Game: Cosmic Encounter

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

Jhamin — 2008-08-29T01:15:45+00:00

marhawkman wrote:
Hmmm... that makes a lot of sense now. I'm not quite sure about what they DO though....

I also see oracle and Sorceror!

And it looks like Parasite is on the top of the pile of unused aliens.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

marhawkman — 2008-08-28T04:46:14+00:00

Hmmm... that makes a lot of sense now. I'm not quite sure about what they DO though....

I also see oracle and Sorceror!

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

Jhamin — 2008-08-26T19:18:13+00:00

A bit of web browsing has found some more detailed pics....

Closeup of some ships and the Zombie: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29617914@N08/2785861700/sizes/o...
(Note the timing info on the bottom, along with what looks like info on when the power applies)

Closeup fo the Warp: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29617914@N08/2785860956/sizes/o...
(Has a colony track, those floating markers from the previous image apparently work with this)

Another game in play: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29617914@N08/2785006601/sizes/l...

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

Jhamin — 2008-08-25T16:32:05+00:00

elmonty wrote:
There's a photo of a supposed CE prototype on the web. It looks really sweet! I see separate discs for planets (which could ignite a new bunch of alien powers to manipulate them), and cool stackable tokens (not spaceships)!

This appears to be from the Demos that were run at Gencon (Anyone here make it to the FFG booth?)

The tokens are spaceships. They are stackable flying saucers.

If you expand the picture, you can make out the names of the alien power cards of the two players at the bottom of the image. They are playing the Flitch and the Vacuum.

It also looks like the player on the left side just played a negotiate card and the player on the right just played a "08" card.

Thread: Re: Only experience = AH version. What am I missing?

fofluff — 2008-08-24T11:52:03+00:00

okay - AH sounds fine for us. Thanks for the replies, CapnDeviance & marhawkman!

Thread: Re: Only experience = AH version. What am I missing?

marhawkman — 2008-08-24T07:46:45+00:00

If you wish, you can use poker chips instead.

Image

robul — 2008-08-24T04:56:12+00:00

FFG Prototype Alien Card

Image

robul — 2008-08-24T04:49:07+00:00

FFG Prototype Closeup of Attack

Image

robul — 2008-08-24T04:46:33+00:00

FFG Prototype Being Played at Gen Con 2008

Thread: Re: Only experience = AH version. What am I missing?

CapnDeviance — 2008-08-23T13:51:59+00:00

fofluff wrote:
Hi! I have the AH version & have never played it. There is something I am confused about regarding the different versions. I like lighter games and will only be able to play this game occasionally (once we get around to it!) because we rarely have four players & that sounds like the minimun number needed. Anyway, I read in the forums here that the AH version is fine for a lighter level of play (for example, what Cheesechick says above), however, also, someone else stated that this version is fiddly. To me, fiddly usually means too complex (too much stuff to look up and/or remember to make the gameplay light). So, which is more accurate for my AH game? If it is too much to deal with, I may wait for the FF version reviews...thanks in advance for any advice or insight!
He meant fiddly as in the bits. The stacking plastic ships, mothership, and carriers are awkward at best.

Thread: Re: Only experience = AH version. What am I missing?

fofluff — 2008-08-23T12:30:01+00:00

Cheesechick wrote:
While I vastly prefer the Mayfair edition (never played Eon) to the AH version, I think the AH version works fine for people who have never experienced Mayfair/Eon. I've seen plenty of people get hooked on the game through the AH edition.

I'd say give the AH edition another shot with four players (I really don't think this game is all that great with 3)... players that really want to form alliances, negotiate, participate in tabletalk... etc. If you still don't like it then, then I doubt the added powers/flares/etc. from the earlier editions will do anything for you.

