Here's a tactical dogfighting game for Star Wars fans. It puts you in deep space, and gives you the opportunity to... blow each other up. You start out with an X-Wing and two Tie Fighters, move dials, move templates, ship and pilot cards, dice, a weapon range ruler, some obstacle markers, some tokens, and that's about it.
First, one thing that sets this game apart is that there's no board. You play on whatever tabletop you have available. That can give you a very wide area to play in. It can mean some long-distance chases. It also means that you can introduce your own obstacles, if you want. (The set includes a number of asteroid obstacles, but it could be fun to add your own objects for planet size interference, etc.)
Game play occurs in 5 phases:
1. Planning. Players dial in a move in the ship's movement dial and lay it face down by the ship. Every ship has a different movement dial, which gives it different maneuvering characteristics. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
2. Activation phase. The ships are moved according to the movement dial following a set order. A template -basically, a curved or straight rectangle -is available for each maneuver. This indicates where the ship ends up at the end of its phase. (This is where pilots try to outwit each other. Guessing and second guessing -like paper-rock-scissors on steroids.)
3. Combat phase. Pilots that have others in their sights may fire on them. There are firing arc markers on the ship bases and a weapon range ruler to determine the possibility and accuracy for a shot. Players firing roll firing dice. Players being shot at role defense dice. This is where ships take damage and blow up.
4. End phase. Players that haven't blown up yet, or otherwise won or lost according to certain conditions, clean up their tokens and prepare for the next round.
The game gets pretty intense -you may actually find yourself leaning into your turns. The aspect of second-guessing your opponent is a real pleasure. Gameplay is simple, but real skill is required to outmaneuver your opponent. Star Wars fans will appreciate the ship characteristics, because they are based on the "real" versions.
With the various scenarios available, as well as the possibility to play on different surfaces and introduce your own obstacles, there is a high replay value. Replay value increases even more with the non-random expansion packs, which give you extra ships and pilots. (You can buy Darth Vader in his special Tie Fighter, for example.) More ship mean more elaborate scenarios.
Drawbacks? The initial price is rather high -three ships? How about a few more for the price. Expansions are likewise expensive. These are the only real drawbacks.
This game is highly recommended for it's tight dogfighting gameplay and its possibility for complex scenarios with expansion.
Also check out the expansions like Star Wars X-Wing: Y-Wing Expansion Pack and Star Wars X-Wing: TIE Advanced Expansion Pack for creating more complex scenarios. If you want a break from space combat, check out THE Book of Word Games: Parlett's Guide to 150 Great and Quick-to-Learn Word Games.
Hope this was helpful.
I have two core sets, and three expansions purchased thus far, and I'm simply loving this game.My kids and I (11 and 12) find ourselves playing several times a week.It is not overtly complicated, and has two sets of rules you can play with.A very simple set to help younglings or new players ease into its combat, then a more advanced set of rules that allow for even more dynamic battles and fun.This game has a lot of potential, and with the Millennium Falcon, Slave 1, A-Wings and Tie Interceptors already coming out this holiday, this thing is going to be a blast. I can't imagine what its going to be like when an Imperial Star Destroyer finally hits the market.Surely those things are in the works.
One of the major negatives is the price.Here, at Amazon, it sits at a good price point, elsewhere, its 10 to 15 dollars more expensive.Buying this game on-line is the way to go.I would recommend picking up the core set (probably an additional one too) and pick up at least one each of the expansions.Fantasy Flight games does a wonderful job explaining the rules, packaging their sets, and giving you plenty bang for your buck.These guys are the Porsche of board games.You can't go wrong with this.It is simply addicting.
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If you love star wars and table top gaming, you'll love this game. Great quality, easy to learn rules and beautiful ship models. The game needs to be played on a 3 x 3 surface, preferably cloth so models don't slide around. Sadly, no game mat is included or available. I went to wal mart and bought a 3 x 3 piece of black cloth for $3.50. Couldn't find night sky star field fabric in my area :-( hopefully you can. Its an awesome game set in an awesome universe. Go buy it, you'll like this one alot. Check out fantasy flight games site to check it out. I believe you can read over the rule book. Enjoy :-D
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This is a great game! I highly recommend it for Star Wars and dog fighting game fans. The components are well made and pre-painted. The game consists of individual fighters commanded by generic pilots from Imperial and rebel squadrons as well as named experienced pilots like Luke, Wedge, and Imperials like Darth Vader and Dark Curse. Note, some pilots come in the expansion packs. All the pilots are rated a value and you typically play a points game (like 50 or 100 pts per side). The Imperials are less expensive than the rebels which is why the starter kit comes with two Tie fighters and only one X-Wing. You can buy two starter kits to double your numbers or buy the expansions (which I did) to add ships and some new named pilots. To even out points you can add some special cards that improve pilot skill or add astromech droids that fix damage or improve ship handling. Players can jump right in as Luke, but I recommend playing as a rookie pilot first.
There are some weakneses:
1) There is no campaign, it would have been nice to see a system to graduate players from low ranks to higher ones with some linked scenarios. As it is I can be a rookie in game one and Wedge in the next.
2) The fighters are mounted on a plastic stand with a seperate plastic pole linking the miniature and the base. This is the part most likely to break and I would like to have seen FFG the publisher include two extra stands to cover breakage.
3) FFG suggests using a 3x3 playing surface. I wish they had simply printed a stary map, do not use felt, your stands will snag. Go to a fabric store and get the kind of cloth used in tablecloths, black of course, andthen use your artistic talents to add stars and nebula.
Gameplay is based on maneuvering onto a tail position and rolling hits. Some feel this may be repetitive, however that is what dog fighting is about. In tank games, tanks manuever for flank shots and in skirmish games, soldiers move and shoot from cover. If you don't like the idea of dog fighting over and over again don't get this or any fighter game.
I highly recommend this game if you want to refight the fighter battles of Star Wars. Current expansions include Y-Wings and Darth Vaders advanced Tie fighter. This winter will see the Millenium Falcon, A-Wings, and Tie Interceptors.
May the Force be with you!
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Fun game, love the figs.Must have for Star Wars geeks.Only down side is the 'collectable' nature of the minatures.The starter kit comes with only one x-wing and two tie fighters and is about $40.Ouch.Each of the add-ons is about $15.So, if you want another TIE, $15, another x-wing, $15, the TIE Advanced with the Darth Vader pilot card, $15.They did a good job of dispursing the cards as well.R-2 and Luke Skywalker can only be found in the X-wing expansion.The only photon torpedo weapon cards are in the Y-wing expansion.So, I have about $120 in this game so far.I have five TIE fighters, TIE advanced, three x-wings, and a y-wing.
Wave two comes out very soon.Millennium Falcon and Slave I are gorgeous figs, but about $30.Ouch.
I should say something about the dog fighting ascpect of the game.Very fun, so far.Lots of trying to guess where your opponent will be next turn.Pretty easy rules.(For those of you who remember Car Wars, it reminded me a lot of the basic version of that game.)
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