HF4A 43 - My First Colony (1)

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Some backstory…

My First Claim, a cheesy name to be sure, but a useful game play variant. The idea is to establish a claim as fast as possible. As will be discussed below, I'm played this variant solitaire 15 times now.

I've got 5 plays of My First Claim using a free (no cost) boosting Free Action, and I've used it in longer games as well. It really smooths out the early game when it's a real struggle to get something flyable on the map. My experience with full cost boosting (10 plays) as an operation is with solitaire playing, and it's both exceedingly boring, and has the capability of drawing out games far beyond their welcome. In one instance, a combination of Pad Explosions and Budget Cuts resulted in requiring 51 turns to successfully claim. This is really not fun in solitaire, and if it was a competitive game, I probably would have conceded the game to other players somewhere after turn 36. Also, this was Core without Module 0.

I'm a lot more experienced a player now, and I suspect a 56 turn debacle wouldn't happen now, but I could still see it going 12 - 18 turns past my interest level while trying to balance hand limit, pad explosions, and budget cuts. That's almost a sub game in itself, and might be worth playing, but I don't find it that interesting. Note that this is coming from someone who does full 20 year mission planning in Leaving Earth - on Google Sheets - before spending a single dollar.

So what to do…

First, I'm shifting gears to "My First Colony." Claims are nice, factories and colonies are nicer.

Now, the goal is establishing a colony in as few turns as possible.

Since free (i.e., no-cost) boosting as a Free Action is just a little too easy, I'm leaning towards relaxing hand limits in solitaire play. That way, if I have to grind for Aqua to pay for boost and FT, I get a chance to mill the patent decks a bit more. It's not about building the most optimal rocket, it's about finding a balance between the cost to boost and fuel and the speed at which the rocket can start prospecting against the risks of pad explosions and budget cuts.

I'm going to play the first game in this series by the Rules As Printed. We'll see how long it takes.

Turn 1

  • Current hand:
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Authority, Active Law to Equality.
  • Starting Aqua: 6
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Crew is Anonymous P2P with the 3 cost FINAO.

Event: Glitch for no effect.

Turn 2

  • Current hand:
  • Operation: Research: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 5
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: These are pretty good patents, albeit heavy, a good start to the game.

Turn 3

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak
  • Operation: Research: MET Steamer, Catalyzed Fission Scintillator
  • Starting Aqua: 5
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Not ideal, but workable,

Event: Pad Explosion no effect.

Turn 4

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Catalyzed Fusion Scintillator
  • Operation: Free Market: Catalyzed Fusion Scintillator
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 6
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: There are better generators.

Turn 5

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer
  • Operation: Research: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube
  • Starting Aqua: 6
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Now I need a refinery and generator. I'm in a bind with 5 cards in my hand.

Event: Pad Explosion no effect

Turn 6

  • Current hand: MET Steamer, Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate and Active Law to Individuality.
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak

Notes: I'm going to grind this using the Rules As Printed.

Turn 7

  • Current hand: MET Steamer, Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Centrist
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak

Event: Glitch for no effect.

Turn 8

  • Current hand: MET Steamer, Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube
  • Operation: Research: ISRU Sabatier, Ericsson Engine
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak

Notes: Mistake, can only get one card.

Turn 9

  • Current hand: MET Steamer, Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier, Ericsson Engine
  • Operation: Free Market: Ericsson Engine
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak

Notes: Grind.

Event: Solar Flares, no effect

Turn 10

  • Current hand: MET Steamer, Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Research: Electroforming, Photon Tether Rectenna
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: MET Steamer
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer

Notes: Mistake, can only get one card.

Turn 11

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier, Electoforming, Photon Tether Rectenna
  • Operation: Free Market: Electroforming.
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: Photon Tether Rectenna
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 5
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Notes: Grind grind.

Event: Anarchy

Turn 12

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Research: Li Heatsink Fountain
  • Starting Aqua: 5
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Turn 13

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier, Li Heatsink Fountain
  • Operation: Free Market: Li Heatsink Fountain
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Notes: Grind grind grind.

Event: Anarchy

Turn 14

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Research: Ti/K Heat Pipe
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 6
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Turn 15

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier, Ti/K Heat Pipe.
  • Operation: Free Market: Ti/K Heat Pipe
  • Starting Aqua: 6
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 9
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Event: Inspiration

Turn 16

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Research: Ether Charged Dust
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: Ether Charged Dust
    • Cargo Transfer: build the rocket to go to Lutetia.
    • Internal Tankage: 4 FT.
  • Movement: Move to Lutetia hohmann for landing next turn, with thrust 6 belt roll passes automatically.
  • Starting Aqua: 9
  • Net Δ Aqua: -7
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna, Ether Charged Dust

Notes: Going to Lutetia because I have some pretty good M cards.

