Category Archives: star realms

star realms

Don’t look back in anger… 2015

star realms

I love a good bandwagon to jump on, and this time of year has a doozie. You can't move online without coming across the ubitugous retrospective look back over the previous year. So who am I not to jump on that overcrowded bandwagon?

My most played game of the year, taking into account app versions of the games too, and this will come as no surprise to anyone, is…

I love this game. It helps that the app is so great, and has online play. Even having played over a couple thousand games, it still brings a smile to my face while playing.

Take last night for instance, one of my on going twenty odd games I have on the go at one time was against Freddy. For a large part of the game I had two Star Empire Fighter Base outposts camped out frustrating Freddy. Each time it was my turn it they triggered each other forcing Freddy to discard two cards each turn. It took him a while to get enough attack together so that he could knock them out. I had Freddy down to,nine authority, I was on sitting on thirty. Freddy did a massive play that combo-ed the hell out of things, drawing extra cards, adding a little more authority, accumulating attack. As I watched those cards being played, and the attack building up and then passing my authority, I was smiling and laughing. At the end of playing his cards, Freddy hit me for forty seven damage, killing me and winning the game.

Such a great game between us. I loved the fact just two cards caused so much frustration to Freddy. Freddy dug deep (his words) and pulled out a win with a stunning play. How could you not smile, and enjoy the experience?

I have played some great games this year, my collection has had some great games added to it (new releases and existing games). I've definitely played more games in real life this year, and that is thanks to the great people I met at the Fenland Gamers group.

Meeting the folks who make up the Fenland Gamers was another highlight of the year. It has been a blast meeting local people as keen on gaming as me.

I visited my first UK Games Expo, which was great fun. So much fun that I have tickets for next years already bought.

This has been my best gaming year to date, here's to an even better one next year.

 

Boxing Day Butt Kicked

netrunner, online play, star realms
Yesterday I taught Nath how to play Netrunner. We used the core set. Nath played my favourite runner, the anarch Noise. While I played the corp NBN.
This was the first time I've taught the game to anyone, and I was a little nervous about it considering I'm such a noob myself.
While explaining the game to Nath there was little bits I didn't explain, for example the influence cost of cards. That isn't important unless you are building decks. I also used a six sided dice for Nath to track his mmu with. Plus I didn't cover mulligans either. Well for a first game, how would Nath know if he needed to mulligan or not?

Nath drew a medium early, while I was drawing agendas and no ice! Although with two pad campaigns in play my economy was good. Nath hit HQ, scored an agenda for two points. I replied by scoring a one point agenda. Then he hit R&D which I was unable to defend and built up that medium. Nath scores another agenda for two more points on one of his R&D raids. I'm still not hitting ice, and have three agendas in HQ. Then Nath hits a winning three point agenda on a run on R&D that saw him accessing six cards.

Between our game of Magic and this game of Netrunner I'm not having much luck against Nath. I'm doing much better against him playing Star Realms. Since Nath has joined the online play via the app I've been kicking his butt. Which is funny because since Rich started playing online he's been kicking my butt!

 

Two Days of Christmas

lego minifigs, magic, star realms, star wars

Christmas Eve saw Nath and I at the cinema to see for the second time Star Wars The Force Awakens. Although we were only watching the 2D version of the movie, I had to get the 3D glasses the Vue Cinema are selling.

They look so blooming cool. Apparently Odeon cinemas are doing Star Wars branded Google Cardboard so will have to find time to visit one of them.
After the movie we ended up in Sainsburys for some very last minute veg buying, and somehow this piece of Lego ended up in the basket too.
I think it helped that it had been reduced by a fiver. But this is a great little model of Rey's speeder from the new movie. I also love the Rey minifig, especially with the head gear on.

After I had built my little Lego treat, I finally caved and bought Nath the full version of the Star Realms app and its expansions. He's been playing the app but just not online. So now father and son can play Star Realms while apart. Oh if you wish to challenge Nath on Star Realms his in game name is banjo.

