Index -> Playing the Game -> Starting a Game
Each player's four team characters are placed in a row. His 12 missions are shuffled and set aside as his mission pile. His remaining cards are then shuffled to form his deck.
The point values of each player's four team characters are totaled. Your total point value becomes your opponent's victory total.
If you have the highest victory total, you become the first player. (In case of a tie, the first player is determined randomly.) Your opponent chooses one of your team characters and stops it. (You will be unable to make use of that character during your first turn.)
Paul's four team characters have point values of 2, 3, 4, and 5, making Jason's victory total 14. Jason's team characters have point values of 3, 3, 3, and 4, making Paul's victory total 13. Jason's victory total is higher, so he becomes the first player. Paul then stops one of Jason's team characters.
Each player then draws eight cards from his deck to create his opening hand. After looking at your opening hand, you may decide to shuffle it back into your deck, then draw the same number of cards for a new opening hand. You may do this only once. (The first player decides whether to do this before the second player.)
