Hey Ethan! One mistake I noticed: Sarween Tools does not reduce the cost when producing via Salvage Operations (according to the FAQ: “Sarween Tools” is only used with the “Production” ability.), As you made it sound like it did, in the video. Otherwise a great video from you, as always! Thanks
One nice use of the Hero is that it essentially guarantee's you'll win any space combat you'd like. This means that it can be incredibly difficult to winslay the Mentak, because they can use the Hero when their home system is attacked and possibly end up with more ships than before the attack.
Thanks for making these, it fuels my TI4 addiction in between games. Never played the mentak but two christmases ago my older step bro crushed with mentak. They look like a lot of fun…maybe a little too tech dependant but it could work! One thing you didn’t mention… with AIDA you’re only 1 tech away from War Sun tech. A war sun and a few cruiser II’s is a nasty fleet you don’t need blue for. But you probably need mirror computing to afford it…
Thank you so much for reacting to my wish for that mentak Guide, especially cuz i remember you said, that u dont like them that much in your Ranking video its more honorable to me!! :) Great content! Keep on enriching us with that nice TI4 and Boardgame Content
funny thing about the mechs, there is almost a rock paper scissors mechanic with mentak, naaz-rokha and sardakk, where the mentak beats sardakk, sardakk beats naaz-rokha and naaz-rokha beats mentak (in a fight supported by infantry) which is not gonna come up too often but it is fun to know
Great point about the Hero - that would be an interesting future omega upgrade. But very useful strategy guide. I know it is down to what objectives are on the table, but I do try to play to a faction's techs and strengths if I can. Love the variety of play styles the faction abilities offer you.
Amazing guide video! Great explanation and tips your my go to Twilight Imperium TH-camr lol If i could suggest something in future videos when your talking about technologies in the analysis part maybe show the physical card or put a picture of it on screen so people can read it(reason why im suggesting this is so people who play this game with a different language will not get confused by the names of the cards)
18:18 AI Development does not grant trade goods Not sure about that self assembly routines strategy at 18:40. It requires a lot of effort to do what you describe, since you would need to create a spacedock in the system you've taken (which is probably a dangerous area as it was from someone else) and then activate that same system at a later point in time (which is unrealistic to do in quick succession). The hero is amazing since it guarantees a win (as long as your fleet is almost as strong as that from your opponent). The only part of it that sucks in my opinion is that it can be completely neutralized by the action card Skilled Retreat. Still, in most cases the hero will result in you having a system which is huge for some objectives (in that way comparable to how Mahact and Embers their heroes help with these objectives). Generally Mentak is actually pretty good at objectives that require presence in particular systems, because the ambush ability makes a pair of cruisers (especially cruiser 2) incredibly strong (which you will be needing to spread out as much as some objectives require). Particularly in early rounds those are very doable because of this.
I'm taking Mentak into a 6p game this weekend. Mahact, NRA, Muaat, Yun, Mentak and a 6th faction our last player hasn't pre-picked yet. I wanted to touch on something you said on this vidoe that I like and am looking to take advantage of: Mentak are a meta faction. Interestingly, I both agree and disagree with some points. But this is why they're my favourite, you'll never play against a Mentak like me until you play against me. The PLAYER makes them effective, not the faction, and the player is only as good as their knowledge of the board. My board this weekend is looking really blood thirsty, but the Mentak don't (and shouldn't) care about who the biggest and baddest bully is at the table. Pillage is a faction ability that let's you TAKE a TG from any player who has more than 3 TG when they make a trade. But I'm going into this game with the mindset of making a deal with the biggest baddest bully at the table (Mahact) to not pillage them, but instead screen for them. If I can get at least 1 TG per turn from Mahact for being their pitbull that's 7-8 TG of income. The NRA are a faction that Mentak will always have an arm wrestle with due to Mech and Flagship abilities. I can systematically snipe their biggest faction advantages. But if they pay me not to do that, perhaps that's 5-6 TG of income in a game. Perhaps more. Muaat have the war sun. I don't want to fight that war sun, but I can also field my own war sun if I destroy it and scrap it. I don't believe Mentak need the tech to do that - similarly, I could purchase the tech off Muaat for the right price... Yun brotherhood have their Intergalactic Fire Cracker flagship. Point and shoot it at the Mahact who I'm screening for = Mahact have something else to worry about besides me, if I can get on side with Yun early and create pockets for their ships to pass through into Mahact territory, or even push them in with cruiser ambushes, then I'm sowing chaos at the table. I've almost won with Mentak in the past by playing exactly like this - I didn't play to Mentaks on paper "strengths" I just played against the players at the table. It's like a giant game of poker blended with small business ethics and systems. I'm so excited to give you all an update after the weekend 🤝
I would disagree about thier combat ability. 1 red, 1 yellow, you could just take AI turn 1, and get cruiser 2 or destroyer 2 turn 1 and 2. If you start gumming up space with those 2 units, people are really going to think about risking units turn 1 and start of turn 2 with your ambush. Now, that is rather aggressive play, and your probably not scoring turn 1, but gumming up explores or turn 2 opening moves will set your neighbors back as much as you. You easily can get assault cannon turn 2 or 3, and 1 destroyer 2 with 2 cruiser 2s or vice versa with a fighter for chaff hits becomes a murderous kill fleet mid-game that can kill much larger fleets of higher quality.
