Board Game Arena

novarino wrote: ↑18 July 2026, 16:47 Wait they didnt include colonies AND removed corporations?

Why are we still waiting for colonies..

We're not still waiting for Colonies. The colonies expansion has been here for close to a year.

The arena format for this season does not use colonies, but Arena is limited to exactly one setting each season, and more people voted to play arena without colonies than with colonies.

so, this is basically the same as last just with fewer corp choices, correct?

I ask cuz I misunderstood it the first time I played

Dikvarkentje wrote: ↑16 July 2026, 06:26

ft029 wrote: ↑16 July 2026, 06:18 profile picture checks out

Yea, I'm a known hater of point luna. Still shouldnt mean you should play some houserule.

All game settings are either official rules / settings or were approved by the game publisher.

zlefin wrote: ↑20 July 2026, 20:05 so, this is basically the same as last just with fewer corp choices, correct?

I ask cuz I misunderstood it the first time I played

Yep. Some of the prelude corps (and in particular Point Luna) are considered to be somewhat imbalanced, so gurus voted to have a season without prelude corps.

Colonies is unlikely to be voted in for arena because it has even bigger balance issues.

So far this season has been so much more enjoyable with the absence of PL. I do miss Vitor and CSM though.

The numbers are available (see online posts and forums) Vitor is not that 'overpowered' but CSM and Point Luna sure seem to be. I am happy to have them high rolling in games. Thanks gurus!

The statistics that I see (https://www.tfmstats.com/corporations) suggest Interplanetary Cinematics and Saturn Systems are equally "overpowered". Only Point Luna has a higher win rate for players with 500+ Elo. Remove that selection for expert players, and Interplanetary Cinematics turns out to have the highest win rate overall. The real difference that I see: base game has more underpowered corps. The worst performing Prelude corp, Robinson Industries, is still pretty decent.

I haven't seen the discussions between the gurus. But I believe the game is a little poorer with this Prelude corp exclusion. Also, the risk of getting a choice between two poor corps is higher. It's still not huge - it's happened only once to me this season that I got a choice between UNMI and Phobolog. It does partly explain the recent post* I wish this game had a mulligan system, though. Over time, the luck factor should even out, both for this kind of risk of drawing two poor corporations, and for getting strong corporations in the opening choice if Prelude corps are included. In all, I'd be happier with full Preludes, or base game only, instead of this compromise.

*https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50135

Thanks for everyone for posting. Thanks gurus for voting no prelude corps this season.


There will be more gurus, more seasons and more votes. For those who feel this season is less fun, I hear you. If I had another vote, I'd vote no prelude corps. I see the point of getting stuck picking from UNMI and phobolog; my take it feels just as bad if not worse to keep a perfectly fine middle of road corporation then watch helplessly as Point Luna snowballs the game for your opponent.