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Cosmic Encounter
#230BGG7.5RATING
Updated Jun 5
3–5
PLAYERS
60–120
MINUTES
5
BEST WITH
2.6
MEDIUM
DESIGNER CLARIFICATIONS2
Hate power equal-or-higher attack requirement is absolutedesigner
- CONTEXT
- Players were unsure whether the phrase "if an opponent has no cards of the discarded type" loosened the equal-or-higher attack requirement when Hate forces opponents to discard.
- RULING
- "The requirements are laid out in the earlier sentences, and the equal-or-higher requirement is absolute: 'If you discard an attack card, your opponents must discard an attack card of equal or higher value.' The later phrase 'If an opponent has no cards of the discarded type' is written sloppily, but means 'if an opponent has no cards that meet these criteria' — it isn't intended to loosen up the requirements already stated."
Wild Loser Flare does not skip the Resolution phasedesigner
- CONTEXT
- Players debated whether the Wild Loser Flare (which causes the offense to lose) could skip the Resolution phase entirely.
- RULING
- "you never skip Resolution. If there's a 'win' or a 'lose' (as in this case), or a deal situation, there's always a Resolution phase."
Q&A3
Offense plays Negotiate vs. allied defendersdesigner
- QUESTION
- When the offense plays a Negotiate and the defense wins, who compensates whom — and do defensive allies receive rewards?
- ANSWER
- The offense receives compensation from the defender (cards taken from the defender's hand). Defensive allies receive defender rewards: one card drawn from the deck per ship they sent to the encounter. This is confirmed by Bill Martinson in the thread.
Refusing to make a deal after both sides reveal Negotiatecommunity high-engagement
- QUESTION
- Once both the offense and defense reveal Negotiate cards, is either player legally required to complete a deal?
- ANSWER
- No. Pre-encounter verbal agreements are not binding. The formal negotiation only begins when both Negotiate cards are revealed; at that point either player may refuse to reach a deal. If no deal is struck, both main players lose three ships each to the warp. Bill Martinson confirms this interpretation in the thread.
Flares cannot be Cosmic Zappedcommunity high-engagement
- QUESTION
- Can a Flare card be Cosmic Zapped?
- ANSWER
- No. Cosmic Zap targets powers, not Flares. Flares can be Card Zapped instead. Exception: a Super Flare that explicitly requires "using" the alien power can be indirectly prevented by first Cosmic Zapping that power — because a Cosmic Zapped power cannot be used, and therefore a Super Flare requiring that use cannot be played.
EDGE CASES1
Nothing is immune to Cosmic Quakecommunity high-engagement
- SITUATION
- A player asks whether any alien or card effect can grant immunity to the Cosmic Quake (which reshuffles all cards and redeals hands). Specifically, can the Miser (who hoards cards) avoid losing their hand?
- RULING
- Nothing is immune to the Cosmic Quake. Reported answer from Kevin Wilson (designer, Fantasy Flight Games edition): "Nothing is immune to the cosmic quake. The whole point of it is to make sure the card deck never totally locks up, and making an exception would be asking for trouble. But the Miser will be dealt 2 hands after the quake, so he's still in pretty good shape." Note: this is a second-hand report (InfoCynic quoting a private forum conversation with Kevin Wilson); no direct BGG post from Wilson is linked. Treat as strong community consensus rather than a verified designer ruling.
Last researched: 2026-04-30
CATEGORIES
Bluffing·Negotiation·Science Fiction·Space Exploration
MECHANICS
AlliancesCard Play Conflict ResolutionHand ManagementInterruptsNegotiationPrisoner's DilemmaRaceSimultaneous Action SelectionTake That
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An opponent's settlement blocks your road network — your road cannot be built through or past an occupied intersection.
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◆ Gloomhaven — Attack Modifier Deck, p. 23
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