BSG

One additonal, non-Pegasus-related note: I think this is the first time in awhile we didn't have the Chief, and man-oh-man were we missing him in the end with both Battlestars full of holes and our vipers dropping like flies.

---

BSG

It didn't help that Dee can repair and I ended up being toaster.

---

BSG

Yes, half the crew was able to draw Blue this game. (There's no question that the Chief is king of repairs though.) Ultimately Galactica and the vipers were tking too much punishment to keep up.

One possibility (if you'd managed to jump away safely and had time for it): Consolidate Power lets you draw, potentially, a lot more Blue. And since Roslin wasn't President anymore and isn't much good at activating locations, she may have been your most efficient avenue to fixing some stuff.

---

BSG

That was some pretty smooth fifth-column double-agent stuff, P-C. If I hadn't seen your loyalty card I wouldn't have suspected you at all.

I would just like to note that I totally suspected Helo, in large part because he kept sending me emails saying things like "LET ME SPIKE SOME SKILL CHECKS YOU GUYS.", and on a related note, "I WANT TO SPIKE A GODDAMN SKILL CHECK." Helo really wanted to spike a skill check, is what I was hearing. One of the best things about running this game was being privy to his constant stressing about how best to sink the knife in.

---

BSG

One possibility (if you'd managed to jump away safely and had time for it): Consolidate Power lets you draw, potentially, a lot more Blue. And since Roslin wasn't President anymore and isn't much good at activating locations, she may have been your most efficient avenue to fixing some stuff.

I had the same thought, but as you said, there was never time to do it.

The advantage of the Chief in this instance, is not only does he draw a lot of blue, but repairing stuff doesn't "waste" his turn. He can also potentially get 4 vipers back up in one turn. (6 if he's already in the hangar and gets XOed.) So if we had a non-toaster Chief, we might have been able to keep a lot more birds in the air, in addition to getting Command and Weapons Control back on-line.

---

BSG
 
Yeah, when I chose to play Chief last round, it was because I was thinking he was a background character and I`d be able to get my feet wet. But this game it was clear just how valuable he was. In no small part because his player is thinking about fixing things as his first priority, whereas we are all doing stuff with other priorities, and really we could have used some stuff fixed! I mean, everything was broken at the end there! Ok, not everything, but you know what I mean.

---

BSG

I felt worn down to the raggedy end there those last two turns.

---

BSG

Some of my thoughts on the new Pegasus elements:

• The new ICs I'm not so keen on, being as I am something of a control freak. They seem necessary for game balance though, with all the other elements.

• I like the new skill cards in the various colours. The base game has only two possible effects in each deck, which after a while gets too predictable. New options also opens more ways for players to pull clever moves; in this game, I was impressed to see good use made of such options as Preventative Policy and Full Throttle.

They do change the odds of getting the staples - a player that draws 2 Green could previously expect an XO about 90% of the time, but in Pegasus it's only 80%. I'm not so sure it's a bad thing - it makes it easier for a Cylon to claim they didn't get one, and creates the occasional need for new strategies. (This is less the case with the new ICs; they really only add randomness.)

• I love the Treachery deck (and Reckless skill checks), for one simple reason: it gives revealed Cylons something to

do. In the base game, revealed Cylons barely interact with the crew. They can spike skill checks and that's it between turns. Now, they have additional options. I'm a fan of the changes to the Cylon locations too; it makes them more viable and more interesting choices.

• The Pegasus locations are ok, but really seem to be just reworked base game mechanics. Pegasus' weapons add greater risk and uncertainty. Note too: they make SPs more valuable. An SP changes the result on a shot from Galactica only 25% of the time. It improves Pegasus CIC a full 50% of the time, and the Main Batteries are even better. The Engine Room is best for desperation situations, where you just need to get out of there fast. Then there's the Airlock, which brings us to:

• Executions. Thematically I like them - a lot of the main cast didn't survive to reach Earth - but they need to be handled with care. Some crews have used them as a go-to loyalty check - just start offing people so you know you can trust their replacements. I like it as a Brig alternative, but that reduces Tigh's attractiveness as a character.

• New Crisis Cards, Super Crisis Cards, Quorum Cards, Destinations, Characters. Big fan. I like the added variety, and some of them are really quite clever. The characters all seem fairly well balanced, except possibly Cain (who also makes Adama a lot less popular).

• Cylon leaders. I'm not such a fan. They're problematic as a balancing mechanism, and can be a lonely experience (mistrusted by everyone). On the other hand, at least you know for sure whose side you're on from the start.

• New Caprica. Overall I prefer Kobol, but it can make a fun change every now and then. Of all the new elements, though, this one changes the game experience the most.

In broad terms: I like elements that add variety without needless complexity; improve game balance; make the suspicion and deceit side of the game more interesting (and treacherous); and keep individual players more involved. I'm less keen on things that reduce game balance and/or increase randomness without offering the ability to control or manage it. Overall, I think Pegasus offers some very positive additions, but not everything works quite as well as they wanted.

---

BSG

I enjoyed the added variety but I'm glad you left some Pegasus elements out to keep it simpler. I'm glad I got to stay human the whole way through. I'd be interested to see what it's like to play as a cylon.

---

BSG

It's VERY STRESSFUL. I was so worried about being found out all the time.

---