I got this for Christmas. After playing it 3 times now (only with the 6 recommended learn to play races as I've not played TI3) I have to say that it's awesome and think it's the perfect game for anyone who has a decent amount of board game experience. It's a big commitment to play a game of it but it never feels like the game is dragging on (which I have felt with Arkham Horror wich also takes a while) and there's so many more possibilities that I've still not explored yet. I can't imagine Fantasy Flight will ever make a 5th edition because unlike the 3rd this really does feel like the perfect game.
I'm sold...I've never played, but I HAVE to own this! These guys have re-invigorated my love of board games. I bought Pandemic, Robinson Crusoe and Legendary: Marvel after watching these videos. All of those are fantastic and the family loves them! Thank you Dice Tower!
Robinson Crusoe was the game to pull me into boardgame geekery. I saw my favorite Magic: the Gathering content creator mention it as his favorite and I was intrigued. The rest is a history paved in meeples, cards and tiles!
I could of told you this game was coming out. How? Well 3 months ago I finally purchased TI3, and every time I drop big money on a game a new edition comes out or a company goes under. You're welcome, now if you'll excuse me I'm off to play my first game of Dystopian Wars. Oh hey this 40K Conquest looks interesting.
I am so hyped for this. Pretty to new to board games myself, but really feeling a desire to play Twilight Imperium .... the problem is that as I am living in Germany, the number of people who would not only commit to playing a monster of a game like Twilight Imperium, but also do so in English was never enough to justify buying it. But everything changed at Gencon this year when they announced to also release a German version :D.
sertaki I own TI3 and don't really need a German version. BUT I am lacking people willing to play a game for (possibly) 8 hrs. But I think that problem is international. :P Owned it for 1,5 years now but have only ever played it once. Still I will probably get TI4 at some point, just because it looks awesome.
it certainly looks awesome, I give you that. Hopefully living in a large city and having access to a board game store and its player community should help in getting TI games going from time to time, even if they don't fully use the available seats :D
Great review chaps. I have this on pre-order and can't wait to get it to the table. The streamlining makes it a lot easier to teach and less fiddly to play..oh and the tech tree (or lack there of) is genius!
I've been a bit unsure about getting this since I typically play with three or four players and the game is quite long but Sam giving a positive story about playing three players in about three and a half hours with a first time player and the new player doing well has made me more confident about picking this up when it hits the shelves. :)
I always warn people how long it is but when you get in it-wow. I've had people complain when the game ended so we did a few extra rounds just to see how some event would unfold.I have won several times without firing a single shot, having a big fleet is important to make people second guess attacking. That is one thing I love about this game is you can play and win to your style.
Doesn't seem different enough from TI3 to warrant the extra expense. The tech system seems the most different but, to be honest, the old system was not that clunky and after a few plays it becomes second nature. I'll stick with version 3 for now. Good review, thanks :)
I've seen/heard about how much Sam loves TI3, so I was immediately curious his reaction to the TI4 announcement and changes. He seems beyond stoked in this particular video. I'm very curious about the game, but I don't think any of my friends would be willing to commit *that* much time to it.
Just played this over the weekened - AMAZING Game! Not too hard to grasp after a round or two, though it is daunting. Excellent excuse to get together with friends and BBQ and make it a social event with an epic galactic game that is super fun to play because you're always involved.
I absolutely LOVED TI 3rd edition! But I just don't have 4-8 hours of time to play a game anymore. :( If someone could make a mobile version that I could play on the toilet with my friends... that'd be greeeeeaaaat.
My friends intro to get me to play this game: you have a Sunday free? Cool, on Friday and Saturday, read this rulebook and watch this 2 hour video to get the gist of how to play. I've played about 7 or 8 times in 3rd ed... Very fun, finding the time and scheduling with friends is the hardest part but very worth it
Get Zee to play it ! He might enjoy it more than he'd think. Worst case scenario we get to enjoy seeing him suffer. Whatever happens the audience wins !
I really think I could get this to the table so much more. My group definitely leans toward 1 hour ish long games but we often play 3-4 rounds in a row. That's a game of TI.
I'm kinda amazed. This would be one of those games I only pull out once I know people are into the complex stuff. But then again, neither have I ever played it, nor have I tried to with beginners. Aren't folks intimidated by the complexity and legth?
