Terraforming Mars Playthrough Review

[@adamkaucki8407]

Great to see a detailed playthrough of my favourite game of all time! Plenty of mentions regarding missed things, so no need to repeat those here. Also, you're way too nice to fully appreciate how great this game is - there are 20 or so hate cards, mostly plant destroyers like GIA, BA, Deimos, Comet, Virus, etc and these are all absolutely necessary in a heavy strategy game of this nature. I've seen games swung by someone playing mineral deposit, sabotage, hired raiders and placing end-game greenerys away from cities but on minerals to swing miner, so like it or not, just enough hate makes this game great. I've also seen thermalist swuny by optimal aerobraking's effect. One thing which I ALWAYS do is play with draft mode - pick 1/4, pass, pick 1/3, pass, 1/2, pass, 4th card comes back. The strategy of the draft alone can win or lose you games and hate-drafting is a thing that comes into its own; I absolutely refuse to play without draft as it totally kills major strategy and makes the game unplayable for me. Card draw is king - you asked if there are cards which let you draw more cards, and there are a handful like AI Central, Dev Centre, Business Network, as well as cards that let you draw cards 1 time like Lagrange Observatory, Tech Demo; find these cards and it's a massive help if the situation is right. Pro tip: place player marker cubes beside each blue card to remind you they can be activated during a given generation. You may, however, reach a point where you run out of player marker cubes, as has happened a few times to me; I used a 2nd set of cubes in this case as I had massive prod including 126 MC prod and 40 plant prod. There is a LOT that can go in any 1 action in TM - some gens I've played have lasted 30 minutes alone due to how many action cards and passive effects there can be - e.g., Mars Uni + Olympus Conference + Point Luna effect + playing a space event as IC where you get 3 + 3 + 2 MC rebate + 3 heat which can swing thermalist. You can cycle through the deck this way, which adds another layer of strategy. Also, discount cards mean you can "start" a sequence of actions with 0 MC and end with MC leftover due to, for example, Investment Loan as IC with Media Group --> now you have 15 MC to work with, etc, which is amazing and one of the many reasons I love this game! I will say it is possible but highly unlikely to get 6 VP from Commercial District by SP'ing and/or playing cards like Domed Crater/Cupola City/Open City, etc around Noctis City, then playing Lava Tube Settlement on Pavonis Mons and Urbanised Area SE of Arsia Mons. Also, the white special tile is for the card "Capital" which is a special city that requires 4 ocean tiles and gives you 1 VP per adjacent ocean tile. Yes, the original player boards are garbage as they are flimsy cardboard and you can easily bump/disturb cubes and resources, but the upgraded player boards with the Turmoil expansion fix that issue.

[@AntLabGames]

Wonderful overview!

[@adamkaucki8407]

Thanks! After several thousand hours of gameplay over the board and on steam, and having streamed many games on twitch, I have an intimate knowledge of how things work which helps a great deal in helping others understand how amazing this game is.

[@CCRider2400]

1:07:45 When bumped the heat to -20 you didn't bump up your TP. 1:22:54 He should have got 2 credits for placing an ocean next to an ocean. 1:25:24 She should have got 2 credits for placing city next to an ocean. 1:47:10 Place greenery and didn't get the left you placed it on. 2:04:30 She should have got 2 credits placing a greenery next to an ocean. 2:10:27 He should have got 2 credits placing an ocean next to an ocean. 2:11:15 He gained 3 credit for playing event but put the credits in the heat box. 2:32:10 She placed a greenery that she should have got one plant and 4 credits. 2:33:18 He gain 2 credits for the ocean next to the ocean. 2:34:00 He didn't get his 3 credits for playing event. 2:37:18 She placed city next to ocean should have got 2 credits. 2:42:05 She placed a greenery and should have got 6 credits and a plant.

[@tabathaperez6536]

Wow, great timestamps for their mistakes

[@tabathaperez6536]

I meant that genuinely, it's nice to see if I think I saw a mistake also. I think 53:04 she should have raised her TR up one since she raised the heat, right?

