BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE BOARD GAME
I don’t have cable. Seriously. The last time I had cable I remember thinking “Hey, I wonder if that new Ari$$ show is any good?” So, no. I have never watched the new Battlestar Galactica. And yes, my friends have all told me how awesome it is. But if I can’t get it with rabbit ears it isn’t something I’m apt to see. Which is kind of where I find the time to write 2000 word columns on tabletop wargaming, not to mention the time to play them. So when I sat down to play Fantasy Flight Games newBattlestar Galactica The Board Game for the first time, I had very little knowledge of the show – which is very much a part of the game (but fortunately not one required to enjoy it.)
The game was pretty highly anticipated in fan circles. When FFG dropped a number of these at Gencon earlier this year, they sold out immediately and their price (of the few people were willing to let go of) in online auctions shot upwards of $200 a piece. The game streets for $50. Well, this week it is finally out and it is pretty much a MUST for boardgame fans.
BSG is a cooperative social strategy game. The premise of it is simple. You play a member of the crew of the Galactica as do all of your counterparts, and you must work together to solve crisis after crisis that befalls the ill fated ship. Your objective is to complete a number of jumps and reach your final destination before you run out of resources. Trouble is, at least one of the players is secretly a cylon interloper who is secretly sabotaging skill checks and making decisions that could directly result in the loss of fuel, population food and water. But who’s the cylon? Who keeps blowing skill rolls? And did Harry just decide to avoid the skill check because he’s an idiot, or because he’s working for them? If the Galactica makes its final jump, the humans win. If they run out of resources beforehand – the Cylons do.
The result is a paranoid “He’s a cylon! No SHE is!” that feels like a cross between NUCLEAR WAR and, well, PARANOIA. Deals are made, kibitzing occurs and no one knows who to trust. And it’s a pretty damned good time. >You can check out a basic video explaining the concepts and showcasing the game here. If you’re a tabletop boardgame player and BSG fan, this should be pretty high on your list of things to get. This is also great for fans of cooperative play who delight in social manipulation and treacherous play. This one’s gonna get a lot of play here at the casa.
http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/Anyone want a BSG Game board for X-Mas????
GTO
