So ends the reign of Twilight Imperium 4, all hail the new master of 4x gaming! Long story short, i have a baby, i just can't afford the time to play TI anymore, and the last 5 or 6 plays have left me feeling a bit bleh about the genre. Then along comes 2nd dawn and BOOM, i just want to play this over and over again.
Rock on man. Great game. After sinking over 100 hours in this bad boy it only gets better and better. Only flaw for me is super experienced players will win 10/10 times if not stopped by other players, but that is true of most games I suppose
I still love TI4 more for its weird war game goofiness: the fun horse trading antics of bribing one another, the voting in council of decrees, and the battles that may or may not happen. Eclipse takes itself a bit more seriously. But … I love Eclipse too, because tech trees are fun fun fun.
i find them so different.. I mean, I see why people compared, but i expected more similarities. Eclipse is like 70 % Gaia project and only 30 % Twilight if u compare. I still prefere Twilight because of the moments, but Eclipse is more of a "game". Solid top 2 in my list.
Always love your videos! I just purchased a used copy of the first edition set and it looks like not too much has changed. Can't wait to get it to the table with my game group!
Yeah, i played it with some veterans of 1st ed and they said asides from the cosmetic overhaul, the main changes are around tech tiles and a few other details. It's 95% the same game as 1st ed in terms of gameplay
I have to say as a 1st ed veteran the only thing really like more in the 2nd ed is the ancients and galactic center having actual minis and not just carboard tiles. However the tech tree still seems a bit wack to me and some additions like the strength 3 cannon and strength 1 missile seem a bit redundant by better options. It's still mostly the same game i love but i can't help but feel like the changes made either add too little or take away something. also they took one of Planta's colony ships and i hate it.
Did I tell you you were going to love this? One of my couple favorite games of all time. It is the first game I painted and it makes it that much better. I just could not have a game this good and not take that extra step. I actually mildly disagree about the confrontation. The game plays very differently at different player counts. At 4-6 players, you are nose to nose. At 2-3 players, there is a lot of room to explore and expand. And the game doesn't get into a lot of fights until the latter half anyway. One interesting bit about the player counts too is that different factions are better and worse at different player counts.
The random tech tiles short circuit so many issues with 4x technologies, where there is an optimal path. You simply cannot plan an optimal tech approach from turn 1 and that's great.
Half price at Pop-Stop currently! So hard to make a decision... I'm slightly cautious about it being my first large scale war game, but at the same time it just looks so awesome 🤯
Way to late for that offer, but for anyone reading this later on, IMO Eclipse is an excellent first large scale war game. I managed to get some casual players from my group convinced about it and it is a good entry that doesn't intimidate new players with lore. All the different ways your game is influenced by what you find in the galaxy make each game pretty unique and gives less experienced players a chance to take the upper hand while not being so random that there wouldn't be any strategy.
Had and awesome game of this at 3rd time of playing (was 3 players) two prior times was at 2 and felt OK. But I guess just the luck of what tiles etc came out. Was on the fence with this but after that 3rd game can't wait to play it again!
1st edition is still good too and a LOT cheaper. And if you can find the Rise of the Ancients expansion you can implement most of the changes they've made to the rules of the 2nd edition.
I actually have Empires of the Void 2, but its simply not clicking for our playergroup. Some of the rules feel clunky, and the dice battles involve a ton of luck. However, I find myself super intrigued about Eclipse, which is rated way higher on Boardgame geek as well. Does the combat feel less luck-based than Empires? And if I didnt like Empires, will I be able to like Eclipse?
I had a bad taste with eclipse, I played it with some friends but the owner of the game played it with a homebrew faction that was extremely op and I knew that we hadn't any chance of winning so I tried to have fun in other ways besides winning (like making his turns as miserable as possible 😂) I guess what I'm trying to say is that other players can make or hurt your experience with a game unfortunately, even if its amazing.
That really does not sound like it was the games fault. It's like playing monopoly with someone who decides they get double starting money and 400 bucks for passing go
Looks like 1993 Game of the Year Master's of Orion, from Microprose. I'd be interested in playing, not sure I'd want to own it when I still have the original on PC
I'm pretty old school. I have a vid you might like based on your comments "The best game of every year i've been alive", where i go right back to 1977 and do a year by year review. As for 4x, my favs in that genre are MOO2, Alpha Centauri, Civ 5, medieval total war 2, and Warhammer total war 1-3
@@3MBG Sad Endless games aren't on that list, they're pretty awesome and their music is straight up insane. By the way talking about old school there's a HoMM3 board game coming up!