[@skipx5858]

in the last few months you guys have became my fav channel on youtube.keep it up

[@AntLabGames]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@miklosmateantal-konya9665]

skip x c

[@JohnQSpartan]

Great playthrough! Thank you for doing it, can't wait to get my pre-order. One thing you guys were doing wrong is not collecting 2 mega credits per adjacent Ocean tile when placing a new tile to the board. Rulebook Page 5 under Ocean Tile, "Each ocean tile on the board provides a 2 M€ placement bonus for any player later placing a tile, even another ocean, next to it.". Obviously this makes tile placement much more interesting. Also, I believe the Phobos Space Haven card puts a city on the special reserved spot to the left of the Oxygen Track.

[@EagleEye80]

Thanks for a really nice playthrough! You guys are really nice to listen too...Important note: In the beginning you choose corporation AT THE SAME TIME that you choose among your 10 starting cards. This is one of the most important choices you do in the game, and you need to choose a corporation that will work well with your starting hand.I also spotted a number of small mistakes like forgetting to raise TR when you increased temperature (happened at least 2 times), forgetting to take placement bonuses for placing beside water. Sometimes I saw requirements on the cards you played early on that you didnt comment on, so Im not sure you took this in regard (couldnt read it myself though).BUT: Very nice either way! It's a fairly complex game and it's easy to overlook things.Thank you! /Enoch, FryxGames, we are the actual designers and developers (Stronghold is the publisher printing the game on license from us)

[@jmwild1]

According to Setup rules, you get the two corporation cards *and* the 10 project cards, and you then get to choose your corporation after seeing your potential starting project cards. This can influence your decision making process when choosing which corporation you wish to play.

[@Vitao950]

Thanks for saying that. I didn't realize it was in that order.

[@brianlong9100]

The quality of the video is great. It's usually pretty awful trying to watch a playthrough video of a board game like this. Nice job!

[@cherylshoemake6092]

the two of you have become one of my favorite sources for game play through and review. Thanks for what you do!

[@JB-ym4up]

long video but worth it. great game, and the review and play are the usual high quality you can expect from this channel. I believe the left player paid for fusion power 22 mc? then didn't increase energy production by 3. this was around 1:58:00-2:00:00. I don't believe it had a big impact on the game however.

[@veerchasm1]

Great playthrough. I like the steadicam, and even though you are good looking folks I'm glad the focus is on the game😀😉

[@MrDointheboogaloo]

Thanks for the full run through guys! I have my first game tomorrow with some veteran players and needed this to stand a chance!

[@bookaddict777]

I had to watch the playthrough in parts, but I finally made it through. Thank you so much for the playthrough! I hope I get a chance to play this one some day.

[@shlomaster1]

I will set aside 3 hours to watch your video. Thanks for doing the play through

[@tawnertot]

You guys played Caretaker Contract before you actually could. It requires that the heat be at 0 or higher. The only reason that I noticed was because sometimes my friends try to play that card before they can ha ha. You guys are great! I cannot stop watching! :)

[@itnaklipse1669]

nice playthrough! am just learning the game myself and you two were great to listen to and learn from.

[@jonkirk2118]

A very enjoyable play-through of what has fast become a favourite game. Many thanks for making it.

[@TheOldMan-75]

Very well done video. I'll surely check out more of your stuff

[@framebrain]

Really enjoying the play-through! At about 53:25, Francis forgot to bump up her TR when she increased the temperature of the planet.

[@framebrain]

Maybe you don't get TR if you get the bonus off to the left of the temperature track??

[@AntLabGames]

Players should get a TR every time they increase oxygen and temperature, and place an ocean tile regardless of how it triggers.

