History TabletopGame / TwilightImperium

Each turn each player chooses a stragety card that lets them perform a special action and lets all the other players peform a "secondary" action. Strategies aid in building ships, attacking, forcing cease fires, developing new technology, fostering trade, or most importantly: scoring victory points directly.

Each turn each player chooses a stragety card that lets them perform a special action and lets all the other players peform a "secondary" action. Strategies aid in building ships, attacking, forcing cease fires, developing new technology, fostering trade, or most importantly - scoring victory points directly.

* AllPlanetsAreEarthLike - [[AvertedTrope Averted:]] Each planet has its own unique description. Not that the descriptions have much real effect on the game.
* AsteroidThicket - Special technology is the only way to get through systems filled with asteroids.
* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning - You winning the game means you become TheEmperor. A [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure good one]], we hope.
* TheBattlestar - The [=WarSun=] ship. [[{{Expy}} Oddly similar]] to the Death Star from ''StarWars''.

* {{BFG}} - Certain weapons upgrades.
* BigCreepyCrawlies - The Sardakk N'orr
* BilingualBonus - The name used for the Earth - Jord - means earth in the Scandinavian languages. Not ''the'' Earth, mind, just earth.
* BindingAncientTreaty - One of these falling apart is the [[AllThereInTheManual background]] for the game..
* BizarreAlienBiology - A few races qualify.
* BodyHorror - The {{Cyborg}} race might count.

* BrainInAJar - The Hylar of the ''Universities of Jol-Nar''. Or dare I say, the ''Universities of [[IncrediblyLamePun In-Jar]]''?
* CasualInterstellarTravel - Played so straight it hurts. Also highly depends on how many parsecs per hex. Though one hex includes planets [[SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale explicitly stated to be in different solar systems]]
* CatPeople - The Lion-like Hacan.
* CoolStarship - The Dreadnought and the [=WarSun=] are both [[IncrediblyLamePun dreadfully]] awesome.
* ConservationOfNinjutsu - Inverted (mostly). More is nearly always better, except that a few Action cards that will have you shooting your own fighters and the like.
* ConvenientlyClosePlanet - It would make playing the game rather difficult if this were not the case.
* CorralledCosmos - [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] if you have extra players using the expansion, but mostly played straight.
* CyberneticsEatYourSoul - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet are a completely cyborg race that seem to have lost touch with their original race characteristics. Rather reminiscent of a certain ''Franchise/StarTrek'' species...
* {{Cyborg}} - The [=L1Z1X=].
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy - You know that you can take advantage of fighting strength, political tactics, and trading to manipulate your opponents so that you get what you want and win the game. Your opponents know it too.
* DeflectorShields - Defense weapons that you can set up on captured planets double as shields to prevent bombardment.
* DivideAndConquer - A reasonable strategy if you control politics or trade.
* EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse - Totally averted. The seat of the empire's throne lies on another planet called Mecatol Rex.
* FantasticRacism - Almost every race has another race that they absolutely cannot stand.

* FantasticScience - Most acquired technology in the game.
* FishPeople - The same race that count as BrainInAJar.
* ForMassiveDamage - Most ships (except two) go down in one hit. Somehow a single shot from a fighter can take down much larger hits. Ouch.

* GalacticConqueror - One possible way to achieve victory.
* GambitPileup - Likely to happen with several opponents trying to out-think each other.
* HalfHumanHybrid - [[AvertedTrope Averted]]: The cyborg race is actually completely non-human.
* HiveMind - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis MIND. NET.]]
* HumanoidAliens - Most of the races.
* ImpossibleTask - Some of the secret missions can look like this, and a few rare combinations will make them actually impossible (like the mission to capture all the wormholes - impossible if there aren't any on the board).
* InsignificantLittleBluePlanet - Huma- I mean, Terran- erm, [[CallAHumanASmeerp Those People From Jord]] are seen as latecomers to the galactic scene. They're pretty good at making lots of ground troops but don't have a whole lot of other advantages over other races.

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy - Most of the smaller ships (and the regular ground troops) require you roll an 8 or higher on a d10 to obtain a hit on an enemy ship, especially when they haven't been upgraded. Be prepared to do lots of rolling before you hit ''anything''.
* IntrepidMerchant - the Hacan (Lion guys) have this as their hat.
* KillSat - The [=WarSun=] type ship.
* LandfillBeyondTheStars - One of the homeworlds is described as this.
* LostColony - A few of the planets that are unclaimed when you start the game are said to have belonged to certain races at [[ItsALongStory some point in history]].
* MassiveRaceSelection - Ten in the regular game, four more in the first expansion, and four more in the second.
* MechanicalMonster - The Nekro Virus is an offshoot of the [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet obsessed with rendering all organic life into a fine paste, then dumping the paste into a gravity rift.

