Harsh Rules: Let's Learn to Play - Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition - Part III

Ben Harsh concludes teaching Twilight Imperium the 4th Edition. This tutorial covers the Tactical Action and the Status, and Agenda phases.
Tutorial corrections that viewers were kind enough to point out:
20:30 - The player pays 6 Influence.
4:55 - PDS fire can only occur in the active system.
14:30 - The PDS unit can create a planetary shield that blocks a Bombardment Attack
17:25 - Space Dock production value should be the planet’s resources +2

[@chappy0061]

You forgot the planetary shield ability of the PDS that would have protected the ground forces from the bombardment.

[@michaelselvaggio4935]

Watched all three videos. This set of instructional videos are by far the best I have seen, bar none. The organization, use of dynamic graphics and the clarity of the speaker made this an enjoyable activity. Thank you, Harshly.

[@harsh-rules]

Thank you, Michael. Glad you enjoyed the videos!

[@tareqsamman]

totally, i did have to put it at 1.5 speed and later to even 1.75

[@greginfla7211]

I didn’t have to speed up; gave me time to reflect of comments before the next set of comments/rules. I like the speed; maybe a little slow but not by much

[@brycegarrett4830]

I liked the speed

[@a.z.p.]

I really appreciate how methodical these videos are, and with clear illustrations. It's like auditing a TI4 community college course; exactly what I needed to make sure I've got everything.

[@josiahhind5681]

Gearing up for a game tomorrow for the first time, feeling i basically have been studying this game most of the day. i'm ready for it i think

[@LeeroyPorkins]

This Three Part Series is the reason why I decided to buy TI 4

[@jpwfilmarchives8076]

Straight forward guide with nice visuals and no terrible jokes. Thank you 🙏

[@pixxelwizzard]

The way this information was broken down, organized, and presented is why Harsh Rules rules! This was fantastic. Thank you so much!

[@giorgiosambatakakis1814]

Another minor correction: to remove the Custodian token on Mecatol Rex 6 influence points have to be spent (not resources). Great video :)!

[@harsh-rules]

Ugh! I wish I'd caught that. Thanks for catching it for me!

[@harsh-rules]

Thanks for the correction, Giorgio, I added it to the correction list.

[@christianque8294]

Yes, you initially pay with influence but you may however, use a trade good as if it were an influence point.

[@christianque8294]

But you can't do this during casting your vote in the agenda phase

[@LeninResurrection]

4:55 PDS fire occurs only into the active system, not for ships "passing through" systems, also - in the example the Letnev PDS didn't shoot the attacking Mentak ships. 17:25 Space Dock production value is "planet +2" not x2. Thanks for the video :)

[@slikkian]

Yeah you forgot to actually use the PDS at all during space combat, and it also provides planetary sheild against bombardment. Also it seems worth mentioning "Direct Hit" action card when talking about sustain damage.

[@harsh-rules]

Good points. You're absolutely correct. It skipped my mind.

[@EmilRutkowski]

You also forgot to use the Mentak first-strike capability.

[@TheWhistler1967]

Does the Letnev PDS also prevent bombardment by way of planetary shield?

[@harsh-rules]

Yes, the Letnev also have this ability.

[@blizzfreak245]

Thank you for creating these walkthroughs of the rules and how each phase of the game works. It's a little overwhelming for new players, and I was convinced this was a very complicated and hard to understand game at first. However, after watching your 3 part series, I feel confident I know how each of the game mechanics work (even if I don't know game strategies!) to play the game with my friends who have played before. I've saved these videos in a playlist of my own to reference during gameplay in case I need to re-visit or review a phase of the game I'm confused about. I'm excited to start my first game of TI4!

[@RoamingWithRobert]

thank you for taking the time and energy to create these tutorials videos. very thorough and well organized.

[@SanityVideo]

About to play my first game and it sounds so much better than I expected. Thanks.

