Takeovers option is now random by default

[ksasaki]

I think takeovers random by default is not a good choice in this expansion. Considering the already niche chances it will actually be relevant, I think it should be always enabled. It basically gives a military option a fighting chance against a pure economic strategy.

Consider my last game: I had consumer markets (starting world imperium warlord), he just played rebel alliance, and I was thinking oh thank god takeovers are disabled:

https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=100270656

I'm not sure it would have made a difference, but him taking my new survivalists would have results in lost vp / card draw, not to mention there was a race for the most novelty / rare goods worlds as a goal.

The final score was 45 / 41 me and I think the takeover would have had a big impact on the game.

To me, the game is already too random without turn 1 search, so please get rid of this takeovers random because there are many more economic card engines to work with (diversified econ, mining conglomerate, consumer markets) than military (basically improved logistics or bust). Again, we don't have interstellar casus belli anymore so no more free poaching of contact specialist worlds.

edit: development madness is also a viable strategy, how could I forget

[m10rost]

'Random takeovers' is a great mistake. Variant 'disable' reduces possibilities of players that are already reduced by removal of BoW expansion.

[ksasaki]

yeah, BoW gave you a lot of flexibility of choices. Now, I feel like there are just a few power cards, and if you don't draw one and your opponent does (or draws several) you are screwed.

consumer markets with novelty worlds
diversified economy
pan galactic research (pair it with galactic developers and you are pretty much unstoppable)
mining conglomerate with mining worlds
improved logistics with military strategy (or a lot of cheap worlds with contact specialist or you have replicant robots)

Also, hopefully you get alpha centauri or the green one that makes you discard (or a cheap military windfall or cheap non military windfall if you don't have a good military world) or you can be already screwed from the start and turns behind economically. In BoW, you could search for an appropriate windfall and not just pray you get one with explore.

[galehar]

I've added an icon to show the status of takeover for the current game.

I don't think there's much point in endless discussions about how such and such strategies and cards are awesome or crap with such expansion/option. Yes, the strategy space does vary depending on the expansion in play and if TO is active or not. You just need to adapt.
We are lucky to have 5 expansions on BGA and they are all great. People have different taste and playstyle, there will never be a consensus about what is the best or fairest setup. Let's just enjoy the variety, I hope we can play a different expansion each season.

Have fun!

[ksasaki]

I'm sorry, don't mean to be a negative nancy, I agree it's great that the expansions now are all on BGA. Thanks for all your hard work, and I appreciate the icon it helps because I often forget to check the chat.

[Move37]

Hi, in the original post, you stated, "Of course, you're still free to enable or disable takeovers if you wish rather than use the default random option," however I see no setting to disable takeovers, and I'd really like that option. Thank you

[galehar]

Hi, in the original post, you stated, "Of course, you're still free to enable or disable takeovers if you wish rather than use the default random option," however I see no setting to disable takeovers, and I'd really like that option. Thank you

If you create a table in simple game mode, there will be a takeover option with 4 entries: random (default), on, off and RvI scenario.
However, if you're playing in arena, then you can't set options, you have to play with the options which have been chosen for the current season (currently it's RvI with random takeovers).

[buckybal]

If takeovers are random, please add instructions for takeovers to the How To Play section. Otherwise you will have players, even premium players, who are new to the game fall victim to this mechanic with no way to learn how to use it or avoid it.

[galehar]

If takeovers are random, please add instructions for takeovers to the How To Play section. Otherwise you will have players, even premium players, who are new to the game fall victim to this mechanic with no way to learn how to use it or avoid it.

There is already a warning on selecting any expansion that they are not for beginners.