RftG

Finally, Phase IV. Connie has no Consume powers, and chrismg has no goods, so they both pass.

Ryan chose to trade. He trades his Blue good; he gets +3 cards from the bonus on Distant World, for a total of 5. He also consumes one of the Green goods on New Vinland for another 2 cards;; his total draw is 7.

omnis opted for double points. He consumes his two Blue goods on Earth's Lost Colony and Public Works for 2 VPs, which doubles to 4 VPs.

Laga also chose to trade, and trades her Green good for 4 cards.

That concludes Round 4. And at this point, we note that the first goal has been claimed! Connie has 2 Blue and 1 Brown world, which meets the minimum for the "Most Blue/Brown Worlds" goal. Both Ryan and omnis are just behind on 2 Blue worlds, though, and this tile could easily change hands before game end.

Concerning the other tiles: Laga has 2 Explore powers, and one more will claim the "Most Explore Powers" goal.

For the "First" goals: omnis has 4 VPs, and needs just 1 more for the 5 VPs tile. Connie has 6 cards in her layout; 2 more will give her the "8 cards in layout" goal. Connie and Ryan both have goods in 2 colours, and need 2 other colours for "world in each colour". Finally, no one yet has had to discard at round end. Ryan and Laga are closest at the moment, with 7 cards in hand apiece.

Everyone, please send me your choice of action card for Round 5.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 4
Goals
Research Leader - Most Explore Powers
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (Connie)
Galactic Standard of Living - First to 5 VPs
Expansion Leader - First to 8 cards in layout
System Diversity - First to have a world of each colour
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end

Connie Neil
Layout
Rebel Cantina (Non-Military World)
Space Mercenaries (Development)
Runaway Robots (Military Brown Windfall World)
Drop Ships (Development)
Primitive Rebel World (Military Blue Windfall World) + good
Devolved Uplift Race (Military Blue Production World)

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

Ryan
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World) + good
Distant World (Non-Military Green Production World)
Gem World (Non-Military Blue Production World)
New Vinland (Non-Military Blue Production World)

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

omnis
Layout
Earth's Lost Colony (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Public Works (Development)
Space Port (Non-Military Blue Production World)

Cards in Hand: 5
Military Strength: 0
Victory Points: 4
Layout Value: 3
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Laga
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Rebel Pact (Development)
Plague World (Non-Military Green Production World)

Cards in Hand: 7
Military Strength: 1
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 2
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

chrismg
Layout
New Sparta (Military World)
Star Nomad Lair (Military Blue Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Genetics Lab (Development)

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

VP Pool: 56

RftG

Orders are in.

Connie Neil: Phase V - Produce
Ryan: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
omnis: Phase I (+1/+1) - Explore (draw +1 card, keep +1 card)
Laga: Phase I (+1/+1) - Explore (draw +1 card, keep +1 card)
chrismg: Phase I (+1/+1) - Explore (draw +1 card, keep +1 card)

Lot of people crying card-poor there. We can help. Phase I (Explore) is first, so.

Connie and Ryan have no Explore powers and didn't choose this phase. They draw 2 cards and keep 1.

omnis draws 3 cards and keeps 2.

Laga draws 5 cards, takes them into her hand and then discards 3 cards.

chrismg draws 4 cards and keeps 2.

Cards are going out now. Everyone, let me know what you keep/discard.

RftG

I have everyone's choices. Let's run through Phase IV (Consume) and Phase V (Produce).

Ryan chose Phase IV, and he trades 1 Green good for 4 cards. No one else has both a good and a Consume power, so everyone else passes.

Phase V (Produce):

Connie chose this phase. She produces 1 Blue and 1 Brown good. She then draws 2 cards from Rebel Cantina, as she has two Rebel worlds in her layout, and 1 card for producing on Runaway Robots. (Those rascally robots.)

Ryan produces 2 Blue and 1 Green world. He then draws 1 card for producing on Gem World.

omnis produces 2 Blue goods.

