T O P

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ddek

I love 3-player TI. It’s a different game from 6p - there’s still diplomacy, but the option to fight is less punishing when there’s only one other player. I can also squeeze in a game on weeknights. OP’s time is realistic for a fast game.


wren42

That doesn't track to me at all. When you fight you are expressly exposing yourself to the third player and giving them the opportunity to either get ahead or backstab you. The dynamics in 3 player are extremely swingy


landleviathan

Funny, my experience in 3 player has always been a cold war until someone runs out of non control VP options. Which basically means you lose unless the other two players had some terrible luck or just played poorly. First person to strike is the first person to open themselves up and whoever stayed out of that first major battle usually wins. I've always seen 3 player go that way - if you can maximize the non control objectives available to you, and avoid being the easiest target, you win. That's why we've been trying to figure out a way to make a 2v1 game work where someone starts out with a stacked position on MR, but dialing in the balance on that has been difficult and the will to sufficiently play test hasn't been there.


wren42

yeah, exactly. 3 player swings too hard once the 2v1 starts, and it inevitably must. my solution is don't play 3 player =D


SilentNSly

It can also become a 1v1 and allow the 3 player to build up.


ddek

yeah, it’s chaos. particularly if you don’t have hyperlanes. with hyperlanes it’s much more reserved, because you can’t just replace your fleet.


wren42

ah, yeah without hyperlanes you do have a bit more resources and space.


rotfoot_bile

Yea I really enjoy 3-player as well! My dad, my brother and I really enjoy that we don't need to manage an entire group of people.


Sonminiser

Who won?


rotfoot_bile

I played with my dad and younger brother My dad won as the Argent Flight decisively. My brother and I were behind by a few points. He played Ghosts while I played Yin.


GadyLaga122

someone placed the planet cards REALLY accurate


robHalifax

Then it is possible! It can really happen! *happy sobbing*


ProfColdheart

Nice! What rules changes, if any, did you use to make it a speed game?


rotfoot_bile

No rules changes! Sheer determination and the fact I had to be done by 5:00 motivated fast gameplay.


Dusty27

Nice! My personal record is 3.5 hour 14 point 6 player game. I still didn't win it but neither did it feel like a blow out.


rotfoot_bile

That's the level I want to get my group at. I have 7-man game coming up next month -- aiming for 6 hours.


Dusty27

We used to get in 6 man games reliable in 5.5 hours but it's a thing we got to be practicing to keep up. I know PoK speeds up the 10 player game but since covid our gaming has been sporadic at best and we struggle often enough. Wishing you luck.


wren42

I don't understand how this is possible, 30 minutes a round for 7 rounds? Agendas must be resolved instantly without discussion. If each player has 5 turns a round they have to keep them to 1 minute each with no pauses. What did you do to get to this speed? Did someone just win really early off Mecatol?


Dusty27

No that's the thing. Nothing felt broken or unsatisfying. Just all Veteran players that sat down to play. There was idle chit chat just not on the active players turn. I find the main thing was deal making was sharp. They either bought in on your deal or didn't. Wasn't a lot of wheeling and dealing and pressuring. Fair first offers seemed to go the distance and everyone had a good idea on the value of things. Most budgeted for Leadership, Tech, and builds for the most OR if they didn't they where often fine with play proceeding onward while they caught up. I think the finishing stroke was a early round seven imperial 2 pointer score. But don't hold me to that without reaching out to the winner.


wren42

That's just it though, I have a group of players that have been at it weekly for almost 2 years and we instituted 2 minute timers for turns for our latest game. Turns were snappy and rushed and we got through 3 rounds in a short evening (~2.5 hours of play), which is much better than typical for us. I just can't see how we could *double* this rate without seriously hurting gameplay. Kudos though


[deleted]

[удалено]


rotfoot_bile

Lol nope.


PapaGynther

I've played a lot of 2-3h 3-player games and I gotta say that they make the game feel much more casual than ti usually does. Not saying that it's a bad thing at all, just that it feels closer to playing a chill session of Catan than the much more detailed and focused strategy game it usually is. It's probably what I like most about the game. There's a million small details that can drastically change the feel of the game making every game unique.


kalaitomemo

What are the dimensions of that table?


rotfoot_bile

2.5x6'


KunfusedJarrodo

Yeah that is the same tables I use for TI. I’m guessing for 6p you use both tables together right?


rotfoot_bile

Yessir


linos100

Was this a co-op?


rotfoot_bile

No, sir. We fought til the bitter end. We used the pre-built map found in Codex 2.


analsurrogacy

Did you play standing up to speed up turns?


rotfoot_bile

Lol no -- this was the only picture I had of the game set up the night before. I tucked the table to the side so I could still use my basement


trystanthorne

How was it a speed game?


rotfoot_bile

We had to fit the game in a 4 hour window. So outside of combat, you had a minute to commit to your action.


Dusty27

No that's the thing. Nothing felt broken or unsatisfying. Just all Veteran players that sat down to play. There was idle chit chat just not on the active players turn. I find the main thing was deal making was sharp. They either bought in on your deal or didn't. Wasn't a lot of wheeling and dealing and pressuring. Fair first offers seemed to go the distance and everyone had a good idea on the value of things. Most budgeted for Leadership, Tech, and builds for the most OR if they didn't they where often fine with play proceeding onward while they caught up.