Hi! I have the AH version & have never played it. There is something I am confused about regarding the different versions. I like lighter games and will only be able to play this game occasionally (once we get around to it!) because we rarely have four players & that sounds like the minimun number needed. Anyway, I read in the forums here that the AH version is fine for a lighter level of play (for example, what Cheesechick says above), however, also, someone else stated that this version is fiddly. To me, fiddly usually means too complex (too much stuff to look up and/or remember to make the gameplay light). So, which is more accurate for my AH game? If it is too much to deal with, I may wait for the FF version reviews...thanks in advance for any advice or insight!

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

marhawkman — 2008-08-23T06:20:02+00:00

CapnDeviance wrote:
If those yellow/blue/white faceup cards just right of center in the top part of the picture are Nebulas I will preorder instantly.Well, the cards in white sleeves appear to be the Destiny pile. (Destiny DECK, WOOT!) So the yellow/blue card would have to part of the encounter deck as it is in a BLUE sleeve. I'm guessing artifact/edict or flare. As for why two boxes of text, on an edict, that could be what it does and when you can use it, on a Flare, it could be Normal and Super. Based on game state, it appears that someone played Mobius Tubes recently. Maybe the card is Mobius Tubes? Although I noticed a stack of Removed from game tokens, so it could also be the Void Flare.

The green deck looks like it's probably for power selection.

I still can't figure out what the colored markers are for. They're just sitting on the table. They don't appear to be doing anything at all.

PS: It's not a tablecloth. Someone painted the tabletop.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

elmonty — 2008-08-23T02:35:58+00:00

Limey Sponge wrote:

I don't know that I like the fancy tokens though, since it seems you would lose some of the flip the token over powers that use the ubiquitous black on the back to good effect. Maybe that is an unneeded worry.

Perhaps. We don't know what the other side looks like.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

Limey Sponge — 2008-08-22T22:41:28+00:00

elmonty wrote:
I'm guessing the chits in the middle may be score keepers and the white markers on the warp a score track. I could be wrong. If true, I can't see how multiple players having an equal number of bases could be seen. I would also be puzzled by a score track that goes up to 6 instead of 5.

It could be 0 to 5 instead of 1 to 6.

I don't know that I like the fancy tokens though, since it seems you would lose some of the flip the token over powers that use the ubiquitous black on the back to good effect. Maybe that is an unneeded worry.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

elmonty — 2008-08-22T21:44:06+00:00

I wonder if I can buy a tablecloth like that. :-)

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

elmonty — 2008-08-22T21:42:43+00:00

I'm guessing the chits in the middle may be score keepers and the white markers on the warp a score track. I could be wrong. If true, I can't see how multiple players having an equal number of bases could be seen. I would also be puzzled by a score track that goes up to 6 instead of 5.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

CapnDeviance — 2008-08-22T21:31:21+00:00

If those yellow/blue/white faceup cards just right of center in the top part of the picture are Nebulas I will preorder instantly.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

elmonty — 2008-08-22T21:18:46+00:00

There's a photo of a supposed CE prototype on the web. It looks really sweet! I see separate discs for planets (which could ignite a new bunch of alien powers to manipulate them), and cool stackable tokens (not spaceships)!

There are also some unknown chits in the middle of the table, large alien power cards, and six white markers on the disc in the middle (the warp?).

Looks awesome!

http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m142/PatDolan/?action=vie...

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

marhawkman — 2008-08-21T09:51:12+00:00

ebay? mayfair probably can't help you now, didn't they quit making/selling it? Though you could call/email to ask if they have any in stock.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

montgods — 2008-08-20T23:14:13+00:00

Yes it seems that there must have been a mistake in the assembly. Now that I have it back in my hands, I can see that the backs of the two card sets are identical in color/brightness/cut etc, indicating to me that they were likely from the same, or very close, print runs. One of the monkeys just put the wrong pack in the box.

The one game I kept unpunched for 20-odd years turned out to be incomplete. Go figure.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Any ideas how I might get a replacement deck?

Thread: Re: Any News From FFG???

Pnumekin — 2008-08-19T23:22:53+00:00

I confess the box art doesn't inspire me either, but I preordered today anyway from ThoughtHammer.

Based on the one press release I saw, it looks like there will be various online play opportunities too, including (but not limited to) cosmicencounter.com.

