Star Explorer (1982) Board Game

Star Explorer is a board game released in 1982, designed by Bob Charrette and Jeff Dee. It falls under the categories of Adventure, Science Fiction, and Space Exploration. The game involves dice rolling, grid movement, hexagon grid, points role-playing, and simulation mechanics.

Game Components of Star Explorer

16” x 20” game board

Sheet of paper counters for crew teams, ships, hazards, and planets

Ship logsheet, command logsheet, and planetary logsheet (to be photocopied)

20-page rulebook

Two six-sided dice, a ten-sided die, and a twenty-sided die

How To Setup Star Explorer

To set up the game, each player receives a randomly allocated planet and a random mission to begin. Players then use a pool of points to design their starship and allocate crew members. This setup phase is crucial as it sets the stage for the various missions and encounters that will follow.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics:
– Movement and exploration
– Planetary actions and encounters
– Combat with hostile aliens
– Resource management (fuel and crew)
– Die rolling and table consulting for encounter resolutions

Game Objective:
– Each player commands a Space Fleet Service cruiser and aims to complete various missions to earn victory points.
– The player with the most victory points after twenty turns wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing Star Explorer involves a mix of strategic planning and luck, asdie rolls and random encounters significantly influence the game’s outcome. Players must balance resource management, crew allocation, and risk-taking to succeed. The game is well-regarded for its smooth and swift gameplay, though it has been criticized for its artwork and the lack of playtesting.

Pros

Well-balanced gameplay: It is not possible to win by focusing on just one or two encounter types.

Smooth gameplay: The game rarely gets bogged down in inactivity.

Solitaire play option: It can be played solo, making it versatile for different types of players.

Cons

Dice-heavy mechanics: All encounters are resolved by consulting tables and rolling dice, which may deter players who dislike dice-based games.

Artwork and components: The artwork has been described as unimaginative, and the components and rules show a lack of playtesting.

Pricing: It was criticized for being grossly overpriced at the time of its release.

Personal Thoughts on Star Explorer

Star Explorer is ideal for fans of science fiction and space exploration-themed games. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy dice-based mechanics and strategic resource management. While it has its flaws, such as subpar artwork and components, the game’s core mechanics and balanced gameplay make it an engaging experience, especially for solo players or small groups. However, it may not be the best choice for players seeking games with more complex strategies or those who are averse to dice rolling.

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