Aether (2010)

Abstract strategy game in the world of ancient elements

Aether is a tile placement game with simple rules but packed with deep and strategical game play. In Aether, players use the four primary elements - earth, air, water and fire - in the battle over the mystical fifth element Aether. Are you up to the challenge? Will you be the next ruler of the elemental planes?

In the game of Aether, players place element tiles and elementals on the gameboard in pursuit of gaining control of the aether tiles. On his turn, a player must place an element tile on any empty hexagonal on the board. In addition, player may place an elemental on top of the tile he/she just placed.

Each elemental on the board has its type defined by the type of element it is placed on. The elemental gains power from this type of element tiles: from the one it is sitting on as well as the ones surrounding it. In addition, each element has its counter element and all counter element tiles touching the elemental reduce its power.

The player with the most elemental power surrounding an aether tile wins it for him/herself. At the end end of the game, the player score points for each won Aether tile as well points for elemenentals left unused. The player with the most points is the winner.

Aether is coming out fall 2010 and will be available at Essen. You can play the game online on Onni Games website, either against computer or other players:
http://onnigames.com/games/aether/

Game contents:
- 92 element tiles (23 of each kind)
- 56 elementals (14 of each player color)
- 14 aether tiles
- 4 player screens
- gameboard
- a cloth bag for the tiles
- rules of the game