Another thing that dazed and confused us yesterday, was the perceived weirdness of Strategy Rating. This hasn't been an issue in the past due to equivalent matchups (Marine vs Marine).

Yesterday was Ork(opponent) vs Marine(me). Both of us felt it was weird that I had to start the alternate set-up of Objectives, Garrisons, and non-Reserves first. Is this a balancing factor for me being more likely to win the Strategy Phase on any successive turn? Because it seems like a detriment placing first, for something that is normally an advantage (high SR). And unlike the Strategy Phase, there's never a chance I will get the advantage of alternate deploying second.

Morgan Vening

Actually, placing those things first, in alternating sequence, lets the higher Strategy Rating army "shape" that battlefield... they can chose edge or corner deployment and the "side" of the battlefield that's better for them, the earlier placement of objectives can affect the placement of other objectives, the early placement of scouts or other garrisons can force the opponent to deploy elsewhwere.

There's lots of advantages to "placing first", and you do realize you do this in an alternating fashion: you place an objective, you opponent places an objective, alternating until finished.  And then the same is done with garrisons and non-reserves... each player only puts down one "item" at a time, alternating between them.

But there is also a "balancing" aspect to it as well.

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Placing first in objectives can be somewhat helpful, as you can somewhat limit your opponents choice with regards to their placement.

I can't think of too many benefits though for deploying first. Maybe if you garrisoned a scout formation you could exert some ZoC to limit his garrison?

Placing Spacecraft first, well there's an obvious advantage there if your opponent has one as well.

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Dave

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Think of it this way - the army with the higher strat rating turns up first, meaning the start to set up first etc, but this also gives them a chance to jump on the opposition first.

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I agree that it is goofy.

IMHO the army with the higher strategy rating should get to choose to go first or second at every single step, announcing spaceships, placing garrisons, setting up regular formations, teleporting, whatever.

Wasn´t this an experimental rule at some time? I´m sure we´ve played it that way a couple of times, to no ill effect...

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I think that placing the first objective gives you a good opportunity to control the battlefield.  It's one of the reasons why I find fighting against Marines frustrating, as constantly not being able to deploy my objectives where I would like them (because the Marine player is always one step ahead of me) can make life very awkward.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not complaining, since I feel that it all adds to the challenge.  In addition, sometimes the player who has to place an objective first can make an error, and this can play into your hands.

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That´s why I say at every single step.

If you have a cunning plan that requires doing something first or second, it´s your choice if you have the higher SR.

Placing standard formations first is definitely not advantageous, especially if you have fewer to deploy in the first place.

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