aTSSE The wor lasted one hour and forty-five minutes. No one remembers who fired first. A series of mistakes, a crisis or two, and automatic processes resulted in full scale worldwide launches and retaliatory strikes, The outcame was worse than even the starkest of projections imagined. The simultaneous detonation of so ‘many weapons attacked the planet on a sub-atomic level, scouring the atmosphere, bolling the seas, and turning old growth forests into raging firestorm. Yet we survived... Governments erected elaborate bunkers to pratect their leaders, Private companies and research laboratories dug secure facilities deep {nto the mountains. Even the common people survived in deep caves and ‘abandoned mines protected by freak natural conditions. To operate in this new, hostile environment, powerful walking war machines were created. These self-contained, piloted “mechs” are armed with the latest cutting-edge technologies and serve not just os weapons and tools but as expressions and symbols of a faction’s driving ideology. The old world may be dead, but a new world has arisen, the word of Critical Mass! Critical Mass is a game of hard-core, heavy-hitting Mech-on-Mech combat. As the pilot of a massive war machine eect eo eG Ree CCRC et cue Lee Oe uC ec dominion. After all, the honor of your survivor enclave is riding with you! Aas THE CAPITOLINE FEDERATION THE UNION OF SOCIALIZED COLLECTIVES ‘Occupying the ris of the former United Stats of America, The Capitaine Federation views The Suet Union, The Watsa Pac. The Red Menace. Whatever twas perished in flame and Asef 5 the fast bubrark of demacracy nd feedom ta stand against the fre of caos and win, What was eft was asries of Dunes, oltasts,glos, and remate outpast led wth “sri. The Federations composed ofthe rernans of the United States Miltary operating out fatal surios. But they hada five-year plan, 2 sense of communal responsibilty, and ‘of Chyenne Mountain, the surviving ivlin government ot of Mount Weather, ané a numberof fanatical dedication to the central state; and The Union has managed to tive. Never fad ‘ate and publcfalot shelters, has managed to leverage the industrial sources of he sai for what the local Commissar cals “he common good’ the Unian ance aga sts the ‘etry is chiens sense of patriots, ad a deep hard of anything "red (or communist) to ward spreading collectvzation and community ints wake ‘bbe tageter faction resembling the former USK at its eight ‘The Federations signature Mechs the Patio, a heal aed walking weapons platform Aesgned to beth dish ont and absorb masie amounts of punishment. ‘The Unions Signature Meh s the on Curtin, an over-engineereeexpesion of brat fore that cn fight from ange, bt excels at cle combat with hammer and chan swordCe ee ee ee eet ett Pearce 1. Mech Cockpit Boards x2 2. Patriot Cards x11 3. ron Curtain Cards x12 4, Additional cards to ‘customize your Mechs x49 5. Targeting cards x6 6. Metallic Cubes x37 7. Green Cubes x¢ 8, Rulebook x1 (not pictured) 1. ach player chooses the ech they want top then tales the Mech Cackit board (A) and all ‘the cards forthe chsen Mech. Ya can tel which cards go with which Mech by the anon the ‘ot ofthe cad (8). When ou tke you Mech Cockpit Board, place tin ont of you 2, Separate your Tech 1 cards fom the rst of your Mech’ Combat cards, These cards are your sating hand (0) Pace the et of your Combat cards ina facedown Denctivated pl tthe abt of your Mech Cockpit board 4. Tke a set faitonal cards for customizing your Mech. Each et comes with 88 cards. These ‘ds 01 havea Mech spec ica (Fon them because they canbe added to any We, Secretly ‘hans which cards you want add to your Combat cards se “customizing You Mec one. 8) anda tem to your ace- dow Deactivate le, Reconmendes cards 0 Begin the game gucly are isted onthe back of your Mech Cockpit oad. Pyrenn oni Potnceer atten