[@carbondragon]

Great playthrough. A couple of things. First a generation is typically considered to be about 30 years (like a generation in a family). You're not 100 years older than your mother and father unless you're an unusual family! Also, "drafting" cards, as per the variant in the rules involves drawing 4 cards, taking 1 and passing it to the other players. You guys were just drawing 4 cards as per the rules (not using the drafting variant). Liked your camera angle too. It's quite a long game, played it at a con last weekend for the first time.

[@SoIidOcelot]

These guys have really stepped up their game. Great explanations, chemistry, and camera work.

[@vawcer]

This play through has gotten me very excited about this game! Despite being pulled in by the theme, I previously disregarded Terraforming Mars as being too complex for my tastes just by sight and assumption. However, this play through has helped me see that there is lots of depth through mostly just card driven actions. That's great! Definitely picking this up as soon as it is available at flgs. Thanks, and please keep cranking out playthroughs!

[@quantumdjinn]

That was great, I watched the whole thing and am so looking forward to this game. Hint@ before you start filming put a piece of reel tape just beyond the edge of what's visible on camera so when you're filming you can move stuff around and not worry what's being seen.

[@BoardgameswithNiramas]

Great playthrough! :) at 1:08 you should have gotten a MR increase for raising temp ;) Just love this game, waiting for second printing to get my own copy!

[@JokerOzII]

found the channel looking for a playthrough of this game and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. looking forward to watching some of your others.

[@creepyshadow]

Been watching all kinds of videos coming out of GenCon and everyone that's played this has enjoyed it. Defiantly thinking of pre-ordering this one. Also found the both of you through this review / playthrough and have binge watched several of your other playthroughs the last few days. Great Work ! +1 subscriber

[@creepyshadow]

Finally got to play this one a few day's ago on easy mode...and it was top notch. I personally didn't have much trouble with the player board but I can see the possibility of issues of a bumped table or board.

[@oldskidgrey]

Enjoyed everything about the video and review at the end, nice one folks!

[@FightOnGoBlue]

Fantastic play through and review! Thank you both!

[@bushibayushi]

Fantastic gameplay and review, loved it!

[@markm5171]

Great video. Would like to try this game. @ 34:24 a card called asteroid is played. The cost for this card is 14. It's payed with 2 titanium so the cost is lowered by 6 to 8 credits. As you can see in the video only 2 credits are paid afterwards.

[@AntLabGames]

Mark M ha looks like really bad math! I knew she cheated!

[@BGBarbarian]

Top shelf gaming has these great overlays for the player boards that hold everything in place

[@BGBarbarian]

www.topshelfgamer.com/products/overlay-for-terraforming-mars-set-of-1

[@BryantCabrera]

Omg thank you! I've been looking for one.

[@trentvansant2250]

Awesome playthrough! Getting this today! I think in the future for games that require a lot of making change Frances should have her own small pool. Would cut down on some of the playtime

[@PauloRenato23]

One of my most anticipated games of the year :) Thanks for the video :)

[@georgijaxx1557]

Subscribed! Awsome vid guys keep it up!

[@Grnademaster]

at the 52:00 mark or so. Playing "Caretaker Contract" was illegal. It requires temp to be minimum 0°C.

[@jackgibson7151]

I appreciate all your videos! You two are great together and really help out with learning games! I've bought the overlays for Terraforming Mars and Great Western trail from Board Game Boost, but was wondering what you guys use for your token/cube/money storage in all your games. Thanks for the info!

[@AndreaColetta]

Very usefull video, but I have to say that the Phobos Colony card requires you to place the city on the specific position that is not on Mars surface.?

[@ansonvergens2896]

You are great guys! Greetings from Greece!

[@AntLabGames]

Thank you!!!

[@alessandrocalamida4938]

Phobos has to be put in its specific space out of Mars.

[@doniscool0007]

I really dig those cube holders. Could you point me from where to buy them ?

[@hypnodink]

Really enjoyed this playthrough. Well done. Any chance you'll be doing a similar video for Scythe?

[@SuperDar29]

Greetings from Poland !!! Nice game

[@DPruett2333]

Great video ! Where did you get those containers from to hold your pieces?