Did they change which 'ring' homeworlds start on between versions? 1:30 shows a homeworld in ring III and they were all starting in ring II in first edition. (Unless playing with more than 6.) I'm another firmly in the camp of this being better (for me) than TI. Close to half the time alone makes it more in my wheelhouse.
I'm interested In this game for sure. How long does a play typically last? Longer games are a hard sell for my group and I've heard this one is a shorter 4x
So ends the reign of Twilight Imperium 4, all hail the new master of 4x gaming! Long story short, i have a baby, i just can't afford the time to play TI anymore, and the last 5 or 6 plays have left me feeling a bit bleh about the genre. Then along comes 2nd dawn and BOOM, i just want to play this over and over again.
Grab on miniature market when its back in stock: www.miniaturemarket.com/lpfi901.html
Gotta agree on this one 😄
Hit me up if you want to play again! Jon B
Rock on man. Great game. After sinking over 100 hours in this bad boy it only gets better and better. Only flaw for me is super experienced players will win 10/10 times if not stopped by other players, but that is true of most games I suppose
Exact same boat! Still do TI but maybe only twice a year.
The organisation of this box is so damn good that even if it wasn't an amazing game I'd still love it
Yeah, for a game its size it takes no time to setup
My ordered copy of Eclipse 2 is coming in today! Your timing is impeccable!
I still love TI4 more for its weird war game goofiness: the fun horse trading antics of bribing one another, the voting in council of decrees, and the battles that may or may not happen. Eclipse takes itself a bit more seriously. But … I love Eclipse too, because tech trees are fun fun fun.
I am 100% with you. I really like them both but I love TI4 more.
i find them so different.. I mean, I see why people compared, but i expected more similarities. Eclipse is like 70 % Gaia project and only 30 % Twilight if u compare. I still prefere Twilight because of the moments, but Eclipse is more of a "game". Solid top 2 in my list.
Always love your videos! I just purchased a used copy of the first edition set and it looks like not too much has changed. Can't wait to get it to the table with my game group!
Yeah, i played it with some veterans of 1st ed and they said asides from the cosmetic overhaul, the main changes are around tech tiles and a few other details. It's 95% the same game as 1st ed in terms of gameplay
@@3MBG Good to hear it! Although those game trays are sexy.... :-D
I have to say as a 1st ed veteran the only thing really like more in the 2nd ed is the ancients and galactic center having actual minis and not just carboard tiles. However the tech tree still seems a bit wack to me and some additions like the strength 3 cannon and strength 1 missile seem a bit redundant by better options. It's still mostly the same game i love but i can't help but feel like the changes made either add too little or take away something. also they took one of Planta's colony ships and i hate it.
Did I tell you you were going to love this? One of my couple favorite games of all time. It is the first game I painted and it makes it that much better. I just could not have a game this good and not take that extra step. I actually mildly disagree about the confrontation. The game plays very differently at different player counts. At 4-6 players, you are nose to nose. At 2-3 players, there is a lot of room to explore and expand. And the game doesn't get into a lot of fights until the latter half anyway. One interesting bit about the player counts too is that different factions are better and worse at different player counts.
Love this game, especially the randomized tech system and the way everyone ends up with different kinds of ships. Big fun!
The random tech tiles short circuit so many issues with 4x technologies, where there is an optimal path. You simply cannot plan an optimal tech approach from turn 1 and that's great.
Annnd straight to the wishlist. I've never played TI but I've always wanted a 4X space themed boardgame.
I think this is a better start place for the genre than TI for sure. TI has its strengths, but its a big bite of a game to chew first up
Half price at Pop-Stop currently! So hard to make a decision... I'm slightly cautious about it being my first large scale war game, but at the same time it just looks so awesome 🤯
I saw that on the NZ FB group, crazy good price for it
Way to late for that offer, but for anyone reading this later on, IMO Eclipse is an excellent first large scale war game. I managed to get some casual players from my group convinced about it and it is a good entry that doesn't intimidate new players with lore. All the different ways your game is influenced by what you find in the galaxy make each game pretty unique and gives less experienced players a chance to take the upper hand while not being so random that there wouldn't be any strategy.
