Battlestar Galactica The Board Game

March 29, 2010 1 Comment

Ever since first playing the Battlestar Galactica board game last year at Logtar’s place, I’ve been kicking around the idea of plunking down the cash to get a copy of our own. About a month ago, I talked myself into it (Yay, tax return!). I could have easily saved $10-$15 by ordering online, but I opted to go to my local nerd store (read: comic book and gaming store), Outer Planes Comics and Games (@outerplanes) and support the local economy. I also wanted to do my part to make sure there’s a nerd store in my town for my semi-frequent indulgences.

The best way to explain the Battlestar Galactica (BSG) game is to picture a humans versus robots-themed mashup of Risk and Clue.

The BSG game is made by Fantasy Flight Games and if you’re unfamiliar with their games, there are a lot of pieces, setup can take 15-30 minutes and they are very detailed. All of which, I think, make for a great time gaming.

For the first couple of times you play this game, I suggest planning to make an afternoon/evening of it with some patient friends. Let them know it’s a complex (but incredibly fun!) game and make sure they’ll be cool with you all learning as you go. There is usually an expectation that the person supplying the game is an expert in its game play.

The BSG game is fun to play even if you’re not usually a Sci-Fi fan (such as my wife who really likes this game) or if you haven’t yet watched the HBO TV series of it (as I hadn’t when I first played the game). Pretty much as long as the people playing like playing lengthy games and have an attention span, everyone at the table should have a great time.

If you don’t have a comics/game store in your area, I’ve found that Amazon typically has the best prices for the Battlestar Galactica core gameand the Pegasus Expansion.

One thing Fantasy Flight Games is known for, for better or for worse, is their sloppy editorial department. Most of the games I’ve seen from them come with typos and inconsistencies with the game mechanics. Here are some additional links you’ll want to bookmark to preempt the inevitable “This doesn’t make sense!” moments: