As the prominent leader of your civilization, you must make enemies and allies with the other respected leaders that sit around you. Alliances can be made and broken in an instant. War can be waged, and then rescinded in the matter of minutes. The galaxy isn't stable, so how will you be the beacon to guide your people through? Turn after turn, you must decide what is in your peoples' best interest. Choosing a political path may allow you to use the votes you've accumulated in passing a bill on Mecatol Rex. But what will you do next turn when your defenses are broken and your homeworld invaded? Will you stage an all-out fleet assault on a bordering colony? These are all just examples of the tough decisions you'll have to make in Twilight Imperium.

Gameplay is divided into a series of rounds, which are broken down into three phases. During the Strategy Phase, players take turns (starting with the Speaker) choosing one of eight strategy cards. These strategy cards dictate turn order as well as Strategic Actions that can be taken by the players during the proceeding Action Phase. The Action Phase lets players carry out their plans, whether moving their fleets, producing more units, resolving space combat, or invading planets. Once all actions are resolved, players move on to the Status Phase, which is comprised of refreshing Planet Cards, discarding Command Counters from previous activations, repairing damaged ships, and general upkeep.

A game of Twilight Imperium continues until one player gains ten victory points. These victory points can be gained by completing objectives, both public and secret, or by taking the Imperial Strategy card. Objectives consist of spending resources or influence, gaining technology advances, planetary domination, and many other tasks. It is more than likely that players will be rewarded for being in the lead in one of the aspects of the game, be it military strength, territory control, or political finesse. In this sense, it is a good idea to find a niche in the game and exploit your opponents’ weaknesses.

If you’re looking to expand your Twilight Imperium experience, look no further. The Shattered Empire expansion adds new races, more system tiles, as well as new cards, tokens, and enough plastic units to support up to eight-player games. In addition, Shattered Empire introduces new variant rules that incorporate artifacts, shock troops, space mines, and much more! Pick up Shattered Empire to expand and inevitably conquer the universe. You can also expand your Twilight Imperium experience with the Shards of the Throne expansion. As an epic journey, this expansion adds new races, new units such as Flagship units that allow players to customize their fleets, and new options for creating an even more incredible power struggle in the far reaches of the galaxy. Wage your galactic conquests in a completely new way with Race-Specific Technologies, alternate Strategy Cards, new System Tiles, Space Domains, and an all-new scenario that puts one player in control of the legendary Lazax Empire. The galaxy could be yours for the taking with Shards of the Throne!

The Legacy

The publication of Twilight Imperium Third Edition (TI3) is a historic publication in the history of Fantasy Flight Games. Twilight Imperium First Edition was FFG's first game product, and through two popular editions it has garnered a massive audience across the world. The Twilight Imperium name has been a pillar of growth and recognition for FFG.

Shipping in a massive (12” x 24”) epic-size box, this new edition of Twilight Imperium features more than two-hundred masterfully sculpted oversize plastic miniatures—the typical Twilight Imperium units (Ground Forces, Cruisers, Dreadnaughts, Carriers, Fighters, PDS, and Space Docks) as well as two new units (the massive War Sun and the Destroyer). TI3 contains new oversize board tiles, more than four-hundred cards, every known civilization of the Twilight Imperium universe, almost every expansion rule and component ever published for TI, alongside a gorgeous graphical overhaul and an impressive full-color rules set.

What's more, Twilight Imperium gameplay has been refined and redone by original designer Christian T. Petersen. The new design features faster gameplay and involves players in a far more active game experience with much less downtime. In addition, TI3 includes new Race Cards, as well as a dramatic new approach to the structure of the gameplay itself using the new "Command" system.

Twilight Imperium Third Edition is nothing short of a massive release and is destined to become a classic for years to come. FFG directed all its craft, talent, and energy into this massive production. Are you ready for another Age of Twilight?