I would argue that 5 players is actually in the sweet spot for Star Trek Ascendancy, IF you're willing to play for as long as it takes to finish a game. The thing that changes with a 5th player is that, because each faction only has 3 trade agreement cards, having a 4th rival means there is always some player who you are NOT trading with. With 4 or fewer players, it can be easy to fall into the trap of just giving trade agreements to everyone early, turtling, and back-loading all the conflict to the end of the game as a last-ditch effort to stop someone from winning. But with a 5th player, there's a lot more early and mid-game conflict as players group into coalitions to maintain industrial parity with one another. At least, that's been my experience with the game.
I saw Five Year Mission and I was scared you might accidentally provide anything positive to say about the game. It is basically Roll For It, but cooperative, which makes you an observer to the outcome instead of a participant. Simply awful.
Yeah! There are way way too many for me to go through in this series. I only personally own 12, so It's going to be a 3 part board game series for now but I might pick up the series later when I get another batch played :)
To help with Star Trek Ascendancy we did a house rule for the first two planets that you can explore. This speeds up the game and helps with the enjoyment. For each player we place aside 2 titles with relatively equal planets. When you explore you have the ability to chose one of those piles as the first and second planet you explore or you can take the luck of the draw and pull from the main deck. We also wait a few rounds before we shuffle in the Borg. This helps start out with a better baseline for all and provides ample resources to start the game.
Great idea! I wonder if you had a list of planets that are good starters? That would be helpful. I would be happy to make something up and post it on BGG if you want.
Alternatively, you can just modify the existing system and exploration deck-building rules in game setup. Instead of simply setting aside a number of non-phenomena systems equal to the number of players * 2, you can also remove hazardous systems. Thus, the top [players*2] systems are all non-hazardous. Sure, it might still end up being a crappy, 1-production system, but it's better than having one of your starting ships blown up by a bad roll on a lvl 5 or 6 hazard. Also, in addition to removing Borg cards from the top of the exploration deck, we also remove all the red "Crisis" cards. There's still the chance of of drawing a lvl 2 or lvl 3 warp capable civ that you won't be able to invade or hegemonize until mid-game, or getting some other event that does something weird that can screw a player over, but for the most part, it minimized the risk to such a point that everyone gets a decent start.
I love the ST cuts in there - my fave was you explaining a 4X game a touch hesitantly, and cut to - Kirk - "You sure about that?" to Spock - "I'm quite sure." Bwuhahahha...just great!
Just came across your channel. Played Star Trek Ascendancy with 7 players with the Borg, without Andorians and without Vulcans, with a few fanmade expansions. It was great, lots of fun, and it took some 8 hours to play.
@@MrBerserkinTime there are several youtube vids with how to play and playthroughs. I would suggest see those first. Just to make sure you find the game interesting. For me, I have all the official expansions and several fanmade some with 3d printed ships etc. I did not get the starbases, but bought one extra set of ships and nodes for each faction.
I wish we could get a 21st century remake of Star Fleet Battles.
I love it. The quotes make this a 10/10 must see Cabal videos. Well done Jamie!
PAIN!!!!
Are you quite certain?
I would argue that 5 players is actually in the sweet spot for Star Trek Ascendancy, IF you're willing to play for as long as it takes to finish a game. The thing that changes with a 5th player is that, because each faction only has 3 trade agreement cards, having a 4th rival means there is always some player who you are NOT trading with. With 4 or fewer players, it can be easy to fall into the trap of just giving trade agreements to everyone early, turtling, and back-loading all the conflict to the end of the game as a last-ditch effort to stop someone from winning. But with a 5th player, there's a lot more early and mid-game conflict as players group into coalitions to maintain industrial parity with one another. At least, that's been my experience with the game.
I saw Five Year Mission and I was scared you might accidentally provide anything positive to say about the game. It is basically Roll For It, but cooperative, which makes you an observer to the outcome instead of a participant. Simply awful.
Glad I didnt disappoint! :D
Well done Jamie! Looking forward to this series!
Thanks Rodger!
Love the idea of covering Star Trek games.
I wonder how many there are.
** Checked BGG **
Oh boy, this could go on for a while.
Yeah! There are way way too many for me to go through in this series. I only personally own 12, so It's going to be a 3 part board game series for now but I might pick up the series later when I get another batch played :)
To help with Star Trek Ascendancy we did a house rule for the first two planets that you can explore. This speeds up the game and helps with the enjoyment. For each player we place aside 2 titles with relatively equal planets. When you explore you have the ability to chose one of those piles as the first and second planet you explore or you can take the luck of the draw and pull from the main deck. We also wait a few rounds before we shuffle in the Borg. This helps start out with a better baseline for all and provides ample resources to start the game.
Great idea! I wonder if you had a list of planets that are good starters? That would be helpful. I would be happy to make something up and post it on BGG if you want.
Alternatively, you can just modify the existing system and exploration deck-building rules in game setup. Instead of simply setting aside a number of non-phenomena systems equal to the number of players * 2, you can also remove hazardous systems. Thus, the top [players*2] systems are all non-hazardous. Sure, it might still end up being a crappy, 1-production system, but it's better than having one of your starting ships blown up by a bad roll on a lvl 5 or 6 hazard.
Also, in addition to removing Borg cards from the top of the exploration deck, we also remove all the red "Crisis" cards. There's still the chance of of drawing a lvl 2 or lvl 3 warp capable civ that you won't be able to invade or hegemonize until mid-game, or getting some other event that does something weird that can screw a player over, but for the most part, it minimized the risk to such a point that everyone gets a decent start.
I love the ST cuts in there - my fave was you explaining a 4X game a touch hesitantly, and cut to - Kirk - "You sure about that?" to Spock - "I'm quite sure." Bwuhahahha...just great!
Curious to see what is said about Star Trek: Attack Wing . Way better than X-wing but Wizkids never gave it the love it deserved.
So sad I am unable to get Five Year mission here in Germany. :(
I couldn't get into Chrono - Trek, very confusing.
Chrono-Trek sounds a lot like Chrononauts, but Star Trek
Next year we will get you a big enough budget to actually beam down the boxes of the games :D
Discovered your channel a couple weeks ago and I just love your style and I’m glad you’re making videos again.
Thanks!
Yes! gimme that Trek coolaid!
Just came across your channel. Played Star Trek Ascendancy with 7 players with the Borg, without Andorians and without Vulcans, with a few fanmade expansions. It was great, lots of fun, and it took some 8 hours to play.
Awesome, I am looking to get the game soon
@@MrBerserkinTime there are several youtube vids with how to play and playthroughs. I would suggest see those first. Just to make sure you find the game interesting.
For me, I have all the official expansions and several fanmade some with 3d printed ships etc. I did not get the starbases, but bought one extra set of ships and nodes for each faction.
Chrono-Trek is a retheam of another game Chrononauts I think?
Yep. And there was another one for Back to the Future that I know of.