The Breakdown:
Players: 2 (can be expanded to 6 by purchasing multiple copies)
Playing Time: 20 min
Weight: 3.5/10
Publisher: White Wizard Games
Mechanics: Deck-Building
Components: 128 Cards
-10 Personal Deck Cards x 2
-10 Explorer Cards
-80 Trade Deck
-18 Authority Cards (Score Keeping)
Rule Sheet
Players: 2 (can be expanded to 6 by purchasing multiple copies)
Playing Time: 20 min
Weight: 3.5/10
Publisher: White Wizard Games
Mechanics: Deck-Building
Components: 128 Cards
-10 Personal Deck Cards x 2
-10 Explorer Cards
-80 Trade Deck
-18 Authority Cards (Score Keeping)
Rule Sheet
The Review:
I stopped at a different FLGS for tabletop day and somehow ended up playing Star Realms with the owner after I told him I was getting into Deck Builders, notably Dominion and Trains. Let’s open the box and see how it went:
I stopped at a different FLGS for tabletop day and somehow ended up playing Star Realms with the owner after I told him I was getting into Deck Builders, notably Dominion and Trains. Let’s open the box and see how it went:
There is literally nothing else to the game other than the cards besides a rule sheet, which is intentional considering the game’s low price-point. The art is pretty nice on the cards, with each faction showing a nice cohesion to one another. The symbols do clutter up the cards a bit, but you have to fit them in somewhere, right?
Objective: To reduce the opposing player’s 50 Authority points to 0
Set Up: Each player begins with a personal deck of 8 Scouts (Trade/Money) and 2 Vipers (Combat/Attack), along with 50 Authority. 10 Explorer Cards (Trade) are placed face up on the table available to buy. The Trade Deck is shuffled and the top 5 cards are placed face up on the table available to buy.
Gameplay: 3 Phases: Main Phase, Discard Phase, and Draw Phase.
Main Phase: Players will draw 5 cards (except for the first turn, Player 1 only gets 3) to use.
They may: Play cards from their hand
Use abilities from bases
Use the ally/scrap abilities of in-play ships/bases
Use Trade to acquire new ships/bases from the trade deck
Use Combat to attack the opponent and/or their base
Discard Phase: In-Play Cards and acquired cards from using Trade are discarded
Draw Phase: A new 5 cards are drawn
Game Ends: When one player’s Authority reaches 0.
Extra Notes:
The Blobs: Focuses on combat and trashing
Star Empire: Combat-oriented faction draws cards/forces opponents to discard
Machine Cult: Uses bases as protection and trashes undesirable cards
Final Thoughts:
As someone who dreads getting into the LCG/CCG market and knowing nothing about this game, I panicked when my FLGS owner grabbed Star Realms demo to me. I thought for sure it was going to be some sort of sales pitch to try to hook me into a “deck building” game where I keep coming back for new packs. However, this was an extremely pleasant surprise.
From what I understand, the game was developed by the makers of Ascension (full disclosure: haven’t played it) and it’s a refreshing change from the limited experience that I have with Deck Builders. The addition of combat does make the game a hair more interactive, although it’s far from perfect. I was a big fan of the ally mechanic as it allows you to theme your own deck on-the-fly and can drastically change your play style each game.
Positives:
Final Score: 3/5 meeples
Good for dipping your toes into Deck Building before taking the plunge.
Find it on Amazon!
Objective: To reduce the opposing player’s 50 Authority points to 0
Set Up: Each player begins with a personal deck of 8 Scouts (Trade/Money) and 2 Vipers (Combat/Attack), along with 50 Authority. 10 Explorer Cards (Trade) are placed face up on the table available to buy. The Trade Deck is shuffled and the top 5 cards are placed face up on the table available to buy.
Gameplay: 3 Phases: Main Phase, Discard Phase, and Draw Phase.
Main Phase: Players will draw 5 cards (except for the first turn, Player 1 only gets 3) to use.
They may: Play cards from their hand
Use abilities from bases
Use the ally/scrap abilities of in-play ships/bases
Use Trade to acquire new ships/bases from the trade deck
Use Combat to attack the opponent and/or their base
Discard Phase: In-Play Cards and acquired cards from using Trade are discarded
Draw Phase: A new 5 cards are drawn
Game Ends: When one player’s Authority reaches 0.
Extra Notes:
- Ships are your traditional cards for Trade and Combat
- Bases are played as a shield, forcing the opposing player to destroy the base before attacking
- The Game implements an “ally” mechanic which allows you to perform greater actions if you draw multiple cards of a faction.
- There are 4 factions in the trade deck:
The Blobs: Focuses on combat and trashing
Star Empire: Combat-oriented faction draws cards/forces opponents to discard
Machine Cult: Uses bases as protection and trashes undesirable cards
Final Thoughts:
As someone who dreads getting into the LCG/CCG market and knowing nothing about this game, I panicked when my FLGS owner grabbed Star Realms demo to me. I thought for sure it was going to be some sort of sales pitch to try to hook me into a “deck building” game where I keep coming back for new packs. However, this was an extremely pleasant surprise.
From what I understand, the game was developed by the makers of Ascension (full disclosure: haven’t played it) and it’s a refreshing change from the limited experience that I have with Deck Builders. The addition of combat does make the game a hair more interactive, although it’s far from perfect. I was a big fan of the ally mechanic as it allows you to theme your own deck on-the-fly and can drastically change your play style each game.
Positives:
- Some semblance of player interactivity
- Variable play styles because of factions
- Game ends with a winner, not because all the victory points are gone
- Each card can be played, no “trash” diluting the deck
- Low price point
- Player interactivity is sort of “shoe-horned”
- Exclusively 2 players unless you get two copies (Dominion becomes more cost effective)
- Authority cards are a little clunky, a score sheet would have been nicer
Final Score: 3/5 meeples
Good for dipping your toes into Deck Building before taking the plunge.
Find it on Amazon!