I just got Exodus: Proxima Centauri (Revised edition). My decision to buy it was heavily influenced by this review and other mentions of the game in other Dice Tower programs. When I say I just got this game, I mean it arrived yesterday. I haven’t yet gone through the rules, let alone played it. But, I do have a comment, and one I hope is read and taken to heart. This game has a TON of components - I mean small things that easily slip out and onto the floor when you’re unpacking, and things for which there may be multiple similar-looking variants, which make them more difficult to sort and organize. (note, by “a ton,” I mean approximately 600 small and easily lost pieces) The components seemed to be of mediocre quality. Most of them are cardboard, though the cut sheets were falling apart (read: components dropping out, left and right) as soon as I took the cellophane wrapper off. This may be a fantastic game. Frankly, I hope it is. But, to anyone considering this game, BE AWARE of the component issue; namely that there are so many many pieces that will hit the floor and/or get mixed up, starting within moments of the box being opened. I strongly recommend a trip to the Dollar Store (or its equivalent) and investing in plastic containers or bags (there are bags provided that don’t fit the cards in this game well).
Brandon Palmer, I don't believe a gamer is "worth less" (or worthless) for NOT being prepared for several hundred components jumping out of a single game box. Your point about ziplock bags is a good one. The Dollar Store is a gamer's ally, and my copy of Exodus is supplemented by plastic bags and boxes. In an ideal world, I would have liked to see something in the review akin to "There are a LOT of components here, folks, and the game doesn't provide a reasonable way to organize and store these, so you should consider baggies, etc." -- Anyway, I hope you enjoy Exodus, Brandon. I kickstarted the expansion, which ought to arrive soon! (Looking forward)
Scottishstorm As an aside, I *do* like this game. It doesn't often hit the table, though. Gameplay feels a tad long and convoluted. Those qualities are not entirely negative, as they also enrich the experience, IMO.
Thanks for the warning.. Now, 7 years after.. What are your thoughts of this game? Is it the best space board game ever been made? Have you tried one of its expansions since purchasing the base game? Are you still alive? I hope you do... Even if you won't answer my questions.. Although it would be very kind of you.. Peace 🖖
I was wondering, since Tom and Sam (at the very least, and I assume not only them as they need a few others to play most of these games) are big fans of space games in general and 4X space games in particular, why they never seem to mention "Space Empires 4X" - did they try and dislike it, or do they stay away from it because it seems like a typical hex-and-counter GMT game? Because yes, it is a counter-based game on a hex-board, and it is from GMT, who heavily favour war games, but the game really is a pure space 4X game (as the name would suggest), and not at all wargame-y (to me, at least). It is heavily oriented towards combat, but so is Exodus, for that matter, and it doesn't overcomplicate matters - no CRT, no complex combined-arms rules, a very nice random-encounter mechanism and fog of war... I would really like to see a Dice Tower review of Space Empires 4X, I think it is much closer to their flavour than they realise. The expension even adds unique alien powers and creates some difference between the players (which is really the negative in the original), always a plus in my book.
Good review. As a fellow TI fanatic, I always appreciate Sam giving his opinion on whether a space empire game is worth setting on a shelf beside Twilight Imperium. I am curious, though, if this game has a minimum player count? I find I don't like the idea of playing Twilight Imperium with less than 5 players--usually 6.
I find it interesting that the ships used in this game is in another game made in the 90s named Silent death. I wonder if they ripped them off or something.
From my experience, i actually think WMD's(weapons of mass destruction) are underpowered. They cost too much and are too hard to hit with. The only WMD that is worth getting is the one who kills recources imo, it got a decent cost, decent hit rate and is very infuriating. Is it worth exchanging my original for this revised edition, or should i buy the upgrade pack? Thanks for a good review! :)
DayInDaLife A lot of 'non-childish' gamers like a game with abstract thought and not a simplified strategy system like Heg. Axis and Allies has the same problem, in that it has a static strategy system that makes expert play monotonous and require no thought or outside the box thinking. I know my group of gamers likes a game that takes more than just strategy. They want to have to read enemy strategy, influence player direction and things far more involved than your 'simplistic' strategy game with no 'luck'. Perhaps your group is just not as good at playing games with more thought processing requirements?
