Great review - really enjoy your stuff and opinions. I've just finished my 3rd game of this and have really been enjoying it with each playthrough. Regarding your "randomness" of the game, after multiple playthroughs, the game is not as random as you would think it is. The planets moving around doesn't alter the gameplay much, the events are all thematic and really the only true randomness that comes into the game. I don't think this is a bad thing - it gives just the right amount of difference in each playthrough to make them memorable and different. I'm definitely glad I kickstarted it and I see it hitting the table for my group and I a number of times. Great review as always!
Thanks for the great feedback! I am happy that you are enjoying the videos :D I'm really happy that you are enjoying the game, I just think it wasn't a super hit for me! So many games, so little time, and so on ;)
I did back Empires of the Void II and played it with my son last week. I describe it as Space Candy. Deliciously to look at, and sweet to play. It echos Islebound and has similar mechanics to Scythe. It has elements of elegant eurogames, with area control and dice rolling. It looks gorgeous and triggers stories from Mass Effect and other TV shows in my mind. It is simple to play and engaging. Lots of variability with event cards and different planets not being in play each game. The card text does just enough to draw you in. The driving force behind EOTV II is in its Power Cards. The influence and affect so much of the game. Overall I think this is going to appeal to a lot of gamers that want a space game minus the epic-ness that can only be found in a 6 hr game, and minus the complexity that follows epic space games. This game fills that niche.
Diplomacy is a way of ending the game faster. I dont agree its weak. Its very good to put influnce anywhere. Usually there are many options to get influence out. The event alows you to get influence out. As i see it the cards gives you options but are multie purpose. What i miss in the game is an expansion that gives deeper gameplay. The engine building is week and more areacontrolish
That is some great thoughts! This is exactly why I love that you guys comment, because that way, we can learn from each other, and expand our understanding and thinking about games! Thanks for watching, and for taking time to write this :D I will probably not have time to play the game again, but if I will, I will keep these thoughts in mind!
There is an official variant that helps address randomness with influence (Liberation variant). I think I will always play using this variant, and it probably should have been in the base rule set. Great review!
I didn't know about that one! Yeah, variations like that would be great to have in the rule. It was probably figured out after the rules went to the print or something! Thanks for letting me know, and I am happy that you liked the video!
Thanks so much for the review. This is one of the few Red Raven Games that I didn't back. I love the idea of it, but I am going to wait until I can see a good number of reviews and reactions before picking it up.
Great review... quick questions then... You said many times in the end there are many other better games than this... Could you share some examples? thanks
Hey! Sorry for the extremely late reply. Life got in the way of fun youtube videos, but I'm finally back again with more stuff this week. We are working on our top 50 games of all time, and will film that in the near future (hopefully next two weeks), so there you'll know at least 50 games I personally think are better :)
I really enjoyed Eclipse - Great mid weight space game, more about the economics of running your space empire than control and conquer, though it has that in there too. The 2nd edition of it is coming out this year too.
I second Eclipse! Great game! If you are against any randomness, this might trouble you in Eclipse, but I think it's alright. I haven't played it in some years, and I don't know if I'll ever do so again, but I have been enjoying it the times I did play it!
