I've been a fan of HF2 and HF4 for several years. You should also try out Leaving Earth (Especially outer planets). I'm looking forward to trying out Stellar Horizons again. Thanks for your video. I've built or helps build TTS Modules for Leaving earth, HF4, Bios Series, and several Pax games too. 😀
Hi Samuel! I only recently ‘discovered’ the solar system exploration sub-genre, but oh boy, I like it. Still remember the Gemini rockets taking off back in the day. Too bad they always seemed to preempt my Saturday morning cartoons! - Paul
I second the suggestion regarding Leaving Earth, but you'll likely have to find it in the secondary market (the Lumenaris publisher has essentially gone dark, and per some recent BGG entries has not responded to emails for quite some time).
@@zero-il9on Complexity: HF4 has a larger rule set with more exceptions and details for various scenarios and expansions...(imho). SH has rule set is comparatively straight forward and each turn mostly repeats the steps of the previous year/decade. As it turns out, GamePlay for HF4 I find much more enjoyable because the risk can frequently be mitigated by FINO. (Not Prospecting). Leaving earth: Stations also has a more streamlined rule set than HF4. LE:S is GREAT solo, but I prefer the multiplayer. There's be a few occasions where I've sacrificed my space craft to not-reveal a site and this hidden information led to other players changing their game plan in interesting ways. I need to play it more. Turns out I'm not a fan of SH. Mostly because of the success structure that you roll for exploration/malfunction, and if successful then you then can draw chits and get rewarded, but if you fail either, then you lose opportunity to get other rewards and breakthroughs. The few games I played I was largely out of the game in the first decade(s) and there was multiple decades where diminished tech led to even fewer opportunities to the front runners. I'm done and selling my copy of SH.
Hello Felip! I like the music too, although when I first started I was told a few times that I had it run too long and too loud. But I adjusted and think it is all good at this point. Thanks for commenting. - Paul
Hi David. I have not done much with the expansions yet, but they look great. I’ll have to look up Leaving Earth, as I lam a fan of the genre. Thanks again. - Paul
For those potential players who may be intimidated by the scope of this game, please be reassured that the rules are quite reasonable and the game mechanics quickly become more intuitive within a couple of plays. I would recommend starting with base + modules 0-1 because the cognitive load and additional rules aren't overwhelming and the addition of freighters and gigawatt thrusters really open up the map because you'll be able to build rockets that can go far. Module 2 introduces Bernals and colonists, which can be introduced after you become comfortable with the base and early modules. For visual learners, Jean Michel Grosjeu does a phenomenal job of explaining +everything+, replete with gameplay examples. IMO, his videos are far more approachable than the tutorials from Heavy Cardboard (HC has a tutorial from the previous version of HF that's only an hour long, but I think you referenced the HF4 All complete teach + playthrough). I've included both links for those that are interested. Jean Michel Grosjeu: ua-cam.com/video/v2BG3gJ-8Rs/v-deo.html Heavy Cardboard: ua-cam.com/video/fu231FdjEA4/v-deo.html
To be fair, HF4All comes with several scenarios of increasing difficulty, from Diamonds to full on game with all the modules. So even if you think it is hard, you start with Diamonds, then move on to Race for Glory, and slowly move to the core rules for the base game. By the time you hit modules, you have everything pretty much in your muscle memory and all you are doing is adding extra components and a few new operations or changes to existing ones. That is why they added "4 all" at the end. 4 being the edition, but also "for" all, meaning there are modules that even board game novices can play.
@@Wustenfuchs109 True, but then I probably wouldn't recommend purchasing the game if all a player really seemed to want was something like Space Diamonds or RFG. If they were only exploring ~ 20-25% of the content, there are more accessible space-themed games out there for a lesser price.
Hey. With all modules or at least 0124 (4 on TTS now), it will burn the brain for sure. CEO is pretty good solitaire (tried it without modules) and altruism is good too (tried with modules 012) Coop with altruism is very interesting because you need to achieve 75+ per player. You lose about auction but you got cooperation more and its very cool with 0124. Just imho.
Thanks CS. I’ll have to try that. I was pleased with how the game played 3-sided solitaire; maybe because the game plays a bit like each player playing independently anyway (except for bidding). Great game! - Paul
@theoakenknight1748 I only mention it because you've done both High Frontier and Stellar Horizons. Space Corp seems to be in that same wheel house. Cheers.
