You should add Embers of a Forsaken Star. It fix many issues in the base game. 1.Economic supply board fixs short trade route. 2.New exploration tokens are more interesting and less randomness (for victory point). 3.mods are great addition to help mitigate your luck from dice roll. 4.Repetitive at the beginning as you mention has been improved by new maps. If you have Missions and Power expansion, it will be even better. You now have 2 powers to choose from the same ship. New missions also feel different from original one. I believe when you add expasion this game will be 5/5 for you.
Yes. Alex, I wish that this review had included the fact that there is a consensus on the Embers expansion successfully addressing many defects of the core game: this is important information, for people who are considering this game. 😀
Just checked my Arydia pledge - got that and another expansion for XIa - good deal - that's why it's nice when pledges stay open for along time - checked Endless Winter - only got base -I understand why they lock - but would of upped that one as well - thing most off us up in general - Will up Anastyr - thankfully a couple of expansions - is not too bad on shipping for my country
I added this to my Arydia pledge along with all the expansions. I'm so excited to get my hands on it. I saw down below that you plan on re-reviewing it with the expansion. Can't wait!
I got XIa when the last Ks for it came out. I only had one opportunity to play it properly with others but have played solo several times. But the sandbox nature also lets me play a modified version with my elementary aged kids. We race our ships from one planet to another, planning out safe paths or risking a shortcut through an asteroid field. We then collect rewards, purchase new upgrades then Race to another planet. The kids love the toy factor of the ships and the modular boards. It’s a great system for making maps of a solar system and my kids love the space theme.
Just played a 5-player 10 point game of this tonight! (I managed to pull out the win just before my wife could 😁 but it was a 5 hour experience with some people still becoming familiar with the game) It's a lot of fun. I highly HIGHLY recommend the Embers expansion. I would not enjoy it nearly as much without that expansion. The economy board helps fix the trade route issues. The small outfits make for some much needed dice mitigation/specialization. The exploration token changes are appreciated, and the event cards make each game so different in the game changing rules they bring in without being overly complicated. The events really help with the repetitive nature of things. The Missions and Powers expansion adds some really nice quality of life improvements to the missions deck and the ship powers. I also really really recommend the folded space insert. I don't do inserts for most games, but it cuts the setup/teardown time so dramatically with this game. The base game is fun, don't get me wrong, but it really blossoms into a GREAT experience for me with those three upgrades. Importance would be Embers expansion > insert > missions and powers
Missions and powers is the deck of cards expansion, and does indeed offer some different style missions. For those that find the luck too punishing, Embers expansion offer the chance to buy mitigation upgrades, and that expansion also mitigates the risk of an obvious easy trade route emerging.
Great game. One of my son's favorite games to play with me. I've never tried it solo, but may do so at some point. I use the house rule that ANY player can have an unlimited amount of mission cards in their hand. Another rule I use sometimes is that a ship can use their unique power more than once per turn, as long as they double the cost of it each time they use it.
I'm surprised you haven't played with the expansion. More than any other game out there, I think Embers is THE best example of an expansion that makes the base game not only better, but freakin amazing. Even more so than the expansion for Viticulture or A Feast for Odin. On a side note, Xia is in my top three favorite games ever, so I'm glad to see my FOMO purchase of the all in box for Vindication may serve me well. Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for that game to arrive.
Depending on whether there are 3 or 4 of us tomorrow we will be playing Xia or Mechs and Minions. Excited for both and I have really been enjoying your content recently. Thanks a million, Alex!
Fab game. Only gripe I ever had was the feeling that attacking other ships feels a little less "impacting" than anticipated. I love the luck aspect as either good or bad, a narrative easily builds on how these play out.
Great to hear there will be more coverage. I just picked up Xia with all the expansions and I can not wait to try it out. I enjoy your coverage on games, I always feel I have a pretty good understanding of how that game will be for me after watching.
I just got this in the mail and I'm super excited to try it out. It feels like it's gonna scratch every itch I have. Quick unrelated question; where did you get that shirt?! It's so cool!
