TI4 Game #1 for 2026!

 With my day off yesterday I was able to play my first TI4 game of the new year and oh what a game it was!

I took a healthy 4 point lead during the game, standing at 7 points with everyone else having 3 or 2 points. I thought I had things in the bag. (then everything started getting dicey)

After taking the capital Mecatol Rex, I couldn't score any of the other objectives, so the only point I could get every round was the one for being on Rex. Meanwhile this girl scored a 2 point objective and one of her secret missions. 

After the next round, the score was 8 to 6. Having already scored both my secret objectives, I couldn't depend on getting any extra points. The next round's objective revealed another goal I was no where near completing, so once again, Rex was my only point. 

The same girl was able to score another 2 point objective as well as her last Secret Objective, tying the score with me 9-9. 

But the game was in my hand at that point. Being Speaker for the prior round I was able to choose my strategy card first. I chose 8 which guaranteed me another point. Everyone else's ships were nowhere near Rex so they couldn't take it from me. I had secured a victory at the end. And it's a good thing too, because the next objective revealed, I STILL couldn't do. 

Very close game and an excellent one to kick off the new year. We were successful in opening the void from the latest expansion. (only a 20% chance to do in each game) I rolled a perfect 10 and we placed it out. 

No one ever went. 

It was strange. I didn't think it would happen but we had a standoff. No one wanted to be the first one to enter and fight the pirates there, for fear they would be weakened and someone would come behind them swooping up their hard fought planet. 

I wanted to go so bad to gain the planets for myself, but I had to stay focused on scoring, so I just kept up the idea of threatening to go like everyone else was. 

Wild that we finally had it open but no one went. If I'm behind in the game next time, I think I'll go for it. Not as a winning strategy but just to see what it's like owning a planet that gives you a relic each round. 

Either way, I didn't think that's the way the situation would unfold. 

The only thing I forgot to do was bring out a situation card for the game. I loved the last one we did and was hoping to bring another out but forgot during set up. 

Don't know when Game #2 will happen. Maybe Spring break? Either way, I'm looking forward to going back with that galaxy again soon.