[@khyrodon]

Just watched all three and it’s the best instruction set I’ve found. Smart to split it up k to three videos since it’s longer than most, but for a game with the complexity of Twilight Imperium, that’s required. A 30 minute vide with sketches and jokes so often misses out the minor things, or can oversimplify the game, so you need to go back and watch it again when you come to that rule. But here, I only made a few screenshots on my phone to refer back to and I (think?) I’ve got the gist for tonight’s game. We’ll see how it goes. But thanks a lot!

[@izhual6209]

These videos are a máster class of TI. By far the best explanation I've ever seen. Thank you!

[@caseyburke6263]

Great video. Playing my first game tomorrow and actually feel prepared because of your videos. Thanks Harsh.

[@ScratchySpoon]

"A good sketch is better than a long speech". Indeed, and although your rules explanation was long, the visual aspects of it really helped with the learning. Also, to be fair, the 3, 20-something minute long videos did break things down very well and efficiently. I'm not sure a tutorial for TI4 could be done as well in a shorter time. I enjoyed your tutorial and luck willing, I will be playing TI4 for the first time tomorrow. :-)

[@harsh-rules]

Thank you for the kind words! Have a good game tomorrow!

[@ScratchySpoon]

Thanks. It was great! Seven hours of goodness.

[@harsh-rules]

Awesome!

[@gnehsse]

You've earned a subscription from me for your explanation of this game! Thank you so much and please do more videos!

[@simonsmith8742]

Thanks for the video series. These are so helpful, and very well done.

[@adamwhite4858]

Playing this for the first time this weekend, thanks for the primer!

[@jelle7937]

amazing instructions, amazing special effects

[@kostatsanidis9984]

doesnt the PDS fire on the invading ships as they arrive? i.e. during the mentak's movement phase?

[@ragnarvolarus9318]

Great explanation. Very clear and good presentation. Tomorrow we will play this for the first time, I'm very excited.

[@jasontharris7575]

Well done series! Best I’ve seen.

[@dimitriy2909]

Thank you very much for the tutorial! My game is on its way, hope to play soon 😊

[@ograx]

Thanks for making these it is very much appreciated.

[@Cenyon]

I'm supposed to play this game today and I'm already exhausted lol. Your videos were very informative though!

[@fuzzbuddy3729]

yes this helped me allot with the basic rules. but can advise first time playing to re-read the rules for each step using the rules reference book.

[@therupoe]

Thanks! My favorite rules vid for TI

[@_matis_]

This is by far the best video for TI4 and deserves much,much more views...Can you make a video for POK pls?

[@joshdenness6916]

This is so useful, thanks for making it!!

[@harsh-rules]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@nehamaw]

Thanks so much! Now I can know how to play without spending hours reading the rules :)

[@matthewmehlhoff2824]

Excellent job on these videos!!

[@harsh-rules]

Thank you, Matthew!

[@jacobamick7517]

Getting ready to play for my first time today, i ran through each cideo 3 times and now running this one a 4th time so im at least mostly up to speed with the other boys who have played.

[@essmiguel3122]

Amazing videos, you are the best!!!

[@harsh-rules]

Thanks!

[@designbot]

These tutorials are great - do you have any plans to make a video covering the new rules and components in Prophecy of Kings? (An updated, integrated tutorial combining TI + PoK would be even more amazing.)

[@j.athanasius9832]

That space dock you built on Saudor could not have been used that turn, since using a Strategy Card like Construction counts as a separate action. Additionally, a system must be activated on that turn's tactical action to use Production, so the Production Ability coming after the Move, Combat, and Invade steps is mostly an exception for L1Z1X or Arborec players, since a system must be activated THAT tactical action to be produced in.

[@TheMexicanSuperman1]

Incredible.

[@lukaspetr]

Thank you very much!

[@Ecolli]

Great videos! Could I make a request for Seafall? I have the game but no one will play it because they feel it's too confusing. You made learning TI4 so easy, maybe you could help me there as well.

[@harsh-rules]

Thank you for the kind words! I own Seafall and I've never had the opportunity to even break the plastic and look inside. Maybe I'll have a chance once I finish off my next batch of videos.