Thread: Re: Any News From FFG???

lastalchemist — 2008-08-19T18:10:23+00:00

dturnerfish wrote:
To me, this game was always best with 4 or 5. So I am thrilled.
50 powers! Fantastic!

Now if I hear that Filtch is one of the powers I will be set.

The Filtch are one of the alien races. So you are all set.

There are also a number of new alien races that Kevin has come up with. A buddy of mine and I talked to kevin quite a bit about the development of the game and it really came through how much he just loves this game, and has been a big fan of it for years.

LA

Thread: Re: Any News From FFG???

Jhamin — 2008-08-19T04:00:33+00:00

squash wrote:

I'd rather have 6 players and a couple dozen aliens than 5 players and 50 aliens. But that's my personal preference!

Then you can wait to get the game and it's fisrt expansion and throw away 3/4 of the aliens, and you will have your preferred game

For what it is worth, with all the aliens that are going to be included, you can probably use a "player swirl" and the ships from the AH (or some other) version to fake a 6th player until the official one comes out (as has been confirmed by Mr. Wilson) in the first expansion.

Image

Grey Dragon — 2008-08-16T02:41:43+00:00

GenCon Indy 08 New Box

Thread: Re: Any News From FFG???

Psitticine — 2008-08-15T02:18:59+00:00

We play CE most days on our lunch breaks at work and use a cobbled together version we've customized from Eon, Mayfair and AH copies. We sometimes have 6 players, so we'll probably just rig up a ghetto solution like we do for the AH board.

That doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to expansions in the future, it's just that the number of players isn't such a big deal to me.

On the other hand, while I value Mr. Wilson's statement about it being a 'complete game', I would like to see some info on what is actually being included in terms of flares, moons, lucre, etc. I'm sure I'll be buying a copy, no matter what, but it'd be nice to know.

Thread: Re: Special system hexes

The Warp — 2008-08-14T20:31:26+00:00

I like moons, but when I added in the Blue Moon expansion, I liked them a lot more. The Mayfair moon categories were a great move, because it lets you pick the flavor of the game you are playing. You can eliminate the goofy stuff by not using the Cheese moons (which I think was the biggest complaint people had with moons in general). The half and quarter moons add a lot more tactical and strategic elements to the game. The Blue Moons work on this level too, and foster more cooperation and thought into who you want to have the same advantage you will have.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

JackhammerJohn — 2008-08-14T06:48:52+00:00

quantumplation wrote:

I think theming cosmic encounter as another intellectual property would be a terrible idea that is far too possible for my liking.

My suggestion comes out of the love for the game since I started playing it in 1977. Obviously it is well-loved and many gaming companies have tried to reintroduce the game to players, hoping it will finally catch on for the long term.

Science Fiction is a hard sell to the general public (though it is getting better) and fantasy seems to have a more universal appeal. If CE could be reintroduced with some different themes, it might be picked up by gamers that normally would pass it by. I believe the game mechanics are sound and would survive different themes as UNO, Monopoly, The Game of Life do with their games.

I would love see this game given a shot at having a long continous life in the mainstream world.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

DavidT — 2008-08-14T06:00:08+00:00

UninvitedX wrote:
Hello, I am the fellow who won the auction. I have looked at the link to More Cosmic Encounter packaging and the photo provided of the components and the pack of cards with the writing (instead of the number 1) is the Warpish flare which is indeed from the More Cosmic Encounter set (as seen in the link to those components). Granted the detail is hard to make out but if you zoom on that element, you can see it is the Warpish flare.

~Jay

There's no doubt that is the Warpish flare. There are only two flares in the Mayfair sets that have super powers triggered specifically in the first and third phases (as indicated by the two icons on the bottom of the card): Warpish and Doppelganger. As both of those aliens were introduced in More CE, that is definitely not a CE deck in the picture (it's definitely the Warpish flare, though, as a quick glance at both cards will show--the Doppelganger card has more text than that).

