Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy Review & Retrospective

[@samuelbaugh4952]

I just now saw that the starting player hexes go in the player trays thanks to this video, it’s absurd how well organized this game is

[@TheCardboardHerald]

I’m glad to be of service. Cheers from Alaska!

[@nicolajohnson1887]

We have played it 6 times since buying it, we even made our own custom variant races, by downloading templets, it's hands down the best game we have ever played.

[@kellypage9977]

One of the best overview videos I've ever seen. Kudos!

[@calebferreira7964]

Very nice review! A good overview for such a short video run time!

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Caleb Ferreira thank you! I strive to say a lot with a little. I don’t always succeed but I’m really happy with how this vid came out. Happy gaming!

[@LukeDavisWarhammer]

I very much enjoyed the summary. Well done, well said. Can't wait for my copy to arrive.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.

[@nicolajohnson1887]

Yeah I've ordered our copy, it's due in October, direct from the manufacturer, as I couldn't source it any other way, least not in spain, I tend to paint the minis too as it enhances the game, and adds value in the event I sell the game on.

[@yorkoh5880]

I really enjoyed this essay format for board gaming, I think there is plenty of room for this kind of discussion and breakdown in the BG arena. As my first video of the channel's, I hope to see more like it! I really like the design in Eclipse for action cost - it's thematic and simple, and from a high level seems like a great means of making sure no one faction is storming ahead due to the bureaucracy and size of their empire holding them back in varying costs.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Thank you! That means a lot. I've done a couple more essay type videos, notably Marco Polo II and Fort, and I'm really enjoying the format myself. It allows me to explore why I like games more, and I think it makes for a more interesting analysis of a game.

[@mattparkinson8471]

4:22 who rolls on the table next to an empty dice tray.. TRIGGERED.

[@joerihessels8230]

Great review as always! Having never played Eclipse, the progressive costs are one brilliant action system!

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Thank you! I only hinted at it in the review because I didn't want to lose flow by going too in depth, but what makes it even more cool is that you pay for your actions as part of upkeep at the end of the round, encouraging risk. Even if you can't pay for your action now, maybe two actions might result in a fat chunk of space that offsets the cost? Alternatively if you can't afford what you owe, you pull up discs from sectors until your balance checks out. If you overextend without a way to compensate it can absolutely brutal, but it's a really damn cool system.

[@joerihessels8230]

@@TheCardboardHerald Wow even better! Cool to hear, and your enthusiasm definitely speaks well for the game ;) It seems Eclipse will take quite some time though, what are your average playtimes?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

@@joerihessels8230 With moderately experienced players ~2 hours play time for 4 people (my ideal player count). I usually account for 15 min setup, 15 min for choosing races and recapping any race specific powers, 20 minutes for cleanup. So to me a 4 player game is probably going to be a 3 hour event. If you had people really experiences with the game who also helped with the setup / take down, I think you could easily shave that down to 2.5 hours total. 2 and 3 player games are also fun though don't have quite as bright of an adaptive spark and those can be done in an hour and half playtime, for sure.

[@joerihessels8230]

@@TheCardboardHerald Thanks! A bit on the long side, but no Game of Thrones or Twilight Imperium levels :)

[@GGdeTOURS37]

Great game! Much better than TI4 for me! Much FASTER! WOW!

[@Timlagor]

We found Eclipse had a fatal flaw that it was no fun to be losing and there was a strong incentive to go for someone's throat as soon as you had an advantage on them so often a player was crippled and having no fun or someone else was self-crippling

[@gregoryturk1275]

Use starbases, easier to win as the defender. Always.

[@faxanadu13]

Great writing.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

faxanadu13 thank you!

[@faxanadu13]

I own the original Eclipse including all the expansions and the acrylic bit holders. I know it would be insane to buy the new edition but it seems like most or all of the extra content got added in. Is this right?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

faxanadu13 pretty much everything from the base game and ship pack 1 along with a few elements of shadow of the rift and rise of the ancients. The biggest missing thing is that it doesn’t have any of the expansion factions but I would be amazed if those didn’t come out down the road.

[@TheLimestoneCowboy]

Love my copy!

[@TheCardboardHerald]

It's really a thing to behold. Often I find specialized inserts are good in theory but cumbersome or "overcooked" in practice, but here everything is so easy to access & organize. I'm kinda blown away.

[@TheLimestoneCowboy]

@@TheCardboardHerald it’s how car-buying should be

[@brianpetersen8184]

I dig it a lot.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

The review, the game, or both? I may be bias, but I thought this was one of my better reviews, but that's fitting considering it's one of my favorite games with a really longview understanding, having played plenty of games of Eclipse since it's original US release.

[@brianpetersen8184]

@@TheCardboardHerald I dig all the reviews (video essay type of vids). Keep in mind I've only watched since the Jamey interview. I also like the game.

[@kylesmorgabord5592]

In a few key ways this game reminds me of Scythe. Namely the Cold War aspects, the lure of the center hex, the tight resource management. I love the concepts and mechanics of Eclipse more than Scythe, but for how crucial those first explore actions are, and how much luck plays into defining the map for the rest of the game, I wish it were as short of a game as Scythe. The luck of the combat dice however doesn’t bother me at all! It’s supposed to be all about preparing for that combat, getting your ships upgraded and ready to mitigate your rolls and your opponents rolls.

