Stellar Ventures

10/23 I own a PnP version I made

Cube rails in space, the perfect description! To me, it takes the best of column A (cube rails) and the best of column B (18XX) and puts them together and adds its own flair!

The alien aspects of this game are funny, but also really intriguing and work very well gameplay wise!

Company payouts are interesting. You pay out best on your lower amount between 1) your total train strength 2) your companies total network value.

The way your company is a minor or major company is really cool (1-3 shares purchased is minor, 4-6 is major), and you pay at half value if it is major (to simulate dilution of shares during play).

There are alien hexes that when you place your company cube on it you can give yourself a one time extra payout. This also helps with end game payout. It is sort of push your luck because you must decide the second you place the cube or else you have to wait until the next alien hex to have the option again. The longer you wait the more the payout is though!

And then there is a round of player actions and alien actions that allow you to place more company cubes, sell ships, or make your companies more powerful...including the access to wormhole technology?! Wormholes allow you to break the normal rule of having to place a company cube adjacent to their other cubes.

My only minor complaint is the blind bidding (see edit below) from the "Chairman's Choice". It technically works and I have read the designer's intent and I can get on board with why it is there. I just personally don't like blind bidding as a mechanic in almost any game. VERY minor complaint though, because the rest of the game works so well together that this one part doesn't ruin or make the game worse in the end!

Looking forward to more plays of this and hoping for a final production copy I can buy so I can support Pontus, the designer!

12/23 Edit - The blind bidding has been removed in the newest ruleset and now uses a bribe table. I really enjoy how the bribe table functions, but for full clarity I am a little bias since I helped come up with the idea/design.

PnP

One of the most interesting and best cube rails I have played. The game is a bit heavier than what is normal for the genre, but it suits me perfectly.

It´s a game worthy of my time:) I´ve seen this game grow in to something big. I´m no big fan of "cube games" but this one I really enjoy. It´s quick and interactive. I´m not that good at it but still really fun!!! good job on this one!!!

My first introduction to a cube rails type economic game and I'm totally sold! It's very good!