However, I'm a bit confused about this:

UninvitedX wrote:
One of the sealed packages of cards appears to come from MORE COSMIC ENCOUNTER instead of this set. As a result there are NO EDICT cards and most the FLARE cards are missing (only 12 for this set when there should be 48). There are also KICKER cards and REINFORCEMENTS which are also from MORE COSMIC ENCOUNTER instead of this version.

You say there are no edict cards, but both CE and More CE featured edict cards (22 and 10, respectively). Also, why only 12 flares? CE had 48, as you point out, but More CE had 54.

You have some kind of mystery deck on your hands, from the sound of it.

Edit: Of course I realize now that you had two sealed decks in the equation. So, it sounds like you probably got one sealed deck from each Mayfair set, which would explain the odd assortment of cards.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

UninvitedX — 2008-08-14T05:17:38+00:00

Hello, I am the fellow who won the auction. I have looked at the link to More Cosmic Encounter packaging and the photo provided of the components and the pack of cards with the writing (instead of the number 1) is the Warpish flare which is indeed from the More Cosmic Encounter set (as seen in the link to those components). Granted the detail is hard to make out but if you zoom on that element, you can see it is the Warpish flare.

~Jay

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

montgods — 2008-08-14T03:16:11+00:00

Davido,

Yeah, that's what I am trying to determine is whether I am getting scammed. The guy has decent feedback. 29 positives over a few years and no negatives.

Also, its hard to tell in the photo, but they are still well sealed in the original cellophane.

Thanks again for your help.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

montgods — 2008-08-14T03:14:11+00:00

Hi Malachi,

I've noticed that in this photo:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/221475?size=original

The visible end card of one of these MCE packs does look like the end card of one of the packs in my photo.

Maybe they did screw it up at the factory.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

Malachi — 2008-08-14T01:30:34+00:00

To further complicate things, when I got my (now long gone) CE set in the early '90s, one of the two packs of cards shipped in the box had been accidentally swapped with a pack from MCE. Since CE was in print at the time, I was able to write to Mayfair and get the CE pack I was missing.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

davido — 2008-08-13T23:07:49+00:00

From the photo, I see:
Rules
all or part of 3 system hexes
1 power (Vulch from CE)
2 stacks of cards
-"Attack 1"
-some sort of edict (both sets have edicts, albeit different number and type)
1 set of tokens
info describing "Worldships" reverse hex
other text/reference below

From the *photo* there isn't any way to tell if any of the components were from MCE versus the stated CE.

I see the dilemma, e.g. if you take the item back, there is no way to know if the buyer swapped in(relatively cheap) MCE components for the more in demand CE components. So it becomes a "he said, she said" situation-if you know that you sold a complete Mayfair CE, then you'd have to stick to your guns and expect said back in exchange or hold to the original sale (possibly accepting negative feedback w/your follow up comments to that effect).

The portion of the shown edict card is the key-if anyone can identify it from the photo and place it with either CE or MCE that would help resolve matters.

FWIW, the card packs do not appear sealed in the photo.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

montgods — 2008-08-13T22:31:09+00:00

Thanks for responding. I'm clear on what is supposed to be in there. The question is, does the pack of cards in the photo look like it could be the wrong pack, and are those bigger cards the reference cards he mentioned.

I just want to make sure he isn't scamming me. It was an expensive auction.

Thread: Re: Does this set look complete? Help!

davido — 2008-08-13T20:57:09+00:00

http://daveola.com/CosmicEncounter/Components/Mayfair.html

Thread: Does this set look complete? Help!

montgods — 2008-08-13T20:11:48+00:00

I just sold a copy of Mayfair Cosmic Encounter on eBay, and the guy who bought it says it is incomplete. I was wondering if anyone could comment on his assessment, based on this photo I took when I listed it. Thanks to anyone who can help.

http://picasaweb.google.com/davidsmontgomery/CosmicEncounter...

Here is what he said:

There is only one reference sheet (should be three) which is not a big problem.

