RftG

On to Phase III, and everyone has a world they'd like to play.

chrismg plays Rebel Fuel Cache. This is a 1-strength military world. He has 1 strength, so he can play it. It's a Brown windfall world, and starts with a good already on it.

omnis plays Comet Zone. This is a Brown production world, that lets him draw 1 card whenever he produces on it. It costs 3 discards, but he gets -1 on the cost of Brown worlds. 2 discards leaves him with no cards in hand.

Laga plays Former Penal Colony. This is a 2-strength military world, no problem for New Sparta. It's a Blue windfall world, and starts with a good on it. It also adds 1 to Laga's military strength, bringing it to 3. She chose Phase III, so she draws a card.

Connie plays Spice World. This is a 2-cost Blue production world; she discards 2 cards for it. It gives her a 2-card bonus when trading a Blue good. She also chose Phase III, so she draws a card.

And that concludes our first round! Everyone, it's time to choose your Action card for Round 2.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 1
chrismg
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Public Works (Development)
Rebel Fuel Cache (Military Brown Windfall World) + good

Cards in Hand: 2
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 3
6-Cost Developments: 0

omnis
Layout
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World) + good
Expedition Force (Development)
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World)

Cards in Hand: 0
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 3
6-Cost Developments: 0

Laga
Layout
New Sparta (Military World)
New Military Tactics (Development)
Former Penal Colony (Military Blue Windfall World) + good

Cards in Hand: 2
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 3
6-Cost Developments: 0

Connie Neil
Layout
Earth's Lost Colony (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Spice World (Non-Military Blue Production World)

Cards in Hand: 2
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 2
6-Cost Developments: 0

VP Pool: 48

RftG

Round 2 is set to go, with the following choices:

chrismg: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
omnis: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
Laga: Phase I (+5) - Explore (draw +5 cards)
Connie Neil: Phase V - Produce

We have the mirror image of the first round. We will resolve Phases I, IV and V, while Phases II and III get a rest.

Phase I is first. chrismg and Connie will look at 2 cards and keep 1, the default draw. omnis gets to look at an extra card, courtesy of Expedition Force; he looks at 3 cards and keeps 1. Laga chose this Phase, and opted to look at 5 extra cards for a total of 7. She still keeps 1. Cards are going out now.

RftG

did everybody have a way steep learning curve the first few rounds?

RftG

If billy hadn't walked me through things I'd have been utterly lost.

I had a way steep learning curve with RtfG IRL. So much so that I put it away for a few months, before trying it again and realizing I love it.

Yes. Read the manual. Wait a day. Read it again. And keep the turn guide card handy. Above all, learn from BT. I'm still learning things about the game.

I swear I read the manual but yes BT is really dragging me along.

Last game I was able to make suggestions and BT kindly said, "Sorry, that won't work because of X. You can try Y."

RftG

I am of course always here to help. Meanwhile, everyone has chosen which card to keep. Next is Phase IV. Laga has no Consume powers and Connie has no trade goods, so they don't participate. chrismg and omnis both chose to trade a good, and both have a Brown good to trade. They draw 3 cards each.

Phase V is last. chrismg and Laga have no production worlds. omnis produces a Brown good on Comet Zone, and also draws a card for doing so. Connie, who chose this phase, produces on her two Blue worlds.

That concludes Round 2. It's time to choose Action cards for Round 3. Everyone, please let me know what you choose.