RftG

Orders are in for Round 8, and we have:

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

That is a lot of developing going on right there. But we also have Phase I (Explore) and Phase V (Produce), so let's get into the Explore.

omnis draws 2 cards and keeps 1, because he is the only player still without an Explore power.
chrismg chose this phase. He draws 4 cards and then discards 2 from his hand.
Connie draws 4 cards and keeps 1.
Ryan draws 3 cards and keeps 1.
-t draws 2 cards and then discards 1 from her hand.
Laga draws 3 cards and then discards 2 from her hand.

Cards are going out now. Everyone, please send me your choices.

RftG

Ok, everything's sorted, and we can move to Phase II (Develop), where everyone has found something worth playing.

omnis draws 1 card from Galactic Developers, then plays Genetics Lab for 1 discard. This gives him +1 card when trading a Green good, and lets him produce on one Green windfall world. He then draws 1 more card from Public Works.

chrismg plays Interstellar bank for 2 discards (the rest of his hand). This gives hime 1 card draw at the start of any future Phase II.

Connie already has Interstellar Bank, and draws 1 card from it. She then plays Mining Conglomerate for 2 discards. This is a Brown-themed card. She gets +1 card when trading a Brown good, can consume up to 2 Brown goods for 1 VP each, and in Phase V, if she produces more Brown goods than any other player, she draws 2 cards.

Ryan plays Trade League for 4 discards, getting -1 cost from Investment Credits. This card gives him +1 card when trading, and lets him trade 1 good in Phase IV, even if he didn't choose Trade. (If he did choose Trade, he can trade 2 goods.) It's a status development, worth 2 VPs per development with a Trade power, and 1 VP for each world with a Trade power. It's currently worth 5 VPs to him.

-t plays Improved Logistics for 2 discards. This lets her play two worlds instead of one in Phase III.

Laga plays New Economy. This gives her 1 card draw in Phase IV.It's a status development, giving 2 VPs per development with a Consume power, and 1 VP for each world with a Consume power. It's currently worth 7 VPs to her. She then draws 1 card from Public Works.

We'll finish up with Phase V (Produce).

RftG

Phase V. We have the following production.

omnis produces 1 Blue good and 2 Green goods; Genetics Lab lets him produce on his Green windfall world. He then dras 2 cards for producing on Lost Species Ark World.

chrismg has no production worlds, so he produces nothing. However, he draws 2 cards from Rebel Cantina.

Connie produces 2 Brown goods. That's more Brown than anyone else, so she draws 2 cards from Mining Conglomerate.

Ryan produces 1 Blue good and 1 Brown good; Interstellar Prospectors lets him produce on his Brown windfall world. He then draws 1 card for producing on Runaway Robots.

-t already has a good on her one production world. She passes.

Laga chose this phase, so she produces on one windfall world. She produces 3 Blue goods and 1 Green good.

That concludes Round 8. Well, almost; omnis has 11 cards in his hand and must discard 1. omnis, let me know which card you discard. Meanwhile, everyone, please send me your choice of action card for Round 9!

Note: once any player(s) have at least 12 cards in their layout the game ends that round. chrismg and Laga both have 10 cards in their layout. In all likelihood, the end of the game is approaching.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 8
Goals
Research Leader - Most Explore Powers
Greatest Infrastructure - Most Developments (Laga)
Expansion Leader - First to 8 cards in layout (chrismg, Laga)
Innovation Leader - First to have a power in each phase (Laga)
Galactic Standard of Living - First to 5 VPs (omnis)
Uplift Knowledge - First to 3 Uplift cards (-t)

omnis
Layout
Galactic Developers (Non-Military World)
Public Works (Development)
Blaster Gem Mines (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Lost Species Ark World (Non-Military Green Production World) + good
New Survivalists (Military Blue Production World) + good
Space Marines (Development)
Galactic Advertisers (Development)
Insect Uplift Race (Military Green Windfall World) + good
Genetics Lab (Development)

Cards in Hand: 11
Military Strength: 3
Victory Points: 6
Layout Value: 14
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

chrismg
Layout
Rebel Cantina (Non-Military World)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Trading Outpost (Non-Military World)
Replicant Robots (Development)
Reptilian Uplift Race (Military Green Windfall World)
Export Duties (Development)
Star Nomad Lair (Military Blue Windfall World)
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Rebel Colony (Military World)
Interstellar Bank (Development)

Cards in Hand: 2
Military Strength: 0
Victory Points: 2
Layout Value: 15
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

Connie Neil
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Mining Robots (Development)
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Interstellar Bank (Development)
Imperium Blaster Gem Consortium (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Mining Conglomerate (Development)

