Ahoy.

We made a video featuring Star Wars RISK 2015. It's a fun game that flew under the radar because it's called Risk.

Is it Risk, or another game they slapped a Star Wars theme on and called Risk?

On 7/10/2017 at 3:45 PM, Hawkstrike said:

Is it Risk, or another game they slapped a Star Wars theme on and called Risk?

It's not Risk at at all, which is why it's fun.

Hmm ... intriguing. The right side seems kind of irrelevant though, since the rebel player needs to just get the shield down.

So what's better -- this or Rebellion?

Um. I'm not sure you can really compare the two. This is a very light, very simple game that's done in about 30 minutes. Rebellion is super heavy and takes aroud 4 hours.

So your review, plus reading on BGG, convinced me ... picking up a Black Edition copy.

2/3ds of the game makes sense to me.

The Lightsaber fight, though thematic, doesn't seem to fit from a gameplay perspective, though. Here's why: it doesn't looks like the exchange is worth it. On average, you play a lightsaber card and roll 4 dice, needing a 4-6 to score damage. So that's maximum four damage for a roll; an average of two damage though. With 12/13 hp for Vader and Luke, best case it takes 3-4 turns to beat them, and you get 3 or 4 cards (maybe 5 if Vader is redeemed) in return -- so you break even on actions, best case. On average, it takes 6-7 turns to get the damage in (and the Emperor card is equal to average dice, so that's a wash) and you earn 3-4 cards. So you're actually worse off in terms of actions, for no real gameplay benefit -- it looks like both players are better off skipping the lightsaber fight unless there are just no other move choices.

What am I missing?

well getting those bonus cards you get to play them without your opponent getting a chance to play any.

usually it's Rebel card, empire card, rebel card, empire card, etc.

But if you kill luke or vader you get to drop 4-5 cards in a row without chance of any counter I guess.

Also worth noting is that there's some revised rules we missed. Basically when you destroy a part of the fleet you get a bonus card. helps the empire

It's fun and quick as others said. Poorly named.

Don't hold back on using the death star or you'll get overrun in the end

9 hours ago, RogueLieutenant said:

well getting those bonus cards you get to play them without your opponent getting a chance to play any.

usually it's Rebel card, empire card, rebel card, empire card, etc.

But if you kill luke or vader you get to drop 4-5 cards in a row without chance of any counter I guess.

Also worth noting is that there's some revised rules we missed. Basically when you destroy a part of the fleet you get a bonus card. helps the empire

Yeah, but if you're playing cards to a useless end to get more cards, it's the equivalent of letting your opponent play four cards in a row that advances his own agenda, because you're playing four to six cards now trying to get four cards in a run later. Seems like a false economy.

I've seen the revised rules at BGG ... maybe it will all make more sense in play. But those revisions seem to make the lightsaber fight even less necessary as the Empire gets another action ever time the Death Star hits -- far more productive than swinging at Luke since you're both taking a threat off the board and gaining an action.

Eh. You're probably right. But I don't think this game needs that deep of strategical thinking lol.

It is essentially a reskin of the old Battle of Theed game.

9 hours ago, RogueLieutenant said:

Eh. You're probably right. But I don't think this game needs that deep of strategical thinking lol.

For me it does -- I want every part of the game to contribute meaningfully. So the Duel needs a way to influence the other parts of the game, so the choice of which of the three mini-games to play each turn has more meaning for both players. The suggestion at BGG that the winner can add a die to fighter attacks is a good start, but still a little lacking. I don't like the idea of havig to settle the duel before victory conditions are met, though that's an option.

The game is certainly very ripe for homebrew rules and balance tweaks etc.

10 hours ago, Sithborg said:

It is essentially a reskin of the old Battle of Theed game.

yes I point that out in the video