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High Frontier 4 All (+UI/Unofficial)

Game Created, Owned, and Published by Ion Game Design/Sierra Madre Games

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Unofficial TTS Mod Version with UI
Forked from High Frontier 4 All Official TTS Mod.
The original asset art belongs to game creators; Many of the mod assets were imported and optimized thanks to the many efforts of Samuelw and visceralamoeba, the mod makers of the Official Mod. I changed some assets and wrote all scripting in this version.

This unofficial version reorganizes components and the layout, has different UI based scripting tools, and a different approach to component fidelity/boardgame simulation more in-line with my design preferences. Details on variant differences are listed below.

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High Frontier is a fascinating game of both competitive and cooperative exploration and exploitation of our solar system (exoglobalization). Designed by an aerospace engineer, Phil Eklund, the game attempts to accurately portray some of the elements of orbital mechanics and space missions with a map of the solar system that approximates the energy required to traverse the expanses. Players control a space agency/faction, acquire rocket technology patents, build craft, and plan and execute space missions across a variety of scenarios.

This mod includes the game in its 4th edition iteration (2020), where elements of the game have been cleaned up and organized into modules for optional use in each session. This is a culmination of iterative work on this game premise by Phil Eklund and associates for 20+ years.

Core -- Includes basic core systems, with an optional Module 0 (politics) ruleset, or two simplified scenarios/rulesets for learning the basics: Space Diamonds and Race for Glory.

Module 1 Terrawatt and Futures -- Adds powerful, fuel efficient thrusters to reach further out in the system, freighters and increased industrializing tools, and futures projects to further competitive options.

Module 2 Colonization -- Adds colonizing partisans, bernal space stations, and enables a more developed solar system.

Module 3 Conflict -- Adds strategic warfare and a defining conflict to increase the range of competitive options.

This version exists separate from the official version to be in-line with my mod design preferences and follows my design philosophies with TTS mods:

1) TTS is a simulation of the tabletop board gaming experience, not a board game virtualization.

• Components are re-scaled to accurately represent the physical components.
  
• Inclusion of an option between the standard map size and the large sized addon (neoprene) map.
  
• Models and some graphics have been changed to better resemble the physical components.
  
• Layout has some slight tweaks to meet my preferences and script auto adjusts layout based on player count and mods used.
  
• Setup script ensures seat colors adjust to faction colors allowing turn orders to be dynamic among factions.
  
• A negative for some: snap points removed from the main map and snapping reduced for tokens that are placed on the map to better mimic the physical complications of tokens on spaces.

2) As long as it doesn't grossly violate principle 1, mundane time consuming tasks are automated.

• Automated setup using XML UI features that allows for switching of seat/hand colors to match faction colors and custom configuration of setup process.
  
• Automated market board/mat speeds up discards into decks.
  
• Implementation of XML UI features for various tools with some configuration options:
  
• UI Dice Roller: A simple UI icon to quickly generate a randomized dice roll (seeded uniquely on each session).
  
• Turn Tracker: Keeps player order, provides checklist of actions each turn, and helps automate movement of sunspot cycle track.
  
• FT Tracker: Optional UI chart with buttons to keep track of Fuel Tanks (currency) without using the default beads.
  
• Bidding Tool: Speeds up bidding process with simple automation.
  
• Splay Card Stacks Context Menu Action -- Lays out a card stack in a splayed format with right click and selection
  
• Score board tracker for VP that can be tracked over and summed throughout game.
  
• Some scenarios/variants have some assistance in setup.

3) Where possible, component fidelity is increased and quality custom components are added that (in my opinion) add to the experience.

• Model fidelity is fixed/increased.
  
• Custom 3D models made by Roolz are added.
  
• My custom rocket stack layout mat is added.
  
• My custom market place mat graphic is added.
  
• Tabletop textures can be changed with FlexTable; loaded textures have artistic depictions of the surfaces of each planet and some asteroids for a variety of color themes.
  
• Holst's The Planets is added in the mod as optional music.
  
• Inclusion of Geoff's Intro Variant with pre-built rocket stacks for faster learning/faster game starts.

Nov 2020: HF4 is now being delivered in hard copy. The game is available for purchase at Ion's store[ionsmg.com] with addons available as well.

I own nothing significant related to this mod. My scripts, ideas, custom content (market board/rocket stack mats/models) are free for use by anyone in the community. I do not benefit financially in any form. I am not affiliated with Ion Games Design in any form. The credit for the bulk of the work belongs to those below:

GAME MAKER:
Ion Game Design & Sierra Madre Games
Lead Game Design: Phil Eklund
Additional Designers: Dom Rougier, Jon Manker, Al Cann, Simon Ng, Justin Grey, Brad Smith,
Many others have contributed; refer to game's documentations for full credits.

TTS OFFICIAL MOD
visceralamoeba (Steam user)
SamuelW (Steam user)
Designer of many TTS mods to include many TTS official versions of SMG/Ion games.

CUSTOM FAN-MADE 3D MODELS
Roolz (BGG User)
Designer of some of the custom 3D Models available in this mod. Excellent modeler that makes amazing custom models for various board games (including Arkham Horror, Forbidden Stars, and many others) and offers 3D printed ordering of his custom models at this vendor account at shapeways. Take a look.
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/pmg

SPACECRAFT DEPICTED IN CUSTOM ROCKET STACK LAYOUT MAT
William Black
Artist that has focused on realistically drawing what some conceptual spacecraft projects might have looked like.
http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/artgallery.php#id--William_Black

CUSTOM MATERIALS
Geoff Speare
Has created various custom material for HF to include additional guides and an Intro Variant that provides players with pre-made spacecraft.

MUSIC - THE PLANETS, OP 32., FULL SUITE
Composed by Gustav Holst
Performed by Geffrey Simon, London Symphony Orchestra

TABLE TOP PLANET TEXTURES
https://www.solarsystemscope.com/textures/

FLEX TABLE
Mr. Stump with his, as always, useful scripted tools.

PLAYTESTS AND IMPROVEMENT IDEAS
Cod
Itfiend
avatar8481
M_a_r_c_o
kakpraatjies