Laga produces 1 Green good.

chrismg has no production worlds, so he passes.

And that takes us to the end off the round, where Ryan has 13 cards in hand. That means he has to discard 3 cards, and therefore he claims the goal for being the first player to discard.

Everyone, please send me your choice of action card for Round 6.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 5
Goals
Research Leader - Most Explore Powers
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (Connie)
Galactic Standard of Living - First to 5 VPs
Expansion Leader - First to 8 cards in layout
System Diversity - First to have a world of each colour
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end (Ryan)

Connie Neil
Layout
Rebel Cantina (Non-Military World)
Space Mercenaries (Development)
Runaway Robots (Military Brown Windfall World) + good
Drop Ships (Development)
Primitive Rebel World (Military Blue Windfall World) + good
Devolved Uplift Race (Military Blue Production World) + good

Cards in Hand: 8
Military Strength: 4
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 5
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 5

Ryan
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World) + good
Distant World (Non-Military Green Production World) + good
Gem World (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
New Vinland (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good

Cards in Hand: 10
Military Strength: 0
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 5
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

omnis
Layout
Earth's Lost Colony (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Public Works (Development)
Space Port (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good

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

Laga
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Rebel Pact (Development)
Plague World (Non-Military Green Production World) + good

Cards in Hand: 9
Military Strength: 1
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 2
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

chrismg
Layout
New Sparta (Military World)
Star Nomad Lair (Military Blue Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Genetics Lab (Development)

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

VP Pool: 56

RftG

Orders are in for Round 6.

Connie Neil: Phase III - Settle
Ryan: Phase III - Settle
omnis: Phase IV ($) - Consume (Trade)
Laga: Phase III - Settle
chrismg: Phase III - Settle

I have plenty of COs for Phase II, but it's no one's first priority this turn. We'll have just the two phases, with Phase III (Settle) first.

Connie plays Galactic Developers for 2 discards. This gives her 1 card draw at the start of any Phase II, and lets her consume 1 good for 1 VP. That'll come up again in Phase IV. She then draws 1 card for choosing this phase.

Ryan plays Deserted Alien Outpost for 4 discards. This is a Yellow windfall world. He then draws 1 card for choosing this phase.

omnis is the only one who didn't choose this phase, but he'll have a go anyway. He plays Galactic Studios for 5 discards. This is a Blue production world, his third. It also lets him consume 1 good for 1 VP and 1 card, and when he produces on it, he draws 1 card.

Laga plays Abandoned Alien Uplift Camp for 1 discard. This gives her 1 extra card draw when exploring (total of +3, with Separatist Colony); it also gives her +2 military or -2 cost as relevant for Green worlds only. She then draws 1 card for choosing this phase.

chrismg plays Pre-Sentient Race for 2 discards. This is a Green windfall world. This fits well with the Genetics Lab he already played. He then draws 1 card for choosing this phase.

RftG

Now we have Phase IV, and for many people, their Phase III play has an immediate impact.

Connie now has a Consume power, so she consumes 1 good for 1 VP.
Ryan consumes 1 good for 2 cards on New Vinland.
omnis chose this phase. He trades 1 Blue good for 2 cards; he can now consume the other Blue good on Galactic Studios, for 1 VP and another card draw.
Laga consumes her Green good on Plpague World for 1 VP and 1 card.
chrismg just played a windfall world, so he has a Green good. He consumes it immediately on Outlaw World for 1 VP and 1 card.

That concludes Round 6, and we have some goal activity this round.

omnis has caught up to Connie in Blue/Brown worlds! They both have three such. Connie got there first, so she has the 5 point tile; but omnis now gets 3 points too. If either of them gets the lead, they will claim the 5 points outright.

omnis has also now reached 5 VPs in consumption, so he claims the corresponding "First" goal for another 3 points.

But it's not all him. Laga now has three cards in her layout with powers in Phase I, so she claims the "Most Explore Powers" tile for 5 points.

