Board Game Arena

Love them or dislike them, this month's challenge is to play the Ivits versus the automa of the month, the Geodens (select the 'Automa of the month' button), on the Fixed map. Check that the seed in the automa score panel is 16961616. It is important that you read the Rules section for more details, especially if the seed is not 16961616. Checking you have the correct seed is very important later in the month, as clock changes can affect the game set-up for some players.



Whether you are a beginner or an expert, this challenge is for you. The goal is simple: have fun and get a high score in solo mode. Thanks to the BGA set-up, you can easily compare your score, watch replays of games and learn different ways of playing a faction. (There's more guidance on how to view replays at/near the end of the May challenge.) Play serenely at your leisure: there is no timer pressure!



Congratulations to a new winner of the solo challenge, Markus_12, who played against the Alptrauma. As ever, thanks to everyone who participated.



There's elite rank for the top 5 players and cadet rank for everyone else.

• kespie 261 vs Automa 133 - https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=433216410 - Eco, Sci, Terra, AI. Quite many qic actions.

• LupinePrototype 255 vs Automa 133 - https://boardgamearena.com/6/gaiaprojec ... =424872192 - Eco, then Terra, then AI. Advanced techs from Eco (42VP) and Terra (25VP).

• danuer13 252 vs Automa 133 - https://boardgamearena.com/5/gaiaprojec ... =423884627 - eco + terraforming, got advanced tech from both of these tracks.

• Nigator 246 vs Alptrauma 241 - https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=427539312 - Start with lab + 2mines, after eco 4 took federation from terra 5 and adv tech from eco, then adv tech from QIC track

• Officer Krispy 241 vs Automa 133 - https://boardgamearena.com/8/gaiaprojec ... =425633976 - 5 feds and the 2 advanced fed techs. Went Eco then Terra then AI.went Eco then Terra then AI.

• MyleneH 229 vs Automa 134 - https://boardgamearena.com/3/gaiaprojec ... =434223608 - Focused on Eco and Terra

• Shrpy 222 vs Ultoma 181 - https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=427362568 - Straight Econ4 with AC rd2, 2 Aliances in rd3, then tech into TF

• Jonash87cz 191 Automa 136 - https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=424541405 - Just 3 feds (4 tokens) and 1 advanced tech. I started with Eco, then Terra, then AI.

• jgpaladin 184 vs Automa 133 - https://boardgamearena.com/7/gaiaprojec ... =423856544 - Started on econ, went terraforming and maxed nav. AI on the last turn. I also grabbed the two Adv tech for federations.

• Gredan 173 vs Alptrauma 241 - https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=424584659 - attempted maximizing knowledge

• Zedseayou 167 vs Ultoma 181 – https://boardgamearena.com/10/gaiaproje ... =423816379 – Sci, Econ, Terra, AI.

• PenTus 158 vs Automächtig 180 - https://boardgamearena.com/7/gaiaprojec ... =425919855

• Brent_F 139 vs Automa 123 - https://boardgamearena.com/1/gaiaprojec ... =433696447 - Tried econ followed by terrafroming, but didn't get the timing right.

1st step: Create a new table. Select Training or Friendly mode and Fixed map. Choose 1 player/Solo and click on Start game. Select the red box Automa of the month (Geodens).
2nd step: Select the difficulty you think you can handle.
3rd step: Select the faction Ivits. Check that the seed is 16961616 (in the player score panel). If it isn't, start again using the alternative starting method (below).
4th step: Play the game. Post your score(s), mentioning the chosen difficulty (see the format below).

Alternative starting method: Start the game with Fixed map selected >> Choose the Geodens faction card (as you would for a normal game) >> Set the custom seed (16961616 for this challenge), which is next to the heading 'Choose Automa Difficulty Level', and Select the Automa difficulty >> Choose Ivits.

Players usually insert the link of their game (you can find it on your profile – tab (x) games played) and mention which openings, tech tracks and other actions have been crucial for them (e.g. RL+2M. Economy, aiming for advanced tech tile on AI).

Ideally, use this format: YourNickname Score vs AutomaLevel Score – LinkOfTheGame – Techs focus – YourComment (e.g. : Marcus Aurelius 222 vs Ultoma 165 – www.boardgamearena.com/game=12345 – focus on Science and Terraforming until mid-game, with aim of taking advanced tile on Terraforming).