@@Cmonster-u4i I used to own SpaceCorp and it's really not all that comparable IMO. It's really more of a racing game than an actual space exploration game
Hello Mr Zero! It’s a great game. My wife (who doesn’t play games much) thought the big neoprene map was ‘pretty’; a high compliment coming from her! - Paul
I believe that the game board is intimidating, but it is not that complicated. When people look at it and react intimidated by the board, whether they will play or not, I tell them to just look at all those lines as roads. If this was a game about buses and you threw a picture of a city out of google maps, they would easily relate to it, because they are more used to look at that type of map. Yet, the complexity is the same, if not larger. That's all this board really is. A road map. Complexity doesn't come from the board at all. In fact, although this is a complex game, I don't think it is as complex as people make it to be. But you will need 2 things to make it simpler. 1- Treat the board as a road map and 2- enjoy and understand the theme, so you can relate to the rules. If a person knows something about space exploration, everything makes a lot of sense. A find that Leaving Earth is much more of a brain burner than High Frontier is, with all its never-ending simple maths
Hi Keseph! I agree on both points. If someone wants to learn the game…, then they will. I found the UA-cam support for HF to be excellent! Answered all my rules questions. Take care. -Paul
I have to disagree with the statement that Space diamonds doesn’t have anything to teach the real game. In fact, Space diamonds is an excellent tutorial for movement which the Race for Glory doesn’t describe very well.
Yeah, it’s pretty big, although with the mounted map that comes with it, the game is physically about the same size as many others. I also play Buzz Aldrin’s “Space Program Manager” on Steam. Something about seeing those Gemini and Saturn rockets blast off never gets old! - Paul
@@theoakenknight1748 Agreed, I was thinking in terms of rules complexity. I usually consider games having multiple rulesets a con rather then a pro, as usually I'm too tempted to learn them all😱 The theme is really appealing, I have Stellar Horizons on my shortlist of games to play this year, if I don't like it who knows, maybe I'll give this one a try😁
Thanks for the vid. This game has a special place in my heart / collection. Searching for rules clarifications I discovered wargames, 50 games down the line (two years only 😅), I will try again. Only time to do it holds me back, there are so many nice games out there….. (the follow on game - interstellar - is due to be released soon-ish, before the end of the year I hope)
I found out your retired. I retire in 3 years then I'll constantly play board games and computer games much to the annoyance of my wife who will still be working!
"Space," it says, "is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space. Douglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I disagree that Space Diamonds has nothing to offer. The HF board and fuel strip are _extremely_ intimidating to new players, even fairly sophisticated Eurogamers. HF is so unlike any other game that a 'gentle' introduction is appropriate. After playing a session of SD, players will know how to pilot their rockets and have a sense of the 'geography' (perhaps 'cosmography' is a bit better use of Greek?) of the solar system; and of course a fuel miscalculation somewhere along the ride will be inevitable and instructive. And the game itself is good fun if you don't expect too much from it. People will come away from SD either completely turned off by the rocket system or eager to take up at least the RfG version. In the former case, at least they didn't have to put in all the time and work to discover that it isn't their kind of game.
Hi Majkus! You have to realize that I am one of those warped souls that dives right into campaign games from the first play-through. At least I held back and did not include all the expansions! Regardless where you start, HF is a great game. My wife, who never plays these games, even commented on how cool the map looked when she first saw it!
I don't really understand why you ignored the solitaire scenarios as if they don't really matter. The solo Altruism rules (as taken from the living rulebook) directly affect how the auction system works to make it work better in a solo environment and this greatly improves the solo experience IMO. I'd highly recommend for anyone interested in playing this solo to make Module 4 their first additional purchase. Not only does it come with a solo specific political board to allow Module 0 (included in the base game) to work better in solo, but the additional Contracts add more purpose and strategy to the entire experience. You can essentially take on contracts/quests that give you goals to achieve within 6 years and ultimately reward you with bonus abilities, victory points and money/aqua. It enhances the base game without over complicating it. From there you can move onto Module 1 + 2 to expand the game even more and add complexity. It's an excellent system
Hello Drew. Thanks for commenting! I have not yet delved into the expansions, but I found the base game surprisingly enjoyable solitaire, even playing with 3 sides. I found that the card play naturally gives advantages to the tech owner, and guides them towards certain mission possibilities. Even with 3 teams, each space program was pursuing its own goals that played more or less independent of one another. Like 3 separate games being played in parallel. I found that to be very fun! Next time I set it up I’ll begin introducing expansions, so long as they are not directly competitive. No Star Wars. But aside from that, I think the game plays nicely solitaire. - Paul
I've been a fan of HF2 and HF4 for several years. You should also try out Leaving Earth (Especially outer planets). I'm looking forward to trying out Stellar Horizons again. Thanks for your video. I've built or helps build TTS Modules for Leaving earth, HF4, Bios Series, and several Pax games too. 😀
Hi Samuel! I only recently ‘discovered’ the solar system exploration sub-genre, but oh boy, I like it. Still remember the Gemini rockets taking off back in the day. Too bad they always seemed to preempt my Saturday morning cartoons! - Paul
I second the suggestion regarding Leaving Earth, but you'll likely have to find it in the secondary market (the Lumenaris publisher has essentially gone dark, and per some recent BGG entries has not responded to emails for quite some time).
