Terraforming Mars: Venus Next Game Rules

Hey there! Ready to dive into the exciting world of Terraforming Mars: Venus Next? Buckle up, because I’m about to break down the game rules for you.

Let’s start with the basics. Terraforming Mars: Venus Next is a strategic board game where you get to become a powerful leader with the goal of transforming the red planet into a habitable paradise for humanity. Pretty cool, huh?

Now, here’s how the game works. You and your fellow players will take turns, each representing a different corporation, to strategically play cards and take actions that will help you terraform Mars. Your actions will range from building infrastructure and generating resources to launching satellites and even manipulating the weather. Talk about power!

But here’s the twist. In addition to terraforming Mars, you also have the opportunity to transform Venus into a livable planet. This expansion brings a whole new dimension to the game, allowing you to explore the second planet from the sun and conquer its challenges.

Now, let’s talk about the victory conditions. The game ends when one of two things happens: either all three global parameters, which represent the temperature, the oxygen level, and the ocean coverage on Mars, reach their required thresholds, or the Venus track reaches its maximum level. Once this happens, you’ll calculate your final score based on various factors like the milestones you achieved and the tiles you placed on Mars and Venus.

But wait, there’s more! Terraforming Mars: Venus Next also introduces a new set of project cards that will spice up your gameplay. These cards represent the different technological advancements and breakthroughs you can make on your mission to transform the planets. So be sure to keep an eye out for those valuable cards!

Remember, the key to success in Terraforming Mars: Venus Next is strategy, resource management, and clever card play. So, go out there, explore the planets, and create a new world for humanity to thrive in. Good luck, and may the best corporation win!

Hey there! So, we’ve kicked off the process of making Mars a habitable place, and things are moving quite smoothly. In fact, the World Government on Earth has spotted another potential venture – terraforming Venus! Now, this won’t be a walk in the park, it’s definitely going to be a mammoth task – might even take a whole millennium, but hey, that shouldn’t discourage us. If anything, it’s a reason to start right away!

All the Bits and Pieces

• I’ll tell you about the Venus Next expansion for Terraforming Mars.
• It’s a great addition to the base game, bringing new challenges and strategies.
• In Venus Next, you’ll be attempting to terraform the planet Venus.
• The expansion comes with several new components:
• A Venus board which is used to track the progress of terraforming Venus.
• 5 corporation cards that offer new abilities and strategies.
• 49 project cards that allow you to further your terraforming efforts on Venus.
• A Venus marker to indicate the current oxygen and temperature levels on the planet.
• A Hoverlord Milestone tile that introduces new ways to earn milestones.
• And a Venuphile Award tile that adds a new award to strive for.
• It also includes a rulebook with all the necessary instructions and explanations.

The Venus Board

Welcome to the Venus Board, your ultimate destination for all things related to the fascinating planet Venus.

On this board, I’ll take you on an exciting journey to explore the wonders and mysteries of Venus. From its scorching hot surface to its thick atmosphere, there are so many intriguing things to learn.

Let’s start by diving into the captivating history of Venus. Did you know that Venus was named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty? It’s a fitting name for a planet that shines so brightly in our night sky.

Now, let’s talk about what makes Venus so unique. One of the key features of Venus is its thick atmosphere, which is composed mainly of carbon dioxide. This creates a greenhouse effect, trapping heat and making the planet incredibly hot. In fact, Venus has the hottest surface of any planet in our solar system!

But there’s more to Venus than just its hot surface. The planet is also known for its stunning cloud formations. These clouds are made up of sulfuric acid, giving them a vibrant yellow color. It’s a sight to behold!

Now, let’s move on to Venus’ intriguing geology. The planet is covered in mountains, valleys, and volcanoes. One of the most famous features is its volcano called Maat Mons, which is the tallest volcano on Venus. These geological formations tell us a lot about the planet’s past and how it has evolved over time.

