Terraforming Mars (EN)
In the 2400s, mankind begins to terraform the planet Mars. Giant
corporations, sponsored by the World Government on Earth, initiate huge
projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level, and the ocean
coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars, you
play one of those corporations and work together in the terraforming
process, but compete for getting victory points that are awarded not
only for your contribution to the terraforming, but also for advancing
human infrastructure throughout the solar system, and doing other
commendable things.
As a player, you acquire unique project cards
(from over two hundred different ones) by buying them to your hand. The
cards can give you immediate bonuses, as well as increasing your
production of different resources. Many cards also have requirements and
they become playable when the temperature, oxygen, or ocean coverage
increases enough. Buying cards is costly, so there is a balance between
buying cards and actually playing them. Standard Projects are always
available to complement your hand of cards.
Your basic income, as
well as your basic score, are based on your Terraform Rating. However,
your income is boosted by your production, and VPs are also gained from
many other sources.
You keep track of your production and resources
on your player board. The game uses six types of resources: MegaCredits,
Steel, Titanium, Plants, Energy, and Heat. On the game board, you
compete for the best places for your city tiles, ocean tiles, and
greenery tiles. You also compete for different Milestones and Awards
worth many VPs.
Each round is called a generation and consists of the following phases:
- 1) Player order shifts clockwise.
- 2) Research phase: All players buy cards from four privately drawn.
- 3) Action phase: Players take turns doing 1-2 actions from these options: Playing a card, claiming a Milestone, funding an Award, using a Standard project, converting plant into greenery tiles (and raising oxygen), converting heat into a temperature raise, and using the action of a card in play. The turn continues around the table (sometimes several laps) until all players have passed.
- 4) Production phase: Players get resources according to their terraform rating and production parameters.
When
the three global parameters (temperature, oxygen, ocean) have all
reached their required levels, the terraforming is complete, and the
game ends after that generation. Combine your Terraform Rating and other
VPs to determine the winning corporation!
Alternative Products
These other products might interest you