End of Game Statements
Andy York: Congrats to Eric on taking the win, and condolences to Michael for a close-run 2nd place. My middle-of-the-pack finish was about par for the course. Maybe next time.... Thank, Chris, for running the game - and excellent job as always.
Eric Brosius: This game was unusual in many ways, not the least of which was the fact that it was close all the way through, even though players were pursuing very different strategies. Early on I decided that I needed to get lucky to have a chance to win, so I took a big chance and it paid off---just barely.
My early cards were awful. On Turn 2, having spent all six cards on a WaF in Turn 1, I drew Wa7 + Wa6 + Or2. These were somewhat lower than average, but even worse, didn't allow me to buy a pop without wasting 3 in earning power. Since I'd only be giving up 3 by failing to man my OrF, I decided not to buy a pop. But then I thought that a DL strategy might be a way to come back, so I bid 15 (all my cards) on a DL and got it. The next turn I got Wa8 + Wa5 + Or1 and was even worse off, not being able to bid on a DL. I passed, using the same reasoning I had used on Turn 2. One key to this game is to avoid pursuing too many strategies, and being poor helps with that!
My card luck returned to normal starting in Turn 4, but before Turn 6 I spent some time thinking about how I was going to give myself a chance to win. I decided that I needed to buy at least one more DL, and if I could, I wanted to buy them both. I had 43 in spending power, so I had to get at least one of them for 21 or less. HOBO, who already had a pair of DLs, put them both up for auction, but he dropped out at 19, so I got them for 20 each. I didn't spend anything in Turn 7, because I was hoping to be able to get something good (a Sc, an OL or a La) if it showed up in Turn 8.
I had 55 going into Turn 8, and Chris flopped three OLs and a La. Perhaps I should have bid on an OL, but I was greedy for the 5 VP a La would give, and for the ability to buy ReFs if there was nothing I wanted or if I was outbid. This put me near the lead in VPs, but my inability to buy more than 5 pop was a real handicap.
One of the big elements of luck in Outpost, even more than that of the card draws, is the order in which upgrades appear. HOBO was my main competition for Sc upgrades, and he had a nice pile of cards (I had bought a La in Turn 8, and he had only bought a single pop.) Fortunately, there were 3 Sc upgrades, and although HOBO got two of them, I got the third. I went on to buy two more Sc's and a pair of ReFs, but on Turn I decided to pass yet again, saving my cards for the imminent start of Era III.
I had 242 in buying power to start Turn 13, so I was really hoping for a MB. By my estimate, only ITCHEN could afford even as much as a PC, and he would need a bit of luck to make it to 160. I had great luck, with 1 MB coming out for me to buy and ITCHEN forced to settle for a SS. From here on out, I was able to buy a big upgrade every turn, though I never even had the extra funds to buy a pop to man one of those idle WaFs. I've never seen an ending like this, with a player manning only two regular factories (in my case, the two ReFs.)
I'd like to thank Chris for running the game, and all my opponents for an enjoyable contest.
Andy Lewis: Congratulations to Eric. Sorry you came up just short Michael. I tried my best. I want to thank Chris for running this. I think I accomplished a personal best of finishing in the top half. Maybe another dozen games and I'll have a real clue and maybe give someone a run for their money.
Kevin Wilson: First, congratulations to Eric on a nice, close, win and to Michael for making him work for it.
Once again, I'm down at the bottom. It seems every time I decide the route to go (DL and Scientists or building for income) the cards just miss me on the first couple of turns and I don't win the initial key items and it's catch up the rest of the way, usually unsuccessfully. That, and I seem to continually miss the strategy in this one. Oh well, we keep trying and hopefully learning.
Thanks to Chris, as usual, for running a prompt and accurate game.
Bill Scharf: My strategy in this game worked out well. I focused on cards (research) that didn't impact hand size or require additional population, or much additional population, which saves a lot of expenses. Of course, it only works if there isn't competition; if too many player follow the same strategy resources are too thin to win using just these assets. I – oh, wait. I was channeling Eric Brosius. Never mind.