Game star empires gift edition buy. Board game Star Empires

The distant future is engulfed in the flames of a great war for dominance over the entire galaxy... The Trade Federation is crushing with its developed economy, the collective swarm of Slugs is rapidly expanding, and the militaristic Star Empire and the progressive Techno-Cult are sending their ships to war. Only you can determine the outcome of this conflict. Conquer the galaxy and build your star empire!

This edition is intended both for true fans of the game and for those who are beginning their acquaintance not only with this game, but also with the world of board games in general. See for yourself - this set, in its beautifully illustrated gift box, contains one base game and one Gambit expansion, which consists of five mini-expansions. All this guarantees you a huge variety of gameplay. Beginners will be interested in learning a board game based on deck building. Those already familiar with this mechanics will simply be interested in playing a new game with original mechanics. And for the oldies, a second base will also be useful, with the help of which four of you can play!

"Star Empires" is a deck-building game for 2-6 people with a space theme. Players will have to assemble their fleet, equip bases and outposts, and attack each other to reduce the enemy's influence points. All players start on equal terms. Using various combinations of cards with unique properties, players themselves choose their strategy during the game itself, develop defense against enemy attacks and look for gaps in the enemy’s defense. You can follow different paths, use strength, cunning or wealth, but everyone will equally need skill, intuition and cold-blooded calculation!

This gift set, as mentioned above, includes the Gambit set. This set contains five mini-additions at once, and you can choose how many and which ones you will “connect” to the game party. The variety and depth of gameplay with them increases to incredible heights!

Promo cards - for real emperors! Conquer the stars and conquer your rivals with a set of promo cards that come with this set!

Equipment:

  • 128 base game cards;
  • 12 cards from the Bases and Ships expansion;
  • 12 cards from the Characters expansion;
  • 12 cards from the “Events” add-on;
  • 12 cards from the “Squadrons and Fortresses” add-on;
  • 20 cards from the Gambits expansion;
  • rules of the game;
  • rules of the game with additions.
  • Video for the board game Star Empires: Gift Edition

  • In the distant future, humanity has finally conquered space. But it turned out that people are not alone in the universe. The collective and evil mind of the Slugs opposed the people from Earth. Aliens, incomprehensible to the human mind, perhaps would not have become such a threat if people themselves had not split into three warring factions. The machine-worshipping Techno-Cult, the powerful Trade Federation and the noble Star Empire fight the Slugs and each other for every planet to the last ship. Can you lead your fleet to victory with the Star Empires Deluxe Edition?

    " " is a deck-building game dedicated to space combat. Players will take control of ships from four fantastic factions, developing their fleet and trying to reduce their influence in the enemy Galaxy to zero. Dynamic gameplay, rules that can be explained even to a beginner, and tactical depth give Star Empires the right to be considered one of the most popular card board games. With the deluxe edition of this game you get the base game and five expansion packs!

    Roads of deep space

    In the box of the game "Star Empires. Gift Edition", in addition to the basic set of 128 cards, there are five small additions, united under the name "Gambit". These add-ons are fully compatible and can be mixed together or added to the game individually. Gambit adds unique ships and bases to the base maps, as well as three new types of cards: events, characters and gambits.

    A new type of event card triggers as soon as it lands on the trading row. The event card cannot be purchased, it does not go into players' decks and is immediately scrapped.

    Characters are new cards available for purchase according to the same rules as cards for regular ships and bases. But after the purchase, the characters are not added to the player’s discard pile, but are immediately played and placed in front of him. Character properties are not as strong as those of ships and bases, but can provide decisive support at the right time

    The distant future is engulfed in the flames of a great war for dominance over the entire galaxy... The Trade Federation is crushing with its developed economy, the collective swarm of Slugs is rapidly expanding, and the militaristic Star Empire and the progressive Techno-Cult are sending their ships to war. Only you can determine the outcome of this conflict. Conquer the galaxy and build your star empire!

