[D'rek]

Here's the list of all the hexes in the random draw piles:

Spoiler

101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108

201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
213
281

301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
320
321
322
323
324
381
382

and here's the list of all the tech (note there are additional tech - 1 extra of most - because it is a 7-9 player game):

Spoiler

Neutron Bombs
Neutron Bombs
Neutron Bombs
Neutron Bombs
Neutron Bombs
Gauss Shield
Gauss Shield
Gauss Shield
Gauss Shield
Gauss Shield
Nanorobots
Nanorobots
Nanorobots
Nanorobots
Nanorobots
Starbase
Starbase
Starbase
Starbase
Starbase
Starbase
Improved Hull
Improved Hull
Improved Hull
Improved Hull
Improved Hull
Improved Hull
Fusion Drive
Fusion Drive
Fusion Drive
Fusion Drive
Fusion Drive
Plasma Cannon
Plasma Cannon
Plasma Cannon
Plasma Cannon
Plasma Cannon
Plasma Cannon
Fusion Source
Fusion Source
Fusion Source
Fusion Source
Fusion Source
Fusion Source
Advanced Robotics
Advanced Robotics
Advanced Robotics
Advanced Robotics
Advanced Robotics
Advanced Robotics
Phase Shield
Phase Shield
Phase Shield
Phase Shield
Phase Shield
Positron Computer
Positron Computer
Positron Computer
Positron Computer
Positron Computer
Orbital
Orbital
Orbital
Orbital
Orbital
Advanced Mining
Advanced Mining
Advanced Mining
Advanced Mining
Advanced Mining
Advanced Economy
Advanced Economy
Advanced Economy
Advanced Economy
Advanced Economy
Advanced Labs
Advanced Labs
Advanced Labs
Advanced Labs
Advanced Labs
Tachyon Source
Tachyon Source
Tachyon Source
Tachyon Source
Tachyon Drive
Tachyon Drive
Tachyon Drive
Monolith
Monolith
Monolith
Artifact Key
Artifact Key
Artifact Key
Plasma Missile
Plasma Missile
Plasma Missile
Plasma Missile
Antimatter Cannon
Antimatter Cannon
Antimatter Cannon
Antimatter Cannon
Gluon Computer
Gluon Computer
Gluon Computer
Gluon Computer
Quantum Grid
Quantum Grid
Quantum Grid
Quantum Grid
Wormhole Generator
Wormhole Generator
Wormhole Generator
Wormhole Generator
Antimatter Splitter
Neutron Absorber
Distortion Shield
Cloaking Device
Point Defense
Conifold Field
Sentient Hull
Interceptor Bay
Flux Missile
Zero-Point Source
Tractor Beam

If no one has any objections, I will just use random.org list randomizer to randomize the list each time any of these needs to be drawn, and the top hex or top # of techs will be the one(s) drawn. Otherwise, we can ask Tapper to randomize them for us and dole them out as needed for true transparency.


Assuming random.org list randomizer is ok, the starting 22 tech are:

Nanorobots x2
Gauss Shield
Improved Hull x2
Starbase
Fusion Drive
Plasma Cannon
Phase Shield
Advanced Robotics
Advanced Mining x2
Advanced Economy x2
Advanced Labs
Orbital
Tachyon Drive
Antimatter Cannon
Gluon Computer
Quantum Grid
Wormhole Generator
Zero-Point Source

[Khellendros]

Yey shrines! Thanks D'rek

[twelve]

I'm fine with Random.org for tile and tech draws. I'm assuming reputation and discovery tiles will be done the same way?

My homeworld alignment looks fine. I know this is probably out of turn but I'm going to select a $ cube as my population cube to discard.

[Tattersail_]

I am slowly beginning to grasp the game and possibly strategies. I have debated whether to move or research first. I am still on the fence.

[Tattersail_]

I have my WCS first three moves worked out. It all depends on what tile/hex I flip on whether things get better. I have not gone further than three moves because of the variants abound. At least I understand this a lot more. That is, I can focus on me but I have no clue how to focus on anyone else and counter their moves.

As I begin to understand it I am becoming more excited by it. I love board games, and could lose every game but still enjoy myself.

