22nd Century – Exiled on Novus - a distant exoplanet - as Earth was not able to shelter humanity anymore, a few courageous settlers struggle to survive in one of the most dangerous places in the universe. Their First Contact War with the nautilid species is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Communicating with such aggressive aliens has never been an option. And the new furtive offensive they are preparing is another step towards bloody war!

In Star Hammer : The Vanguard Prophecy you will not only step into the shoes of a fleet commander – carefully selecting their spaceships and crew members – but also be at the spearhead of their squadron, maneuvering their capital ships like a hard-boiled captain!

The nautilid threat is as varied as it is innumerable and the game offers plenty of tactical situations in which players will have to take painful decisions. To succeed, players will need to be quick-learners to identify the weaknesses of the enemy and adopt an offensive behavior only when a clear breach appears. We have lost count of all the daredevil commanders who have already sacrificed all in the service of Humanity.

In this tactical game, the exploitation of all three dimensions of the battlefield is vital. Superior positioning and fleet organization will often lead to glorious results. However, only commanders with an advanced knowledge of their own vessels and the Nautilid units will be able to make the most effective decisions during the order phases.

All of the human military spacecrafts have shields on 6 different segments that receive individual damage. Also there is a specific setup for every single alien unit. As a consequence, attacking from top rear or left front, for instance, will have totally different results depending on the target and weapons selected.

Offensive tactics are not always effective anyway, so players will also have to regularly optimize energy distribution for each unit, in order to balance power between defensive systems, engines and armament.

Key Features

• Fight for Novus and decide the outcome of the Second Contact War with a branching story that boasts over 60 missions.
• WeGo tactical combat in 3D space, with gameplay that rewards strategic positioning and fleet coordination. Give your commands, then watch the results in pausable realtime.
• Take commandof a range of heavily armed  assault ships, including Raiders, Corvettes, Frigates, Destroyers, Battlecruisers and Dreadnoughts  - each with with their own weapons fitouts and unique functions.
• Balance the energy coreof each ship to focus on impenetrable defences, breakneck piloting or devastating assaults.
• Manage your crew’s personalities and morale to tailor your flagship’s advantage in battle. Every crew member you enlist has their own personality traits, abilities and stories.
• Measure your actions against the War Scale. Will your command be a legacy of calculated tactical bombardments, or aggressive and reckless assaults?
• Take part in an ongoing war with no turning back. Choose who will be saved, order reinforcements to replace destroyed veteran ships, and shape the future of mankind’s second home.

This approachable tactical game is now ready to enter the beta phase on PC! And Slitherine/Matrix Games are inviting players to help them test it! By signing up for the beta, players will have a chance to be selected to be one of the lucky few who will be able experience Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy before release and help the developers with the final touches, ensuring a smooth release in a few months.