Learn Every Terraforming Mars Expansion in 12 Minutes

[@sebadg5702]

Prelude, Hellas and Colonies is my goto in terms of expansions. The combination is just great (also with Prelude, Corporate Era feels so smooth compared to vanilla).

[@Prismatic_Rain]

Agreed. The game gets bloated when trying to play with more than 1 of the "big" expansions at a time. So for me it's a choice between do we use Venus, Colonies, or Turmoil this time. Colonies is also my favorite from that list.

[@mikaelious9550]

I know this is years old, but one little correction: When you trade with a Colony, the colony marker moves ALL THE WAY to the left if it can. So it can go to the first (0) square if there are no colonies built. Other than that, very nice video! Brief, concise yet on-point and easy to follow.

[@RTFM]

Yep, someone pointed that out a while back and there's a note in the description, but thanks for the spot!

[@mikaelious9550]

@@RTFM Ah, funny how I noticed it but missed the explanation. 😅

[@Metroidam11]

How do you not have more subscribers? This video was so good!

[@RTFM]

Thank you so much!

[@Crovax123]

7:20 I think you don't stop at the second space, if there's no colonies. You go to the bottom of the the track

[@RTFM]

Ah, quite right. Thanks for catching that!

[@avunz125]

May I know which one is your favorite? Prelude is pretty good when in a rush, but the depth of Turmoil and Colonies are great to maintain my interest towards the game!

[@RTFM]

Prelude is something I'll include in every game going forward. It's just so easy to add and makes the first turn so much more meaningful. As for the rest of them, I'd say Colonies. It brings something new and since you use different colonies each time, it keeps games fresh.

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

Avunz Turmoil is garbage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 colonies fantastic expansion, right in the spot ! prelude and event cards i am not counting as expansion even it is an actual expansion, because prelude and event cards should be in the original version of the game ! its a must for the original, so incomplete game without these cards

[@TwinFlower90]

I love playing with Colonies (and the one time with turmoil) it adds alot of player interactions, something TM is missing.

[@nantucket_]

Very helpful breakdown of the expansions! Thank you for making this

[@RTFM]

No problem, glad I could help!

[@pixxelwizzard]

Thanks for this video! I skipped Venus Next and Turmoil, but picked up the rest. Still need to get Colonies to the table.

[@RTFM]

Of the three you mentioned, Colonies is definitely my favorite. Hope you like it!

[@GGdeTOURS37]

Great videos! I only like Hellas & Elysium and Prelude! With the base game plus those two > You can play for years (together with the other thousands things you can do in life lol)!

[@Traquan]

This is an excellent video, very helpful in deciding which expansions to get (or not). Very good pace as well! The only criticism I have is that you skipped too much for the Hellas & Elysium expansion. I understand that you didn't want to list all 20 milestones and rewards, but I would have liked one or two examples and some explanation about how they affect your strategies. Thanks for making this video!

[@lynnburke2266]

Good overall explanation of All the expansions! Prelude really jumpstarts the game, think it's the best one of them all. Won't play the base game without it n it's fairly easy to integrate n learn. Hellas/Elysium fun n adds variety without any need to learn new game rules n definitely changes strategy with new title placement n milestones/awards. Venus is alright. Colonies seems to clutter the table but it is an extra way to get resources. Really like Turmoil.. esp after watching this video. Thank you 🎲

[@RTFM]

No problem! Glad you liked it

[@lynnburke2266]

After rewatching this video couple more times.. I now know how to play colonies correctly. I unfortunately did not have it well explained to me the first time round, hence why I didnt give it higher marks.. BUT now it is a fun expansion , still takes up table space tho 😉

[@antonlumijoki1809]

Absolutely awesome expalanation of all the rules! Well done, it was a pleasure to watch this :)

[@RTFM]

Thanks! Glad I could help!

[@AllenLifelongTexan]

Just started playing terraform Mars, stumbled across your channel. Love the channel name LOL! Some of us in tech know exactly what it means. 😀

[@RTFM]

Thanks! When I first picked the name I thought it was a much more commonly understood acronym. I have since learned that this isn't the case, but oh well, I still like it.

[@andyscout]

Wow, Turmoil seems weird. But I guess it's cuz it's the only one I haven't played with yet. Will probably make more sense once we've had a chance to sit down with it.

[@RTFM]

It's definitely the odd one out as far as the expansions go. But yeah, give it a try and see if it's for you.

