Cosmic Encounter

A negotiation classic (1977) in which each player is an alien race with a unique power. Each turn a destiny card says who must be attacked; attacker and defender invite allies, and the rest decide whether to join, with whom and with how much strength.

The two rivals secretly choose to attack or negotiate. If both attack, the higher total strength wins; if one attacks and the other negotiates, the attacker wins. If both negotiate, they have one minute to strike a deal, and if there is no agreement both lose. The winner is the first to establish five colonies on other players’ planets, and several players can win at once.