This is a short review of Outer Rim for those who, like me, may be on the fence. This is not an in depth look at the components, the rules or the gameplay. This is my experience of how I came to own Star Wars Outer Rim
First off, I am a huge fan of Star Wars and have been since seeing it in 70s (yes, I really am that old ). Having quality games set in the Star Wars universe has been a pursuit over the decades and finally, we now begin to see some very good games coming to market.
When Outer Rim was announced, my first impression was
However, over time, I have mellowed and, with discussion amongst my friends, wound up with the fence wedged firmly where the sun doesn't shine . So, the plan at UKGE was demo the game on the FFG stand and then make a decision.
That is not how it happened
What actually happened was
Me: Hey, lets go look who's selling Outer Rim and for how much
Friend: OK, sure, how much damage can looking be?
Me: Don't worry, we won't buy until.....
***I See Star Wars Outer Rim (SWOR) for £42!!****
Me:Yes please.....SOLD!!!
Friend: Hang on a minute...
So, the game was acquired and we set off in search of the demo. If at any stage you are confused by the reversal of said plan, please remember the first rule of warfare
***No plan ever survives contact with the enemy***
I played a short demo (to 4 fame) with 3 other people I hadn't met before on the friday afternoon (well, I think it was friday....the days all blurred into one really ).
On the saturday (now this really did happen on saturday, I wasn't dreaming/hallucinating or drunk), my 3 friends and I sat down in the Hilton hotel to play a game to 8 fame (as recommended by the rules). So much fun ensued, that we gave up on any other game and just played Outer Rim again....finishing at the princely and relaxing time of 0100hrs
Initial Impressions
The components were of the standard I expect from FFG with a few notes. The ship sheets were thinner cardboard than I expected or liked. The player boards were slightly warped but careful bending flattened them out and finally, my market cards were also not completely flat. However, I can personally live with all of these things.
The artwork is top notch, right up my alley and added massively to the thematics of the game. 304
Most of the firm favourite weapons, armour, equipment and personas are represented in the game, which also lends well to the theme. Having the firespray whilst playing as <PERSON>, along with the Jetpack and armour....yeah, I felt like a cold hearted bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe.....so job done really!
Now, I know you all want to know "Quit belly aching, how does it play??"
You have two ways to play this game.
A) You can play to win, miss out on the theme, remove any effort the designers made to immerse you in the edge of the Star Wars Universe and meta-game the cr*p out of it.
OR
B) You can play as <PERSON>, <PERSON>, <PERSON>, <PERSON> or one of the other characters and thematically make your way to becoming the most famous person in the outer rim.
We chose to play as option B
First full game
I played as <PERSON>. We also had <PERSON>, <PERSON> and <PERSON> in play. Each character does play differently. You MUST play to the strengths of the character to make the most of what they can do. There is nothing to stop <PERSON> from becoming a Bounty Hunter (however weird as that seems) but it won't necessarily make the most of his skills and equipment (should you choose to buys his "expensive wardrobe"......yes that is a card in the game!). As <PERSON>, I spent almost the entire game hunting bounties, made so much easier by his ability (to secretly look at a contact). There were some key moments where I realised that the others were out to get me. Capturing <PERSON> and deciding that having such a dangerous creature onboard my ship whilst I tried to deliver him to the empire (at the other end of the rim) was begging for trouble with your bowl out, I chose to put the poor brute out of his misery. No one said I couldn't disintergrate him! The upshot of this was earning the ire of both <PERSON> and <PERSON>, who went out of their way to obstruct me. Chasing down <PERSON> to take one of her crew into custody was a lot of fun. 118