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?

In this game, omnis had a power in every phase by his fourth card.

I use OneNote to follow my hand, so I can access it at work and home. I lay out my table cards by phase bonus, so I can easily see what extras I get with each action pick. I try to pick cards that have bonuses, not just points.

Not saying it's a winning formula. Once is luck, twice is skill. I don't count the first game. That was blind luck,following BT's advice. We will see how the next game goes.

I'm thinking about seeing if I can set up RftG in Virtual Tabletop so I can keep track of my cards better.

I'm old school, I just save the images into a folder on my computer and flip through them.

I was doing that, but then I could only respond when at home. And work hours are getting more erratic. I figured it was easier to have it available for a 15 minute break at work, than wait until I get home and hope I don't pass out. Although, some days, no breaks. Oye.

RftG

I keep a Word document with all the card scans in it, and an Excel file for the game records.

And I feel it's about time I set up another such file. I'm putting out the call for game 6. Same set-up as the game just finished, with goals and whatnot. Who's in?

Meeee!

Not me, sorry. I've been pretty much been playing by email, not even checking the board, sorry.

RftG

The game is afoot! This is game 6. We have three returning players, namely omnis, Connie and Laga. But that's not all, for this game we have a new player. He's a bit nervous, but looking forward to it. Race for the Galaxy is one of his favourites. I've made good on my threat before the last game; the fourth player is Ryan. I trust you'll all make him welcome.

Cards are going out now. Everyone, let me know which cards you discard.

RftG

Welcome to the fun, Ryan!