I Love Battlestar Galactica, But Can it Recreate its Magic?

During the social distancing protocol, Ashton revisits one of his favorite games of all time: Battlestar Galactica. Battlestar Galactica (BSG) is a re-imagined science fiction TV series that ran in the late 2000s, featuring the humans trying to find their home world of Kobol, while robot cylons hunted them down. What ties into the whole social-deduction element found in this board game is that there are freaking cylons in the ship that look entirely human, trying to sabotage Galactica from within.

Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game (Plus the Pegasus, Exodus, and Daybreak Expansions) is a Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) publication that was published in 2008, designed by Corey Konieczka, featuring bluffing, deduction, a strong sci-fi TV show theme, politics, area movement, dice rolling, hand management, hidden roles, once-per-game abilities, and even voting. As one of the most popular thematic board games of all time, it is a semi-cooperative game where 3-6 players take on the role of pilots, political leaders, military leaders, or engineers to crew the ship Galactica. The game takes about 2-3 hours.

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#boardgames #scifi #battlestargalactica

[grungesw]

Definitely worth the 600 dollars i spent on it and all the expansions last year, have had priceless play throughs with friends

[jamesmorris]

In our experience at least, pulling the old BSG out of the cupboard two years after our previous game was like reuniting with an old and trusted friend. The magic was still there, the tension, the frenzied swearing, and even a moment that created a new group inside joke (and a very memey photo of my friend (who was Admiral) putting his head in his hands as yet another Cylon attack card appeared off the top). I had similar concerns that the magic would be diminished somewhat, but somehow this game keeps its spark time after time after time <3

[SirChicoSC]

I don't have a lot of experience in terms of variety of games I've played, but I am glad I found this one. Started with Catan, then Game of Thrones and my third game was BSG. I fell in love with it. It is the best game I've played so far. Maybe because I really enjoy the hidden traitor mechanic. Favourites include Secret Hitler and Good Cop Bad Cop. I recommend the last one for those who don't know it yet. Quick game, very simple, lots of laughs!
Btw man, when you reveal yourself as a Cylon with the first action of the Executive Order... you don't get the second action. This would be waaaay too powerful. That's why is not good practice to XO the next player in the turn order. It is safer to XO behind ;)

[Pryde]

Ahh, BSG is so good! I am with you!! I am ready to get a group together again to play this amazing game!! I have base game and Daybreak! Would like to try Exodus!

[stevepaltrineri]

This is my first video of yours, but I'm a fan now. Subscribed.



I've played BSG exactly once, I just got it for a reasonable price a few months ago. I love games with a traitor mechanic, and this is definitely the best one I've played. Wish it was easier to get a group together, but I love it.

[ThePiachu]

Ah, I have peaked with my Battlestar Game. I was playing Felix Gaeta and explaining the game to some new people. We were going to New Caprica. Really my least favourite of the destinations, but whatev. I was the admiral and got Cylon first draw. I did explain every aspect of the game to the players and hinted that we should be checking for Cylons, but they never suspected I'd be the traitor. I didn't do anything bad throughout the entire game, heck, I was the goodie two shoes because I knew my reward would be at the end of the New Caprica phase. I kept my Once Per Game ability just in case I'd lose my admiral title, but I never had to use it. I explained to the players that once Galactica comes it can leave at any moment stranding the ships they haven't freed. So when the ship came back and the crescendo of the fight for the future of humanity happened, Admiral Gaeta simply ushered the one order we heard so many times in the show "JUMP!". No ships escaped New Caprica, there was no rescue coming back for the colony.

Good thing I haven't tried bringing BSG to that gaming meetup since otherwise I'd probably be crucified by leaving such a bad impression of the game to new players :D.

[halflingshoard]

Wish i had a copy. Many games played 8n college that just were so amazing. Our core group would bring in new people all the time, but it was tough to gwt them to play again. I was not the owner unfortunately, so i will have to wait for a day i happen across it and then introduce to my new board game friends.

[lewiscolbert]

4:15 This is not actually possible. If a cylon uses his first action to reveal himself he loses his second action from executive order because he becomes a cylon and cards no longer effect him. The Errata and FAQ go over this. So revealing yourself then playing the supercrisis is not possible.

[xtro]

I LOVE this board game, I’ve only got the Base Game though.
I want to get ALL the expansions.

[samhugo]

Really Love this Game and Video! Id like to revisite Battlestar on our next BG Weekend, but with all expansions, what was the Best Way of Playing it again? Witch Modules do you prefer, witch Do you skip?!?

[nategar]

BSG is the GOAT for this type of game.

[lordcodger]

I remember one game my Cylon brother convinced everyone that I was a Cylon and had me thrown out the airlock, before using an execution action on another human. The look of betrayal and shock I will always remember.

Guess what game I'm bringing out for board game night.

[縞鰺-oc]

The biggest problem I have with this game is the combination of it being the best hidden traitor game still AND it being out of print.
I do own the game with all Expansions, but I'm always very reluctant to bring it out, because a full set is approaching... I think you might end up paying almost 1000 EUR for all the stuff. (And camp eBay for months to even manage to get it at all) So IF something were to be damaged...
BTW: Well, at least your loyalty cards are sleeved, but seeing the other unsleeved cards in this game in the video was a bit irritating to me. ;) I guess it's okay if it's only sitting under the bed. :P

[ganAlexander]

Battlestar Galactica vs Nemesis vs Dead of Winter?

[lokihve]

I almost though you are going to sell the expansions. Would buy, we play it constantly here :)

[tyrroo]

Dude, why the frak are you sayin "frikkin" and not "frakkin"!

[SxyAznGrl]

This is the best board game I have ever owned. I have the first 2 expansions and never got around to getting the 3rd. I always introduced new friends to the game and for the most part, they understood the game by the 2nd round. It was an easy but long way to explain the game, maybe because I had done it so much? I did have a lot of friends play without watching the show but 3 of them ended up watching the series. They may of never watched the show but everyone did love the game. It starts off as a co op games, later becomes backstabbing and an intense fight. I might be playing the game on tabletop soon and explaining the rules with my friends. We will see.