Christmas Day, the miracle for me was how Nath cleared his plate! Our plates were piled high. I couldn't clear my plate, yet Nath wiped his clean.

Before Nath performed his man verses food Christmas challenge, we played a couple of games of Star Realms Colony Wars. I won our first game when we played with gambits also. While Nath took the second game, which was just a plain vanilla game. There are some awesome cards in Colony Wars, however in a later post I will look at the cards.

Nath and I also played our first Magic the Gathering card game. We used the two thirty card taster packs I was given. Nath had the Gideon Jura White Planeswalker deck, while I had Nissa Revane Green Planeswalker. I got hammered by Nath. I never even got a point of damage in. I nearly had a mighty fourteen points hit land. I had a Terra Stomper fielded, which had trample, and is an 8/8. I summoned Yeva's Forcemage that is a 2/2 creature, but gave a +2/+2 to a target creature when fielded until the end of turn. Which I naturally directed at my Terra Stomper. I then played Titanic Growth that pumped the Terra Stomper with an extra +4/+4 until the end of turn. I then attacked with my fielded 2/2 Prized Unicorn, and 14/14 Terra Stomper. Nath had to block the Prized Unicorn with his creatures because of the text on the Prized Unicorn “All creatures able to block Prized Unicorn do so.” Which meant I'd be smashing Nath for fourteen massive points to his face!

Nath plays the instant Divine Verdict that destroys target attacking or blocking creature. Bam!! That super beefed up Terra Stomper sent to the graveyard.

Two turns later I'm dead, I had nothing to stop Nath's attacks with. That instant by Nath won him the game. I had a chance upto that point.

Oh well we both enjoyed playing the game which is the main point. A fun first experience of the game. Swap colours next time I think.

Oh what games did I get Nath for his Christmas present? Dead Panic, the zombie themed version of Castle Panic, Marvel Legendary Villians and Star Realms Cosmic Gambits.

 

Why I Don’t Play Cthulhu Realms

Cthulhu Realms, star realms

I don't think it's a secret how much I love the game Star Realms. It is without a doubt my most played game. Which is down to the totally awesome app of the game. And the app is amazing value really, buy once, get across all platforms the game is available on, plus online multiplayer that is platform independent.

Cthulhu Realms is touted as an improved Star Realms. From supporting up to four players straight out of the box, one less faction, faster ramp up, weaker faction synergy abilities, locations easier to destroy.

So why am I not playing Cthulhu Realms more? Or even instead of Star Realms?

Well if you remember back to when the game came out and I got my copy I played my first game with Nath.

Nath didn't enjoy playing the game, despite loving Star Realms. For Nath the iconography of the cards got in the way of him enjoying the game. Now you could argue that if we had persevered with the icons with more plays then it would become less of an issue.

However even with the handy action summary on the sanity tracking card, deciphering the icons slowed the game down.

The other main stumbling block is there no app for the game! I think part of the success of Star Realms can be put down to its app. I'm not reliant on being able to get together with people to play, I can play solo against the AI, play a campaign, or online against others.

Then there is the Star Realms community that has built up around the game. Which once again has been aided big time with the app.

So despite Cthulhu Realms being the technically better game, it will not get much play with me while I still have that learning curve of the iconography to get over. An app would help with that big time. Plus the app would solve the problem of finding someone to play with (and it has to have online play from day one).

This game needs the app fast, else it will remain an also ran.

UPDATE: apparently TMG have an app in development with White Wizard

Bases and Battleships

star realms

Checked my app updates on my iPad just now, and this was there waiting for me.

Yep more ships and bases to play with in the app version of the game. £1.49 for this expansion is a bargain, especially when you consider that gives you the expansion across all versions of the game. So instantly I have it on my Mac, I have it on Windows (if I so wish to play it on the dirty side of my Mac) and if I have a a complete breakdown in taste an Android device (heaven knows why you would ever want one).

Slowly the app is catching up with the physical game. Just wait until they add events and heroes.

 

Nath’s Birthday Weekend – Saturday

star realms

Ok Nath's birthday isn't until Tuesday but seeing as I'm visiting this weekend, it's ok if he has his birthday present early I think.