Before I wrap up, let’s not forget about the exploration of Venus. Over the years, we’ve sent several missions to study this fascinating planet up close. These missions have provided us with valuable data and insights into Venus’ atmosphere, surface, and geology.

In conclusion, the Venus Board is your go-to place for all things Venus. Whether you’re curious about its history, mesmerized by its beauty, or eager to learn about its geology, you’ll find it all here. So come on board and let’s explore the wonders of Venus together!

Hey there! Let’s talk about the Venus board, shall we? It’s got this cool thing called the Venus scale, which is a fourth global parameter. When we talk about it on the cards, we just call it ‘Venus’.

The Venus scale is all about the long-term. It goes from 0% to 30% terraformed, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of the game. See, you still need to max out the temperature, oxygen, and oceans to finish. The Venus scale just offers some extra perks along the way.

When you reach certain milestones on the Venus scale, you get Terraform Ratings (TR) and bonus steps. But there’s a catch – just like other global parameters, it stops giving out TR when you hit the limit.

It’s pretty interesting because some games will see the Venus scale completed early, while others won’t even touch it. It really depends on how things play out. And hey, here’s a fun fact – cards like Adaptation Technology, Special Design, and the corporation Inventrix can affect the Venus requirements as well!

Bonus steps: When you increase Venus by 8%, you can draw a card for free. And if you increase Venus by 16%, you’ll get an extra TR.

A cool new thing: There’s a project called Air Scrapping that lets you raise the Venus scale by one step for 15 M€. But don’t worry, you’ll still get a TR when you do it.

New city areas: The Venus board has 4 new areas for certain cities. These spots are placed by project cards in the expansion, just like Phobos Space Haven and Ganymede Colony on the main game board.

Maxwell Base is down on the dangerous surface, while Stratopolis is high up in the Venusian atmosphere. Luna Metropolis is on our Moon, and Dawn City moves along with the sunrise on Mercury. It’s always a little out of reach of the blinding Sun.

When setting up, I place the Venus board right next to the game board. A white marker is positioned on 0%, marking the beginning of the Venus scale.

Exciting Additions

Hey there! Let’s dive into the exciting world of the Venus Next expansion. With 49 marvelous new project cards and 5 shiny new corporations, this expansion is sure to add a thrilling twist to your game. You can easily spot these new corporations by the cool blue and white icon on the bottom left of the card.

Before you start the game, make sure to shuffle these new project cards and corporations into their respective decks. Whether you want to use the Corporate Era expansion or any other expansion is totally up to you – Venus Next can be played with or without them.

Here’s an extra twist for you: try having each player draw one Venus corporation and one from the other options available. This variant adds an extra layer of excitement to your game.

Floaters

Floating High in the Venusian Skies

Imagine a place where the skies are not just empty, but filled with floating infrastructure. That place exists in the Venusian atmosphere, where the pressure and temperature mirror those of our very own Earth.

Down on the surface, however, things become more treacherous. The oppressive pressure reaches a staggering 90 atmospheres, and temperatures soar to a scorching 450 degrees Celsius. Not exactly a friendly environment, to say the least.

But fear not, for in this inhospitable realm, a new resource emerges: floaters. These remarkable entities hover above the Venusian terrain, providing us with yet another tool to explore and exploit.

The Fascinating Role of Floaters

Like their counterparts, microbes and animals, floaters come in the form of cards. But instead of teeming beneath the surface or roaming the land, these floaters take to the skies, defying gravity itself. A stunning feat indeed!

Just like microbes and animals, floaters offer a wealth of possibilities. They can be collected, harnessed, and utilized to our advantage. Their significance cannot be overstated.

As I gaze at the Venusian skies with wonder, I find myself captivated by the concept of floaters. They represent a tantalizing mystery, a puzzle waiting to be solved. How did they come to exist in this extraordinary realm? What secrets do they hold?

It’s clear that floaters hold immense potential. The ability to harness hovering infrastructure in such an extreme environment is nothing short of miraculous. But with this potential comes great responsibility. We must approach our interaction with floaters with caution and respect for the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem.

