Battlestar Galactica: the Board Game review - with Tom Vasel

[Shader013]

@landsverkchristian Because you go really crazy if you're out of morale and we will go kill ourselves

[landsverkchristian]

how can you die if you run out of Moral

[JENDALL714]

I had the original board game in '78

[ymala1]

@JENDALL714 Haha, no way. I never knew one existed. I wonder if there are any pics online or anything. How's the game play mechanics? Similar to the new game?

[UFOinterceptor]

can you upload a video of example turn... it is hard to understand it correctly ... i dont have rules on my language.

[starlinej]

@UFOinterceptor Turns have 4 distinct stages.

First, you draw skill cards as noted by the numbers on the bottom of your character card. Tigh, for example, draws 3 tactics (purple) and 2 leadership (green).

Second, you (optionally) move your character. Moving between ships requires you discard a skill card.

Third, you take an action. This can come from a card, your character card, or your current space.

Finally, you draw a crisis card and resolve the text on it.

[UFOinterceptor]

@starlinej

tnx, :)

[themaster408]

I've played the solo variant and 3-8 players. Final consensus is 5 players is best, more than 6 wasn't too fun, but most were new players, game is awesome. Even 3 players was really fun (for me, the Cylon, it was very difficult).

Solo was actually ok, just not nearly as good as with people.

[FernandoMontelbon]

@themaster408 "Solo was actually ok, just not nearly as good as with people."

How do you play solo? I can't imagine the game really works alone?

[themaster408]

@FernandoMontelbon There's rules for it on the FFG site (under FAQ). You just don't have a secret cylon, it's your turn, then after crisis, it's your turn again. No board game is as fun solo as with people, but it wasn't bad. I imagine playing only co-op would have a similar feel.

[esgerus]

6 cylon dislikes it

[starlinej]

The game isn't horrible with three players. It certainly is better with 4-6, but three players definitely presents a good challenge for the human players.

One thing that isn't good about the 3-player game is that you can pretty easily figure out who is a cylon if you happen to get an opportunity to look at a player's loyalty cards.

But I've played it with three players. It's still really fun.

[jsullivan80]

I wish Tom would review Tide of Iron

[tripaloco]

This game is a dilema, he needs more than a one people to playe, but only forever alones guys will buy...

[CER3BRALhitman]

I keep hearing it's better with more players, but is it really that bad with 3?

[OriMedian]

@CER3BRALhitman It's absolutely horrible with 3 players. There's almost no action going on and everyone just likes to jump in with raiders if they get the chance.

[OriMedian]

@CER3BRALhitman Oh god this is a different board game q.q

[GrandElemental]

I can't say I liked the series... didn't hate it, exactly, but definitely didn't like it, especially the ending. That said, this game certainly looks like an interesting, unique choice. I am going to try it out some day, definitely.

[Darklordbrink]

Never seen the series. Played the game. I LOVED it. So much tension and bluffing involved, It's just so good and only took 2 hours with 5 players.

[CryptRat]

Humans only win 1/4 of the times you play? What's wrong with your game group? ._.

[horseshoegrenade]

@CryptRat I think it depends on how well the people playing understand the urgency of jumping, much like playing Arkham Horror with people who just run away all the time and don't close portals. I agree that it is tougher to win as the humans...The Pegasus expansion helps give the humans a much better chance at winning.

[wautd]

I got this game for months now, and still not had the chance to try it :(

[Fivepast01]

@ChakaaDemus This could've actually been fun if you weren't so inarticulate.

[ChakaaDemus]

@Fivepast01 Yes, load of fun. But I'm pretty sure that I'm making sense.

[Fivepast01]

@ChakaaDemus All you've done is bleat in a desperately insecure way about your "rather high" IQ and your "really good-looking" girlfriend. Next you'll be telling us your dick's bigger and your dad's got more money.

Once you leave school and join us adults you'll quickly learn that sort of thing doesn't impress anyone.

