Convention

[mmmmmikke]

Are there convention style rules to Sky Team, similar to Hanabi? I know there are some rules I try to follow, for example, on the last round, play the axis first and co-pilot clears planes before flaps.

[euklid314]

Since every airport is a little bit different there are not too many general rules.

As you already mentioned, flaps (co-pilot) are usually played rather late as well as brakes (pilot). Landing gear (pilot) has to be played early sometimes when the plane needs to move slow (e.g. move 0 spots for several rounds). And with bonus role "Synchronization" it is often a good idea that the co-pilot starts with flaps because the pilot can then react with landing gear.

One thing that I find important: If you are flexible (i.e. you have rolled small AND large numbers) then you should rather wait with putting numbers on axis or thrust - because you can react on whatever your partner puts there. If you are inflexible, i.e. you have only large or only small numbers to put on axis or thrust, then do it as early as possible.

Furthermore, some players like to analyze between the rounds and some players prefer to play quietly and hate table talk.
I, for instance, love to talk quite a lot - often even obvious stuff. But writing down what needs to be done by me or my (co-)pilot helps me to order my thoughts. If I do not write it down chances are high that I make stupid mistakes (move 1 although move 0 is forced...). I try to react to my partner, though. If I talk and nothing comes back I will also stop analyzing or I will explain that my talking mainly helps myself and is not meant as bullying my partner to follow my strategy.

Often I phrase my analysis as a question, e.g. "Move 2 now?" even if I am convinced that this is indeed the optimal strategy. But since the approach to the game is often very different for different players there are misunderstandings now and then.

[Earthboundia]

Are there convention style rules to Sky Team, similar to Hanabi? I know there are some rules I try to follow, for example, on the last round, play the axis first and co-pilot clears planes before flaps.

Normally no, and thankfully so. The convention system is Hanabi's version of quarterbacking and I don't want to see it in Sky Team too.

[gennstone]

I don't like the unwritten Hanabi conventions I got absolutely blasted for not knowing them on a BGA game and have never played the game on BGA again since because if conventions are not in a rulebook how you supposed to know the accepted conventions?

That said here are a few of the things I personally do in SkyTeam:

If I need the coffee that I have created then I put the dice in the coffee space nearest my side of the board. If I am offering the coffee I put it in the dice space furthest away from my side of the board. i.e. if I'm the pilot and need it I put it in the left space if I give it I put it in the right space. I put it in the middle if either of us could use it. That communication only lasts for that round. If the coffee remains unused by the end of the round then it is anyone's to use. You can argue this is "communication" within the round so cheating.

If using "working together" I never use the skill on the first turn before any dice have been placed as the other player will have no idea how to best try to help you with the swap as they have no context of your other dice and nothing is on the board. Some people seem to use it as an indicator that you should put your dice on the axis and others seem to think it is an indicator of the engines. Just don't do it because no one knows what you mean.

Also if using working together and total trust if I think I can help I might tap the working together button and then cancel it. Again this could be classed as communication so could be classed as cheating (this is not possible to do in the real game so maybe you could say this is a bug).

If the skills are working together and sync or ice brakes and working together hasn't been used after each player has placed the third dice of the round then I use it to see if we have the right dice for the sync or ice brakes to avoid wasting dice as they can be turned into coffee instead.

If the skill in sync and I am the pilot I always try to wait for the co-pilot to put their flaps on first as they may not have the dice.

If the skill is mastery then think about what number you need on the engine and divide by 2 to give each of you a chance at gaining the re-roll.

If the axis is already pointing 2 to the left and you are the pilot or two to the right and you are the co-pilot then AVOID putting a 6 on as the opposite player HAS to play a 6 (there is similar with 1's as well the other way round).