Single player

[Primarch_Guilliman 9]

As others have mentioned, Im also so excited about is game! A big bonus for me is that it can be played with one player, as my friends and family isnt really into boardgames ( except monopoly or trivial pursuit..). There isnt a lot of good solo games out there, so lets hope the game is fun enough to play solo multiple times.

[nilus2k 2]

I am lucky that my Wife and young son do enjoy board games.  But I like Solo play as well because it means I can bust a game out after everyone else goes to sleep

[power500500 220]

This looks like it's going to be pretty overwhelming for solo play, but I'll still play it every week I hope it scales well. 

[Dronevil 446]

Single player is interesting. I like the social interaction that you get from board games and so have never really played one designed for single player. The question for me, is whether single player XCOM: The Board Game will be more or less fun than single player XCOM: Enemy Within? I suspect that, without other players, the computer game will win out over the board game for me, although I'll definitely give it a couple of gos at least

[power500500 220]

Single player is interesting. I like the social interaction that you get from board games and so have never really played one designed for single player. The question for me, is whether single player XCOM: The Board Game will be more or less fun than single player XCOM: Enemy Within? I suspect that, without other players, the computer game will win out over the board game for me, although I'll definitely give it a couple of gos at least

 

Well that point is definitely a given. The video game is designed for one person, the board game is really designed for four with the option for less. I own A LOT of solo games, and while I can say it is always funner to play with a group of people, sometimes you just can't get everyone over. With everyone's work schedule it's sometimes hard to get anyone to play a game. With solo games, you can play WHENEVER you want. The fact this game was a solo game was the fact that sealed the deal for me. 

[Caerdowyn 13]

I've been thinking about this. I like to approach it as a solo game with the option to have other players ease the burden of command by taking over specific roles.

 

I recently got an appetite for the States of Siege series (eg Dawn of the Zeds), this game looks like it could sit next to it.

[Primarch_Guilliman 9]

@dronevil I agree. The videogame(s) are designed for one player, and the mood and atmosphere isnt as easily transferable to boardgames. However: I absolutely LOVE space hulk: death angel (another single player FFG game) where you really can feel the atmosphere and tension in the game!

But then again, we know next to nothing about the game. If FFG can pull off the same sense of tension and slowly creeping panic as the videogames, this game could be just as awesome. I think I am sloooowly warming up to the idea of an app for this reason, it could be a good tool for creating the feel and atmosphere Im looking for in an xcom boardgame.. Im really looking forward for more info about this game.

[Primarch_Guilliman 9]

So, I have watched the videos on youtube with gameplay and I've got to say, my excitement has gone up! The game and components look great. But there is something I thought about while watching the videos: each play area of the different roles is printed at the four different edges of the board. So when playing singleplayer it seems you have to either be stretching yourself across your table all the time or move yourself around the board. Neither seems very practical... Maybe its me whining over nothing? Anyway, the game seems awesome and I really like the app more now after watching the videos.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Primarch_Guilliman

[Glaurung 444]

So, I have watched the videos on youtube with gameplay and I've got to say, my excitement has gone up! The game and components look great. But there is something I thought about while watching the videos: each play area of the different roles is printed at the four different edges of the board. So when playing singleplayer it seems you have to either be stretching yourself across your table all the time or move yourself around the board. Neither seems very practical... Maybe its me whining over nothing? Anyway, the game seems awesome and I really like the app more now after watching the videos.

Yes running around a table is not really good idea special in expert mode when apps cannot be paused but.... there is a choice in her begin in the game in app 1 2  3 4 players? And designer say app will adapt to a number so i believe should be solution. maybe like phases for each characters?  anyway game looks really cool and i cannot wait to crab it!

[Xraysteve 28]

 

So, I have watched the videos on youtube with gameplay and I've got to say, my excitement has gone up! The game and components look great. But there is something I thought about while watching the videos: each play area of the different roles is printed at the four different edges of the board. So when playing singleplayer it seems you have to either be stretching yourself across your table all the time or move yourself around the board. Neither seems very practical... Maybe its me whining over nothing? Anyway, the game seems awesome and I really like the app more now after watching the videos.

Yes running around a table is not really good idea special in expert mode when apps cannot be paused but.... there is a choice in her begin in the game in app 1 2  3 4 players? And designer say app will adapt to a number so i believe should be solution. maybe like phases for each characters?  anyway game looks really cool and i cannot wait to crab it!

 

I thought I heard them say something to the effect of, fewer players will mean a bit more time per role, perhaps to compensate for shifting chairs or somesuch?

[Osoroshii 2,146]

I got to play this game at GenCon. Playing solo will be a very good challenge. You will be taking on all 4 roles in the game and the timed round will force you to make decisions very fast.

[Rumar 244]

If you want to play single, try the original computer game http://www.ufopaedia.org/. Be warned, it has immense strategic depth and is therefore a lot tougher than the remake. Not recommended for real time quick finger console kids.

[Dichotomy 11]

I would add try the new version of XCOM. Althugh it can be argued that the previous one was harder it was also pretty **** easy for someone who knew the game well. A victory could be eeked out in a couple of hours once you knew the crtiical path. That said it was probably the most fun video game I have ever played, but that must be taken in the light of the age I was and the video game environment of the time.

 

The new Firaxis xcom adds a new shiny exterior to the game, and adds quite a few more fun mechanics and immersive details, whilst removing some of the strategic options.

 

If you do play it I would not recommend NORMAL difficulty. That is designed for very casual players, and actively cheats for the player behind the scenes (which makes going up in difficulty a huge challenge as it makes the player think the game is doing all kinds of cheats against them, when in reality it is not its just removes the training wheels).CLASSIC/IRONMAN difficulty is the difficulty recommended by the games designer as how it is meant to be played.

 

Just don't get to attached to your soldiers, regardless of which version of xcom you play Additionally don't assume its a foregone conclusion that you will complete the game on first playthrough, xcom is a game that you can (and should) be able to lose. That is why I strongly suggest the IRONMAN option. IMO if you can't lose are you really playing a game or just watching an interactive movie ?

 

Hope that helps

 

OLD XCOM STEAM PAGE : http://store.steampowered.com/app/7760/

 

NEW XCOM STEAM PAGE : http://store.steampowered.com/app/200510/

Edited October 31, 2014 by Dichotomy