[From the back cover] Homeworlds is a game invented by John Cooper in 2001 and played with Looney Pyramids invented by Andrew Looney. -- As exotic as this sounds, Homeworlds, and its 2-player version called Binary Homeworlds, is a deep abstract strategy game with a game tree more complex than Go. It features a 4X Space Theme that requires eXpanding, eXploring, eXploiting, and eXterminating. You start with a Homeworld of two stars, and build a fleet of spaceships with which you are going to discover other starsystems to find your way to your opponent's Homeworld, which you will ultimately invade, attack, and destroy. -- In this volume, you'll find all known rule variants of the classic game, as it developed over 20 years, all clearly explained and ordered into a comprehensive whole. Furthermore, it will introduce you to many variants, including multi-player variants, and game-mechanics variants, that can all be combined in various ways. -- Variants are a way to wrap your mind around the many aspects of the game, as they force you to consider unfamiliar alternatives. If nothing more than the pure enjoyment of experimentation, your mind gets a workout. -- To even the battlefield between a veteran and a cadet, the author has included many new ways of handicapping. It allows two players of different experience levels to play an even game, making it challenging for both. -- Homeworlds has a growing player base and can also be played online. This volume tries to accommodate a growing demand for accuracy in the rules, sample games, variety, and references. -- Do you have an appetite for more brain-burning games? Look out for the follow-up by the same author, describing 10+ games playable with a Homeworlds set that will satisfy young (8+) and old.