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[jotheonah]

So how many planets are there? Is there like a board? That's the part that confuses me.

[Voltgloss]

I think each player has 5 planets (named "Alien Race A" through "Alien Race E") and starts with 4 ships on each planet (so 20 total).

And "landing" on another player's planet = establishing a colony there, right?

[Grujah]

Volt is right on all accounts.

There is no board. Each player has 5 planets (they are cardboard cutouts IRL) which they put infront of themselves and there is a hypespace gate/cone that shows which player is attacking which planet).

This is how you set it up IRL:
http://boardgamegeek.com/image/609969/cosmic-encounter

[Galzria]

Wow, they really reduced the quality imo. I own all the Mayfair expansions, which did indeed use a central board... Although I guess this way allows for a lager table... Still, it feels cheaper to me.

[Kuildeous]

Wow, they really reduced the quality imo. I own all the Mayfair expansions, which did indeed use a central board... Although I guess this way allows for a lager table... Still, it feels cheaper to me.

I'm also accustomed to a board, but I can see how you don't really need one.

All you need to do is keep track of what's on your planets and where your colonies are. You also need something to represent the warp.

I've been used to the Mayfair board, but it really wasn't that important. It did provide a handy place to hold moons though, something that I believe did not carry over to the newer game (and probably for good reason). Even then, the board still wasn't necessary.

[Galzria]

But... But... Some of the Cheesy Moons were hilarious!

It all depended on the group I was playing with at the time. If we were treating it as a beer-and-peanuts game, the moons were a great addition. If we were playing more seriously, then not so much.

We never did get into playing the lucre with enjoyment.

[Kuildeous]

We never did get into playing the lucre with enjoyment.

Agreed. I barely remember the lucre system, which tells you how much of an impact that made for me. I believe the main benefit of the lucre system was to create alien powers that depended on it. Without those powers, the lucre didn't really add to the game. It was just another resource to track.

[Axxle]

/in but I don't understand this game

You'll be fine. Read the official rulebook first. Don't even bother with the Cosmodex until you play. All those terms may overwhelm you, and there is little benefit to reading the whole thing, since some of them won't apply in the game you're in. Think of it as trying to memorize every Dominion card when you only need to focus on the 10/11 out there.

Once the game begins, then use the Cosmodex to learn about the alien powers you are handed. Then use it to read up on what the other players' powers can do. You don't want to be surprised. Then read up on the cards you have. Attack cards are easy enough. Read up on the other cards.

The thing to keep in mind is that CE is a political, highly swingy game. Utter newbies can win a game, and soi-disant experienced players can make dumb mistakes and throw the game. Although, more likely, an experienced player will cost the game because his hand simply sucks.

One thing to note is that you aren't going to win every encounter, so sometimes you shouldn't even try to win the encounter.  It's ok to throw the encounter to get rid of your crappy cards in many cases.
On the surface Cosmic Encounter might seem like a game all about the powers, but in a lot of ways it's a game about hand management.

[Galzria]

/in but I don't understand this game

You'll be fine. Read the official rulebook first. Don't even bother with the Cosmodex until you play. All those terms may overwhelm you, and there is little benefit to reading the whole thing, since some of them won't apply in the game you're in. Think of it as trying to memorize every Dominion card when you only need to focus on the 10/11 out there.

Once the game begins, then use the Cosmodex to learn about the alien powers you are handed. Then use it to read up on what the other players' powers can do. You don't want to be surprised. Then read up on the cards you have. Attack cards are easy enough. Read up on the other cards.

The thing to keep in mind is that CE is a political, highly swingy game. Utter newbies can win a game, and soi-disant experienced players can make dumb mistakes and throw the game. Although, more likely, an experienced player will cost the game because his hand simply sucks.

One thing to note is that you aren't going to win every encounter, so sometimes you shouldn't even try to win the encounter.  It's ok to throw the encounter to get rid of your crappy cards in many cases.
On the surface Cosmic Encounter might seem like a game all about the powers, but in a lot of ways it's a game about hand management.

Staaaaaart

[Voltgloss]

That's, what, 8 sign-ups so far (not including Ozle)?  Need at least 2 more to make two games of 5.

[Insomniac]

he could start 2 with the first 5 and leave this thread open for signips for 3 until he gets 2 more 

[Galzria]

That's, what, 8 sign-ups so far (not including Ozle)?  Need at least 2 more to make two games of 5.

Staaaart game 1! ;P

[Axxle]

he could start 2 with the first 5 and leave this thread open for signips for 3 until he gets 2 more 

Heh, I guess I could do that.  I was planning on having a experience player and less experience player games though.

signups so far:
Insomniac - Green
Galzria - Yellow
Voltgloss - Purple
Grujah -
Cayvie - Yellow
Kuildeous -
Glooble
Jotheonah

Not signed up:
Ozle
Everyone else

[Insomniac]

he could start 2 with the first 5 and leave this thread open for signips for 3 until he gets 2 more 

Heh, I guess I could do that.  I was planning on having a experience player and less experience player games though.

signups so far:
Galzria
Voltgloss
Grujah
Cayvie
Kuildeous
Glooble
Jotheonah

Not signed up:
Ozle
Everyone else

Uhh I thought I said I was in

[Galzria]

Yeah, you were first /in, with a color claim even!

[Axxle]

Youre in.  Not sure how tlyou fell off the list

[Grujah]

2 more!

Common, guys!

[Insomniac]

read the rules pretty sure I understand how to play now.

[Galzria]

Aaaaxxle!

Start game 1! Or start sending out random PM's to other regular f.DS forum games regulars with a link to this thread telling them to come sign up.

[Kuildeous]

The sticky has been updated so hopefully that may bring someone along.

At least I hope so.

As a reminder to anyone lurking out there, you don't need a lot of experience. You don't need to read the whole Cosmodex to know what's going on.

[Insomniac]

STAAAAAAAAAART Game 1!

[Axxle]

OK

[Insomniac]

OK

+1

[Galzria]

OK

+42

[Dsell]

I /in'd via pm but I suppose I'll /in here for CEIII too.