One of the sealed packages of cards appears to come from MORE COSMIC ENCOUNTER instead of this set. As a result there are NO EDICT cards and most the FLARE cards are missing (only 12 for this set when there should be 48). There are also KICKER cards and REINFORCEMENTS which are also from MORE COSMIC ENCOUNTER instead of this version.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

silenceindigo — 2008-08-12T01:05:55+00:00

In fact, what I just meant was sticking with the current CE rules et al., just to give the game a little bit of background - no more than Starcraft's, say - to give capricious pedants like me some quasi-RPG bone to chew. Just to make the aliens less generic... I can hardly enjoy a game if I don't care for my faction, a leftover from game mastering RPGs for years I guess.

And I'm perhaps not the only one to actually love the faction descriptions on the background of Twilight Imperium reference cards...

I just think FFG has a great opportunity to build some theme over CE's nice mechanic, if only for colour, considering it's a bit their calling card after all. No need to go at another franchise for that!

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

quantumplation — 2008-08-10T21:01:46+00:00

I, for one, found the quirky and bizarre nature of all the aliens to be quite immersive. Whenever things done crisply, cleanly, and with a very specific idea in mind, I often have a harder time being immersed, because they have their image of what they wanted and I either can't see it, or don't like it. When someone is left to the imagination, I am immersed.

The aliens were more strange than cartoony, and that makes them more alien to me.

I think theming cosmic encounter as another intellectual property would be a terrible idea that is far too possible for my liking.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

elmonty — 2008-08-10T20:38:10+00:00

No offense taken. Historically, CE's theme is not dark nor immersive. If you're looking for heavy theme, CE is not the place to look. If you're looking for a fun experience with heavy player interaction, CE is it.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

silenceindigo — 2008-08-10T17:32:08+00:00

I didn't mean offence by using the terms "toony"; what I meant to illustrate was the difference between the two poles, as styles in theme, between CTHULHU MUNCHKIN and ARKHAM HORROR.

And for the record, if games can't be serious, then I'm curious as to the lack of laughs heard during chess tournaments.

Seriously, folks, perhaps I should have said "immersive". I didn't mean to criticise. Just to state a preference.

From what I saw from pictures on BGG, it just seemed to me that CE fell in the first category of "light" (which is nothing wrong by itself) except perhaps for the last version of CE, while my interests go strongly for the second type, "not-light hearted". Having a dramatic if not outright grim theme counts for much in my enjoyment of a game. I'd like it much better if CARCASSONE, for example, had a HELLRAISER thematic for example. I'm not very much into beer & pretzels game. Just a personal preference. To each his own, neh?

FFG have me compulsively buy a lot of their most expensive games just because of thematic. Heck, I can't bear myself to buy MARVEL SUPERHEROES because I don't like the theme, though I find the mechanics fascinating. Colourful spandex fistfighters just doesn't ring my bell as a theme.

So, I was just wondering what course FFG was following for their thematic approach to CE4: Will it look and feel "light-hearted" (like RED NOVEMBER) or will it look and feel "dramatic-immersive" (like TANNHAUSER)?

If FFG's intelligence analysts are reading this, I vouch wholeheartedly for option no.2. Gimme a "Lovecraftian Cosmic Encounters" and I'll compusively buy all supplements.

Respectfully,

Erick

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

elmonty — 2008-08-10T13:41:53+00:00

CE is not cartoony. It can be silly at times, serious at others. It is, at heart, a negotiation and area control game, with some chaos thrown in.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

JackhammerJohn — 2008-08-10T10:17:40+00:00

I have the original Eon sets (2). My friends and I loved this game and everyone who played went out and bought their own copies. It was that addictive.

I guess I am a die-hard fan because the 1977 tokens were anything we wanted them to be - ships, aliens that lived in space, energy, etc. AH's ships were too limited to me. In the 1970's the aliens were truly unique and almost mysterious. To me the only way to play is with hex boards and the hyper-cone! So I hope the new FFG edition keeps to the basic design elements.

