My favorite part of GWT: New Zealand is the way the bonus cards are set-up. The 10 cards are numbered 1-10 based on how strong they are, and the 4 randomly chosen cards are ordered according to their numbering and then assigned to the different bonus card symbols (wheel, barrel, bell and compass). This means that even if the same card is in the game multiple times in a row, it usually ends up in a different spot, changing its cost and the harbors at which you can acquire the it. Sometimes the numbers are very skewed towards the higher values, which results in some cards being both powerful and cheap to get, allowing for some unorthodox strategies based around them. To go along with this, I really like how the game encourages you to spend your certificates by awarding you additional gold whenever you go from 1 to 2+ certificates.
Great Western Trail New Zealand is probably my favorite of the GWT games. I still really like the base game with its expansion, but to your point. The added layer of sheering sheep and additional focus on deckbuilding makes this a very satisfying alternative. (After playing NZ, I realized I had no interest in returning to GWT: Argentina)
FYI: the bird is a Kōtare, or Sacred Kingfisher. It’s native to NZ, Australia, and a few other islands. I think the kookaburra is type of large kingfisher. We saw several Kōtare last week while on holiday north of Auckland.
The game calls them Kōtare, yet to me it looks like the art on GWT cards seems modeled on a common kingfisher (orange on cheeks). The Kōtare in Wingspan Oceania is much better in terms of fidelity IMO
@@Unattended_Elk Wow, I’m no bird expert but I think you’re absolutely correct. The Kōtare has a white band all the way around its neck, the one in the game has blue all the way up to the beak. The one in the game also has a pinkish orange patch on the cheek which the Kōtare doesn’t have. Certainly not the first mistake in the game, there’s an anachronism right on the front cover. Also, that island board is a complete mess… they modelled the north and South Islands like reality, but what the heck are the other islands supposed to be? It’s been a real source of mockery in the NZ game community.
I’ve never considered great western trail because it does seem heavy but that sheep sheering sounds like a neat idea for a game mechanic. I also love deck builders. I have way too many games but I’ll look into this because it does sound fun.
My favorite part of GWT: New Zealand is the way the bonus cards are set-up. The 10 cards are numbered 1-10 based on how strong they are, and the 4 randomly chosen cards are ordered according to their numbering and then assigned to the different bonus card symbols (wheel, barrel, bell and compass). This means that even if the same card is in the game multiple times in a row, it usually ends up in a different spot, changing its cost and the harbors at which you can acquire the it. Sometimes the numbers are very skewed towards the higher values, which results in some cards being both powerful and cheap to get, allowing for some unorthodox strategies based around them.
To go along with this, I really like how the game encourages you to spend your certificates by awarding you additional gold whenever you go from 1 to 2+ certificates.
Great Western Trail New Zealand is probably my favorite of the GWT games. I still really like the base game with its expansion, but to your point. The added layer of sheering sheep and additional focus on deckbuilding makes this a very satisfying alternative. (After playing NZ, I realized I had no interest in returning to GWT: Argentina)
Do you think the NZ version is a good jumping in point if you've never played the original GWT?
FYI: the bird is a Kōtare, or Sacred Kingfisher. It’s native to NZ, Australia, and a few other islands. I think the kookaburra is type of large kingfisher. We saw several Kōtare last week while on holiday north of Auckland.
Kōtare! Thank you!
The game calls them Kōtare, yet to me it looks like the art on GWT cards seems modeled on a common kingfisher (orange on cheeks). The Kōtare in Wingspan Oceania is much better in terms of fidelity IMO
@@Unattended_Elk Wow, I’m no bird expert but I think you’re absolutely correct. The Kōtare has a white band all the way around its neck, the one in the game has blue all the way up to the beak. The one in the game also has a pinkish orange patch on the cheek which the Kōtare doesn’t have. Certainly not the first mistake in the game, there’s an anachronism right on the front cover. Also, that island board is a complete mess… they modelled the north and South Islands like reality, but what the heck are the other islands supposed to be? It’s been a real source of mockery in the NZ game community.
I’ve never considered great western trail because it does seem heavy but that sheep sheering sounds like a neat idea for a game mechanic. I also love deck builders. I have way too many games but I’ll look into this because it does sound fun.
This is a game I really want to try, but am worried about getting it to the table...
Hey Jamey, you should check out Kutna Hora: the city of silver
I'm curious to try it!