This game ALMOST looks good…. But the colonization just seems too cumbersome. The fact that ONLY your home system makes population , and only two per round at that, combined with the fact that you have to manually transport them to planets in order to claim it for your empire, makes expansion boring and basically requires you to get the Civilian Transports tech basically an absolute requirement. Someone feel free to prove me wrong, because the cumbersome colonization is the only thing keeping me from getting this. Edited for spelling mistakes
I still cant understand how you like this more than Eclipse.. Your description is literally describing all the bad things about the base game eclipse amplified. This game i just a badly done copy.
I just got Exodus: Proxima Centauri (Revised edition). My decision to buy it was heavily influenced by this review and other mentions of the game in other Dice Tower programs.
When I say I just got this game, I mean it arrived yesterday. I haven’t yet gone through the rules, let alone played it. But, I do have a comment, and one I hope is read and taken to heart. This game has a TON of components - I mean small things that easily slip out and onto the floor when you’re unpacking, and things for which there may be multiple similar-looking variants, which make them more difficult to sort and organize. (note, by “a ton,” I mean approximately 600 small and easily lost pieces) The components seemed to be of mediocre quality. Most of them are cardboard, though the cut sheets were falling apart (read: components dropping out, left and right) as soon as I took the cellophane wrapper off.
This may be a fantastic game. Frankly, I hope it is. But, to anyone considering this game, BE AWARE of the component issue; namely that there are so many many pieces that will hit the floor and/or get mixed up, starting within moments of the box being opened. I strongly recommend a trip to the Dollar Store (or its equivalent) and investing in plastic containers or bags (there are bags provided that don’t fit the cards in this game well).
Brandon Palmer, I don't believe a gamer is "worth less" (or worthless) for NOT being prepared for several hundred components jumping out of a single game box. Your point about ziplock bags is a good one. The Dollar Store is a gamer's ally, and my copy of Exodus is supplemented by plastic bags and boxes. In an ideal world, I would have liked to see something in the review akin to "There are a LOT of components here, folks, and the game doesn't provide a reasonable way to organize and store these, so you should consider baggies, etc." -- Anyway, I hope you enjoy Exodus, Brandon. I kickstarted the expansion, which ought to arrive soon! (Looking forward)
Scottishstorm As an aside, I *do* like this game. It doesn't often hit the table, though. Gameplay feels a tad long and convoluted. Those qualities are not entirely negative, as they also enrich the experience, IMO.
Brandon Palmer Dude, it was simply a headsup to emphasize the importance of being prepared, especially for a game like this. Relax.
Thanks for the warning..
Now, 7 years after..
What are your thoughts of this game?
Is it the best space board game ever been made?
Have you tried one of its expansions since purchasing the base game?
Are you still alive?
I hope you do...
Even if you won't answer my questions..
Although it would be very kind of you..
Peace 🖖
I was wondering, since Tom and Sam (at the very least, and I assume not only them as they need a few others to play most of these games) are big fans of space games in general and 4X space games in particular, why they never seem to mention "Space Empires 4X" - did they try and dislike it, or do they stay away from it because it seems like a typical hex-and-counter GMT game?
Because yes, it is a counter-based game on a hex-board, and it is from GMT, who heavily favour war games, but the game really is a pure space 4X game (as the name would suggest), and not at all wargame-y (to me, at least). It is heavily oriented towards combat, but so is Exodus, for that matter, and it doesn't overcomplicate matters - no CRT, no complex combined-arms rules, a very nice random-encounter mechanism and fog of war... I would really like to see a Dice Tower review of Space Empires 4X, I think it is much closer to their flavour than they realise. The expension even adds unique alien powers and creates some difference between the players (which is really the negative in the original), always a plus in my book.
