I mentioned this in the boardgame thread and now finally got around trying to kick it off, well-timed with the Mars rover landing!
Stellar Horizons is a pretty epic space (well, solar system) 4x boardgame. Not so much in terms of complexity, because once you get the hang of it, turns are pretty quick to resolve, but more in scope and breadth.
With the length of the full campaign (where you are likely to go from the first prospecting and mining of asteroids and planets to at least early terraforming) I think it gives itself very well to PBEM.
You can find the rules here: https://www.compassgames.com/stellar-horizon.html There's also a Vassal module, I will PM the Onedrive link containing all of these to those who sign up. There are also a couple of good reviews on Boardgamegeek.
To give you some idea of what it entails:
the game features semi-random exploration: usually when you do some exploring of a planet/asteroid you get some research points, but when you get a breakthrough you get to draw a "world card" which gives the world in question resource values you can exploit as well as possibly other bonuses. These depend on the type of the world, so if you draw a Helium-3 card you can only apply it if you were exploring a gas giant otherwise it goes back to the draw bag.
These world cards will give the players to utilise the resources offered by it. which will be the one of the big drivers of where to build bases. The other will be to build and expand colonies, as these give a lot of VPs depending on the plant in question - A single level of colony on one of the moons of Saturn will worth far more than one on Luna, but needless to say getting resources there will be a far bigger challenge.
In fact I think these are the two (three) obvious strategic choices to make during the game: either you can try to build up an industrial and logistic foundation to allow you outer solar system colonisation, or be content with colonising the near-Earth bodies like Luna and Mars, trying to beat others by sheer population level. Or try something in-between.
There is also combat, but to be fair I have found few incentives for it. I think that's where the Piracy system of the game comes in nicely. Once pirates appear (can happen fairly early), players will want at least some combat-capable vehicles to not fall too behind the others while being delayed by piracy. From there things might escalate to at least an arms race as you can really be messed with if you can't defend yourself.
There can be up to 7 players. I think for real "interactivity" it needs 4 at least, although 3 is workable. There's just way too much room for 2 players to fill.
Here are the faction tips from the rulebook:
QuoteNORTH AMERICA
You start with the best technology and excellent ships. Get out
there, explore, and colonize, and try to maintain your lead if you
can.
RUSSIA
Your strengths are resource transport and robust crews. You might
want to build a space station in orbit right away with Kliper, drop
a Research Station for the free tech, a Supply Station to refuel
your ships (why build launch vehicles?), and maybe even a few
Settlements for their trade and production benefits. You also have
a great cargo ship from the start (Renda), which you should build
on its reserved side for the 1 SUP and 1 FUEL savings (since
Renda has no exploration value, she can't build bases anyway,
but could trade with other faction's bases if you unreserved her).
Launching Renda on LV-2s (especially once you get Reusable
launch vehicles) will let you stock up your bases on the cheap.
EUROPE
You have the best research and space telescopes. Your REs are topnotch,
but CVs are also among the best, so you'll probably want to
adopt a balanced approach.
JAPAN
You have the best ships, but they're also the most expensive. You'll
want to choose quality over quantity, and aim to reduce your
already low malfunction rate. Flood the solar system with robots
to try to establish a technological lead over your rivals. But don't
forget bases and crew vehicles. One good Japanese ship is worth 3
from another faction... right?
CHINA
You can support more ships than most, and don't have to worry
as much about falling behind because you can always reverse
engineer technologies you don't have. You have the best military
position, so don't let anyone push you around. Even the threat of
force can make your opponents look over their shoulder.
ASIA
Your strengths are production and trade, so build bases early and
often. You can support the most ships and bases, and yours are
cheap. Swarm the solar system with as many ships as you can:
quantity has a quality all its own.
SOUTH AMERICA/AFRICA
Your strengths are diplomacy and trade, so make lots of friends
and profit from them. Your ships are average but you can build lots
of them. Build bases and use your equatorial launch sites to stock
them up quickly.
I recommend we try our hands straight with the main campaign. After the first decade (so after 10 turns) we can decide to restart or go on, and at the end of every decade we can agree to make a call on stopping in case some players fell too much behind due to inexperience (although the game's mechanics don't really let you fall TOO behind, I think).
Anyone feeling like committing to this? :)
Yeah, I'm in.
Same.
I think Berkut also was interested but probably right now busy with covid, so let's give him a bit of time to see if he wants to join in.