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

Turmoil donald trump playing pool and slapping the balls with his ears makes more sense than turmoil its awful expansion

[@helvard]

Nice video - shows that the only expansions that really add new rules are Colonies and Turmoil

[@ivanlesmanna6491]

Your shirt so cool

[@bertman4]

SMBC shirt! Great overview! Just started playing TM, digital version.

[@chrisgoff6819]

Well now I'm going to have to get all these add ons

[@maximilianberbechelov]

Always playing with all of them combined. It's really weird people decide to play a heavy-ish game like TfM and then cry it's "too complicated"for them :D

[@OverlordZephyros]

At first its complicated but after a few games its easy to understand. But im mostly soloing the game so I cannot say anything beyond that lol

[@Shadenium1]

Boardgamegeek gives it difficulty of 3,2 out of 5. So basic version is an entry(!) for midcore(!) gamers. By playing more and more you can get them to be comfortable with more addons. If you're hardcore, you can start with everything, of course. If you want more people to become interested, then start with basic and then build up. Even greatest of mathematicians start with 2+2 in kindergarten.

[@virtualcolditz]

What a superb video - thanks for making it. I think you sum up all the stuff really well :)

[@MrTroxel]

So, I don't think I'm ready to add new mechanics to TM, but I do like having more corporation and project cards. Are the new corporation and project cards added in the expansions mostly focused on the new mechanics each expansion brings in or would they still be worthwhile using only the base game board? It was a great video! I think I'll pick up prelude based on what you said.

[@RTFM]

Definitely get prelude. There are a couple new corps and project cards there IIRC. The expansions' cards do largely revolve around their new mechanics, but not 100%. You'd have to do a fair bit of work to separate the cards that do from the cards that don't though.

[@Ashl3yLookyPikash]

Hello! I was wondering which expansion is worth getting? Because I'm thinking of only getting Turmoil and prelude. Currently am in *turmoil* while my friends encourage me to go for the rest. I feel that Venus is an extra that is completely optional in a sense that my gaming group wouldn't increase Venus or terraform Venus at all. While for colonies, it looks fun but at the same time it just adds extra ways to get resources and it increases the already long game time. Last but not least I just wanted to say, great video and that I've subscribed because of how well made this video was.

[@RTFM]

My personal favorites are Prelude and Colonies. While Venus is definitely optional, there are plenty of reasons to go for it in addition to everything else. I'd say if you're interested in Turmoil, then go for it. All of them (except Prelude) are going to increase the game length, so it's just a matter of which one piques your interest best.

[@mattlowder]

only like Hellas & Elysium and Prelude -- all you need.

[@picivyvortac2641]

Man, I've heard people order the expansions (best to worst) prelude, colonies, Venus, turmoil, but honestly mine is prelude, turmoil, colonies, then a distant Venus. It really doesn't do much for me.

[@codybryan6554]

Are all expansions compatible with one another? What are the best ones to combine?

[@RTFM]

All expansions are compatible, though playing with every single one might be a bit much. I'd say Prelude is the most valuable one and Colonies adds the most interesting new mechanics. If you're looking to start out, I'd go for the those two first.

[@BrianHazardVideos]

Solid

[@kevinrivera5554]

What do people think of Turmoil expansion?

[@sagarsoni5378]

Got my terraforming mars base game, all things aside who is doing quality checks for this game , components are just thrown in biz flimsy box, thin cardboard, player mat is also like paper greeting card thin the max retail price does not justify that.. caper Europe is half price or less, the art work the cars the material even.on user manual is just fantastic

[@ramstab]

not seeing any info about ares expedition, is that a standalone game?

[@RTFM]

It is, yes. Very similar, but has all it's own rules.

[@ramstab]

@@RTFM thanks, just did my research a bit and based off your vid, the Elysium and Hella expansion should be on their way soon, great addition to the base game without changing too much stuff around!

[@RTFM]

@@ramstab Glad I could help!

[@krishnaprasadb5712]

Do we play with Hellas and elysium board in addition to the main board?

[@RTFM]

Nope, pick one at the beginning of the game.

[@krishnaprasadb5712]

@@RTFM thanks

[@StuartHetzler]

i have colonies. i need prelude. i want the maps. and now i'm confident i dont want turmoil ever. thanks!

[@RTFM]

Glad I could help!

[@fiskenburg007]

What is the moon token from the base game? It looks like the first player token.

