LogFAQs > #967661758

18. Sidereal Confluence

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202426/sidereal-confluence

Category: Player vs player
Key mechanics: Real-time, trading, tableau-building
Rules complexity (0 to 7): 7
Game length: 120-180 minutes
First played: 2021
Experience: 1 play with 6 players

In Sidereal Confluence, each player controls an asymmetric alien race. Over the course of a fixed number of rounds, players can openly, in real time, trade resources and ships, used to play cards into their tableau and activate powers. Once everyone is finally done transacting, there is a production phase, during which tableaux's cards can generally convert resources into points or more resources.

I'll be honest - the details of Sidereal Confluence, like those of Circadians: First Light, are vague in my memory. This is by far the highest-ranking single-play game on the list. It's also a huge fucking mess of mechanics and fiddliness. When we set it up, even after assembling components, the rules explainer spent perhaps five minutes explaining to each player at the table what their faction did. And we grasped incredibly little of each other's. Ships...? Research...? Ehhh.

But the thing is, my experience with Sidereal Confluence was exactly what was promised: a singular experience, like a fever dream. Time seemed almost abstract since I was never waiting for it to be my turn. I would be occasionally frustrated that I wasn't getting the trades I wanted, but I was never bored. It was just this constant flow.

Well, except for the actual income/upkeep phases. The game turns into a confusing grind during those phases as everyone plays heads-down, does stuff with ships, fiddles around a bit. It's unfortunate, but getting the inputs to drive these engines in your tableau is what motivates the absolute trip of the trading phase, so it's a price worth paying for this great game. Sidereal Confluence is undoubtedly an "event game"; sadly I think there's no reason for me ever to purchase it because of that. But if the opportunity arises again, I'd love to get it on again.