I think you can go ahead and assume he's in, as this is definitely his kind of game. I will text him annoying messages when he holds the game up.
I haven't done one of these in a while and the last one I did was fun, so I'm in.
me
I have not done this before, but willing to learn and if there is room, I am in.
Alright, assuming Berkut's in then that's all 7 places taken. I have sent ya' all the Onedrive link with rules and Vassal module.
I'll randomise starting factions, then, we can perhaps schedule to start sometime next week?
Let's come up with a hard start time next week. Otherwise, sounds great.
Ok I have put our names into random.org's randomiser to get them in random order, to be matched with the order of factions as such:
North America, Russia, Europe, Japan, China, Asia, South America/Africa.
The results are:
North America Tamas
Russia Habbaku
Europe crazy canuck
Japan celedhring
China Berkut
Asia Darth Wagtaros
S. America/Africa grumbler
Since it'll be the first time and we'll have little to no idea what we'll be doing, feel free to trade factions between each other if you are particularly unhappy with your result.
China!
Can I build mechas in this? :P
Lolz can I be: Ottoman Empire
Quote from: celedhring on February 23, 2021, 02:52:45 AM
Can I build mechas in this? :P
No. :P But you have awesome crewed vehicles.
I am not sure how I feel about North America. I think Turn 1 is usually all about them (unless they get unlucky) but in effect they are pulling up the others with their exploration and research and whatnot, and their special skill (slight bonus if you are the first to research a tech) not only has little value, but also is worthless if you ever fall behind. I'd say they are the faction with the most pressure to be always up front.
Which reminds me guys: the biggest tip one can give to a new player: research reusable rockets ASAP. It does wonders to your budget. :P
You guys should definitely research those reusable rockets quickly. And other stuff as well. Research is super important!
Research sounds expensive.
First move (mine) is up on Onedrive!
In theory, if you have already opened the Stellar Horizon module at least one in Vassal, you just need to double-click on the file, and click the play button to see my stellar replay.
If you are new to Vassal, you need to click "Begin logfile" in the File menu before you do your move.
Next up is Grumbler.
I recommend we use the forum to let each other know when a new turn is uploaded.
Quote from: Tamas on February 25, 2021, 02:26:08 PM
First move (mine) is up on Onedrive!
This seems the least ideal way of doing things. Do you mind describing your turn in detail, or at least a bulleted summary?
Fair enough. :P
I have drawn the common mission and my own - make sure you do yours when you do your first move.
Did the initial part of the movement phase where all in-transit "ships" move.
Then landed my Crewed Vehicle Orion on Mars without blowing it up.
Ok, had a more detailed looked at the pieces in play at the start and this is going to be a FAR quicker movement phase than I thought.
Although Grumbler is up in the Move phase as South America, he actually has nothing to move - it confused me that the module had the S. American Rover Humbolt placed on orbit of Mars, but that is actually not what the setup says (it's on the planet not orbit) and there's absolutely no point whatsoever parking a Rover in orbit.
So, after S. America comes Celed as Japan, but once again, nothing to move just yet.
Than comes Wag as Asia. He does have a Crewed Vehicle, the Prayaas, in Earth orbit. However, having a glance at the tech tree, Asia doesn't even have the Orbital Rendezvous tech, meaning they can't go anywhere else! Landing on Earth would be a terrible move, as being in orbit they can Explore in earth orbit (Biology is nice). In fact, the CV has a Lab icon on it meaning they can roll two exploration rolls and get the better result. It's a good ship. But there's nowhere to move for them.
So the next player after me with an actual movement decision is Berkut as China - the Chinese have CV Shenzou in Lunar orbit. There is no reason to land - the ship has no cargo capacity, and China don't have the Space Mining tech anywaays - but Berkut has the option to either stay there and Explore the Moon in the next phase, or move over to Earth or Near Earth Asteroids orbit to research there.
Once Berkut is done, Europe (CC) has nothing to move, then it comes to Habbaku as Russia. Although the Vassal module is hiding this on his player sheet, he has a CV the Kliper with a rocket to launch it, on Earth.
Now, Habs faces an interesting decision straight away: the CV has a cargo capacity of 2. If you check the Earth tile, you can see the base cost icon showing a 2 - so he can use the CV to carry 2 Supply resources (you can just spend money and convert 1:1 to any resources or vice versa on Earth) up to Earth orbit and at the end of this turn (in the base building phase) put down an orbital base to be expanded later. Or he can just launch and go to the Near Earth Asteroids or the Moon for exploration.