So Nath now has his own copy of Star Realms, with the Gambit expansion, Crisis Expansions, the storage box with the official card sleeves and the Mercenery Garrison promo. As I type this bit of the post Nath is busy sleeving his cards, father like son ^__^

I wasn't able to get a playmat for the game so I've let Nath have mine. I still don't know why it's so hard to get an official mat here in the UK without having to import it at an inflated price. I also put in the package six green d10 dice for tracking authority. It's far easier using dice than the supplied authority cards. I also like to describe the green dice as authority green.

After Nath had cleaned up his room (funny how having his girlfriend come round inspired him into doing house work!) I setup Tiny Epic Galaxy and went through the rules, and a couple of turns with him. The little taster was enough to get Nath interested. But for now it was pack it away so he could go pick up his girlfriend from the train station.

With introductions done, Nath introduced his girlfriend to Star Realms. With a little help in explaining the game to her, and helping with the first couple of turns I left them to play their first game together.

I think it is great that Nath likes the game so much that he wanted it for his birthday, and also to play it with his girlfriend.

It will be interesting to see if she enjoys the game too.

 

Star Realms Cosmic Gambit Expansion

star realms
Well this post is over due. It's about time I showed you the cards that come in the new Cosmic Gambit expansion for Star Realms.
This new expansions adds fifteen new cards, a rules card, a base card and thirteen gambit cards.

The above card is from the first Gambits expansion. I've included it here in this look at the new cards so that you can see the difference in the rules. When I play with Gambits in the real world I normally mirror the app and deal two random Gambits to each player. With the old rules there was no real advantage to not revealing your Gambits at the start of the game. Which is probably why the app shows them straight off.

However as the new rules show that Gambits remain face down until they decide to reveal the cards (they can if they like reveal them right at the start) however as the look at the cards below show, there is now an advantage to not revealing straight away. Some of the new Gambits have effects that trigger when they are revealed.

The Hidden Base Cosmic Gambit card (below) does something new. It gives you an extra outpost that the player chooses the faction for! I think if I had this I'd be playing it at the start of the game letting it stop that early damage from the opening dance that occurs.

There are two copies of the following three Cosmic Gambit cards in this expansion.

It should be noted that in this pre-release Origins/GenCon edition of Cosmic Gambits that the Asteroid Mining card (shown above) has a misprint. Apparently it shouldn't be two trade but one.

The Black Market looks interesting. The way I'm reading it is that only you can buy the card above it, and not your opponent. If so this could be devastating! It could potentially tie down something like The Ark until you are able to buy it at a reduced cost, and not have to worry about your opponent buying it!

L

This expansion adds another Wild Gambit card to the game, so when combined with the original Gambits expansion there will be two Wild Gambits sitting in the mini Gambits deck.

People either love or hate the Gambit cards. Get the right ones and it's possible to buy like the Megahauler, The Ark or other expensive powerful cards turn one! This alone has people complain they are over powered blah blah blah.

I personally sit on the fence about them. I can take them or leave them. I enjoy playing with them when I do.

The cards in Cosmic Gambits look fun, they add even more variety to a very enjoyable game.

 

Round Two Here I Come Again

ages, star realms

Sunday Casual Tournament 14 started on Sunday.

On Sunday my opponent went straight in with two game challenges. I thought that's very keen that is.

Unusual for games I'm in my opponent conceded the first game. In fact this was the first game ever that an opponent has conceded. I had sixty seven authority to their eighteen authority at this point. But as has been documented on here I have come back from a wider point spread to win, and also been on several occasions on the receiving end of such a turn around. So this came out of the blue, and totally surprised me.

I'm not usually an optimistic person in life. But in Star Realms even if the odds seem against me, my authority is in single digits, I always keep playing until I'm blown out of the skies. There is always a chance no matter how slim.

I don't know maybe my opponent thought he'd be better off starting a new and thinking they would win the next game.