[Imperial Historian]

In the base game researching early for a key technology is a risk, but not a huge one. In this game where the race to the middle is a lot more important I think it becomes a bigger risk, as getting locked off from the centre could be a real problem. I think that holds best for orion, normally they'd be going for Improved hulls straight away, but in this case, if they went for improved hulls, but his neighbours managed to explore and lock orion out from a connection to the centre the advantage of his great ships would be majorly underminded.

[Tattersail_]

Imperial Historian, on 15 January 2013 - 11:39 AM, said:

In the base game researching early for a key technology is a risk, but not a huge one. In this game where the race to the middle is a lot more important I think it becomes a bigger risk, as getting locked off from the centre could be a real problem. I think that holds best for orion, normally they'd be going for Improved hulls straight away, but in this case, if they went for improved hulls, but his neighbours managed to explore and lock orion out from a connection to the centre the advantage of his great ships would be majorly underminded.

What is important about the middle tile? I've got a list of Victory points here but maybe i've missed the part about the middle hex

[Khellendros]

Middle hex shmiddle hex. The Enlightened know that the centre is but the periphery of somewhere else

[Imperial Historian]

Generally the better tiles are inwards, (ie more planets), whilst tier 3 ie going out generally has many tiles with few or no planets.

The galactic centre is the best tile in the game, for agressive military races like orion they need to connect with other people, the best way to do this being the tier 1 and centre tiles, which generally have the most connections. Not going for the middle, and trying not to make connections is a viable strategy (especially for races like exiles, enlightened, planta or hydrans) but it is a risk as your tiles will generally be worse than they otherwise would be. Eg for hydrans more research planets are present in tiers 1 and 2.

[Tattersail_]

Say I upgrade "fusion drive" paying 4 science. Does this mean I have a fusion drive ship part that I can add to my ship? Or does it unlock certain ship parts?

[Imperial Historian]

You will unlock fusion drive ship parts, but you'll need to use an upgrade action to put it on your ships.

[Tattersail_]

Okay. Gotcha

[Tattersail_]

Do you own this game IH? Have you played it with friends before in RL?

[Imperial Historian]

I do own the base game, played it a couple of times in RL. I can recommend it if you have any friends who like games like this, but it does take a long time to play.

[Tattersail_]

Imperial Historian, on 15 January 2013 - 12:43 PM, said:

I do own the base game, played it a couple of times in RL. I can recommend it if you have any friends who like games like this, but it does take a long time to play.

I play cards with my friends, that usually takes 5-6 hours of play time, but I think this would be too complicated for them ie they don't have the patience to learn something like this

[Khellendros]

I have a question too. What do you do with/how do you use artifacts? I can't find it in the rules file.

[Imperial Historian]

You can research artifact key, which will give you 5 resources of any type for each artifact you control (in multiple of 5), but it is a one time bonus. In the expansion there is also the artifact link development which will give you 1 VP for every artifact you control at the end of the game.

[Khellendros]

Imperial Historian, on 15 January 2013 - 01:01 PM, said:

You can research artifact key, which will give you 5 resources of any type for each artifact you control (in multiple of 5), but it is a one time bonus. In the expansion there is also the artifact link development which will give you 1 VP for every artifact you control at the end of the game.

Sweet!

[cerveza_fiesta]

twelve, on 15 January 2013 - 03:37 AM, said:

Explore NE towards CF.

CF would you like to have diplomatic relations with me if we connect?

=================================

IT WOULD BE LOGICAL FOR THE MECHANEMA COLLECTIVE TO ENGAGE IN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURING SYSTEMS AT THIS TIME.

THE MECHANEMA COLLECTIVE SHALL ORIENT NEW-FOUND WORMHOLES IN THE NORTHWEST PARSEC TOWARD THE TERRAN UNION TO FACILITATE THIS TASK.

resistance is futile........

END TRANSMISSION
==================================


Thanks for putting this all together D'rek.

Is the plan eventually to place updated board layouts on page 1 of the thread? That would be super convenient for mobile access. Will you also be keeping techs & player boards updated or is that for us to do on our own?


If so maybe we can come up with a standardized text-based template that we all use and post at the end of our turn so we can see at a glance how others are doing. This could easily be copy-pasted into the first page of the thread. Maybe re-purpose the "races" post as a player turn update post.

[Khellendros]

I even read that in a faux-robot voice...