Thanks Alex, am recovering from COVID. If I wasn’t isolated from my dining table this is what I would break out and play, solo. I am a sucker for space games, I love the tech and the adventure. Eclipse 2nd Dawn and this are fabulous experiences in completely different ways. I have Vindication too and that is such a sweet game. Looking forward to the Embers expansion and missions review when you get to it.
My one (and only) time I played this game I decided to try and start with something safe: mining. I ended up getting a bad roll, and had to limp my way back to heal. I tried missions. Each one ended up taking multiple turns to even get somewhat close to the planets needed. This is the exact sort of game I would love. I hate it because their idea of fun is constantly being unable to do anything.
Sounds like you didn't prepare well enough for what you were trying to do. The luck is pretty swingy, but if you are aware of the consequences, you can mitigate it easily.
@@barelyprotestant5365 There is. There are shields you can buy. There are also ways to re-roll. There are also certain ships and ship powers that make certain actions easier. To be fair, some of that is in the expansion. Also, I'm overly defemsive of Xia since it's one of my top favorite games of all time. 😏
@@BoardGameCo Never a doubt in my mind. :-) Looking forward to that review. Xia, to me is a weird game in my collection. It lacks interactivity that I usually require from games. OTOH it's practically "Firefly - the boardgame" and it creates fun atmosphere. :-) I recommend the Smonex insert (originally designed by Meeple Realty I think). Though the original packaging insert is more useful than most games. But with the MR/Smonex design the ships fit assembled, organization is better, the expansion goes into the main box and it also looks great. Small downside, the ship boxes hold the ships a bit tight. At least at first.
I used the Arydia campaign for an opportunity to get Xia. It was one I looked into a long time ago but ultimately never bought. I am excited to play it now.
Just an amazing game, despite its roll to move credentials. I don’t get it to the table anywhere near enough but when I do (with all the expansions) - boy does it tell me a story. I don’t know if I’d ever want to play it any other way than solo though . As others have said, you definitely need the “Embers” expansion.
Word. I lovvvvvvvvvve Xia with Embers of a Forsaken Star expansion (which is how I first played the game). EFS definitely helps with the repetitive elements, without over complicating like some expansions. But... either way... I love Xia b/c in addition to clicking lotsa boxes for my game preferences (sci-fi theme, multiple paths to victory, dice, making bad-luck-rolls FUN) it also provides the sense that I'm a kid playing with TOYS. Few activies, including games, as an adult, provide that same sensation of playing with toys. I'm shocked that your group gets through a 20 point game in 3 hours! I find a 10 point game 3. Might be my group is either too competitive or suffering too much analysis paralysis. I don't mind a long game that I enjoy but the time element prevents me from getting others to join in. My biggest complaint (I don't mind long, I don't mind the repetition of the start of the game) is you get situations where a very short trade route shows up and then one player and then every players rushes to exploit it and the game is over with fewer than six system tiles exposed. We've got some house rules to try and ensure everyone explores, and to speed up AI ships, etc, but that's my biggest complaint. If the group isn't into 'playing space ship' the point salad is reduced to the 2 compatible planets randomly discovedered adjacent to each other. But I looooooove it. I made double sided cheat sheets to help new players (and speed up game). And I made Star Wars and Star Trek related custom system tiles. Love. If I had a willing group, I'd play every week. Los Angeles DM me! : )
They do reprints a few times a year, so I would definitely wait for that. It's also an add-on on their recent Kickstarter. It's not worth the $300+ that it's going for at this point in time.
Xia is one of those games that I've always been interested in but never had the right group to play it. At this point I may have to resign myself that it will be one of those that just isn't going to happen... Maybe at a convention some day though.
I went all in on Arydia based on Xia's reputation, but I'm on the fence if I want to pick it up also in the pledge manager. Sounds like my dream Star Trader-esque game, that I've never got around to play when I was a kid, but nowadays I mostly play 2p coops. Can anyone recommend, is it worth it just for 2p solo modified rules that Ira Fay posted on BGG once? Maybe I will play it with more people sometimes.
Good review. All valid points. One of my favourite games of all time. Imo you could (should) have mentioned that the expansion is a must have here. Without it the game is only good with it it's great... Just my 2 cents...
