So, I've never played this game. But it looks like so much fun and everyone speaks so highly of it on the internet that I couldn't resist, I had to buy it and then convince my friends to come over to play.

So far, I've convinced four folks to come over one Saturday and I am rapidly trying to teach MYSELF how to play before they arrive. I've read all the rules and I managed to set up the entire game board tonight but didn't have any more time to play due to all the questions that kept popping up that needed to be addressed.

But this next question wasn't addressed:

In a 3 or 4 player game, if someone chooses the Initiative Strategy card, do they not get to use the Strategy from their other Stretegy card? It clearly states on the Initiative Strategy Card "You do not take a Strategic Action during the Action Phase this round."

Also, if anybody has any tips on running this game with 4 newbs and no experienced players, please give them to me. I need all the help I can get. In fact, I'm posting this on BGG also.

They still get to use the Primary Ability with the second Strategy Card. The wording on the Initiative Strategy Card is because it is the only Strategy Card to not have an action to use.

Advice for new players, be prepared to make mistakes. It was probably 5 or 6 games before we had the rules correct. Ask for help either here and/or on the ti3wiki.org forums if you have questions that need answering ASAP during the game. Try and remember the game is not about combat as much as it is about victory points, so if you're playing sans expansion, the Imperial Card is the most important card followed by the Initiative Card (so you can pick Imperial next).

Yeah, the card was printed more on the lines assuming you only have the one Strategy Card.

I would recommend that if you and your friends like the game to invest in the expansion. The expansion is much better and provides you with Strategy cards with are much more balanced and more fun.

I do have the expansion, I've seen different opinions about whether I should start with the Expansion Strategy cards or not. I already mixed in the Expansion cards wherever it's applicable.

It just comes down to taste. Most people like the expansion cards better, but I like to occasionally use the base-set cards on occasion (though most people I play with like Imperial II over Imperial).