Thanks For a shorter 4x experience you should give warpgate with the beyond expansion a try. Next to TI4 and Eclipse 2nd, Warpgate is our go to shorter 4x space game.
Yep, I went all in on this thinking I could play with 5+ in a short time, but there are a good amount of rules and it takes 2.5+ hours or so to play. I'd much rather play Warpgate or spend all day playing TI4 or Eclipse. It's not a bad game, I just bought into the 8 people can learn this and play it in under 2 hours promise that feels completely impossible.
I'm glad you touched on the technology deck piece of the game as it was by far my biggest gripe. Tech the varies greatly in strength and balance and the game gives you very little agency in the selection. The game overall is a good time but the technology selection is what keeps it from being a standout.
Nice summary, review, and nuanced perspective. This game is clearly not for me, and thanks to how you shared your experience with it, I can better understand that. Cheers!