    About the gift edition

    This edition is intended both for true fans of the game and for those who are beginning their acquaintance not only with this game, but also with the world of board games in general. See for yourself - this set, in its beautifully illustrated gift box, contains one base game and one Gambit expansion, which consists of five mini-expansions. All this guarantees you a huge variety of gameplay. Beginners will be interested in learning a board game based on deck building. Those already familiar with this mechanics will simply be interested in playing a new game with original mechanics. And for the oldies, a second base will also be useful, with the help of which four of you can play!

    About the base game

    "Star Empires" is a deck-building game for 2-6 people with a space theme. Players will have to assemble their fleet, equip bases and outposts, and attack each other to reduce the enemy’s influence points. All players start on equal terms. Using various combinations of cards with unique properties, players choose their own strategy during the game itself, develop defenses against enemy attacks and look for gaps in the enemy’s defense. You can follow different paths, use strength, cunning or wealth, but everyone will equally need skill, intuition and cold-blooded calculation!

    About the add-on

    This gift set, as mentioned above, includes the Gambit set. This set contains five mini-additions at once, and you can choose how many and which ones you will “connect” to the game party. The variety and depth of gameplay with them increases to incredible heights!

    Let's look at the new items:

    • “Events” - after an event card appears in the trading row, its action is immediately performed, and then the card is sent to scrap. The event card cannot be purchased and is never added to your personal deck.
    • “Characters” - character cards that appear in the trading row can be purchased according to the same rules as ship and base cards. However, after purchase, the character is not added to your discard pile, but is immediately played
    • New unique ships and bases
    • “Gambits” is a new mechanic, with cards that are dealt before the start of the game. The resulting gambit cards are kept face down in front of the player. Gambits cannot go into your hand, personal deck, or trade deck. At the start of the game or at any time during your main phase, you can open as many gambits as you want. The Gambit's primary ability takes effect immediately and lasts as long as the card is in front of you.
    • Co-op scenarios have also been added to the game, including two single-player scenarios.

    How to play

    Each player starts the game with a personal deck of ship cards. Each turn, participants play cards from their hand, thereby carrying out trading operations, combat operations, and expanding their zones of influence. The moves themselves consist of three phases (Main, Reset and Draw), upon completion of which a new move begins.

    During the main phase, you can play cards, use their various properties, make purchases and attack the enemy. The cards themselves can be of several types - ships and bases. Their actions are very different from each other. The properties of the ships are played out immediately, and the card remains until the end of your turn. The bases are not reset, but remain in front of you until they are destroyed. Moreover, in addition to their properties and bonuses, outpost bases force the enemy to attack themselves first, thereby protecting your other bases and you personally - the enemy’s main target.

    Cards have different properties that are used in different phases of the turn and give you unique bonuses or abilities on which your winning strategy will be built. With the help of cards, you acquire battle, trade or influence points - these are your main resources for the game.

    In addition, all cards belong to certain sides of the conflict. To use this feature, two or more cards belonging to the same faction must be played in front of you.

    As the game progresses, you purchase cards using your trade points, adding these cards to your deck, increasing your power and building a specific strategy for the game based on the purchased cards. Battle points are spent on carrying out attacks on the enemy, and, in fact, “buying up” enemy bases. To destroy a base, you must pay as many battle points as indicated on the card in the “Defense” column.

    So, move by move, you expand your deck and your capabilities, develop a plan for victory and try to guess the enemy’s strategy.

    Who has won?

    The game has special Influence Points - these are your score or life points. According to the basic rules, each participant starts the game with 50 influence points. The player who manages to be the first to reduce the enemy's influence to zero becomes the winner.

    Game Features

    What interesting features are worth highlighting in the game “Star Empires”:

    • A wonderful atmosphere of science fiction, distant galaxies and marvelous technologies
    • Compactness and simplicity of the rules. People who haven't played more complex deckbuilding games before can try out this genre and get comfortable here
    • Lots of tactical options thanks to card combinations
    • Interesting mechanics with bases, influence points, combat and trade, as well as faction bonuses
    • The game allows you to play with four or six players with 1-2 additional copies of the game
    • Many options for rules for a company of 3+ people!

    Let us remind you once again that “Star Empires” can be played by 2 to 6 participants. You will need a second set of Star Empires for playing with three and four players, and a third set for playing with five and six players.