Watch the review for TI-3, it's still there and it still floors me. Almost as much as Eric's legendary "component drop" for his beloved remake of Merchants of Venus. Almost. :3
Last time we played TI3 we were four players and it took us 3 ½ hour, though the owner of the game had it all sorted out and set up for quick introduction and to get on with the game and I was probably the only one that had not played it befor (almost got the victory too, so close, so close). Great game though I agree on the once every year or two, atleast for me.
I finally save up enough to buy TI3, and then this happens. Should have seen it coming with the price drop. The tech looks way streamlined in a great way. Overall, this looks just a little better than TI3 in a lot of ways that really would make the game noticeably more enjoyable and easier to drag people into. Plus it essentially comes with the expansions that are now prohibitively expensive! Oh well, TI3 is still great.
Jordan Williams TI4 is still worse that TI3 with both expansions. Too many great optional rules were cut ( leaders, representatives, mercenaries, distant suns, final frontier and many others).
One thing Tom or Sam hasn't mentioned. One card, the Hyper Metabolism technology card, is a misprint. It SHOULD read "gain 3 command tokens instead 2".
I guess that brings up a question...my gaming group avoids any game box that says 2hrs+. Is there an alternative to TI4 that isn't so long that someone would recommend?
Hey everyone, I was looking to buy a game to play with my friends but I'm a little undecided. Twilight Imperium looks great, but I'm not sure if it is the setting I would really like to play. I was hoping to great a strategy war game, so I stumbled on Axis and Allies, but as far as I know the game was made to be played the Axis vs the Allies and it's unbalanced if you wanted to play a free for all, and I love the alliances and betrayal part of war games, so I feel like I would be losing a lot. Then I found Ikusa, the new version of Samurai Swords and Shogun I think, and it looked awesome, but I can't find anywhere for a reasonable price and there might not be quite enough ways to play the game as Twilight Imperium (wich you don't need to necessarily beat everyone up to win). I wanted a heavy mechanics strategy war board game. Maybe you guys can help me, maybe I'm asking too much for wanting a perfect game (on my standards). Thanks any way! Btw, great video guys! Just found your channel and I love it.
I've only ever played TI via message board, never in person. I'm curious how much of the infamous play time is due to AP. I've noticed that the people I know in real life who say they play TI are also some of the biggest problem AP people I know. I guess a sprawling space epic just attracts them. As long as I'm planning my moves while it's not my turn, I can't imagine any of my turns taking longer than 30 seconds to plan out.
I wonder what would be the chances of FFG doing an upgrade kit like the did with descent. I be pretty happy with getting new rules, player aids, and cards for $50-60. But as a once every two year player I don't think that I justify an entirely new version.
Looks really cool. How come the price tag gets not mentioned at all? I would say that's one for the cons column... no matter how cool the rest of the game is... not everyone gets review copies...
Guys, I love your reviews but very of my friends nerds cannot espeak english... is to much put subtitles in spanish?... but I really like your comments and observations about our loveved board games.
I really love these toe of games. Very thematic where I get lost in the cardboard and plastic. I feel lucky when I have not Bight a game and then they release a better or updated, streamlined version. It just makes you feel like you have the best and and decades in this case of work and refining etc. The trouble is I want to buy this now but I have no one to play it with add no one I know will play games this long or I can only find one person. I wish there was a way of making games like this sometimes only go for day 2 hours. Even then people think that is too long. Are purples attention spans ruined on modern times because of instant gratification, lack of patience and fat things like microwaves or mobile phones etc. I mean purple used to waste their time on bad gamers like monopoly fur way longer and that's a bad game. Yet you get fantastic games, like the best ever made on the entire planet and now people won't play them. Come on people's learn to enjoy big epic matter piece space operas like this. Please, I want to play it..... ( I say while stamping my feet on the ground; vet much akin to a childhood tantrum).
huys, what if i play twilight imperium 3 ad least once a month? should i upgrade it? :p Of course im kidding. Im waiting for my local language release and we will plaaaay a lot once it release.
Those player boards look a bit papery... paper with square corners? Aren't we past this in 2017? You know the player boards in Quantum? That's how they're done right.
Board gaming according to Sam. $150 price tag on Cthulu Wars that takes 60 minutes to play is superfluous. $150 retail price for Twilight Imperium 4 that you'll play one or two times a year is highly recommended.