[@joshhaas7240]

"Jovian tag, and that's a picture of saturn" ... nope try again XD

[@Lemankus]

Good game, although some misses as other people have also noted. At 1:49, Francis enacted Fusion Power to bump her Energy production up 3, but never took it :(

[@robinmiller6587]

can you please post a link to where you got those nice clear plastic cube containers? Do they all fit into the game box?

[@Grnademaster]

1:22:00 "Giant Ice Asteroid" - You do not have to zap RESOURCES from anyone with red-bordered icons (especially from yourself with that, that was insane), but you must reduce a red-bordered PRODUCTION (zapping your own production in this way just might be useful in a few odd circumstances).

[@jcdrake01]

Thanks for this very informative and entertaining video. I'm playing this tomorrow for the first time and I'm very excited. Can you tell me what are the cups your are using to hold the components? I'd love to buy a set like them for my gaming table.

[@mattparker7932]

At 21:00 you placed your ocean tile, but forgot to draw your card!

[@LordCyler]

So I'll be grabbing this one as soon as its released at my LFGS. But I am also concerned with the player mats and would like to upgrade these. I've seen the BGG 3D print files for a recessed player board and will be considering it, but I've also considered replacing the cubes with a token of some kind. My question is - If I were to make the move to different tokens representing each resource, how many would I be looking at getting? I imagine at late stages of the game where production is high and there are 4 players, this number could get really high. The reason the current system works is because you have a 1, 5, & 10 denomination for each resource. With only a single denomination (1 token = 1 resource), will there be enough room on the player board? Any other thoughts on how to manage this or are we stuck working with the system as is? Hoping to get some more ideas. Thanks!

[@JohnQSpartan]

Well ... I'd say using different size and shaded cubes (or whatever) for each resource would be the way to go. Yellow = mc; brown/beige = steal; black/grey/silver = Titanium; Green = Plants; Red/Orange = Heat ...

[@maxhansen513]

On the BGG page, someone has posted a file for a 3D overlay for this. Seems to me a must-have

[@AntLabGames]

Without a doubt. I'll have to go check it out.

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

heres what i do to check more easily those blue cards trigger effect,my corporation or where my effect cards are so i can check their effects for example if you play with a blue color cubes then put green color markers on the top middle spot of each card with an effect, so when you checking that turn is there some effect you can activate its a LOT easier to spot green little cube (player marker) than which card is blue and has effect so when you checking for effects you just fast check those cards with green cubes on them and also if card is with an action you activate you put 1 green cube on it and if its an effect card you put 2 green cubes, this way you can fast check cards that can be triggered during your opponents turn instead of checking cards only you can activate(action cards) and for example other red color player should use yellow cubes to mark cards with effects, and as you already know when you spend action to activate that blue card if you are for example a blue color player you put blue cube in the top left corner of that card so you know that during this generation you used that card action effect what i wanted to say those top left blue marker and green cube on the top middle of the card looks cool, very smart way to keep more organized tracking of what you do in this never ending game i hope this was helpful for future players of this game

[@mrsvec1290]

Awesome video. You two are doing great job! Is there any way to shorten the game to play a faster game? Moving up the oxygen and heat?

[@AntLabGames]

Thanks for the feedback! Aside from excluding the corporate era cards, I'm not sure. You could possibly advance the heat and oxygen tracks, but you would also need to place some ocean tiles. Would be a good idea to pose this question on BGG forums.

[@stevefratus1546]

I know this is wicked old but why not just start the game with the tracks already moved up some. It would render some cards useless from the outset but who cares?

[@adamkaucki8407]

Play with prelude to jumpstart your engine. Increasing any of the TR tracks outside of prelude is imo a terrible idea that totally kills the strategy and enjoyment of this amazing game. There is SO much to think about from initial corp and card choices to end-game greenery conversions, and by detracting from that by artificially shortening the game, the game is most certainly not worth playing at all.

[@macurvello]

Do these "petri dishes" where you store the cubes come with the game?