Eclipse is a masterpiece of elegance.
It really is. All the best parts of 4x without any bloat.
Brilliant overview
Brilliant game
One of the best games of all time, should be near the top of BGG top 100. ❤️
It's already up to 31st and still climbing.
Got this for xmas and I love it. Got 4 plays in so far this yr. Hope to get st least 1 play in this weekend
Nice! I'm probably not gonna get too many in for a while due to life stuff, but i know its a game i can play in a normal session, which is great
I have Forbidden Stars, but now I'm planing to buy this one...
3MBG at it's finest.
Noticed a mistake at 1:30; starting player hexes go in sector II. Other than that great video!
Yeah, that's an error
Had and awesome game of this at 3rd time of playing (was 3 players) two prior times was at 2 and felt OK. But I guess just the luck of what tiles etc came out. Was on the fence with this but after that 3rd game can't wait to play it again!
Never played it with less than 4, i wonder if it feels less epic with 2 or 3
1st edition is still good too and a LOT cheaper. And if you can find the Rise of the Ancients expansion you can implement most of the changes they've made to the rules of the 2nd edition.
And there is probably a flood of 2nd hand copies out there now as well from folks trading up. Great advice.
I actually have Empires of the Void 2, but its simply not clicking for our playergroup. Some of the rules feel clunky, and the dice battles involve a ton of luck. However, I find myself super intrigued about Eclipse, which is rated way higher on Boardgame geek as well. Does the combat feel less luck-based than Empires? And if I didnt like Empires, will I be able to like Eclipse?
Likely. Eclipse is a more traditional 4x format than EOTV2 for sure
@@3MBGThanks for the reply, will check it out then! :)
I had a bad taste with eclipse, I played it with some friends but the owner of the game played it with a homebrew faction that was extremely op and I knew that we hadn't any chance of winning so I tried to have fun in other ways besides winning (like making his turns as miserable as possible 😂)
I guess what I'm trying to say is that other players can make or hurt your experience with a game unfortunately, even if its amazing.
That really does not sound like it was the games fault. It's like playing monopoly with someone who decides they get double starting money and 400 bucks for passing go
Looks like 1993 Game of the Year Master's of Orion, from Microprose.
I'd be interested in playing, not sure I'd want to own it when I still have the original on PC
If you can play a 6 player game of MOO in under 4 hours, i'd be impressed :) Our hot seat games of MOO2 would last for weeks
@@3MBG
I can't disagree with that.
Great to hear you know your PC 4X games as well as board games
I'm pretty old school. I have a vid you might like based on your comments "The best game of every year i've been alive", where i go right back to 1977 and do a year by year review.
As for 4x, my favs in that genre are MOO2, Alpha Centauri, Civ 5, medieval total war 2, and Warhammer total war 1-3
@@3MBG Sad Endless games aren't on that list, they're pretty awesome and their music is straight up insane.
By the way talking about old school there's a HoMM3 board game coming up!
It’s my #1 😎
Too production quality on this one. Loved the presentation
Cheers and thank you!
Did they change which 'ring' homeworlds start on between versions? 1:30 shows a homeworld in ring III and they were all starting in ring II in first edition. (Unless playing with more than 6.)
I'm another firmly in the camp of this being better (for me) than TI. Close to half the time alone makes it more in my wheelhouse.
Oops, i may have stuffed that up
Homeworlds are still in the same positions.
Also the orientation is not right.
Way better than Twlght Imperium imo
I'm interested In this game for sure. How long does a play typically last? Longer games are a hard sell for my group and I've heard this one is a shorter 4x
The box says 30 mins per player. I’d add an extra 30 for your first game
@@TheLimestoneCowboy thanks!
our first 5 player game took 3 1/2 hours
@@3MBG If you’re speaking of the game I was at… I think it was 4 player?
@@3MBG yeah I'm thinking ours would be around 4 or more. In addition to the five adults theres the seven combined kids running around.
My only issue with this game is it feels too short to really come to grips with everything in the game
Maybe on the first play? But tightness is normally a good thing in game design
My wife and I go through a 2 player game in about 40 mins
Hot damn. Sounds like my partner and I with Arkham horror.