you gain campaign points you can take any neutral square (blank squares) no matter who you played. At Paradorn however, you can already see that the forces of chaos (red), Imperium (blue) and Eldar (purple) have fought over all the neutral territory, and there are no Neutral squares left (don't worry, there are plenty of neutral squares on other worlds in the campain, only Paradorn has been fought over so far, but it is at the end of two Foramen paths!
Once all territory has been taken, you must now wrestle territory off someone else by defeating them. Therefore if you want to take the outer planet, you need to defeat the Imperium. Note that on the first planet, there is already a war between Chaos and Imperium going on.
2 - Build settlements (more territory!) - 1 per square
You can increase the value of your world by creating more squares above and below the existing "line" (some planets are already multi line. You can add one line above and one line below). The maximum expansion is one line above and one line below. This represents building of a base on the world, but it is as yet undefended!
3 - Build Forts - 3 points
For 3 points, you can turn any square into a fort. This fort turns the square into a square worth 3 points. It now takes 3 points to wrestle it off you. Also, the squares cannot be taken "behind" until the fort is overcome. This is especially important on multi level planets and if you create settlements. Up to HALF the squares on a world may be "forts".
4 - Build a spaceport - 2 per square
For 2 points a square (turning each square into a "worth" of two) you can convert a square of four squares into a spaceport, or a 3x3 square into a large spaceport. Apart from upgrading your base, this also confers benefits. If you have a spaceport in a system, you gain +1 in ALL games you win in the system. If you have a large spaceport, you gain +1 and if you lose the enemy gains one LESS point than they otherwise would. A planet can have one space port.
5 - Build Defense Lasers - 3 points
You can build up to two defence laser silos on a world. These are like forts in that they are worth 3 points, but they don't confer any defensive capability (they cost 1 to take). However, a planet must have no defence lasers on it for an enemy to conduct and invasion, and must be raided (see below).*
*Exception - if you have space control (fleets in system and no enemy fleets contesting)
6 - Rudimentary base - 1 point
Any square can be converted into a base. This represents various military base equipment. This costs one point and converts the square to be worth 2 points (to take). It also counts as an asset (see invasion)
7 - Conduct a raid - cost variable
You can destroy assets (such as defence lasers, which might be helpful!) of your enemy by conducting a raid. Win a raid and get points equal to or above the cost of the asset you are raiding, and you remove the asset. You do not however take the square or squares. You can "damage" a space port by destroying one or more of its squares. It is non functional until repaired.
8 - Conduct an invasion - 3/4 points
Once one faction controls all the squares on a planet and has at least one asset (fort, defence laser, spaceport), it cannot merely be invaded*. Now an enemy must conduct an "invasion". You will need at least 3 points to create a beachhead, and it only gets you one square (though you can choose which one). That square cannot have assets in it except rudimentary base assets, but this increases the base cost of invasion to 4. Note you need to raid defence lasers first!*
*Exception - if you have space control (fleets in system and no enemy fleets contesting)
9 - Space station - 18 points
This costs 18 points to build. Details on this later. You need to control ALL planets in a system to build one.
- Ask me any questions! Advanced campaign rules will be coming, showing how these rules are actually applicable ACROSS the sector and in all campaigns.
Note, you can use your points in any feasible way on ONE planet at a time. You can't use it across worlds, not even in the same system from one battle.*
*Exception - if you have space control (fleets in system and no enemy fleets contesting)