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Arguing with my friend about the opener i chose compared to his choice he would've taken. Need a 3rd party opinion.

Attica451 wrote: ↑26 February 2026, 01:15 https://boardgamearena.com/archive/repl ... s=95895224;

Arguing with my friend about the opener i chose compared to his choice he would've taken. Need a 3rd party opinion.

i would've kept tharsis + donation+ eco experts and 7 cards

photosynthesis+ ghg+ deimos + carbonate+ trees+ commercial district+ research coordination

Plan to play photosynthesis on 2 power and trees (with prelude)+ commercial district. Place sity on 2 plants on left part on the map and commercial on 1 plant on right so you car get conversion on start of next gen.

deimos + trees + GHG
hellion + mohole + eco experts (into trees)

I think we all agree to play Ecology Experts into Trees here, which is a good start.

Playing Helion to push the parameters gives you a better chance if it’s an opponent and in an “engine” game with multiple science tags, card draw, etc.

Playing Tarsis will give you a better chance if it’s an opponent and also in a terraforming-focused game with Ecoline or something like that.

Against a weak player, I would take Helion 100% of the time. Against a player of your level, I think I’d take Helion as well, but it’s more debatable.

In the end, I’m taking roughly the same hand as dessp7, with Artificial Photosynthesis and Carbonate Processing added to play them in generation 2, I think.

Conclusion for me: Helion + Mohole + Eco Experts (into Trees), Deimos + Trees + GHG + Artificial Photosynthesis + Carbonate Processing .

P.S. : I’m saying to play Artificial Photosynthesis and Carbonation around turn 2, but the better play might be to wait until turn 3 to play Deimos Down, collect both heat bonuses at the same time, and use the steel from Deimos Down on Carbon Processing.

I could consider skipping Artificial Photosynthesis, thinking we might find a better energy producer, or at worst use a standard project to avoid having leftover energy. On the other hand, I can’t really imagine skipping Carbon Processing, which is one of the best targets for the steel from Deimos Down.

Umm hell no guys, dessp7 has the goods; carbon is 20(9 cost + 11 energy) that pay off in 7 gens while you got no free energy, not to mention it eat one heat/energy prod for 3 heat prod. It is pretty horrible, I would rather sp later for 28 to take a early free heat pump than play carbon.

My opener is Helion, imported GHG, Deimo, EExpert to Trees with Mohole and pass, I wait for optimal, media group and earth office on gen 2/3, saving money for sp ocean/greenery conversion and deimo of course.

No AI, Mass makes photo sad, I may take research coord and tectonic as well if I am playing a 300 and lower elo. The trick is energy is better than heat prod: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/233602 ... duction-to

You have the opportunity to start with 4 plant prod and 4 heat prod (if not more). Do that. Basically, what dessp7 and RoyalRook said.

Also, Carbonate Processing is a trap for Helion. It's basically a Sponsors with more hoops to jump through to get the +2 production.

Solid analysis. Andrei3009's start is good, no doubt.

The start proposed by dessp7 and affirmed by Rook and CharlieMC is very strong. I like it.

To the OP:

What did you choose?

Helion + Mohole + Eco Experts (into Trees), Deimos + Trees + GHG + Artificial Photosynthesis + Carbonate Processing + Tectonic stress power + Commercial district.

Friend is telling me Hellion was a trap and I should have gone Tharsis cause of the 4 pp with urban. I'm like 4-16 vs him 1v1 our last 20 games but he's a results oriented advice giver.

hm.

Well, as any poker player will say, we don't want to be results oriented. We want to focus on decisions, not results.

Also, is your friend rated 609 Elo ????

Because, I certainly would hesitate to tell a 609 Elo player that he or she did something wrong.