# Terraforming Mars: Prelude ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2018 - **BGG Rating**: 8.8 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-5 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 90-120 min - **Weight**: 2.56 / 5 - **Designers**: Jacob Fryxelius - **Artists**: Isaac Fryxelius, William Bricker - **Publishers**: FryxGames, Stronghold Games, Arclight Games, Ghenos Games, Intrafin Games, Kilogames, Korea Boardgames, Lautapelit.fi, Lavka Games, Maldito Games, MeepleBR, MINDOK, MIPL, Rebel Sp. z o.o., Reflexshop, Schwerkraft-Verlag, Siam Board Games, Spilbræt.dk, Surfin' Meeple China - **Categories**: Economic, Environmental, Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction - **Mechanics**: Hand Management, Open Drafting, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tile Placement ## Verdict The essential booster for Terraforming Mars fans to skip the slow start.Speeds up early gameFresh corporate strategiesGreat new solo modeHigh replayabilityRequires base gameHeavy language dependencyHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description You know that early game in Terraforming Mars where things can feel a bit slow while you're struggling to build your engine? Well, Prelude is here to fix that with style! This expansion provides the perfect jumpstart your corporations need to take off. The star of the show is the new 'Prelude' cards. Right at the start of the game, each player selects a few of these cards, which act as an immediate boost: they might grant extra resources, increase your energy production, or even advance global terraforming parameters right out of the gate. But that's not all. The box is packed with content that breathes new life into the board. You'll find 5 new corporations with unique abilities and 7 thematic project cards that fit perfectly into the early stages of Martian colonization. If you love varying your strategy, these cards ensure that no two games feel exactly the same. Furthermore, for the solo enthusiasts, Prelude introduces a brand-new and challenging solo mode: instead of just completing global parameters, your goal is to reach 63 TR before time runs out. It's a true race against the clock! The best part is the flexibility. You don't have to use the Prelude cards if you're not feeling it; you can simply add the new corporations and project cards to the base game for an extra flavor boost. And if you're already a collector of Terraforming Mars expansions, you can combine Prelude with any other expansion you own. It's the kind of expansion that doesn't just add more stuff, but actually improves the game's pacing and overall experience. If you want less 'slow setup' and more 'immediate action,' Prelude is an absolute must-have for your collection. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Preparation (Setup) To set up the game with the expansion, follow these steps: Shuffle the 7 project cards from the expansion into the main project card deck. Shuffle the 5 corporations from the expansion into the corporation deck. Shuffle the remaining 35 Prelude cards into their own separate deck. During the card dealing phase (as per the main game rulebook), deal 4 Prelude cards to each player. Players choose 2 Prelude cards to keep; these do not cost anything to keep. After corporations have been played and cards paid for, an extra round occurs where each player plays their pair of picked Prelude cards in player order and discards the remaining 2 Prelude cards. Note: Prelude cards work like green cards and stay in play with their tags visible. The entire setup process is considered part of generation 1. Game Flow The game follows the standard structure, with the following additions: Setup Phase: Includes the selection and playing of Prelude cards. Action Phase: The first player begins the action phase immediately after the Prelude cards have been played. For solo play, the game is limited to 12 generations to complete terraforming, marked with a gold cube at generation 12. Actions and How to Play Prelude Cards These cards are played during the setup phase. They function like green cards and remain in play with their tags visible. Wild Tag When performing an action after a card with a wild tag has been played, the wild tag acts as a tag of your choice. Important restrictions include: It does not trigger when being put into play. It does not count for awards. It can be used in an action to perform tasks, such as claiming a milestone. TR Solo Variant In this specific solo variant, the goal changes from completing global parameters to reaching a Terraform Rating of 63 within 14 generations (or 12 generations if using Prelude cards). This variant introduces a new standard project called BUFFER GAS, which costs 16 M€ and provides 1 TR. End of Game and Scoring Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Tips for Winning In TR solo, utilize the BUFFER GAS standard project (16 M€ for 1 TR) to help reach the target Terraform Rating of 63. Use the wild tag strategically during actions to claim a milestone, as it can represent any tag you need for that specific action. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes! Prelude is an expansion and only works if you already own the Terraforming Mars base game. ### How long does a game take with this expansion? The expansion tends to make the game more dynamic, keeping the playtime around 90-120 minutes but with less 'slow setup' time. ### Is it hard to learn? Not at all! If you already know the basic rules, Prelude is very intuitive and just adds more strategic choices. ### Can I play solo? Yes! Prelude introduces a specific solo mode that is quite different from the standard solo mode in the base game. ### Is the game in English/my language? Warning: this product has high language dependency. It is highly recommended to have a translated version to enjoy all the cards. ### How many players can play? From 1 to 5 players, depending on whether you are using the solo mode or the standard mode. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 147,38 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07F4J9MFZ?tag=bgbot26-20) - **Brechó Lúdico**: R$ 122,22 (https://brecholudico.com.br/produto/terraforming-mars-preludio/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Tubaleria**: R$ 129,60 (https://tubaleria.store/produtos/terraforming-mars-preludio/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **TabuLoja**: R$ 134,10 (https://www.tabuloja.com/jogos-de-tabuleiro/expansoes/terraforming-mars-preludio?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Alquimistas dos Jogos**: R$ 134,81 (https://www.alquimistasdosjogos.com.br/terraforming-mars-preludio?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Bravo Jogos**: R$ 134,85 (https://bravojogos.com.br/jogos-de-tabuleiro-e-cardgames/terraforming-mars-preludio-p?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/terraforming-mars-preludio ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 13.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4887505&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 17.49 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4673506&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.49 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4802042&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.69 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7050775&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4821900&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1054533&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.89 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6186952&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.95 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5240104&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1126928&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.65 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2090121&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/24302/terraforming-mars-prelude?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com