Harrowed Halls

Last week we played part 2 of our Twilight Imperium game. We were supposed to wrap up the game during the session. That didn’t happen. Here’s what did happened.

Owen scored an amazing four victory points in one turn shooting him into the lead. I was able to get an additional two points. Ben and Owen accumulated huge armadas. Mike held on to Mecatol Rex, but is spread a little thin on the board. His “death” ship that takes everything with it when it is destroyed seems to have its sights pointed at Owen. I’m stuck between Mike and Ben trying to decide what the heck to do to get more planets without starting a major war that I can’t win.

We got through 1 ½ turns. There will be some tense moments in the coming rounds. Will Mike’s Death ship become his saving grace? Will Owen continue to dominate the known universe? Will Ben become even more aggressive and move on Mecatol Rex? Will Steve figure out what he’s doing? These and other questions will answered next time.

Our scores so far: Owen 6; Steve 4; Ben 3; Mike 2.

This week was the first of our two-part 4-player Twilight Imperium game. We usually have six players, so with just four, we’re hoping we can get the game done in just two weeknight sessions. I’m cautiously optimistic.

As usual setup took forever. It started well before 5:00 and ended well after 5:00. I got what we call “the War Sun race”. I started with a war sun. Mike had the race that copies technology from other races and was sitting right next to me. Can you see where this is going? And rightly so Mike’s race’s name ended in “virus”. So basically Mike is a virus scourge upon the universe. (Just like in real life.) Owen was the worm race. I mean the worm hole race. (Not sure how an entire race develops from a worm’s hole, but hey, I’m not a game developer.) Ben’s race did something special too. Something about a bunch of ground forces living together in tight quarters, I don’t remember the details.

At about one hour and thirty minutes into the game, Owen scored the first victory point. I was supposes to note the time of the first attack (by Ben) by failed to do so. I did happen after Owen’s first point though. And he did attack Owen. Unprovoked. Ben mumbled something about a victory point.

Next round Owen was prepared to strike back at Ben’s home world. Ben was completely blind to this until Mike pointed it out and ruined Owen’s chances. Owen and I gave Mike “the stare”. Mike made a lightning strike at Mecatol Rex and was able to put a small occupational force on it. Ben was salivating, wanting to attack, but could not muster the meager forces to do it.

Owen and I eyed Mecaltol Rex too. The difference was we had fleets in striking distance. Mike’s luck in this game continued to hold as one of the 2 or 3 Action cards in his hand was exactly what he needed to keep Owen and I from attacking Mecatol Rex. But I needed to attack Mike this round because it would earn me a victory point from my preliminary secret object. (You get a preliminary secret objective at the beginning of the game. Once you complete that you get your real secret objective.) I sent a single cruiser again his race’s super battlercruise and two destroyers. I missed on the first round, but so did Mike. (Apparently viruses are lousy shots.) I tried to retreat, but that was too costly. Mike eventually destroyed my cruiser, but I got my victory point.

We ended the night’s fun at 9:00 after the end of the third turn.

I think everyone would agree that during the entire game I played awful. I screwed up the strategy cards I was given and I missed obvious opportunities. I’m hoping that next week is better.

I don’t recall everyone’s victory point level when we ended. Maybe one of the guys can note that in the comments.

Chaos Steve