Great video guys. May i ask a question? My name is Mario and im from Brasil; my board game group, loves catan, lords os waterdeep and puerto rico. Do you think TI4 maybe a good game to try? The political aspect of the game may be a plus since we like\love political stuff. We range from 33 to 43 (me) years old. Thank you
That's a tricky question! The box says 4-8 hours but expect it to go on all day, especially if you haven't played before. Whilst it's a big game with lots of rules, it's not complicated and is quite streamlined, so it's not hard to understand or keep track of things. There is a decent amount of strategy but I think the primary draw of the game is the theatrical "space-opera" story-telling aspect. It's an amazing game and you might enjoy it but if you're looking for the same things you enjoy in those games you mentioned, you'll find elements of them in this game, but it's not the primary focus. I hope that makes sense! If I had a better knowledge of boardgames I would try to find one that was about the same length as those games but with a politics bent to it. Maybe someone here can recommend something?
2 of the 3 times I won TI3, I never fired a shot. They were only 4 and 5 player games though. My force was just so big no one wanted to attack me. Universities and Space Cats
well last time i did trash eric lang games for the price.well for me this is worth 150 msrp.if i can squeze the 4 player game in 5 hours tops i am sold.
The picking of the strategies reminds me of Puerto Rico in choosing roles. Game looks way overly complicated and long. I'll be passing up on this game as I don't enough people that would play a board game that long. So is coolstuff.com your guys business?
Let me assure you it isnt that complicated. In a six player game, every mechanic I encountered was deep and used. It was my first time playing this board game yesterday with my friends in college and I immediately picked it up. I have never had a better board gaming experience.
Chris Edwards Mechanized infantry were pointless. They were worth the exact same as regular ground troops stat for cost-wise amd they served the exact same role. They were a false game option. It increased complexity of the game while not providing much depth in return.
It's a presentation issue, stuff like that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to experienced players, makes it seem like you don't care, when I know you do :)
out of the 2 games of TI4 I have played, the 1st game someone has won without fighting at all. They traded their ways out and the public objectives enabled it to be an easier route to take. I also think it depends on what races you are playing with/against.
As an added note, I neither attacked nor was attacked. I think its even more important the people you're playing with though. They could have chosen not to deal with me peacefully, then I would not have been able to pull out the victory
The main problems of Ti3 have not been adressed as far as i'm concerned and that means a pass. The game could shave off an hour of it's gameplay if it was just structured differently. For example, as they said, there are lots of opportunities to be involved during other players turns... but it's not mandatory. So it means there is always a player who wanted to be involved, but failed to notice he could do so until everyone has done it (it's easy being absorbed into your own thoughts as there's a lot of things in the game and it's taxing to the brain when combined with it's length). So him catching up on actions is a not negligible part of the time the game takes. Most people will occasionally do this, even those who are not prone to such behaviours. I have never played with a group whwre it did not happen at least once a turn. Then there's the single thread processing of this game. Everyone takes his actions alone. When you built ships, you are alone doing it. Other games will take for example a combined game phase where everyone builds at the same time... meaning for much faster gameplay for the same amount of game decisions. Ultimately TI3/4 takes only, on average, 6 turns to play through with experienced players. You will take, on average, 5 actions per turn. A total of 30 actions taken overall. As a point of comparison, Kemet and Inis both have the same average of actions (close to 30). Why does TI3 takes 5 hours (4 players game) for the same amount of actions/decisions than those other two games and the later only takes around 90 minutes? Because those later two have better structures to them to reduce downtime... TI3 is convoluted and long, but it's not deeper than many other games. The amount of options blinds people, but ultimately half those options are pointless to it's end goal. Once you have played enough to spot those options that are not game winners (like half the tech tree for example, or the entire trade system, etc.) you'll be faced with a much simpler game that just takes a long time to play.
Real talk do not offer to play this game with someone if they were your ride there or home. If you get destroyed in the first FEW hours it will STILL take MANY MORE HOURS. It is very possible that 6 hours in half of you will want to quit and the other half will be in too deep, so bring something else to do. Everyone needs to have at least some idea of what's happening before the game starts, if you are learning it for the first time it will take ages. If you like to libate / inhalate when you game with your group you need to keep that turned down. Mild lack of focus and poor decisions in the first few turns can easily result in being completely debilitated early or the game taking longer to conclude. The single most important factor is to embrace your species / lore, the only times i have ever won this game where when I understood the strategy of the specific race I had and played to it's strengths exclusively. Seriously read that bullshit on the back about your specific history, it's not advice, it's not for flavor it's how to play as you. I love / hate this game because there are so many variables that at a certain point it's just luck you still have to roll dice and draw cards, and just because you can't win definitely does not mean that you do not have the capacity to decide who does if you stick it out to the end. I've literally seen a game come down to a decision where a player that had functionally checked out of the game like six hours ago make was able to prevent the two players that had been "winning" for the last 4 hours lose and the person who everyone expected to be 3rd won the game. It's really ridiculous what can happen in this game if very complex. Oh yeah and also look into common play / fan rules because some things in this game are just too exceptional or debilitating.