* MeleeATrois - Requires at least three people to play.
* MentalFusion - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet, a race suspiciously similar to the Borg from ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
* MoreDakka - Several ship types and ground troops (especially if you are playing as [[strike: humans]] Terrans) seem to encourage you to make as many as you can.
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning - since each race has a limit on the number of each type of ship they have on the board, a resource-rich race which has all of their ships of one or more types on the board, but poorly placed, may deliberately get into battles just to destroy some of their own ships (or even, in extreme cases, scuttle the ships without getting in a battle) just so they can rebuild them at a more advantageous location.
* NamingYourColonyWorld - Although the game makers were nice enough to name all the planets for you, they certainly used several of the methods here.
* NotWorthKilling - Probably a good idea if you don't want to start a war with everyone. Unless you [[AxCrazy like]] [[AttackAttackAttack that sort of thing]].
* NoWarpingZone - Certain map hexes restrict movement of ships.
* NumberedHomeworld - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet have their homeplanet numbered as the galactic center: "[0,0,0]".
* OneFederationLimit - With enough expansions, you can have an Empire, Barony, Federation, Emirates, Universities, Mindnet, Kingdom, Coalition, Collective, Tribes, Clan, and Brotherhood - although not all of these will be in play in single game.
* OneHitKill - With a few exceptions, most units need to only take a single hit to be destroyed.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent - The ''Barony of Letnev'' race look suspiciously like vampires. They even have super-strength and the aristocratic air to them. And they're pale!
* OurWormholesAreDifferent - Yes. Wormholes.

* PlayingBothSides - It will probably happen.
* ProudMerchantRace - The Hacan.
* RandomNumberGod - The dice can certainly ruin all your plans if they don't cooperate.
* RecycledINSPACE - Duh.
* TheReptilians - Actually more like snapping-turtle-folk. But they're in there. The joke is that the name of their race (Xxcha) is actually just the sound of a jaw chomp transliterated into English letters.
* RocksFallEveryoneDies - Averted. It's actually very difficult to completely wipe out another race in this game.
* ScaryDogmaticAliens - The Yin Brotherhood, a group of religious fanatic clones. They can convert others and employ suicide ships.

* SmallUniverseAfterAll - See ConvenientlyClosePlanet above. A three player game will only feature 27 systems, and some of those will be empty. It's still called a galaxy though.
* SpaceColdWar - Pretty much the point of the game.
* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay - Map edges. But it is a tabletop game, after all. Possibly justified in that all races want to get to Mecatol, which is in the middle, not expand outwards.
* SpaceFighter - Check.
* SpaceMarine - Human ground troops. [[CaptainObvious Surprisingly]] useless for space battles.
* SpacePirates - The ''Mentak Coalition'' race.
* SpaceStation - Certain expansions have a few of these built into the map hexes.
* StandardSciFiFleet - There are the standard types here, but you won't necessarily have all of them depending on how you decide to play.
* StarfishAliens - There's the Arborec (sentient plants), the Nekro Virus (insane machines), the Ghosts of Creuss (other-dimensional energy wisps) and the Embers of Muaat (living flame).
* SufficientlyAdvancedAlien - A few races start off with more technology bonuses than others. One race gets bonuses for the acquisition of technology.
* TelepathicSpacemen - The Naalu.
* TeleportersAndTransporters - Certain technology allows you to create ground forces on one planet, then transport them to another.
* ThatsNoMoon - The [=WarSun=].
* TriggerHappy - A few races seem to be intended for war over politics or trade.
* TwoDSpace - [[NecessaryWeasel Kind of required]], [[CaptainObvious what with the whole]] [[BoardGame board game thing]].
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans - Slaughter, trick, or [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking trade with]] your opponents so that your race controls the throne of the galactic empire. Then everybody is happy!
* VariablePlayerGoals - Each player gets his own Secret Goal, worth 2 points. The second expansion offers a new set of "Preliminary Goals" worth 1 point each.
* WeHaveReserves - If you have sufficient resources, you may be tempted to use this as a tactic. Two races also have a shade of this in their special rules: Humans raise additional ground troops, and Yin Brotherhood employs suicide tactics.

