Joshua Kronengold <mneme@xxxxxx> wrote: > Any thoughts on switchback-must-large-universe as I proposed earlier? I think it addresses the problem you see that I don't think is a problem :) I think it doesn't address the problem I think I see, which is that the second player can match 1 point star colors, and flip their first turn build to that color on turn 2, and thus run out 1 points of the given color before 1st builder can do anything about it. This will either produce a monopoly, or require such extreme measures to avoid it, that 1st builder will be forced to the least extreme of those, i.e. playing Fortress, and letting 2nd builder have Banker and first move like we were trying to avoid in the first place. By my main thought is that I tend to think stuff like this based on having thought about it very briefly, but then when I actually try to play it out, I find I missed something obvious, or at the least it's more complex than it seemed. So I'd be fascinated to see if your plan is more effective than I think, or if there's a way to counter mine... If you, (or anyone!), want's to give it a try, challenge me to an Unrated game on SuperDuper, with whoever you want to be 1st builder going first, and we'll agree that that player will pass their first turn. We can abandon the game (or not) as soon as we feel the effect of the start conditions is clear.