What is the official word (if there is one) on the Keeper of Gates objective when there are no permanent (tile) wormholes on the board? If there isn't an official answer, what do you do to deal with this situation, and why? We currently have house-ruled that the person draws a new SO, but we're open to hear any interpretations you might have.

I don't remember any official ruling on this, but there's 2 things I'd say about this,

Technically the person with this could score it in the first status phase, as they have all of the zero wormhole tiles. (any from distant suns or space domain don't count, and from memory, if you aren't using the wormhole nexus, a lone wormhole wiothout a pair wouldn't count either).

I would reccomend in this case though to re-deal another SO, as 2 VP's for free is imbalanced.

The objective requires you to have at least 1 non-fighter ship in each wormhole system on the board. Thus, in order for you to be able to claim the objective, you would have to ask if this is true, "Do I have at least 1 non-fighter ship in each wormhole system? If there are no wormhole systems on the board, do you have 1 ship in each wormhole system? The simple answer is no, you don't. Officially, there is nothing that touches on objective cards like this. There is also nothing offically stating that you may choose to discard your secret objective card for a new one because you find that completing the objective will be to hard, or even impossible. This event will be completely up to your gaming group. If this ever occurs, simply ask the people you are playing with how they would feel about this event BEFORE you start the game. It is important to do this before, because once the situation comes up, people will be more inclined to allow you to have an impossible task than not, as it gives them an advantage that the rules support. Alternativly, if you do this before, they still have the potential of being dealt this issue, and will be more likely to support a house rule that allows such a player to exchange their secret objective card.

In a non-tournament game (e.g. a game among friends) I'd say discard it and draw another one. In a tournament game this should be spelled out in the tournament rules, but if it is not then get a ruling from the referee.

Archangelion said:

I believe there is another secret objective that requires you to control Mecatol Rex and each adjacent system (not coutning red borders.)

The official requirement for "controlling a system" is that you have a unit on each planet in the system and at least one ship in space there.

FFG has since clarified that you may control a system that has no planets with a single ship because "you already control all zero planets."

Granted there is no official answer to the specific question posed by the OP (and I would encourage the question to be asked of FFG for an official ruling), but there IS precedent in FFG's rulings about TI3 to suggest that "I control all zero wormholes" would be considered a true statement for the purpose of meeting required objectives.

I'm not saying I like the idea of someone getting 2 VPs for free just because there are no wormholes. In fact, the more I hear about Secret Objectives these days, the less inclined I am to use them at all. I'm just saying, there's precedent.

Steve-O said:

Is it errata'd that red borders don't count?

not quite, the full FAQ is: (Page 8)

Q: There is a Public Objective which states that a player must

control, with a unit, Mecatol Rex and each territory adjacent

to it. If an asteroid or supernova is adjacent to Mecatol Rex, is

this condition achievable?

A: The objective only requires control of adjacent systems that

can be controlled.

So that could be read as you only need to control the wormhole hexes that can be controlled.

But it would be best if someone sends FFG out a ruling request on this one.

I sent a rules request. I'll post here when they reply.

my $.02: I would not want another player on my board to get a 2 VP lead on me in this mannor, any more than those players would want me to. It's cheap. It's easy. There is nothing about gaining VP that should be either. If you're getting easy VP, your neighbors are not paying attention (and you should squash them!).

Our house ruling is that if you TRUELY cannot accomplish your SO, you must make it public knowledge before the end of turn 1. If it is found that you can, indeed, accomplish the objective - congratulations, now everyone at the table knows which SO you have. If, on the other hand, it is indeed beyond the reach of mortal man (or Hacan, or Letnev, ect ect…) it is acceptable to draw a new SO from the pile and continue plotting the overthow of the free galaxy in earnest.

Who builds a map without linking two unsuspecting opponants via wormhole, anyways???

Madness.