    Please note that for this game, in addition to the recommended ones, protectors measuring 66x91 mm are also suitable.

    Actions take place in the distant, distant future

    The action takes place in the distant future, where technological progress has moved far and high. Here you will have to face a developed economy and political views of descendants, and most importantly, war. Everyone acts in their own interests. Perhaps the reason was the expansion of the Slug swarm, which was not approved by other organizations. The Star Empire and the Technocult readily entered into hostilities, trying to grab a fatter piece.

    One box is good, but three is better

    Since its release, the game quickly gained popularity, so the manufacturers decided to release add-ons that expand the mechanics and plot of the game. A total of three such sets were released: the main version and two sets to diversify combat operations. For fans of space themes, all versions can be purchased in one box.

    Game description

    Star Realms is a board game where the ability to build the right deck is important. It is the ability to gain abilities and use them wisely that will lead you to victory in an intergalactic war. All cards can be used separately or combined into combinations.

    From two to six people can participate in a galactic battle at the same time. Build a strategy, look for the right moment to attack and ways to bypass enemy defenses. Remember that there is always more than one way to win. Military leaders must show skill in battle and be able to calculate every step of the enemy in advance, while not forgetting about intuition.

    You will have a whole fleet in your hands to conquer the star worlds

    Star Empires was created by Darwin Castle, who was recognized as a champion in the card game Magic: The Gathering. That is why fans of card battles can be confident in high-quality plot development and interesting tactics. Reviews from board game enthusiasts unanimously agree that the set is fun.

    Universe of Eternal War

    In the distant future, a great war for dominance over the galaxy will begin. The economically advanced Trade Federation, the collective swarm of Slugs, the warlike Star Empire and the scientifically advanced Techno-Cult will send their spaceships into battle, and only you will be able to determine the outcome of the battles.

    You will have a powerful fleet in your hands to conquer the star worlds. Spaceships have already seen many battles and are just waiting for the moment to realize their full potential.

    Every turn in Star Empires you will perform actions to suppress the uprising of another army and become the winner of the war. During trade, players will be able to replenish their troops with new equipment, and eliminate enemy forces in battle. All these actions in the Star Worlds game are aimed at reducing the political influence of your enemy and increasing yours.

    When gameplay and functionality are more important than setting

    Since the cards in the card game Star Worlds are of primary importance in building strategies, all the attention in the game is paid to this. The plot of the game is exciting, but the main attention of the players is focused on the tactics. Therefore, gameplay is considered the main quality that sets this game apart from other card games.

    Star empires of captivating happiness

    In the game Star Empires, players will be able to engage in open battle with the enemy fleet and test their strength. If you've been given a collector's edition (CCI), this creates a unique opportunity: you can choose how you experience the entertainment. Participants can use only the main deck during the first game, or go all out and mix in all the additions, adding spice to the battles.

    Since its release, the game has quickly gained popularity

    The properties of the ships are balanced, so the confrontation will be destructive and equal. By playing the cards, you will feel the full responsibility of the commander of the Space Fleet.

    What's in the set?

    The game includes decks of cards, but does not include a playing field. In the Star Empires game box you will find:

    • Eighty trade cards
    • Sixteen cunning scouts
    • Ten Cards of Agile Explorers
    • Four Marksman Stormtrooper cards
    • Twelve cards of influence one to five and six cards ten to twenty
    • Rules of the board game Star Realms, translated into Russian.

    Rules and course of the game

    The cards are designed very colorfully, albeit in a somewhat cartoonish style.

    Star Empires Gift Edition contains the rules of the board game, which describe in detail the mechanics of battles. After reading the book, you will understand how to use special properties, make purchases and attack the enemy.

    Participants must constantly build a strategy for the game based on the purchased cards. Everyone starts the game with a personal deck of ship cards. The fleet will change depending on the reset and draw at the end of the con. To win, carefully use the mechanics with bases to your advantage. With battle influence points you can pave the right path to victory.

