I love Star Realms. Love love love this game. The expansions were an obvious purchase for me. For anyone just trying out the game for the first time, I would say just get the base deck first.
Micro transactions for board games seems awesome. Buying a game modularly might be amazing, always. I mean I really like buying expansions for Dominion. As long as it is always available.
I love Star Realms! But there's one negative point they could have mentioned. Namely, the expansions are rather on the pricey side for what they offer, especially when you take into consideration that the base game is only $15.
I've only played using the heroes and events, but with 3-4 people. The events are kinda cool but can make you a little more cautious when playing a hand, because you may need some in your hand to spend when the new card shows. My players were flexible in rearranging turn actions, but uptight people might make it more..nerve wracking. If it wasn't for the phone app, I wouldn't know the order of operations so well, because the events juggle it up at a tense, but in a good way. The heroes are kinda cool, but overall I kinda wish they had went a bit wilder. Some of the othe rpacks boost colors in areas they lack, but we'll see. I think the cards are so nice, amazing after playing the app so much. With 2 decks and the expansions it breaks close to the price of a normal game, and is well worth it too. First bg app I ever bought and couldn't have gotten this hard copy soon enough.
The events do not effect everyone equally, which can be a big issue when you play. Then again the game is random, random cards, random hands of cards and randow draws of the trade row, it comes with the territory.
They're random events, they're not supposed to be planed for, they're intended to be laughed at. They're crazy random things that you don't have to add if you don't like them (I generally don't add them). They are random and as such has equal chance to effect any one player in a good, bad, beter or worse sense, it's just random.
So I am very new to star realms, but I have a few questions, if somebody wouldn’t mind. If I bought 2 of the base games to play 4 players, would I have to buy 2 of every expansion to keep the ratios intact? Also are there any rules to expansions? Like can you only use 1 set with the base game. Or if not, how many expansion sets would you suggest for the optimal experience? (If all 4 crisis packs is considered 1 set.). Also, if you have enough expansions, is it still required to play the base game cards with the expansions, or is it personal preference. I read all of the rules online, and they mention a lot about alternative formats, but they never mentioned how expansions worked even once. Sorry for asking so many questions, but thanks in advance for any help with this.
Mark Cooper depends what expansion, we have gambit, star realms and star realms colony war, so far with 4 four players we haven’t had a problem with gambit, with other expansions I’m not sure
I'm with Tom on events. Don't really want a random -7 hp when i'm close to beat the opponent but only have 6 hp left.. That's game interfering with gamers. But i would try them out for fun in the app. Btw, are they really going to add it? There was no update to the app for quite long.
Finally mething cool that uses the name Lyle. Whenever my name is in something, I think "cool" because it's an uncommon name now. But then I see what it is and think, "that's so boring," or "of course it's a joke."
Pat Craig They sell a storage container for Star Realms. Or go to your local comic ship and pay pennies for a small plain white card box to hold everything.
