OFCC 2019 - Friday Aug. 16th - Terraforming Mars Showdown!

[Blustorm]

So You Think You Can Terraform Mars – an OFCC event

 

When: OFCC 2019, August 16

Intended Schedule for event is as follows-

 Please note amended schedule is listed in the followup post below.

 Where: The Hilton in Downtown Vancouver

 Why: Because we love playing Terraforming Mars!

 Number of players: 4 players minimum, 10 players max

 Event Style: Depending on the number of players, I will run the event with either one or two editions of the TM game (each copy has a five player max). Each copy will be placed on a separate table. Table 1 will feature the higher ranked players and Table 2 will feature everyone else. At the beginning of the event, players will be assigned to a random table (1 or 2). After the first and second rounds, each player's score will be tallied, recorded, and then he or she will be assigned to a table. If there is an even number of players, each table will have the same number of players (6 players = 3 per table, 8 = 4 per, etc.) If there is an odd number of players, Table 1 will have an extra player assigned, as Table 1 features more competitive play.

 Cost: $10 per player.

 Missions and Scenarios:

Please note, during the course of the event, players are limited to playing a specific corporation only once. What this means, for example, is that if you draw a corporation like Tharsis or Ecoline on the first round and then play that corp for that round, you will not be able to play that corp again during Rounds 2 or 3.

 The first round of this event will feature standard gameplay on the basic TM map. Two corporations will be dealt randomly to each player, with the player choosing a corp, then discarding the other. List of 1^st round corporations: Credicor, Ecoline, Helion, Interplanetary Cinematics, Inventrix, Mining Guild, Phobolog, Saturn Systems, Teractor, Tharsis Republic, Thorgate, and UNMI (United Nations Mars Initiative)

 The second round of this event will feature standard gameplay on the Hellas Map. Three corporations will be dealt randomly to each player, with the player choosing a corp, then discarding the other two. List of 2^nd round corporations: Arcadian Communities, Credicor, Ecoline, Helion, Interplanetary Cinematics, Inventrix, Mining Guild, Phobolog, Recyclon, Saturn Systems, Splice:Tactical Genomics, Teractor, Tharsis Republic, Thorgate, and UNMI.

 The third round of this event will feature standard gameplay on the Elysium Map + the mini-board and cards from the Terraforming Venus expansion. Three corporations will be dealt randomly to each player, with the player choosing a corp, then discarding the other two. List of 3^rd round corporations: Aphrodite, Arcadian Communities, Celestic, Credicor, Ecoline, Helion, Interplanetary Cinematics, Inventrix, Manutech, Mining Guild, MSI (Morning Star Inc.), Phobolog, Recyclon, Saturn Systems, Splice:Tactical Genomics, Teractor, Tharsis Republic, Thorgate UNMI, and Viron

 Aside from the cards, maps and Venus board listed above, no other expansions or TM variant rules will be used (no prelude bonuses, no World Govt. etc.)

 Scoring: When the last round is complete, the individual scores for each of the three rounds for each player will be tallied. Favorite Opponent pins will also be distributed at this time. Bonus points will then be awarded based on completion of Achievements and number of Favorite Opponent pins.

 Achievements: The list of Achievements is currently TBD, but it will contain 15 different achievements, with each one worth between 1 and 3 points. Here are three possible (not definite) examples.

Marineris Mariner: Place the last ocean on Mars during a round. Score 1 extra point

Bombastic Beltalowda: Play at least 5 Asteroid or Comet event cards in a round. Score 2 extra points. Score an extra point if Deimos Down was also played this round

Martian Megalopolis: Score 7+ city tiles at the end of a round. Score 3 extra points.

Once a player has completed an Achievement and verified by TO, it cannot be completed again.

 Awards & Prizes: Each participant will receive a TM promo card (TBD) during Round 2. Individual prizes (Gift Cards or Certs) will also be given for:

Highest total score

Highest single round score (only if 6+ players)

Favorite opponent

Achievement scorer

Lowest score (aka Murphy’s Luck) (only if 6+ players)

 The Highest total score winner will also receive a trophy

 

Please post any questions about the event here.

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE!!

 

 

[Blustorm]

Quick update here. Due to popular demand, the schedule for this event has been tweaked slightly. The following is the new revised schedule:

10:40am = Registration opens

11 – 1:30 Round 1

1:30 – 1:45 = Submit scores, reshuffle cards and prepare tables for next round

1:45 – 4:15 = Round 2

4:15- 4:30 = Submit scores, reshuffle cards and prepare tables for next round

4:30 – 7pm = Round 3 (players on Table 2 have the option of withdrawing if they wish)

7:15 = Prize Ceremony

Regarding the comment for Round 3, if you (a player) are placed on Table 2 during Round 3, you have the option of withdrawing from the event, if you wish. This is to accommodate players who are not in the running for any event prizes/trophies and may wish to attend another Friday evening OFCC (like say a Speed Painting or BB event). Be aware, if a player drops from the event in this manner, he or she will not receive a Favorite Opponent to give out and likewise, is not eligible to receive a FO pin during Round 3. 

