More Thoughts from My Grey Brain...

...regarding the new Race for the Galaxy expansion. When last we spoke, I said I was going to mention a few individual cards that were helped by the new additions. Here's my top 4, because nobody does a top 4, and I feel like I'm being mildly original. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:

Top 4 Improved Cards:

1. Colony Ship/Doomed World - The addition of the Gene Designers and the Imperium Blaster Gem Consortium cards give these two more very valid and otherwise expensive production targets. A quick drop of one of these or one of the three existing Five-cost production worlds can be huge.
2. Interstellar Bank/Investment Credits - As I did mention in the last post, developing got a huge boost in this expansion, and as part of that, these cheap developments that promote developing are now more sought after than before. These both combine with R&D Crash Program to pump out an early 6-cost development. Interstellar Bank also doubles up on the development draw if you start with the new Galactic Developers start world. Also, and perhaps best of all, both are bonus points for the Galactic Bankers development. Especially with the new "first to 8" goal, there is definite potential for a more-focused developing strategy than before.
3. Diversified Economy - Just with the addition of the Galactic Exchange development, this gives players a new reason to consider diversification. Part of the problem before for DE, is that there weren't always enough consume powers to take advantage of. Galactic Exchange fixes this in a big way, and lets you drop a 13 point end-game bonus, as well as gives the ability to draw even more cards.
4. Aquatic, Avian, and Reptilian Uplift Race - Also known as the 2/2 green military windfalls. They were joined in this expansion by the Insect Uplift Race, to make a total of 4. More importantly, they are easier to play early now, which can be a huge springboard for a military player to find what they need. The expansion brought 6 ways of cost 3 or less to increase military by at least 1, and the Rebel Cantina start world which lets a player drop it as a regular settlement. Also, with the introduction of the Uplift Code development, Genes players have 3 huge end-game target buildings to search for.

The astute among you will notice that my top 4 actually included 8 cards. Don't tell anyone I did this, it's a secret.

That's it for now - join me next time when odds are less that I will be again discussing this game.

-Andrew