If my rover is on Mars, I don't need to roll for anything in the movement phase (no failure rolls), correct?
Do I need to make a roll to see if the EU can successfully do nothing. :D
Did you run the request to do nothing through the committee first?
Quote from: Habbaku on February 26, 2021, 10:17:47 AM
Did you run the request to do nothing through the committee first?
Cyprus vetoed it.
Quote from: grumbler on February 26, 2021, 10:03:24 AM
If my rover is on Mars, I don't need to roll for anything in the movement phase (no failure rolls), correct?
Correct. You never roll for failure if you just stay put.
Seems like someone went to the trouble to send my fleet carrier to the moon, so I see no reason to leave before exploring it...
Alright, CC's Europe has nothing to move, so Habbaku's Russia is up.
Quote from: Tamas on February 26, 2021, 08:48:39 AM
Now, Habs faces an interesting decision straight away: the CV has a cargo capacity of 2. If you check the Earth tile, you can see the base cost icon showing a 2 - so he can use the CV to carry 2 Supply resources (you can just spend money and convert 1:1 to any resources or vice versa on Earth) up to Earth orbit and at the end of this turn (in the base building phase) put down an orbital base to be expanded later. Or he can just launch and go to the Near Earth Asteroids or the Moon for exploration.
I ended up choosing the latter. Russia can into space, but Poland is left behind in the dust as usual. Successfully launched (then destroyed) the LV and plopped the Kliper into orbit with 2 supplies.
File up, and I drew a mission for myself as well.
I don't see anyone else's files aside from the 001 that started the game though (not sure if Berkut was supposed to make one or not).
No there were no additional files as nobody moved anything.
We are now in the much more exciting Exploration phase though. I'll start off with my own later today.
Should I have drawn an exploration tile? That might have changed my decision point - I mean, what if I drew a tile that said something like "Explore a near earth asteroid!"?
You should have drawn a mission tile. Everyone should on their first turn.
Quote from: Berkut on March 01, 2021, 07:59:21 AM
Should I have drawn an exploration tile? That might have changed my decision point - I mean, what if I drew a tile that said something like "Explore a near earth asteroid!"?
Fair point, but if its any consolation, I also would have moved elsewhere if I have drawn my mission tile correctly at the very start :P
Having said that, The Moon might be a mission objective but I am pretty sure the N.E. Asteroids are not.
Quote from: Habbaku on March 01, 2021, 08:03:13 AM
You should have drawn a mission tile. Everyone should on their first turn.
I misunderstood and thought there was nothing to do.
If you have no moves/possible moves, it doesn't matter much. Just make sure to do it first thing when you actually get to a decision point as it may change your decision.
Quote from: Habbaku on March 01, 2021, 11:56:06 AM
If you have no moves/possible moves, it doesn't matter much. Just make sure to do it first thing when you actually get to a decision point as it may change your decision.
Will do :)
I fumbled around a bit as I messed up my Telescope exploration, but I corrected it and the replay is up. Russia is up to explore.
It was an.. acceptable year of North American exploration. Our orbiter around Venus produced Physics research of '2', the crewed exploration of Mars yielded the same value of Biology, AND the ship remains active, but our telescope in Earth orbit malfunctioned trying to spy out deep space stuff.
Should be good to do my turn tonight. Still learning as I go here.
During Great Russia's exploration we:
*Explored Mars with the Kozlov, succeeding with just enough to get a Biology marker, but the damned Soviet-era thing malfunctioned shortly after (though earned me an Engineering chit in exchange).
*Then declined to explore or do anything with our other vessels as the negatives are too high and the penalties too risky for failure at the moment.
Next up is CC's Europeans.
Will get to it tonight.
Cyprus is still pissed that their veto over the decision to do nothing last turn was overruled.
Sorry guys, had to work late, just finished. Will make my turn tomorrow.
So, the first of what is bound to be many stupid questions. I rolled an exploration roll with my orbiter at Mercury - right clicked on hit and selected the explore option.
I was successful, and I think I get an engineering tech for that, but how do I do that?
There was also an engine failure roll, which I failed, which confused me a bit because I thought those rolls occurred when an RE moved, but I guess it also happens on all explore rolls?
Also, I am not sure how to select what I am exploring with my telescope - which is a bit of a problem, since that seems to be the thing the EU does best :D Any hints about how to do that would be greatly appreciated.