However, I wonder if FFG couldn't do more to introduce the game to the mainstream public using some of its licenses. For example, a Warcraft Encounter Game with Aliens being different races or heroes. The Warp becomes the Graveyard. This same concept could be done The Game of Thrones, Dark Heresy, etc. Heck, Star Wars, Star Trek Encounters could be winners.

What do you think?

Thread: Re: 6 Different International Cosmics

Raul Catalano — 2008-08-10T08:43:42+00:00

An interesting and useful review !
Bravo !!

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

marhawkman — 2008-08-10T06:54:46+00:00

"serious" and "game" do not belong in the same sentance.

Thread: Re: 6 Different International Cosmics

marhawkman — 2008-08-10T06:52:55+00:00

COOL! Is the new release going to be just in US? these guys could use more Cosmic.

Thread: Re: Special system hexes

marhawkman — 2008-08-10T06:43:05+00:00

As for me, I've found that they're my favorite addition to the game. With the exception of Lucre, I like all the other expansions too, but not quite as much. Comets and moons might start to grow on me if I used them more....

EDIT: BTW this idea was intended as an "ordinary" alternate system.

Thread: Re: Any News From FFG???

squash — 2008-08-10T05:33:45+00:00

Catanarama wrote:
RandallPeek wrote:
The original set had something like twenty aliens, and it didn't lack for playability. People, be happy that you are getting an all-new edition of CE, and leave it at that.
Okay, on to something more important ...

The point above is an interesting one, and I think there's a lot of people (here at BGG and elsewhere) too quick to jump on the 6-Player Bitching Train. Fifty aliens in the FFG basic set is going to be a pretty nice deal, and it's a figure that compares well with other basic sets of the game:

Eon: 15 aliens
Mayfair: 48
Games Workshop: 32
West End: 20
Avalon Hill: 20

I'd rather have 6 players and a couple dozen aliens than 5 players and 50 aliens. But that's my personal preference!

Thread: Re: Any News From FFG???

dturnerfish — 2008-08-10T05:13:41+00:00

To me, this game was always best with 4 or 5. So I am thrilled.
50 powers! Fantastic!

Now if I hear that Filtch is one of the powers I will be set.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

silenceindigo — 2008-08-10T01:57:11+00:00

Just curious...

I've been thinking for a long time whether COSMIC ENCOUNTERS was worth the buy, but the humorous-toony theme was very off-putting to me. I like immersive games, with serious if not necessarily dramatic themes.

Does anybody actually know if FFG plans to make this a serious-themed game (such as they usually do, like Twilight Imperium or Starcraft), or will it be still a toony theme like SJG's Munchkin game?

Thanks for any info,

Erick
www.silenceindigo.org

Thread: 6 Different International Cosmics

The Warp — 2008-08-09T18:44:50+00:00

As promised, I finally got around to writing up a review of the international editions of Cosmic Encounter that I have... there are a couple others out there that I haven't yet acquired (so feel free to point me in their direction if you stumble upon them).

Games Workshop (UK)

The UK edition of Cosmic is one of the most unique. It was the first set that used something other than tokens. This set has little colored cones (easy to stack). The set comes with 6 player support with a board that actually makes it look like a board game. This set has 32 aliens in the box (and 4 more that were made available in White Dwarf magazine.

Components

The cones are pretty easy to use- though the Hyperspace cone is a little small comparatively. Even stacking your cones, it's hard to fit them all on that Hyperspace cone. We also got tired of referring to the cones as cones (since it got annoying differentiating between unit cones and the Hyperspace cone). We also had to count and recount stacked cones alot to make sure of their number.

The board is also a little on the small side, but pretty decent. I do like having artwork for the planets. The US versions mostly had white circles, or slightly colored circles. Only the Avalon Hill version had attractive planet artwork (which I eventually used for my homemade set as well).

The aliens have a nice, consistent artwork- which curiously is based largely on the original Eon artwork... so, it's some other artist's version of that same alien. I used many of the Games Workshop art in my home set.