[@RTFM]

I'm pretty sure it's just an extra piece from how they managed their punchboard. Games have them occasionally. I like to collect them, but there doesn't seem to be any real purpose.

[@derpz_]

I use the extra token as a turn marker. So now we have the regular token indicating the generation's first player *and* the player currently in turn.

[@joeldipops]

@@derpz_ This was needed for my wife and I because our son would interrupt us so constantly and by the time we got back to the board, no-one could remember whose turn it was.

[@RaidsEpicly]

Arctic Algae triggers on solar phase placing oceans!?!?! WTF why couldn't I find those rules anywhere last game? I lost it by 2 TR and would totally have won with all those extra plants!

[@RTFM]

Oh no! Yeah sometimes those rules can be tucked away like that.

[@frotes]

Yea all cards that trigger from an objective still happen from WG, just not the base effect. You can think of it like WG is a player so all the perks go to them

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

RaidsEpicly that now a problem, i can sell you a time machine for 200 dollars so you can go back and make things right ! we got a deal ? oh yeah, i forgot to mention, its probably broken, soooooo... :D

[@ugurhaskoy1039]

turmoil look like better than other expansion

[@seanbroderick6358]

Those all look good except Turmoil. It’s a fascinating system but just doesn’t feel like what I want out of this game. Maybe will change when I try it

[@Josh-rd5dw]

whats the point of the 2 spaces on the two planets? it gives you no points... someone tell me why ts a good place to place it there

[@RTFM]

Hey Josh, I'm not quite sure what you're asking about? Do you mean Phobos Space Haven and Ganymede Colony? If so, those are attached to specific cards in the deck that are worth points and have other abilities. If not, would you mind giving me some more details like which expansion/component you're referring to?

[@Shadenium1]

@@RTFM I thought that he refers to Colonies-Satellites with empty squares for resources, but main map outer space cities only match his description. That's basic game with no addons. You can place cities here with 2 special cards only that are called 'Colony on Ganymede' and 'Phobos space haven'.

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

i guess we will never know, RIP Josh :( darn you corona virus ! darn you !!!

[@ifer1280]

I fail to see what Venus adds to the game. I've played one game with it, and it just pollutes the deck with filler cards.

[@RTFM]

I think the appeal of Venus is variety. With just the base game you go through a lot of the cards each game. Sure you don't see all of them, but after a couple games the worry is it'll follow the same beats. I think the idea was to just mix it up a bit more. For me Prelude and Colonies are the best expansions though.

[@NeededANewName1]

Venus is toxic, dense, and hot? Sounds like my ex.

[@hunterthorne4671]

Seems like prelude is the only one worth getting, the other ones seem complicated, and don't add much that seems interesting

[@RTFM]

If that's how you feel, then yeah go for Prelude. I really like Colonies too, but to each their own.

[@Shadenium1]

​@@RTFM I'm more inclined to like Turmoil, because it adds 'seriousness' and scale to the game. Creates some random events as 'weather and cataclysms' in other board games, but here we have political events. War is a cataclysm, you can say. You wouldn't feel Prelude if it was included in basic version.

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

Hunter Thorne you are wrong, every expansion is soooooo worth buying, really makes this game more fun and more complete expansion except buying turmoil, i am not even counting that one as expansion, its some garbage political stuff you dont need well unless you own 30k child soldiers or you are in drug business

[@alcovitch]

@@decakjeisaozasuncem8843 what?

[@joelmonteiro1419]

Honestly, I was only interested in Prelude and Hellas & Elysium. Everything else seems like unnecessary doses of complexity that don't seem to work as their own mini board games inside a board game.

[@hunterthorne4671]

Interesting, most of these expansions seem to make the base game worse

[@RTFM]

Depends on your preferences, I guess. I don't much care for Turmoil, but I play with the rest of them. I think Prelude is essential, and I really like Colonies. Venus Next I could take or leave, but I certainly don't mind it.

[@Niwea002]

Gold experience requiem

[@waferjuice]

Turmoil is too complicated ...

[@RTFM]

It is definitely a bit more complicated than the others, and I wouldn't want to play with all of them at once, but it does add a new layer to the game that could spice it up if you feel it needs it.

[@frotes]

It seems that way but once you get use to it, it’s not that much. You really just need to follow the steps very carefully when executing end of generation. A good player aid from BGG helps a lot too

[@decakjeisaozasuncem8843]

waferjuice its not so complicated, and not complicated games becomes boring very fast the problem with turmoil is not that its too complicated, its too trash expansion actually !