I side with your friends in this regard. After completing a game of Eclipse in 3-4 hours, I never want to play a 6-7 hour session of TI with all the miniature cards and pieces spreading across the table. TI wasn't more deep as much as it was more convoluted.
I'd be intrigued to know ... what about TI do you like that's missing from Eclipse?
From what I can tell from multiple plays of both, TI only possesses the additional layer of a politics phase.
I'd be intrigued to know ... what about TI do you like that's missing from Eclipse?
From what I can tell from multiple plays of both, TI only possesses the additional layer of a politics phase.