If you do not own the physical promo cards, you can easily implement this balance fix yourself (this is often called the "Fryxelius Patch" in the board game community):
FryxGames didn’t just nerf one card; they re-tuned the whole starting ecosystem. The key changes in the print-and-play patch (available on their website) include:
Enter Prelude . If the base game is the marathon, Prelude is the starting pistol. But with the recent discussions regarding the "Patched" or Second Edition print of this expansion, the accessory has evolved from a luxury to a necessity. terraforming mars prelude print patched
Enthusiasts released updated "Print and Play" files that featured more compact A4 formats, corrected iconographies (such as fixing incorrect energy production icons), and modernized back-of-card artwork to ensure a more professional finish.
The changes reduce first-player advantage and make starting corporation choices more meaningful, as no single Prelude combo dominates. If you do not own the physical promo
Dedicated players on BoardGameGeek developed new high-resolution Prelude templates to replace standard ones they deemed insufficient, often adding missing clarifications directly onto the cards. The Mechanical Patch: The "15 MC" Rule
Fan-made balance patches for cards that are statistically underpowered or overpowered. Notable "Patches" and Changes in Prelude But with the recent discussions regarding the "Patched"
Unlike other expansions (e.g., Venus Next or Turmoil), Prelude does not add complex new rules or tracks; it simply provides a "pre-game" setup phase that gives players more control over their starting strategy. The "Patch" and Fan-Made Updates