Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition

by Fantasy Flight Games

Product Features

• Includes over 200 miniatures
• En epic board game of galactic conquest, politics, and trade
• Age: 14 +
• Number of Players: 3 - 6
• Playing Time: 3 - 4 hrs

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 23.2 x 11.8 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: 158994206X
• Item model number: TI03
• Manufacturer recommended age: 14 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,762 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Shipping in a massive (12" x 24") epic-size box, this new giant-size edition of Twilight Imperium features more than 200 masterfully sculpted oversize plastic miniatures - the typical TI units (Ground Forces, Cruisers, Dreadnaughts, Carriers, Fighters, PDS, and Space Docks) as well as two new units (the massive War Sun, and the Destroyer). TI3 contains new oversize board tiles, more than 400 cards, every known civilization of the Twilight Imperium universe, almost every expansion rule and component ever published for Twilight Imperium, a gorgeous graphical overhaul, and an impressive full-color rules set. The Twilight Imperium gameplay has been refined and redone by original designer Christian T. Petersen. The new design features faster gameplay, and involves players in a far more active game experience, with much less downtime. In addition, TI3 will include the new "Race Cards," as well a dramatic new approach to the structure of the gameplay itself using the new "Command" system. Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition is nothing short of a massive epic release, and is destined to become a classic for years to come. FFG has directed all its craft, talent, and energy into this massive production. Are you ready for another age of Twilight?

Product Description

An age of twilight shall once more spread across the galaxy. A broken empire shall once more be re-forged. Hidden powers from dark space shall come forth to make an ancient claim. War shall rage across space. Secret treaties, political whispers, and devious plots shall again echo through the halls of the imperial city on Mecatol Rex. TI3 is an epic empire-building game of interstellar conflict, trade, and struggle for power. Players take the roles of ancient galactic civilizations, each seeking to seize the imperial throne via warfare, diplomacy, and technological progression. With new oversize geomorphic board tiles, finely detailed plastic miniatures, hundreds of cards, and a massive plurality of options, TI3 will ship in a massive, epic-size box, with more than 200 masterfully sculpted oversize plastic miniatures - the typical TI units (Ground Forces, Cruisers, Dreadnaughts, Carriers, Fighters, PDS, and Space Docks) as well as two new units (the massive War Sun, and the Destroyer). TI3 contains new oversize board tiles, more than 400 cards, every known civilization of the Twilight Imperium universe, almost every expansion rule and component ever published for TI, a gorgeous graphical overhaul, and an impressive full color rules set. The TI gameplay has been refined and redone by original designer Christian T. Petersen. The new design features faster gameplay, and involves players in a far more active game experience with much less down-time. In addition, TI3 will include the new Race Cards, as well a dramatic new approach to the structure of the gameplay itself using the new Command system. Are you ready for another age of Twilight?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review and Rule Changes, October 23, 2005

By 

Scott Potter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Twilight Imperium is one of the best games I have ever played. As a student at college, my friends and have 1-2 board game nights per week; with Twilight Imperium and Acquire being the most played games. I would highly recommend this game, though the learning curve is rather steep (an hour at to learn the rules) and the game takes a long time to play (4+ hours). If you are looking for a conquest game like RISK, stop reading now. Twilight Imperium is based on maneuvering, preparation, and diplomacy with few significant battles in the game.

The game is played to victory 10 points and unlike most war games, conquest is not the only means of victory. Points are acquired through capturing planets but also "researching" technology, and political decisions. The method of determining turn order is also quite original. Each player chooses a card (1-8) which in addition to being the order in which the players play, gives each player a special ability for that round. To further add interest each card has a secondary ability which all the other players can use when the player owning the card uses it. As a result not only are broad discussion (like conquest or technology) important but every turn can be critical as the players ability to ace often depends directly on when and how the other players act. This may seem as if it would slow the game, but a restriction on how many turns a player can take per round keeps the game moving nicely but keeps strategy extremely important through out.