Game Play

Other than a few nitpicky things mentioned above, this is a pretty good set to play. It has a lot of alien variety, and can accommodate up to six players, which is very nice. There are no flares, but the challenge deck is comparable to an Eon deck.

Bottom Line

I'd recommend getting this set over a basic Eon set (or West End games, or even the Avalon Hill version).

Rencontre Cosmique (France)

The French version also supports 6 players, with 35 aliens in the box. There is also a more basic version of Rencontre Cosmique out there, which only supports 4 players with 20 aliens (and is essentially just a basic Eon version in French).

Components

This version, aside from the French text, appears very much like an Eon edition. The system hexes are a purple hue rather than black. Tokens are plastic chips, like the West End games version of CE.

Game Play

If you can read French, this will be a pretty good set to use. Even if you don't, the translations are readily available.

Bottom Line

C'est pretty good.

Universums Harskare (Sweden)

The Swedish version plays up to 5, with 16 different aliens to choose from.

Components

The components here are pretty nice, with good art direction all around. The systems look nice, each with unique artwork. The aliens have new looks, consistent in style, and with nice details. Tokens here are square, but each color has its own spaceship art on the tokens. I used this concept with my own tokens, giving each color 4 different styles of spaceship (unique between the 10 colors in my set).

Game Play

As with the French version, some help for English-speaking players will be necessary. Some of the aliens here are also not obvious (since the art doesn't match the Eon version, and the alien names in Swedish are hard to figure out... Empat is obviously Empath, Filantrop is Philanthropist, Mutant is Mutant of course, but Bytare and Anakronit are pretty much anyone's guess- especially since the art doesn't offer great clues).

Bottom Line

The Swedes did a great job with this set. I wish they had more aliens included (16 is pretty low). As I understand it, the Finnish version is pretty much the same, simply with a different translation.

Contatos Cosmicos (Brazil)

The Brazilian version can play 6, and was the first edition to offer pink tokens. 18 aliens come with the game, including some curious choices for a basic set (Terrorist and Skeptic).

Components

The Brazilians made this version their own. The tokens are very small plastic tokens- the systems and half-hexes, with a splash of color in the corner. The edition sports one of the coolest looking Hyperspace cones (a design I converted into a special type of challenge called the Continuum Cone). Alien art is from the Eon set.

Game Play

18 aliens limits your variety a little, but allowing for six players makes up for it a little. Since there are no flares in this version, adding more aliens on one's own is pretty easy (easier than trying to add a 5th or 6th player to a different edition). Finding tokens and systems like the Brazilian one would be challenging, so it's good that it can play 6.

Bottom Line

It's too bad they didn't try to add their own alien artwork- that would have made this set a lot more unique and interesting. It isn't bad as is, but more aliens would have been better.

Konig der Sterne (Germany)

Konig der Sterne was the first German version of CE. This was a 4 player version, with only 15 aliens.

Components

Similar to the French version, the systems here are Eon, except with a blue hue to them. Aliens do sport their own, original artwork (though it's a little strange looking- one alien looks like a fried egg attacking a cheese grater). I did use a few of the aliens' art for the Prisoner powers in my home set.

Game Play

With only 15 aliens and 4 player support, this German edition is sadly lacking. I have two different boxes of Konig der Sterne, but their contents are the same. If a German set is your preference, seek out the "Mayfair German" set (see below).

Bottom Line

There isn't much about this version that's good. A few aliens have decent artwork (Chronos most notably), but the rest of the set isn't great. You're better off with the Avalon Hill one (of which, there is a German version).

Cosmic Encounter (Germany)

Hexagames has a German version of the Mayfair edition of Cosmic. 6 players, and 48 aliens.

Components

This is not quite exactly like the American Mayfair version. The tokens here are wooden, and have color on both sides (slightly bigger too). They also have a green player instead of two shades of blue. Also, no special destiny.

Game Play

Other than the horrible original Mayfair alien artwork, there isn't anything wrong with this set. If even has Flares (albeit the weaker Mayfair style) and reverse hexes. This is the most robust non-English version of Cosmic Encounter one can get.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a "foreign" version of the game, this is the set to get.

