The Imperium of Man stretches across the known galaxy, encompassing millions of worlds. Yet it stands at the brink of annihilation. From without and within, malignant forces of Chaos are intent on corrupting mankind, while unending incursions of deadly alien races tear at its fragile boundaries. Bravely standing against eternal night are the beleaguered forces and noble orders of the Imperium, guided by the undying will of a deathless Emperor.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Relic, an adventure board game set in the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe!

The distant Antian Sector has known its share of horrors and strife, but even darker times lie ahead. A Warp rift has erupted nearby, and under its baleful influence Chaos infestations and other abhorrent phenomena have surfaced throughout the sector. To face this threat, agents of the Imperium have come forth: Space Marine, Inquisitor, Commissar, Rogue Trader, and more. To succeed, such heroes will need skill and weaponry, courage and faith, and even the assistance of ancient and powerful relics.

Relic is a board game in which two to four players each assume the role of a powerful hero from the Warhammer 40,000 universe and bravely venture forth to shield the Antian Sector from certain doom. By completing missions and defeating enemies, characters compete to gain rewards and experience, furthering their chance of being the first to defeat whatever evil lies beyond the Warp rift.

Ten Characters, Five Scenarios, Infinite Adventure

Building on the foundations of the Talisman system, Relic is a standalone game in which seemingly straightforward choices mask scores of possibilities. On each turn, a player rolls a single six-sided die, then moves his playing piece that number of spaces clockwise or counter-clockwise around the region (outer, middle, or inner) of the board it currently occupies. Players then draw cards from one of three distinct decks, pitting their heroic personas against foul enemies, dangerous locations, and fantastic strangers. And all the while, these intrepid heroes rise in power, as they work their way toward the ultimate goal at the center of the sector.

Although it’s based on Talisman, however, a number of noteworthy differences set Relic apart. First, rather than one deck of Adventure cards that determines the allies and obstacles to found on each space, Relic has three distinct Threat decks, each of which focuses on a different foe in the Antian Sector. After landing on a space with a red icon, for instance, a player draws from the red Threat deck, which features tests of strength and an abundance of Ork-related events, enemies, and locations. Similarly, the blue Threat deck tends to challenge a character’s willpower attribute and features the vile Tyranids, while the gold Threat deck includes tests of cunning and a focus on the clever Eldar.

Face the Mysteries of the Antian Sector

This, along with a sophisticated and varied system for “leveling up,” corruption cards that bestow both benefits and disadvantages, and secret missions that reward players with powerful equipment (among much more!), ensures that Relic is its own unique game experience while still staying true to its familiar Talisman roots.

Visit our description page to see more, including an overview of Relic’s ten characters, five unique scenarios, and hundreds of cards. Then, keep checking back in the coming weeks as we present previews. Can't wait to play? Find the FFG booth at Games Day in Chicago July 28th, or at Gen Con 2012 August 16th–19th, where we'll be running demos.

Then, in the fourth quarter of 2012, venture into the depths of the Antian Sector, and prepare to face its mysteries!