Oh, Tom only played it once. Eh... I'm of the view you have to play a game twice to really review it. Since you have to see the game from start to finish once and then play it again knowing that "start to finish" from before to get a full understanding of it.
Was hoping for more refinement. Don't think it's worth upgrade, unless FFG publishes a kit specifically for TI3 players. And there are no leaders, distant suns, mercenaries, or ambassadors? Well, there's GOTTA be an expansion. Star Wars TI makes little sense to me--it's not a galaxy of individual races competing for expansion, rather it's about countless races all intermingled. Star Trek, OTOH, works.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
I got this for Christmas. After playing it 3 times now (only with the 6 recommended learn to play races as I've not played TI3) I have to say that it's awesome and think it's the perfect game for anyone who has a decent amount of board game experience. It's a big commitment to play a game of it but it never feels like the game is dragging on (which I have felt with Arkham Horror wich also takes a while) and there's so many more possibilities that I've still not explored yet. I can't imagine Fantasy Flight will ever make a 5th edition because unlike the 3rd this really does feel like the perfect game.
he was 14 when he started his first game lol
How dare you insult arkham horror sir
Sam looks extremely happy in this review. I love it!!
The BoardGame Renegade but then really really happy 😊
if he didn't almost explode here with glee, I would call bullshit :D
Reminds me of myself when new Star Wars movies were announced.
It's his #2 game of all time so it's expected.
I'm sold...I've never played, but I HAVE to own this! These guys have re-invigorated my love of board games. I bought Pandemic, Robinson Crusoe and Legendary: Marvel after watching these videos. All of those are fantastic and the family loves them! Thank you Dice Tower!
Yes.... You do have to own TI4. :)
You picked some real winners, congratulations! :)
Robinson Crusoe was the game to pull me into boardgame geekery. I saw my favorite Magic: the Gathering content creator mention it as his favorite and I was intrigued.
The rest is a history paved in meeples, cards and tiles!
Lift with your legs, not your back. You'll thank me.
Regards,
A TI4 owner.
Can't wait to see TI4 on every Top 10 list Sam makes.
The only question is whether it will be with or instead of TI3?
# 2: TI3
#1: TI4
I could of told you this game was coming out. How? Well 3 months ago I finally purchased TI3, and every time I drop big money on a game a new edition comes out or a company goes under. You're welcome, now if you'll excuse me I'm off to play my first game of Dystopian Wars. Oh hey this 40K Conquest looks interesting.
If it makes you feel any better I own Forbidden Stars and Relic. On the up side we don't have to worry about too many expansions.
Ay, pobrecito.
Buy chess, that will force them to release Chess 2
I am so hyped for this. Pretty to new to board games myself, but really feeling a desire to play Twilight Imperium .... the problem is that as I am living in Germany, the number of people who would not only commit to playing a monster of a game like Twilight Imperium, but also do so in English was never enough to justify buying it.
But everything changed at Gencon this year when they announced to also release a German version :D.
sertaki all tv shows and games etc have to translated for Germans :) as a Dutchman it's strange to me ( not used to it) ;)
sertaki I own TI3 and don't really need a German version. BUT I am lacking people willing to play a game for (possibly) 8 hrs. But I think that problem is international. :P Owned it for 1,5 years now but have only ever played it once.
Still I will probably get TI4 at some point, just because it looks awesome.
it certainly looks awesome, I give you that.
Hopefully living in a large city and having access to a board game store and its player community should help in getting TI games going from time to time, even if they don't fully use the available seats :D
They should make a Steven Universe board-game!
sertaki Where do you live, sir? :)
Great review chaps. I have this on pre-order and can't wait to get it to the table. The streamlining makes it a lot easier to teach and less fiddly to play..oh and the tech tree (or lack there of) is genius!
Superb video quality. You guys look so different from the older videos! In a good way of course :) Lov'n the updates!
I've been a bit unsure about getting this since I typically play with three or four players and the game is quite long but Sam giving a positive story about playing three players in about three and a half hours with a first time player and the new player doing well has made me more confident about picking this up when it hits the shelves. :)
The moment we've all been waiting for!
I always warn people how long it is but when you get in it-wow. I've had people complain when the game ended so we did a few extra rounds just to see how some event would unfold.I have won several times without firing a single shot, having a big fleet is important to make people second guess attacking. That is one thing I love about this game is you can play and win to your style.
