u/_Ingenuity_

​As the title suggests, I'm looking for some book recommendations.

​In particular, I really love sci-fi where the playground for the story is massive (ideally galaxy-spanning), characters are constantly moving across space, and there is a deep mystery that eventually gets solved by the end—preferably with a great final twist.

​Here are some books I've already read and enjoyed:

​The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons

​Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

​House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

​A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

​The Three-Body Problem trilogy by Cixin Liu (A bit smaller in physical scope compared to the others, but the "Dark Forest" concept was absolutely fascinating).

​I love that feeling of exploring ancient cosmic secrets or piecing together a massive puzzle across light-years. What should I read next? Thanks in advance!

I'm looking for a cooperative game that prevents quarterbacking.

​I'd love a complex board game, perhaps with a touch of RPG elements. I'm not sure how to put it, but I don't consider games like Hanabi or The Crew to fit this category (even though we play both regularly and are currently studying conventions for the former).

​My group will strategize the hell out of everything (PhD students in mathematics...,), so the only real solution is likely a game with hidden or incomplete information.

Any idea?

I'm currently playing AoA in a party of 5, but I'm getting sick of my character (Halfling Gunslinger with Arbalest, very high damage but so underwhelming routine of Strike + Covered Reload + basically nothing).

I was thinking about a blaster caster and I can't decide between Imperial Sorcerer, Elemental (Metal) Sorcerer and Animist.

We have FA, and the first archetype would probably be Oracle (Whispers of Weakness and Foretell Harm) for the sorcerers and Druid (Tempest Surge) for the Animist.

Elemental is self explanatory: Elemental Toss + 2-action spells + Blood Magic is a lot of damage.

Imperial may seem less damage at a first glance, but the Focus spell is very good and the Arcane list is (funnily enough) better at blasting than the Primal list (you can effectively target the weakest save, and Whispers of Weakness is very effective).

Animist is interesting, but the Divine spell list is awful and I don't really like their action economy (turns would be something like Earth's Bile + 2-actions spells every round, but you're losing one whole spell cause you need to enter channelers stance); Cardinal Guardians is maybe the best Spellcaster feat in the game, but level 14 is level 14.

Do you guys have any strong opinions? Interesting build suggestions?