I’m fine with either way. The surprise keeps things interesting, but also can end a game abruptly just as things are getting exciting…
As far as objectives go, how will the deck be made? As in are we using objectives from the base game and the expansion shuffled together?
Well, I guess that not so much a GM decision but a group one. Something else to think about. Personally It doesn’t really matter to me. Someone told me you have to use one or the other, I don’t know if that is a rule, I’ll double check.
Ok
SE rulebook page 9, section labeled Option 3: Variant Objectives says if your using the Shattered Empire ones, you shouldn’t use the original ones. I have already placed 1 Shattered Empire one, so I will stay with that deck.
I thought I proposed on the first page of this forum that we use variant objectives (i.e. SE ones) and since nobody objected, I assumed that’s what we are doing. But, going back, it appears that for some reason I neglected to specify which objectives we were to use. In any case, it looks like all’s good now.
By the way, let me remind that you guys have all signed up to play with no house rules, see first page of this forum 
. (Even though our current map is not an official preset map – but I’ve let that one go ). As JP mentioned, the rules are clear. No mixing of objectives. There is some overlap between base and SE objectives, and I think this rule is there to make sure we don’t have two very similar objectives. The rules are equally clear that Imperium Rex is always to be included. I like IR it because I think it increases the strategy space. Otherwise I think the strategy of “set yourself up to reach 9 points in a big final swoop” will typically dominate all others. It also enables players with a weaker civilization to still have a shot (as long as they are doing ok on points) and keeps players with a strong one on their toes if they don’t have a strong points lead.
Edit: this reminds me – the rules “recommend” playing up to 9 points instead of 10 if using the Bureaucracy card, but we haven’t decided that that’s what we are doing. JP, want to make a ruling?
I’ll add the Imperium Rex card. Its not a big deal. I thought we did agree on objective decks, but then you kept asking me how I was setting them up.
My problem with the Imperium Rex card is it means that the game will end in 6-9 turns.
Since we are playing with artifacts and preliminary objectives, I don’t think its necessary to end the game at 9 points. I think these easily counterbalance the getting 2 points just for taking Imperial.
Just a reminder about the 24-hour turn limit. Either complete your turn within 24 hours of the announcement that you’re up, or state that you need an extension. (In particular, N’orr – Tuna Dude, your 24-hour limit expires in less then 4 hours).
Done. I placed an artifact on the board, I’m not sure if I was meant to but I thought I might as well.
[size=200]Ghosts of Creuss Up[/size]
Done. I just looked for the Slave Worm Hole Generator token. Where is it?
[size=200]Arborec is up[/size]
Thanks, Creuss.
What about an artifact?
It’s in the nexus.
Done. I hope I didnt forget anything.
[size=200]MENTAK UP[/size]
[quote=“shaunm”]
Done. I just looked for the Slave Worm Hole Generator token. Where is it?
This will be in the new update.
Ok board should be ready for strategy phase. We can just post those on the forums, and have no log files (not really a point.)
Naalu posted they are taking Tech so
[size=200]SAAR UP[/size]
Thanks, JP.
Please double-check that there are a total of 5 stage II objectives (including IR), as per p. 9 of SE rules. If I understand your log file correctly, there are only 4 stage II objectives currently in our deck. (Edit: if this is so, is it possible to go back to the logile and click a few “undos” instead of redoing the DC placements?)
I will take Diplomacy II please.
[size=200]N’orr up[/size] (to pick his strategy, no need to upload a new logfile)
I can go back and fix it without having to redo distant sun counters. I think i can draw the first 5 cards of the deck and set them aside, add a stage 2 objective, shuffle again and put the 5 cards back on top.
Hmm, if you can somehow do it w/o seeing the objectives, then of course this is the way to do it.
(However, I thought they are one of those type of cards that flip faceup as soon as you draw them. If this is indeed so, then one alternative is to put the stage I objectives back in the original draw pile, insert a stage II objective, shuffle, and then draw 5 new stage I objectives. Another alternative is just to wait till someone is about to draw a stage II objective, and take care of things then.)
