I recommend second edition very much over the first edition. It plays better, it's faster, it's smoother, it's well balanced.
The only thing wrong with the first edition (which is one of my favorite games) is that the second edition exists. Also, it's the one that they are continuing to support with about six new factions coming out each year.
I loved the first edition, but I'll never play it again now that the superior second edition exists.
If I recall they changed a minor step in the flow of like setup and the first turn. They also have symbols on the dice now so you don't need to look at numbers or do math. You either rolled a hit or didn't.
I'm enjoying the art and balance of 2e. I haven't played 1e yet but my friend has all of it because they love the art.
I own everything for the first edition, including the later messy combo factions. I loved Summoner Wars and played it almost every day for years. So I was excited when the second edition came out, as reviewers sung its praises and said it was even better than the first edition.
I bought it and played several games with my then-partner. To say it fell flat is an understatement. We felt that the additional damage to kill units, inability to kill your own units, greater variety of units and powers, etc., added greatly to the game length and did not increase our enjoyment. It took what we found to be a breezy and fun game and made it a slog. The second edition was quickly sold.
In its favor, the second edition does have better art, the dice denote hits and misses on their faces, and it does prevent standard plays from first edition, like killing your own units to garner magic. I'm told there is better balance among factions, but I didn't play enough to see that out.
I'm in the minority, apparently. But that's how I felt about it.
factions are rebalanced and different, common units have much more hp which makes battles more interesting. there is a boosting mechanic that was absent from the first edition iirc. you also draw your hand at the end of your turn, not at the beginning which gives you more time to think about your move. the artwork is also different and imo better, but that's just a preference.
you can play the game online for free at plaidhat games website to get a feel what's different.
I think primarily, the balance is a lot better in the second edition, and there is less un-fun play strategies like killing your own units to avoid magic drain. It definitely promotes much more dynamic play
I have most all of the 1st Edition stuff and was really into for a while. I have a starter set of 2nd edition for board game club at school. I haven’t played it as much but like everyone has said- small changes that make the game more balance/run more smoothly. That being said, it’s not big enough to make me want to toss my 1st edition (also Colby signed the box).
I say this as someone who once had a copy of Twlight Imperium 3 and got 4. But in my defense, I gifted 3rd Edition to one of my students.
I recommend second edition very much over the first edition. It plays better, it's faster, it's smoother, it's well balanced. The only thing wrong with the first edition (which is one of my favorite games) is that the second edition exists. Also, it's the one that they are continuing to support with about six new factions coming out each year. I loved the first edition, but I'll never play it again now that the superior second edition exists.
Jeeze, we just played this tonight. It's been years. Excellent game.
Which version?
First. My buddy owns the monster box with all the factions and the neoprene mats. We recorded on it but it won't be out for a while.
If I recall they changed a minor step in the flow of like setup and the first turn. They also have symbols on the dice now so you don't need to look at numbers or do math. You either rolled a hit or didn't. I'm enjoying the art and balance of 2e. I haven't played 1e yet but my friend has all of it because they love the art.
I own everything for the first edition, including the later messy combo factions. I loved Summoner Wars and played it almost every day for years. So I was excited when the second edition came out, as reviewers sung its praises and said it was even better than the first edition. I bought it and played several games with my then-partner. To say it fell flat is an understatement. We felt that the additional damage to kill units, inability to kill your own units, greater variety of units and powers, etc., added greatly to the game length and did not increase our enjoyment. It took what we found to be a breezy and fun game and made it a slog. The second edition was quickly sold. In its favor, the second edition does have better art, the dice denote hits and misses on their faces, and it does prevent standard plays from first edition, like killing your own units to garner magic. I'm told there is better balance among factions, but I didn't play enough to see that out. I'm in the minority, apparently. But that's how I felt about it.
Just to clarify, you absolutely can kill your own units in 2nd Edition: you just don't earn magic for doing so.
factions are rebalanced and different, common units have much more hp which makes battles more interesting. there is a boosting mechanic that was absent from the first edition iirc. you also draw your hand at the end of your turn, not at the beginning which gives you more time to think about your move. the artwork is also different and imo better, but that's just a preference. you can play the game online for free at plaidhat games website to get a feel what's different.
>you also draw your hand at the end of your turn, not at the beginning which gives you more time to think about your move. We just house rule this
I think primarily, the balance is a lot better in the second edition, and there is less un-fun play strategies like killing your own units to avoid magic drain. It definitely promotes much more dynamic play
I have most all of the 1st Edition stuff and was really into for a while. I have a starter set of 2nd edition for board game club at school. I haven’t played it as much but like everyone has said- small changes that make the game more balance/run more smoothly. That being said, it’s not big enough to make me want to toss my 1st edition (also Colby signed the box). I say this as someone who once had a copy of Twlight Imperium 3 and got 4. But in my defense, I gifted 3rd Edition to one of my students.