The best storage solution I found for card games is the Smash up big geeky box. Fairly inexpensive, good quality and offers lots of storage space for cards
Having bought and played all four expansions here are my two cents First of all the price for those things is pretty steep, i paid 20 bucks for one of each, that's 48 cards versus the bases sets +/- 144 for about the same price. card quality is still pretty poor so not a good deal there. bases and battleships This expansion focuss on having bases r your opponents having them, it is perhaps the least impactfull expansion of the bunch. Out of the four these cards feel like they could have been in the base game the most. they just don't feel as unique as some of the other cards. For the most part it changes the way you value base, it gives a little more insentive to buy less or more bases depending on what the other player has done, this does however create the ineresting tension of orcing you to buy away bases that you don't really want to stop your opponent from dealing you more damage. Would buy if; you like to add a little more interaction without adding much complexity Fleets and fortresses adds at least one large base per color including an 8 base for blue, this gives some colors a few more options, allows for more diverse strategies. The ships are cheap enough to mattter right away and their effects are bigger then you might think on first glance, being able to delay a reshuffle for a turn with the yellow ships can be fantastic, and having a red base that gives you a bunch of options really adds depth and options. all in all this expansion provides a lot of new and unique options without adding complexity. Would buy if: you like longer and or more complex games Heroes These are fun, when you buy them (and they all costs 1 or 2 gold) they go directly in play, you can scrap them for a one time effect, (damage draw a card scrap something), 'when you do it also counts as having played a card in tha color for synergies. But most importantly they give you something to do with you spare cash near the end of the game, when the centre row get's clogged up with small trash. All in all they make the game go a little bit faster and also reward you more for playing that one off-color card. Would buy if: My personal favorite, reccomend you buy this thing first. Events Much like zee i was most interested in these events to, however after having played with them a couple of times, i personally found them to strong and unbalanced. Quite a few of them really punish or reward a ertain strategy, having both players gain 7 life can be backbreaking against an aggresive start, and being able to scrap two cards can really kickstart anyone playing red cards. It adds to much randomness in my opinion especially when more then one event is drawn, i wouldn't reccomend playing with all 12. Would buy if: you like to add a little more randomness
I don't get the massive love for Star Realms. The game is ALL about the colour combos. Far too much so in my opinion. This makes the choice of what to buy not really a choice....just stick to your main colour as much as you can and sit back and watch the mental combos trigger all over the place for zero skill on your part. Not as bad as it is in Legendary, but still bad. Also the balance (i.e. cost) of certain cards is WAY off.
Thanks, was considering playing Star Realms when my brother sometimes visit, but we get pretty analytical, so a simple optimal strategy is not a good fit.
I love Star Realms. Love love love this game. The expansions were an obvious purchase for me. For anyone just trying out the game for the first time, I would say just get the base deck first.
Again I must say .. I never play without this complete set in my decks :D Great stuff!
Micro transactions for board games seems awesome. Buying a game modularly might be amazing, always. I mean I really like buying expansions for Dominion. As long as it is always available.
I love Star Realms! But there's one negative point they could have mentioned. Namely, the expansions are rather on the pricey side for what they offer, especially when you take into consideration that the base game is only $15.
I've only played using the heroes and events, but with 3-4 people. The events are kinda cool but can make you a little more cautious when playing a hand, because you may need some in your hand to spend when the new card shows. My players were flexible in rearranging turn actions, but uptight people might make it more..nerve wracking. If it wasn't for the phone app, I wouldn't know the order of operations so well, because the events juggle it up at a tense, but in a good way.
The heroes are kinda cool, but overall I kinda wish they had went a bit wilder. Some of the othe rpacks boost colors in areas they lack, but we'll see.
I think the cards are so nice, amazing after playing the app so much. With 2 decks and the expansions it breaks close to the price of a normal game, and is well worth it too. First bg app I ever bought and couldn't have gotten this hard copy soon enough.
Do you just shuffle all the expansion to the trade deck? Or do you need to take some stuff out to keep the trade deck at 80 cards
just shuffle in
The events do not effect everyone equally, which can be a big issue when you play. Then again the game is random, random cards, random hands of cards and randow draws of the trade row, it comes with the territory.
They're random events, they're not supposed to be planed for, they're intended to be laughed at. They're crazy random things that you don't have to add if you don't like them (I generally don't add them). They are random and as such has equal chance to effect any one player in a good, bad, beter or worse sense, it's just random.
HAHA! Rodney at the end! I cackled.
So I am very new to star realms, but I have a few questions, if somebody wouldn’t mind. If I bought 2 of the base games to play 4 players, would I have to buy 2 of every expansion to keep the ratios intact? Also are there any rules to expansions? Like can you only use 1 set with the base game. Or if not, how many expansion sets would you suggest for the optimal experience? (If all 4 crisis packs is considered 1 set.). Also, if you have enough expansions, is it still required to play the base game cards with the expansions, or is it personal preference. I read all of the rules online, and they mention a lot about alternative formats, but they never mentioned how expansions worked even once. Sorry for asking so many questions, but thanks in advance for any help with this.
