Review: TALON from GMT Games - The Players' Aid

[@robertmoffitt1336]

Was browsing through on of my FLAGS and found this now out of stock game at a great price. Thanks for the review which was still in my mind as I was browsing!

[@ReallyVirtual]

I love Talon. Even premium markers can sometimes have trouble marking the counters - I think it's the finger grease that prevents the ink adhering. I'm guessing there is a spray cleaner you can get? btw try fighting a Terran Space Station. They come equipped with a death beam that points in one direction. The station continually spins, so one has to try to manoeuvre to stay out of that beam's arc - very good fun! Not bought the add-on yet, but it's on my radar :)

[@shurlockbones4664]

You guys are are great! Wish you had more play through's.

[@vinylrabbit7295]

I would love to see a playthru of the SOLO Talon 1000 game addon also. I agree about the nuances in the game also the fact that all the weapons are close in weapons so maneuvering is very important to master. Also timing for when you shoot and can fill in the red boxes on weapons. Timing is everything. The developer has created a points value spreadsheet so they know how to balance the game based on what a ships capabilities are so the game would always be balanced as long as you are fighting the same points value games. Good dry erase markers and qtip style swabs works well. You are right this game is very much like Starfleet battles, the biggest difference is you had to predict the energy usage for your ships at the beginning of the turn where this game as you receive the energy you can decide where to allocate it. I suggest you get Staedtler Lumocolor non-Permanent M markers, they are a bit expensive but they are fine point and work well with this game.

[@ThePlayersAid]

You will, that's just going to be a separate video soon! Didn't want to just cram in into this one.

[@CarriedbyGg]

@@ThePlayersAid Will it arrive? :D

[@pedropereira758]

great review! any chance of a Talon & Space Empires 4x combo review/play-through (all the expansions)? :) Solo even better :) Grant’s solo SE 4x videos are top-notch..

[@ethanmckinney203]

DO NOT use paper towels to wipe the counters. The slightly abrasive wood pulp will put tiny, tiny scratches in the lamination. Ink gets in the scratches and you can't wipe it out most of the time, so it leaves faint stains that build up with each use. The first printing counters had poor lamination; second printing is vastly better. One weird trick: use ultra-fine point Sharpies to write on the counters. Yep, they're permanent markers. When you use them on a laminated surface, you write over them with a dry-erase marker, let it dry, and wipe off the dust! We've used them on laminated play aids since about 2000. At the end of the game, moisten a piece of t-shirt with rubbing alcohol and gently wipe the counter. This removes skin oils and any remaining ink. (While you're playing, try not to touch area of the counters where you're going to write.) Have fun!

[@gowensbach2998]

I used to have Federation Space (starfleet battles) which this game would probably match closer too.

[@RavenShinyThings]

i bought talon and 1000 as it just looks stunning and to me must be up their with my memories of full thrust by gzg which if you have not played that is another one for you two

[@-Markus-]

I bought this game the other day and I cant ignore how cheap the components feel... The ship tokens, especially, which is the main focus of the entire game is 1mm thick..I guess having them laminated might somehow require them to be this thin, but they feel so cheap. They should have been 2-3mm to give them some heft and make them easier to handle without smudging the dry-erase markings off.

[@von4297]

Jim Krohn also designed the Band of Brothers games.

[@jadane77]

Oh wow. I didn't realize that. One of my all time favorites!

[@jon7043]

I have read this game has one side that has better ranged weapons than the other which means they can just keep the opposition at arm's length and just keep on killing the enemy. Is that true? Has it been resolved?

[@lordunborn]

Next step is Federation Commander then Star Fleet Battles in complexity.

[@gordontodd4774]

At about 10:05, when talking about the anti-mater torpedoes, you mention that a roll is not required at range 1, it is automatic 4 damage. This is incorrect. Torpedoes are Not Allowed to fire at 1 hex range. You have to go to p 23 of the Play Book where it says that anti-matter torpedoes can't be fired a close range.

[@varovaro1967]

Wheres the merchandise sold? T shirt?

[@ThePlayersAid]

We had a limited run of t-shirts last year, there's only 2XL and 3XL left. [e-mail] if you want some details, but it's $30 flat rate (includes shipping).

[@r.l.jeffries1091]

The P500 on this reprint is going sooooo slow. At about 220/500 at the moment :(