I am so looking forward to playing this game! Just can't wait! Almost ready to fly down to Sam's neck of the woods for a play-through!
Thanks so much for getting this one out so quick after GenCon.
Doesn't seem different enough from TI3 to warrant the extra expense. The tech system seems the most different but, to be honest, the old system was not that clunky and after a few plays it becomes second nature. I'll stick with version 3 for now. Good review, thanks :)
Great video, just played this for the first time and it lives up to the hype!
I've seen/heard about how much Sam loves TI3, so I was immediately curious his reaction to the TI4 announcement and changes. He seems beyond stoked in this particular video. I'm very curious about the game, but I don't think any of my friends would be willing to commit *that* much time to it.
Just played this over the weekened - AMAZING Game! Not too hard to grasp after a round or two, though it is daunting. Excellent excuse to get together with friends and BBQ and make it a social event with an epic galactic game that is super fun to play because you're always involved.
I absolutely LOVED TI 3rd edition! But I just don't have 4-8 hours of time to play a game anymore. :( If someone could make a mobile version that I could play on the toilet with my friends... that'd be greeeeeaaaat.
I WANT THE 48HR EDITION!
Aw no Zee on this one? ;)
Of course not! Hence the ;) haha
I would like to see Zee play this game live
I would be content just watching Zee learn the game live.
DragonTank1400 why would you do that to him!!!
He might enjoy it, you never know, but most likely not.
Great review and overview of the game guys! Ok! Now going over to Sam's Video comparison! :)
My friends intro to get me to play this game: you have a Sunday free? Cool, on Friday and Saturday, read this rulebook and watch this 2 hour video to get the gist of how to play. I've played about 7 or 8 times in 3rd ed... Very fun, finding the time and scheduling with friends is the hardest part but very worth it
That was the best end to a review ever! LoL Loved it!
Get Zee to play it ! He might enjoy it more than he'd think. Worst case scenario we get to enjoy seeing him suffer. Whatever happens the audience wins !
I really think I could get this to the table so much more. My group definitely leans toward 1 hour ish long games but we often play 3-4 rounds in a row. That's a game of TI.
A toutorial/walktrought app for phone , so dont need to explain the game over and over , is a must for this game
Funny thing. I keep using TI3 as a gateway game, and it works every time.
I'm kinda amazed. This would be one of those games I only pull out once I know people are into the complex stuff.
But then again, neither have I ever played it, nor have I tried to with beginners.
Aren't folks intimidated by the complexity and legth?
Sure, but what does Zee think about this one?
Not serious :P And not exactly true, he has no problems with Fury of dracula, which is a 3 hour game, despite how boring it is.
Mr. No I though Fury was a great game experience. Nerve wracking for both sides.
I would prefer it at 2 hours tops.
With as much as Zee likes strategy and messing with Sam...I'm surprised he hasn't done a live play just to harass him.
11:55 Scumbag fighter stealing focus :-) Great vid, insta-buy when it comes out in French in 4th trimester!
I'm painting my minis from TI4, I'm so excited.
Loving the graphical updates. Beautiful...
My glee nearly matches Sam's! Must buy!
Where's the component drop? :D
That would kill me.
The don't own a table robust enough to handle it.
Watch the review for TI-3, it's still there and it still floors me. Almost as much as Eric's legendary "component drop" for his beloved remake of Merchants of Venus. Almost. :3
Last time we played TI3 we were four players and it took us 3 ½ hour, though the owner of the game had it all sorted out and set up for quick introduction and to get on with the game and I was probably the only one that had not played it befor (almost got the victory too, so close, so close). Great game though I agree on the once every year or two, atleast for me.
3:56: Aaaaarrgghhh~*!
(I'm colorbind. Always purple pieces for Jol-Nar!)
Looks like the game of the year. Definitely the reprint of the year.
Tesla Volta Games it won't win spiel does jahres :)
The question isn't the Spiel, but the Dice Tower Game of the Year award. I think it has a better chance at the latter.
No component drop??? Didn't even get to see the insert :(
It's a real shame that Zee couldn't put down the game long enough to actually join in on this review.
I finally save up enough to buy TI3, and then this happens. Should have seen it coming with the price drop. The tech looks way streamlined in a great way. Overall, this looks just a little better than TI3 in a lot of ways that really would make the game noticeably more enjoyable and easier to drag people into. Plus it essentially comes with the expansions that are now prohibitively expensive! Oh well, TI3 is still great.
