Though an extremely card heavy game (like 13+ decks!), the Firefly board game is an absolute blast! It's thought provoking, creative, and thrilling. It's also competitive, but easy for anyone (and I mean EVERYONE) to get a hang of. Play times are long, but the game doesn't try to hide that. Actually, the challenge card (stating the objectives of that particular game) tell you the estimated play time right on them — usually between an hour and two. Expect your first few games to be a bit longer (our first was 4+ and we didn't even finish!). Reading the entire manual (don't worry, it's not at all dry!) before hand will help speed up the process and you'll learn to how to move the game along faster between turns. And make sure, especially if the first game is played just between a husband and a wife, that both parties read the rules to avoid extreme frustration! (If not both, at least make sure the wife is the one who knows them =P). As the wife in my situation, I can say with confidence that this is a valuable tip for your marriage! The rules are plenty and sometimes a challenge; there are some minor, rare situations that my husband and I still aren't clear about handling. But at that point, we just establish a house rule!Also, as a female, I recognize that a lot of women (not all) aren't into strategic board games. A few of the girls in our group of friends are definitely like that. But this game has proven an exception, especially if someone has watched Firefly and Serenity! Comparing the Firefly game to other intense board games I've played, these are some of the main points: it's more mentally stimulating than Risk but you don't need to have a mind for war tactics to win; it's more exciting that Settlers and you don't depend so much on luck; there's a lot more going on than in Small World, but it's not just about fighting the other players to win — it's more about beating the game; a race to win the challenge first. You can be a passive or an aggressive person, a peace-keeper or combat-oriented, yin or yang — I haven't yet found someone who didn't enjoy this game!I bought it for my husband for Christmas and we played almost every night for nearly a month! Really, this is so much fun. You'll find yourself searching for some of the best (or your favorite) characters from the show just to make the most amazing crew. There is some element of luck, but as I said earlier, MUCH less than most games; really, luck only comes into play for your dice roles and drawing cards. The game is much more about efficiency and knowing how to work your jobs. Before long, you'll be working the 'Verse like you've been doing it for year! A great party game for an evening in--I can't wait to get the expansion!Be sure to buy a plastic dinosaur with the game! And definitely go online and print off some sheets of Firefly's Chinese profanity!