Reply: Terraforming Mars:: Strategy:: Re: In base game the corporation "Tharsis Republic" seems overpowered (the one focused on CITIES)

by Metlieb

Blackhatguy wrote:

Coming back to the title of the thread for a second.

I think Tharsis is *strong* in base-game. Especially on the original map (where cities play nicely into 3 of the 5 available milestones -> Cities, Builder, Greeneries, and 2 of the awards -> Landlord, Banker).

But it's only OP when the other players keep helping it out by building early cities. If you're playing against Tharsis you shouldn't be building cities early unless it's a really, really good play for you. So just hold off, and then if you must build cities, do it in the final 1-2 gens so Tharsis doesn't get to benefit from the extra income.

While I agree that building cities plays into the hands of the Tharsis-playser, I also think the problem here is that the later you build your cities, the less better spots there will be because they will either be occupied by greeneries or by other players. In fact, this kinda reminds me of "Root" and the faction of the riverfolk: The riverfolk are weakest if nobody trades with them, but as soon as one player starts to trade with them, said player gains a slight advantage, so everyone else wants to gain the upper hand again, which leads to more and more players trading with the riverfolk, and finally the riverfolk winning. In this specific Mars scenario, in order for that to work, the whole group would have to collectively agree on not placing cities until e.g. the tenth generation or so. Because as soon as one places a city, he gives himself a slight edge (e.g. placement boni, adjacent greeneries, M€ production etc.), which the other players will also want to catch up to. In other words: The whole group, save for the Tharsis-player, will have to agree to play sub-optimally, which I simply can't see happening. And even if it did, it wouldn't stop the Tharsis player to occupy the best city spots. In the end, you'll have to simply weigh whether you not placing cities and not getting the VP and those nice boni is worth not giving the Tharsis player one M€ production.