Jordan Williams TI4 is still worse that TI3 with both expansions. Too many great optional rules were cut ( leaders, representatives, mercenaries, distant suns, final frontier and many others).
Really nice looking finish on the cards.
Hey, where's the part where you build ships? Or get action cards? Doesn't seem to be covered by strategy cards.
One thing Tom or Sam hasn't mentioned. One card, the Hyper Metabolism technology card, is a misprint. It SHOULD read "gain 3 command tokens instead 2".
I guess that brings up a question...my gaming group avoids any game box that says 2hrs+. Is there an alternative to TI4 that isn't so long that someone would recommend?
Hey everyone, I was looking to buy a game to play with my friends but I'm a little undecided. Twilight Imperium looks great, but I'm not sure if it is the setting I would really like to play. I was hoping to great a strategy war game, so I stumbled on Axis and Allies, but as far as I know the game was made to be played the Axis vs the Allies and it's unbalanced if you wanted to play a free for all, and I love the alliances and betrayal part of war games, so I feel like I would be losing a lot. Then I found Ikusa, the new version of Samurai Swords and Shogun I think, and it looked awesome, but I can't find anywhere for a reasonable price and there might not be quite enough ways to play the game as Twilight Imperium (wich you don't need to necessarily beat everyone up to win).
I wanted a heavy mechanics strategy war board game. Maybe you guys can help me, maybe I'm asking too much for wanting a perfect game (on my standards). Thanks any way!
Btw, great video guys! Just found your channel and I love it.
Try World in Flames if you're looking for a heavy WW2 strategy games
I've only ever played TI via message board, never in person. I'm curious how much of the infamous play time is due to AP. I've noticed that the people I know in real life who say they play TI are also some of the biggest problem AP people I know. I guess a sprawling space epic just attracts them.
As long as I'm planning my moves while it's not my turn, I can't imagine any of my turns taking longer than 30 seconds to plan out.
I wonder what would be the chances of FFG doing an upgrade kit like the did with descent. I be pretty happy with getting new rules, player aids, and cards for $50-60. But as a once every two year player I don't think that I justify an entirely new version.
Not sure if I should keep 3rd, or sell it and get the 4th edition :/
I want to play this with Sam and Tom !!!!!
June 2020 and still no expansions... just get the game already if you haven't yet
Great review! How do you think this game compares to eclipse?
In 2022 should i get this game...sounds fun... but i dont have friends =0(
Been waiting for this.
Looks really cool. How come the price tag gets not mentioned at all? I would say that's one for the cons column... no matter how cool the rest of the game is... not everyone gets review copies...
Are the armored tanks and mercenaries in this game? The mercs were "meh" but the tanks were wonderful against infantry.
randomfleming Nope, both out.
Is there a live play of 4th edition somewhere on the horizon?
oh come on.. still no individual ship molds for the different races/players.. :P
LOL! So you want a to double or triple the price? Great idea!
Well, 6 players maximum and 17 different factions available, so it makes sense.
Havelock Vetinari now it's clear what ship is what :)
Maybe not. This *is* the same company that made Forbidden Stars. It was possible in that game and it cost less.
ok different molds for all the 17 races might be a liiiiitle bit over the top.. ;) but different molds for each of the max 6 players are doable..
I had the first edition, but nobody to play with. Maybe I will find someone for this? :)
I want to see a live play of this with Zee in it. :)
Is that a faux-brick background? Kinda looks like an open mic nite lol.
Better production??? is it a better game? It seems like the rules are the same, only tweaks in the components.
I hope Sam is right: is love to get TI* to the table more often. The last few times, we quit TI3 after the 12 hour mark.
Who did you play with to make the game that long? Did you play the long war and every game variant possible?
Steven Judd Did you play with all additional rules and with 8 players? If no, then I cannot imagine what took you so long.
Cool stuff in tampa/brandon?
Guys, I love your reviews but very of my friends nerds cannot espeak english... is to much put subtitles in spanish?... but I really like your comments and observations about our loveved board games.
Aw, no component drop?
Vince Alvarez they probably had to cut it out because it would make the video twice as long lol
Twilight imperium the same game play as star wars board game?
I really love these toe of games. Very thematic where I get lost in the cardboard and plastic.
I feel lucky when I have not Bight a game and then they release a better or updated, streamlined version. It just makes you feel like you have the best and and decades in this case of work and refining etc.