Turn 17

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Prospect: roll 5, Lutetia busted.
  • Movement: Land on Lutetia.
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna, Ether Charged Dust

Event: Budget Cuts, lobby Authority for Inspiration, I need the extra Aqua.

Turn 18

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: In Situ Refuel
  • Free Actions:
    • Internal Tankage: 1 FT
  • Movement: Move to Lutetia hohmann
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna, Ether Charged Dust

Notes: Grind.

Turn 19

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, Salt-cooled Reflux Tube, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Free Market: Salt-cooled Reflux Tube
  • Movement: Move to Hygiea hohmann and hope that Solar Flares don't hit
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna, Ether Charged Dust

Event: Pad Explosion no effect

Turn 20

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Prospect: roll 3, Hygiea claimed
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: Outpost 1 for robonaut and generator
  • Movement: Land on Hygiea.
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, Ether Charged Dust
  • Freighter:
  • Kalpana:
  • Stanford:
  • Outpost 1: Crew, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Notes: Now to get the refinery out there to industrialize. Actually, the whole rocket is there with the crew, no glitch will apply.

Turn 21

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: In Situ Refuel
  • Free Actions:
    • Internal Tankage: 1 FT
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, Ether Charged Dust
  • Freighter:
  • Kalpana:
  • Stanford:
  • Outpost 1: Crew, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Notes: Grind.

Event: Solar Flares

Turn 22

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: In Situ Refuel
  • Free Actions:
    • Internal Tankage: 1 FT
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, Ether Charged Dust
  • Freighter:
  • Kalpana:
  • Stanford:
  • Outpost 1: Crew, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Notes: Mistake here: The MET Steamer is ISRU 2, and Hygiea is ISRU 3, so I should have been In Situ Refueling at 2 Aqua per turn, not one. That would have put me back at LEO this turn.

Turn 23

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: In Situ Refuel
  • Free Actions:
    • Internal Tankage: 1 FT
  • Movement: Move to LEO.
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, Ether Charged Dust
  • Freighter:
  • Kalpana:
  • Stanford:
  • Outpost 1: Crew, MET Steamer, Photon Tether Rectenna

Notes: This whole turn was a time waster due to the ISRU refuel mistake on the previous turn.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 24

  • Current hand: Solar-pumped Exciplex, ISRU Sabatier
  • Operation: Free Market: Exciplex
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: ISRU Sabatier
    • Internal Tankage: 3 FT
  • Movement: Move to Hygiea hohmann
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law:
  • Score: 0
  • LEO:
  • Rocket: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, D-T Fusion Tokamak, Ether Charged Dust, ISRU Sabatier

Notes: Not that bad, just used up a bunch of turns refueling.

Turn 25

  • Current hand:
  • Operation: Industrialize: Hygiea. Decommission MET Steamer, ISRU Sabatier, and Photon Tether Rectenna back to hand.
  • Free Actions:
    • Colonize: Hygiea
  • Movement: Land on Hygiea
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law:
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: This is actually really cool because industrializing did not require any thruster components. So I could now ET Produce the robonaut, which turns into an ISRU 1 buggy, which is absolutely perfect for the asteroid belt. This stack might be a viable pre-built stack. It's a bit heavy, but two trips worked out fine for me.

Event: Glitch no effect

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What to play next?

Deciding what to play next is always a tough call when faced with a closet full of games, all of which were purchased with intent to play. Here's one I'm dealing with the decision.

  • Something New: this means both something new to me and a game which has been published recently, within the last two or three years.
  • Something Classic: I've acquired a number of games properly considered "classic" which haven't yet been played. The current example would be PanzerGruppe Guderian.
  • Something Again: mastery requires constant practice, which means playing games many, many times to allow nuance to appear.
  • Something Vietnam: as I'm on a Vietnam binge. I don't have all the Vietnam games ever published, but I can say that I have a lot of them, and probably more than most people.
  • Something Obscure: as it's fun to poke around in the dustier corners of game design.
  • Something Different: break away from the same old publishers and try a game from one of the new kids on the block. Or, conversely, dip into legacy with a classic tried and true.
  • Something Light: once in a while it's nice to actually finish a game all the way through in one sitting, in an hour or two.
  • Something Heavy: if possible, it's nice to set up something big and complicated which can be left out for days or weeks or even months, for a leisurely stroll through a very large or long game.

There are surely many more ways to choose, but the above method keeps me busy enough, helps me get both breadth and depth into my play, and provides me with a sense of progress.

The odd man out

When there is an odd man out:

  • Have a solo game ready to play.
  • Keep score or advise on a game in progress.
  • Referee a game in progress.