To recap:
You are Old Earth in a four player game (no Epsilon Eridani). You get:
- Mining Robots (MR)
- Terraforming Robots (TR)
- Expedition Force (EF)
- New Military Tactics (NMT)
- Free Trade Association (FTA)
- Pan Galactic League (PGL)
And the options:
- Frunk -- MR & FTA, Develop and build EF (Explore+1 if group doesn't often explore).
- Kester -- FTA & PGL, Explore +5
- Tucker -- MR & TR, Develop EF.
- Matt -- TR & PGL, Explore+1.
- Alexfrog, Lou & Phil -- MR & TR, Explore+5
- Joe & Luthrin -- MR & FTA, Explore+1
- Anthony & Jeff -- MR & TR, Explore +1
- Wei-Hwa -- FTA & PGL, Develop
Brian at the table -- You know, it's been several weeks. Fortunately I remember. MR & PGL, Explore +1.
Almost everyone pitches mining robots. I can see the point behind pitching both sixes, the mining robots could become good really quickly (you get radioactive world or destroyed world and can turn it into a production world). In fact, given the speed issue, I think that Terraforming Robots may be better as the first card to pitch.
As for the sixes, which one to keep is a matter of taste, and 'none' could be right.
The 'consensus' pick (MR & FTA) splits between +1, +5 or Develop. In fact, there is no real consensus. The +1s try to get a worlds and stay greedy (as I like in 4 player games). The +5s bank on practically locking up a good world.
The develops delay the explore for one turn, and make sure that if someone else explores and a settle hits, they can drop NMT if they got a conquerable world. This argument can't be dismissed lightly.
In summary, I don't think there is a consensus play.
Results at the table -- The Explore + 1 resulted in crap, just FYI.
Brian after reflection -- Actually, I'm leaning towards the early develop, to drop EF or NMT. (I haven't decided). I'm also leaning towards pitching the FTA & PGL. They are both long-term speculative plays you can't afford. You need something good to happen, but both of those require something great. Even if I keep them, they should have money. (To be fair, TR is almost certainly money as well and MR will be unless you get a cheap rare windfall).
No scores given, since I can't decide.