Cards in Hand: 8
Military Strength: 2
Victory Points: 1
Layout Value: 11
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Ryan
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Investment Credits (Development)
Genetics Lab (Development)
Space Port (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Interstellar Prospectors (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Runaway Robots (Military Brown Windfall World) + good
Trade League (6-Cost Development)

Cards in Hand: 5
Military Strength: 1
Victory Points: 2
Layout Value: 7
6-Cost Developments: 5
Goals: 0

-t
Layout
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)
The Last Of The Uplift Gnarssh (Military Green Windfall World)
Devolved Uplift Race (Military Blue Production World) + good
New Galactic Order (6-Cost Development)
Avian Uplift Race (Military Green Windfall World) + good
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Blaster Runners (Military World)
Improved Logistics (Development)

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

Laga
Layout
Ancient Race (Non-Military Green Windfall World) + good
Expedition Force (Development)
Export Duties (Development)
New Vinland (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Investment (continued...)

( continues...) Credits (Development)
Public Works (Development)
Artist Colony (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
Galactic Salon (Development)
Smuggling World (Non-Military Blue Production World) + good
New Economy (6-Cost Development)

Cards in Hand: 6
Military Strength: 1
Victory Points: 2
Layout Value: 10
6-Cost Developments: 7
Goals: 11

VP Pool: 61

RftG

Orders are in, and we have a varied round.

omnis: Phase II - Develop
chrismg: Phase III - Settle
Connie Neil: Phase IV (x2) - Consume (double VPs)
Ryan: Phase I (+1/+1) - Explore (draw +1 card, keep +1 card)
-t: Phase III - Settle
Laga: Phase IV (x2) - Consume (double VPs)

Phases I (Explore), II (Develop), III (Settle) and IV (Consume) have all been chosen. Note: chrismg and Laga both have 10 cards in their layout. If either of them plays a card in both Phases II and III, they will reach 12 cards in their layout and the game will end this round.

Explore draws have been sent out. Everyone, please let me know what you keep and what you discard. You can also send me COs for Phases II and III.

RftG

Orders are in, and we're ready for Phase II (Develop).

-t and Laga both pass. chrismg draws 1 card from Interstellar Bank, but also passes on playing a development. These are the three players who could have reached 12 cards in their layout this round; this will not happen, and the game will continue for at least one more round.

omnis draws 1 card from Galactic Developers, then plays Galactic Exchange for 5 discards. This card is a status development, which increases in value with the number of different colours of production and windfall worlds in one's layout. omnis has Blue, Brown and Green worlds, which makes Galactic Exchange worth 6 VPs. It also allows him to consume up to one good of each colour in Phase IV, for 1 VP and 1 card each.

Connie draws 1 card from Interstellar Bank, then plays Deficit Spending for 2 discards. This card lets her discard up to 2 cards from her hand in Phase IV, for 1 VP each.

Ryan plays New Military Tactics. he gets -1 cost from Investment Credits, so he may play it for free. He can discard this card from his layout to increase his military strength by 3 in a single Phase III (Settle).

Phase III (Settle) is next.

RftG

Phase III! Let's see what we have.

Laga passes.

omnis plays Clandestine Uplift Lab. This is a military world with 3 defence. omnis' military strength is 3 exactly, so he can play this world. This card lets him draw +1 card when Exploring. When trading a Green good, he draws +1 card for each card with a chromosome symbol. He has two such cards, Insect Uplift Race and Clandestine Uplift Lab. Finally, it can consume 1 good for 1 VP and 1 card.

chrismg chose this phase, and plays Prosperous World for 1 discard (-2 cost from Replicant Robots). This is a Blue production world, and can consume 1 good for 1 VP. He then draws 2 cards, one for choosing this phase and one from Terraforming Robots.

Connie plays Galactic Trendsetters for 5 discards. This card can consume 1 good for 2 VPs.

Ryan discards New Military Tactics from his layout, which boosts his strength to 4. He then plays Malevolent Lifeforms, a 4-defence military world. This is a Green production world, and also gives him +1 card draw when Exploring.

-t chose this phase, and she has Improved Logistics in her layout, which lets her play 2 worlds instead of just 1. She plays Alien Uplift Centre and Lost Alien Warship, both Yellow windfall worlds with 5 defence (-t's strength is 5 exactly). Alien Uplift Centre also gives her +1 card when exploring, +2 strength against Green military worlds and -2 cost for Green non-military worlds. Lost Alien Warship gives a straight +2 strength. She then draws 3 cards. She gets 1 card for choosing Settle; and Terraforming Robots gives her 1 card for each world she settled.