Reece 4, Place metalic cabs int the slots (6 fr you atl Components on our Mech Cec bard 5, lace green cubes to the side (These are used to denete when your Mech I aimed, ois ability sactve. Note that only on cube is shown for Fart, but on Crain wl ned one fo its Primed ability and oe forts specelality ach Payer may now activate one Deactivated cad. ook though your Deactirate ple and ‘hone one Tech card. Ad the chasen card your starting hand of ads, THE BATTLE IS READY TO BEGIN! ae,CONTROLLING YOUR MECH During the game, you il use your Cama ards conta the actions of yor Mech A alltines, ‘ererycard youve willbe cated in one of for places: ‘A. Cards and Tesch ares able or yout a dng the Pan Sep int Played are ctu, play one emt rom arn (amie fe on oe tn ‘ne caétobe ze) This eat 2a te old Sep. Cooldown: ypcly tera ai played goes nt our eon ple dag he edo Sp Toget the cadbck tyrant pa aan, you hae Recharge en So cen eee . Deactivated: Ths csr prtof or Mech ut are net carey arabe forse ouneedto Ata (se p97 theses n rete a them to our, oa can ecaie yur Deactated cans aye. ‘Yount earn your opponent’ eave ple. In tical mass, the game played oer aserieso tus. Hower players do notatenate taking ‘tums Instead, mos ofthe action isimulancas! Step 1:Plan Inte planing sip oan our epponert wil beth chee oe Camb demo hand» ply at the sane time te youhae chosen a ad piace face ownin font fe Step 2: Reveal One bath lye arene ta a ate sani the casa tuned ver ard eve 2) Darl te Comba tthe Coat as eee lta et Tiss whee ou lata ard anagethe enemy Mech dfent gn atc eng Equpment to poe un orp Aten cats todo other ees. Tefistrng do dung te Combate isto compare spt of ah ered ah cad tasa Speed unt top cme Ts eters te arden ich the rds esd as wth aligning bk nthe Spee boar aways she i, betel theca hey Pc Bashers ately Sharer cristal bl reeled aya that ena a esoen der Fomighest Aoloms Spec Iwo casa the same Speed bth ans take ete at tesametine. ‘Example: Patriot ight Lzerhat Speed of whl Iron Curtain Hear acer a9 Sped of, so the Light Laser takes fc fst. ron Cras plt had played Overchage ase, would {ake effec is snceit asa lightning bolt ots Spee ‘Ste cars hava eet hat takes pat the of Conta Ths eles tk ae at the of te ‘ao Se afer eb Comba cars hare a thee. Fr eal, the Acta has elect hat, ‘acusatthe ed fonda Fir or fmation an ae sep. 7) Step 4:Cooldown eth playeseow pate cst led stun io hi elon ple a-up Semaine yoary have eters threat ourCnléwn ple ut tsp ‘oy cast ae eet end the tua restred rom Us ne othe Mess ofthe ‘ial Cponents dese the ate eve Stat are tum th Sep Pan “emHE MECH COCKPIT BOARD In ta ass, your Mech s represented by a ech Cockpit beard ts own deck of mba ads, ‘and any atonal cards you hare added to customize. Te Mech Cokpit bard the cot “Maton fo your chosen Mech. On the back f each Mach Ceci beard a ito alo our Macs ‘ads and wher each ced stars during the game, rtial Components ery ech a eur tal aan pled ke top te eee ea. afore ral Congnents ae dest cu le te ga, nate othe ne ofthe ail organ ech tial Conpeentas Amar Pes and Cc ets ‘mer Pats out your ital onponen rept bytaugh Armee eer by the mealicabes beside ech Gta Component Each Amar Peas Duala shown numbering shila on that component), Yeuroporent must da danageegataceqeserthan ‘the Dzabley nase tak destoyane er Pate onacongonet. Asher Pits deste remorthe mmetlcabs fon tat component (a the metic cbes mor ates ptecing tial Conner ese, tat rsa Components centered deste. xaple:lron Cartan’ Truster: ae protected by four Armor Plats each with a Durbity of 3—your opponent mast deal3 damage rom asingle attack to destroy each rer Pate all four ofthe Amer Pats are destroyed, the Trustesare destroyed! ‘Gita ets: en oe of your ical Carper is deste, yur Mech sues elects Fach Cita Campane deeb the cal efits tt oes dese nich canine: Sun fou Mehsud eu cant lay aca ett rhe