There's a "chits" window where you'll find the stacks of the 3 tech chits. Engineering is grey. Just drag and drop the top of that stack (it's going to be randomised to your player card (there's an "open/shut player cards" button, the light blue one among the blacks)
If you draw a chit of 3 or higher, don't forget you achieve a "depletion".
The malfunction roll was supposed to be called "RE malfunction" it's different to engine failure (much higher by default). If you failed it, right-click your Robotic Explorer and select "send to card" then draw an engineering chit (learning from the screwup) for your troubles.
The thing with telescopes is that they add just half the exploration value of the world you are exploring, so that's why for example I went with Outer Space because that's a 9 so it gave me a 4. Also important, is that you cannot achieve your Mission with them (if you haven't drawn your Mission chit, it's also in the Chits window).
The Vassal module already rolls 2 dice for European telescopes, which is neat. You just apply the better (lower) result of the two.
Thanks, very helpful explanations :)
My bad it does se RE Malfunction - I wrong assumed that meant engine malfunction.
three engineering chits taken, one for the successful exploration of Mercury by my orbiter, one for the malfunction caused by an engineer spilling their celebratory wine over the control board, one for the telescopes success - glad I got the second roll because the first would have been a failure.
No chit 3 or more so no depletions
Da Vinci miserably failed its exploration roll I just realized I should probably be logging what I am exploring in advance of the roll :blush:
Probe orbiting Saturn successfully, explored Dione - drew an engineering 3 chit tech. I couldn't find the depletion chits so I used a damage 1 to show the depletion, please fix that :blush:
I think I get a life check, which failed; that was not a mission so that isn't completed; and I removed the probe, because I think those are one shot uses?
politics and world card drawn
I think that is it, now I will figure out how to upload the saved file.
I uploaded it for you until then.
CC, the World Card needs to be checked if it can be applied on the world in question, and if yes, the player has the option to either apply it (leave it on/next to the world) or put it back to the draw pile.
I cannot reveal the World Card on your player sheet, could you drag it to the map next to where you explored please and flip it over? I can take over from there if you wish, but basically Dione-Rhea where you explored is an "Icy Rocky Moon". If any of these 3 words are on the World Card, you can apply it to Dione-Rhea (there is little reason at this stage not to). If none of these words are on the World Card you send it back to the deck with a right-click.
If there is already a World Card on a World when a Depletion happens, the old WC can be replaced by the new WC drawn, but there can only be 1 WC on a world.
For depleting the exploration value of the World by one, the Vassal module is actually neatly set up - right-click the grey "Explore 6" value at the World and choose decrease value.
Also, next time please click "begin logfile" in the File menu before starting doing anything, so we get to see a replay.
CC still has OneDrive troubles, so I have uploaded his save file with the World Card placed.
Also there is now replay file 006 containing my clean-up of placing the World Card next to the Word and decreasing the exploration value.
Next is Berkut as China. Don't forget: apart from the CV in Moon orbit you can also risk your Flyby at Mercury by exploring with -1 for being in the 1 Transfer Box.
Alright guys, let's try and push through the first run everyone doing their own Exploration, to learn the game and how to use the module.
Later on we can just post our intentions here for Habbaku to take care of it in Vassal.
Come on guys, I want to take a turn and thoroughly fumble it :P
Sorry this is all me - I've been just swamped between work and trying to take care of my sister and nephew. I keep trying to get to the rules to read through the sections I need to make a sane decision. I will get to it by the weekend at the latest.
Quote from: Berkut on March 11, 2021, 10:00:53 AM
Sorry this is all me - I've been just swamped between work and trying to take care of my sister and nephew. I keep trying to get to the rules to read through the sections I need to make a sane decision. I will get to it by the weekend at the latest.
My recommendation is to take a good read through, everything is connected in some way.
Quote from: celedhring on March 11, 2021, 04:36:36 AM
Come on guys, I want to take a turn and thoroughly fumble it :P
You are going to have to do quite a lot to fumble it as bad as I did :D
The rulebook is a bit weirdly organised for sure.
Yes, and the conversational style of rules doesn't help either. I never understand why people write rules this way, except that it's probably easier for them.
:hmm:
gh. Sorry. I'll do it tonight.
Perhaps the Discord channel is too distracting here, but Wag did Asia's exploration of Venus and Earth orbit with no special result but no malfunctions either, so now it's your turn Celed. I walked Wag through his turn on Discord that might help you as well.
Yeah, I saw it. I will do my turn later today.
Japan sees both its flyby near Mercury and its telescope orbiting Earth all get lost in space after terrible malfunction rolls. The flyby at least managed to successfully explore the planet before its demise, although no depletion was triggered.
Africa SA explores Mars with a rover and fails to see anything at Jupiter with a flyby. No systems failures.
Habs is up to build a base (or not) in the Trade and Base Construction Phase.
Habs let me know if you want to build that orbital base at Earth and I'll set it up, then we launch Turn 2 with Grumbler's Build Phase.
Everyone ok to commit to a 24 hours turnaround from Turn 2?
Russian base Mir has been built in Earth orbit, we are now Turn 2.
Off to Grumbler for the Build phase.
It is, by the way, usual to see a flurry of building activity early on and then to run out of money for the later part of a decade. Maybe at a later stage it is worthwhile to reserve money and see what you'll most need to spend it on, but I don't think there's much point holding off this early.
Quote from: Tamas on March 23, 2021, 04:05:51 PM
Habs let me know if you want to build that orbital base at Earth and I'll set it up, then we launch Turn 2 with Grumbler's Build Phase.
Everyone ok to commit to a 24 hours turnaround from Turn 2?
Works for me, yeah.
Can't promise 24h, stuff sometimes does happen. But I'll take my turns quickly.
My builds are done, I believe japan builds next.
Also, to reflect on what Berkut was writing on Discord: since we are still getting used to Vassal, and as more stuff will be actually happening with the new units being built, please make sure to post a summary here of what your move was.
Japan tries to bounce back from its setbacks and spends the entirety of its space program budget planning 3 uncrewed and 1 crewed mission.
Do I need to be on discord? Why can't we just post everything here?
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2021, 10:58:02 AM
Do I need to be on discord? Why can't we just post everything here?
Same question. I don't mind using Discord for quick rules Q&A, but not posting the turns here is really weird.
Yeah we need to keep this thread as the official way to communicate. Discord is great to ask rule questions when doing your turn, chatting away etc. but every turn should be posted here.
Now, with Celed done, we need to hold on a bit as some moves might have been lost in the shuffle. :o I'll review the replays in a couple of hours and try to fix things.
I admire your patience with us Tamas :)
I am really liking this game.
The only issue I have with it (or maybe concern is a better word since I don't really know yet) is that it feels like it might be 7 parallel solitaire games...
There seems to be a decent amount of player interaction later on, with space battles, blockades and shit.
Quote from: Berkut on March 24, 2021, 11:59:28 AM
I am really liking this game.
The only issue I have with it (or maybe concern is a better word since I don't really know yet) is that it feels like it might be 7 parallel solitaire games...
It's a legit concern to some degree, however, in my experience of solo-testing it with up to 4 sides is that the wide open spaces become less so with each turn. Depletions during explorations will occur and the prime (easily reachable and high yield-low risk) exploration spots will become less and less feasible as their explore value decreases.
Industrial exploitation is much more limited especially with early and mid-game tech, and players flocking to the same lucrative resource deposits can find their efficiency decreased by initiative order, etc.
Competition is more indirect I think that's a fair comment, but it's there. And if we do manage to progress this, I'll be interested to see how much use we give of war and diplomacy. That's the part you can never properly simulate in a solo test.
Quote from: celedhring on March 24, 2021, 12:07:46 PM
There seems to be a decent amount of player interaction later on, with space battles, blockades and shit.
Yeah, I would expect so. What I really liked in my solo plays is seeing this sort of traditional 4X style game flow starting to play out within the solar system - Wide open spaces at start then players increasingly start to brush up against each other, and then really be in each others' way.
I had read some comment about how China is and should be very agressive and blockade and such, to deny VPs to others.
Which is fine...but I don't see how it helps China to deny VPs to someone else in a 7 player game.
Helping the other 5 players out is really nice and will raise awareness of Chinese issues.
Alright everyone, I believe I have corrected everything and the latest file is now the correct game state EXCEPT that Berkut got screwed and without a mission now - will need to redraw, sorry Berkut, if you want to find the one you had I am sure we all trust you so go ahead when it is your turn.
And in the spirit of keeping all happenings posted in this thread, here is Celed's Japanese build phase of Turn 2. :P
2 LV1 rockets
2 LV2 rockert
1 Crewed Vehicle (he kept things turned on their reserve side so I can't read names)
2 Orbiters
1 Flyby
This spent all of Japan's budget for the 2030s.
Next one is Wag as Asia.
Wag, you need to do 2 things:
1. draw a mission
2. Build new units
ping me on Discord and I'll talk you through it.
Oh, I did that to check the costs. It's the IJN JS Seishing, a CV2
I walked Waag through his Build phase to show the intricacies of Vassal and the game.
Asia built:
-Telescope
-Flyby
-Rover
-Probe
-2 LV1s
-1 LV2
That's all their robotic explorers available, BTW.
I have also uploaded a quick replay to add the Russian base - I did that already but then skipped redoing it when I made my earlier fix. :D We should be good now.
Berkut is up for China's build phase.
Done.
I built a Orbiter, Prove, CV2, and a couple LVs to blow them all up.
Not sure who is next, but someone is!
Crazy Canuck is up next with Build phase for Europe.
It's worth highlighting that Europe is one of those factions whose CVs can't yet leave Earth orbit and won't be able to research how to do so until start of the next decade. So although Europe has an excellent exploration CV2, it may not be a good investment this decade, as all they could do is go Earth orbit and research Biology there. Plenty of REs to build, though.
What would be the point in building a base at the moon instead of earth orbit? Or the NEAs for that matter?
Quote from: Berkut on March 29, 2021, 01:40:22 PM
What would be the point in building a base at the moon instead of earth orbit? Or the NEAs for that matter?
Mining or research. Once a Depletion lets us place a World Card on them they might become valuable for either or both. Or they remain duds. Will see. But in terms of resupplying CVs you are right it doesn't make practical difference where you put them between a main world and its satellites.
OK, that makes sense - right now we simply don't know.
This game is going to die soon at this pace.
CC will be jumping on Discord today so I can help him through the build phase if he gets stuck.
But I agree we will need to improve the speed.
Helped out CC with Europe's build phase:
2 LV1 rocket
1 LV2 rocket
1 telescope
1 rover
1 orbiter
$10 remains in their budget.
Russia is next.
The proud Russian Federation purchased significant quantities of stuff to resupply our space base and expand outwards.
North America bought:
1 LV1
1 LV2
1 Rover
1 Probe
1 Orbiter
I have done the start of the movement phase, and once again I used my 1st initiative position to jump ahead and do the North American moves as well. I tried to do it in a detailed way so do run the replay of the turn if you want some pointers on what to do. If you can't find something, right-click. :)
The American Crewed Vehicle stayed on Mars, while the Rover and the Probe got launched toward Jupiter by the LV2, which was also successfully recovered after launch.
The LV1 launched the Orbiter toward the Main Asteroid Belt successfully, but recovery of the rocket failed.
South America (grumbler) is next.
ASA launched its Ptolemy satellite, using up a LV1, and its Empressa CV2, using up an LV2.
Looking at the vlog, I apparently stopped the log before destroying the LV2 (it's still sitting on the launch pad). Ignore it; it's gone.
Japan, I believe, is up next. Bonsai!
The Japanese launch the orbiters Nomura and Nakamura in a mission to respectively orbit Mars and Venus. Meanwhile, the flyby Kosai is launched towards Mars, with the intention of photographing the red planet before moving towards the asteroid belt.
Fortunately, no incidents have been recorded this time.
Waaag!
Ok we are getting back up to speed, skipped Waag waiting if he is staying with the game or not, and we have been moving the constructed stuff to places.
Next one up is Russia to conclude the movement phase and move is into the Exploration phase (yay!).
North American exploration sees their Venus probe lost for no result, their Mars crewed vehicle achieving a Depletion breakthrough but finding no useful resources (World Card draw was not applicable). CV also got Reserved, with the astronauts running out of supplies.
Russia explored THE FUCKING MOON a little bit and unfortunately found that its crews are weakling girly men who are not fit to eat the space kibble we give them.
The Kimura successfully explored Titan and discovered some of the secrets hidden in its icy surface (which means we get a world card played in it). Successful topography of Titan's ice layers was one the goals of the Japanese space program for the decade, which means we completed a mission.
(that's provided I didn't misread any rule while doing the turn)
The Africa/South America space agency reported that the Rover Humbolt burned down, fell over, and then sank into the swamp when trying to explore Mars. Flyby Caldeira found life signs on Europa. Flyby Gleiser took some very useful photos in the Kuiper Belt.
Fixed the move. Turns out that I didn't discover life on Europa (misread the rule).
Quote from: grumbler on April 13, 2021, 08:47:27 PM
Fixed the move. Turns out that I didn't discover life on Europa (misread the rule).
