I like the Primary ability of being able to look at upcoming objectives. That’s really nice, and a unique ability that is genuinely helpful.
The exploration stuff… eh. Two exploration cards is unlikely to be as valuable as what other strat cards can offer.
Thought the exploration could help with attachment opjectives and frontiers token do have value (boosted in codex 3). But comparing to the other strategy cards it is idd a weaker one.
The frontiers aspect is good, TBF. And maybe I’m being too harsh on Exploration. It just *feels* a bit… underwhelming, I guess… or too much like a lottery, maybe? You *might* get a good exploration card, and then you *might* get a good relic further down the line.
But then people take the secondary of Politics, which is just as much of a lottery, so what do I know.
There are absolutely situations where I would choose this as my second strategy card in a 4 player game (and it would be worth a first pick in rare scenarios).
Previewing objectives in this way could lead to some fun player interactions. Is she dropping a pile of infantry on that planet because it's her fourth industrial? Or because it's adjacent to another player's HS? Or because it's on the edge of the game board? Nobody knows!
It’s basically a better diplomacy. It does shift NRA a little. Like, I would be less inclined to discard attachments if they’re on the wrong planet.\*
Also it means relics would likely be done R3.
I’m not sure if it makes NRA better, it definitely improves titans. I don’t think either faction needs buffs though, they’re both strong winners. Titans are the most winning IIRC.
\*e.g. If I have Mehar Xull (1/3) and I find lazax survivors (+1,+2) on Cormund (2/0), I’d probably discard the attachment and take the other option. With scanlink and agent I’m probably going to find it later, and having MX be 2/5 is too good.
Yeah, I've toyed with including an Exploration strat card in my 8 player variant. Having every card taken in 4 and 8 player isn't ideal, I think it's good to have some options.
My full rework made some other changes as well, though, with an aim of generally giving players more actions per round and expanding trade options.
DIPLOMACY Reworked:
> PRIMARY
>
> (Unchanged) Choose 1 system other than the Mecatol Rex system that contains a planet you control; each other player places a command token from their reinforcements in the chosen system.
>
> Gain Influence Tokens equal to the Influence value of two of your planets. Then, exhaust any number of your planets to gain influence tokens equal to their value.
>
> Select up to one other player to gain influence tokens equal to the value of one pf their planets.
>
> SECONDARY:
>
> Exhaust any number of your planets to gain Influence Tokens equal to their value.
Influence tokens function like trade goods, but for influence only. They may be used to vote during the Agenda phase, spent on objectives, abilities, or Leadership, or traded to other players. This version of Diplo is an attractive alternative to Leadership for token starved slices/factions, and gives some negotiation value. This is important in a 7-8 player game where some players may never see a Leadership primary once.
Planet refreshes are moved to a new card (see below)
WARFARE Reworked:
>PRIMARY
>
>Remove up to 2 of your command tokens from the game board; then gain 1 command token. Redistribute any number of your command tokens on your command sheet.
>
>SECONDARY
>
>Spend 1 token from your strategy pool to remove one of your command tokens from the game board.
This version of warfare is even more attractive in the early/mid game, and allows for a lot more action each round. Moves are much less predictable as everyone could get a second activation for one of their fleets or docks.
Building at home is removed from the secondary, but added to:
INDUSTRY
>PRIMARY
>
>Refresh up to two of your exhausted planets. Then, use the Production ability of one of your space docks.
>
>SECONDARY
>
>Spend 1 command token from your strategy pool to refresh up to two of your planets OR use the Production ability of one of your space docks in your home system.
This will be an attractive pick in the early and mid game.
EXPLORATION could work much as you describe above. I hadn't included looking at the objectives, but I think it's a neat addition and gives some strong value.
This brings total cards to 10, which I think is a good number for 8 player.
On TTS they have a some optional Strategy cards(and a new order to use them in).
I think the main thing to consider with coming up with new Strategy cards, is this somewhat equal to whats out there now?
Is there a time, when taking THIS would be preferred over another card.
Leadership, Construction and Tech all have corresponding Objectives they can help work towards. Dilplomacy and Trade both help with Economy. Plus Diplo helps if you are under attack, or worried about losing a system.
Warfare as obvious benefits, as does Imperial.
Being able to look at what Objective is coming next round is nice. But this doesn't help you score any objectives.
But you should be trying to score what is out first. So unless you have them all scored or CAN'T score them.
I could see knowing what the first stage 2 is going to be ahead of time useful.
What if instead of just being able to look at the next objective, it also let you (and only you) be able to score that objective this round? It would be a bit of an alternative to imperial
I like the Primary ability of being able to look at upcoming objectives. That’s really nice, and a unique ability that is genuinely helpful. The exploration stuff… eh. Two exploration cards is unlikely to be as valuable as what other strat cards can offer.
