Race for the Galaxy (2007)

In Race for the Galaxy, players build galactic civilizations by game cards that represent worlds or technical and social developments.

Each turn each player chooses one action, but the others will share in the actions chosen, each player secretly and simultaneously chooses one of seven different action cards and then reveals it. Only the selected phases occur. For these phases, every player performs the phase’s action, while the selecting player(s) also get a bonus for that phase.

History

Race for the Galaxy's development began when Thomas Lehmann started work on a card game version of Puerto Rico in parallel with Andreas Seyfarth's own. Their independent efforts resulted in some degree of collaboration, and though some of Mr. Lehmann's design ideas did not make it into what eventually became San Juan, he continued to develop his concepts, taking the theme and other elements from an unpublished customizable card game he had previously designed. For a more detailed narrative from the designer, himself, please see these three articles at Boardgamenews.com:

• Race for the Galaxy Designer Preview #1
• Race for the Galaxy Designer Preview #2
• Race for the Galaxy Designer Preview #3

Race for the Galaxy benefits from an unusually thorough development process, involving thousands of test games and the deliberate design of an unusually coherent iconography (by onigame and the graphics designer, Mirko Suzuki) as well as a unique approach to player interaction that prevents direct conflict and encourages "parasitic conflict".

Two expansions adding new cards, concepts, and starting planets, and supporting up to 6 players, are already completed. One was released in 2008 as The Gathering Storm; the second was released in 2009 as Rebel vs Imperium. A third expansion, The Brink of War, has been announced by the author (Tom Lehmann).

Comparison to San Juan

Some of the significant differences between San Juan and Race for the Galaxy include:

ROLE SELECTION
San Juan: Players pick roles one at a time in turn order. A role that is picked is unavailable to be picked by other players. Each role has exactly one advantage for the one who picked it.
RftG: Players pick roles secretly and simultaneously. Multiple players can possibly pick the same role. Some roles have two advantages of which the player who picked the role must choose one.

THEME & GAMEPLAY
San Juan: Tightly linked to Puerto Rico creating a gameplay experience that feels like a lighter, faster version of the boardgame.
RftG: Space theme that is completely divorced from its Puerto Rico roots allowing for some divergence from the original's gameplay.

6-COST CARDS
San Juan: Their only function is to generate end-of-game victory point bonuses in exactly the same spirit as the "big buildings" of Puerto Rico.
RftG: Function as end-of-game victory point bonuses but also provide benefits and advantages during gameplay.

EXPANDABILITY & PLAYERS
San Juan: Two expansions available in Alea Treasure Chest. They add new buildings and events (they work like roles but usable once and then discarded).
RftG: Three expansions already designed and planned to be released in the future. The base game is 2-4 players but the eventual expansions will increase that to 1-6 players. The first expansion is named The Gathering Storm, the second is named Rebel vs Imperium, and the third is named The Brink of War .

• 2009 Games 100 Best Family Strategy Nominee.
• 2008 A la carte 1st Place, Fairplay Magazine prize for card games.
• 2008 BGG Golden Geek Award, Best Card Game.
• 2008 International Gamers Award Multi-Player Nominee.
• 2007 Dice Tower Awards, Best Game of the Year Winner.

Race for the Galaxy Fan

Race for the Galaxy Fan

Race for the Galaxy Fan

Race for the Galaxy Fan

Race for the Galaxy Fan

Race for the Galaxy fan - 6-cost development

Race for the Galaxy fan - box

Race for the Galaxy fan - card

Race for the Galaxy fan - Military power

Race for the Galaxy fan - produce

Race for the Galaxy fan - Victory Points

Race for the Galaxy fan - windfall

Race for the Galaxy fan - Victory point

Race for the Galaxy fan

Components:

• 5 Start World Cards
• 109 Game Cards:
  • 59 World Cards
  • 50 Development Cards
• 4 Sets of 7 Player Action Cards (28)
• 8 Duplicate Action Cards (For Experienced 2 Player Games)
• 4 Summary Sheets
• 28 Victory Point Chips (18 x "1"; 6 x "5"; 4 x "10")
• Instructions

Race for the Galaxy AI:
Granted permission to release his Race for the Galaxy AI to the public by Rio Grande Games. Great for solitaire play and refining your RftG skills. Posted by mrkeldon may he be granted much Thumbs and GG!.
BGG Thread: http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/438698/race-for-the-galaxy-ai
AI Link: http://keldon.net/rftg/