Twilight Imperium in Greenhill on July 4th (Independence Day!)

Aneurin wrote:So who wants to know their race...

Yeaaaaah! Let the research begin

Do we have the option of 2 races again? Also, can I suggest we post links to any learning resources here? Unless we setup a TI3 specific game thread?

Not sure if these are good. Looks like a two part Ti3 Tutorial:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFbpkyZqcbA
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm-_odV2lnQ

Also, which expansions, if any, are we using?

Both expansions...

In terms of optional rules from said boxes... Generally we play

Leaders
Distant Suns - and empty space counters
Facilities
Capital ships
Mines
Voice of the council
Mercenaries
Wormhole nexus
Variant strategy cards - usually trade 3, tech 2, warfare 2, beurocracy

We don't play with representatives - they slow the voting of political cards down considerably.

I think that's it...

Here we go - results are in...

Tom W: Xxcha Kingdom or Embers of Muaat
PaulC: Naalu Collective or Mentak Coalition
PaulG: Winnu or Clan of Saar
Steve: Universities of Jol-Nar or Nekro Virus
Jamie: Yin Brotherhood or Shardak-Norr
Tim: Arborec or Ghosts of Creuss
Beardy Tom: Yssaril Tribes or Emirates of Hacan
Aneurin: L1Z1X Mindnet or Barony of Letnev

Winnu please!

I'm surprised...

Aneurin wrote:I'm surprised...

Yeah. Just feel that in the last two games I played quite "specialist" races so fancied a go at one that looks a bit more "generalist". Perhaps a huge mistake...?

Um...  Naalu please?

They are a hard race to play... never seen anyone win with the Winnu. Time to prove me wrong again.

I do like the Naalu but again my prediction was wrong - I though the threat of the Embers would make Paul C go Mentak...

Jamie wrote:Do we have the option of 2 races again? Also, can I suggest we post links to any learning resources here? Unless we setup a TI3 specific game thread?

Oh, as we're onto picking races... I found this is a reasonable resource for giving some outline strategy / strengths & weaknesses for each race:
https://gameknight.com/?page_id=372

Aneurin wrote:They are a hard race to play... never seen anyone win with the Winnu. Time to prove me wrong again.

I do like the Naalu but again my prediction was wrong - I though the threat of the Embers would make Paul C go Mentak...

You're clearly mistaking me for someone with the faintest clue as to what I am doing...

I'll be playing the Emirates of Hacan.

I like money.

BeardyTom wrote:I'll be playing the Emirates of Hacan.

I like money.

Should we discuss the terms of our alliance now?

Bump for race choices...

Here we go - results are in...

Tom W: Xxcha Kingdom or Embers of Muaat
PaulC: Naalu Collective or Mentak Coalition
PaulG: Winnu or Clan of Saar
Steve: Universities of Jol-Nar or Nekro Virus
Jamie: Yin Brotherhood or Shardak-Norr
Tim: Arborec or Ghosts of Creuss
Beardy Tom: Yssaril Tribes or Emirates of Hacan
Aneurin: L1Z1X Mindnet or Barony of Letnev

So Steve has declared himself as the universities. And the Winnu are playing - going to be a diplomatic game

Half way through a 2 hour tutorial. It's not a simple game...

Okay, no representatives. How about promissary notes? Are we playing with those?

Also, are we just using basic strategy cards? Or fancy ones from expansions?

Jamie wrote:Okay, no representatives. How about promissary notes? Are we playing with those?

Also, are we just using basic strategy cards? Or fancy ones from expansions?

No promissory notes... They slow the game down and in an 8 player are just handed out to people on the opposite side of the Galaxy...

We play with a mix of strategy cards...

Normally...

1 - (whichever gives you command counters)
2 - diplomacy
3 - assembly (distribute speaker token)
4 - production
5 - trade 3
6 - warfare 2
7 - technology 2
8 - beurocracy

Aneurin wrote:

BeardyTom wrote:I'll be playing the Emirates of Hacan.

I like money.

Should we discuss the terms of our alliance now?

I think a non-aggression pact would be of great mutual benefit.

Peace loving space hippies, The Sardakk N'orr. Anyone for peace?

That +1 on combat roles will be sweet against the Universities -1... That will make for an interesting game. Will the tech surpass the basic +2?

We come in peace!

Seriously, I get the impression that you need allies in order to have any chance of winning. A lot more so, than say, with Eclipse. An all out militaristic approach won't get you far; at least, that's the impression I got from the tutorial videos I've been watching. Seems like a super game though, looking forward to it!

Also, I found the previous tutorial videos, not to be so great. I'm half way through this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL31B6F4B63F5E406A which is very clear, and not as long. Maybe worth watching for any other newbies like myself.

That's what I like about the game - it's such a delicate balance of diplomacy and war. Just like being a leader on Earth I guess. If you don't apply some military pressure on your neighbours - in your case the university - they will expand - which ultimately means they will get more tech than you - then they will be in a better position than you - and will think of you as nothing more than scum of the galaxy holding planets they could now take with ease. Watch out for fighter swarms against you! Easiest way to null that +1 as all hits can be absorbed on the cheap fighters.

True you can't skirmish with all your neighbours - you need to know that if you forge forward against 1 person no-one will take advantage of your exposed back door. It happens...

Pick your friends wisely! You are sandwiched between 2 experienced players - pick one to align with - as believe me you will just become the annoyance they have to deal with as they move towards each other!

At the moment the three more militaristic based races are yourself, me and Tim...

Another bump so we don't have to trawl the thread...

Tom W: Xxcha Kingdom or Embers of Muaat
PaulC: Naalu Collective or Mentak Coalition
PaulG: Winnu or Clan of Saar
Steve: Universities of Jol-Nar or Nekro Virus
Jamie: Yin Brotherhood or Shardak-Norr
Tim: Arborec or Ghosts of Creuss
Beardy Tom: Yssaril Tribes or Emirates of Hacan
Aneurin: L1Z1X Mindnet or Barony of Letnev

Everyone has declared. I think we have a nice mix of empires here...

The Winnu and the Universities will be leading the technology race
The Emerites will own trade - will they use it for technology or war?
The Embers, Shardakk, L1z1x and to some extent the Creuss will be using their military might (the latter through logistics and maneuverability).
That leaves the Naalu - a nice balanced race against the military might of the above if played well. They can also take on the peaceful tecnology based route to victory...

hrm... really looking forward to this now.