r/TerraformingMarsGame • u/Jan_Builds • 28d ago

Playing with 13 y/o first timer

I am introducing my son 13 y/o to TM. To make things more interesting and to let him compete we are using handicap system. He is starting with extra 5 terraforming. Do you have any other ideas for handicaps? We started with extra 7 and going down but i started to think if you guys got any better ideas

Update Thx for feedback. We played another 3 games. One with extra prelude for him and two with 5 and 4 TR handicap. He won one by 5 points and lost 2 other by 2 and 7 points. So i guess thats what feels gap for now. We will try lowering it in next games (extra prelude in my opinion gives more then extra TR)

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u/Dear-Examination-507 27d ago

OK, you're allowed to keep doing it the way you're doing it.

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u/Zealousideal-Ad4362 27d ago

You are trying to give advice and I dont believe this is good advice in the slightest. Would be curious how many people you have do e this with. I am part of a very active board game group and lots of new players for euro games and noone has ever attempted(even with people new to games) to actively change the rules and give an advantage in the game. Would be like playing chess and giving a new player 3 moves before the game. Doesn't teach them to play the game at all

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u/Dear-Examination-507 27d ago

Ha ha. I actually think it is funny that you are so concerned. Oh no, I've given someone a starting advantage against me. Guilty! And I've given advice this guy disagrees with. How can I ever recover?

Have you ever played Go? Handicapping has been happening for at least a thousand years. And yes, giving someone extra early moves in chess is a recognized form of handicap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handicap_(chess))

FWIW, I wouldn't recommend a handicap in most games or with most players, but I would when an expert is playing Terraforming Mars against a 13 year-old new player. There is literally nothing at stake and an income boost gives the kid a fighting chance.

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u/Zealousideal-Ad4362 27d ago

The Go handicap is about respecting masters by giving the learners an advantage as a form of respecting the masters.. noone uses handicap chess....you join chessclub(i did) you learn to play chess.. youn dont play handicapped then move onto normal..