In my experience all the awards did was give points to people already focusing on those strategies. Milestones also had this issue being there were 3 to start and 3 to gain. In the original there were 5 milestones and 5 awards but 3 to choose by the players, who would pay to choose the milestone or award they were invested in. In ares expedition this made for lopsided victories over the awards and milestones. As for the upgraded cards, in my games playing it I got upgraded cards and my opponent never got any (multiple games). This also made for one-sided games due to upgraded cards being more powerful. The only way to upgrade cards is to get and play one from the project deck, which mostly comes down to luck. it would be better if there could be a way to upgrade cards by paying megacredits. Also while I don't see a way to improve awards, I think milestones could have been done similar to TFM, where 5 milestones are selected but only 3 can be earned.
Worth noting, as a very popular solo game, the awards do not work solo because they require you to have the most of something. You always have the most of everything if it's just you 🙄 Puzzling that this isn't even mentioned in the rules. Just print a solo version e.g. "At least 5 X" on the back, or "More X than Y" or something.
Crisis saved the game for me. It really is fantastic for both coop and solo. Really the best solo of all the big deck tableau builders. Discovery is a good add even for that mode, but I don't think I'll play this again competitive. I'd rather play either original Terraforming Mars or Ark Nova (whose expansion may now take that game to my top spot).
The Kickstarter version came with all 3 expansions in a much larger box, so everything fit. Perhaps they should offer the larger box separately for sale.
You're missing out not trying the Crisis expansion. With that expansion it is hands down one of my favorite solo board games. And it was fun in coop too. edit: ... claiming discovery is the best expansion for it, twice... made me vote your video down. It's simply wrong. Crisis is a must have expansion. It is easily a 10.
Wow sounds like every single expansion released is a strike out. Yikes. Guess I"ll wait to see what fans create for this game. I'm thinking some "hero" cards might make this game more fun.
In my experience all the awards did was give points to people already focusing on those strategies. Milestones also had this issue being there were 3 to start and 3 to gain. In the original there were 5 milestones and 5 awards but 3 to choose by the players, who would pay to choose the milestone or award they were invested in. In ares expedition this made for lopsided victories over the awards and milestones. As for the upgraded cards, in my games playing it I got upgraded cards and my opponent never got any (multiple games). This also made for one-sided games due to upgraded cards being more powerful. The only way to upgrade cards is to get and play one from the project deck, which mostly comes down to luck. it would be better if there could be a way to upgrade cards by paying megacredits. Also while I don't see a way to improve awards, I think milestones could have been done similar to TFM, where 5 milestones are selected but only 3 can be earned.
Worth noting, as a very popular solo game, the awards do not work solo because they require you to have the most of something. You always have the most of everything if it's just you 🙄 Puzzling that this isn't even mentioned in the rules. Just print a solo version e.g. "At least 5 X" on the back, or "More X than Y" or something.
Be sure to try the Crisis expansion. With that expansion it is hands down one of my favorite solo board games. And it was fun in coop too.
Thank you!!!
Crisis saved the game for me. It really is fantastic for both coop and solo. Really the best solo of all the big deck tableau builders. Discovery is a good add even for that mode, but I don't think I'll play this again competitive. I'd rather play either original Terraforming Mars or Ark Nova (whose expansion may now take that game to my top spot).
Agreed on Crisis. In my top coop and top solo games.
25 bucks seems pretty expensive for what's in that box. Especially since you can buy the base game for $30.
I wish they included the new board in each of them. I don’t want crisis.. but i want the new board in it
Tom you should try Crisis at least! Solo it is fantastic.
I like the expansion, happy to buy it. When a person gets more of something they enjoy it’s only good thing.
FYI… all three do not fit in the base box.
The Kickstarter version came with all 3 expansions in a much larger box, so everything fit. Perhaps they should offer the larger box separately for sale.
I can see this set working, but only if ALL the additions were house ruled.
You're missing out not trying the Crisis expansion. With that expansion it is hands down one of my favorite solo board games. And it was fun in coop too. edit: ... claiming discovery is the best expansion for it, twice... made me vote your video down. It's simply wrong. Crisis is a must have expansion. It is easily a 10.
Wow sounds like every single expansion released is a strike out. Yikes.
Guess I"ll wait to see what fans create for this game.
I'm thinking some "hero" cards might make this game more fun.
Crisis looks fun, but discovery seems to add nearly nothing, and foundations is pointless for solo...
Pretty disappointing.
Every addition in this expansion makes for a swingier, more lopsided game. I don’t recommend this one at all.
Great game. Forget the expansions. 90% of expansions for any game are not necessary. Most of the time expansions are just money grabs.