Cosmic Encounter, anyone?

[Rexer25]

I bought a copy of this games years ago after Games magazine named it one of tthe Top 100 Games of...1981? Maybe '82. I played the game one time, and was bored to tears. I put it up for auction on ebay last week, and the bids for it have gone to $43.00. US. I'm shocked. Has anyone here ever played it, and if so, what would you pay for it?

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Jeff has played it and doesn't love it.

He said that if it's the original, it's worth $43.00 because it's a collector's item.

[MarleysGh0st]

I bought a copy of this games years ago after Games magazine named it one of tthe Top 100 Games of...1981? Maybe '82. I played the game one time, and was bored to tears. I put it up for auction on ebay last week, and the bids for it have gone to $43.00. US. I'm shocked. Has anyone here ever played it, and if so, what would you pay for it?

I think the last time I played it was back in '81 or '82. I wouldn't bid on it, but that sounds like a nice price you're fetching on eBay.

I think I need to weed out my boardgame collection, but I was just going to donate them to the Friends of the Library booksale.

[jsuchard]

Cosmic Encounter was very popular among my friends during my high school days (early to mid 1980s).

It was one of the first popular non-"wargames" to intentionally have inequities among the players, which was it's biggest selling point.

Let me explain:
In most multi-player games, each player starts on a completely equal footing with the others. For example, in Monopoly every starts with the same resources and everyone performs their tasks identically. Even in RISK, where there are definite geographic advantages, when the game starts each player has the same potential to benefit from these geographic advantages, and everyone conducts combat in the same way.

In Cosmic Encounter, however, each player represents a different race of extraterrestrial beings. As such, each player has their own unique way they can "break" the rules that the other players have to follow. For instance, one race is fantastically strong, so each of their markers has the strength of four markers from the other races. Another race might be time travellers, and they can replay their cards after a combat result did not go their way. etc.

I was not a huge fan of the game, but it was OK. I'd certainly play it again if I had a few friends who were up for it.

If you have an original set, it is easily worth $43...probably a lot more. It is quite collectable.

[earendel]

I bought a copy of this games years ago after Games magazine named it one of tthe Top 100 Games of...1981? Maybe '82. I played the game one time, and was bored to tears. I put it up for auction on ebay last week, and the bids for it have gone to $43.00. US. I'm shocked. Has anyone here ever played it, and if so, what would you pay for it?

I've heard of the game and seen it played on occasion but never played the game myself. I have no idea what it's worth.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

It looks like you will get a good price on the Modular Mates as well. I can't believe how much people are outbidding me for the set.

[jsuchard]

Oh wow!

I just found a site where you can play Cosmic Encounter on-line.

http://www.cosmicencounter.com/screens/home.html

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Oh wow!

I just found a site where you can play Cosmic Encounter on-line.

http://www.cosmicencounter.com/screens/home.html

Great.

Can you change the lightbulbs in the family room before you become addicted to this game too?