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Rules assistance for Universal Rule: Character Pack #1
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30–45 min
- 8+
Rules assistant for Universal Rule: Character Pack #1
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 is an expansion for Universal Rule released in 2017 for 3–5 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Chip Beauvais and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
This 6-card expansion adds 6 alien races to the game, only 2 of which are used in a given game. Players, in addition to normal actions, may attempt to ally with, or vanquish, the alien races. Allied aliens give you an ongoing effect that modifies other actions in the game, while vanquishing the aliens prevents allied effects and gains you victory points. These alien homeworld cards are placed in the center of the table and represent the aliens that are currently in place on specific planets. If a player tried to inhabit one of those locations, they must either align with the alien and take a special power for the rest of the game -OR- vanquish the alien to gain additional stars.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Button Shy
Questions and answers
Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 supports 3–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 is 30–45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 are: Chip Beauvais. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Universal Rule: Character Pack #1 as an expansion for Universal Rule. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Universal Rule to use it. Check that your edition of Universal Rule is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.