Twilight Imperium

This page is created so we can more easily discuss this weekends Twilight Imperium game. Heck, we can probably keep it around so we can hopefully learn from it (gasp). Use the discussion page to discuss things relevant to TI itself, while the discussion portions in each section for something relevant only to one section.

Current Game

The next scheduled game is the day after Thanksgiving.

Reserved Spots

1. Jason
2. Dieter
3. Amir
4. Steve
5. Chris
6. Dave

Anyone want 7 or more?

Variants

Nobody wants to play a vanilla game for 9 hours. We have TI3 as well as Shattered Empire, and both will be utilized. What we need to determine is which variants and house rules we should use. This is where we discuss that.

A more comprehensive listing of what each variant encompasses can be found here: Twilight Imperium Variants
The following variant or optional rules can be considered canon for all games unless specifically rescinded: Dreadnought hits, Accelerated Setup, No Sudden Victory.

11-23-2012

WE WILL START WITHOUT YOU IF YOU ARRIVE LATE. BE WARNED

Copies of previous discussion points will be placed here for discussion of this specific instance.

Leaders (yes/no)?
Yes- Dieter the Bold

TI Strategy Card Sets

Artifacts (yes/no)?
No-Dave
Yes-Regular Chris
Yes- Dieter the Bold

Facilities (yes/no)?
Yes-Dave
No-Regular Chris
No- Dieter the Bold

Sabotage Runs (yes/no)?
No-Regular Chris
Yes- Dieter the Bold

Wormhole Nexus (yes/no)?
Yes-Dave
Yes-Regular Chris
Yes- Dieter the Bold

Voice of the Council (yes/no)?
No-Regular Chris
No- Dieter the Bold

Shock Troops (yes/no)?
Yes-Dave
Yes-Regular Chris
Yes- Dieter the Bold

Tactical Retreats (yes/no)? Allows you to expend a Command Counter from the Strategy pool to Activate a system to retreat into (VS only retreat into previously Activated systems)
Yes-Regular Chris
Yes- Dieter the Bold

(NEW!) Technology Stimulus- When exhausting a planet with a technology specialty to purchase technology, you receive an appropriately colored token that can be saved, traded, or spent to reduce the cost of technologies of the same color. (yes/no)?
No-Regular Chris

(NEW!) War Pigs- The winner of combat between two fleets receives 1 Trade Good for each destroyed non-fighter unit. (yes/no)?
No-Regular Chris

(NEW!) Resource Planning- During the Status phase, before Objectives are claimed, unexhausted planet cards can be exhausted to generate Trade Goods at a 2:1 rate (2 production = 1 trade good) (rounded down).
No-Regular Chris

(NEW!)Bonus tokens may be exchanged for either 1 Command Counter or 2 Trade Goods.
Yes-Regular Chris
Yes- Dieter the Bold

Setup

For this game we should come up with some setup variant, but I am not sure what. Place your thoughts here. The important factors are: Speaker token, first choice of race, starting position. Here is what I propose.

In the end, we have to do something randomly, so start by dicing off for an order. In the dice order, choose from the following:

1. Choose any available race.
2. Choose a starting position.
3. Take the speaker token and 4 trade goods.
4. Take 6 trade goods.

After everyone has chosen, any remaining decisions are handled randomly. Starting positions will be determined before races. The universe will be set up when everyone arrives. Once we are set and ready we will draw 9 races from the available races to be the potential races.
--Dieter the Bold 00:35, 19 October 2012 (MST)This is an interesting idea. What about if we push things a little further and choose 2 of the best races, 2 of the worst, then 5 in the middle. If we have six players, we'll have 2 good races to compete against, but the rest of the group will be in superior starting position or have a serious production edge. Second Proposal: Do we want to allow for Command Counters to be taken instead of Trade Goods (at 2:1)?
--Jason 12:12, 19 October 2012 (MST)You have some really good points there. I like the command counters idea. Maybe we can make it you can take up to 1 (maybe 2) command counters at the 2 for 1 rate you mention. Though I think one thing that gets missed is, if we use accelerated setup, like we have every game since the first one, those extra trade goods can make a huge difference. I think your races idea is sound too. My proposed available races: Ysaaril, L1Z1X, Embers of Muaat, Emirates of Hacan, Federation of Sol, Winnu, Universities of Jol-Nar, Sardakk N'orr, and The Mentak Coalition.
--Dieter the Bold 22:16, 19 November 2012 (MST) I've changed my mind about having a large swing between races. Why don't we drop the L1Z1X and the Sardakk N'orr? The L1Z1X are amazingly strong, especially with the No Sudden Victory ruleset we're using, and the Sardakk N'orr straight up suck. Add in the Letnev, Naalu and Clan of Saar?

Previous Discussion On This Topic

--Dieter the Bold 14:13, 24 May 2012 (MST) So we: (1) Set up the galaxy map, (2) Roll dice, (3) Starting from the highest roll, make one choice from the above list, (4) Are randomly assigned a starting position (if one wasn't chosen in (3)), (4) Are randomly assigned a race (if one wasn't chosen in (3))? Am I understanding this right?
--Jason 14:19, 24 May 2012 (MST)The galaxy will be set up when everyone arrives, otherwise yes. If you wish to participate in this setup, come early. (I just got double wikiblocked!!)
--Dieter the Bold 14:27, 24 May 2012 (MST) How many players do we have? When is set-up going to take place?
--Jason 14:32, 24 May 2012 (MST)We have either 5 or 6 players. I spoke to Corey on the phone last night, and he said he will let us know tonight if he is in. I think galactic setup needs to be completely by 11:30 so we dont delay the game. In previous game days I have found it to get really hectic around game start time, because people are late and start arriving about then. If everything is done 30+ minutes in advance we can ensure it is not an issue. Alternatively, if we are done with Evergreen Initiative at a reasonable hour we could do it after game Friday night.
--Dieter the Bold 18:41, 24 May 2012 (MST) What do you think about drafting our hands of systems before laying them down?
--Jason 20:30, 24 May 2012 (MST)Its a waste of an hour, and with players of vastly differing experience levels it could be a real cluster. Right now we are looking at a projected end time around midnight assuming we eat quickly.
--Dieter the Bold 20:34, 24 May 2012 (MST) I meant during set-up, not with all the players there. So either after EI tomorrow or at 11:30. Just a way to more evenly distribute systems before they get laid out.
--Jason 20:58, 24 May 2012 (MST)Oh yeah, sure. Thats totally fine. Anyone who is there can take a stack.