[@AntLabGames]

Marco Curvello we bought those at a craft store. They are actually bead holders.

[@macurvello]

I figured, but thought I would ask anyway =) Thx for the reply!

[@chuckm1961]

"Saturn Systems" corporation card says the Effect of the Jovian tag applies to THE CARD ITSELF, so you should have started with your MC rate already at one, even before the first card play of the game. Correct? Thanks for the great video.

[@AntLabGames]

You are correct! I said, but never did it. Thanks!

[@chuckm1961]

Yep. Hey, where did you get those nice, clear component holders for the cubes?

[@AntLabGames]

The clear cups are bead containers from Michaels crafts. Frances says you can get these from any craft store. They are super inexpensive.

[@saykhia]

Such an incredible game. All the mechanics just work together so well! But I wish the game had better graphic design and colour palette (any chance of a 2nd edition sometime soon?)

[@user-of5bd9xf4s]

I feel like frances was ahead and on top of her game with the strategy but she didnt optimize for victory points. Like the awards, i had my eye on the temperature one since the beginning but she wasnt focused on the vps even though they are what determines if you win. I think she was ahead over all but didnt focus enough on what counted the most points

[@wolfgirlval]

what is the other marker for? the other round one that looks like maybe a moon?

[@aaronandtorivick2637]

Thank you. I love this game. My son enjoys it as well.

[@futureguyfromthepast]

Great video. Thank you!

[@UnluckyHydra]

I think @FeMaiden covered all the mistakes I noticed. Not sure if any of them get caught later but if you both had fun, then that's all that matters.

[@Grnademaster]

By playing the Saturn Systems corp. in the beginning of the game, you should have increased your MЄ production by 1 for the Jovian tag on the corp. card. You forgot to do that, so ultimately you got 1 MЄ less for every generation.

[@GrandElemental]

I hate to be "that guy", but you consistently forgot about the 2M€ bonus from placing any tile next to an ocean tile.

[@studioleopold95]

Hi, you played caretaker contract (which requires 0 C or warmer) at -26 (should have been -24). Correct?

[@baikbaikmotorbike]

the yellow player forgets to increase her TF rating after moving the temp up from -26 to -24 degrees. I do appreciate the playthrough but have to put it out there

[@bgm-1961]

Regarding your comments about the components.... I wish my cubes were made of metal. Underneath the shiny metalic finish is a plastic cube. And unfortunately, a lot of my cubes were chipped in the corners, right out of the box, exposing the boring plastic.

[@Veryghoster]

at 1:21:55 or you may not to decrease anyone plant at all.

[@KimDahl77]

1h 15min didnt pay for card. That happened quite a few times actually

[@AntLabGames]

KimDahl77 I catch that and pay for it at 1:17.

[@stevefratus1546]

I literally just got this game. I didn’t realize it was at least three years old. Geez. Anyway while I agree with your review for the most part I have to say that when it comes to the components the player boards are definitely garbage but what about those cards? Anthony you said you liked them and I agree the graphics and artwork are great and the sheer amount of cards is awesome but they are almost as flimsy as the player boards. I wish they were a better stock.

[@chtulurr]

You guys are awesome !!!!!

[@BryantCabrera]

At @2:11:00 the male player got 3 income for playing an event card, but he put it into heat. What let him do this?

[@funkypunkypine]

TheBryantCabrera He has Optimal Aerobraking in play. It's a blue card that rewards the player with 3 Megacredits AND 3 heat units whenever they play an event card. So he was correct in saying he gets $3 but he actually forgot to collect it and instead only collected the heat.

[@mattlowder]

I hated this game until I played it. Now I really like it. But that player board is inexcusable for it's MSRP cost. How can Scythe and Sagrada and other games understand this but not Stronghold Games. They are constantly dropping the ball on components and functionality. It holds back so many of their titles. Terraforming Mars needs a reprint with better boards and counters, or a third party solution -- which PLAYERS AND CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR in the first place.

