Patronage (fan expansion for Race for the Galaxy)

Description

--- "Patronage" is a custom expansion for Race for the Galaxy, adding Agendas with Favor tokens and unique mechanics to rethink strategies like Goals or Prestige. Key mechanics include: - *Agenda system* Two random Agendas start with player-scaled Favor tokens (VP equivalents); players earn them via matching cards (e.g., Rebel worlds, Aliens), spending on benefits post-depletion. - *Peaceful worlds* Settleable only with negative total military. - *VP-spending powers* Allow expending victory point chips for effects. - *Intel powers* Grant benefits based on opponents' tableau and action choices. Patronage is an unofficial, standalone expansion for the core Race for the Galaxy game, introducing 72 new cards and five Agendas to compel strategic reevaluation akin to original Goals or Prestige mechanics. At game start, two Agendas are randomly selected and loaded with a variable number of Favor tokens—equivalent to victory points—scaled by player count. Players accumulate these tokens by playing cards aligned with each Agenda's key, such as Rebel worlds or Alien cards. Once tokens are exhausted, the Agenda activates, enabling players to trade their gathered Favor for distinctive benefits. Complementing this, the expansion features innovative elements like peaceful worlds requiring a negative military total for settlement, powers permitting victory point chip expenditure, and "Intel" powers that provide advantages derived from opponents' tableaus and selected actions. ---