Administrative note: this phase exhausted the deck. I've reshuffled the discards.

This round will finish with Phase IV (Consume).

RftG

We finish up with Phase IV (Consume), chosen by two players.

Easy ones first. chrismg has Consume powers but no goods, while -t has goods but no usable Consume powers. They both pass.

omnis consumes 1 Blue good and 1 Green good on Galactic Exchange, and his remaining good on Clandestine Uplift Lab - all for 1 VP and 1 card each. He also draws an extra card from Galactic Advertisers. Total of 3 VPs and 4 cards.

Connie chose this phase, and opted to double her points. She has 2 Brown goods. She consumes one good on Galactic Trendsetters for 2 VPs and the other on Imperium Blaster Gem Consortium for 1 VP and 2 cards. Doubled, this gives her 6 VPs and 2 cards. She then discards 2 cards from her hand for 2 more VPs (these aren't doubled).

Ryan consumes 1 Blue good on Epsilon Eridani for 1 VP. He can also use the Consume power on Trade League to trade 1 Brown good (even though he didn't choose Trade). With bonuses from Space Port and Trade League, he draws 6 cards, for a total of 7 cards and 1 VP.

Laga also chose this phase for double points. She can consume 2 goods, one on Public Works for 1 VP and one on New Vinland for 2 cards. She also gets 1 bonus VP from Galactic Salon and 1 bonus card from New Economy. Doubled, her take is 4 VPs and 3 cards.

And that concludes Round 9! Summary coming up.

RftG

End-of-round summary:

Round 9
Goals
Research Leader - Most Explore Powers
Greatest Infrastructure - Most Developments (Laga)
Expansion Leader - First to 8 cards in layout (chrismg, Laga)
Innovation Leader - First to have a power in each phase (Laga)
Galactic Standard of Living - First to 5 VPs (omnis)
Uplift Knowledge - First to 3 Uplift cards (-t)

omnis
Layout
Galactic Developers (Non-Military World)
Public Works (Development)
Blaster Gem Mines (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Lost Species Ark World (Non-Military Green Production World)
New Survivalists (Military Blue Production World)
Space Marines (Development)
Galactic Advertisers (Development)
Insect Uplift Race (Military Green Windfall World)
Genetics Lab (Development)
Galactic Exchange (6-Cost Development)
Clandestine Uplift Lab (Military World)

Cards in Hand: 10
Military Strength: 3
Victory Points: 9
Layout Value: 16
6-Cost Developments: 6
Goals: 3

chrismg
Layout
Rebel Cantina (Non-Military World)
Outlaw World (Military World)
Trading Outpost (Non-Military World)
Replicant Robots (Development)
Reptilian Uplift Race (Military Green Windfall World)
Export Duties (Development)
Star Nomad Lair (Military Blue Windfall World)
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Rebel Colony (Military World)
Interstellar Bank (Development)
Prosperous World (Non-Military Blue Production World)

Cards in Hand: 4
Military Strength: 0
Victory Points: 2
Layout Value: 17
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 3

Connie Neil
Layout
Separatist Colony (Non-Military World)
Mining Robots (Development)
Comet Zone (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Interstellar Bank (Development)
Imperium Blaster Gem Consortium (Non-Military Brown Production World)
Mining Conglomerate (Development)
Deficit Spending (Development)
Galactic Trendsetters (Non-Military World)

Cards in Hand: 1
Military Strength: 2
Victory Points: 9
Layout Value: 15
6-Cost Developments: 0
Goals: 0

Ryan
Layout
Epsilon Eridani (Non-Military World)
Investment Credits (Development)
Genetics Lab (Development)
Space Port (Non-Military Blue Production World)
Interstellar Prospectors (Non-Military Brown Production World) + good
Runaway Robots (Military Brown Windfall World)
Trade League (6-Cost Development)
Malevolent Lifeforms (Military Green Production World)

Cards in Hand: 12
Military Strength: 1
Victory Points: 3
Layout Value: 9
6-Cost Developments: 5
Goals: 0

-t
Layout
Alpha Centauri (Non-Military Brown Windfall World)
Space Marines (Development)
The Last Of The Uplift Gnarssh (Military Green Windfall World)
Devolved Uplift Race (Military Blue Production World) + good
New Galactic Order (6-Cost Development)
Avian Uplift Race (Military Green Windfall World) + good
Terraforming Robots (Development)
Blaster Runners (Military World)
Improved Logistics (Development)
Alien Uplift Center (Military Yellow Windfall World) + good
Lost Alien Warship (Military Yellow Windfall World) + good

Cards in Hand: 5
Military Strength: 7
Victory Points: 0
Layout (continued...)