[@Femaiden]

it's funny when they are picking the corporations and they both complain that the choices they got suck, while at the same time attempting to reassure the the other of having an overpowered one... also, when describing his corporation card, he says : "you see on my card it has a Jovian symbol, if you look in the upper right, there's a picture of Saturn". Captain Picard says : "Get this man off my bridge!" also, he forgot to draw the +3 free project cards for his corporation. . . 18 minutes in, she didn't pay for her micro mill, at 1:02:20, she played research outpost and did not read the full text of the card. it says "place a city NEXT TO NO OTHER TILE" (that's how it is printed on the card, with all caps) which I interpret as meaning you can't put it next to any tiles, like a greenery or a water tile or anything. so it doesn't follow the same rules for city placement, it is more restrictive. although it's moot because she ended up placing it correctly anyway . . .so just an fyi 1:07:15, strategy suggestion = she spends 8 heat to raise the temperature, and then he responded by raising the temperature as well and claiming the bonus. she then says she knew he was gonna do that. so she should not have done what she did, instead, she should have waited until the next generation when she would have had 16 heat and then used 2 actions to bump it up and claim the bonus for herself. also when he bumped up the heat, he forgot to give himself the TR 1:25:25, she did not take the 2 money. you get 2 money whenever you place something next to an ocean tile. 1:28:20, strategy suggestion, he placed his third city and met the conditions to claim the milestone, he should have used his second action to do that before she had the opportunity... and then later he's all like, "ohh, that's terrible, you stole it out from under me" when he had like 3 opportunities to claim it before she did. . . then at 1:48:30, she plays the fusion reactor and then forgets to increase her energy production.

[@stevegeorge7773]

May I suggest putting a link to boardgamegeek.com for the games you play.

[@imbaba1976]

01:16 ..... and what about paying the card cost? 😀

[@TomBartol]

What do you vape

[@warlord76i]

Take your DAMN PLANTS backkkkkk. :-)))))))))

[@alexstepanov2763]

хорошая игра. молодцы ребята, всё подробно

[@CCRider2400]

Turn 1: she forgot to pay 3 for the 2nd card. And he didn't draw a card for his 3rd event.

[@tabathaperez6536]

54:57 - it's pronounced lai-ken 😊

[@hatchimmmmm]

After seeing this I think I prefer on mars from Lacerda

[@KabukiKid]

Lichen is pronounced like LIE-KIN. Odd word, I know. :-)

[@samiamagaimagain]

This game doesn't seem like Frances' cup of tea. She seems to like the theme but the mechanics don't seem very intuitive for her. She seems to be the better euro player though.

[@richardscales9560]

I like but editing some of the thinking time pauses would be nice (and stop me yelling 'get on with it')

[@Grnademaster]

Such a great game. I've played over 200 games of this. Best advice for people who love this game and multiple plays would be to buy the acrylic overlays from www.meeplerealty.com. They are amazing.

[@vincetugg25]

Take your plants back lol

[@1981dardar]

way more professional than rahdo...

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

cindy tang hey Cindy honey watch what you saying for our dear and beloved Jeff Goldblum !!! :D

[@neilevans6331]

paydirt board playrough

[@BoardgameswithNiramas]

Please add me on Tube Table list btw :)

[@kosterix123]

nice. but please don't keep interrupting the girl. seems like a great game, for non-working gamers.

[@FranzBazar]

Ugh

[@randomfleming]

*receive research cards* "...interesting..." Almost every time. :)

[@Sulucion6Tone]

Was hoping to see a Solo play of the game personally; but you two together made it very entertaining :) .

[@webprobitaille]

Some mistakes in this playthrough! You have forgotten things many times.

[@Xp913]

Man, this is hard to watch, 22min in and the dude forgot to bump his income one, due to corp card, and draw a card from his red card.... now i need a break from this video, to forget the mistakes and watch the next 2½ hour.

[@brandonzappala8508]

This sucks...