FINAL NOTES:

There's a Japanese edition that is really a basic Eon set translated. I don't have this one yet, and again- if anyone ever comes across this or the Finnish set- please let me know.

Thread: Re: Special system hexes

The Warp — 2008-08-09T16:07:58+00:00

I like the System Warp idea... it's a little like prisoners without the components, and an easier method of release. It makes sense to let players release from any ONE Warp.

I do enjoy the Reverse Hex systems quite a bit, though I admit we don't use them very often. It's only brought out with a group of experienced CE players, and after we've had a couple games with other assorted variants.

We had a summer where we played CE several times a week, for many hours, and we used every variant we could think of- and alternate hexes came up quite a bit.

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

CapnDeviance — 2008-08-08T04:29:58+00:00

Jhamin wrote:
For whatever it is worth, I sat in on at least a dozen playtest games for the FFG version. In the games I was at we ranged from four to 6 players and I can assure everyone this *is* Cosmic.

As Kevin knows where I live I can't go into too much detail, but I have seen the prototypes for the ships and they fill my geeky heart with glee. At least as nice as the AH versions, but a lot more fun to play with. (The fact that the fiddly warp ship from the AH version has been removed for a return to the more classic approach helped!)

Imagine a version that looks at least as nice as the AH version but without the fiddly components, way more play options, art that looks like something, and 5 players out of the box. (And it looks like Kevin has already confirmed the 6th player in the first expansion) What more do people realistically expect?

do want do want dowantdowantdowant

November can't come fast enough.

Thread: Special system hexes

marhawkman — 2008-08-07T07:18:25+00:00

Who likes them? Who hates them? Who has made their own? *Looks at Reda*

Anyways, I've found that having them in a game usually makes it take longer, but it's also usually more fun.

As for making their own, a while back a found a copy of the "warpish" hex. But I didn't understand the rules for using it. Namely why a special system would be associated with the Warpish race... Eventually I figured out that some game versions had a special rule stating that Warpish bases were actually placed on the Warp hex in the center. The Warpish hex is apparently intended to make this process easier by having a central hex with planets. Needless to say, as it took me over a year to figure that out, I made up my own version.

The original idea was kinda lame as it was just a secondary warp. Moderately annoying to all, but didn't really do anything for it's inhabitants. Eventually I ended up with ideas similar to Singularity, which wasn't quite what I was hoping for. The only difference is the timer being substituted for the standard warp stuff. It is kinda fun though. It's only half way the same.

(finished version)
Tokens lost in system go in the system's warp. For everyone but the system owner this is mandatory. The system owner gets to decide whether theirs go to the system warp or the main warp.
The system owner can release tokens from the system warp as part of a deal. This can be to either the main warp or to planets.
Tokens can leave the system warp for any reason they could leave the main warp. However, Mobius Tubes/Warp break will only affect one warp at a time. IE you must choose which warp will be affected when you play it.

So what do you guys think?

Thread: Re: FFG Edition: November 2008, but only 3-5 players

quantumplation — 2008-08-02T22:14:33+00:00

Jhamin wrote:
... art that looks like something...

Hah! The art in the AH version is absurdly amorphous, like a G-Rated Geiger playing with fractals or something. It'll be nice to identify the aliens, again. One of my favourite aspects of the game has always been the creative creatures depicted.

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Surya — 2008-07-24T14:33:46+00:00

The FFG edition cover

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conchad — 2008-07-16T19:50:25+00:00

Custom Cosmic Encounter Board

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The Warp — 2008-07-11T21:20:59+00:00

Alien card from Cosmic: The Encounter

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ribyook — 2008-07-02T17:56:40+00:00

Customized Cosmic, made by wife, She painted the tiles, marble coasters for bases, felt covered washers for units, gaming stones for destiny

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ribyook — 2008-06-23T20:46:22+00:00

Custom Cosmic: Red system

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Skyjoker — 2008-04-03T03:46:11+00:00

AH edition ships