The trouble is I want to buy this now but I have no one to play it with add no one I know will play games this long or I can only find one person. I wish there was a way of making games like this sometimes only go for day 2 hours. Even then people think that is too long.
Are purples attention spans ruined on modern times because of instant gratification, lack of patience and fat things like microwaves or mobile phones etc.
I mean purple used to waste their time on bad gamers like monopoly fur way longer and that's a bad game. Yet you get fantastic games, like the best ever made on the entire planet and now people won't play them. Come on people's learn to enjoy big epic matter piece space operas like this. Please, I want to play it..... ( I say while stamping my feet on the ground; vet much akin to a childhood tantrum).
huys, what if i play twilight imperium 3 ad least once a month? should i upgrade it? :p Of course im kidding. Im waiting for my local language release and we will plaaaay a lot once it release.
lol @16:00: One of my group did exactly that- won a game without ever firing a shot.
My wife says 48 hours sounds about right for TI
What are these "thumbs" you guys speak of?
Haha so sad that I got TI3 for my birthday and then literally a week later they announced TI4. Sellin my TI3 already haha
Those player boards look a bit papery... paper with square corners? Aren't we past this in 2017? You know the player boards in Quantum? That's how they're done right.
Zee would play if they had Pandemic: Twilight Imperium.
What's with the brick wall set, you guys starring in a school play? ;)
Board gaming according to Sam.
$150 price tag on Cthulu Wars that takes 60 minutes to play is superfluous.
$150 retail price for Twilight Imperium 4 that you'll play one or two times a year is highly recommended.
Great video guys. May i ask a question? My name is Mario and im from Brasil; my board game group, loves catan, lords os waterdeep and puerto rico. Do you think TI4 maybe a good game to try? The political aspect of the game may be a plus since we like\love political stuff. We range from 33 to 43 (me) years old. Thank you
That's a tricky question! The box says 4-8 hours but expect it to go on all day, especially if you haven't played before. Whilst it's a big game with lots of rules, it's not complicated and is quite streamlined, so it's not hard to understand or keep track of things. There is a decent amount of strategy but I think the primary draw of the game is the theatrical "space-opera" story-telling aspect. It's an amazing game and you might enjoy it but if you're looking for the same things you enjoy in those games you mentioned, you'll find elements of them in this game, but it's not the primary focus. I hope that makes sense!
If I had a better knowledge of boardgames I would try to find one that was about the same length as those games but with a politics bent to it. Maybe someone here can recommend something?
"You could even win the game without even getting into a battle". Yes, I did it, nearly! I won my *first* game of TI(3) by battling only once.
I won TI3 two times, and one of the times I didn't battle. I had the trading guys. ^^
Were you playing Xxcha, by any chance?
I was playing letnev
Near-pacifist space vampires? Interesting.
2 of the 3 times I won TI3, I never fired a shot. They were only 4 and 5 player games though. My force was just so big no one wanted to attack me. Universities and Space Cats
well last time i did trash eric lang games for the price.well for me this is worth 150 msrp.if i can squeze the 4 player game in 5 hours tops i am sold.
i think there should be a kickstarter/gofundme #banthehats
48 hours seemed about right, though...
This is your best set up for videos, like it.
I wanna play! =-(
You never answer the big question, if you have your choice between TI3 and TI4, which would you play?
"Yeah, right!" lol
The picking of the strategies reminds me of Puerto Rico in choosing roles. Game looks way overly complicated and long. I'll be passing up on this game as I don't enough people that would play a board game that long.
So is coolstuff.com your guys business?
Let me assure you it isnt that complicated. In a six player game, every mechanic I encountered was deep and used. It was my first time playing this board game yesterday with my friends in college and I immediately picked it up. I have never had a better board gaming experience.
Mechanized Infantry should have been included.
I'm wondering if that, plus the specific captains that you could kidnap and the discovery tiles will all be in an expansion at some point.
Chris Edwards Mechanized units are coming, rules say both ground forces AND infantry. So expect more types of ground units.
Chris Edwards Mechanized infantry were pointless. They were worth the exact same as regular ground troops stat for cost-wise amd they served the exact same role. They were a false game option. It increased complexity of the game while not providing much depth in return.
didn't even build a legal board. Details matter Tom :(
Sure, if someone is using my overview for a rules reference WHICH THEY SHOULD NOT DO.
It's a presentation issue, stuff like that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to experienced players, makes it seem like you don't care, when I know you do :)
You can win TI3 without fighting. I have done it once. I haven't played TI4 yet though.
out of the 2 games of TI4 I have played, the 1st game someone has won without fighting at all. They traded their ways out and the public objectives enabled it to be an easier route to take. I also think it depends on what races you are playing with/against.