caren nay The, nya net tumyou mus sth Plante ad you do ex hose aca a. = Deactivate: he end fhe Combat te jou mst ae any ca tat are se on yu deste Cita Congonen wheter they ain your har, yout Geld, on pla an plc hse cards facedown your Deacated pie CE ee aie ae eae oe eee) peanneer a Hyouhave mp hkesef stent you coe wih eto eat yuo match ‘adsl gn that paral te citial ecs. ere ee ee er) ee eee teas Cea pil (8) Later he can play Activate to bring his Eade card back this and, 2.Primed, Turing he ame ean aes wi mae your Meh Pied When that happen placer cb intothe ries eon youre Cogitboar oben the game who cabin the Pred pston (ening you start the gan nt rim). ‘nt noms on Pie, 9 7. Each Mec fas niu pcan ht a eT eta ee atl Tee are os Te Aes Condon ad Contos Conditional Spec Abts Tee can eb sed when whe they ae ued ON. At thst fthe pee cantina abies retuned there thee rn cube theO postion, ® Ctl request fr that aly wl enable yo ttn pc ably ON. poe met he requreents pce a ger cite ito the poston of that ity on our Mech ep oad Once he aby 0 crn conto case totum" OFF ag, thie you would ere te gence Example: lon Curtains Special Ability is Indomtale If on Cartan becomes Diupted (See Dicraption on py. 6) he tn “OM” is Indomitable ality at the end of combat. A long 2 Indomitable "OW allot ron Curtains Weapon cardscanotbe Disupted. Whe on Curtain plas {weapon cr, he rust turn OFFIndomiabl at the endo that combat, by removing the green tube fa the “ON slot of th Mech oct bard ontnsus Abts These avasin fc rte ent game. The dove ve a Ns FF psn.COMBAT CARDS esa Combat carts determine what ou can do during the ge. Thee are found of ombatcards: + tin cdl ya perma vary of seal actin such sharing oregon. + Defense sare wed pte yer em ene tacks + Weapon cds ares ota enery Meds + Egulpment aa paver ger that youcan jou ch ena isbies, 1am hiss the cats name 2. Mech eon: Thisstows wb Neh the cad begs to. oe that hse has adonal as whch ae eu sothey et show ech Tp. These canbe abel oar Mech octet Meh, 5. Sped:Thespeedot that cn ihe numbers ar et the cada ining nays psf “Firepower: On espn ads hve Frepaver ale eters tow uch nage ou do toa eneny Mechfyou it witha Weapon 5. Damage Type: ie Wepes in anage of set pe and sme arts may ate Weapons of speicDomoge pe These difert pes fime: Jy aiste: / beam: 3c ceaat (6. DurbltyEupent crs hae Dbl alu Slit Daly for ama ples hts you hac dame tht peat raster be Dbl ‘Testbed desamtiog spec ios of te Go) tbe esced ee. ‘8. Car TypeTis iets te card a2 Weap, ees, Actin, or pment. ‘9. Tech eve: Tiss ainda fom advanced te ca, ad meting ow Hristo tate pee i me) Weapon Cards yu play a Weapon card, you are making an attack you atk wth Weapon dit you de age tote ener ch eto the Vapi Fiepower Some ter asus Acton ats] mayo ea damageto Mech they dont courtas Weapons eats hea ooh Med you choosehowto apy the danagin he ata Youn idee Freon ae nary yun, tng betwen multipage ont Mech or cancenaing eta sige to ‘There aretwo types of targets you can biton a Mech: ‘Armor lates: Choa ital Conpnent onthe eh and atc an fama pies. To damagean ‘Armer te, oars ea érage eur gets than the arate. you deal ercogh ana te Amar Fes esioyedan you remove gay bef ta cont ree ee ae ee qupment: fry Eupmert cri hs2 Daily wu. Sarto Amer ates ou mus de damage qo oct than he Daiwa tale hat peo fume. a plo Epments Dale plc fs owners Cad. Ue Amor ats, quer nee permanently ested Once Dale, an tere ehaged nd eupped apa, Part daman as eft you ro enough damage toes an Amor Patria Due ng athe carssartthe gare nyu hand and Teh 2s ser to Atatethneh VatDisruption Iimpartat ith eemy Mec fst ach cobs ra fou Weapon des dageta an rer Mah, uma lp Any cars tht yer openent as aye Rt ta ne 3 lever ped tha our aap cathe ve est, Insane aes, he txt may ether 2 ued alert. te eer Mech has ey reed ts Combat cal rth tr (ease a2 ihr Speed), then it aot be spied