RftG
Here we go with the final points tally. We now have four categories of points:
Consumption VPs
Connie Neil: 10
Laga: 2
omnis: 8
chrismg: 9
Consumption wqas a popular pastime this game, with most players scoring a decent chunk. At game end there were 19 VPs left in the pool and 13 goods on people's layouts. It's likely that if the game hadn't ended this round, it would've ended next round for running out of chips.
Layout Value
Connie Neil: 19
Laga: 8
omnis: 11
chrismg: 9
In layout value, there was a clear winner. Connie's layout was worth 8 VPs more than second place. The usual way to get a high-value layout is through military strength, allowing a plsyer to get valuable Rebel and Alien cards. However, non-military Alien cards are pretty valuable too. Connie's layout had a distinct Alien tilt.
6-Cost Developments
Connie Neil: 9
Laga: 11
omnis: 20
chrismg: 3
Connie and chrismg both managed one 6-cost development. chrismg played Galactic Renaissance, which rewards consumption. The game ended before he could take full advantage of that direction. Connie's card, Alien Tech Institute, fit well with her layout. She ended the game with four Alien cards.
In the world of 6-cost developments, one particular card is king, and that's Galactic Federation. This card makes them affordable, with a -2 cost discount; and it's worth 2 VPs for every 6-cost development played. However, to work its magic, it really wants to be played early. Laga got Galactic Federation down, but only managed to play one more development thereafter. Still, with three 6-cost developments (as well as Galactic Federation, there was Mining League, which rewarded Brown worlds; and Pan Galactic League, which rewarded Green worlds), this was her best category.
But the honours here go to omnis. Like Laga, he managed three 6-cost developments. However, they were more profitable. He had Free Trade Association, which rewards Blue worlds (he had four such worlds); Galactic Survey: SETI, rewarding Explore powers and worlds (8 total) and New Economy, rewarding Consume powers (he had 5).
Goals
Connie Neil: 6
Laga: 6
omnis: 9
chrismg: 5
This is a new category; this is the first game with goals. There are two "Most" goals, worth 5 points each, and 4 "First" goals, worth 3 points each. Total of 22, yes? But in this game, the total over all players was 26. The reason is that many of the "First" goals were claimed by two players simultaneously. In fact, omnis leads here, having claimed 3 of the 4 "First" goals; but every single time, he shared it with another player.
One goal went unclaimed - Most military strength. Connie was the clear leader on 4 strength, but you need at least 6 to get this goal. Alas, in the later rounds there were no cards to increase her military strength that came into her hand. So close, yet so far.
RftG
Putting them all together:
Connie Neil
Victory Points:
10
Layout Value:
19
6-Cost Developments:
9
Goals:
6
Total:
44
Laga
Victory Points:
2
Layout Value:
8
6-Cost Developments:
11
Goals:
6
Total:
27
omnis
Victory Points:
8
Layout Value:
11
6-Cost Developments:
20
Goals:
9
Total:
48
chrismg
Victory Points:
9
Layout Value:
9
6-Cost Developments:
3
Goals:
5
Total:
26
VP Pool: 19
omnis wins!
In the end there were 4 points in it. If Connie had managed to grab the "Most military" goal, she would have taken line honours. At the other end of the field, Laga's plays added 8 points to her score in the final round, to nudge in front of chrismg.
RftG
Wow! That's a high scoring game.
Except for the whole military thing, I think I'm getting the hang of the game.
Good game folks! And many thanks to our great GM!
I just wish I could claim a strategy. I just see what I get first and run with it.
Great game! Thanks, billytea.
RftG
Congratulations to omnis for a hard-fought victory, and to everyone for a most entertaining game. How did everyone find the goals? Did they add to the game?
RftG
Yes, goals gave another angle to get points!
I confess, at first I was hesitant. But once playing, it did add some fun. It kept me more engaged, seeing what the others were playing, and not just focusing on my hand.
RftG
yes I liked the goals. It's fun to have another way to gain points.
RftG
Ok, I have a couple of comments following the game, which I'll try to keep brief. I was informed during this game that people actually read these things, so no pressure. (Or now I get to see what sorts of things I can get you all to believe.)
1. Card Flow. Is king, especially in the early stages. Aside from accruing powers which give bonus card draws, players can get cards by choosing Explore or Consume (Trade). Possibly Produce and then Consume (Trade). Trading was popular this game; it accounted for 21% of all Action card choices, while people chose Explore only 8% of the time. Mostly, I think that's sensible. When you choose Explore, everyone else gets to piggy-back off it, and you only get 2 cards out of it anyway (at most). Trading's often more lucrative, and other players don't get to trade when you do. (They'll get to Consume, but not trade.) However, exploring does have one advantage - you get cards in time to play them that round. When you trade, you'll have to wait until next round.
2. Let's build on that reasoning. When you select a particular phase, you get to use it, but so does everyone else. If they have better powers, or are in a better position (e.g. you choose Phase III and they have lots of cards, or Phase V and they have lots of production worlds), then they might get more out of your choice than you do. That means that sometimes your best choice, in an absolute sense, may not be your best choice relative to the other players. When choosing your Action card, it can be worthwhile to check your competitive advantage - what phase(s) you do better than everyone else - and consider whether that might be your best choice. (For instance, by game end that game, chrismg had a competitive advantage in Explore, Laga in Develop, Connie in settling military worlds and omnis in settling non-military worlds.)
3. That also means it can be helpful to build a competitive advantage. But powers in other phases will be useful too. They make it easier to piggy-back off other people's choices, which lets you take multiple actions during a round. It also helps limit other players' competitive advantage. (In this game, omnis had a power in every phase by his fourth card.)
So I'm sure that's useful. Powers in all phases are important, but perhaps some phases more than others?
