Tradewars - Homeworld: Untold rules

I was thinking about one aspect of the game and it made me think some more about another aspect.

Specifically I was thinking that "Mission" cards that allow players to use "Trade Starships" to earn credits are the most under-utilized aspect of the game. Some would argue and say: "How can the game be balanced?"

My response is pretty simple: I can't TELL players how THEY should play the game. If players choose to only use 50% of what is available to them - it's hard for me to tell players there is still 50% more GAME to be played.

Perhaps a quarterback (or Coach) could teach players to play 100% of the game. Is this necessary? No - I don't think so. My thinking goes something like this: one day one player will play a Mission and launch a "Trade Starship". All his opponents will then be on the defensive trying to figure out how to counter act.

And this is where the "untold rules" (or unwritten rules - which ever you prefer) make for a very interesting game. How? Why? Simply put DIPLOMACY can alter the outcome and informal in-game agreements can occur. And this is what I find very *exciting*. One player uses the Chancellor role and tells the opponent next to him: "If you help defend my Trade Starship - I'll give you half the reward!" All of a sudden you've created an alliance and the other players now need to contend, do they want an all-out war with 2 players???

It's these dynamics in the game that make me the most curious at HOW players will react and actually play 100% of the game that comes from experimenting with the game itself...

Enough "coaching" ... We'll let the players figure it out for themselves!