Example Poot just weds Light Laser which hao Speed of hit ro Carton That means thot the cron Curtain jot played, ery Loser hich has Speed 02) Disapted—itha alone Speed thn that of ght Laser ron Catal Heory Laser wl havo effect hse and Patios Light Laser idea daage ua repewer tone of ron Coten Armor Pte, TEL oe uo keno sultans — nee ch ie Dupe he ata, Cars with lighrngbinth Speed ex cmet be sped hey says est) Abs wages havean ality callesUninterptible, which mens that they cana be Disugted,verftbe Mechi shit bya ‘ater Neapn, Oty damage fom Weapon can case Disruption. Damage om te sures cn never Op 2 Mech 8 ‘Weapon ca Cup 2 Mech een fit des et de euch damage deste cx Disable any fhe cs Conporees apnea Nultiple Attacks Sometimes yo wl be abe pay mule Weapon card on thesane tu. You asco ese one Card and assigns damage eo the et ca takes ft even thy beth ine te aes Yu an (hese which ret ese yucads bat yucamat conn the damage om rate ts together Sint, sme Vagos can make utp atacs nao Yoormst rele each tack before egg the ect ne, ad you cnet ‘ane damage fost ample rn Cart Pale Laser makes 2 tacks in arom. You ‘must make one Firepower 2 ata, followed by acampletely separate reponer 2 attack You amet combine the attacks {ogethert del 8domoge. rad ets Se ata an as ata se tect the tget Neh, uch 1 Deacivatng ads puting cars ito Coton. These eects laste eect endef Cotte Defense Cards Defense cards protect your Mech from your opponents atads. I you pay a Dfese a may conpletely net ata agus yout un. ees cords asi bil Spee, 0 the alvas te efter any Manan aks les that ‘Thereare two kinds of Defers: Dodgers hed alon yout dodye attacks Hoa dodye cape ye parent do ot el ny dare to yur ch uns the ave te Unable ably, fod ya ns wn pss Doe ané a st ea Manage adding Neth loc ade Defect an etetoran okt. fa cai dss dea ary age a you Mach us asthe Pg aby. a ad 58 "Pec egos lack ad an st el omage toa bacng Meth laysthe Evade Defense card Beeasethasa lightning al it goes fist eae on Crt’ Mesa Lose an fre, Pata ads the ear Laer which doesnot hav Unavidele) 0 ‘no damege stoke! ny ran Cart ad wed the Shock lw stadia Unaidble sot woul have Potrit deste his defense tats Nota slong jou do mt get damaged the rade cease eur had intend og our elope. fhe uta ad pae hsShc Cat, be oud hare damaged Pati and ade Potted goths old pleOMBAT CARDS - CONTINUED Action Cards Equipment = When you play an Actin cr, your Mechs performing aspdal manewerthatisneltheranatack Equipment cards ar specal ea that can enance your Necks performance. ier you py eno ora defense, When ut Acton cad as ef ply lw be nstucesinthe dst ‘heeds you ae Eguping that pec f gies. sega tis eupe, he qupmetpvies 2 ‘Some Action cardhave special rales hat apply when they ae payed: oe eee ‘A Equpmen cars have ing ut forte ped hen you play oe you quate stat fhe Combat te. Pace te Espen cad apa you Nec Copa Redage Tisadi uel balwertchoniee ns Sa elon sss, When ou pla ech ou ete ick ap a 7 ofthc a your Coicoun plead athena er ad a Recharge bas lighing bt rts See it an ares be Disp Ag eure can eee nour Cdn plant ante Desc aaa ererytuminourand ‘eta: Ticats so your ech an poe up, so ate speal bane stems its hes yu py Act, the eo ofthe Cat tp after al ater as hae been plyedantresoed, yuma chose cree ore 2a fom your Deacttedple nd a tect yor hn You now havea ne cr yu can use staring nest trl You a bere Primed more acieto th gstionon"rine) Howe your Mh sped ding thet ht ou pay Ate, ourMetheamoonpetethe stain ust Ue rr tes Eqpret rsa arb. The emer eas qnppd ant you ppnet es es ethe ata ar ard beone ed ete aig eq get ta is uy in ee ata his hppes yur Epes Dil ; foe sie aia aed pl Ue tea oc a eg ceo fe: Paros plt fast plyed Act. Lucky for en ar geri your hand, egu ag te him, hs opponent was epetiog an ateck an ployed « Defense, so Patriot not Dupted ths tum. Fest gauipment nbs Fach Eupmet cn dees