How do you learn new games?
Some are better at just reading through rules in order. Unfortunately rules are not always written in the best order to learn the games. If I am reading the rules in my head its fine, but if it's out loud the my brain reads faster than I can talk.
On the flip side, there is listening to someone explaining the rules. For me, the best way to learn a game is to be taught be someone who knows the game well and can "show and tell". If this is not an option then I do better with verbal directions supplemented by visual diagrams from the rules. Is you are listening to someone literally read through the rules, then I have a time limit on what I can absorb before everything starts running together.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
What's in a Theme?
How much does the theme really matter in a game? Short answer is it depends on the game.
The theme really matters when the game is built around the game. In this case the game is theme dependent. If the theme is a secondary characteristic that can be swapped out with another and the game still works as is, then the theme does not matter as much.
Examples.
1. Dominion. It's medieval theme is really independent of the game play. In this case the them doesn't matter as much whether it's medieval or pirates.
2. Agricola. It's farming them is so intwined with the game, that if you switched the theme to pirates, it wouldn't work.
3. Vinci/ Small World. As evident by the updated version, Vinci/ Small World can transcend its theme reality/ fantasy war game.
4. TV Wars. Again another game, where if you change the theme to say pirates, the game play would fall apart.
5. St. Petersburg. This game, although theme oriented, is not theme dependent.
6. Vinhos. Wine making just would not work as a pirate game. (What pirates are awesome!) ... Even if it was a pirate rum-making game.
Furthermore, a game that is built around a theme must be more detail-oriented towards the theme. Example: If you're playing a French game, the money should Francs or Euros, not Dollars. The game should also feature uniquely French things like the Eiffel Tower, wine, French phrases, etc.
The theme really matters when the game is built around the game. In this case the game is theme dependent. If the theme is a secondary characteristic that can be swapped out with another and the game still works as is, then the theme does not matter as much.
Examples.
1. Dominion. It's medieval theme is really independent of the game play. In this case the them doesn't matter as much whether it's medieval or pirates.
2. Agricola. It's farming them is so intwined with the game, that if you switched the theme to pirates, it wouldn't work.
3. Vinci/ Small World. As evident by the updated version, Vinci/ Small World can transcend its theme reality/ fantasy war game.
4. TV Wars. Again another game, where if you change the theme to say pirates, the game play would fall apart.
5. St. Petersburg. This game, although theme oriented, is not theme dependent.
6. Vinhos. Wine making just would not work as a pirate game. (What pirates are awesome!) ... Even if it was a pirate rum-making game.
Furthermore, a game that is built around a theme must be more detail-oriented towards the theme. Example: If you're playing a French game, the money should Francs or Euros, not Dollars. The game should also feature uniquely French things like the Eiffel Tower, wine, French phrases, etc.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Uwe Rosenburg's Worker Placement Games
Game designer Uwe Rosenburg continues to revolutionize worker placement games. His Harvest Trilogy (Agricola, Le Havre, & At the Gates of Loyang), as well as his latest game Ora et Labora, all focus on complex economic themes. Although Bohnanza, his first game, was not a worker placement game.
Agricola (2007)
I have mentioned some of my feelings regarding Agricola before. I have played Agricola a few times. My main complaint is not that the game is "too hard", but rather that I feel like I have lost in the first round. Before I had played any of his other games, I had written off Rosenburg's worker placement games as something I just could not do.
It feels as if too much is going on in the game. First you start with a negative score. Not only do you need at least one of each animal, you have to expand your family, feed them, upgrade your house, etc. I get tired just thinking about it. Then throw in occupations, minor and major improvements and fighting over Start Player, it gets even more overwhelming. I'm still willing to attempt to play Agricola again, but it does really frustrate me. And I have found playing with certain people make it even more frustrating.
Most games of Agricola have at least one player who has a much lower score. This is usually due to the fact that that player is getting screwed on expanding your family, upgrading your house and/ or resources. I honestly do not know why so many people enjoy Agricola. Why would you play a game you can get screwed over badly (in the first turn in my case)?
