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Star Wars: Imperial Assault box image

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Star Wars: Imperial Assault is a tactical combat game set in the Star Wars universe where players take on the roles of Rebel heroes or Imperial forces, completing missions and battling it out on a modular board.

7.96 / 10
BGG Rating
14+
age
2014
published year
2 - 5
player count
2 - 5
Recommended player count
60 - 120 mins
play time

How Complex is Star Wars: Imperial Assault?

3.3 / 5

Star Wars: Imperial Assault has a moderate complexity, with a learning curve for new players due to the variety of characters, abilities, and mission objectives.

How much Luck is involved in the gameplay of Star Wars: Imperial Assault?

2.5 / 5

Luck plays a moderate role in the game, with dice rolls determining combat outcomes and mission objectives. However, strategic decisions and player skill have a greater impact on the game's outcome.

How much Player Interaction does Star Wars: Imperial Assault offer?

4.5 / 5

The game heavily relies on player interaction, with both sides engaging in tactical combat and completing mission objectives that often require teamwork or sabotage. The game also features a one-vs-many mode, adding to the player interaction.

How much Replayability does Star Wars: Imperial Assault offer?

4 / 5

The game offers a high level of replayability with multiple campaigns, characters, and missions to choose from. The modular board and random mission objectives also add to the variability of each playthrough.

Why you should play Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Immersive Star Wars experience

Star Wars: Imperial Assault is a board game that takes place in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to take on the roles of iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Han Solo. The game's detailed miniatures, cards, and board tiles all contribute to an immersive Star Wars experience.

Strategic gameplay

The game features a tactical combat system that requires players to carefully plan their moves and make strategic decisions. Each character has unique abilities and weapons, and players must work together to defeat the enemy.

Campaign mode

The game also features a campaign mode, where players can play through a series of linked scenarios that tell a story. The decisions made in each scenario can affect the outcome of the campaign, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.

Solo play

The game can be played solo, with one player controlling the Imperial forces and the other controlling the Rebel heroes. This allows players to enjoy the game even if they don't have a group of friends to play with.

Customizable gameplay

The game comes with a variety of different scenarios and missions, and players can also create their own custom scenarios using the game's modular board tiles and cards. This allows for endless replayability and customization.

Miniature collection

The game comes with a variety of detailed miniatures, including iconic Star Wars characters and vehicles. Collecting and painting these miniatures can be a fun hobby in and of itself.

Expansion content

The game has a variety of expansion packs available, which add new characters, missions, and gameplay mechanics. This allows players to continue to expand and customize their game experience over time.

Why you should avoid Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Cost

Star Wars: Imperial Assault can be an expensive game to get into, especially if you want to collect all of the expansion content. The base game and expansions can add up quickly, making it a significant investment.

Time commitment

The game's campaign mode can take several hours to complete, and even individual scenarios can take a while to set up and play through. This may not be ideal for players who prefer shorter, more casual games.

Complexity

While the game's strategic gameplay can be a positive for some players, it can also be overwhelming for others. The game has a lot of rules and mechanics to learn, which may not be appealing to players who prefer simpler games.

Theme

While the Star Wars theme can be a draw for some players, it may not be appealing to others who are not fans of the franchise. The game's mechanics and gameplay may not be enough to overcome a lack of interest in the Star Wars universe.

Competitive play

While the game can be played solo or cooperatively, it also has a competitive mode where players can face off against each other. This may not be appealing to players who prefer cooperative or solo play, or who don't enjoy competitive games.

Where to find the Rules of Star Wars: Imperial Assault

You can find the community-driven rules summary, player aid, etc., in the Star Wars: Imperial Assault files section on the BoardGameGeek website. You need an account on BGG to download files.

Beginner Strategies for Star Wars: Imperial Assault

These strategies are for players who have either not played or played one or two games of Star Wars: Imperial Assault.

Know your objectives

Each mission in Imperial Assault has a specific objective that you need to achieve in order to win. Make sure you understand what your objective is and plan your moves accordingly.

Use cover

Cover is an important aspect of Imperial Assault. Make sure you use it to your advantage by positioning your figures behind cover to reduce the chances of them getting hit.

Use your abilities wisely

Each figure in Imperial Assault has unique abilities that can be used to your advantage. Make sure you understand what each ability does and use them wisely to gain an advantage over your opponent.

Focus on the mission

While it's important to take out your opponent's figures, your main focus should be on completing the mission objectives. Don't get too distracted by taking out enemy figures and lose sight of the mission.

Upgrade your figures

As you progress through the game, you'll earn experience points that can be used to upgrade your figures. Make sure you take advantage of these upgrades to make your figures more powerful and better equipped to handle the challenges ahead.

Coordinate with your allies

If you're playing with a team, make sure you coordinate your moves and work together to achieve your objectives. Communication is key in Imperial Assault.

Don't be afraid to retreat

Sometimes, it's better to retreat and regroup than to keep pushing forward and risk losing your figures. If things aren't going well, don't be afraid to fall back and try a different approach.

Advanced Strategies for Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Use the environment to your advantage

Each mission in Imperial Assault takes place in a unique environment with different terrain features. Make sure you understand how to use the environment to your advantage, such as using elevation to gain a better vantage point or using doors to control the flow of the battle.

Prioritize your targets

As you become more familiar with the game, you'll start to understand which enemy figures pose the biggest threat. Make sure you prioritize your targets and take out the most dangerous figures first.

Use your command cards wisely

Command cards are a powerful tool in Imperial Assault that can give you a significant advantage over your opponent. Make sure you use them wisely and save them for when you really need them.

Be flexible

While it's important to have a plan, sometimes things don't go according to plan. Make sure you're flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances on the battlefield.

Know your opponent's strengths and weaknesses

As you play more games, you'll start to understand your opponent's play style and the strengths and weaknesses of their figures. Use this knowledge to your advantage by exploiting their weaknesses and avoiding their strengths.

Use suppression to your advantage

Suppression is a mechanic in Imperial Assault that can limit your opponent's actions. Make sure you understand how suppression works and use it to your advantage by suppressing key enemy figures.

Don't forget about the mission

While it's important to take out your opponent's figures, don't forget about the mission objectives. Make sure you're always working towards completing the mission while also taking out enemy figures.

Mechanics

Modular Board
Variable Player Powers
Team-Based Game
Role Playing
Dice Rolling
Grid Movement
Solo / Solitaire Game
Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game
Die Icon Resolution
Square Grid
Line of Sight

Categories

Science Fiction
Wargame
Exploration
Adventure
Fighting
Miniatures
Movies / TV / Radio theme

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