Board Game Arena

Obviously, playing second in TM game is worse than going first. (fine, there are few rare situations, that it isn, when you want to play prelude and steal plant production from your opponent with a card [which almost never works!]).

So, why second player not receiving any bonus because he is second? (I dont know which bonus may work, but I am sure there will be some suggestions).

In most cases it is rush for 2 card ocean spot, and who plays first, gets it, and you sit there with ocean card which will go to titanium (that maybe you dont need) or plants (that maybe you dont need at the moment). And if it is a card, then it is less pity, than when it is a prelude, so you are forced to put that ocean that you dont need.

So, playing second, you start considering even not picking ocean preludes, and pick something instead, because probably that spot will be taken from your opponent, because he has 1st action.

Why nobody complains about this?

On other maps, second player is more likely to get a milestone than first, because they will be first in gen2.

Of all games I have played, Terraforming Mars has the least significance for who goes first.

1) There is no limit on the number of actions or turns or cards played per generation, so going first does not mean much.

2) As noted above, going first in gen 2 is often more important.

going first is the most minor, of minor advantages in this game. I think from most collected data it's basically no effect on the outcome of the game and some data even showed 2nd player having a tiny advantage

(being 1st player gen 10, the most common gen for games to end - is a decent compromise)

I would rather go first than second especially for tharsis, it often decides planner, gardener and builder. The safe ocean prelude is very significant as well.

For credicor is so wild to be able to go first, as ecoline you definitely want to go 2nd, and that's why the data is not correct, since lots of ecoline game is decided by going 2nd while the effect for credicor could be minor.

The thing is that you get the chance to roll the dice for going first, while you are passive no matter what as the 2nd in order on gen 1. First mover advantage could be everything when I am matched up with a good player when the advantage is hair thin.

For example, on Hellas you can go city experimental forest prelude mining area and dominate from there. It's just not the same while sweating on 2nd to act and lose board control possibly.

Fiqnally, I get the tempo for free, I wake up with a free tempo and could just pass pass and gen 3. If I do on 2nd to act I have to wait for gen 4, that's way too slow comparing to gen 1 first to act. There are lines that can only be done with 1st act gen 1, you simply dont even have the choice or too risky for 2nd to act.

P.S. Vitor is also super good for 2nd to act, more free award information.