[@cmdrTremyss]

I love the "whoosh" effects during space combat

[@craftsmenMC]

One thing I think you should have clarified is that you cannot move units into or out of a system with one of your tokens there, and you cannot place a new token in a system that already has one of yours. So for example if I activated the Saudor system and did all that there, not only can I not activate that system again for the rest of the round (with some exceptions, such as using Warfare), the units I moved there cannot move out.

[@drpalafox]

So, if you spend all your command tokens in one round (seems usual), you start next round with just 2 new tokens + maybe reasigned tokens from space armada? Is not a full refill of starting values?

[@harsh-rules]

Correct. To boost your tokens further you need to use the Leadership Strategy Card

[@rikterandersson3568]

You can also abstain from using up all your tokens and later use them for next round. For example maybe save an extra tactical token and pick construction next round, build space port and then use your extra tactical token to be able to build from two space ports and use the token left to maybe sneak an attack in on those stupid turtles ;)

[@greginfla7211]

Love the video thank you so much for the time and effort. Just curious why don’t you use the Klingon subtitles to correct any oversights?

[@YassifiedQueens]

During the ground combat the attacking units all rolled a 0 but and the defending unit rolled a 7. Why did the defending unit still die?

[@Blast112]

a '0' is actually a '10' (the dice are just printed with single digits to represent 1-10. A hangover from when you use D10 with double digit ones for Dungeons & Dragons for example. where 1 is 0-9 and the other 10-90

[@bluedevil3d104]

I think something missing from the Agenda Phase walk through is how to resolve action cards such as Riders.

[@Antonin1738]

Thanks

[@kaiteinomen1]

A normal war sun's movement range is 2, not 1.

[@deunlebon3913]

Great vidéo ! 2 questions : During a vote, could you vote and exhauste only a 0 influence planet (for example if you are the speaker and the vote is already win with other players votes) ? What happen in case of tie ?

[@franciscoruiz6269]

so.. Every phase you play you will reveal a new public objective and game finish when 10 public objectives are revelead? or You must reveal a new objective only if you earn a victory point?

[@drak1559]

axis and allies 1940 global please

[@linkshroom]

Great vid, but it bugged me a bit that every time you mentioned spending a command token to activate the secondary ability of a strategy card, you showed the one strategy card where that's not the case.

[@harsh-rules]

Good feedback. I can see how that could be confusing.

[@doity]

Same. Confused me af

[@jcurran8509]

So because you jacked up and forgot to use the space cannon during the initial space combat i don't know the whole reason i watched this video. Does the space cannon fire every round of command at ships or just the initial?

[@SimonEBurgess]

Just the initial. Or to be mor precise, they fire after the end of the Movement step during a tactical action. So before space combat, if there are any. If there aren't any space combat, they fire anyways at the end of the movement step. Note that the movenet step can cosnsit of 0 new ships move in, and you can still fire your PDS's. Did that help?

[@thecolten1000]

Thanks for the clarification

[@zlatanoff]

The TI logo you are using says "Third Edition" on it. :) Great video nonetheless!

[@harsh-rules]

Thanks for catching. I thought I replaced them all with the new one.

[@BirneGilmore]

Annoying intro and extro music (way to loud), but very well made video and good description of most of the rules :)

[@LtRogers5]

How much time did you invest in making this three Vids. And what programs did you use?

[@harsh-rules]

I use Powerpoint and I didn't keep track, but probably well over 60 hours.

[@jordanwilliams8994]

So, wait. You can use planets for votes AND resources each round? I really liked tge dilemma of choosing in TI3.

[@memecleave4299]

Late reply, the planets wont be refreshed in the round after until the status phase so not directly no, you wont have access to resources for the next round then :)

[@slikkian]

Who wnts to meet up and play, or write an online version and play on that ha

[@harsh-rules]

I was just down at my local game shop picking up a new game and I overheard two different conversations of people setting up TI4 games for this weekend with other customers. Check your local game or comic shop. You might find someone looking for other players.

[@chetmcgovern9985]

If you oddly happened to be near my game store, I have a copy and play all the time.

[@leyo4306]

if you can't seem to find anyone to play .. then get Tabletop Simulator on Steam it's only 19 bucks and has a multitude of great games in the workshop .. almost every boardgame is there for you to play ..