Re: [GZG] Imperium 3rd Millenium campaign for FT/DS

  ----- Original M 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Christopher Weuve" <caw@kentaurus.com>
  To: <sfconsim-l@yahoogroups.com>
  Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 10:33 PM
  Subject: [sfconsim-l] initial opinion: Imperium, 3rd Millenium

  > For sale: one copy of _Imperium, 3rd Millenium_.  One owner,
purchased 90 
  > minutes ago.  Comes complete with inane tactical combat system (a
5x5x3 
  > tactical grid) and an overly-busy strategic map.  For no extra
charge I'll 
  > throw in a copy of the 2nd edition rules with the
less-detailed-but-not-stupid 
  > tactical system.
  > 
  > Okay, I'm not sure if I'm serious about selling it, but I am
extremely 
  > disappointed by this product. (Disappointed but not surprised, given

  > Avalanche's track record.)	From my cursory examination, here's a
summary of 
  > the changes:
  > 
  > 1) Added a ground tactical map (hexes on individual planet displays,
like the 
  > JTAS article);
  > 
  > 2) Added space tactical map, using squares in three 5x5 levels.  3D
ranges 
  > determined by counting down/up, then row, then column.  (Apparently,

  > trigonometry never really made it to the 3rd Millenium.)  Deleted
previous 
  > tactical space combat system;
  > 
  > 3) "3D map," with distorted hexes, making normal space movement a
pain to 
  > conduct;
  > 
  > 4) Deleted tankers (replaced by a rule that simply says you have to
stop when 
  > entering a hex with a planetless blue giant) and the Terran-style
experimental 
  > dreadnought for the Vilani;
  > 
  > 5) Multiple name changes, e.g., "mothership" now "carrier";
  > 
  > There are some other things which appear to be editions, such as
special rules 
  > for the death of the Emperor.  Then again, I may just be forgetting
them from 
  > the original.  I'd like to do a side-by-side comparison and detail
any new 
  > things that might be an improvement.  Given my schedule these days,
though, if 
  > someone else gets the urge to do so before me, you should indulge
it.
  > 
  > My initial impression is that, if you have to choose between
_Imperium 2nd 
  > Edition_ and _Imperium 3rd Millenium_ for the same price, go with
the earlier 
  > product. Better rules, with components that are plainer but MUCH(!!)
easier to 
  > read.  
  > 
  > This was really, really disappointing.  I was hoping that some of
the 
  > interesting ideas present in _Dark Nebula_ and _Fifth Frontier War_
would 
  > finally make their way into _Imperium_.  It *is* better than most
Avalanche 
  > products -- even Avalanche can't totally ruin one of the best SF
game of all 
  > time (kudos to Marc Miller), and it is a relatively-cheap $35. 
Still, after 
  > the fiasco that is _USN Plan Orange_ I had decided not to buy any
more games 
  > from Avalanche "except for _Imperium 2000_".  In retrospect I
shouldn't have 
  > made the exception.
  > 
  > chrisw
  > (who also has copies of Avalanche's _USN Plan Orange_ and _USN Plan
Black_ for 
  > sale, ask me if you are interested)
  > 
  From: JDoch226@aol.com 
  To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu 
  Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 5:26 PM
  Subject: [GZG] Imperium 3rd Millenium campaign for FT/DS

  Now that Avalanche Games has finally released their Imperium 3rd
Millenium boardgame http://www.avalanchepress.com/ I'm itching to try it
out as a FT/DS campaign.   Has anyone seen the game yet?  I'm wondering
how much it differs from the original version of Imperium. 
  Jed