Mark Cooper depends what expansion, we have gambit, star realms and star realms colony war, so far with 4 four players we haven’t had a problem with gambit, with other expansions I’m not sure
I would like to see what you guys think about the Gambit Expansion to Star Realms
I wonder why Tom never reviewed the first expansion Gambit? I don't see it mentioned much anywhere.
Can't wait to add these to my game! And woah at Rodney Smith at the end haha
spoilers! lol
I'm with Tom on events. Don't really want a random -7 hp when i'm close to beat the opponent but only have 6 hp left.. That's game interfering with gamers. But i would try them out for fun in the app. Btw, are they really going to add it? There was no update to the app for quite long.
Finally mething cool that uses the name Lyle. Whenever my name is in something, I think "cool" because it's an uncommon name now. But then I see what it is and think, "that's so boring," or "of course it's a joke."
*something not mething
Here Star Realms.... take my money!!
Anybody know what microphone they use? The one they always have clipped on their shirt.
So these aren't booster packs but stand alone expansions? I bought multiple packs for a Christmas gift for someone and they are the same?
Do you nice gent's know where I can find Star realms rise of the empire cards from?
where is 720p quality ?
Up your bum
wow tom your hands were in the way the whole time
and if your going to do close ups of the table you should really make sure it is clean. It really takes the quality down when its so dirty.
Help me with storage solutions PLEASE
Pat Craig They sell a storage container for Star Realms. Or go to your local comic ship and pay pennies for a small plain white card box to hold everything.
The best storage solution I found for card games is the Smash up big geeky box. Fairly inexpensive, good quality and offers lots of storage space for cards
Having bought and played all four expansions here are my two cents
First of all the price for those things is pretty steep, i paid 20 bucks for one of each, that's 48 cards versus the bases sets +/- 144 for about the same price. card quality is still pretty poor so not a good deal there.
bases and battleships
This expansion focuss on having bases r your opponents having them, it is perhaps the least impactfull expansion of the bunch. Out of the four these cards feel like they could have been in the base game the most. they just don't feel as unique as some of the other cards. For the most part it changes the way you value base, it gives a little more insentive to buy less or more bases depending on what the other player has done, this does however create the ineresting tension of orcing you to buy away bases that you don't really want to stop your opponent from dealing you more damage.
Would buy if; you like to add a little more interaction without adding much complexity
Fleets and fortresses
adds at least one large base per color including an 8 base for blue, this gives some colors a few more options, allows for more diverse strategies. The ships are cheap enough to mattter right away and their effects are bigger then you might think on first glance, being able to delay a reshuffle for a turn with the yellow ships can be fantastic, and having a red base that gives you a bunch of options really adds depth and options. all in all this expansion provides a lot of new and unique options without adding complexity.
Would buy if: you like longer and or more complex games
Heroes
These are fun, when you buy them (and they all costs 1 or 2 gold) they go directly in play, you can scrap them for a one time effect, (damage draw a card scrap something), 'when you do it also counts as having played a card in tha color for synergies. But most importantly they give you something to do with you spare cash near the end of the game, when the centre row get's clogged up with small trash. All in all they make the game go a little bit faster and also reward you more for playing that one off-color card.
Would buy if: My personal favorite, reccomend you buy this thing first.
Events
Much like zee i was most interested in these events to, however after having played with them a couple of times, i personally found them to strong and unbalanced. Quite a few of them really punish or reward a ertain strategy, having both players gain 7 life can be backbreaking against an aggresive start, and being able to scrap two cards can really kickstart anyone playing red cards. It adds to much randomness in my opinion especially when more then one event is drawn, i wouldn't reccomend playing with all 12.
Would buy if: you like to add a little more randomness
Thank you very much.
I don't get the massive love for Star Realms. The game is ALL about the colour combos. Far too much so in my opinion. This makes the choice of what to buy not really a choice....just stick to your main colour as much as you can and sit back and watch the mental combos trigger all over the place for zero skill on your part. Not as bad as it is in Legendary, but still bad. Also the balance (i.e. cost) of certain cards is WAY off.
Thanks, was considering playing Star Realms when my brother sometimes visit, but we get pretty analytical, so a simple optimal strategy is not a good fit.