Also, the list of Achievements is complete. The list is divided into 3 groups of 5 achievements apiece (15 total), with Group 1 achievements typically worth 1 extra point, Group 2 worth 2 points, etc. I will be revealing individual achievements on the list in the upcoming weeks. 

[Blustorm]

The following is a list of achievements for this event, grouped into three categories based on the number of bonus points earned by completing the achievement. Reminder, once a player has completed an Achievement and verified by TO, it cannot be completed again.

List of Achievements (separated by level)

Level One Achievements

1. Feast or Famine - Receive or lose 8+ tokens of any one resource during a single generation. Score 1 point.

2. Level the Playing Field - Play 3+ event attack cards on opponents in a round. Score 1 point

3. Not Every Land is Fertile- Score 3+ Brown (special) tiles in play at the end of the game. Score 1 point.

4. Rime of the Martian Mariner - Place an ocean in a location contacting at least 3 other ocean tiles. Score 1 point. Score an extra point if you contact 5+ ocean tiles in that location.

5. Rise to Fame- Increase your TR by 5+ points in a single generation. Score 1 point.

 

Level Two Achievements

1. Bombastic Beltalowda - Play 5+ Asteroid or Comet event cards in a round. Score 2 points. Score an extra point if you also played Deimos Down.

2. Mr. Wizard - Have 5+ Builder Tags, 3+ Science Tags, and 1 Animal or Microbe tag in play at the end of the game. Score 2 points.

3. Overachiever - Score all 3 Milestones at the end of a round. Score 2 points.

4. Proficient - Have +20 production in one resource category at the end of your turn. Score 2 points. If that category is Titanium or Power, score an extra point.

5. Zoology major - Have 4+ animal or virus cards in play. Score 2 points

 

Level Three Achievements

1. Green Mars - Score 15+ greenery tiles at the end of round. Score 3 points

2. Investment Reaping - Score a card in play with 10+ tokens or resources at the end of the game. Score 3 points. Score an extra 2 points if you score another card with 10+ tokens or resources.

3. Martian Megalopolis - Score 7+ city tiles at the end of a round. Score 3 points. If you have 2+ non-Martian cities, Score an extra point.

4. No Competition at All - Score all 3 Awards at the end of a round. Score 3 points. 

5. No surprises - Count 15+ tags from all your cards in play at the end of the game. Score 3 points

 

[Blustorm]

Quick announcement this morning, the first two revealed achievements for the OFCC TM event are:

Level 1 Achievement : Feast or Famine: Receive or lose 8+ tokens of any one resource during a single generation. Score 1 point.

Level 2 Achievement : Bombastic Beltalowda: Play 5+ Asteroid or Comet event cards in a round. Score 2 points. Score an extra point if you also played Deimos Down.

Feast or Famine is pretty straight forward. Getting this achievement will require some extensive (and fortunate) card play, but don't forget that you can also receive resources from the map!

I think it's pretty clear that Bombastic Beltalowda is a reference to "The Expanse" where a lot of Belters  toil daily to obtain ice asteroids and comets for the solar system. Getting this achievement will also require some lucky draws. Fortunately, there is a promo card -Small Asteroid- that a couple players "may" have access to in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, thereby giving them a small advantage in completing this achievement.

 

More achievements to come in the following weeks!

[DisruptiveConduct]

love it! cant wait for this.

[Dark Trainer]

On 6/9/2019 at 9:00 AM, Blustorm said:

Quick update here. Due to popular demand, the schedule for this event has been tweaked slightly. The following is the new revised schedule:

10:40am = Registration opens

11 – 1:30 Round 1

1:30 – 1:45 = Submit scores, reshuffle cards and prepare tables for next round

1:45 – 4:15 = Round 2

4:15- 4:30 = Submit scores, reshuffle cards and prepare tables for next round

4:30 – 7pm = Round 3 (players on Table 2 have the option of withdrawing if they wish)

7:15 = Prize Ceremony

Regarding the comment for Round 3, if you (a player) are placed on Table 2 during Round 3, you have the option of withdrawing from the event, if you wish. This is to accommodate players who are not in the running for any event prizes/trophies and may wish to attend another Friday evening OFCC (like say a Speed Painting or BB event). Be aware, if a player drops from the event in this manner, he or she will not receive a Favorite Opponent to give out and likewise, is not eligible to receive a FO pin during Round 3. 

