RftG

Phase III:

Connie plays Rebel Miners. This is a 2-strength military world, which Connie can match. It's also a Brown production world. She then draws 1 card from the newly played Terraforming Robots.

Laga plays Comet Zone for 3 discards. This too is a Brown production world (non-military), and lets her draw 1 card when producing on it. She chose this phase, so draws 1 card.

omnis passes.

chrismg plays Radioactive World, a Brown windfall world. He gets -1 cost from Alpha Centauri, so it costs 1 discard.

With that play, chrismg brings his total number of Brown worlds up to 3, which lets him claim the "Most Blue/Brown worlds" goal! But everyone else has two such worlds, so chrismg leads by just 1. Will someone overtake him and steal the tile?

That concludes Round 4. Everyone, please send me your choice of Action card for Round 5.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 4
Goals
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (chrismg)
Greatest Military - Most Military Strength
Galactic Riches - First to 4 goods
Overlord Discoveries - First to 3 Alien cards
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end (Laga, omnis)
Galactic Status - First to play 6-cost development

Connie Neil
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Expedition Force (Development)
New Earth (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Rebel Miners (Military Brown Production World)

Cards in Hand: 2
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 8
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Laga
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World)
Secluded World (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World)

Cards in Hand: 7
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 4
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

omnis
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Pirate World (Military Blue Windfall World)
New Survivalists (Military Blue Production World)
Investment Credits (Development)

Cards in Hand: 9
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 5
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

chrismg
Layout
Imperium Armaments World (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World) + good
Mining Conglomerate (Development)
Radioactive World (Non-Military Brown Windfall World) + good

Cards in Hand: 3
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 5
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

VP Pool: 47

RftG

Here are the choices:

Connie Neil: Phase V - Produce
Laga: Phase II - Develop
omnis: Phase II - Develop
chrismg: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)

Three phases this round, starting with Phase II (Develop). Everyone, if you haven't put in COs, please do so.

RftG

I have the orders. Connie and chrismg both pass.

Laga plays Mining League for 5 discards. This 6-cost development lets her consume 2 Brown goods for 3 VPs, and can produce on 1 Brown windfall world. Its value at game end is 2 VPs per Brown production world plus 1 VP per Brown windfall world; and another 2 VPs each for Mining Robots and Mining Conglomerate. It's currently worth 2 VPs.

omnis plays Galactic Survey: SETI for 4 discards (Investment Credits gives another -1 cost). This 6-cost development lets him look at an extra 2 cards when Exploring (for +4 cards, with Separatist Colony). Its value at game end is 1 VP per Explore power plus 1 VP per world. It's currently worth 5 VPs.

Furthermore, one of the goals was "First to play a 6-cost development". Once again, Laga and omnis both fulfil this condition simultaneously, and both lay claim to this goal for 3 VPs. They both now have 6 VPs from goals.

RftG

Phase IV (Consume) sees only chrismg with any goods, so he's the only one who does anything in this phase. He chose the Trade Action card, and trades the Brown good from Alpha Centauri. Mining Conglomerate gives him 1 extra card; he draws 4 cards. He then consumes his other Brown good on Mining Conglomerate for 1 VP.

RftG

We finish with Phase V (Produce), and everyone gets in the action.

Connie produces 2 Brown goods on her production worlds.

Laga produces 1 Blue good and 1 Brown good. She then draws 1 card for producing on Comet Zone.

omnis produces 1 Blue good.

chrismg produces 1 Brown good.

That concludes Round 5, with rather more goods and rather fewer cards in hand for most. Everyone, please send me your choice of Action card for Round 6.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 5
Goals
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (chrismg)
Greatest Military - Most Military Strength
Galactic Riches - First to 4 goods
Overlord Discoveries - First to 3 Alien cards
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end (Laga, omnis)
Galactic Status - First to play 6-cost development (Laga, omnis)

Connie Neil
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Expedition Force (Development)
New Earth (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Rebel Miners (Military Brown Production World) + good

Cards in Hand: 2
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 8
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Laga
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World)
Secluded World (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Mining League (6-Cost Development)

Cards in Hand: 2
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 4
6-Cost Developments: 2
Goals: 6

omnis
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Pirate World (Military Blue Windfall World)
New Survivalists (Military Blue Production World) + good
Investment Credits (Development)
Galactic Survey: Seti (6-Cost Development)

Cards in Hand: 4
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 5
6-Cost Developments: 5
Goals: 6

chrismg
Layout
Imperium Armaments World (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Mining Conglomerate (Development)
Radioactive World (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)

Cards in Hand: 7
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 5
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 5

VP Pool: 46

omnis jumps into a 4-point lead, with his Galactic Survey: SETI play raising his score by 8 points.

man, Omnis. Get outta my head!

Great minds think alike.

When D&D games don't turn out as expected: [link]