    In the game you will come across several types of ships and bases. Each turn, participants play one of several possible actions, upon completion of which a new turn begins. In the main part, players can, for example, attack the enemy by spending influence points in combat and trade. According to the basic rules, hit points change when attacking by the amount of enemy strength. You can take different paths to victory, because the main thing is not the chosen method, but the final result.

    It's difficult to name similar games. Unexpected twists and additions, which can be found in the special edition, can add events and make the plot more colorful.

    Preparing for the game

    To start a space battle, players must:

    • Give participants eight scouts and two attack aircraft.
    • Each player receives fifty influence points. It is they who will be hunted by opponents.
    • Ten researchers are shuffled into one pile and placed in the center of the table, drawings facing up.
    • The trade deck is shuffled and placed on the table, covered.
    • There needs to be space nearby for the discard pile.
    • The first five trading cards are laid out face up on the table. This is called a store.
    • Each participant shuffles their cards and places them face down in front of them. There should be plenty of space nearby for personal dumping.
    • To determine who will be the first to walk, discuss films about space science fiction. The player who last watched such a film gets the right to act first.


    Progress of the game

    During the game, participants alternately go through three phases in which they perform actions, discard cards and draw new ones.

    Main phase

    At this stage, participants can:

    • Play one of the cards in your hand. During this phase, the draw is free. The deck contains cards of ships and bases.
    • Use the primary properties of bases that were played earlier. It works immediately as soon as you place the ship.
    • Apply the properties of previously played bases and ships (applies to allied and salvaged ones). These skills can be used at any time, even simultaneously with the primary ability.
    • Visit the shopping arcade and purchase new cards. Some cards, when played, give you the opportunity to choose between properties, for example, three combat points or five trade points. Once you have collected enough shopping points, you can spend them on purchases.
    • Attack an enemy or his base using combat points. Having accumulated these points, you can attack any enemy at your discretion. In case of victory, the participant receives influence points.


    How to attack an enemy

    To attack an enemy base, you need to calculate the difference between the defense of the base and the strength of your weapons. Your indicators must be higher, otherwise the capture will not happen. When the damage exceeds the defense, the base is destroyed and sent to its owner's discard pile. Sometimes players may receive a special card that gives them the opportunity to get rid of the enemy base without losing battle points.

    How many points to spend is up to you. To reduce the base, an amount equal to the defense value is sufficient. No more damage is required.

    If an enemy places an outpost card on the table, other players cannot attack the base they like. The outpost works according to the logic of a provocateur and does not allow any other structure to be targeted.

    Reset phase

    Each time a card is disposed of, the participant places it in the discard pile, face up. The rules allow you to view your own and others' discard piles. This can be done at any time. At this stage players:

    • Trade points that are in reserve are reset to zero.
    • Reduces battle points from the reserve to zero.
    • All played ships are sent to the discard pile.
    • All cards from your hand are discarded.

    Draw phase

    The shortest and simplest phase. The player draws five cards from his deck and passes the turn to the next player sitting in a clockwise direction.

    Types of game

    The rules of the game divide battles into several versions

    The rules of the game divide battles into several versions, each of which divides the rules into several versions. They all determine who will fight with whom. In some variations, the team chooses one enemy, in others they are divided into several militant camps.

    Hydra

    In this type of space warfare, people are divided into two teams. How exactly to distribute forces is determined by the number of people. If there are four military leaders gathered at the table, this type of battle will be called a two-headed hydra. In this case, you are divided into teams of two and take seventy influence points. These points belong to the entire group at once.
    The second variation is designed for six people and is called a three-headed hydra. Everyone is divided into teams of three people and takes one hundred points per group.

    Raiders

    The set offers several options for plot development. Players can fight all against all, choose a common enemy, or divide into teams. In the game you will encounter massive battles against bosses. To do this, choose which player will play the role of the great enemy. The remaining participants automatically become raiders. At the beginning of the game, the Boss receives two cards less than the others. Throughout the game, raiders attack the bases of a common enemy. Since everyone takes turns, the damage caused to the base is reset to zero on the boss's turn, while other players deal damage sequentially and can finish off the structure.