[halinar1]

Chief Ty-Rol? Good review... love the game!  Pegasus makes it even harder.

[Paukkupultti]

This game was the biggest, most exciting board game experience in my life. The struggle to save humanity was intense. It almost felt like a natural extension to the show that I love. What added depth was how me as admiral Saul Tigh and my friend playing president Laura Roslin really played the game "in character". I must admit by the end I was rather hammered from all the whisky I was chucking in imitation of Tigh, but that final drunken risky jump was what saved us all. Cant wait to play again.

[RMilvae]

@Paukkupultti lol

[saluk]

This game is so tense. In some ways too much. I get to where I am very upset at the other people playing, which can be a downer, especially when it can take many hours to play. The fact that you feel they are supposed to be on your team, but you are constantly forced to make bad decisions, is genious. It's very rare that you are happy with something you did in the game. Sometimes it can be a bit too much, but it echoes the feeling of the show very well.

[locoHost]

@ChakaaDemus No dude your dad is so gay. Board games are faaaaar too difficult for 20 IQ retards like you to ever comprehend. Stick with mindless video games.

[ChakaaDemus]

@locoHost LMAO! How would you know my dads gay? You're just a internet warrior... Nah, I have a rather high IQ, and I'm somewhat smart, not a genius. But smart. And Monopoly, you really don't need to be smart. So why don't you take your lard arse virgin belly back to your sad little life, and play fucking board games. Haha, still find the fact that people would achurly play these! And not much of a gamer, but whats getting further. Next gen consoles. Or board games? Haha

[locoHost]

@ChakaaDemus Exactly the kinda of reply I would expect from 12 year old who can only play first person shooter video games :-D And why are you even on this thread about a board game if you you're too stupid to play it? Makes no sense.

[ChakaaDemus]

@locoHost I know right, because a 12 year old types like this. You gave a pretty childish comeback. Believe it's a 'yo' dad' bit like the mother comebacks. Bitch. I looked up 'Battlestar Galactica' because I like the show. But how would you know I'm too stupid to play it? You don't know me you retarded fuck. Seems like a retards game if I'm going to be honest. Like I said. Please fuck off, you fat virgin, socially retarded shit. Please. Stick to your board games. Bellend.

[FernandoMontelbon]

@ChakaaDemus fuck me. I hope in the year that has passed since you vomited up that comment you have grown up a little.

[hoarmurath]

nice shirt and tie

[GreenKab]

I just played this game for the first time this evening, and as a huge fan of the show I was blown away by the quality of this game considering I played with the Pegasus expansion too. Really amazing, great fun. Try it!

[DuraheLL]

looks nice. dont know anything about the show or game. but the design looks clean and stylish. gameplay packed and intense. i might watch the show and get the game!

[ShaggyShan]

Just picked it up today, really good time with it, though being the first time playing we didn't have the best deception strategies down JUST yet. But yes, the end WAS a close call. Can't wait 'til next time.

[wargamecop]

Simply love this game... the BEST COOP game out there. We also love the show so go figure.

[donov25]

Why does it have corners? LoL looks awesome

[CristianApostol]

lol, you're right, why does it have corners?

[FalcoII]

The main thing I like about your reviews is your objectivity. I have different opinion here The thing i really hate is that you have only 2 types of skill in each skill deck, the creators of this game could have made more. Seems like its was made too fast (the difference between the points isn't that big. And the other thing i don't like is when you are I cylon and you are revealed you can do just one thing to harm galactica and its fleet but thats all. Then it's quite boring. Mb expansion...

[Paukkupultti]

@FalcoII I was wondering about the skill cards aswell, but since you only have 1 action per turn and it's usually going to be activating a room or a character ability you really don't need more to confuse you. The skill cards really more a tool for the votes. Think of it this way, they could have just given us lame vote cards and no extra skills.