Have been considering selling this game after owning it for many years, and many plays but I am conflicted about the final decision. Needs to get to the table again, and work on my mindset of embracing the theme again instead of trying to minmax the game as I had fallen into.
Played and love this game. Any other ones similar in the sandbox/competitive style? Side note I'm waiting on Bantam West to be delivered which is what I'm looking for.
I’m still very torn on whether to add this all-in to my Arydia pledge or to save the money. Great info here. I think I would really enjoy the game, but I’m not sure I’d get it tabled often enough to justify the expense.
On the edge... in my game griup no one like space game... but solo and open world makes me want it for solo... they said adapt to your playing group but it seems sooo good
Great video! I was just about to pull the trigger and add this to our collection. How would you compare it to Western Legends and firefly? I have both of those games and love them so I'm trying to figure out if I need it, or if those tickle the same itch.
@BoardGameCo: Alex, I'm also keen on 'Mainly Games' question above: how does this compare to Firefly? I haven't played either, but I'm struck by how much your description of Xia embodies what I imagine a game of Firefly would entail? ... and if it does... I'm really, really keen to ask the next question; how easily could this be custom reskinned as a user-made 'FireFly' reskin of Xia (assuming that Xia does this better than GF9's Firefly game)???
I don't see how that's even slightly possible. My hatred for the game is based upon the fact that bad rolls completely ruin your game, and I speak from experience.
Been interested in it for awhile but can't find it at a reasonable price. I don't Kickstart very well and missed what some are mentioning about getting it with some other recent KS campaign. So I watch videos of it and just sit here very sad.
Won't play this game again. Played once, went to 10 points with 5 players, took 4 hours and never upgraded my ship unfortunately because it was very difficult for anyone in the game to gain money. Kept dying, the tiles for my missions never came out until very end, when I died so did my mission which I was close to getting, and oh yeah...everything is based on a die roll (movement, attack, defense). This luck fest went way too long. Even with me winning on my last turn by just randomly exploring and gaining/turning in multiple tokens for VP's wouldn't change my mind. This solidifies how good Western Legends is, which for me is the far superior sandbox experience.
While both share some mechanics - pick up and deliver style objective - Xia is completely random and completely open to you as a player. Sure the token for contacts are shuffled in SWOR and you don't know exactly where they are, but the board is fixed. Xia is open...you want a long elongated map? Explore left and right? How about an X shape? Then explore that way. The random sectors also keep things a lot more fresh leaving it to the player to craft their story within this freedom. This sand box style does not resonate with all players though. Games to 20 VP can take a while! SWOR is still amazing and UB adds to that with expanded decks which the base game needed. Both games are unique enough to be on the same shelf as they offer vastly different play experiences. Hope this helped a little.
You should add Embers of a Forsaken Star. It fix many issues in the base game.
1.Economic supply board fixs short trade route.
2.New exploration tokens are more interesting and less randomness (for victory point).
3.mods are great addition to help mitigate your luck from dice roll.
4.Repetitive at the beginning as you mention has been improved by new maps. If you have Missions and Power expansion, it will be even better. You now have 2 powers to choose from the same ship. New missions also feel different from original one.
I believe when you add expasion this game will be 5/5 for you.
I plan on playing and re-reviewing it :)
The expansion is essential and the game shouldn't be played without it.
It also introduces Event cards as well!
Yes. Alex, I wish that this review had included the fact that there is a consensus on the Embers expansion successfully addressing many defects of the core game: this is important information, for people who are considering this game. 😀
Such a great game. I highly recommend playing with the expansion Embers of a forsaken star.
Just checked my Arydia pledge - got that and another expansion for XIa - good deal - that's why it's nice when pledges stay open for along time - checked Endless Winter - only got base -I understand why they lock - but would of upped that one as well - thing most off us up in general - Will up Anastyr - thankfully a couple of expansions - is not too bad on shipping for my country
Must have for sure
I added this to my Arydia pledge along with all the expansions. I'm so excited to get my hands on it. I saw down below that you plan on re-reviewing it with the expansion. Can't wait!
I got XIa when the last Ks for it came out. I only had one opportunity to play it properly with others but have played solo several times.