As an added note, I neither attacked nor was attacked. I think its even more important the people you're playing with though. They could have chosen not to deal with me peacefully, then I would not have been able to pull out the victory
The main problems of Ti3 have not been adressed as far as i'm concerned and that means a pass.
The game could shave off an hour of it's gameplay if it was just structured differently. For example, as they said, there are lots of opportunities to be involved during other players turns... but it's not mandatory. So it means there is always a player who wanted to be involved, but failed to notice he could do so until everyone has done it (it's easy being absorbed into your own thoughts as there's a lot of things in the game and it's taxing to the brain when combined with it's length). So him catching up on actions is a not negligible part of the time the game takes. Most people will occasionally do this, even those who are not prone to such behaviours. I have never played with a group whwre it did not happen at least once a turn.
Then there's the single thread processing of this game. Everyone takes his actions alone. When you built ships, you are alone doing it. Other games will take for example a combined game phase where everyone builds at the same time... meaning for much faster gameplay for the same amount of game decisions.
Ultimately TI3/4 takes only, on average, 6 turns to play through with experienced players. You will take, on average, 5 actions per turn. A total of 30 actions taken overall. As a point of comparison, Kemet and Inis both have the same average of actions (close to 30). Why does TI3 takes 5 hours (4 players game) for the same amount of actions/decisions than those other two games and the later only takes around 90 minutes?
Because those later two have better structures to them to reduce downtime...
TI3 is convoluted and long, but it's not deeper than many other games. The amount of options blinds people, but ultimately half those options are pointless to it's end goal. Once you have played enough to spot those options that are not game winners (like half the tech tree for example, or the entire trade system, etc.) you'll be faced with a much simpler game that just takes a long time to play.
Real talk do not offer to play this game with someone if they were your ride there or home. If you get destroyed in the first FEW hours it will STILL take MANY MORE HOURS. It is very possible that 6 hours in half of you will want to quit and the other half will be in too deep, so bring something else to do. Everyone needs to have at least some idea of what's happening before the game starts, if you are learning it for the first time it will take ages. If you like to libate / inhalate when you game with your group you need to keep that turned down. Mild lack of focus and poor decisions in the first few turns can easily result in being completely debilitated early or the game taking longer to conclude. The single most important factor is to embrace your species / lore, the only times i have ever won this game where when I understood the strategy of the specific race I had and played to it's strengths exclusively. Seriously read that bullshit on the back about your specific history, it's not advice, it's not for flavor it's how to play as you. I love / hate this game because there are so many variables that at a certain point it's just luck you still have to roll dice and draw cards, and just because you can't win definitely does not mean that you do not have the capacity to decide who does if you stick it out to the end. I've literally seen a game come down to a decision where a player that had functionally checked out of the game like six hours ago make was able to prevent the two players that had been "winning" for the last 4 hours lose and the person who everyone expected to be 3rd won the game. It's really ridiculous what can happen in this game if very complex. Oh yeah and also look into common play / fan rules because some things in this game are just too exceptional or debilitating.
Everytime i hear this Miami dice music, i imagine "the trio" there grabbing rail and twerking on tune..
You guys are way behind. I was playing ti85 in highschool.
You guys actually managed to get more than a single game of this in since GenCon?
Oh, Tom only played it once. Eh... I'm of the view you have to play a game twice to really review it. Since you have to see the game from start to finish once and then play it again knowing that "start to finish" from before to get a full understanding of it.
They supposed to make it lighter and faster than TI3. I'll skip this one.
Want lighter, play Risk. Twilight Imperium has never been about light and quick.
Was hoping for more refinement. Don't think it's worth upgrade, unless FFG publishes a kit specifically for TI3 players. And there are no leaders, distant suns, mercenaries, or ambassadors? Well, there's GOTTA be an expansion.
Star Wars TI makes little sense to me--it's not a galaxy of individual races competing for expansion, rather it's about countless races all intermingled. Star Trek, OTOH, works.
Playing TI for less than 14 hours? You're doing something wrong. Not enough plotting and backstabbing ;P
Less FFG hate than usual, cool :D
TI4 SW would have no point what so ever... forced theme.
But yeah... if you own TI3 with the expansions there is NO NEED what so ever to get this!
You should play a game at least 10 times before reviewing it! :D
"LOL''S (laws) that come into play"
Still not sure why I would spend my time to play this yet alone spend my money.