Terraforming Mars: How's it Play Solo?

[@simonlavender]

The solo isn't mentioned till the end

[@BrianLiles]

Good video Mac. Well explained and thought out. Thanks for taking the time to shoot, edit and post.

[@miguelmanansala9996]

Thanks for the overview!

[@mackern6800]

Thanks for watching, Miguel!

[@rodneyhrvatin9621]

Great video. My question is about the neutral player in the solo player- do you need to set up a separate board for them or how does it work? I know you kind of explained it but I'm still not clear!

[@veerchasm1]

Good job Mac, as always.

[@mackern6800]

veerchasm1 thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@acatisfinetoo6921]

This it´s a perfect game that can be done as a video game!

[@nahailyenvanakkor]

It is now one... and it seems like it's not a very good implementation.

[@alcovitch]

@@nahailyenvanakkor like most board games turned into video games.

[@andyveh221]

If no cards were used, never buying any cards, selling all ten initial cards during the first generation for a total of 51 Megacredits to start with, a player falls short by about five oxygen levels after 14 generations; a game cannot be won without cards. That's the appeal of the game of course: use the drawn cards wisely. (By the way, the cards exhibit great art work and the information given on the cards reflects a number of science fiction novels about Mars, especially Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy.) All solo games can be won after 13 or 14 generations when playing cards wisely. A solo game can even be won by using one of two single cards - if they happen to be drawn during the first generation: while selling the remaining nine cards to get a total of 51 Megacredits to start with, the 6 Standard projects card allows a player to buy all those temperature, aquifers, and greeneries cheaper. The other card is 35 Soletta: again, while selling the remaining nine cards to get a total of 51 Megacredits to start with, Soletta allows to increase temperature quickly, gaining higher terraforming ratings and using that money to buy aquifers and greeneries.

[@alcovitch]

The "artwork" is all public domain images gotten free. It's one of the big cheapo moves from the publisher. They didn't bother making art for this specific game which is why it's so ugly. It looks like a dogs breakfast

[@xanadu1215]

Hi Mike. Good video. You have to do something about your mic, however. You have a bit of an echo. Look forward to more videos.

[@davidpeeters2986]

Hi Mac...great vid...perfect explanation. What kinda sleeves did you use?

[@mackern6800]

David Peeters thanks for watching! I used Mayday Standard Card Game sleeves. They get the job done, but they're not my favorite. For games with lots of cards, I usually use KMC perfect fit sleeves. They're meant to be used as an inner sleeve for double sleeping, but they're cheap and more durable/less flimsy/fit the cards better than penny sleeves.

[@davidpeeters2986]

Mac Kern I used standard pro fit sleeves, size 64mmx89mm, but they make the cards bend because they are so tight and the top 1mm does not fit the sleeve. Are the ones you recommend fit them better?

[@mackern6800]

David Peeters the KMC perfect fit sleeves don't make cards bend like the Ultra Pro perfect fits tend to, correct.

[@JPFalcononor]

I just stumbled upon your channel and am looking forward to watching your vids...my one question is what was your win/lose ratio playing it solo? If you were to say that you always won so it was just a matter to see how high a score you achieved then the game would have less value to me even if it was an immersive experience...however, if you state that you failed to achieve the three goals often as it is a challenge to do, then this would be a game for me...

[@mackern6800]

Hey JP, I actually haven't won yet! To be fair, I've only played solo a couple of times, but even after getting in a few rounds of the multiplayer game and learning the mechanics, I haven't been able to pull off a win. One of the playtesters said it took him 45 plays to win with every possible corporation (including some prototype expansion corporations). I definitely don't think it's too easy so far! Thanks for watching and hope that helps!

[@kennycorbett]

I want this game, still cannot find it that isnt crazy expensive

[@dennox1]

TR starts at 14 in solo

[@brianlong9100]

This game looks great. But the typography in the design is absolutely murdering my aesthetic soul.

[@simoesferreira5277]

The yellow-orange background scares me more. Types are good.

[@shlomaster1]

Will you be doing a run through?

[@mackern6800]

Hi Shlomi, thanks for the interest. I haven't filmed any full-game runthroughs yet, but it's definitely something I've considered.

[@dopestarinc69]

why weren't you using the generation track?

[@mackern6800]

1. I wasn't actually playing the game, I was demoing it. 2. I don't think you can even see the start of the generation track in this video, and that's where the marker would have been.

[@feetoffthesky1]

Hi, we played by going through a draft phase each turn was that incorrect?

[@mackern6800]

Brian Butcher drafting is an official variant, and my preferred way to play multiplayer :)

[@danbednarski9531]

Mars will not terraform itself!