Home systems are placed in the three blank spaces at the 12:00, 4:00, and 8:00 positions in the outer ring.

Recommended Objective Card Removals:

A downside to this layout is that it’s simply too small for some objectives to remain feasible, I recommend removing the following objectives from the game before you begin play:

Form Galactic Brain Trust — Stage II Objective

Subdue the Galaxy — Stage II Objective

Become the Gatekeeper — Secret Objective

Why not just use the standard 3-Player map layout?

The standard 3-player map layout has 24 non-home/MecRex system tiles, or 8 per player; this two-ring layout has only 15 tiles, or 5 per player.

With the standard 3-player map, very little conflict is forced, there’s just too much space! This variant is a trade-off. It allows for inter-player conflict to be maintained from the 6-player map layout regarding control objectives and threatening eachothers’ home systems, butin exchange it makes certain Stage II objectives nearly impossible to accomplish. (Which is why I suggested removing a few, above.)

Another small downside to accompany a small map: Unlike in a standard 6-player game, this 2-ring map places every player’s home system only 2 movement away from Mecatol Rex, making it very possible to get to it during Round 1. That being said, it is no easier a task to find 6 influence to remove the Custodians’ Token during R1 than it is in a 6-player map, so this isn’t much of a concern.

Another way to accomplish this 6-player feel on a 3-player map is to use three warp zones. Barring that, this layout is an excellent way to keep the high-conflict nature of this game intact with half the number of players.

Objective by Objective Analysis

Not all objectives are covered here, only those which are directly related to the unusual size and layout of MICROGREENS.

Stage I Objectives:

Corner the Market: Control 4 planets that each have the same planet trait

The map is designed so that this objective is within reach for every player at the table, but each will have to control a contested position in order to accomplish it. The southwest player will have the hardest time with this one as they need to take control of Zohbat, the most resource-valuable planet in the northern player’s slice. To balance this difficulty, the southwest slice is the only one that has any reasonable chance of scoring the stage II objective, Unify the Colonies.

The map is designed so that this objective is within reach for every player at the table, but each will have to control a contested position in order to accomplish it. The southwest player will have the hardest time with this one as they need to take control of Zohbat, the most resource-valuable planet in the northern player’s slice. To balance this difficulty, the southwest slice is the only one that has any reasonable chance of scoring the stage II objective, Unify the Colonies. Expand Borders: Control 6 planets in non-home systems

With only 17 non-home planets on the board, a maximum of two players will be able to qualify for this objective concurrently. Scoring this objective will require that you claim more than your fair share of the galaxy. Those who don’t get enough plastic on the board to defend the planets their neighbors need will definitely find themselves in a war if this objective comes out.

With only 17 non-home planets on the board, a maximum of two players will be able to qualify for this objective concurrently. Scoring this objective will require that you claim more than your fair share of the galaxy. Those who don’t get enough plastic on the board to defend the planets their neighbors need will definitely find themselves in a war if this objective comes out. Found Research Outposts: Control 3 planets that have technology specialties

While this is possible for each player at the table, it will be challenging for all of them. The northern player in particular will struggle to score this point if it comes up.

Stage II Objectives:

Conquer the Weak: Control 1 planet that is in another player’s home system

This is where this map layout shines compared to the standard 3-player triangle. The 2-ring layout brings each home system within 4 movement of every other home system, and anyone who controls Mecatol Rex is a mere 2 movement away from any home system as well. Conquer away!

This is where this map layout shines compared to the standard 3-player triangle. The 2-ring layout brings each home system within 4 movement of every other home system, and anyone who controls Mecatol Rex is a mere 2 movement away from any home system as well. Conquer away! Form Galactic Brain Trust: Control 5 planets that have technology specialties

This one is technically possible, but it would be extremely challenging as it would require one player to control every tech skip planet on the board simultaneously.

[OPTION: Remove this objective from the game before you start. ]

This one is technically possible, but it would be extremely challenging as it would require one player to control every tech skip planet on the board simultaneously. Remove this objective from the game before you start. Subdue the Galaxy: Control 11 planets in non-home systems

This will be extremely challenging to score if it comes up. If someone manages to score this objective, color me impressed and please send be an email because — wow! [OPTION: Remove this objective from the game before you start. ]

This will be extremely challenging to score if it comes up. If someone manages to score this objective, color me impressed and please send be an email because — wow! Remove this objective from the game before you start. Unify the Colonies: Control 6 planets that each have the same planet trait

Another challenging option, only reasonably possible for the southwestern player to accomplish since they have the majority of the Hazardus planets in their slice, and that is the only planet type with sufficient planets on the board for this objective. This is balanced by the fact that the player in the southwestern slice will struggle the most to score Corner the Market, as discussed above.

Secret Objectives: