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Variants

Robert Konigsberg edited this page Apr 16, 2024 · 42 revisions

Variants

Terraforming Mars is programmed by enthusiasts who have played the game thousands of times. The server allows you to create games for up to six players using any mix of official expansions. Players can also further customize a game by using a number of unofficial variants and custom game options.

Official Expansions

  • Corporate Era
  • Hellas and Elysium
  • Venus Next
  • Prelude
  • Colonies
  • Turmoil

Promo Cards

Adds all official promo cards to the game. Includes:

NOTE: There's historically a new promo at least once a quarter. Sometimes several come out at once. The set of promos is always growing.

Official Variants

Beginner Corporation

Start with 42 MC and immediately receive 10 cards in hand, without having to pay for any cards during the initial Research phase.

Draft

During the Research phase, players select cards one at a time and pass the remaining cards clockwise (during even generations) or anti-clockwise (during odd generations), before deciding how many cards to purchase.

World Government Terraforming

At the end of each generation, the active player raises a global parameter of his/her choice, without gaining any TR or bonuses from this action.

TR Solo Mode

Win by achieving a Terraform Rating of 63 by game end, instead of the default goal of completing all global parameters.

Unofficial Variants

Initial Draft

Adds a draft mechanic for starting cards. Choose 1 project cards among 5 and pass the rest to the player on your left. Then 1 project cards among 4 and pass the rest to the player on your left. Same process with another 5 project cards but pass to the player on your right. If prelude option is activated, choose 1 prelude card among 4 and pass the rest to the player on your left. Then 1 prelude card among 3 and pass the rest to the player on your left. Repeat.

Random Milestones and Awards

Full Random

Picks 5 milestones and awards at random (6 if playing with Venus Next expansion).

Limited Synergy

Only allows combinations of milestones and awards that follow the conditions listed below. Synergy scores are based on this matrix.

  • Total synergy score is 20 or lower. (Tharsis board has total synergy score around 20. The other two boards have much lower scores.)
  • No pair with synergy score 7 or above. (Prohibit landlord & desert settler or terraformer & benefactor.)
  • At most two pairs that are 4+ in synergy score. (Allow two mayor & landlord or gardener & polar explorer.)

Distribution of MA frequencies

Randomize board tiles

Shuffles all available tiles to generate a dynamic board. Noctis City and volcanic areas will always remain as land areas.

Community

Adds some fan-made stuff to the game

Ares

Includes a fan-made expansion that focuses the game more on the planet's surface. More on its dedicated page.

The Moon

Includes a fan-made expansion that introduces an additional board, more global parameters, and a new tag. More at [TheiMoon] and [TheiMooniRules]

Custom Game Options

Custom Corporation List

Include or exclude specific corporations from a game.

Random First Player

Shuffle player order and randomly pick the first player.

Show Real-time VP

Display real-time total score for other players.

Custom Starting Corporations Count

Set the number of starting corporations dealt to each player.

TR Boost

Give player(s) up to 10 additional starting TR as a game handicap.

Allow Undo

Enable players to undo their first move of each turn (requires refresh).

Fast Mode

Cannot end turn after one action (either play 2 actions or pass for the current generation).

Remove Negative Global Events

Exclude all global events that decrease player resources, production or global parameters.

Set Predefined Game

Replay a previous game by selecting the game seed.

Merger

In this variant, everybody gets a Merge prelude, which gives everybody two corporations.

Venus Terraforming

Require Venus track to be completed to trigger game end.

Alternative Venus Board

Provides a new Air Scrapping standard project and resource bounses on the higher end of the track. See here for more information.

Moon Terraforming

Require Moon track to be completed to trigger game end.

Moon Standard Project Variant

Moon standard projects are now also available without steel and titanium, at a slightly raised cost.

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