by ParticleMan
So, like quite a few people, I prefer to ban Planta & Draco from 3p. Played a 3p game on Vassal yesterday and here was the scenario:Initial low techs: 2x Neutron Bomb, 1x Nanorobots, 1x Advanced Robotics, some number of orbitals. No Improved Hull.
Per the rules, choice order was opposite turn order. Last player chose Hydran. Then it was up to me. Since Planta was not available, I faced the choice of either picking Eridani, or knowing Hydran (then the best turtle race available) would get Advanced Robotics. Given that Hydran was picked first and the other turtle races were gone, I figured I had to go aggro in any case (either Orion, Terran or Eridani.) So either:
- face down a +1 disc Hydran as Terran or Orion with no IH, or
- face down normal Hydran as Eridani with a guaranteed +1 disc myself.
Chose Eridani. Grabbed the disc. Got stomped.
Of course it didn't help that the 1st player chose Terran, got an ungodly amount of materials early, then never opposed Hydran. Or that Hydran got his own Advanced Robotics on round 2 (which Terran also passed up.) I could safely say Hydran should never have won that game, that Terran's explosive start should have crushed him, and maybe I could have done a bit better as a result. Nevertheless, I came away with the following thoughts:
- Eridani really does suck
- Eridani might suck most in 3p
- Taking out Planta and Draco as options in 3p MAY cause some balancing issues I didn't factor in (I still think it's more balanced without them though, this was probably a worst-case scenario)
- 3p can go bad really fast unless all the players are experienced
- 3p is probably easiest to win as a turtle due to the above
Comments?