And don't forget to have fun!

Here's a target.
montybojangles 228 vs Automa 139 - https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=423531233 - Econ, terraforming and AI.

Zedseayou 167 vs Ultoma 181 – https://boardgamearena.com/10/gaiaproje ... =423816379 – Sci, Econ, Terra, AI – Quick first try, haven't done these in a while. I still don't really understand the Automa rules so am unprepared for e.g. a planet to be taken when they don't have range. Sci first since the 4pw big building tile was there. Several mistakes including taking sci per planet tile at wrong time and overcapping, missing uses of QIC actions for points, misbalance of resources mid game, possibly charging too much.

danuer13 207 vs Automa 131
https://boardgamearena.com/10/gaiaproje ... =423866718
first try, went eco + terraforming, got advanced AI from both of these tracks.

jgpaladin 184 - Automa 133
https://boardgamearena.com/7/gaiaprojec ... =423856544
First try, not bad.
My basic description sounds a lot like danuer13's, just without the results...
Started on econ, eventually went terraforming and maxed nav. AI on the last turn.
I also grabbed the two Adv tech for federations. Did get 4 feds but it felt inefficient.

danuer13 wrote: ↑02 October 2023, 11:07 danuer13 207 vs Automa 131

Hi, it looks like a good game, but I'm sorry, you've done it on the random map, not the fixed one. The random map does look to be more of a challenge!

Zedseayou wrote: ↑02 October 2023, 06:59 I still don't really understand the Automa rules so am unprepared for e.g. a planet to be taken when they don't have range.

Hi. Thanks for sharing your game, though I'm getting an error message when I try to replay it.
You can use the last played automa card, which becomes the next support card, to get a clue to possible outcomes of the next automa action, e.g. range if it builds a mine, or power/qic action it might cover. The automa faction summary card only gets shown at the time you select a faction, but that shows the unique faction action. (For Geodens, that's 'Advance on random track, cover a power/QIC action'.) If you want to learn more, some of the solo playthroughs videos of the physical boardgame you can find online demonstrate the use of the automa deck well (you don't need to watch a whole game to benefit).

montybojangles wrote: ↑02 October 2023, 11:43
Hi, it looks like a good game, but I'm sorry, you've done it on the random map, not the fixed one. The random map does look to be more of a challenge!

Oops, thanks for noticing
Done it with the fixed map, improved the result

danuer13 252 vs Automa 133
https://boardgamearena.com/5/gaiaprojec ... =423884627

Basically played the same but improved timing with the fed tokens and got more VP from QIC actions

montybojangles wrote: ↑02 October 2023, 11:43 You can use the last played automa card, which becomes the next support card, to get a clue to possible outcomes of the next automa action, e.g. range if it builds a mine, or power/qic action it might cover. The automa faction summary card only gets shown at the time you select a faction, but that shows the unique faction action. (For Geodens, that's 'Advance on random track, cover a power/QIC action'.) If you want to learn more, some of the solo playthroughs videos of the physical boardgame you can find online demonstrate the use of the automa deck well (you don't need to watch a whole game to benefit).

How much do people actually pay attention to this when playing against the automa? I've never once even glanced at it...

jgpaladin wrote: ↑02 October 2023, 18:57

montybojangles wrote: ↑02 October 2023, 11:43 You can use the last played automa card, which becomes the next support card, to get a clue to possible outcomes of the next automa action, e.g. range if it builds a mine, or power/qic action it might cover. The automa faction summary card only gets shown at the time you select a faction, but that shows the unique faction action. (For Geodens, that's 'Advance on random track, cover a power/QIC action'.) If you want to learn more, some of the solo playthroughs videos of the physical boardgame you can find online demonstrate the use of the automa deck well (you don't need to watch a whole game to benefit).

How much do people actually pay attention to this when playing against the automa? I've never once even glanced at it...

I'm the same, even though I've actually played with automa with a physical copy of the game a couple of times.

Jonash87 191 Automa 136

Just 3 feds (4 tokens) and 1 advanced tech. I started with Eco, then Terra, then AI. 33 points came from QIC actions.

I hate Ivits, I always ban them and don't play with them (this was my 3rd try all the time). I'm only an average player (I've only scored over 200 points twice), but they are easy to score points with. The best faction for novices.

https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=424541405