Board Game Arena

I am at the game [https://boardgamearena.com/9/jumpdrive?table=873019630]
My opponent just played on the 1st turn SurveyTeam + SpaceSymbionits, which cost 1+3=4.
How did he managed to pay for this with 5 initial cards?
The starting word does not give any discount.
SpaceSymbionits give -2 for development, but this must be only from the next round.
???

Why does the -2 development apply to next round?

In general developments are resolved before worlds. Correct?

See also BGG forum topic Timing can a planet help a tech the same trun?
In particular the answer of Tom Lehmann (the designer of the game)

In the rules:

Order. A development’s power or icons cannot affect its own
placement, but may affect placing a world that round. A world’s
power or icons cannot affect its own placement (but can affect
placing a second world, see below).

Another game with the same problem https://boardgamearena.com/1/jumpdrive?table=873467987
"Space Symbionits" on the first turn gives one a _huge_ advantage.
I am still not sure, is this a bug or a feature? Shall I report a bug?
Did anyone see other examples?

Lika Lu wrote: ↑26 June 2026, 08:26 Shall I report a bug?

Clearly not. There's no bug. Look at the rules and cite what you think is being violated.

If you report a bug, the developers will close it immediately.

I am sorry for the confusion. It was MY mistake.
In both cases it was SpaceSymbyonits+SurveyTeam, that is there were 4 cards left to pay.
Shall I delete this whole topic to avoid further confusion?

No, even if you could delete the thread (you can't -- can you imagine being able to single-handedly delete everyone's posts?) it's helpful to have this here in case other players make the same mistake.

This is loads better than blindly filing false reports, which lots of people do. Leave your thread here as proof that you did it right by crowdsourcing the knowledge first.