[FalcoII]

@Paukkupultti Thanks for answering. Just when I played it, I was like: "cool new skill, I wonder what's next". I think that skills are nice aspect of the game and to create some more isn't that hard. And it would have really made bigger gaps/variety between the characters. I was a bit disappointed by the things I've written bfore. I'll give it another shot, maybe we had bad game flow for the firs time.

[billgoode]

I have to disagree with you on that one. Season four was great!

[finalboss421]

Good review. I'm interested about the game now but I know my gaming group wouldn't play through 3 hrs +. Too bad. It looks cool though :(

[billgoode]

My gaming group absolutely loves this game. The rules really aren't that tough, there are just a lot of them, and once you get familiar the play time decreases dramatically. We can usually get a five player game played in around two hours now.

[doomsday800]

you should do a review of the da vinci code game

[MoltenPlastic]

The only problem I have is that with new players who know the series, you always know if they've received a "you are not a Cylon" card. Because they snicker...

[Muttondressedaslamb]

Dead right about the tension. Played this for the first time yesterday and the suspicion was rife. I was a Cylon from the start, they ran out of morale. :D

[bexarath]

I decline the invitation to join your hallucination of me saying the show itself doesn't seem interesting.

[cyberg00se]

It's a shame it has to be 3 or more players, with only two in our household. But of course with two, if you're not the cylon, then you know who is.

[krimit01]

Even without a cylon in the game, it can be quite difficult for the humans to win. When I play with two players we forgo the loyalty cards and make adjustments so the humans have a harder time with things.

[paddleman256]

Tom is definitely a cylon

[paddleman256]

who was the actual cylon on the show?

[helvetti123]

There were several.

[billgoode]

There are actually thirteen cylons in the show O.o

[shizohal]

Run out of fuel, you die! Run out of food, you die!

[ronaldsanfran]

@shizohal Oh and don't forget: Run out of population, you die! :)

[crazymann47]

@shizohal so this is basically Oregon trail in space? with robot assassins? sold!

[kaysnat]

wow...that is one hell of a boardgames shelf

[FreshStenchofBadAir]

Bob, you old Cylon. Remember the days when we were all starving and you came along and wiped out mankind?

[1urie1]

he's somewhat right - we really like reviewing the games as they went on

[bechamimi]

Tom, you're reviews are excellent

[Pouk3D]

I would definitely enjoy this game, only problem is to find people to play with.

[Manunicola]

yeah!

[SmidgetPIU]

been playing it pretty much since release (I think around 40 games of it now?) and it is frakking fantastic. Now, we're all fans of the show so we have a lot of fun while playing by making jokes and references to the show. But man, it never gets old, the player interaction is like nothing I've played before and the more you play the game, the more strategies you learn on how to play each side. It's just an amazing game, I really hope they make an expansion for it. Go buy this game!

[rezpatriot]

your lucky !

[NakedSteak]

Nice review.

[evilbil]

good review.

Its "chief teer-ol" not "Tie-rel" :)

[CTuxford]

The game is frakking amazing. He's absolutely right. The tension in this game is like nothing I've experienced in a long time and the player interaction is a paradise for experiencing human psychology. If you can play games like this it is imperative you own it. I cannot say enough about this game. It really is that amazing!!!

[wasrad]

review was awsome. Convinced me to buy it.

That tie though......either burn it in a cleansing ritual or hang yourself with it. What I am saying, is that tie is the antichrist-tie. What that means, is, that tie aint bliggin yo, so my point is this, that tie, its awful.

[joshua1281]

Great review, and a good game too.

[stumpythumper]

So say we all!

[GamerGeek44]

lol

[bexarath]

Never seen the show (not because I don't like sci-fi, I just never seem to catch it), but this game seems really interesting. Might give it a try. Great review as always, Tom!

[GamerGeek44]

Buy them on dvd.

[bexarath]

Money = Not Much :(

Can't afford the game right now either.

[ilgoga]

Nice tie! oh, yeah, and the review also :)

[Gamingnight]

epic