[[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12493/twilight-imperium-third-edition Twilight Imperium]] (now in its third edition) is a tabletop/board game that uses hex map tiles to build a new map for each game. The setting takes place in a galaxy where a minimum of three players (and maximum of six, unless you purchase an expansion set) can choose from among [[MassiveRaceSelection ten different alien races]] (even more with the expansion sets). Gameplay strategies may include battles, trade, politics, and/or any combination of things. In fact, it is entirely possible to win the game without fighting a single battle, by earning points for accomplishing certain goals set by goal cards.

Each player starts off with preset [[CoolShip ships]], resources, a home system, and certain special abilities. Markers dictate how many actions can be taken in a round, how many resources or strategies you may use, and how many ships may be assembled into a fleet. The players actually begin the game by creating the map. Through the use of these tokens the player can collect resources, move fleets, increase fleet size, or activate strategy cards. Objective points are collected by achieving certain goals or controlling certain systems

The ''Shards of the Throne'' expansion added a few more new races, a few more cool new optional rules, and a scenario covering the end of the old empire.

* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay - Map edges. But it is a tabletop game, after all.

* WeHaveReserves - If you have sufficient resources, you may be tempted to use this as a tactic.

The throne to galactic empire is empty and several alien races put forth bids for it. Your goal is to guide your race to meet the conditions necessary to claim the throne and take control on the known galaxy/universe.

** Although the spacedocks look like Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine, they are actually supposed to be on a planet's surface.

[[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12493/twilight-imperium-third-edition Twilight Imperium]] (now in its third edition) is a tabletop/board game that uses hex map tiles to build a new map for each game. The setting takes place in a galaxy where a minimum of three players (and maximum of six, unless you purchase an expansion set) can choose from among [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces ten different alien races]] (even more with the expansion sets). Gameplay strategies may include battles, trade, politics, and/or any combination of things. In fact, it is entirely possible to win the game without fighting a single battle, by earning points for accomplishing certain goals set by goal cards.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces - Ten in the regular game, four more in the first expansion, and four more in the second.

----

** The ship pieces are obvious shout-outs to older SpaceOpera ships. [[StarWars There's a Death Star, a Corellian Cruiser, a Tie Fighter, a Star Destroyer,]] [[BattlestarGalactica the Battlestar Galactica,]] and [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]].

* TwoDSpace - [[NecessaryWeasel Kind of required, ]][[CaptainObvious what with the whole ]] [[BoardGame board game thing]].

----

* {{Cyborg}} - The L1Z1X.

** Although the spacedocks look like DS9, they are actually supposed to be on a planet's surface.

* NightmareFuel - Different races...

* IntrepidTrader - the Hacan (Lion guys) have this as their hat.

* XanatosGambit - You might want to be capable of this ([[XanatosSpeedChess or even more]]) if you plan to win.

* PlayingBothSides - Very probable to happen.

** The ship pieces are obvious shout-outs to older sci-fi ships. [[StarWars There's a Death Star, a Corellian Cruiser, a Tie Fighter, a Star Destroyer,]] [[BattlestarGalactica the Battlestar Galactica,]] and [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]].

* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay - Map edges. [[JustifiedTrope But it is a tabletop game, after all.]]

** Although the spacedocks look like DS9 they are actually supposed to be on a planet's surface.

* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning - You winning the game means you become TheEmperor. Hopefully you're a [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure good one]].
* TheBattlestar - The [=WarSun=] ship. [[{{Expy}} Oddly similar]] to the Death Star from StarWars.

* AllPlanetsAreEarthLike - [[AvertedTrope Averted:]] Each planet has its own unique description.
** Though the description doesn't have much real affect on the game.

* HiveMind - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet. [[ThisIsSparta MIND. NET.]]

* NightmareFuel - Different races... YourMileageMayVary.

* SpaceColdWar - Pretty much the point of the game. But YourMileageMayVary depending on how you play.

* CyberneticsEatYourSoul - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet are a completely cyborg race that seem to have lost touch with their original race characteristics. Rather reminiscent of a certain StarTrek species...

* MentalFusion - The [=L1Z1X=] Mindnet, a race suspiciously similar to the Borg from StarTrek.

** The ship pieces are obvious shout-outs to older sci-fi ships. [[StarWars There's a Death Star, a Corellian Cruiser, a Tie Fighter, a Star Destroyer,]] [[BattlestarGalactica the Battlestar Galactica,]] and [[StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]].

* MoreDakka - Several ship types and [[Mooks ground troops]] (especially if you are playing as [[strike: humans]] Terrans) seem to encourage you to make as many as you can.

