Shards of the Throne: New Races

On Memorial Day I picked up the new expansion for Twilight Imperium" third edition, "Shards of the Throne".

"Shards" contains 3 new races, The Ghosts of Creuss, The Nekro Virus, and The Arborec. It also contains one familiar race, The Lazax.

The Lazax are only played in an optional custom game, I will review them in full when I review the game options.

NOW, onto the new guys.

The Nekro Virus:
Home Planet: Mordai II 4/0
Starting Tech: Gen Synthesis, Hylar V Assault Laser, Dacxive Animators
Starting Units: 2 Ground Forces, 1 Mechanized Unit, 1 Carrier, 2 Cruisers, 1 Space Dock
Special Abilities:

• You may not vote on Political or Agenda cards. (So influence is kinda useless)
• You may not purchase technology, or gain it through Political, Assembly, Action, or Strategy cards. If you would, instead get 3 command counters. (WTF?)
• When you destroy at least one enemy unit in a space battle or invasion, you get to copy one of their techs and receive it for free. This rat bastard can also copy racial techs...

The Ghosts of Creuss:
Home Planet: The Creuss Gate ("D" wormhole) and Creuss(4/2)
Starting Tech: Antimass Deflectors, XRD Transporters
Starting Units: 4 Ground Forces, 2 Destroyers, 1 Carrier, 2 Fighters, 1 Space Dock
Special Abilities:

• You may treat "A" and "B" wormholes as if they were adjacent
• You may always use wormholes, regardless of other game effects.
• Other players may not use "A" or "B" wormholes to enter a system you control

The Arborec:
Home Planet: Nestphar (3/2, Green tech specialty)
Starting Tech: Antimass Deflectors, Stasis Capsules
Starting Units: 4 Ground Forces, 1 Cruiser, 1 Carrier, 2 Fighters, 1 PDS, 1 Space Dock
Special Abilities:

• You may not build ground forces with your space docks.
• Your ground forces have a build capacity of one
• At the start of the status phase, place 1 ground force on one planet you control.

These new races sound very interesting. I look forward to playing with them.

-Mike