But the sandbox nature also lets me play a modified version with my elementary aged kids. We race our ships from one planet to another, planning out safe paths or risking a shortcut through an asteroid field. We then collect rewards, purchase new upgrades then Race to another planet. The kids love the toy factor of the ships and the modular boards. It’s a great system for making maps of a solar system and my kids love the space theme.
Just played a 5-player 10 point game of this tonight! (I managed to pull out the win just before my wife could 😁 but it was a 5 hour experience with some people still becoming familiar with the game) It's a lot of fun.
I highly HIGHLY recommend the Embers expansion. I would not enjoy it nearly as much without that expansion. The economy board helps fix the trade route issues. The small outfits make for some much needed dice mitigation/specialization. The exploration token changes are appreciated, and the event cards make each game so different in the game changing rules they bring in without being overly complicated. The events really help with the repetitive nature of things.
The Missions and Powers expansion adds some really nice quality of life improvements to the missions deck and the ship powers.
I also really really recommend the folded space insert. I don't do inserts for most games, but it cuts the setup/teardown time so dramatically with this game.
The base game is fun, don't get me wrong, but it really blossoms into a GREAT experience for me with those three upgrades. Importance would be Embers expansion > insert > missions and powers
Great post. I will have to get the insert now and look more closely at the Missions expansion.
Great video! I highly recommend the Folded Space insert for this game. It makes it so much easier to set up and play 😊
I have it! Haven't assembled it yet.
Missions and powers is the deck of cards expansion, and does indeed offer some different style missions.
For those that find the luck too punishing, Embers expansion offer the chance to buy mitigation upgrades, and that expansion also mitigates the risk of an obvious easy trade route emerging.
Great game. One of my son's favorite games to play with me. I've never tried it solo, but may do so at some point. I use the house rule that ANY player can have an unlimited amount of mission cards in their hand. Another rule I use sometimes is that a ship can use their unique power more than once per turn, as long as they double the cost of it each time they use it.
I'm surprised you haven't played with the expansion. More than any other game out there, I think Embers is THE best example of an expansion that makes the base game not only better, but freakin amazing. Even more so than the expansion for Viticulture or A Feast for Odin.
On a side note, Xia is in my top three favorite games ever, so I'm glad to see my FOMO purchase of the all in box for Vindication may serve me well. Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for that game to arrive.
Depending on whether there are 3 or 4 of us tomorrow we will be playing Xia or Mechs and Minions. Excited for both and I have really been enjoying your content recently. Thanks a million, Alex!
Can't wait for the expansion review!
Fab game. Only gripe I ever had was the feeling that attacking other ships feels a little less "impacting" than anticipated. I love the luck aspect as either good or bad, a narrative easily builds on how these play out.
Yep, a lot of fun.
Great to hear there will be more coverage. I just picked up Xia with all the expansions and I can not wait to try it out. I enjoy your coverage on games, I always feel I have a pretty good understanding of how that game will be for me after watching.
Can’t wait to get my copy from the Arydia KS! Thanks for the review
Enjoy it :)
I just got this in the mail and I'm super excited to try it out. It feels like it's gonna scratch every itch I have. Quick unrelated question; where did you get that shirt?! It's so cool!
Mr Meeple :)
Can’t wait to get my copy. Looks like a ton of fun. Also I agree…. Getting a 20 is so satisfying. I’ve been trained by 30 years of rpgs to love it. 😆
It's a lot of fun :)
Thanks Alex, am recovering from COVID. If I wasn’t isolated from my dining table this is what I would break out and play, solo. I am a sucker for space games, I love the tech and the adventure. Eclipse 2nd Dawn and this are fabulous experiences in completely different ways. I have Vindication too and that is such a sweet game. Looking forward to the Embers expansion and missions review when you get to it.
My one (and only) time I played this game I decided to try and start with something safe: mining. I ended up getting a bad roll, and had to limp my way back to heal. I tried missions. Each one ended up taking multiple turns to even get somewhat close to the planets needed. This is the exact sort of game I would love. I hate it because their idea of fun is constantly being unable to do anything.
Sounds like you didn't prepare well enough for what you were trying to do. The luck is pretty swingy, but if you are aware of the consequences, you can mitigate it easily.
