Yes! We had opportunity to once again spend ~10 hours building galactic empires, fighting to fulfill objectives and sometimes – to survive. It is not easy to coordinate six people for such a long game, and our first game as well as second session were played like 9 months ago. Still, we again mobilize ourselves and meet for that grand event.
This time we had like four veterans of previous encounters (me, Kuba G, Kuba J and Marcin) and two newbies (Andrzej and Bartek) who actually played pretty well. The idea was also for “veterans” to test races we did not played earlier and equip new players with rather standard, straightforward factions. Thus we had:
The Emerates of Hacan – Bartek
The Federation of Sol – Andrzej
The Brotherhood of Yin – Marcin
The Clan of Saar – Kuba G
The Mentak Coalition – Kuba J
The Yssaril Tribes – Michal
Below the action report depicting the main events and high level situation from time to time:
Our initial set-up and game board (click to enlarge)The first blood was drawn very quickly – Marcin takes overs systems colonized by Andrzej’s Sol Confederation (click to enlarge)Still, the proud inhabitants of Earth are first to Mecatol Rex! (click to enlarge)Mid-game (after turn 3). You can observe steady expansion of all nations toward the center. The board is divided – as far as cooperation is concerned – in two groups Mentak, Saar and Yin vs Yssaril, Hacan and Sol. Tension grows… (click to enlarge)…until it erupts. My forces are being attacked by Kuba J. I am able to repeal attack but that means two objective will have to wait for potential scoring. (click to enlarge)After round 5. Kuba G firmly took over the Mecatol, and also the lead in points. So it seems game over? Well, not necessarily… (click to enlarge)They said “save the galaxy”, they said “you can do it”. They said ” do not worry about the odds”. So I did not. And attacked Mecatol Rex – what the fight it was… (click to enlarge)…and what a victory. So we played on. (click to enlarge)Do you remember “first blood”? Yes, the payback time has come. Andrzej annihilated Marcin’s fleet, but was able to take over one planet only – still gaining one additional VP. (click to enlarge)After turn 6. We will be finishing soon ans Kuba needs only 1 point to win the game. But before this Bartek (Hacan) attacks his fleet and score secret objective. (click to enlarge)It is last turn and all things are possible. I need to destroy enemy flag ship for secret objective. So another payback time (for the previous invasion). Successful and 1 VP for me. (click to enlarge)And the situation at the end of the game. Total chaos, many hot spots and total annihilation in many places. (click to enlarge)As for the scores, Kuba G. wins with 2 points lead, followed by Andrzej (great debut!) and others. (click to enlarge)
Important note: for creation of the map we used fantastic Map Generator for Twilight Imperium by Derek Peterson. You can read more about it on BGG thread as well as see tit in work on dedicated webpage.
Kuba J / Mentak Coalition : according to table here https://www.reddit.com/r/twilightimperium/comments/7x9ex3/ti4_race_rankings_500_game_update/ i had least chances to win from the races we had, but ended up ax eaquo 3rd, in the middle, so not bad. Clue for winning was politics above the table – good relations with neighbours. Kuba G. had good contacts with his both neighbours. This and great race ability(no need to own planets in home system to score victory points), enabled him to boldly go to the middle as he didn’t need to keep units around home sector.. If he didn’t have that ability one of his neighbours(me or Marcin, but more likely me) would break the support from throne treaty, loose one VP and conquer his home sector. I didn’t exepect rookies to win and i focused n my 2 neighours(most experienced players ), but i hoped one of them playing Hacans will use great funds to buy quick good fleet(15 trade goods in the first round!) and take over Mecatol (thanks to peace with both neighbours who were used as trading partners) and won’t enable anyone lse to score VP points for owning Mecatol. Unfortunatelly Hacans didn’t use their abailty good enough, just fortified , allowing others to fight over Mecatol. My race to be of any use, required research to increase cruiser’s capacity and speed), they had good cruisers(abiliy to get extra attack dice, but cruisers are glassy and are no good use in more serious fights. I also needed to produce and upgrade PDS as both my neighbours(declaring themselves as peacful) were experienced and therefore always a huge threat. About the 3rd round i saw how my strategy master neighbour Michal is getting stronger, he had lots of action cards, some secret imssions and kept lots of strategy/tactical tokens, he was getting closer to Mecatol and within cruier’s range to my home sector. I was bit affraid of loosing my wealthy sectors to Michal, so i decided to make unexpected pirate raid over his sector, with use of my action cards i hoped i can take over 2 planets, desstroy his PDS and Starbase cutting his supply lines to his sector next to Mecatol.. Unfortunatelly His defences destroyed 2 of my 3 cruisers each with infantry unit(he sabotaged/blocked my card which would reduce losses), in the end of that raid a desparate attack by my Chuck Norris(infantry) won ground battle and razed to the ground planet with PDS , Starbase and single infantry . That move stopped Michal frfom earning points for 2 rounds(sorry Michal i was affraid of You and that the last moment to slow You down, next round with upgrade PDS’ You would be untouchable ), expensive but it secured my right flank for a while. Unfortunatelly again, the Hacans didn’t build proper forces and didn’t move towards Mecatol. At the end the only way to delay Kuba G. Vicotry was to take over Mecatol from Kuba G.(he had imperial card)- Hacans didn’t attack, and as i had no chance to compete we’ve all forced Michal(who had different plans) to make attack at Mecatol which he easily won(but maybe lost opportunity to score VP for himself). In return in the final round(when he had no chance to stop Kuba G. who would win in his first imperial action-scoring two VP from objecitves). At the end i would like to say i’m sorry for being irritating-talking a lot over the table, giving “helpful” tips (i tried best, but everyone has his own style of play and strategy) . I delayed the game for one round and maybe some 2h because it was mainly me who insisted that Michal should attack The Mecatol Rex and take it from Kuba. For that sacrifice i allowed(didn’t shoot PDS) Michal to score his objectives, and allowed killing my weakly defended Flagship(2nd time in a row Michal had the same secret obective, lucky for him, much easier than having 4 planets of one kind – that i had).