I did manage to successfully not suck at Rosenburg's new 2 player game Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small (ACBS) (2012). This version is a shorter, lighter version of Agricola that focuses on just acquiring animals, not feeding your people, getting more people, upgrading your house, etc. ACBS does not penalize you for empty board spaces, though it does if you have fewer than 3 of each of the types of animals. Overall this is a less frustrating version of Agricola.
Le Havre (2008)
I have only played the board game version of Le Havre once, but have played the iOS version numerous times. Le Havre is a much more relatable game. Feeding your people is easier given the relative ease in stockpiling food, building ships, etc. Although there are a lot of choices to make through out the game, there is a lot less direct competition for resources and buildings. Additionally, buildings can be shared (with entry fee payment), which reduces frustration levels. I would claim that this is my favorite Rosenburg worker placement game, but I think that's based on the fact that I have played it more than Ora et Labora.
At The Gates of Loyang (2009)
I have played At The Gates of Loyang several times. It does not seem to fit well with the other two games of the Harvest Trilogy. It is a much simpler game (but not in a bad way). There is no feeding your people aspect. Furthermore you actual buy your points at the end of your turn, instead of buying buildings and acquiring animals worth points. There is the farmer aspect of planting veggies like Agricola. Aside from Agricola, this is my least favorite Rosenburg game.
Ora et Labora (2011)
I just learned Ora et Labora and I only played Ireland. Ora makes use of double-sided resource tiles (à Le Havre) but introduces a new resource wheel. This resource wheel allows players to more easily keep track of growing available resources each turn. Buildings have resource costs, as well as terrain restrictions. Some buildings each player has in their own deck, while others players compete to build. Players can also make use of other players' buildings, like Le Havre. I would definitely want to play this game again.
Final Thoughts.
One aspect all of Rosenburg's games have in common, is that they all feature a solo game variant. This provides game owners with much more versatility.
Final Scores.
Listing Rosenburg's worker placement games from my favorite to least:
Le Havre
Ora et Labora (though this could surpass Le Havre if I play it more)
Agricola: ACBS
At The Gates of Loyang
Agricola (though this has the potential to surpass and possibly ACBS if I can ever get the game!!)
Agricola (2007)
I have mentioned some of my feelings regarding Agricola before. I have played Agricola a few times. My main complaint is not that the game is "too hard", but rather that I feel like I have lost in the first round. Before I had played any of his other games, I had written off Rosenburg's worker placement games as something I just could not do.
It feels as if too much is going on in the game. First you start with a negative score. Not only do you need at least one of each animal, you have to expand your family, feed them, upgrade your house, etc. I get tired just thinking about it. Then throw in occupations, minor and major improvements and fighting over Start Player, it gets even more overwhelming. I'm still willing to attempt to play Agricola again, but it does really frustrate me. And I have found playing with certain people make it even more frustrating.
Most games of Agricola have at least one player who has a much lower score. This is usually due to the fact that that player is getting screwed on expanding your family, upgrading your house and/ or resources. I honestly do not know why so many people enjoy Agricola. Why would you play a game you can get screwed over badly (in the first turn in my case)?
I did manage to successfully not suck at Rosenburg's new 2 player game Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small (ACBS) (2012). This version is a shorter, lighter version of Agricola that focuses on just acquiring animals, not feeding your people, getting more people, upgrading your house, etc. ACBS does not penalize you for empty board spaces, though it does if you have fewer than 3 of each of the types of animals. Overall this is a less frustrating version of Agricola.
Le Havre (2008)
I have only played the board game version of Le Havre once, but have played the iOS version numerous times. Le Havre is a much more relatable game. Feeding your people is easier given the relative ease in stockpiling food, building ships, etc. Although there are a lot of choices to make through out the game, there is a lot less direct competition for resources and buildings. Additionally, buildings can be shared (with entry fee payment), which reduces frustration levels. I would claim that this is my favorite Rosenburg worker placement game, but I think that's based on the fact that I have played it more than Ora et Labora.
At The Gates of Loyang (2009)
I have played At The Gates of Loyang several times. It does not seem to fit well with the other two games of the Harvest Trilogy. It is a much simpler game (but not in a bad way). There is no feeding your people aspect. Furthermore you actual buy your points at the end of your turn, instead of buying buildings and acquiring animals worth points. There is the farmer aspect of planting veggies like Agricola. Aside from Agricola, this is my least favorite Rosenburg game.