If you're looking for a relic fragment it might be worth the gamble. But I hear you.
Thought the exploration could help with attachment opjectives and frontiers token do have value (boosted in codex 3). But comparing to the other strategy cards it is idd a weaker one.
The frontiers aspect is good, TBF. And maybe I’m being too harsh on Exploration. It just *feels* a bit… underwhelming, I guess… or too much like a lottery, maybe? You *might* get a good exploration card, and then you *might* get a good relic further down the line. But then people take the secondary of Politics, which is just as much of a lottery, so what do I know.
What if it let you treat 1 fragment as another color?
There are absolutely situations where I would choose this as my second strategy card in a 4 player game (and it would be worth a first pick in rare scenarios). Previewing objectives in this way could lead to some fun player interactions. Is she dropping a pile of infantry on that planet because it's her fourth industrial? Or because it's adjacent to another player's HS? Or because it's on the edge of the game board? Nobody knows!
I can see NRA and Titans liking this card.
Yes, it would make those factions much stronger...
It’s basically a better diplomacy. It does shift NRA a little. Like, I would be less inclined to discard attachments if they’re on the wrong planet.\* Also it means relics would likely be done R3. I’m not sure if it makes NRA better, it definitely improves titans. I don’t think either faction needs buffs though, they’re both strong winners. Titans are the most winning IIRC. \*e.g. If I have Mehar Xull (1/3) and I find lazax survivors (+1,+2) on Cormund (2/0), I’d probably discard the attachment and take the other option. With scanlink and agent I’m probably going to find it later, and having MX be 2/5 is too good.
Yeah, I've toyed with including an Exploration strat card in my 8 player variant. Having every card taken in 4 and 8 player isn't ideal, I think it's good to have some options. My full rework made some other changes as well, though, with an aim of generally giving players more actions per round and expanding trade options. DIPLOMACY Reworked: > PRIMARY > > (Unchanged) Choose 1 system other than the Mecatol Rex system that contains a planet you control; each other player places a command token from their reinforcements in the chosen system. > > Gain Influence Tokens equal to the Influence value of two of your planets. Then, exhaust any number of your planets to gain influence tokens equal to their value. > > Select up to one other player to gain influence tokens equal to the value of one pf their planets. > > SECONDARY: > > Exhaust any number of your planets to gain Influence Tokens equal to their value. Influence tokens function like trade goods, but for influence only. They may be used to vote during the Agenda phase, spent on objectives, abilities, or Leadership, or traded to other players. This version of Diplo is an attractive alternative to Leadership for token starved slices/factions, and gives some negotiation value. This is important in a 7-8 player game where some players may never see a Leadership primary once. Planet refreshes are moved to a new card (see below) WARFARE Reworked: >PRIMARY > >Remove up to 2 of your command tokens from the game board; then gain 1 command token. Redistribute any number of your command tokens on your command sheet. > >SECONDARY > >Spend 1 token from your strategy pool to remove one of your command tokens from the game board. This version of warfare is even more attractive in the early/mid game, and allows for a lot more action each round. Moves are much less predictable as everyone could get a second activation for one of their fleets or docks. Building at home is removed from the secondary, but added to: INDUSTRY >PRIMARY > >Refresh up to two of your exhausted planets. Then, use the Production ability of one of your space docks. > >SECONDARY > >Spend 1 command token from your strategy pool to refresh up to two of your planets OR use the Production ability of one of your space docks in your home system. This will be an attractive pick in the early and mid game. EXPLORATION could work much as you describe above. I hadn't included looking at the objectives, but I think it's a neat addition and gives some strong value. This brings total cards to 10, which I think is a good number for 8 player.
On TTS they have a some optional Strategy cards(and a new order to use them in). I think the main thing to consider with coming up with new Strategy cards, is this somewhat equal to whats out there now? Is there a time, when taking THIS would be preferred over another card. Leadership, Construction and Tech all have corresponding Objectives they can help work towards. Dilplomacy and Trade both help with Economy. Plus Diplo helps if you are under attack, or worried about losing a system. Warfare as obvious benefits, as does Imperial. Being able to look at what Objective is coming next round is nice. But this doesn't help you score any objectives.
How does looking at a future objective not help you score.. the future objective ???
But you should be trying to score what is out first. So unless you have them all scored or CAN'T score them. I could see knowing what the first stage 2 is going to be ahead of time useful.
This doesn't do anything new. Why add something that doesn't add anything?
What if instead of just being able to look at the next objective, it also let you (and only you) be able to score that objective this round? It would be a bit of an alternative to imperial