Pax Pamir, Languish PBEM

[Berkut]

I forgot to update the market, that will need to be done first whoever is next.

[Solmyr]

The Persians continue to collect taxes, using them to build civic improvements. A new Russian garrison is stationed in Persia to counter Afghan military buildup.

1. (free from Shah's Guard) Tax Cel in Persia, taking 1 rupee.
2. Purchase Civic Improvements for 0.
3. Play Civic Improvements, place 1 Russian army in Persia. Regime changes to Intelligence War.
4. (free from Alexander Griboyedov) Travel 2 spaces from Bandits to Madali Khan, placing my spy on the British band. This gives me 1 influence with the British, and I win the tie against Berkut due to having more military stars. So I gain the British favor.

Also, the next Topple just appeared. I think it means Habbaku wins.

[Berkut]

How in the world could Habs win, what with the concerted effort everyone has made to take down the leader, which has been Habs the entire game?

Oh wait - everyone has done exactly fuck all against Habbaku. You guys know he can't come to your house and beat you for making a play against him, right?

[Habbaku]

Yeah, the Topple coming up right before my turn while Russia has supremacy is game over.  My first action is to play Trans-Caspian Railway to my tableau, taking me up to 4 Russian influence compared to 3 each for Tamas and Solmyr.  Second action is to buy the Topple for 5 (I have 10 rupees) and end the game with Russian Spy Supremacy.

Berkut, though hyperbolic, is partly correct here--relatively little was done to directly harm my interests save for a few instances where I was taxed or had my cards sniped.  In addition, I positioned myself to pocket as many rupees as possible in order to buy Gifts ahead of the other Russian players.  With so many other players aligned with Russia, I knew only one of us was going to win--and it was going to be the guy who stopped "helping" the Empire they were loyal to and started bribing the Empire for influence instead.

Of course, this was the first game for most of us, so I think taking lessons away from it are going to be very helpful.

Who's up for round 2? 

[celedhring]

I consciously gambled on the other 3 players to take Habs down while I prepped a winning position. If Habs didn't win this round I could've actually won the game in my turn (well, I might have fallen one rupee short depending on how cards fell).

It was a gamble, of course, and it failed, but I don't regret it.

Anyhow, loved this so I'm up for another go.

[Tamas]

Nobody wants to give Pax Porfiriana a go? Maybe it's because I played that one face to face but seems less abstract in theme and mechanics.

I am glad to give this one another go too, though.

[celedhring]

Yeah, we can switch to Pax Whatever too. Mechanics are broadly the same I gather?

[Solmyr]

I couldn't really do much against Habbaku on my turns. In order to do so I generally would have had to pay him lots of rupees to play cards, and I could not afford that.

I'm up for another go at this. Or something else.

[Berkut]

I am up for another go if people want to actually play against ALL the players, rather than letting Habbaku play solitaire while the rest of us play multi-player...

I would prefer this again though - I would like to get a game where we all actually understand both the mechanics and the strategy a little better, and switching to another Pax game means we have to re-figure out the minor mechanicals changes, and the significant "how to win" changes.

[Tamas]

I am up for another go if people want to actually play against ALL the players, rather than letting Habbaku play solitaire while the rest of us play multi-player...

I would prefer this again though - I would like to get a game where we all actually understand both the mechanics and the strategy a little better, and switching to another Pax game means we have to re-figure out the minor mechanicals changes, and the significant "how to win" changes.

Fair enough.  Pax Pamir round 2 then! I am guessing Habbaku is nice enough to set it up again? 

[Habbaku]

I set up a Dropbox for the 2nd game and uploaded my initial setup file.

Everyone needs to do a setup file as well, based upon mine (or whomever uploads after me, of course, in sequence).  Deal yourself a tribe card, 4 rupees, 10 tribes of your choice (sticking with the same color will help!), and a loyalty card.

Once everyone has their loyalty card selected, we'll publicly post, rearrange "seating," and begin.

[Tamas]

I am on it

[Tamas]

My setup has been uploaded. I am Mr. Black again.

[celedhring]

Claimed orange and drew a loyalty card. Didn't put anything on the board yet because I thought it would be best to wait until we know player order?

[Habbaku]

Either way works.  I figured out how to move the tribe cards once they're placed (shift-click), so it's not an issue for me to shuffle everything around.