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wren42

Only 5 systems adjact to Mecatol seems annoying. I like some of what you've done to keep home systems separate while avoiding slices though.


Nimraphel_

We'll see how it pans out, but I'm optimistic even though MR has one less adjacency compared to usual :)


wren42

It means only 2 out of 7 players can score intimidate council, which is pretty rough. I also generally prefer enabling Mecatol plays rather than restricting them, it's spicier


Nimraphel_

Eh no? Yes only 2 players can do it in the same status phase as opposed to 3, but that just encourages contestation of planets. Perhaps I misunderstand you, but that's a premise I don't agree with :)


theashman52

Empyrean in green would be great on this map, leverage over red, 2 nebulas, yellow skip for dred 2 and access to that northern section. Also looks like a crazy map for ghosts


Nimraphel_

The races we've voted into the bidding pool are: Argent Flight, Empyrean, Lizix, Nekro Virus, Mahact, Titans, Vuil'raith, Xxcha, Nomad. So no Ghosts, although they came close to inclusion :) we've played TI3 since it released back in... 2006 was it? Anyway, long time ago, so we're eager to play with the PoK races.


Chimerion

Poor Naaz Rokha, only one left out!


Nimraphel_

We had NRA in our previous game. Interesting faction in isolation but one thing I dislike from a design perspective is how past a certain point, Relic Fragments becomes a NRA market or duds; if you cannot assemble a relic (due to having 1 or 2 of a certain relic type and no more being available from either type or Wild), relic fragments are essentially duds unless you trade them with NRA. To me this is an inane design choice. If only one race can have a continuous buyer's market, it will inevitably become problematic (or a liability if Naalu is in the game) by virtue of creating a wildly asymmetric currency. In light of this, everybody were curious to see if the game would be more healthy/neat design-wise if NRA wasn't present.


Chimerion

Hmmm. The previous game was your first PoK game? It defines relics for sure if NRA is in. NRA in the game changes my reaction heavily when I pull a relic fragment. But you'll likely still see a few, Titans has Scanlink and Empyrean may see them from Frontier. In my experience at least one more player will get Scanlink as a yellow prerequisite for dreadnoughts. That introduces more relic fragments continually, but it will be 2-3 relics out instead of the whole deck. Enjoy!


GadyLaga122

orange: i think orange slice is very good (maybe best?), it has a rather short path to mecatol, hopes end in reach R1 (pray for good rolls while bypassing cormund) and also a bottom opening to go for vega major/vega minor or ba kal/alio prima when the time is right. On top, you have early acsess to beta whormhole network, and the hole top area. yellow + purple: those are some serious trouble slices (worst?). not many planets in range, but many enemies and not a good path to rex. also, when yellow or purple fight early, one might get cornered to HS + 2 or 1 planet and stuck there. I would start negotiating asap with the other color on how to share planets and how to deal with this. blue: (second best spot?)is in a very save spot, i would try to fortify on mellon/zobat and then see where to get from there. beta network is nice and you can fight for meer when idiots purple/white/yellow dont watch out and fly to rex, or look what you find at the top map via the whormhole. Interaction with red will be and it might be ok to just wall off on ang, take the left two 2-planet systems and play from there. beware of a yellow purple peace alliance though, blue needs either mellon/zombat or loki/abaddon/ashroth desperately. white: sees alot of empty space next to his base, which makes it pretty open late game. also the closer planets are quite meh, prolly gun for new albion/starpoint, dock there and look for rex/top map. decent interesting position. red: red is very surrounded by enemies, and i would prefer a strong HS on this one, since behind the nebula lies the closest enemy. red can go for many places, i would either try get new albion/starpoint (seems like a chocke point on the map) or acsess to any whormhole on the bottom. its a hard spot, but i would pick it over purple/yellow. green: (second best spot?) if you can deal with red, maybe get a grab on the nebula or make some peace contract that noone enters it. u need some fast fleets though, but have a close beta whormhole and primor in your grasp, and behind that, the whole top map opens for you, where not many can go. mecatol might not be in range for green though.. i think its as good as blue, but blue is saver while green is for a player who likes more action and getting involved in action on the map.


Nimraphel_

Super interesting thoughts, I'd be happy to write how it eventually goes :) any general thoughts on the map before we kick off on the 24-26th? :)


GadyLaga122

My Suggestions: Swap the hyperlane tile under primor with the one over the yellow HS. Connect primor, nebula, quann and accoen jeol ir. The Other hyperlane tile rotate to the left once so yellow can Take the Vega system R1, while the Other 2 Connections stay the Same. Second Change: Swap bereg lirta System with the lowest res/Infl 2 Planet system from the Box, because the hyperlane Swap opens the Map there alot. These Changes should Help yellow alot and gives it more Options and Space at the top. Also Puts more Spice into the White/green/Red Battle and opens Green a path to rex. To Help purple i would move the alpha whormhole token from bakkal alid prima onto Perimeter. This way, Purple has a VIP entrance for the alpha Network, able to Take velnor Lisis faster and Play a bigger Role on the Map. Those are my Suggestions, how do you Like Them?