Slightly Crazier Setup Option

This is a variant on what is above. This allows real nuttiness. What this will do is allow anyone to use (virtually) any variant they choose, for a price. Twilight Imperium For Loonies.
--Jason 12:37, 19 October 2012 (MST)This will be super hard to implement, but I would love it if people are willing.
--Dieter the Bold 22:18, 19 November 2012 (MST) Too crazy for now. I vote no.

Food

What should we have? Who wants to bring what snacks?

This is will be the day after Thanksgaming, so we should have some turducken, but given that it will be two big days in a row, some supplemental food is suggested.

Snacks

Who is bringing what?

--Dieter the Bold 22:18, 19 November 2012 (MST) I'll have whatever chips, pop, nuts and crackers survived Thanksgaming

Deprecated Game discussion: 12-19

What follows is the discussion from the game which occurred 12-19.

Dreadnoughts

The discussion seems to be going in this direction, so here (unless there are objections) are the changes: Dreadnoughts roll 2 dice instead of 1 AND their first hit must be applied to a non-fighter if possible.

Distant Suns

We will be using Distant Suns. This means exploration and other cool stuff. We have never tried this before.

Other Optional Rules

Do we want any other optional Rules like leaders etc?

• Dave: I vote no leaders. We have enough new variants with distant suns and modifying the Dreadnoughts.

Races

Some people want to choose races before we begin. Here is what I propose. Those of you who want to pick races, they are first come first served. Write your name next to them and somehow taunt Dieter and tell David he is retarded. Choices will not be honored if all steps are not followed.

When we get together to actually play the game, those who did not choose a race (and select randomly) will have first choice of where they want their home system to be located.

Discussion

JASON: I dont really see a fair way to pick races beforehand, unless we do something crazy like let Amir, who has never played, pick everyones race. That could be fun.

JASON: One more thing, the secret objectives are important to play styles, so I was thinking that unless anyone has an objection Rumi can randomly draw secret objectives for us and email them so we know them as well. Maybe she can randomly draw us races too?

Dave: I have no problem with Rumi drawing the secret objectives and races in advance

Food

Dieter is a pussy-ass vegetarian so he is going to Gabes-Mom up our whole meal, but we live with it and instead smear him across the galaxy mercilessly. Here are the choices. Vote or get left in the dust.

Billy McHales BBQ: 1/4 chicken, baby back ribs, beans, carribean veggies, stuffed potatoes for about 7.89pp

Circo Mexican: Build your own taco with beef, chicken, black and re-fried beans, rice, sour cream, guac, salsa, chips 6.69pp

Fortune Chinese: Assorted appetizers, assorted sauteed vegetables, broccoli chicken, gen taos chicken, mongolian beef, shrimp lo mein, steamed rice 6.69pp

Gyro House Greek: Beef, lamb, chicken, hummus, rice, salad, pita, sauces: 7.50pp

Cha Cha Thai: Phad thai with chicken or tofu, red curry with beef, mixed vegetables in garlic, fresh rolls, rice 7.75pp

BJs: Pastas for a half pan are about 30, and salads for about 25. They also have Old fashioned pot roast dinner for 40 that says it serves 8-10 with mashed potato sides, veggies, and gravy.

Discussion

JASON: I think we are safest with pasta or gyros. We could get a full on real man pasta and a wussy vegetarian one so all our bases are covered, or with Gyros we can have falafel and hummus ones for the pacifists. Ben said I should eat less meat but Im probably better off dying next year around May.

• Dave: I can easily ask for falafel to be included in the Greek option. D20 rules!

• Corey: I vote for Greek as well. I think it has the best balance between Vegetarian and Meat options.

• Dave: I need a consensus by 4:45 Friday as I need to give the order to the restaurant by 5pm. Thanks

11/27/10

This Saturday is the next installment of our TI mega whatever we want to call it. We need to determine which optional rules we wish to use.

JASON: I vote for Dreadnoughts take 2 hits, and roll 2 dice, simulated early turns, shock troops, distant suns and maybe leaders.

DIETER: I vote Dreadnoughts roll 2 dice and only hit non-fighters (if able), simulated early turns, exhaustable planets (shock troops, fighters, trade stations), shock troops, distant suns & facilities. I can't remember what all the strategy cards are, but what we used last time at Chris's seemed to work. What's the food plan?

Races

Each person will get to choose their race from two randomly chosen by a neutral guest. Here they are:

Corey: Mentak or Federation of Sol
Rumi: Embers of Muaat or Universities of Jol-Nar
Jason: Lizix Mindnet or Sardakk N'orr
Dave: Naalu Collective or Yin Brotherhood
Dieter: I'll take the Xxcha Kingdom if we're using Diplomacy or we rule that the Special Ability applies to the Political card as well. Otherwise, it's the Barony of Letnev.

If we get more players, they can grab two and choose.