the ail pois te ctxt TH ity Paviets pltgetstachvsete Teh ech 2rd cnet ale eect nl he gent ale ove show hi ppenen which card acted. Then, Patt becomes rind so heplaeracabelnta the Primed space nhs ech Cecpit board Hed Patriot been Diapted be mould haveonly been ble performeneot thes effec stead obothof then) canoe: Pit jt payed Fos Ln, Now Pets Aor Pe, whines en coe ns ie lest onthe Mach apt te toe Scam weapons goin 11 Fueovert Paes oponat ahi. Aime Meh sno ait ope spn ion py ct wheres anton is ee hy wihoe Dbl ees Pine 10 yeh tpt at, setae neh rand a thd Lenrbydeaing cles 2donagetitrom single tak lntadf et ech 2a if ou chose tah ech 3a," ot Prey removing the gen Si ibe fm th Pine poston ooh ot a \ eee en ee eee er “= Ceres eet) Example In ate tun Patt plot manages to ply Activote agan witout geting hit by is ‘opponentthattum. Now hecanactvteastanger Ted 3 card fram his Deactivated. Kew eli haesame serous freponed!SATE te Before the game gins, you wl choose a number of addtional cards to ado your Deactivated pile These cards ae addtional Weapons, Defenses, Actions, andor Equipment cars that youcan ‘Acivatedaring the bate. AMechonyasalinted aunt spceadpnerthat ane cst. Thes ns ashen otha ofthe MechCcptoad inthe Cstmaaton een Yon to chose cards othe ls sbownon theca foryourdsen es, ernr er Cece ee eto Equipment Casting our Mach a be daunting for fist tie players We wc rr st ew gars, that ous the csozaton a Inte an the back of our Meth Cpt had They have een chosen otal hh Te caf jour eh Aer ou ave afew bats under eure, feta age ear a 2d tren ener statage ca VS Youcan pay Critical Mas with mare than two pla Free forall: hie ef paye face of and tack ech ater nly one Macher standng “Team Battle: vo tas of Neds ech dae ot Th tle etues ua al the Meh on ee ie have been dee Aloe restr twn payer gues pln 2 mle btl with ony een: Dug then Step yours oy ces which eb cd you are plying you mst ako hese wich ney youre soigiotrget 2 There aretwe waystoplay Setting Up the Gar ‘Give each player a set of Targeting ars These crt Show whether our targeting te Mech ore, he ecru othe Nec ety acs Foye, your plying the pyre aller Tea Battle nae hee and ght cs The cere ads ony we inal eralganes. During the Planning Step Eachtur, you mus pik two cards Conbat od yon wat play atts nara and ore of yur Tagg cans Te Tagen car you hose deternines bch lec you wate yeu make an ata Fee ‘eal you chose et Wee wil anata the pero you hist. ‘eurustatnoys che aati ca ren yur net making ny atts Tat your eney ust noni uae atackg eat Ped Example: rn Crain’ Card Uist shows tatiana the fllonng Cards to customize it Tt con 0d (dre Tech 2 cr oe of these rust bean equpment and the ter wo mst be Defences. ean (dave Tech 3 weapon cer During the Combat Step (ardsare saved as normal in Speed oder. oul aad rae ion fat rgasan een) ech joc te ft he Md shar noua ar. Dense aston al ene ata. Yurargeting cad has io eet when you py abet Radios youare playing Team Bate, youae fe to alk our anvmate, want top. ithe rei er enenes may belseng enor fequeny CREDITS cas which ard 00 Game Design Kevin chang Development Team: (alin Mes, Anew Pope, ryan Fope Ar Director: Stephen bon, Jo Guyton MechArt: Mina Pena (Other Artists Stghen son, Andes Zao ctr Cela, Dias Wi Pomangas, loch, ba Gyn Project Manager: Matt Bach ule Weiter: Wiliam Neng Story Wel Tamas Alen Playtestes Thomas Alen, evs nso, ae esa, bert Tent Bs ay i Ta Galo Stephan ono Jonatan Rts Jn Teen ui ene, han dh Pati ong aan Med, ‘Atszder Wont liam lng anny eng ehn ages, eran Pope, ik Pope, ua Spang, onthan inl Pesto inde est, le Wes natn Ber Aden Feil Neca, a at Raza Gort Berube yan Che tn Str yonAN ELEGANT AND SIMPLE GAME OF MARTIAL TACTICS Peg awaNianl . | N70 1 = = fa pg Re ot v7 3 Dye euch MO i At) eH - Now with Robin Hood & The Merry Men! te] — : = \\ re: om Ls aCO Re cea Ce oe on en ES Cr Ce NOAM cy sO ee a Cen