Hey, which one do you find the hardest? HF4A or SH? Also, been thinking about Leaving Earth but don’t know.
@@zero-il9on Complexity: HF4 has a larger rule set with more exceptions and details for various scenarios and expansions...(imho).
SH has rule set is comparatively straight forward and each turn mostly repeats the steps of the previous year/decade. As it turns out, GamePlay for HF4 I find much more enjoyable because the risk can frequently be mitigated by FINO. (Not Prospecting).
Leaving earth: Stations also has a more streamlined rule set than HF4. LE:S is GREAT solo, but I prefer the multiplayer. There's be a few occasions where I've sacrificed my space craft to not-reveal a site and this hidden information led to other players changing their game plan in interesting ways. I need to play it more.
Turns out I'm not a fan of SH. Mostly because of the success structure that you roll for exploration/malfunction, and if successful then you then can draw chits and get rewarded, but if you fail either, then you lose opportunity to get other rewards and breakthroughs. The few games I played I was largely out of the game in the first decade(s) and there was multiple decades where diminished tech led to even fewer opportunities to the front runners. I'm done and selling my copy of SH.
I really love your relaxing intro music.
Hello Felip! I like the music too, although when I first started I was told a few times that I had it run too long and too loud. But I adjusted and think it is all good at this point. Thanks for commenting. - Paul
Thanks for the overview. I have this one and the expansions but haven't played it yet. I'd be very interested in your take on the expansions!
Hi David. I have not done much with the expansions yet, but they look great. I’ll have to look up Leaving Earth, as I lam a fan of the genre. Thanks again. - Paul
For those potential players who may be intimidated by the scope of this game, please be reassured that the rules are quite reasonable and the game mechanics quickly become more intuitive within a couple of plays. I would recommend starting with base + modules 0-1 because the cognitive load and additional rules aren't overwhelming and the addition of freighters and gigawatt thrusters really open up the map because you'll be able to build rockets that can go far. Module 2 introduces Bernals and colonists, which can be introduced after you become comfortable with the base and early modules.
For visual learners, Jean Michel Grosjeu does a phenomenal job of explaining +everything+, replete with gameplay examples. IMO, his videos are far more approachable than the tutorials from Heavy Cardboard (HC has a tutorial from the previous version of HF that's only an hour long, but I think you referenced the HF4 All complete teach + playthrough). I've included both links for those that are interested.
Jean Michel Grosjeu: ua-cam.com/video/v2BG3gJ-8Rs/v-deo.html
Heavy Cardboard: ua-cam.com/video/fu231FdjEA4/v-deo.html
Hi Tom. Yes Jean Michel’s tutorials are amazing, possibly the best treatment of any complex game. Thanks for your comment! - Paul
To be fair, HF4All comes with several scenarios of increasing difficulty, from Diamonds to full on game with all the modules. So even if you think it is hard, you start with Diamonds, then move on to Race for Glory, and slowly move to the core rules for the base game. By the time you hit modules, you have everything pretty much in your muscle memory and all you are doing is adding extra components and a few new operations or changes to existing ones.
That is why they added "4 all" at the end. 4 being the edition, but also "for" all, meaning there are modules that even board game novices can play.
@@Wustenfuchs109 True, but then I probably wouldn't recommend purchasing the game if all a player really seemed to want was something like Space Diamonds or RFG. If they were only exploring ~ 20-25% of the content, there are more accessible space-themed games out there for a lesser price.
Hey.
With all modules or at least 0124 (4 on TTS now), it will burn the brain for sure.
CEO is pretty good solitaire (tried it without modules) and altruism is good too (tried with modules 012)
Coop with altruism is very interesting because you need to achieve 75+ per player. You lose about auction but you got cooperation more and its very cool with 0124.
Just imho.
Thanks CS. I’ll have to try that. I was pleased with how the game played 3-sided solitaire; maybe because the game plays a bit like each player playing independently anyway (except for bidding). Great game! - Paul
I’d love to see you do a video on Space Corp.
Hey Andrew! Unfortunately… that’s one I don’t have, at least for now. Maybe Eclipse? - Paul
@theoakenknight1748 I only mention it because you've done both High Frontier and Stellar Horizons. Space Corp seems to be in that same wheel house. Cheers.
@@Cmonster-u4i I used to own SpaceCorp and it's really not all that comparable IMO. It's really more of a racing game than an actual space exploration game
HF4A my favorite game, love all modules. Time 4 hours without modules, been playing with my friend with 0,1 and 2, 8 hours every time, consistently. 😂
Hello Mr Zero! It’s a great game. My wife (who doesn’t play games much) thought the big neoprene map was ‘pretty’; a high compliment coming from her! - Paul
I believe that the game board is intimidating, but it is not that complicated. When people look at it and react intimidated by the board, whether they will play or not, I tell them to just look at all those lines as roads.