    Emperor

    In this variation of space battles, all participants are divided into two teams of three military leaders. Each group must have a leader appointed - he will be the Emperor. The elected leaders sit opposite each other. The people who are located on the left and right are called admirals.

    Admirals at the start take fifty influence points. Emperors receive ten points more. The first team draws three cards per person. The second takes five cards each.

    At the beginning of the game, admirals fight only with equal ranks sitting opposite them. To attack the enemy leader and his possessions, you must defeat your first opponent. A team loses when its emperor falls to the enemy.

    Who has won

    To win the space war, participants must earn influence points and make other players lose them. The winner is the leader who is the first to deprive the enemy of all influence points. Calculate each step carefully: it will be unpleasant if you knocked down the main number of your opponent’s points, and the last ones were knocked out by another player. To do this, build tactics taking into account the actions of other participants.

    Who will like it?

    The Star Worlds set is designed for a company of 3 or more people. Let us remind you once again that the additions expand the possible number of participants.

    A board game was released in 2014 Star Realms . This is a card game with deck-building mechanics and a space setting. A few months later, this board game began to break records for sales and the number of reviews on the famous American website BGG. A huge plus Star Realms was that it came in a small box that held a little over a hundred cards. Typically, publishers prefer to make larger boxes for deck-building games, counting on dozens of future additions. Publisher Star Realms I took a different path - to make it simpler, smaller in size and number of components, but of high quality. And this idea worked 100% - tabletop enthusiasts all over the world positively accepted the new deckbuilding.

    Today we will talk about this space game. I love deckbuilding, I love sci-fi. Why did I hesitate for so long to get to know the game better? Probably because I was waiting for a gift edition from Mira Hobby . And finally I waited =)

    Checking the game electronically

    I'd be lying if I said that Star empires I only became acquainted when this game appeared in my board collection. In fact, I managed to play this toy as soon as it appeared in the app store. I advise anyone who is hesitant about purchasing a game to try playing the free application on their devices. I think it's great that you can try the game in absentia before purchasing it. And if you really like this application, then you will have to pay for the full electronic version of the game. Or you can buy a cardboard version.

    The electronic version of the game showed that this is a fairly ordinary deck building without any frills. In the best traditions of another board game - Ascension .

    2 main types of deckbuilding

    It seems like I've written so much about deckbuilding games that I just don't see the point in covering the basic mechanics. But it’s probably worth mentioning where the legs come from. I conditionally divide classic deckbuilding into 2 types - with the same stacks of cards available for purchase, and with constantly changing cards on the market.

    The first type is the good old Dominion . For each batch, 10 (plus/minus) types of cards are selected that will be available for purchase. Players are slowly developing the power of their decks, acquiring more and more powerful cards with each turn. But these specific cards are always available, at any time in the game - as long as the player has the money to purchase them.

    The second type is like Ascension . Players still build their decks by purchasing other cards from the market. But the market does not offer players the same set of cards, but a constantly changing assortment that comes from one common deck. Approximately the same can be done in Dominion , if you take and mix all the available cards into one deck, and then remove them from the deck and place 5 cards face up on the table.

    I like the second type better, and it is this that is the basis Star Empires , which cannot but rejoice.

    By the way, there is also a third type, the most fashionable and modern - the hybrid type. This is when deckbuilding is just one of the mechanics in one game.

    Game Basics

    After reading the rules of the game Star Empires , I almost shed tears - what a crystal clear game this is and understandable to any board gamer. An experienced player will enter it without any problems at all. I don’t know what will happen with the inexperienced, but I remember that in 2011 I Dominion I didn’t get it right away, so I can’t say for sure how beginners perceive ZI (abbreviated Star Empires ). But the rules in this game are very simple! Just very standard, made according to GOST standards for deckbuilding.

    Let's talk first about the basic ZI, without any additions, which are hidden in the box of the deluxe edition.

    If you buy one box of the game, you will only play in duels. One box is designed for two players. Want more? Buy another box or two.