Production
[size=200]Creuss Up[/size]
By the way, I don’t think we had a final consolidated list of options after everyone’s votes were in. So, I thought I’d compile one, especially since the old list was apparently missing a key item (variant objectives, i.e. SE objectives), and perhaps there are other things still missing. Also, I don’t remember us coming to a conclusion about whether secret PMs are allowed, and if so, whether they should be announced. Anyway, here it goes, hopefully I got everything right (apologies if I didn’t), please review and correct if necessary:
a. Strategy cards:
Variant strategy cards (white)
Mercenaries (trade III)
Political intrigue (Assembly II)
b. Objective options:
Variant objectives (i.e. SE)
Artifacts
Preliminary objectives
Homeworlds
c. Tile variations:
Territorial distant suns
The final frontier
Wormhole nexus
Custodians of Mecatol Rex
d. Player abilities:
Leaders
Race-Specific techs
Shock troops
Space mines
Facilities
Flagships
Mechanized units
e. Battle options:
Tactical retreats
Sabotage runs
Secrecy rules: JP, want to make a ruling? Should we go with how they did it in the other game? (From what I can gather they are using the “secret PMs allowed, but need to be publicly announced” rule.)
On an unrelated note, I was surprised that some people were saying Voice of the Council did not have an effect on their game. (I’m not suggesting that we evisit that vote, just talking general strategy for the fun of it. I see two reasons for it. One is that it of course can give the player in the back a slight boost, which I usually consider a good thing in games. However, I think that the idea that it will always go to the back player is wrong. A player who can successfully stall until everybody has exhausted their planets before calling the VoC vote can get a VP. I was trying to do that as Yssaril once, and it was quite fun.
The idea of secret messages being public are stupid. I don’t care if you want talk behind each others back. The only advantage in a f2f game is that you know which races are talking to each other. Exchange of promissory notes are public, though you don’t know which ones. A strong element of this game is knowing how to play your opponents. That means saying one thing and doing another.
On that note, anything that is exchanged MUST be made public such as trade goods and such. Because those are visual actions that effect the board. Always assume your enemy is against you.
Rules have already been voted on. This was last count.
Territorial Distant suns:
YES: 1 (Rus)
NO: 1 (Zilfalon)
Don’t care: 3 (AbsoluteZero, Shaun,TunaDude)
I broke tie for yes
Final Frontier:
YES: 1 (Rus)
NO: 1 (Zilfalon)
Don’t care:3 (AbsoluteZero, Shaun, TunaDude)
I broke tie for yes
Voice of the Council
YES: 1 (Rus)
NO: 4(Zilfalon, AbsoluteZero, Shaun, TunaDude) Never played with it, but never seen the point in it.
Space Mines
YES: 5 (Rus, Zilfalon, AbsoluteZero, Shaun, TunaDude)
NO: 0
Facilities
YES: 5 (Rus, Zilfalon, AbsoluteZero, Shaun, TunaDude)
NO: 0
Tactical retreats
YES: 3 (Rus, AbsoluteZero,TunaDude)
NO: 0
Don’t care: 2 (Zilfalon, Shaun)
Sabotage runs
YES: 4 (Rus, AbsoluteZero, Shaun, TunaDude)
NO: 1 (Zilfalon)
We don’t need to vote on this again. Like I said I was a little confused about public objectives because you kept asking me how I was going to do them.
Ok, thanks for the secrecy ruling.
Regarding the vote as you can see it does not list all the options. My intent was to consolidate the vote with everything else. Also, some people reversed their vote after this was cast (in particular regarding distant suns and final frontier, causing those to pass.)
I did have one change I’ve been thinking about. The ion storm/empty system near the Arobrec homeworld, and changing it with a planet tile near the mentak system. I should have been paying a little more attention to this when I made the board. I will make the change if most players agree. SInce I am the mentak, I don’t mind that this hurts me, and should give the arborec a little more of a fighting chance.