If this was a game about buses and you threw a picture of a city out of google maps, they would easily relate to it, because they are more used to look at that type of map. Yet, the complexity is the same, if not larger.
That's all this board really is. A road map. Complexity doesn't come from the board at all. In fact, although this is a complex game, I don't think it is as complex as people make it to be. But you will need 2 things to make it simpler. 1- Treat the board as a road map and 2- enjoy and understand the theme, so you can relate to the rules. If a person knows something about space exploration, everything makes a lot of sense.
A find that Leaving Earth is much more of a brain burner than High Frontier is, with all its never-ending simple maths
Hi Keseph! I agree on both points. If someone wants to learn the game…, then they will. I found the UA-cam support for HF to be excellent! Answered all my rules questions. Take care. -Paul
stratagery?
Hello Kitten!, Yup, Strategery is a real word invented by none other that President George W Bush. Google it, and be enlightened! - Paul
I have to disagree with the statement that Space diamonds doesn’t have anything to teach the real game. In fact, Space diamonds is an excellent tutorial for movement which the Race for Glory doesn’t describe very well.
Thanks for the overview. I like big games but this one takes it a bit too far for me... like most Phil Eklund's games 😆
Yeah, it’s pretty big, although with the mounted map that comes with it, the game is physically about the same size as many others. I also play Buzz Aldrin’s “Space Program Manager” on Steam. Something about seeing those Gemini and Saturn rockets blast off never gets old! - Paul
@@theoakenknight1748 Agreed, I was thinking in terms of rules complexity. I usually consider games having multiple rulesets a con rather then a pro, as usually I'm too tempted to learn them all😱 The theme is really appealing, I have Stellar Horizons on my shortlist of games to play this year, if I don't like it who knows, maybe I'll give this one a try😁
Thanks for the vid. This game has a special place in my heart / collection. Searching for rules clarifications I discovered wargames, 50 games down the line (two years only 😅), I will try again. Only time to do it holds me back, there are so many nice games out there….. (the follow on game - interstellar - is due to be released soon-ish, before the end of the year I hope)
I found out your retired. I retire in 3 years then I'll constantly play board games and computer games much to the annoyance of my wife who will still be working!
Hi Phalanx! That sounds great, but do have dinner on the table for her when she gets home from work. Happy wife…, happy life…. 😀. -Paul
@@theoakenknight1748 Depends if you like cooking and how bossy your wife is :/)
I would like to add a correction. Space is *really* big. Space is *really* hard. That is all. 😉
10-4. Read you 5x5. - Paul
"Space," it says, "is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.
Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I disagree that Space Diamonds has nothing to offer. The HF board and fuel strip are _extremely_ intimidating to new players, even fairly sophisticated Eurogamers. HF is so unlike any other game that a 'gentle' introduction is appropriate. After playing a session of SD, players will know how to pilot their rockets and have a sense of the 'geography' (perhaps 'cosmography' is a bit better use of Greek?) of the solar system; and of course a fuel miscalculation somewhere along the ride will be inevitable and instructive. And the game itself is good fun if you don't expect too much from it. People will come away from SD either completely turned off by the rocket system or eager to take up at least the RfG version. In the former case, at least they didn't have to put in all the time and work to discover that it isn't their kind of game.
Hi Majkus! You have to realize that I am one of those warped souls that dives right into campaign games from the first play-through. At least I held back and did not include all the expansions! Regardless where you start, HF is a great game. My wife, who never plays these games, even commented on how cool the map looked when she first saw it!
I don't really understand why you ignored the solitaire scenarios as if they don't really matter. The solo Altruism rules (as taken from the living rulebook) directly affect how the auction system works to make it work better in a solo environment and this greatly improves the solo experience IMO.
I'd highly recommend for anyone interested in playing this solo to make Module 4 their first additional purchase. Not only does it come with a solo specific political board to allow Module 0 (included in the base game) to work better in solo, but the additional Contracts add more purpose and strategy to the entire experience. You can essentially take on contracts/quests that give you goals to achieve within 6 years and ultimately reward you with bonus abilities, victory points and money/aqua. It enhances the base game without over complicating it.
From there you can move onto Module 1 + 2 to expand the game even more and add complexity. It's an excellent system
Hello Drew. Thanks for commenting! I have not yet delved into the expansions, but I found the base game surprisingly enjoyable solitaire, even playing with 3 sides. I found that the card play naturally gives advantages to the tech owner, and guides them towards certain mission possibilities. Even with 3 teams, each space program was pursuing its own goals that played more or less independent of one another. Like 3 separate games being played in parallel. I found that to be very fun!
Next time I set it up I’ll begin introducing expansions, so long as they are not directly competitive. No Star Wars. But aside from that, I think the game plays nicely solitaire.
- Paul