Good review. As a fellow TI fanatic, I always appreciate Sam giving his opinion on whether a space empire game is worth setting on a shelf beside Twilight Imperium. I am curious, though, if this game has a minimum player count? I find I don't like the idea of playing Twilight Imperium with less than 5 players--usually 6.
Inevitable question: the guy who got the missiles first, was waving them around, and all that jazz... is it Jason?
Another good review from the Dice Tower
You need to do a Miami Dice review of Quantum. I'd love to see Sam's opinion of an abstract space conquest game.
I find it interesting that the ships used in this game is in another game made in the 90s named Silent death. I wonder if they ripped them off or something.
Will you do review of expansion?? Look great..
+Majo R The review is coming this week!
Cool game, but I wish the expansion wasn't so damn expensive.
Tom: I have $60 to spend... I've narrowed it to Kemet and Exodus Proxima... I want your knee jerk reaction: which do I buy?!?!?!!?
I hope you got Kemet...
Darn I just picked up the first edition. Can anyone list the main differences? Are any rules changed? Ahhhhh.
what's the difference b/w miami dice and the other videos? just wondering. been a long-time subscriber
Normal review is just Tom, in Miami Dice you get Sam for free also.
From my experience, i actually think WMD's(weapons of mass destruction) are underpowered. They cost too much and are too hard to hit with. The only WMD that is worth getting is the one who kills recources imo, it got a decent cost, decent hit rate and is very infuriating.
Is it worth exchanging my original for this revised edition, or should i buy the upgrade pack?
Thanks for a good review! :)
Interesting game, I am trying to decide between this or Eclipse for my Sci Fi itch!!!!!
DayInDaLife
I have not played any of them. But according to BGG, majority have different opinion.
DayInDaLife You forgot that sometimes people play games to relax and not to burn their brain.
I got eclipse for ios and it just didn't sit well with me. I've got tons of issues with it.
Chien Lin Chen Not the gamers I play with.
DayInDaLife A lot of 'non-childish' gamers like a game with abstract thought and not a simplified strategy system like Heg. Axis and Allies has the same problem, in that it has a static strategy system that makes expert play monotonous and require no thought or outside the box thinking.
I know my group of gamers likes a game that takes more than just strategy. They want to have to read enemy strategy, influence player direction and things far more involved than your 'simplistic' strategy game with no 'luck'. Perhaps your group is just not as good at playing games with more thought processing requirements?
Buy dice? How do you not have mini-dice in those colors in your collection already?...oh wait...you just wanna buy more dice. ;)
Can you please do a review of the expansion!
+Alastair Main The review is coming this week!
what about exodus: edge of extinction ?
+Tom Bartol The review is coming this week!
How can this game have the gold Dice Tower seal on the box BEFORE they reviewed it? Insert Inception sound: BRRRRRRRAAAAAWWWWRWRRRMRMRMMRMRMMMMM!!!
Arthur Geraerts We reviewed the first version, that's why.
Didn't you already do an episode 136?
Yes they did, it was a review of Age of Empires III: the Board Game.
Seems very similar to eclipse 2nd edition but not as polished.
This game ALMOST looks good…. But the colonization just seems too cumbersome. The fact that ONLY your home system makes population , and only two per round at that, combined with the fact that you have to manually transport them to planets in order to claim it for your empire, makes expansion boring and basically requires you to get the Civilian Transports tech basically an absolute requirement. Someone feel free to prove me wrong, because the cumbersome colonization is the only thing keeping me from getting this.
Edited for spelling mistakes
I still cant understand how you like this more than Eclipse.. Your description is literally describing all the bad things about the base game eclipse amplified. This game i just a badly done copy.
Copy? There are similarities for sure but the two games are very different.
i have to say i just skip over the episodes once i see Zee is not in them he adds something to the episodes
Jajajaja jajajajja por minecraft
2 Nukes up and hes definately a democrat? I dont think Tom even caught that. Your playing dirty pool. :)
I'm sure he did. Tom's just much more reserved when it comes to political and religious commentary in his videos. Sam...not so much.