But...but...the rules are so clear and well written! How could that be?
Earth's orbit is beginning to build up with Russians expanding their base with a faciltiy and China constructing a base of their own.
Which brings us to... Turn 3! It is time to build in reverse initiative order, so we are back to grumbler.
Waag, as the map is becoming busy, and we are moving on, I will remove your pieces when the build phase comes to me. :( Let us know if you want to continue instead.
Africa South America buys 1 orbiter, one flyby, and 2x LV1.
Next is the special phase in which Tamas tells me how I fucked up this move! :lol:
Otherwise, on to Japan.
Japan doesn't build anything this turn.
Quote from: grumbler on April 15, 2021, 10:43:54 AM
Africa South America buys 1 orbiter, one flyby, and 2x LV1.
Next is the special phase in which Tamas tells me how I fucked up this move! :lol:
Otherwise, on to Japan.
Well, actually... your move was perfectly fine! :P
We are skipping Asia (Waag is absent so will be removed), China has only $1B left, so Russia is up.
Russia built a fancy rover and probe for its SUPER SECRET MISSION.
North America built a single rover depleting their budget (thanks to reusable rockets still having a LV2 lying about).
I have uploaded the file with the start of the move phase, South America is next to move their new purchases.
Tamas, when I ran the NA build/move file, it hung up right after the line "* NA CV-2 Discovery moves offboard -> Mars Surface *"
I couldn't get past that to get to the end of your log file. Advice?
Quote from: grumbler on April 15, 2021, 12:24:52 PM
Tamas, when I ran the NA build/move file, it hung up right after the line "* NA CV-2 Discovery moves offboard -> Mars Surface *"
I couldn't get past that to get to the end of your log file. Advice?
It might be that you just had to click a bit more (I was flipping stuff on my player card) but regardless, I have uploaded a "standalone save" version of the end state of my move - you should just open it (there should be no replay to go through) and then start your logfile from the File menu.
I think that I found the problem - I'd not updated the Vassal version. That made your move 40 work, Tamas, so I went with log file 41 for my move. Your standalone save 41 is OBE.
ASA sent a probe towards Mars and an orbiter towards Saturn.
Grumbler, only got around checking your move: Probes cant move on their own, they must be attached to another RE and they are expended after first use when that RE explores.
Also, your Earth-Mars move with a LV1 rocket is just 7, not 14. (Earth is 0, Saturn is +7, and the optional rule we use does not apply)
For now, I will correct your Saturn Orbiter move distance, and I will attach the Probe to this Orbiter, and give you an LV1 back. If you want keep your Probe on Earth instead and attach to something else later we can change it.
Actually, you might want to move that Orbiter to Mars with the Probe instead? Since you wanted to explore on/around Mars and you can't do that with the Probe only it'd make sense. Message me on Discord on how to fix it.
Quote from: Tamas on April 16, 2021, 02:37:28 PM
Actually, you might want to move that Orbiter to Mars with the Probe instead? Since you wanted to explore on/around Mars and you can't do that with the Probe only it'd make sense. Message me on Discord on how to fix it.
Hmm. I sent the orbiter to Saturn because it has moons that will give me engineering points, which I badly need to stay competitive. Was this a foolish strategy?
The probe I sent to Mars because I can only have two REs and wanted to use it up quickly. Foolish again?
Quote from: grumbler on April 16, 2021, 02:54:42 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 16, 2021, 02:37:28 PM
Actually, you might want to move that Orbiter to Mars with the Probe instead? Since you wanted to explore on/around Mars and you can't do that with the Probe only it'd make sense. Message me on Discord on how to fix it.
Hmm. I sent the orbiter to Saturn because it has moons that will give me engineering points, which I badly need to stay competitive. Was this a foolish strategy?
The probe I sent to Mars because I can only have two REs and wanted to use it up quickly. Foolish again?
Saturn (and Jupiter) are never a bad idea with an Orbiter IMHO because you have your choice of satellites to explore as well (which an Orbiter can do when orbiting the main world, albeit with a -1 penalty) and so as long as the orbiter is working you have your choice of research category to explore each turn.
However, Saturn is far away, and if you want to focus on Engineering there are better candidates: the Main Asteroid Belt gives you the same chance for Engineering but its half the distance.
Quote from: Tamas on April 16, 2021, 03:00:39 PM
Saturn (and Jupiter) are never a bad idea with an Orbiter IMHO because you have your choice of satellites to explore as well (which an Orbiter can do when orbiting the main world, albeit with a -1 penalty) and so as long as the orbiter is working you have your choice of research category to explore each turn.
