HF4A 55 - My First Colony (10)

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Another afternoon game, this time later on a Friday afternoon. I usually start earlier in the day due to having had games run longer than anticipated. However, this is Game 10 in a 10 part series, and I have been itching to get the game play part of the series wrapped up. All these plays are logged turn by turn, so I have indefinite plans to "do something" with the plays at some point in the future. Not going to commit to anything right now.

In this game, some really good patents showed up very early, and I was able to get a 1 ISRU stack built for 10 Mass, which is in my experience exceptional.

Turn 1

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

Notes: Anonymous P2P. Start time 5:57, 2023-08-25.

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 2

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Equality, Active Law to Equality.
  • Starting Aqua: 7
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 8
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: The usual setup.

Turn 3

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Nuclear Drill, Pebble Bed Fusion
  • Starting Aqua: 8
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 6
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Notes: Bah.

Event: Budget Cuts, discard Nuclear Drill

Turn 4

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion
  • Operation: Research: Free Electron Laser, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric
  • Starting Aqua: 6
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew

Turn 5

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric
  • Operation: Boost: Mo/Li Heat Pipe.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe

Notes: Boring.

Event: Budget Cuts. No. Lobby Authority for Inspiration.

Turn 6

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, AMTEC Thermoelectric
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Authority
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe

Turn 7

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, AMTEC Thermoelectric
  • Operation: Research: Ponderomotive Vasimir
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Equality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 8

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Individuality, Active Law to Individuality
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: AMTEC Thermoelectric
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric

Turn 9

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Ponderomotive VASIMIR
  • Operation: Research: Magma Electrolysis
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe

Event: Pad Explosion. Lobbying for a 1 mass card doesn't get me anything.

Turn 10

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Magma Electrolysis
  • Operation: Fund Raise.
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR

Notes: Doesn't help for pad explosions, but allow me to grind for Aqua.

Turn 11

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.
  • Operation: Fund Raise.
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR

Notes: I need the money for Event protection.

Event: Anarchy, purge Unity for no effect.

Turn 12

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.
  • Operation: Research: Bubble Membrane
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR

Turn 13

  • Current hand: Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis, Bubble Membrane.
  • Operation: Free Market: Bubble Membrane.
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: Pebble Bed Fusion.
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 14

  • Current hand: Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.
  • Operation: Research: In-core Thermioinic
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion

Turn 15

  • Current hand: Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis, In-core Thermionic.
  • Operation: Free Market: In-core Thermionic
  • Free Actions:
    • Boost: Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 16

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Foamglass Sintering
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: Now to figure out where I want to go and start grinding for Aqua. I can get to Flora, Hertha, or Kleopatra on one shot. Going for Flora first. I can coast to the others if I bust it there.

Turn 17

  • Current hand: Foamglass Sintering
  • Operation: Free Market: Foamglass Sintering
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 5
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: It's coming into Red Season. All the sites I'm interested in are beyond Hohmann's and besides, I want to be able to use the raygun. The radiator is weakness with rad hardness 2, which leaves me vulnerable. Will Move to Cycler and grind for future Aqua. One hour into the game.

Event: Inspiration.

Turn 18

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: Re Solar Moth
  • Starting Aqua: 5
  • Net Δ Aqua: -1
  • Ending Aqua: 4
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • LEO: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Turn 19

  • Current hand: Re Solar Moth
  • Operation: Free Market: Solar Moth
  • Free Actions:
    • Cargo Transfer: 6 Aqua to fuel.
    • Cargo Transfer: Build rocket.
  • Movement: Move to Cycler to get away from pad explosions.
  • Starting Aqua: 4
  • Net Δ Aqua: -3
  • Ending Aqua: 1
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: Go me!

Event: Solar Flares. Cycler is immune.

Turn 20

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Fund Raise: delegate to Equality, Active Law to Equality.
  • Starting Aqua: 1
  • Net Δ Aqua: 1
  • Ending Aqua: 2
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: Helpful for grinding.

Turn 21

  • Current hand: Empty
  • Operation: Research: MET Steamer, Cascade Thermoelectric
  • Starting Aqua: 2
  • Net Δ Aqua: -2
  • Ending Aqua: 0
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Event: Pad Explosion. Suck it.

Turn 22

  • Current hand: MET Steamer, Cascade Thermoelectric
  • Operation: Free Market: MET Steamer
  • Movement: Move to Hohmann at Flora.
  • Starting Aqua: 0
  • Net Δ Aqua: 3
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 0
  • Rocket: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: Grind grind grind.

Turn 23

  • Current hand: Cascade Thermoelectric
  • Operation: Prospect: Flora, roll 3 to claim; Ariadne, roll 2 to claim.
  • Movement: Move to Flora barycenter.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 2
  • Rocket: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: Very nice.

Event: Anarchy, purge Honor, no effect.

Turn 24

  • Current hand: Cascade Thermoelectric
  • Operation: Industrialize: Decommission appropriately.
  • Movement: Land on Flora.
  • Starting Aqua: 3
  • Net Δ Aqua: 0
  • Ending Aqua: 3
  • Active Law: Individuality
  • Score: 13
  • Rocket: Crew, Mo/Li Heat Pipe, AMTEC Thermoelectric, Ponderomotive VASIMIR, Pebble Bed Fusion, Free Electron Laser, Magma Electrolysis.

Notes: 7:22 pm, but haven't written it up completely, which will add some time. Don't forget to claim the Ceres glory.

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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.