TI v.4 can be played quicker, the problem is introduction of new players, as even if the’ve read rulebook, how to play, etc. they require explanation which may take 2 hours, then they need help too, as they may not be aware of what to expect and how to use actions, action cards etc. Also among other group of people there may be way less talking/politic over board , so it’s possible to finishin within 4-6 hours, still a lot for some people. But if You decided to to play i strongly suggest full crew, not just 3-5 people 😉
The Boardgames Chronicle 
Kuba J / Mentak Coalition : according to table here https://www.reddit.com/r/twilightimperium/comments/7x9ex3/ti4_race_rankings_500_game_update/ i had least chances to win from the races we had, but ended up ax eaquo 3rd, in the middle, so not bad. Clue for winning was politics above the table – good relations with neighbours. Kuba G. had good contacts with his both neighbours. This and great race ability(no need to own planets in home system to score victory points), enabled him to boldly go to the middle as he didn’t need to keep units around home sector.. If he didn’t have that ability one of his neighbours(me or Marcin, but more likely me) would break the support from throne treaty, loose one VP and conquer his home sector. I didn’t exepect rookies to win and i focused n my 2 neighours(most experienced players ), but i hoped one of them playing Hacans will use great funds to buy quick good fleet(15 trade goods in the first round!) and take over Mecatol (thanks to peace with both neighbours who were used as trading partners) and won’t enable anyone lse to score VP points for owning Mecatol. Unfortunatelly Hacans didn’t use their abailty good enough, just fortified , allowing others to fight over Mecatol. My race to be of any use, required research to increase cruiser’s capacity and speed), they had good cruisers(abiliy to get extra attack dice, but cruisers are glassy and are no good use in more serious fights. I also needed to produce and upgrade PDS as both my neighbours(declaring themselves as peacful) were experienced and therefore always a huge threat. About the 3rd round i saw how my strategy master neighbour Michal is getting stronger, he had lots of action cards, some secret imssions and kept lots of strategy/tactical tokens, he was getting closer to Mecatol and within cruier’s range to my home sector. I was bit affraid of loosing my wealthy sectors to Michal, so i decided to make unexpected pirate raid over his sector, with use of my action cards i hoped i can take over 2 planets, desstroy his PDS and Starbase cutting his supply lines to his sector next to Mecatol.. Unfortunatelly His defences destroyed 2 of my 3 cruisers each with infantry unit(he sabotaged/blocked my card which would reduce losses), in the end of that raid a desparate attack by my Chuck Norris(infantry) won ground battle and razed to the ground planet with PDS , Starbase and single infantry . That move stopped Michal frfom earning points for 2 rounds(sorry Michal i was affraid of You and that the last moment to slow You down, next round with upgrade PDS’ You would be untouchable ), expensive but it secured my right flank for a while. Unfortunatelly again, the Hacans didn’t build proper forces and didn’t move towards Mecatol. At the end the only way to delay Kuba G. Vicotry was to take over Mecatol from Kuba G.(he had imperial card)- Hacans didn’t attack, and as i had no chance to compete we’ve all forced Michal(who had different plans) to make attack at Mecatol which he easily won(but maybe lost opportunity to score VP for himself). In return in the final round(when he had no chance to stop Kuba G. who would win in his first imperial action-scoring two VP from objecitves). At the end i would like to say i’m sorry for being irritating-talking a lot over the table, giving “helpful” tips (i tried best, but everyone has his own style of play and strategy) . I delayed the game for one round and maybe some 2h because it was mainly me who insisted that Michal should attack The Mecatol Rex and take it from Kuba. For that sacrifice i allowed(didn’t shoot PDS) Michal to score his objectives, and allowed killing my weakly defended Flagship(2nd time in a row Michal had the same secret obective, lucky for him, much easier than having 4 planets of one kind – that i had).
LikeLike
Wow, looks intense! I can’t even must up 6 hours for Here I Stand, much less 10 for Twilight Imperium. 🙂
LikeLike
I also played Here I stand and bot are pretty long – although fascinating. Which reminds me I need to organize another HIS game session 🙂
LikeLike
TI v.4 can be played quicker, the problem is introduction of new players, as even if the’ve read rulebook, how to play, etc. they require explanation which may take 2 hours, then they need help too, as they may not be aware of what to expect and how to use actions, action cards etc. Also among other group of people there may be way less talking/politic over board , so it’s possible to finishin within 4-6 hours, still a lot for some people. But if You decided to to play i strongly suggest full crew, not just 3-5 people 😉
LikeLike