It’s time to embark on a new chapter of exploration and discovery. Floaters are here, waiting to propel us into a future that seems almost otherworldly. Let us embrace this opportunity with open hearts and curious minds.

I want to let you know about this special symbol that represents something that hasn’t been specifically defined. You’ll need to read the relevant text for more information.

Symbol for Venus

I would like to tell you about the Venus tag – a symbol that represents a project situated on Venus or in its orbit. When a card is labeled with the Venus tag, we call it a Venus card. Just think of it as a special identifier for these particular projects. But what exactly does it mean? Well, let me explain.

Imagine you’re exploring the vastness of space, and you come across a project that catches your eye. You notice it has the Venus tag, which immediately tells you that this project is somehow connected to Venus. This could mean that it’s located on Venus itself or in its orbit. It could be a research mission, a space station, or even a settlement on Venus. The possibilities are quite endless!

The Venus tag is like a little hint that adds an extra layer of intrigue to the project. It sparks curiosity and makes you want to know more about what’s happening on Venus. It’s like a secret code that connects you to something unique and out of this world.

So, next time you see a card with the Venus tag, remember that it’s a special identification for projects connected to Venus. It’s an invitation to uncover the mysteries of our neighboring planet and explore the amazing things that humans and technology can achieve in space. Exciting, isn’t it? Now go on and dive into the wonders of the Venus tag!

Let me introduce you to something new: Hoverlord. It’s an exciting addition to the Milestones you already know. The best part? You can now claim 3 out of the 6 Milestones!

To earn the Hoverlord Milestone, you’ll need to have at least 7 floater resources on your cards. When you set up the game, just place the tile over the Milestones headline on the board.

Speaking of Milestones, let’s talk about the Venuphile Award.

New Award, who dis? Let me break it down for you. There’s this cool new thing called the Venuphile Award. It’s all about those Venus tags, you know? Basically, you gotta get as many of those Venus tags in play as possible. And guess what? This award even works alongside all the other awards that are already out there. So now you can have 3 out of 6 awards funded. Pretty rad, huh?

Now, where do you place this cool Venuphile Award tile? Simple, just cover up the Awards headline on the game board with it. Boom! You’re all set. Now go out there and dominate the Venus tag game!

The Solar Phase: Terraforming by the World Government

Welcome to the Solar Phase, a new stage introduced in Venus Next! It takes place after each generation’s production phase.

Step 1: Checking for Game End

The first task in the Solar Phase is to evaluate the game’s end conditions. We determine if the temperature, oxygen, and oceans have all reached their maximum levels. If they have, the game ends, and we proceed to the final scoring phase. The plants are converted as normal at this point. There are no further actions in the Solar Phase.

Step 2: Terraforming with the World Government

Step two is known as World Government Terraforming. To ensure that Venus can be terraformed without impeding the progress on Mars, the World Government has made the decision to offer assistance.

Now it’s my turn to be the WG! I get to choose what to do next. I can either increase a non-maxed global parameter by one step or place an ocean tile. Any bonuses that come with these actions go directly to me, so I’ll get all the TR and other bonuses.

It’s important to note that there are some cards that may be triggered by my action, like Arctic Algae or the new corporation Aphrodite.

If we want to make the game longer, we can choose to skip this step.

In future expansions, the Solar Phase will have more steps and be used in different ways.

Solo Variant

If you’re playing the solo variant, you’ll need the Venus cards and the Corporate Era expansion. Your goal now is to max out all four global parameters, including the Venus scale!

When you play the game, you begin with 14 TR and have 14 generations. But here’s the exciting part: the World Government Terraforming is there to assist during the Solar Phase. As the first player, you get to decide what actions the WG takes.

This is a big advantage because Venus is a challenging planet to terraform. It takes 15 steps to fully transform Venus, but luckily, the WG helps out with 13 steps. However, keep in mind that in the 14th generation, the WG won’t be able to assist due to the Game End Check during the Solar Phase, step 1.