So, after plowing through much of the rules, here is my verdict:

1. The game is highly complex and offers a multitudiness of options. In addition with the huge amount of tokens, counters and cards, this is a definite buyer and high player.
2. The setups are very specific. The replay value is based on the combination of different facets of the game, not necessarily on game mechanics. Thus, the replay value is limited, albeit on a very high scale.
3. The mechanics employed make it very easy to release expansions that can extend the game on multiple levels, thus increasing its replay value. This is a great bonus to it, since I believe I personally will be expansion-hungry by mid next year. If FFG keeps on releasing expansions (small boxes suffice, with additional murder cases, the one or other additional detective, personal plots, etc.), this game will be the number one in the box office, so to speak.

Overall, I'd like to hereby hand Kevin a well-deserved cookie, as well as the royalties he gets from me buying the game.

Job VERY well done, Kevin. I can't await playing it.

I have to agree with Mike here, this is a class act. As I said elsewhere, I'm not so sure this is a game or a play-it-yourself movie, a form of "game noir," as the rpg elements are fairly high. It's hard to tell from reading the rules just how easy this puppy will be to teach to others or how it will appeal to casual gamers, but I can see it's high expansion potentials. In a way, this is AH in space. Now, if only the Old Ones--or their equivalent in alien beings--can become part of the Conspiracy--and what about investigator sanity?

Good job, Kevin. And great art work, too.

Said cookie:

If I understood correctly, there are several ways to win the game. Either you try to get the most evidence on you suspect, you play the conspiracy puzzle, you try to get the best of you own story or you the three at the same time. This with six murder cases and five investigators, you will get a rather high replay value.

Kevin has said this game will be light on expansions:

http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=220&func=view&catid=10&id=14354#14358

Mr Skeletor said:

As much as I aprreciate Kevin's games, this statement will most probbly mean only 1 or two expansion a year

I seem to recall a similar statement from him about Arkham Horror a few years back...

This definitely looks like my kind of game, but I do hope they don't go the route they have with Arkham Horror as far as expansions go. As much as I enjoy Arkham Horror, it has become a beast to play with everything included and I really don't enjoy having to sort individual expansion items out on what already requires a decent amount of setup.

For Android, I'd be content with some additional investigators, murders, and perhaps some alternate plots or events to keep things fresh eventually. Small box stuff.

That's my $.02, anyway.

I dont think I have seen such a heavy story telling game. Its not really a deduction game but more about competitive story telling. I also like the moral ambiguity of the evidence rules. It dosnt really matter if you planted the evidence or if it is true. Some one will be guilty. It reminds me of the movie Chinatown or LA Confidential.

If it is popular it will get expansions. I will be buying

AMBusam said:

You know, you can save your $0.02 and not buy the expansions. If you are happy with the base game, no need to change it.

ColtsFan76 said:

Well sure, I could do that. But then I'd have $.02 burning a hole in my pocket and the consuming worry of if I'm missing out on possibly being MORE happy. It is the nature of expansions. I tend to be an 'all or nothing' kind of guy.

I think Arkham Horror has about the perfect expansion system to any of FFG's games. One big box, followed by one little box... roughly once a year. It allows those who just want a few more cards to pay a little money and add some new elements to the game. It also allows those who play more and want more... to scratch their itch with new board expansions and more complex rules.

That said, I'm also highly respectful to games like Fury of Dracula which are almost perfect straight out of the box. Sure you could add more cards and vampire hunters... but its not really needed.

I can see Android going in either direction, but the make of the game leads me to think the AH expansion plan would be a better fit, expecially the little box expansions. Each Android expansion could be a "themed" murder, adding one new murder along with all the new components to make it work.

Of course... I can't wait to play the main game. Once I get through law school finals... I know what I'm playing over Christmas break.

Judd

If I was a betting man I'd put my chips on small box. I think the nature of the components in Android lends itself better to that style expansion. To try to attach another board to these mechanics seems more headache than fun (for designers and players).

We'll have to see what they do. There's not much of a point in digging into it too deep before the game is even released.

AMBusam said:

I'll take you up on that bet! I don't see a little box being able to accomodate new murder or detective sheets. Maybe they will come up with a mid-size box, like what they used for Drakon and Troll.

Another thing to think about (and here's my inner role-player coming out) is the concept of meta-plot. I love the flavor of Android's universe and with the mention of civil unrest on Mars, conspiracies that result in murder and meg-corporations playing Frankenstein, it seems to me that expansions could be used to further the story of that universe. An expansion about Martian terrorists upping the stakes by trying to blow up the Beanstalk or cases that hint at the reasons that Jenteki was involved in that string of murders, etc.

Expansions would be a great opportunity not only to add detectives, cards and cases, but to further story-lines and explore the universe.

And no matter what, as long as the game is as good as it looks, I’ll buy as many as the print!

jpalmer1976 said:

10 to 1 that reference to a civil war on Mars is a hint at FFG's re-theming of the Dune boardgame license (you know, the one that didn't come with the license for the Dune universe...)

A desolate planet being fought over by multiple factions? I'll bet there are some nice safe havens from the nasty storms raging out there in the wilds, re-themed into terraforming bubbles instead of rock outcroppings. There's bound to be a resource to collect (Melange Mining, anyone?) and probably some of these megacorporations from Android standing in for the original factions. I even see a couple of religious sects mentioned amongst the Android spaces...

dudefella said:

While an interesting theory, hasn't FFG repeatedly said that they would be setting their re-themed Dune in the Twilight Imperium universe? A much more high tech Space Opera than Android seems to be?

Dudefella,

I am impressed with your meta-gaming mind! There is nothing better than games and expansions that tie into other games and expansions as a way of furthering plot. So whether it be a pseudo-Dune board-game focusing on the Martian colonist’s battle for control or an Android expansion that introduces detectives from the Department of Mars-land Security here to stop terrorist, I'm game. But again, that’s a great thought dudefella.