Is BSG worth it?

[ArkansasChuck]

Hey gang,

A few years ago when the BSG reboot started, I was obsessed. We watched the show and loved it. We had more amazing conversations about morality because of that show! It was a lotta fun.

I haven’t played the BSG game. Yet. I wanted to ask if it’s worth it? I think my kids and I would enjoy playing but I just thought I would get your opinion before I took the plunge. What’s the game like? Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone!

~Chuck
321887

[Flying Helmut]

How old are your children?

BSG is more complex in its movement choices than WGF or WGS, and the ability to rotate on the spot (flying in one direction whilst firing in another) adds further complexity.

A very limited choice of model ship types, engaging each other in mostly-open space, provides less variety than either Wings game does, and the much narrower firing arc and smaller target base in BSG makes shooting less frequent.

This combination of narrow fire arc and complex movement makes the game much more tactical, and more difficult for the players.

Having said that, I really enjoy playing it!
Partly because I can handle the complexity, and can take advantage of players who can't! :p

I'd advise you to find an opponent who has the game, and try it out before buying; it's an acquired taste.

[ArkansasChuck]

Great advice Tim, thank you. My kids are teenagers. It’s frustrating because they are both brilliant and I am NOT! Haha! My son is a math whiz. He once asked me for help on a math problem that was 3 pages long. I explained that I’m here to help him in ANY class work…..except trigonometry.

I think the kids could probably beat me. Which means I better learn how to play BEFORE I play with them. They whoop me every time we play Star Wars Miniatures battles. But I usually am better at Wings of Glory. (THANK GOD!)

I’ll see if I can find a player locally and have a go at BSG!

~Chuck

[OldGuy59]

On being introduced to BSG, I was blown away by the attempt at inertial movement. Not since I played Yaquinto's 'Shooting Stars' (1980) has a game remotely emulated space combat (IMHO). Neither is perfect, but BSG is much more like space combat than 'X-Wing'.

Link-> BoardGameGeek.com - Shooting Stars (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2720/shooting-stars-tactical-game-fighter-combat-space)

The game is presently defunct, and no longer in print. So, whatever you have is all you are likely to get, barring eVilBay pickings. That being said, there could be some scenarios generated by fans on this Forum, and there are player-made mods and ships here, too. I'm making ship and pilot cards occasionally. Eventually, I want to create a solo app for BSG, but my ability at Android Studio programing is not up to my vision of the app.

The movement and combat systems are much more challenging than Wings of Glory, but I like the game a lot. I just don't currently have any opponents to play in my neck of the woods.

[Teaticket]

I am a firm believer in BSG. The extra complexity learning it is well worth it. After a few plays it becomes second nature. Open space doesn't have to stay totally open, just use your imagination. The game has asteroids and planets, and it is open to whatever you can come up with, interstellar clouds, electromagnetic radiation zones, Nebulae, magnetic fields....

I haven't played it nearly as much as I'd like but won't hesitate to get it on the table if given the chance.

[OldGuy59]

Ares Games put out a 'fun' scenario:

Link-> Looking For Water' Scenario Trial - the Planetoid Won! (https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?32158-Looking-For-Water-Scenario-Trial-the-Planetoid-Won!&p=518117&viewfull=1#post518117)

There was a plan for capital ships, but NBC-Universal put an abrupt halt to everything. And Raptors with tail guns were in the works, too. We didn't even get the Original Series ships, although we did get the 'official' stats. 3D printing is always an option.

I started working on large ships, doing up ship cards for shuttle craft (there are scale-able 3D files online). These would be for escort scenarios, or anything else we could come up with.

So, the Starter Set is only the starting point...

[ArkansasChuck]

A few years ago I found a guy on Facebook that sold raw pewter castings of small BSG fighters. For the life of me I can’t find his page anymore or I would order a dozen of them!

[surfimp]

I think the Wings games scale nicely in terms of complexity.

WWI is the easiest, by far, to get into, with WWII a step up from there, but not too bad. BSG is a step up from there, and is definitely not the easiest to learn or even to play. But it's a very, very cool simulation of space combat. As someone with a lot of hours in space combat sims like Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen, I'm all about it.

I'd say my only real complaint is the choice to make the maneuver cards hexagonal. It's a cool callback to the rebooted TV show's in-universe card game, but in terms of playability I think they're much less user-friendly than the normal rectangular cards of WWI and WWII.

I don't know if it's still very easy to find miniatures for BSG, but if you can, it's well worth it, IMHO.

[milcoll73]

only played it twice but i had fun with it. anyone liking wog that doesnt mind the extra complexity would also probably like it.