Learn to Play: Planet Unknown and Last Light, Games About Spinning Boards and Simultaneous Actions!

Join us at Pandemonium for our 3-hour, bi-weekly session to learn and play games! You’re especially welcome if you’ve never before played hobby board games (and are curious about where to start). 

This week, we’ll have spinning boards in space! 

Normally, the games we choose for demoed events overlap in theme but show different mechanisms or styles of play. This week, the overlap is how players interact with the physical object of the game itself. Both designs incorporate a rotating central play area designed to interrupt traditional play strategies at the table AND increase player interactivity. Yet both games – both set in outer-space, no less – have very different tones and mechanical structures.

Does that sound esoteric and a little too technical? Perhaps! Yet how often do we get to talk like this for the events we run?

Planet Unknown (1-6 players) is a polyomino, tile-laying game: in other words, you have a grid, and you’re trying to fill as much space as possible with Tetris-like tiles; the drama of the game comes from the fact that you don’t get to choose the optimal tile each turn and have to make the best of what you’re given. But in this game, the twist is two-fold: not only do you get a tile every turn (courtesy of the spinning S.U.S.A.N. insert), but each tile lets you move up on one of five tracks to score points and other bonuses throughout the game. Therefore, every round is full of decisions and meaningful progression – and you never have to wait a turn!

Last Light (2-8 players) is a sci-fi, civilization-building game where you race the other players at the table to 20+ points. You get these points by exploring planets, mining their resources, researching tech for your three ship types, and fighting for control of the central areas of the map. If this sounds like a classic space 4X game (like Twilight Imperium, Eclipse, or Arcs), that is the intention of the designer. Unlike these games, though, it all plays in about 1-1.5 hours, owing to the fact that turns are taken simultaneously and the planets rotate at the end of every round (so you’ll get to know your planetary neighbors very well).

So if you ever wanted to learn these games or just want to spend time with others who want to play, come on out! And if you prefer outer space a little more terrifying (where no one can hear you scream), stay tuned to the Events Calendar for future announcements!

RULES FOR ATTENDING: 

• Proof of COVID vaccination is required at EVERY EVENT. Either the presentation of the physical card or a clear picture will suffice. Pandemonium does not keep any records, written or otherwise, of vaccination status.
• Advance online registration is required.
• Anyone not registered in an ongoing event will not be allowed in the event space to maintain capacity limits.
• No food will be allowed in our event space for the time being. Drinking is allowed.