    Each player starts the game with a deck consisting of 10 cards, 8 of which are worth one coin, and the other two cards are worth 1 attack symbol. In this symbol game, everything is very simple - for coins you can buy other cards from the market, for attack symbols you can inflict damage on your opponent. Each player has 50 life points, which in the GR are represented by special counter cards. Agree, this is a standard layout for any deckbuilding game.

    All other cards are shuffled and placed in one deck. 5 cards are removed from the deck and laid out side by side face up. This creates a market for cards available for purchase.

    In ZI there are only 2 types of maps - ships and bases. Ships are ordinary cards that bring a bonus and are discarded after use. Bases also bring bonuses, but after using it, these cards do not go to the discard pile, but remain on the table until they are destroyed by the opponent.

    Experienced players will notice that the bases from ZI are similar to mechana from Ascension . Both cards remain on the table until they are removed using the properties of other cards. Both of them give the player a bonus for each of his moves. The difference between the games is that bases can (and sometimes even need to) be attacked. There are regular bases, and there are outposts. They all have a defense rating. If a player has an outpost, he cannot be attacked until this card is removed. Regular bases do not protect the player from attacks, unlike outposts, but they provide useful properties.

    By the way, regarding properties - some cards have not one, but several properties. The first one works immediately after the card is entered into the game. The second property works under certain conditions. Most often, the condition is triggered if the player already has a card of a certain faction on the table, of which there are 4 in the game. Also, the card may also have a property that is triggered if the card is scrapped (i.e. removed from the game).

    The properties of the cards are nothing special - get n-attacks, n-coins, draw a card into your hand, get n-lives, force the enemy to discard a card, etc.

    Star Wars has a typical deck-building gameplay - play all the cards you can from your hand, discard the played and remaining cards in your hand, and at the end of the turn draw 5 new cards into your hand.

    To win the game, you need to deprive your opponent of all life points.

    Say a word about the gift set

    At first Hobby World localized the basic ZIs. Then they released an expansion Gambit , which consisted of several mini-add-ons. Well, then HW decided to release a deluxe edition, which consists of a base and an addition. If you already have all this separately, then there is no point in buying a gift set.

    In general, the word “gift” when applied to this publication is a stretch. You know, usually gift sets include bows, ribbons and various nice bonuses. We have a medium-sized box, without dividers and an organizer, which contains 3 sealed decks of cards, rules for the base and rules for the extras. A kind of gentlemanly, harsh SF set =) There are no bows, and no ribbons either.

    Actually, this is why I focus on this particular option - by purchasing the gift edition, you will receive everything that was previously published in the ZI series in Russian. I'm a perfectionist by nature, so I like to take everything available to get the best experience possible. If you are interested in the game, then I strongly suggest purchasing this particular box.

    So, what can I say about the ZIs themselves? I have already talked about simple and understandable rules for an experienced player. Whether this is good or bad is for everyone to decide individually. If you want something completely new that you haven't seen in deckbuilding before, then ZI is not your option. For example, for myself, I didn’t discover anything supernatural in ZI (except that you can’t replenish your health in all deckbuildings, and I liked that). But I wasn’t too upset by this, because this board game is an example of almost perfect deckbuilding with even balance and all the basics of mechanics.

    After release Dominion other developers tried to come up with something new based on this game, so they showed off as best they could. ZI is a game without showing off. In terms of gameplay, this game reminded me personally Ascension . Only in A the game was played for victory points, which were given by cards and crystals, and in ZI you need to bring your opponent’s health to zero. There are monsters in A, but there are none in ZI (you can attack the opponent and his bases).

    Of course, in any deckbuilding it’s boring to start the game, because the starting deck has practically no ability to attack and brings in little money. In the first 5 moves you will buy inexpensive cards and bite your opponent a little. It will be more interesting later. With each new purchase, your capabilities will grow exponentially. At times, you will be able to scroll through up to 10-15 cards from the deck in one turn, which will bring you huge profits in the form of attack symbols and the amount of money. If both players are playing well, then interesting decks can be played 5-7 turns before the game ends (in many other deckbuilding tables, the game ends just when your deck starts working at 100%).