* OneFederationLimit - With enough expansions, you can have an Empire, Barony, Federation, Emirates, Universites, Mindnet, Kingdom, Coalition, Collective, Tribes, Clan, and Brotherhood - although not all of these will be in play in single game.

* CoolStarship - The Dreadnought and the [=WarSun=] are both [[IncrediblyLamePun dreadfully]] awesome. YourMileageMayVary.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Imperium Twilight Imperium]] (now in its third edition) is a tabletop/board game that uses hex map tiles to build a new map for each game. The setting takes place in a galaxy where a minimum of three players (and maximum of six, unless you purchase an expansion set) can choose from among [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces ten different alien races]] (even more with the expansion sets). Gameplay strategies may include battles, trade, politics, and/or any combination of things. In fact, it is entirely possible to win the game without fighting a single battle, by earning points for accomplishing certain goals set by goal cards.

* TheReptilians - Actually more like turtle folk. But they're in there.

The throne to galactic empire is empty and several alien races put forth bids for it. DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything? Your goal is to guide your race to meet the conditions necessary to claim the throne and take control on the known galaxy/universe.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Imperium Twilight Imperium]] (now in its third edition) is a tabletop/board game that uses hex map tiles to build a new map for each game. The setting takes place [[RecycledINSPACE in space]] where a minimum of three players (and maximum of six, unless you purchase an expansion set) can choose from among [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces ten different alien races]] (even more with the expansion sets). Gameplay strategies may include battles, trade, politics, and/or any combination of things. In fact, it is entirely possible to win the game without fighting a single battle, by earning points for accomplishing certain goals set by goal cards.

-> ''Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the drug store, but that's just peanuts to space.''
-->-- Douglas Adams

The throne to galactic empire is empty and several alien races put forth bids for it. DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything? Your goal is to guide your race to meet conditions necessary to claim the throne and take control on the known galaxy/universe.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Imperium Twilight Imperium]] (now in its third edition) is a tabletop/board game that uses hex map tiles to build a new map for each game. The setting takes place [[RecycledINSPACE in space]] where a minimum of three players (and maximum of six, unless you purchase an expansion set) can choose from among [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces ten different alien races]] (more with the aforementioned expansion set). Gameplay strategies may include battles, trade, politics, and/or any combination of things. In fact, it is entirely possible to win the game without even playing through a single battle, by earning points for accomplishing certain goals set by game cards.

** Most of the new race-specific Flagship units also qualify.

** The Arborec from the Shards of the Throne expansion definitely count. They're a race of sentient plants that infest the corpses of other races with their spores, turning them into zombies they can use to communicate. The race description suggests this practice has led to them developing imperial ambitions through osmosis.

* ConservationOfNinjutsu - Inverted (mostly). More is always better (unless you build [=WarSuns=]) since more chances to hit means higher probability of a hit happening.

* DeathRay - Certain weapon upgrades spell almost instant death when used.

* InsignificantLittleBluePlanet - Huma- I mean, Terran- erm, [[CallAHumanASmeerp Those People From Jord]] are seen as latecomers to the galactic scene. They seem to have few advantages compared to other races as well.
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy - Most of your ships require you roll an 8 or higher on a d10 to obtain a hit on an enemy ship. Be prepared to do lots of rolling before you hit ''anything''.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces - Ten in the regular game, fourteen in the expansion.

* OneHitKill - With two exceptions, every unit needs to only take a single hit to be destroyed.

* RocksFallEveryoneDies - Averted. It's actually almost impossible to wipe out another race in this game.

** The ship pieces are references to older sci-fi ships. [[StarWars There's a Death Star, a Corellian Cruiser, a Tie Fighter, a Star Destroyer,]] [[BattlestarGalactica the Battlestar Galactica,]] and [[StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]].
* SmallUniverseAfterAll - See ConvenientlyClosePlanet above.

* SpaceIsAnOcean - Check.

* SpaceStation - Certain expansions have these built into the map hexes.
* StandardSciFiFleet - Subverted, averted, inverted, or played straight since it depends entirely on how you decide to play.

[[Twilight Imperium http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TI2_375.jpg]]

* XanatosGambit - You might want to be capable of this ([[XanatosSpeedChess or even more]]) if you plan to win. In fact... it may be that [[XanatosPlannedThisIndex Xanatos planned this game]].

* ThirtyGambitPileup - Likely to happen with several opponents trying to out-think each other.