HF4A 50 - My First Colony (5)

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I had a pretty good day at work, so decided to get a game of High Frontier in, a short game, My First Colony. I was feeling pretty good, figured I'd whip it out pretty fast.

As it turned out, I get whipped hard.

I went for Venus, which is actually a hard target. When that Mini-mag RF Paul Trap reactor comes up, I have a hard time resisting. It needs no supports, and masses just one, but it does need a 2 ISRU robonaut, most of which are heavy and require a lot of support.

I made a fatal error by moving to LVO without enough fuel to make the lander burn. Venus is 4 burns away, not 3. So I tried to cycle the patent decks for a sail, which I succeeded in doing, then got caught at LVO in Solar Flares with a roll of 6, which decommissioned my whole, 13 mass stack. I called the game there.

Turns follow.

Turn 1

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Delegate to Equality, Active Law to Equality.
  • Starting Aqua: 8
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 9
  • Active Law: Centrist
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Crew is United Nations Cosmonauts. This crew can get to Mars on the first turn as they start with 2 extra Aqua. However, with 4 ISRU, it doesn't get the most useful Arisa Mons Caves. Game started at 5:13pm after a 6:24 setup.

Patent decks look good, with Free Electron Laser top robonaut. But Inspiration strikes, that's that.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 2

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Delegate to Authority.
  • Starting Aqua: 9
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 10
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Turn 3

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Neutral Beam, Solar Stirling
  • Starting Aqua: 10
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 8
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Some absolute crap patents.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 4

  • Current hand: Neutral Beam, Solar Stirling
  • Operation: Research: Rock Splitter, Rankine Solar Dynamic
  • Starting Aqua: 8
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 6
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Turn 5

  • Current hand: Neutral Beam, Solar Stirling, Rock Splitter, Rankine Solar Dynamic
  • Operation: Free Market: Solar Stirling
  • Starting Aqua: 6
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 9
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Event: Inspiration. Dang

Turn 6

  • Current hand: Neutral Beam, Rock Splitter, Rankine Solar Dynamic
  • Operation: Research: Mini-mag RF Paul Trap
  • Starting Aqua: 9
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 8
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: This is a 1 mass X reactor with no support requirements which provides -2 ISRU at Aerostat sites. In particular, Venus in the early game.

Turn 7

  • Current hand: Neutral Beam, Rock Splitter, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Minimag RF Paul Trap
  • Operation: Free Market: Rock Splitter.
  • Starting Aqua: 8
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 11
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Venus is close by.

Event: Glitch, no effect.

Turn 8

  • Current hand: Neutral Beam, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Minimag RF Paul Trap
  • Operation: Research: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Super Critical Water Fission
  • Starting Aqua: 11
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 9
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Turn 9

  • Current hand: Neutral Beam, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Minimag RF Paul Trap, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Supercritical Water Fission.
  • Operation: Boost: Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.
  • Starting Aqua: 9
  • Net Δ Aqua: -4
  • Ending Aqua: 5
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: Gonna be a heavy rocket.

Event: Solar Flares, no effect.

Turn 10

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic
  • Operation: Research: H2O2 Fuel Cell, Project Orion
  • Starting Aqua: 5
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: Need to cycle some patents to get to the stuff I need.

Turn 11

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, H2O2 Fuel Cell, Project Orion
  • Operation: Research: Marx Capacitor Bank
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: A lucky Inspiration roll to be sure.

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 12

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, H2O2 Fuel Cell, Project Orion, Marx Capacitor
  • Operation: Research: SS/NaK Pumped Loop
  • Free Actions:
    • Discard: H2O2 Fuel Cell
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: Now all I need is a refinery and its off to the races. After generating enough Aqua to boost and fly of course.

Turn 13

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Project Orion, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Freedom
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: I'll lobby Freedom to raise Aqua

Event: Inspiration

Turn 14

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Project Orion, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop
  • Operation: Free Market: Project Orion
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 5
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Turn 15

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop
  • Operation: Research: Magma Electrolysis
  • Starting Aqua: 5
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: Dang. This is unusual to roll this many 1s and 2s. This same dice once rolled mostly 4s in one game.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 16

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Magma Electrolysis
  • Operation: Boost: Magma Electrolysis
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: This rocket is insanely heavy, I'm going to need at least 18 Aqua to get to Venus safely.

Turn 17

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Active Law to Freedom
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Time to grind for some aqua

Event: Inspiration!

Turn 18

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop
  • Operation: Research: Ponderomotive VASIMIR
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: This will get me a marginally lighter rocket, albeit with reduced thrust.

Turn 19

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR
  • Operation: Free Market: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Supercritical Water Fission
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 8
  • Ending Aqua: 9
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle

Notes: Bah.

Event: Pad Explosion, lobby Centrist

Turn 20

  • Current hand: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis
  • Operation: Boost: Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis
  • Starting Aqua: 9
  • Net Δ Aqua: -9
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Get it all to LEO.

Turn 21

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Centrist
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR

Event: Pad Explosion, lobby Centrist

Turn 22

  • Current hand: Magma Electrolysis
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Delegate to Authority.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR

Notes: Grind away.

Turn 23

  • Current hand: Magma Electrolysis
  • Operation: Boost: Magma Electrolysis
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: build rocket.
    • Internal Tankage: 1 FT.
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Hopefully I can get enough fuel to get to the Cycler before another Pad explosion.

I'm 1 hour into this game.

Event: Glitch, no effect.

Turn 24

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Nuclear Drill
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Turn 25

  • Current hand: Nuclear Drill
  • Operation: Free Market: Nuclear Drill
  • Free Actions:
    • Internal Tankage: 3FT
  • Movement: * Make 1 burn to cycler.
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Pad Explosions can FOAD.

Event: Glitch, no effect

Turn 26

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: swap to Crew
  • Movement: * Move to rad belt.
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Crawling along

Turn 27

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: swap to thruster
  • Movement: Move to LVO
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Fund Raise because I do not want to get caught by Budget Cuts. At this point, I could take some huge risks and don't pay FINAO, in which case I'd have a colony…oops, I forgot there was a lander burn at Venus Aerostat. I've burnt all my fuel. FML.

Event: Budget Cuts, lobby Authority to cycle the decks.

Turn 28

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Authority.
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: Looking for a sail.

Turn 29

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Dumbo
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Event: Budget Cuts, Dumbo is discarded

Turn 30

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Photon Heliogyra
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: I'm getting tired of this game, I'm not going to pay FINAO.

Turn 31

  • Current hand: Photon Heliogyra
  • Operation: Fund Raise
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Neutral Beam, Mini-mag RF Paul Trap, Supercritical Water Fission, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rankine Solar Dynamic, Marx Capacitor, SS/NaK Pumped Loop, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Magma Electrolysis

Notes: A lot to work through here. This was a weeknight game, and one I was hoping to finish very quickly. And as usual, just made everything worse. The main thing I could have done was stayed at the Cycler until I had enough fuel and FINAO. That would have protected the ship from both Solar Flares and Pad Explosions.

Time now is 6:38 pm. Tear down time: 4:32. Write up time: 14:04.

Event: Solar Flares, roll 6, entire stack is decommissioned, and I'm calling the game here.

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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.