by OedipussyRex
Limitless333 wrote:
Ivits can't afford it
They can, but it's highly situational involving the others not screwing up.
Situation: PI/A tech tile under terraform or bottom three; Free terraform booster in game, and Ivits get it; starting planet in Passive Action: Cycle Power range of the other starting planets and a blue or orange planet within reach (1 or 2 spaces); the other players not see what's happening and prevent Ivits' Passive Action: Cycle Power, i.e. build elsewhere.
Process: After income have the Ivits have 5 ore, 17 credit, and 1 qic, hereafter counted as an ore (6o/17c). In either order, build a space station and a mine (5o/15c). Upgrade to trading station (3o/12c). Upgrade to research lab (0o/7c). Take the PI/A +1 tech tile, going up in navigation (2o/7c). Form a federation, taking the 7vp/2o token (4o/7c). By now, hopefully you'll have leeched at least 5 power. Sorry, performed Passive Action: Cycle Power five times. Take the 2 ore power action (6o/7c). If not, or if someone else has taken the power action you'll want to have cycled at least two times. Use 4 knowledge to grab a qic from either navigation or artificial intelligence, and burn any necessary power to get a 3-power ore. You now have the resources to upgrade the research lab into an academy.
This also works without the federation if the 1o/1q tech tile is properly situated, but using the federation is cooler. The other players will see that and be so dispirited that the game is already half-won. "How can we possibly compete against such impressive skill and finesse," they'll say and try to concede in order play something more on their level like Candyland or Hungry, Hungry Hippos.