There are two "First" goals still unclaimed - have 8 cards in your layout, and have a world in each colour. Connie has 7 cards in her layout, just one off that goal. Likewise, Ryan lacks just a Brown world to claim the other.

And with that, everyone, please send me your orders for Round 7.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 6
Goals
Research Leader - Most Explore Powers (Laga)
Largest Industry - Most Blue/Brown Worlds (Connie, omnis)
Galactic Standard of Living - First to 5 VPs (omnis)
Expansion Leader - First to 8 cards in layout
System Diversity - First to have a world of each colour
Budget Surplus - First to discard at round end (Ryan)

Connie Neil
Layout
Rebel Cantina (Non-Military World)
Space Mercenaries (Development)
Runaway Robots (Military Brown Windfall World) + good
Drop Ships (Development)
Primitive Rebel World (Military Blue Windfall World) + good
Devolved Uplift Race (Military Blue Production World)
Galactic Developers (Non-Military World)

Cards in Hand: 6
Military Strength: 4
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 6
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 5

Ryan
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World)
Distant World (Non-Military Green Production World) + good
Gem World (Non-Military Blue Production World)
New Vinland (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Deserted Alien Outpost (Non-Military Yellow Windfall World) + good

Cards in Hand: 8
Military Strength: 0
Victory Points: 0
Layout Value: 8
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

omnis
Layout
Earth's Lost Colony (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Public Works (Development)
Space Port (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Galactic Studios (Non-Military Blue Production World)

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

Laga
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Rebel Pact (Development)
Plague World (Non-Military Green Production World)
Abandoned Alien Uplift Camp (Non-Military World)

Cards in Hand: 9
Military Strength: 1
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 4
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 5

chrismg
Layout
New Sparta (Military World)
Star Nomad Lair (Military Blue Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Genetics Lab (Development)
Pre-Sentient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World)

Cards in Hand: 5
Military Strength: 4
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 6
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

VP Pool: 53

RftG

Orders, I have them:

Connie Neil: Phase III - Settle
Ryan: Phase II - Develop
omnis: Phase I (+1/+1) - Explore (draw +1 card, keep +1 card)
Laga: Phase II - Develop
chrismg: Phase V - Produce

Once again we just miss out on the elusive five-phase round. But four phases is still pretty good. We start with Phase I (Explore).

Connie and Ryan draw 2 cards and keep 1.
omnis chose this phase; he draws 3 cards and keeps 2.
Laga has many Explore powers, so she draws 5 cards, takes them into her hand and then discards 4 cards.
chrismg draws 3 cards and keeps 1.

Everyone, when you're ready, please let me know what you keep. You can also send me COs for Phases II and III, if you haven't done so already, or if your Explore draw changes things.

RftG

Right, orders are in. This turn could be interesting. Phase II (Develop) is next. There was a lot of changes of plan for players after seeing their Explore draw.

Connie draws 1 card from Galactic Developers, and then plays Galactic Survey: SETI. First 6-cost development of the game! (Actually, a proposal here. I've never liked the term "6-cost development", it's rather clumsy. The goal for being the first to play one - which is not in this game - is called "Galactic Status", so I think from now on I'll call them "status developments".)

Anyway, it costs her 6 discards. That leaves her with 1 card in hand. It has one power on it; Connie now draws 2 extra cards when exploring. At game end it's worth 1 VP per Explore power plus 1 VP per world.

Ryan plays Colony Ship for 1 discard. He can discard this in a Phase III to play any one non-military, non-Alien world for free.

omnis passes.

Laga plays Mercenary Fleet for 2 discards. This gives her +2 military (total of 3), and she can discard up to 2 cards for +1 military each.

chrismg is also boosting his military, with Imperium Troops for 1 discard. This gives him +1 military (total of 5), with an extra +1 against Rebel worlds.

And now, at the end of the phase, we note that Connie has 8 cards in her layout, which means she claims the Expansion Leader goal for 3 VPs!