This is not to say I don't have a few complaints about the game. The first couple of times we played we noticed some imbalances which led to certain having a definite advantage and the game always trending in the same way. There are 3 ways to get these points. Every player can complete common objectives, a new one being revealed each turn. A player gets 2 points every time they get the 8 card, and a player has a secret objective which can be worth two points. Our problem was that everyone accomplished the same common objectives. Because the 8 is so valuable, whoever went first had to take the 8, the person on their right then always took the 1 (and so they chose first next turn), so they could get the 8 next turn. Anyone who failed to follow this pattern automatically became 2 points behind, and never could catch up. The result is that there is little strategy to taking the 8 or the 1. Finally the secret objectives vary greatly in difficulty. As a result players who got easy secret objectives, or got to go first were far more likely to win. In fact in our first 3 games (5 players), the player who went first won 2 of them, and the only player that completed his secret objective in the 3rd game, won that one. At this point we were ready to give up on the game but instead we played around with the rules and came up with a slightly variation which greatly helped improve the game. If you do buy this game I highly recommend trying this variation after playing the normal rules a couple of times.

Rule Variation:
Many of these rule variations were taken from the Twilight Imperium Rule Variations which can be found (...)

1) The 8 card's text has been modified to the Game Option: Ancient Throne which gives a player 1 point for controlling Mecatol Rex. This modification greatly increases the strategy in choosing the 8 or 1.

2) Long War Variant: Play to 14 victory points. This will be necessary due to rule change # 3.

3) A player receives 2 victory points if they capture a planet in an opponent's home system. A player may only get points for a home system once. If the owner of the home system was not in control of the planet when it was captured this is reduced to 1 point. The reason for this rule was to encourage conquest (something that was seriously lacking in our previous games). The point reduction rule is to help prevent two players from allying to take a home system (since one of the players will not get all the points).

4) Every player receives 2 secret objectives. After creating the board but before the first turn each player must choose and discard one of them. This rule helps reduce the problem of unbalanced (in terms of difficulty) secret objectives.

5) You may only complete public objectives if you control all the planets in your home system (you may complete other objectives however). This allows players to slow down a player who gets too far ahead.

6) Destroyers get 4x Anti-fighter barrage. Destroyers are the weakest units in the game; this makes them a little better, but still hardly worth using.

7) The common objectives are laid face up on the table (you may still only complete the first after the first turn, second after the second, etc). This reduces the luck involved near the end of the game, as every one knows what is coming.

8) Technology can be purchased with influence or resources (but no combination). This rule helps balance the planets so everyone has more equal resources.

These rules seem to be very effective. While most players still get all of the common objectives, winning the game now depends on controlling Mecatol Rex, completing secret objectives or taking home systems. Players have been very successful using any combination of these three methods, and no race has done better or worse than any other. While these may seem to lead to large amount of conquest, this has never been the case, with only 3-10 major battles occurring in 4 player games.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some things you should know..., October 9, 2005

By 

David W. Casteel Jr. "Player and knower of al... (Springfield, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

Twilight Imperium is a space conquest board game with many different ways to win and numerous things that make it new and different every time you play.

You can win one of any three ways in TI. You can win by conquering all of your opponents(much like Risk), by accumulating points(much like Settlers of Catan), or by some random game events that come up in cards that are drawn occasionally.

This game has 10 races that you randomly choose from at the beginning of each game. The "universe" is made up of 30-40 some odd hex tiles that are randomly placed to create a unique and changing universe every time.

The game supports 3-6 players, each having their own unique color, counters, 60+ unit pieces, markers, tokens, etc. All of the pieces are made of a very thick cardboard stock and are quite sturdy. They seemed to be covered in a canvas type material making them moderately water resistant. The actual unit pieces are a medium hardness molded plastic making them tough as well as being well detailed. A typical game takes 3-4 hours. The learning curve is moderate to high and for that reason it is recommend for ages 14+, the numerous small pieces DO represent a choking hazard and the game is not recommended for small children up to age 3.

All in all, this game is AMAZING. It feels like an epic adventure every time! I haven't been this happy about a purchase in ages, so go out and give Twilight Imperium a try, you'll be glad you did.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Check for better prices, January 30, 2009

By 

Vin B "Rogue V" (USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This is a good game if you like long strategic board games, just be sure you allow a few hours for your first play through or have a place you can leave the board set up for a couple of days if you only plan to play for an hour or so at a time.

The main reason I'm commenting is the outrages prices you will see this game marked at on sites like Amazon and eBay. This is not a $200 to $300 game. It is commonly available all over the U.S.A. at toy stores like Toy's R Us for about $80. And if you shop around you can sometimes find it at local hobby shops for 10-20% less than the toy store prices.

It is still in print and quite common at the time I'm writing this review. So don't believe the overpriced hype that this is some ultra rare game worth $300+