Story
The Earth is on the verge of extinction, and humanity decides to take a desperate step - to colonize other planets of the solar system The world government is ready to generously reward any corporation or organization that can terraform Mars, making it livable - increase the temperature, solve the problem of water, raise the level of oxygen, etc.
Game preparation
So, each player takes on the role of one of the largest corporations, which does not mind the money for the scrutiny of Martian lands.
In front of the players, there is the playing field, which is divided into hexes. Next to the field are temperature and oxygen scales, which need to be raised to the maximum value. A track of points is located around the field, and at the bottom, there are rewards for various game achievements. At the very beginning of the game, the map of Mars is empty and dull, but soon green gardens, bottomless oceans, and noisy cities will appear on it.
Each player has a personal gaming tablet, which indicates the level of production of his resources. Corporations can produce megacredits (local currency), steel, titanium, plants, energy, and heat.
In preparation for the game, each player receives 10 random cards. Players can keep any number of these cards, but for each card left they have to pay 3 megacredits.
Cards in the game are divided into 3 types:
- Events (red cards). Powerful disposable cards which are reset after the effect;
- Technological cards (green). Also disposable cards, but their labels can affect the effects of other cards that will be played later;
- Active cards (blue). Their main difference from green cards is that the actions of these cards can be used every round.
Game process
The round in the game is divided into 4 phases:
- In the first phase, the marker of the active player is transmitted.
- In the second phase, players get new cards.
- The third phase is the most saturated and long because now, players can perform different actions:
- Play a card from the hand, paying its value in megacredits or other resources (if possible). After payment, the player can use the card effect and complete a standard project. There are many projects and all of then are listed on the playing field.
- Discard cards from your hand by getting megacredits for them.
- Pay megacredits and increase the production of your energy, increase the temperature or put a token of the ocean / landscaping / city on the field.
- Declare achievement. If a player fulfills one of five conditions (he built 3 cities, laid out 3 landscaping tokens, collected 8 building tags on cards, etc.) he pays 8 megacredits and requests an achievement that will bring 5 VP at the end of the game.
- In the fourth phase, players transfer energy cubes to a heat cell on their tablets, receive megacredits based on the terraforming rating and production level of megacredits, and also receive other resources based on production levels.
The game ends when all 3 global parameters (ocean, temperature, and oxygen) have reached their optimal values. After that, the rating of terraforming turns into VP.
The player with the most points wins the game.