Empires of the Void II (2018) Board Game

Empires of the Void II is a science fiction board game designed by Ryan Laukat and Michael Levenworth. It was released in 2018 by Red Raven Games, known for their high-quality thematic games. The game focuses on exploration, economic development, and building civilizations in a futuristic space setting.

Game Components of Empires of the Void II

Game board featuring a galaxy with various planets and regions

Five player boards for each of the space-faring factions

Unit tokens and building tokens

Influence tokens and control cubes

Power cards with values from 1 to 4

Event cards and mission cards

Command tokens and resource tokens (artifacts, metal, lifeforms)

Dice for resolving combat and navigating hazards

Score cards and victory point tokens

How To Setup Empires of the Void II

Setup involves placing the game board in the middle of the playing area, each player selecting a faction and setting up their player board, and randomly placing the planets and their associated mission cards. Players start with a set amount of resources and command tokens. The Power Deck, which drives the game’s progression, is shuffled and placed within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Lead-Follow Action Mechanism: The active player chooses an action from the action track, and other players can follow the same action or refresh by collecting income and drawing power cards.

Actions: Move & Attack, Card Action/Diplomacy, Recruit, Research & Build, or Scavenge (refresh).

Combat: Simple dice rolls combined with power card values to determine outcomes.

Influence and Allies: Players gain influence on planets by placing influence tokens, which can lead to alliances and additional resources.

Resource Management: Players manage command tokens, resources (artifacts, metal, lifeforms), and power cards.

Objective: The game aims to gain dominance over the fringe of the galaxy by accumulating victory points through influence, alliances, and completing missions.

Player Experience

In Empires of the Void II, players embark on a narrative-driven journey through the galaxy, interacting with unique planets and species. The game offers a flexible approach, allowing players to choose various paths such as trader, friend of the oppressed, or ruthless conqueror. The game’s mechanics are straightforward, making it accessible to new players, while the depth in strategy keeps experienced players engaged. Combat is quick and relatively non-punitive, focusing more on the narrative and strategic decisions than on destructive conflicts.

Pros

Story-Driven Narrative: Unique event and action cards create a rich, quasi-historical framework.

Flexibility: Multiple paths to victory allow for diverse playstyles.

Accessible Mechanics: Easy to learn and teach, with minimal edge-case rules.

Interactive Environment: Players can engage in diplomacy, combat, and resource management in a dynamic galaxy.

Cons

Randomness in Combat: Dice rolls can often determine the outcome, making strategy less predictive.

Power Card Balance: Drawing high-value power cards can give significant advantages.

Limited Discovery: In the base game, all planets are face-up, reducing the element of exploration.

Personal Thoughts on Empires of the Void II

Empires of the Void II is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of strategy, storytelling, and interactive gameplay. It is particularly suited for those new to the 4X genre, as it provides a more accessible and less punishing experience compared to other games in the category. The game’s ability to balance complexity with simplicity makes it a great choice for both casual and experienced gamers looking to explore the galaxy in a narrative-rich environment.

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