“Meta” is the overall strategies a particular group of players deem powerful or important. So at my table, the “meta” is that going for victory points is much better than fighting for territory. However, a more aggressive table may find their “meta” to be the opposite.
6:36 Why were there 4 trade good next to the system after the combat? Is it one trade good after each round or only 1 after the end of the whole combat?
cardboardcrashcourse.com/
Hey Ethan!
One mistake I noticed:
Sarween Tools does not reduce the cost when producing via Salvage Operations (according to the FAQ: “Sarween Tools” is only used with the “Production” ability.),
As you made it sound like it did, in the video.
Otherwise a great video from you, as always!
Thanks
You’re absolutely correct. Thanks for the clarification!
One nice use of the Hero is that it essentially guarantee's you'll win any space combat you'd like. This means that it can be incredibly difficult to winslay the Mentak, because they can use the Hero when their home system is attacked and possibly end up with more ships than before the attack.
Your my favorite Twilight Faction Explainer. Keep posting videos I'll keep watching them!
Small Business Simulator Coalition 😍
Tax everyone equally and no one will hate you more than anyone else. 🤣🤝
Thanks for making these, it fuels my TI4 addiction in between games. Never played the mentak but two christmases ago my older step bro crushed with mentak. They look like a lot of fun…maybe a little too tech dependant but it could work!
One thing you didn’t mention… with AIDA you’re only 1 tech away from War Sun tech. A war sun and a few cruiser II’s is a nasty fleet you don’t need blue for. But you probably need mirror computing to afford it…
This is a faction I want to play sometime. It is just that I get a lot of heat already. Pillage is like a please punch me sign on someone's chest.. 😁
Got halfway through my first game ever as Muatt last night. Now I'm addicted. Thanks for these!
You are very welcome! Glad I could feed your addiction
Thank you so much for reacting to my wish for that mentak Guide, especially cuz i remember you said, that u dont like them that much in your Ranking video its more honorable to me!! :)
Great content! Keep on enriching us with that nice TI4 and Boardgame Content
Absolutely! You’re the reason they’re here. I hope you enjoyed, cheers! 🍻
I always look forward to your videos! Well done!
Glad you like them!
funny thing about the mechs, there is almost a rock paper scissors mechanic with mentak, naaz-rokha and sardakk, where the mentak beats sardakk, sardakk beats naaz-rokha and naaz-rokha beats mentak (in a fight supported by infantry) which is not gonna come up too often but it is fun to know
Woohoo!! Mentak!!!
Wooo wooo!
Great point about the Hero - that would be an interesting future omega upgrade. But very useful strategy guide. I know it is down to what objectives are on the table, but I do try to play to a faction's techs and strengths if I can. Love the variety of play styles the faction abilities offer you.
Amazing guide video! Great explanation and tips your my go to Twilight Imperium TH-camr lol
If i could suggest something in future videos when your talking about technologies in the analysis part maybe show the physical card or put a picture of it on screen so people can read it(reason why im suggesting this is so people who play this game with a different language will not get confused by the names of the cards)
Nice!
Thank you! Cheers!
18:18 AI Development does not grant trade goods
Not sure about that self assembly routines strategy at 18:40. It requires a lot of effort to do what you describe, since you would need to create a spacedock in the system you've taken (which is probably a dangerous area as it was from someone else) and then activate that same system at a later point in time (which is unrealistic to do in quick succession).
