E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion (2008) Board Game

E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion is a science fiction-based cooperative board game released in in 2008. Designed by Mark Anticole, the game challenges players to work together to defend Earth against an alien invasion. With a runtime of 90 minutes and suitable for players aged 12 and up, E.T.I. offers an immersive gameplay experience for 3-6 players.

Game Components of E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion

Player boards: Each player receives a board showing their company’s abilities.

Tracks: Four tracks on each board for staffing, creativity, security, and analysis.

Tokens: Green tokens for tracking progress on the tracks.

Cards: Project cards, research cards, and agenda cards.

ISSA badge: Used to indicate the current president.

Alien cards: For determining the alien player’s stats and difficulty level.

How To Setup E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion

To set up the game, players start by placing a green token at the beginning of each track on their board. Each player can then add three more tokens to one or more of the tracks. Cards are distributed secretly to each player, revealing either a human endgame strategy or the alien role. Project cards are shuffled and placed in different stacks labeled “I” to “V”, along with a pile of research cards. One player is chosen as the ISSA president and receives three agenda cards. The game begins with the flipping of project cards from the “I” stack, equal to one less than the number of players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Choice: Decide game length and alien difficulty at the start.

Resource Management: Manage tokens across staffing, creativity, security, and analysis tracks.

Card Draw: Draw project and research cards to advance.

Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts over projects and fight against the alien.

Objective: The surviving player with the most fame points wins, or the alien wins by destroying all players.

Player Experience

**E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion** offers a immersive experience where players feel they are preparing for an alien invasion. The game is filled with luck, choices, and building anticipation, making each game unique. The interaction among players can be intense, as they vie for limited project slots, which can lead to backstabbing and conflict. Despite its slightly clunky mechanics, the thematic execution is strong, making it enjoyable, especially with a full complement of players.

Pros

Thematic Execution: Successfully captures the theme of preparing for an alien invasion.

Replayability: High variability due to different project cards and alien difficulty levels.

Interactive: Engaging player interactions, including competition for projects.

Strategic Depth: Multiple tracks to manage and strategies to employ.

Cons

Luck Factor: Significant luck involved, which may not appeal to all players.

Clunky Mechanics: Some mechanics feel a bit clunky but are thematic.

Short Game Option: The short game mode is often too short and unsatisfying.

Complexity: May not be suitable for new players due to the complexity of managing multiple tracks and cards.

Personal Thoughts on E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion

**E.T.I.: Estimated Time to Invasion** is ideal for players who enjoy semi-cooperative games with a strong thematic presence. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate strategic resource management and competitive interactions. While it may not be the best fit for players seeking purely cooperative experiences or those who prefer games with minimal luck, it offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience for those intrigued by its theme.

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