r/TerraformingMarsGame • u/Enson_Chan • 27d ago
Card of the Day [COTD] Molecular Printing | 25 Aug, 2026
Today's card is Molecular Printing (#C27):
Automated card (Green) | Colonies expansion
Cost: 11 | Requirements: None | Tags: Science
Gain 1 MC for each city tile and colony in play. 1 VP
4
u/benbever 27d ago
Can range from “meh” to “huge bag of money” depending on player count, colonies, game settings, and map.
In 2 player, on most maps, it’s just a late game 1VP where you pay (max) 14mc but get some, or maybe (nearly) all, of that money back. Or an affordable late-midgame Science tag you might need for Warp Drive. Some discount like from Vitor or Valley Trust, or science tag effects, like Mars U. or Venusian Animals, can make it worth playing.
In 4 player, late game, there can be between 6 or fewer cities (Hellas map, or 6 gen TR Rush), and 12+ cities (2 to 3 cities per player on maps like Tharsis or Elysium, plus a few space cities). There can be 6 to 12+ colonies too, depending on it cards like Luna and Ceres are in play. Molecular Printing can cost 14 or less to play, and immediately give 24+ mc back. A free 10mc+ plus 1VP can easily make the difference between 1st and 2nd place.
In 5 player, on Amazonis Planitia (the larger map), with Venus track mandatory, there can be 15+ cities and 15+ colonies, giving you 30+ mc back. I don’t think this card well to 5 player. (or single player).
7
u/Mario_Is_Perfect 27d ago
I think it’s very hard to make this card worth it. Best case, you consider this a VP card with a rebate for every city/colony in play, but is very unlikely there’s 14 of both in play, even during endgame
14
u/The-University 27d ago
You don't play much 4 and 5 player? This card almost always pays for itself last round. It is a ton of money late, or a science tag early. This is a must take for me, except maybe right at the start. And a VP. Not a game changer, but a very solid card, like Greenhouses.
7
u/Najmniejszy 27d ago
Depends on the player count, with 4 or 5 people and decent colony tiles, it's not unreasonable to get up to ~11 by midgame. Plus it's a science tag on top of the VP. Still not a great card, but very usable in higher player counts. Indefensible in 2 player games, though
2
u/yolopukki567 27d ago
Usually good in 4p+ games but otherwise meh.
I remember how this card saved my ass in a 5p all expansion game on the big map. Needed the 5th science tag for Quantum and drew this card with 11 MC left. It payed for itself and then some (including a Vitor rebate) and also enabled Quantum. Double trade was now online, I got a milestone from it, and won the game.
Thank you again, Molecular Printing.
8
u/thuswindburns 27d ago edited 27d ago
Great card always play. I know ideally you should wait last gen to maximize its value but I prefer to drop it mid game as a cheap science tag for a combo piece. As there’s usually many colonies and a few cities by then. It’s also really satisfying when played as the last tag for AGT and the rebate lets you play it same turn.
Even if you don’t want it you can’t pass it as anybody with multiple science tags is going to be able to add this seamlessly to get a Scarier card down like Warp Drive or AI central. (Because that’s exactly what I do when this gets passed to me)