@@rovingmauler7410 no. The mitigation is not easy. There is no "playing it safe", as everything is dangerous.
@@barelyprotestant5365 There is. There are shields you can buy. There are also ways to re-roll. There are also certain ships and ship powers that make certain actions easier. To be fair, some of that is in the expansion. Also, I'm overly defemsive of Xia since it's one of my top favorite games of all time. 😏
@@rovingmauler7410 it's far too based on chance, to the point in which it is not fun.
Embers of a Forsaken Star fixes s lot of small problems with Xia, adds fun new content and thus is widely considered a must-have.
I plan on diving into it :-)
@@BoardGameCo Never a doubt in my mind. :-)
Looking forward to that review.
Xia, to me is a weird game in my collection. It lacks interactivity that I usually require from games.
OTOH it's practically "Firefly - the boardgame" and it creates fun atmosphere. :-)
I recommend the Smonex insert (originally designed by Meeple Realty I think).
Though the original packaging insert is more useful than most games.
But with the MR/Smonex design the ships fit assembled, organization is better, the expansion goes into the main box and it also looks great.
Small downside, the ship boxes hold the ships a bit tight. At least at first.
I used the Arydia campaign for an opportunity to get Xia. It was one I looked into a long time ago but ultimately never bought. I am excited to play it now.
Just picked up Xia. Can’t wait to get it to the table!
Enjoy it!
I’m excited to table this one. Probably going to have to do it solo though because people in my game group don’t want a 2+ hour gameplay.
Would be cool to see a Roxley or Awaken Realms remake of this game.
It needs Embers of a Forsaken Star to become a truely great game. Legit needs it. This is one of my very favorite games.
Just an amazing game, despite its roll to move credentials. I don’t get it to the table anywhere near enough but when I do (with all the expansions) - boy does it tell me a story. I don’t know if I’d ever want to play it any other way than solo though .
As others have said, you definitely need the “Embers” expansion.
Word. I lovvvvvvvvvve Xia with Embers of a Forsaken Star expansion (which is how I first played the game). EFS definitely helps with the repetitive elements, without over complicating like some expansions.
But... either way... I love Xia b/c in addition to clicking lotsa boxes for my game preferences (sci-fi theme, multiple paths to victory, dice, making bad-luck-rolls FUN) it also provides the sense that I'm a kid playing with TOYS. Few activies, including games, as an adult, provide that same sensation of playing with toys.
I'm shocked that your group gets through a 20 point game in 3 hours! I find a 10 point game 3. Might be my group is either too competitive or suffering too much analysis paralysis. I don't mind a long game that I enjoy but the time element prevents me from getting others to join in.
My biggest complaint (I don't mind long, I don't mind the repetition of the start of the game) is you get situations where a very short trade route shows up and then one player and then every players rushes to exploit it and the game is over with fewer than six system tiles exposed. We've got some house rules to try and ensure everyone explores, and to speed up AI ships, etc, but that's my biggest complaint. If the group isn't into 'playing space ship' the point salad is reduced to the 2 compatible planets randomly discovedered adjacent to each other.
But I looooooove it. I made double sided cheat sheets to help new players (and speed up game). And I made Star Wars and Star Trek related custom system tiles. Love. If I had a willing group, I'd play every week. Los Angeles DM me! : )
Thanks for the review, tempted. May have to see if it shows up on the used market.
They do reprints a few times a year, so I would definitely wait for that. It's also an add-on on their recent Kickstarter. It's not worth the $300+ that it's going for at this point in time.
It's a hard one to find.
Amazon for about $80.
@@TheMartinChronicles yup! They must have restocked recently.
Xia is one of those games that I've always been interested in but never had the right group to play it. At this point I may have to resign myself that it will be one of those that just isn't going to happen... Maybe at a convention some day though.
I went all in on Arydia based on Xia's reputation, but I'm on the fence if I want to pick it up also in the pledge manager. Sounds like my dream Star Trader-esque game, that I've never got around to play when I was a kid, but nowadays I mostly play 2p coops. Can anyone recommend, is it worth it just for 2p solo modified rules that Ira Fay posted on BGG once? Maybe I will play it with more people sometimes.
