Edge Studio has confirmed that Ships of the Shattered Empire, the eagerly anticipated sourcebook for the Genesys roleplaying game, will be released this Friday, January 9th. Set within the Twilight Imperium universe, the 208-page supplement expands significantly on the Embers of the Imperium setting but introduces mechanical updates that will likely appeal to the wider Genesys community.
While the book’s primary focus is the naval might of the Great Civilisations, the inclusion of a comprehensive mass combat system marks a significant expansion for the core ruleset.
A Galaxy of Gunboats and Mechs
For Game Masters running campaigns in the Twilight Imperium setting, the book appears to function as a definitive military catalogue. It profiles the starships of 11 factions from the Galactic Council, ranging from the Hacan’s trade-war zebeks to the ambush carriers of the Yssaril and the heavy cruisers of the Letnev.
Beyond the capital ships, the supplement drills down into vehicles and mechs, providing the necessary stats to run ground-based skirmishes or boarding actions involving heavy support.
Interestingly, Edge Studio has not limited the scope to military hardware. A dedicated chapter covers civilian vessels manufactured by galactic corporations, including Vectura Rex, Aether Cosmos, and Prismetra. This section includes practical vessels like salvage ships and emergency response vehicles, adding texture to the universe beyond pure warfare.
The text also hints at “black budget” projects, referencing the Serpens Investigator, which is a stealth vessel that Vectura Rex publicly denies manufacturing. It is a nod to the setting’s espionage themes, likely intended for Keleres agents who need deniability.
Setting-Agnostic Mass Combat
Perhaps the most significant value for the broader Genesys player base is the introduction of mass combat rules.
Historically, Genesys has excelled at narrative skirmishes but lacked a robust official framework for large-scale battles. Ships of the Shattered Empire rectifies this with a ruleset designed to resolve massive engagements with “just a few rolls of the dice”.
Crucially, these rules are described as setting-agnostic. While presented in a sci-fi context, the mechanics are compatible with fantasy, steampunk, or weird war settings, making this a potentially essential purchase for GMs running war-focused campaigns outside the Twilight Imperium universe.
Player Options
The supplement also includes 16 new talents, offering advancement options for pilots and commanders. These are paired with new rules for operating vehicles and managing spaceship combat, aiming to streamline the often-clunky nature of vehicle encounters in RPGs.
Ships of the Shattered Empire requires the Genesys Core Rulebook and the Embers of the Imperium sourcebook to be used fully. It is available for reservation at local game stores and will be available via digital platforms.
