Can someone explain or summarize how to conduct one full run through the Strategy, Action and Status phases? We are really getting a little confused in the Action phase has far as how Startegic and Tactical actions work, etc.
This would be most helpful and appreciated.
Here is a link to an excellent walkthrough: http://www.preeminent.org/steve/games/ti3/ti3demo/3-player/home/index.shtml
This should help explain the turn order.
Well do you have a specific question?
Strategy Phase-
Basically the Strategy Phase is the phase that everyone picks their strategy cards, starting with the speaker. That's it (with the exception of Action Cards that are played in the Strategy Phase). Don't get confused and think strategic actions happen during the strategy phase - they happen during the Action Phase.
Action Phase-
Each player in turn takes an action. On your turn, you take a Tactical Action (activate a system to move or build), Transfer Action (very rarely), Strategic Action, play an Action Card that says play as an action on it, or pass. Strategic Actions are the abilities on the strategy cards, and every player must execute the primary ability of their strategy card as a Strategic Action (excepting of course, Initiative) before they can pass. it doesn't matter what order you do your own actions in, but you always have to do the Strategic Action, after which you can pass which means you are done for the rest of the round. Once everyone has passed, its on to the Status Phase.
Status Phase-
Just go down the handy checklist on the race sheet. Remove counters, receive new ones, draw cards, qualify for your objectives, etc.
Does that help?
4lterego said:
Well do you have a specific question?
Strategy Phase-
Basically the Strategy Phase is the phase that everyone picks their strategy cards, starting with the speaker. That's it (with the exception of Action Cards that are played in the Strategy Phase). Don't get confused and think strategic actions happen during the strategy phase - they happen during the Action Phase.
Action Phase-
Each player in turn takes an action. On your turn, you take a Tactical Action (activate a system to move or build), Transfer Action (very rarely), Strategic Action, play an Action Card that says play as an action on it, or pass. Strategic Actions are the abilities on the strategy cards, and every player must execute the primary ability of their strategy card as a Strategic Action (excepting of course, Initiative) before they can pass. it doesn't matter what order you do your own actions in, but you always have to do the Strategic Action, after which you can pass which means you are done for the rest of the round. Once everyone has passed, its on to the Status Phase.
Status Phase-
Just go down the handy checklist on the race sheet. Remove counters, receive new ones, draw cards, qualify for your objectives, etc.
Does that help?
it does help and thank you. It does highlight my confusion, however. Why then are the strategy cards numbered if they can be done in any order?
The strategy cards are numbered to establish only the order in which players take their turns, not the order in which the primary abilities of the strategy cards have to be used. Now, if every player took their Strategic Action as soon as they could that is how it would turn out, but that's not necessary to do, since taking a Strategic Action to use the primary ability of your card is but one of several choices you have on your first turn. You just have to take the Strategic Action at some point before you pass. Therefore, even though the player holding Diplomacy (#2) goes before Technology (#7), than doesn't mean their strategic abilities will be used in that order, since the Diplomacy player could elect to take a Tactical Action first. Make sense?
enjay said:
4lterego said:
Well do you have a specific question?
Strategy Phase-
Basically the Strategy Phase is the phase that everyone picks their strategy cards, starting with the speaker. That's it (with the exception of Action Cards that are played in the Strategy Phase). Don't get confused and think strategic actions happen during the strategy phase - they happen during the Action Phase.
Action Phase-
Each player in turn takes an action. On your turn, you take a Tactical Action (activate a system to move or build), Transfer Action (very rarely), Strategic Action, play an Action Card that says play as an action on it, or pass. Strategic Actions are the abilities on the strategy cards, and every player must execute the primary ability of their strategy card as a Strategic Action (excepting of course, Initiative) before they can pass. it doesn't matter what order you do your own actions in, but you always have to do the Strategic Action, after which you can pass which means you are done for the rest of the round. Once everyone has passed, its on to the Status Phase.
Status Phase-
Just go down the handy checklist on the race sheet. Remove counters, receive new ones, draw cards, qualify for your objectives, etc.
Does that help?
it does help and thank you. It does highlight my confusion, however. Why then are the strategy cards numbered if they can be done in any order?
The numbers on the card determine player order. The player with Strategy Tile #1 goes first, the player with #2 goes second, and so on.
That makes sense. I was overcomplicating it--obviously. Thanks for your help. We played yesterday and had a lot of fun.