Battle for the Universe (game)

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Battle for the Universe
Doctor:	The Doctor
Companion(s):	Tegan, Romana, Ace
Featuring:	Garron
Main enemy:	The Master, Davros, Cyber-Controller
Key crew
Publisher:	The Games Team Ltd.
Designer:	Dave Leonard
Release details
Type:	Board game
Release date:	1989

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Doctor Who; Battle for the Universe was a narrative board game set in the Doctor Who universe, released in 1989. The game starred a unique version of the Doctor, who, alongside companions Tegan, Romana, Ace & K9, travelled across the universe to prevent rival teams of enemies from taking control of the universe.

One player would take the part of the Doctor while the others would become his three adversaries: the Master, Davros and the Cyber-Controller. Each of these characters had a team of "followers", such as four Daleks for Davros, and companions for the Doctor. There were also many other characters in the game that could be recruited. By collecting these characters each player had to build a powerful team. By a series of battles and challenges, players fought for control of the universe until only two players remained and a final great battle decided the victor.

Because the various characters and elements were meant to combine into any number of battle scenarios, rather than there being one linear throughline, this story is not considered a valid source by this Wiki.

Publisher's summary

The Battle for the Universe is a game of skill and chance for two, three or four players. Your aim is to defeat your opponents in a series of individual battles and so control the Universe.

Characters

• The Doctor
• Tegan
• Ace
• Romana
• K9
• Davros
• Dalek 1
• Dalek 2
• Dalek 3
• Dalek 4
• The Master
• Morbius
• Borusa
• Omega
• The Rani
• Cyber-Controller
• Cyberman 1
• Cyberman 2
• Cyberman 3
• Cyberman 4
• Garron
• Linx
• Black Guardian
• Shockeye
• Mutant 1
• Mutant 2
• Mutant 3
• Marshman 1
• Marshman 2
• Marshman 3
• Ice Warrior 1
• Ice Warrior 2
• Ice Warrior 3

Worldbuilding

• At one point, the characters could travel through Hyperspace.
• The items available to various characters, depending how the game goes, include the Key to Time, the Crystal of Konos, a Sonic Gun, a Time Destructor, a black hole, the Seal of Diplos, the Dodecahedron, a time warp, jelly babies, and the Magic Recorder.

Gameplay

Each player rolls the dice — the highest scorer becomes the Doctor, and takes the character card of the Doctor and places it in front of them. The other players, in order of score, select one of the main characters. The Doctor takes the four white counters — these represent his four regenerations, or lives. The other players take the appropriate coloured counters. The Master — black, Davros — red, etc. Place the silver counter on the ring at the top of the board. (The ring of weapons and devices) on the space marked by the Magic Recorder. The Doctor can then place one of his white counters on any one of the TARDIS spaces on the three main movement rings on the board. The other players can now place their counters on any of the Hyperspace squares on the board, though not on the same space as another player. The other character cards are left in the box for easy access during the game.

Movement (always clockwise) is determined by rolling the dice. You can move from one ring to another as long as it does not involve an anti-clockwise movement. You land on spaces that allow you to take certain actions: collect a character, hyperspace to any other hyperspace square, Battle Zone 1, 2, or 3. You select a character for battle and the silver counter is moved based upon a dice roll, thus selecting your weapon for the battle.

External Links

BoardGameGeek entry for Doctor Who: Battle for the Universe