However, Saturn is far away, and if you want to focus on Engineering there are better candidates: the Main Asteroid Belt gives you the same chance for Engineering but its half the distance.
I thought that orbiters could only orbit planets. If they can orbit in the asteroid belt, then my orbiter will go there.
Quote from: grumbler on April 17, 2021, 07:12:48 AM
Quote from: Tamas on April 16, 2021, 03:00:39 PM
Saturn (and Jupiter) are never a bad idea with an Orbiter IMHO because you have your choice of satellites to explore as well (which an Orbiter can do when orbiting the main world, albeit with a -1 penalty) and so as long as the orbiter is working you have your choice of research category to explore each turn.
However, Saturn is far away, and if you want to focus on Engineering there are better candidates: the Main Asteroid Belt gives you the same chance for Engineering but its half the distance.
I thought that orbiters could only orbit planets. If they can orbit in the asteroid belt, then my orbiter will go there.
The Belt is a world like the other planets so as I understand an Orbiter can go there just fine. I'll be doing the correction (Orbiter + Probe to the Belt, giving you back an LV1)
Done, Japan has a bunch of stuff to move now.
The fine Japanese craftmanship is again on display as the orbiter Nomura explodes while trying to place itself on orbit over Deimos :glare:
Fortunately, the Nakamura manages to orbit Venus, and the Rover Ito leaves Jupiter in a heliocentric transfer towards Saturn, where the JAXA has spotted juicier targets to land.
Quote from: celedhring on April 17, 2021, 04:44:11 PM
The fine Japanese craftmanship is again on display as the orbiter Nomura explodes while trying to place itself on orbit over Deimos :glare:
Fortunately, the Nakamura manages to orbit Venus, and the Rover Ito leaves Jupiter in a heliocentric transfer towards Saturn, where the JAXA has spotted juicier targets to land.
Nomura should still be alive. You roll for engine failure for movement (base failure of 5%), not malfunction. Based on your roll of 15, it's fine.
Berkut, when you do your China move, can you put the E2 that Celedhring drew back into the pool?
Fixed.
Europe is up to move.
That means CC is up!
Tamas, I am a bit occupied atm, why the flyby is going is I think in the last post I made in Discord. I am not sure if there is anything else to move.
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 19, 2021, 10:00:50 AM
Tamas, I am a bit occupied atm, why the flyby is going is I think in the last post I made in Discord. I am not sure if there is anything else to move.
Actually, I have just realised, we skipped your Build phase, didn't we? :o
You have 10 billions left. You can't build CVs yet but you have 2 REs to build so a couple of choices on which to build and with what LV. Try and give a go of doing both build and move at one go when you are free. (Remember to keep clicking the replay forward button until it gets to the end, when you open the last file with Vassal). Ping us on Discord if you have a question or need help.
For the reasons we talked about, I can't get my Vassal to work properly and upload it... I am not sure what the best thing to do might be.
Try opening the Onedrive link in a private browser window, that could solve it.
Quote from: Tamas on April 19, 2021, 12:09:07 PM
Try opening the Onedrive link in a private browser window, that could solve it.
I am trying to do it, but I keep getting the error message and get sent into an endless confirmation loop.
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 19, 2021, 12:43:05 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 19, 2021, 12:09:07 PM
Try opening the Onedrive link in a private browser window, that could solve it.
I am trying to do it, but I keep getting the error message and get sent into an endless confirmation loop.
I have tried granting access specifically to the email address you gave me earlier, see if this works.
Since CC can't access Onedrive, this gives me the perfect excuse to move us to Airtable, which is absolutely excellent for managing PBEM (thanks bogh!)
You should have received an invitation email and another one with info/instructions.
Find me on Discord if you have questions.
Quote from: Tamas on April 21, 2021, 12:14:06 PM
Since CC can't access Onedrive, this gives me the perfect excuse to move us to Airtable, which is absolutely excellent for managing PBEM (thanks bogh!)
Yeah, it does work pretty well IMO. I am a pretty big fan of the thing in general (good for prototyping stuff - there is even an API etc.). Pretty cool.
CC being swamped with real life I did his Europe move in Vassal for him.
I have uploaded it to Airtable, let me know how you are managing with it.
CC's been up to Explore, assuming he has got the email alert as he was supposed to from Airtable.