The hero is amazing since it guarantees a win (as long as your fleet is almost as strong as that from your opponent). The only part of it that sucks in my opinion is that it can be completely neutralized by the action card Skilled Retreat. Still, in most cases the hero will result in you having a system which is huge for some objectives (in that way comparable to how Mahact and Embers their heroes help with these objectives).
Generally Mentak is actually pretty good at objectives that require presence in particular systems, because the ambush ability makes a pair of cruisers (especially cruiser 2) incredibly strong (which you will be needing to spread out as much as some objectives require). Particularly in early rounds those are very doable because of this.
Their hero is really good with assault cannon. Ambush and assault cannon make three cruisers with 3 fighters threatening to many fleet compositions.
Sardakk'nor have 3 commodities, not two.
Just a small correction
tfw the bugs are better at trading than humans
I'm taking Mentak into a 6p game this weekend.
Mahact, NRA, Muaat, Yun, Mentak and a 6th faction our last player hasn't pre-picked yet.
I wanted to touch on something you said on this vidoe that I like and am looking to take advantage of: Mentak are a meta faction.
Interestingly, I both agree and disagree with some points. But this is why they're my favourite, you'll never play against a Mentak like me until you play against me. The PLAYER makes them effective, not the faction, and the player is only as good as their knowledge of the board.
My board this weekend is looking really blood thirsty, but the Mentak don't (and shouldn't) care about who the biggest and baddest bully is at the table. Pillage is a faction ability that let's you TAKE a TG from any player who has more than 3 TG when they make a trade. But I'm going into this game with the mindset of making a deal with the biggest baddest bully at the table (Mahact) to not pillage them, but instead screen for them. If I can get at least 1 TG per turn from Mahact for being their pitbull that's 7-8 TG of income.
The NRA are a faction that Mentak will always have an arm wrestle with due to Mech and Flagship abilities. I can systematically snipe their biggest faction advantages. But if they pay me not to do that, perhaps that's 5-6 TG of income in a game. Perhaps more.
Muaat have the war sun. I don't want to fight that war sun, but I can also field my own war sun if I destroy it and scrap it. I don't believe Mentak need the tech to do that - similarly, I could purchase the tech off Muaat for the right price...
Yun brotherhood have their Intergalactic Fire Cracker flagship. Point and shoot it at the Mahact who I'm screening for = Mahact have something else to worry about besides me, if I can get on side with Yun early and create pockets for their ships to pass through into Mahact territory, or even push them in with cruiser ambushes, then I'm sowing chaos at the table.
I've almost won with Mentak in the past by playing exactly like this - I didn't play to Mentaks on paper "strengths" I just played against the players at the table. It's like a giant game of poker blended with small business ethics and systems. I'm so excited to give you all an update after the weekend 🤝
Our 6th player is Arborec. This is gonna get SPICY
I would disagree about thier combat ability. 1 red, 1 yellow, you could just take AI turn 1, and get cruiser 2 or destroyer 2 turn 1 and 2.
If you start gumming up space with those 2 units, people are really going to think about risking units turn 1 and start of turn 2 with your ambush.
Now, that is rather aggressive play, and your probably not scoring turn 1, but gumming up explores or turn 2 opening moves will set your neighbors back as much as you.
You easily can get assault cannon turn 2 or 3, and 1 destroyer 2 with 2 cruiser 2s or vice versa with a fighter for chaff hits becomes a murderous kill fleet mid-game that can kill much larger fleets of higher quality.
Hey, thank you for the video. I have a question : what do you mean by "the meta" of a game ?
“Meta” is the overall strategies a particular group of players deem powerful or important.
So at my table, the “meta” is that going for victory points is much better than fighting for territory. However, a more aggressive table may find their “meta” to be the opposite.
6:36 Why were there 4 trade good next to the system after the combat? Is it one trade good after each round or only 1 after the end of the whole combat?
He took the one trade good for salvage operations and added 3 more to build the dreadnaught in the system.
No sound on my andriod
Where's Letnev Guide?
12:00 PM CT Today!
I've once played as Mentak with my friends. Now I don't have friends.
Peace was never an option!!! 😂
For a faction that is supposed to be comprised of all races or at least most, it is disappointing that all the leaders are humans to say the least
maybe they arent all actually humans but its so close it might as well still be a human lol