Good review. All valid points. One of my favourite games of all time.
Imo you could (should) have mentioned that the expansion is a must have here. Without it the game is only good with it it's great...
Just my 2 cents...
Wish it was available anywhere at normal prices.. Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to wait for it to come with Arydia.
It's in stock at Amazon currently
Yep. Got mine there.
Xia is mine and my wife's favorite game. The expansion is essential, it makes it even better.
Have been considering selling this game after owning it for many years, and many plays but I am conflicted about the final decision. Needs to get to the table again, and work on my mindset of embracing the theme again instead of trying to minmax the game as I had fallen into.
Deluxe upgrade, clear plastic coin holders for all the circular tokens in the game ;)
I just bought this one :)
Enjoy it :)
Played and love this game. Any other ones similar in the sandbox/competitive style? Side note I'm waiting on Bantam West to be delivered which is what I'm looking for.
I’m still very torn on whether to add this all-in to my Arydia pledge or to save the money. Great info here. I think I would really enjoy the game, but I’m not sure I’d get it tabled often enough to justify the expense.
That's fair.
@@BoardGameCo yes, but on the other hand, me want. :)
Thanks for the review.
Probably my favorite game of all time.
On the edge... in my game griup no one like space game... but solo and open world makes me want it for solo... they said adapt to your playing group but it seems sooo good
Great video! I was just about to pull the trigger and add this to our collection. How would you compare it to Western Legends and firefly? I have both of those games and love them so I'm trying to figure out if I need it, or if those tickle the same itch.
@BoardGameCo: Alex, I'm also keen on 'Mainly Games' question above: how does this compare to Firefly? I haven't played either, but I'm struck by how much your description of Xia embodies what I imagine a game of Firefly would entail? ... and if it does... I'm really, really keen to ask the next question; how easily could this be custom reskinned as a user-made 'FireFly' reskin of Xia (assuming that Xia does this better than GF9's Firefly game)???
I agree wholeheartedly. Really the best sandbox out there!
Great video. Thank you.
I found that a player can roll badly the entire game and still be in first place the entire game, even when his opponents roll well
I don't see how that's even slightly possible. My hatred for the game is based upon the fact that bad rolls completely ruin your game, and I speak from experience.
I'm ready for arydia
Yes!
Been interested in it for awhile but can't find it at a reasonable price. I don't Kickstart very well and missed what some are mentioning about getting it with some other recent KS campaign. So I watch videos of it and just sit here very sad.
Won't play this game again. Played once, went to 10 points with 5 players, took 4 hours and never upgraded my ship unfortunately because it was very difficult for anyone in the game to gain money. Kept dying, the tiles for my missions never came out until very end, when I died so did my mission which I was close to getting, and oh yeah...everything is based on a die roll (movement, attack, defense). This luck fest went way too long. Even with me winning on my last turn by just randomly exploring and gaining/turning in multiple tokens for VP's wouldn't change my mind. This solidifies how good Western Legends is, which for me is the far superior sandbox experience.
What a coincidence when reprint is release
Been looking for a game to play when Outer rim needs a switch up
Can anyone explain the mechanism for ramming damage?
Alex thank younfor the video.
Can you plz compare it with (Star Wars Outer Rim+expandion)?
While both share some mechanics - pick up and deliver style objective - Xia is completely random and completely open to you as a player. Sure the token for contacts are shuffled in SWOR and you don't know exactly where they are, but the board is fixed. Xia is open...you want a long elongated map? Explore left and right? How about an X shape? Then explore that way. The random sectors also keep things a lot more fresh leaving it to the player to craft their story within this freedom. This sand box style does not resonate with all players though. Games to 20 VP can take a while!
SWOR is still amazing and UB adds to that with expanded decks which the base game needed.
Both games are unique enough to be on the same shelf as they offer vastly different play experiences. Hope this helped a little.
@@hendrickstrauss3311 helped a lot. Thank you!
I think the people around me have been pronouncing it shee-a😂
In case you missed it: 4/5.
:)
:)
First!
Is it a race?
Hey :)