So a third game was started. Meanwhile the second game was coming to a conclusion. But not in my favour. My purchases hadn't been brilliant, the draws weren't going in my favour, and whatever excuses I can think up. But in all honesty my butt was well and truly kicked.

Two games down and even stevens, one a piece.

The last game went in my favour not a walk away victory, but a comfortable one.

I was through again to the second round for the fourth time if my counting is correct.

I go through with a 2-1 victory! game scores shown below for those remotely interested.

Chris Shaner designer/creator of AGES is getting closer to having the game making its grand debute on Kickstarter.

Since the early version I bought there have been some “changes” to the game. It feels harsh describing them as “changes”. I think a fairer description would be tweaks.

One of those tweaks has been to the games manual. Which Chris shared with the community on Edutainment Games Facebook page.

The manual is looking much better. But I had a surprise in the back. Amongst the names of people Chris says thank you too for,their help and support is my name!!! OMG!

Wow I was shocked I wasn't expecting that. It should be me saying thank you to Chris for giving me the opportunity to play such a great game early.

 

How Beautiful Is Risk:GoT edition?

game of thrones, star realms

You have to go look at the video of the new Risk A Game of a Thrones edition that the folks over at Boardgame Geek recorded at GenCon nearly a month ago now (it's only gone up today).

The game looks stunning. The publisher appears to have done a really good job in the whole look and presentation. I definitely want to to get this even more now. It will be interesting to compare it with the GoT boardgame.

You can view the video on YouTube https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LMtxZbTKXtQ

Star Realms Stuff

Hot in from the U.S. of A is the Star Realms stuff I bought off some-one that attended GenCon and had spares.

First up the Blob Fight promo for GenCon signed by Robert Dougherty (Lead Game Development on Star Realms). This is super cool and AWESOME. And yes I am that easily pleased and impressed.

There was also a Mercenary Garrison card. Which seeing as I already have will be finding its way to Naths Star Realms cards for his birthday.

Then finally there was the GenCon Preview edition of the upcoming Cosmic Gambits expansion.

If I get a chance over the next couple of days I'll do a post looking at the cards in this new expansion. However I'm at a friends wedding tomorrow and not sure what the internet situation is like at the venue (which I'm staying at until Friday).

 

Father and Son Saturday

Cthulhu Realms, star realms, tabletop

After suffering the car park that is the M25, forty minutes to do three junctions, I managed to get to the M40 turn off and cut across to Naths avoiding the rest of the worlds largest carpark, and the congestion on the M3 also. Arriving a good hour and a half later than planned. Once we had eaten lunch of pizza washed down with coke it was on to some games.

The only game Nath wanted to know if I had bought was Star Realms. I told you he likes the game. And it warms my heart that he does, and that we are able to share playing it together.

Below our game of Star Realms in full flow. In this game I introduced Nath to the Gambit cards.

Nath finished me off with a really good combo score of 33 damage, easily wiping out my remaining 19 authority.

So after suffering a defeat at the hands of Nath, it was time to try Cthulhu Realms.

Nath didn't enjoy Cthulhu Realms. I think it was because it was learning the symbols and having to decode them etc. The game did seem to drag and not flow like a Star Realms game. However I put that down to this being our first game and learning the symbols on the cards and decoding them, and also trying to work out what good cards were.

Castle Panic was fun, we both enjoyed it. For a good three quarters of the game it was like “Oh this is easy”. We were controlling the monsters, keeping them down to one or two. Then it all went to pot. We drew a Troll Lord or something that required drawing another three tiles, one of those three was draw five more tiles, Nathan was rolling fours, fives and sixes. All these new monsters were accumulating on one side of the board. Before we knew it our castle was over run, and we were holding on to survival by a thread. We were praying for a miracle to help us out. Sadly none appeared. The inevitable happened the monsters destroyed our castle and we were defeated.

It was amazing how the game went from coasting to being under such intense pressure in a single turn. That was fun.

Even though we lost, Nath was happy because he had a higher monster head count than me.

Tomorrow it's more Star Realms I think and an attempt to get Star Wars Imperial Assault to the table!