HF4A 51 - My First Colony (6)

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I was hoping to play a futures game today, but I just didn't really have the time or energy. So I played My First Colony for a 6th game. This game went pretty well, finishing in 24 turns or exactly 2 cycles. That seems to be about average for getting that first colony down. I'd like to get it down to say, 18 turns. The 24 turns here was likely related to making two trips, it was really, really heavy for a single trip, but it might still have been faster in one trip.

Turn 1

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

Notes: Crew is Anonymous P2P. The patent decks are pointing me at Hertha or Vesta.

Event: Anarchy

Turn 2

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Turn 3

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum
  • Operation: Research: Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, Steel/Pb-Bi Pumped Loop
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: This is enough to prospect, and this stack is going to be a two-trip stack anyway.

Event: Glitch

Turn 4

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, Steel/Pb-Bi Pumped Loop
  • Operation: Free Market: Steel/Pb-Bi Pumped Loop
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 10
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Turn 5

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser
  • Operation: Research: ETHER Charged Dust
  • Starting Aqua: 10
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 9
  • Active Law: Centrist
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Lower mass with lower rad hard, no big deal.

Event: Budget Cuts, Lobby Authority for Inspiration.

Turn 6

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Active Law to Equality.
  • Starting Aqua: 9
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 10
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Always good to have the option to control events early in the game.

Turn 7

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Active Law to Individuality.
  • Starting Aqua: 10
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 10
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Event: Inspiration, Lobby Authority to cancel, need the refinery without supports on top.

Turn 8

  • Current hand: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust
  • Operation: Research: CVD Molding
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust
  • Starting Aqua: 10
  • Net Δ Aqua: -7
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust

Notes: M sites are really a better target, will try Herthe instead of Vesta. The CVD Molding has an excellent black capability: -3 DRM claim on colocated S sites

Turn 9

  • Current hand: CVD Molding
  • Operation: Research: Project Orion.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust

Notes: Can't get to Hertha on 3 Aqua without rad belt exposure or Solar Flare risk. Will need more Aqua to deal with Rad belt. I don't need Project Orion, will sell it next turn. Should probably Fund Raise next turn as well.

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 10

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, Project Orion.
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Active Law to Authority
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Authority
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust

Turn 11

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, Project Orion.
  • Operation: Free Market: Project Orion
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: Build rocket.
    • Internal Tankage to fuel.
  • Movement: Move to Cycler.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Authority
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust

Notes: Need Crew to get through Rad Belt.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 12

  • Current hand: CVD Molding.
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Authority
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: Separate Crew and 1 Aqua to Outpost 1
  • Movement: Move to Hohmann at Hertha
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Authority
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Monotomic Plug Nozzle, Rubia Thin Filn Fission Hohlraum, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust
  • Outpost 1: Crew, 1 Aqua

Notes: Crew is hanging out at Rad Belt, will move it back to LEO when I can make it the rocket.

Turn 13

  • Current hand: CVD Molding.
  • Operation: Prospect: Hertha roll 2 claimed, Chaucer roll 3 busted.
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: separate robonaut and radiator as Output 2.
    • Decommission: Monotomic lug Nozzle and Rubbia Thin Film Fission Hohlraum.
  • Movement: Move to Nysa Family barycenter.
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Authority
  • Score: 1
  • Outpost 1: Crew, 1 Aqua
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Notes: Lucky!

Event: Glitch, place on Outpost 2.

Turn 14

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Operation: Research: Hall Effect
  • Movement: Move Crew to LEO.
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Authority
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Notes: Need to get some Aqua. Milling is so boring. Need to move to Equality to get some cards.

Turn 15

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, Hall Effect.
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Delegate and Active Law to Equality.
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Event: Inspiration

Turn 16

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, Hall Effect.
  • Operation: Free Market: Hall Effect
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Turn 17

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Operation: Research: Flywheel Tractor, Ericsson Engine.
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Notes: Lucky rolls.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 18

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, Ericsson Engine, Flywheel Tractor.
  • Operation: Fund Raise: Delegate and Active Law to Freedom
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 5
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Notes: Should have enough next turn to launch, but coming into Solar Season, bummer.

Turn 19

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, Ericsson Engine, Flywheel Tractor.
  • Operation: Free Market: Ericsson Engine, Flywheel Tractor.
  • Starting Aqua: 5
  • Net Δ Aqua: 6
  • Ending Aqua: 11
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 1
  • LEO: Crew
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Event: Solar Flares.

Turn 20

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Operation: Boost: CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: build rocket.
    • Internal Tankage: 4 Fuel.
  • Movement: Move to Cycler.
  • Starting Aqua: 11
  • Net Δ Aqua: -8
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 1
  • Rocket: Crew, CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Notes: If I were playing a long game, I'd pick up the H reactor and H Refinery which are sitting at the top of the patent decks right now. I'd also move if it weren't in Solar Flare season, I can't land in a single move, would be exposed. Then again, I could always Lobby Authority to cancel it. I should do it because it's something I'd do in a competitive game.

Turn 21

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Penning Trap, Supercritical Drying
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: change to Crew thruster
  • Movement: Move to Rad Belt.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 1
  • Rocket: Crew, CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Notes: Bummer, there were a couple of really good reactor and refineries on top, but I would have lost some components for sure.

Event: Solar Flares, cancel with Lobby in favor of inspiration.

Turn 22

  • Current hand: Penning Trap, Supercritical Drying
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Authority
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: change to Monotomic Plug Nozzle.
  • Movement: Move to Hohmann at Hertha.
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 1
  • Rocket: Crew, CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Outpost 2: ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua

Turn 23

  • Current hand: Penning Trap, Supercritical Drying
  • Operation: Free Market: Penning Trap, Supercritical Drying.
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: pick up radiator and robonaut
    • Remove glitch
  • Movement: Move to Nysa Family barycenter
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 6
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 1
  • Rocket: Crew, CVD Molding, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, ETHER Charged Dust, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser, 1 Aqua.

Notes: If I didn't have the stupid glitch, this turn would be the game.

Event: Inspiration

Turn 24

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Industrialize: Factory on Hertha, decommission CVD Molding, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser.
  • Free Actions:
    • Build Colony.
  • Movement: Land on Hertha.
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 12
  • Outpost 1: Rubbia Thin Film Fission Hohlraum, ETHER Charged Dust, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: Since I have 4 M class cards, I should ET Produce all of the them on Hertha, then fly them back to LEO to pick up the robonaut and go find a C site to get that 0 ISRU Raygun.

Also collected the Ceres glory.

Setting up for a futures game

Use the following to get a head start on a futures game.

Turn 25

  • Current hand: CVD Molding, Solar-pumped MHD Exciplex Laser
  • Operation:
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua:
  • Ending Aqua: 7
  • Active Law: Freedom
  • Score: 12
  • LEO: Crew, Ceres Glory.
  • Outpost 1: Rubbia Thin Film Fission Hohlraum, ETHER Charged Dust, Monotomic Plug Nozzle.

Notes: For start of a Futures game. Delegates in Freedom, Centrist, Individuality, Equality, Authority.

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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.