Ora et Labora (2011)
I just learned Ora et Labora and I only played Ireland. Ora makes use of double-sided resource tiles (à Le Havre) but introduces a new resource wheel. This resource wheel allows players to more easily keep track of growing available resources each turn. Buildings have resource costs, as well as terrain restrictions. Some buildings each player has in their own deck, while others players compete to build. Players can also make use of other players' buildings, like Le Havre. I would definitely want to play this game again.
Final Thoughts.
One aspect all of Rosenburg's games have in common, is that they all feature a solo game variant. This provides game owners with much more versatility.
Final Scores.
Listing Rosenburg's worker placement games from my favorite to least:
Le Havre
Ora et Labora (though this could surpass Le Havre if I play it more)
Agricola: ACBS
At The Gates of Loyang
Agricola (though this has the potential to surpass and possibly ACBS if I can ever get the game!!)
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Labor Day Weekend Gaming at TCEP
Over Labor Day Weekend I attended TCEP in Laurel, MD. Below is an overview of the new games I learned.
Eclipse: This space exploration and combat game is the "it game". Although I enjoyed both games I played, the replay value might be limited. Sure there are several different alien races and the humans. The title board also changes. Plus it is an extremely long game. Overall I enjoyed the game, but don't see it on my regular purchase and/or play list.
Ora et Labora: I'll cover more on this Uwe Rosenburg worker placement game in my next blog post focusing on Agricola, Le Havre and At the Gates of Loyang.
Village: This morbid game focuses on killing your family certain locations to get the most points. The game also features an interesting mechanic of deciding on your actions by removing a goods cube, sort of the opposite of worker placement games. Overall I really enjoyed this game. It actually a lot more strategic than it looks on the surface. I would definitely play and purchase this game.
Vinhos: Portuguese for wines, Vinhos is a wine making worker placement game. Do you focus on making one/ two good wines, or several lesser ones? Gain points by exporting, selling and showing your wines at the wine points. Overall I really enjoyed this game. As with many worker placement games, it is on the longer side. This game also makes the play and purchase list b
7 Wonders Cities: This is the latest expansion for 7 Wonders. We actually played this in combination with Leaders. Cities adds a new type of card- black. Debit is also added via some of the black cards. Two new wonders are also added. We did not end up playing the new team rules, though personally I cannot imagine playing with more people than 7! That seems like it would be too crowded. Overall I enjoyed this expansion. It not only works well with Leaders, it introduces elements to 7 Wonders without breaking the game.
Sorry I have fallen behind on my game blogging; sometimes life gets in the way.
Eclipse: This space exploration and combat game is the "it game". Although I enjoyed both games I played, the replay value might be limited. Sure there are several different alien races and the humans. The title board also changes. Plus it is an extremely long game. Overall I enjoyed the game, but don't see it on my regular purchase and/or play list.
Ora et Labora: I'll cover more on this Uwe Rosenburg worker placement game in my next blog post focusing on Agricola, Le Havre and At the Gates of Loyang.
Village: This morbid game focuses on killing your family certain locations to get the most points. The game also features an interesting mechanic of deciding on your actions by removing a goods cube, sort of the opposite of worker placement games. Overall I really enjoyed this game. It actually a lot more strategic than it looks on the surface. I would definitely play and purchase this game.
Vinhos: Portuguese for wines, Vinhos is a wine making worker placement game. Do you focus on making one/ two good wines, or several lesser ones? Gain points by exporting, selling and showing your wines at the wine points. Overall I really enjoyed this game. As with many worker placement games, it is on the longer side. This game also makes the play and purchase list b
7 Wonders Cities: This is the latest expansion for 7 Wonders. We actually played this in combination with Leaders. Cities adds a new type of card- black. Debit is also added via some of the black cards. Two new wonders are also added. We did not end up playing the new team rules, though personally I cannot imagine playing with more people than 7! That seems like it would be too crowded. Overall I enjoyed this expansion. It not only works well with Leaders, it introduces elements to 7 Wonders without breaking the game.
Sorry I have fallen behind on my game blogging; sometimes life gets in the way.
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