[@swvi9459]

Scythe is much better game then Eclipse. In Eclipse, you don't have to have any skills, you just need luck and that's it

[@kylesmorgabord5592]

@@swvi9459 I kind of agree. But the lack of “skill” in Eclipse wouldn’t bother me much if it were a 60-90 minute game.

[@nicolajohnson1887]

@@swvi9459 I couldn't disagree more eclipse is miles better, I own both and my group only ever asks to play eclipse because it's the better game.

[@swvi9459]

@@nicolajohnson1887 Well, some people prefer Transformers movie over Godfather. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nicolajohnson1887]

@@swvi9459 so you like transformers, that's fine I prefer the Godfather, But each to their own I guess.

[@markodespotov1455]

hi i cant find anywhere which version of the game should i get to be up to date i bought this game a while ago where rules are different but i want to update all can you let me know?

[@csblack72780]

I thought the missiles were pretty over powered in the first manifestation of the game. Has that been changed at all here?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Chris Black while missiles weren’t impossible to overcome in the original (especially if you had researched improved hulls) the first expansion added a couple technologies that made for other viable defense strategies against missiles (including faster but weaker missiles) which were included in this version. There’s a ton of strategy discussion on BGG about how to counter missiles if you want to do a bit of reading.

[@Manny-M]

Not just that, but they have made them more expensive to acquire and they also need power to drive them now. That looks to have balanced them well.

[@KSweeney36]

I have Exodus Proxima Centui and this feels Very similar. However I’m attracted to the new shiny. I’m tempted to sell my Exodus and buy this, but for the cost £10 (about $8) more for Twilight imperium. What you think?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

KSweeney36 personally I like Eclipse way more than TI and personally I love the components in this version, but it depends on what you want. Eclipse can also be played in half the time of TI4 but both are going to need people willing to learn complex and nuanced games to play with you.

[@schwamieboy1]

sweet

[@yanmartins7935]

Some combats gets way to dicey for me. There was one combat that lasted at least 5 minutos of two players JUST ROLLING DICE. But still, I thought the game was incredible.

[@85Funkadelic]

I own this game I've played it multiple times I want to love it so badly. Unfortunately the way the game is designed it is too difficult to be an attacker to punishing to attack other players so the game ends up being 6 turns of build up where maybe people fight a few neutrals here and there and then a final orgy of battle at the end or more likely someone choosing to attack another week player because they can't possibly attack the strongest player. Find a fix to this problem I love this game I think the tech system is awesome the ship design system is awesome the combat system is awesome the economic system is even awesome but unfortunately it has a problem with being a turtling game. Someone respond to this comment and tell me how to fix that with my? Do I need to fly out and try to punch another player in the face on turn 3?

[@fabiandemeter7284]

Do remember that partaking in battle is beneficial early on, because it allows you more chances to grab the high value 4 and 3 victory tiles even if you lose, especially for the small price of a couple of small fighters. I do see your point though and I'm opting to remove some of the 1s and 2s from the reputation bag to really hammer home the point of early aggression and make it less luck and more a payoff for deciding to attack early, especially cause rolling those dice is the most fun part of the game for me. And you can always group up against the strongest player to take em down a peg, especially allying against them can work well, even just scaring them into building starbases means they likely won't expand any further. Wish you great conquest!

[@gregoryturk1275]

I think you just aren’t playing with enough people or aren’t attacking early enough.

[@jaednhowlar2359]

This game sucks.

[@swvi9459]

I really wanted to love this game, but I just can't. I mean, it's good, but too much RNG elements in there. I really feel that to win in this game, you don't have to have skill at all

[@dnaseb9214]

I dont understand why everyone is kissing this games a$$ I never met a person who played this or knows what it is. I think people are just overhyped

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Dna Seb sorry you feel that way. It’s been a pretty beloved game since it’s release, it holds up well and it has a great new version. Seems like it makes sense why people dig it. Not saying it’s for everyone but if you don’t know anyone who has played it, maybe check it out at a convention lending library once we get through quarantine. Even if it’s not your thing it might be worth seeing why it is so critically acclaimed.

[@dnaseb9214]

@@TheCardboardHerald Thank you for your input. I already own Forbidden Stars and TI 4, so I dont know what this game can offer that the other 2 dont. Forbidden Stars has the universe of Warhammer, fun combat and a similar style of unit upgrades, only done via combat cards. While TI 4 Has politics, voting, more units and factions and soon heroes and great exploration.

[@denizkandemir9744]

@@dnaseb9214 forbidden stars drags too long if you play with 2 players and TI4 if you play with 4 players can take real long. I think this is on will fit in just fine between these

[@dnaseb9214]

@@denizkandemir9744 I play Twilight Imperium with 10 turns max, and player with most points wins also. If not people will turtle for ages and just never do anything to win. So time is never a issue in my games.

[@Thaidory]

Compared to TI Eclipse has reduced diplomacy for the sake of better combat and less time per game. Eclipse is a more fluid, polished and well balanced space wargame.