What is Project Aleutian?
We are excited to announce our first prototype, Project Aleutian! As we move into production it will be called Stone Clouds of the Eastern Sky! Project Aleutian is a race against nature and the other nations of the planet Bryche to bring down a stone cloud, a floating land mass, to get as many resources off of it before it lands in a nation that will claim it as its own. As the aeronauts pursue and salvage from the stone cloud, the resources they collect provide prosperity to their nations through resources and technology that will improve life within their borders. The game ends when a set number of core crystals (that cause the stone cloud to float) are removed from the game and it crashes into the ground.
Basics of Play
In Project Aleutian, cards are drafted from two displays of face-up and face-down cards located between each pair of players. A turn consists of performing as many general abilities, available on drafted cards, as desired followed by performing one of three actions: collect crystals, purchase a card, or perform a specialty action.
Collecting crystals involves discarding an “available” card from the display to collect crystals of various colors from the supply.
Purchasing a card involves spending your crystals to acquire one of the “available” cards from the display into their play area. Cards in your play area have a permanent effect unless they are noted as general or special ability cards.
Some cards, once in a player’s play area, grant the user special abilities. Using a special ability usually requires paying the cost to use the action followed by getting the action’s benefit.
Phases of Play
The game progresses through two phases: the chase and cloudfall.
The game begins in the chase as the nations try to stabilize the stone cloud, and land it within their borders. The displays are made up of cards from the decks of the two bordering nations. Once one of the stone cloud’s core crystals is removed, the stone cloud begins to make landfall.
The cloudfall phase occurs as the stone cloud makes landfall, and all of the nations make a last ditch effort to recover resources. A new display composed of stone cloud cards is set up in-place of the depleted display. These cards contain high value cards for acquiring victory points.
The game ends once a set number of core crystals, dependent on the number of players, is removed from the stone cloud. Once the game ends, victory points are totaled to determine the winner.
The Nations of Bryche
The Crystals of Bryche
State of Development
Project Aleutian is a well tested prototype and is currently undergoing blind playtesting (new players just use the rulebook to learn the game). The current print version uses card stock paper cards, complete art, and demo pieces. A more professional demo version is in development.
Madelyn Hogrebe (@heartoflakesandmountains) has developed all of the primary art for the game as the primary illustrator for the game. She is still working on a few art pieces here and there as the game gets its final polish.
As the game gets its final polish, Project Aleutian is becoming Stone Clouds of the Eastern Sky! As the game ramps up for a crowdfunding campaign in early 2027, the game will use this new name more and more.
Interested In Playtesting?
The current version of the prototype can be found on the Steam Workshop for Tabletop Simulator (TTS) to play virtually with your friends. You can also join our our Discord server to meet others in the Antibyss community and join in on playtesting events!