Also, the list of Achievements is complete. The list is divided into 3 groups of 5 achievements apiece (15 total), with Group 1 achievements typically worth 1 extra point, Group 2 worth 2 points, etc. I will be revealing individual achievements on the list in the upcoming weeks. 

 Consider updating the original post to match the new schedule? And yes, all PAID up for this 😎

[Blustorm]

2 hours ago, Dark Trainer said:

 Consider updating the original post to match the new schedule? And yes, all PAID up for this 😎

I've removed the original schedule from the first post and put in a note that the revised schedule is in my 2nd post of this thread.

[Blustorm]

Time for two more Achievements!

Level 3 Achievement : Green Mars - Score 15+ greenery tiles at the end of round. Score 3 points

If you have read Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy series, then you should know this achievement refers the 2nd book of that series. Unless you have Ecoline, Aphrodite, or possibly Recylon as your corporation, you will need to heavily invest in plant cards to get the achievement. 

Level 1 Achievement : Level the Playing Field - Play 3+ event attack cards on opponents in a round. Score 1 point

One of the things I've noticed after having played MANY games of TM, is that the attack cards generally don't see much play. I'm hoping to change that for this event and so I have made an achievement specifically to encourage players to go after their opponents. 

[Blustorm]

Got a couple of unique achievements here in this week's unveiling post.

Level 2 Achievement: Mr. Wizard - Have 5+ Builder Tags, 3+ Science Tags, and 1 Animal or Microbe tag in play at the end of the game. Score 2 points.

For those of you younger than 40, Mr. Wizard was a science teacher turned TV personality who performed experiments and science demonstrations on his show "Mr. Wizard" during the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's (similar to Bill Nye in the 90's). This is another achievement that will require either lucky draws or a good card drawing setup to pull off.

Level 3 Achievement: Investment Reaping - Score a card in play with 10+ tokens or resources at the end of the game. Score 3 points. Score an extra 2 points if you score another card with 10+ tokens or resources.

If you can get a card like Security Fleet or Tardigrades out early enough, you might be able to swing getting this achievement. Ecological Zone, Decomposers, and Pets from the base TM set are also good choices, while the Venus Set has a bunch of Floater cards that can be used to fulfill the achievement. 

[Blustorm]

Two more updates before the event this weekend. In this update, I will discuss three more Achievements out of the 9 remaining. The rest will have to wait until Friday!

Level 1 Achievement: Rime of the Martian Mariner- Place an ocean in a location contacting at least 3 other ocean tiles. Score 1 point. Score an extra point if you contact 5+ ocean tiles in that location.

Looking at the boards, we can clearly see that there are no proper locations to score this achievement on the base Mars board. On the Hellas board, Hellas Planitia is the only area which will work, while on the Elysium board, Amazonis Planitia and surrounding areas are good choices for scoring this achievement. 

Level 2 Achievement: Overachiever- Score all 3 Milestones at the end of a round. Score 2 points.

Once again by looking at the boards, we see that on the base Mars board, you will need to score 3 of the following to fulfill this achievement: Terraformer, Mayor, Gardner, Builder, or Planner. On the Hellas board, meanwhile, you'll need to get 3 from the following: Diversifier, Tactician, Polar Explorer, Energizer, or Rim Settler. Lastly on Elysium, a player will will have to get 3 options from the list there: Generalist, Specialist, Ecologist, Tycoon, or Legend. 

Level 3 Achievement: No Competition at All- Score all 3 Awards at the end of a round. Score 3 points. 

Let's examine the Awards for all 3 boards. On base Mars, you will need to score 3 Awards from the following: Landlord, Banker, Scientist, Thermalist, or Miner. On the Hellas board, you would need 3 out of the following: Cultivator, Magnate, Space Baron, Excentric, or Contractor. Finally on the Elysium board, you will need 3 out of the following: Celebrity, Industrialist, Desert Settler, Estate Dealer, or Benefactor. Play your cards right and you just might be able to get this achievement!

[Blustorm]

As the last update in this thread, I would just like to mention that I have made a slight change to the Awards/Prizes section in the first post. Instead of just one trophy for Best Overall and gift cards/certs for the other 2 spots, I have decided to include trophies for all 3 awards. The trophies will look somewhat similar to the pic in this post. With 4 players and 3 awards, I have also decided to include a special prize for the one player who will not win an award. See you all on Friday!

[Dark Trainer]

@Blustorm the official schedule excel download still shows noon start, you might want to update with 11am start? Just in case any confusion...

[Blustorm]

The list of achievements above is now complete. I did this so that the list will be easily accessible on phone or PC and I will also have a copy with me at the event today. Since there is no further info to be added to this thread, it will now be locked. 

See you all today at the Terraforming Mars event!