    Let me go over the pros and cons of the game, tell you what I really liked about it and what I didn’t really like. I'll start with the cons so that I won't be accused of being vanilla =)

    Minuses


    pros


    Addition Gambit

    Well, let's now look at the contents of the add-on and find out what it can offer us in terms of gameplay.

    I was incredibly pleased that the expansion consists of several small additions that can be added to the game either all together or selectively. These additions were originally released separately, but HW collected them all together in one box.

    So the first addition is " Bases and ships". A very simple addition - it simply adds new bases and ships (as is clear from the name). These cards can be safely mixed into a common deck. True, I still recommend playing only the base maps first to get a feel for the game, and only then adding bases and ships from the expansion. This way you can understand what useful things new cards add to the game.

    The second addition is " Events". Event cards are shuffled into the deck, and when they hit the market, their effect is immediately played out, the event goes into the discard pile, and a new card comes to the market in its place. Events are equally beneficial or treacherous for all players, not just the one who drew the card. By drawing an event, you can get the opportunity to draw additional cards into your hand, gain some lives, discard cards from your hand or from the discard pile, etc. In general, the event introduces an element of surprise into the game, which is triggered at the moment it enters the market. In principle, this is a good addition that practically does not break the game and makes it more interesting.

    Third addition - " Characters". Quite a controversial type of card. The characters are also mixed into the general deck. Having purchased a card of this type, a player places it on the table and can use its action on any of his turns. After using the action, the card goes into waste, but its effect remains until the end of the turn. As a rule, characters give the player one faction icon (as if he played a ship or base of this faction) in order to have the bonuses of this faction in the current turn, and some one simple action - a gold coin or an attack, for example. After use, the characters exit the game. For fun, you can use this add-on, but somehow I didn’t really like this add-on. Although the characters are cheap, for some reason sometimes it’s a pity to spend money on them.

    Fourth addition - " Squadrons and fortresses". This add-on is similar to “ Bases and ships". You simply get new bases and ships, which you shuffle into the general deck. Good!

    Fifth addition - " Gambits". But this add-on is a little different from the others. It includes 3 ships that can easily be mixed into a common deck without any conditions, 13 gambit cards and 4 scenarios.

    Gambit cards are not shuffled into the deck. They even have a different, gray edging on their backs so that they can be easily distinguished from regular cards. Gambits are dealt blindly between the players equally (the number of cards dealt must be agreed upon before the game). The resulting gambit cards remain face down in front of the players. On any turn, when a player decides that he needs help, he can reveal any number of gambit cards that he has. Gambits are cards with a one-time bonus (be it a bonus to attack, gold, health gain, or something else). My impressions of the gambits are mixed. Sometimes, an open gambit does not help you very much, but on the contrary, it helps your opponent more significantly. Like characters, gambits can be played purely for variety, or to make the first few moves more interesting. Gambits are also a great help when the game seems hopelessly lost.

    Also the addition " Gambit"contains 4 scenario cards that offer cooperative playthrough. You have to fight against the beast and the pirates of the dark star. Overall, I found the scenarios to be quite interesting as they add variety to the game.

    If we summarize everything that I have already written, then we can say that from Star Empires I still had quite a pleasant feeling, but I can’t call this game unique. Probably everyone knows that Yuri Tapilin, a well-known board gamer, loves this game and plays to his heart’s content. I have a calmer impression of the game, because my desire requires innovation.

    I like that ZI is a crystal clear deckbuilding, which is practically not spoiled by stupid additions that break the gameplay. A huge advantage of the game is its cost - you can decide how much money you want to spend on this game (would you like to play with two or four players, with or without extras).

    Did this game break any patterns? No. Therefore, if you need a quick playable template deckbuilding that does not take up much space on the table, then ZI is a great option.

    It's great that the game can punish the player for choosing the wrong strategy. Just yesterday I lost because I was deep into buying ships that bring gold, and I simply couldn’t do anything when my opponent started losing 7-12 lives per turn.

    This game is unlikely to become my favorite deckbuilding game, but it’s quite suitable for everyday pastime with cute board games.

    Board game Star Empires. Gift edition provided for review by company

    Preference