I've always felt like passing and taking the railroad track is an interesting choice - there are two buildings you can only build on turn 2 if you pass in turn 1 and take the trade chit (copper mine and steel mill). You're also guaranteed the opportunity to build them, since the fixed auction slot in turn 2 is an industrial building and you'll have at least $3 more than everyone else at the table if you need to force the issue, so it's very much by design - Homesteaders is full of stuff like that. Plus passing doesn't mean you didn't get to play that round - ideally you still got to bid everyone up on the auctions! It's certainly no less interesting than getting stuck taking Mendes for 0 in Amun Re, and unlike Amun Re you can always spend money you don't have. ;)
Homesteaders is still one of my favorite games, and the "I don't always get something!" thing rings a little hollow. I mean, when I play Power Grid, sometimes I have a round where I don't win an auction for a power plant, but I still make money for running the cities that I already have. When I've played Blood Rage, sometimes you have a round where you get beat out on every combat and you don't win a lot of regional fights, but you can still play cards and upgrade your society. In Homesteaders, you bid people up on the things that they want, and if they outbid you, then you start running up the railroad track and get the side bonuses, which leaves you with more money and resources to purchase the bigger buildings on the next round. I don't see how that's so different from other games that Tom likes.
In our games bids get up there (at one point or another nearly every player will have more than 5 loans outstanding) so the person passing is filled with schadenfreude since they'll be thinking about how awesome the next auction's gonna be for them while watching the other players almost regret winning due to the debt they're now in.
I guess that's the reason it was out of print for years. TMG realizes that the game is a bit outdated but I get why they would want to make an anniversary edition just for the occasion...
The game has limitations and the higher the player count the less fun players will have. The game I feel is best played at 2 players. 10 rounds is not enough for even 2 players, but enough to get a decent game in. This is a game that can be house ruled, but it’s understandable not everyone likes doing that as the game should’ve fixed said type of issues. The tiles all have good variety, but there’s not enough for the player counts. The components are lovely, especially the metal coins, really chunky and heavy (each coin). Most of the game weight comes from the heavy coins. Since the game has a 10 round limit, by the time the game is over, players are just building up the things they want. Some tiles are cheap while others are really high or require resources that are hard to get within the round limit. The buy and selling of resources and is cool, but the games round limitations is a Debby downer and affects all aspects of the game. The game has potential, but certain things hold it back. Over all I enjoy playing the game, but it’s house ruled.
"...Tasty Minstrel Games, who is well-known for their high-quality games, both in gameplay and component quality." It's too bad they're also known for rather shady business practices. I think TMG is an entire publishing company that defies Vasel's Law.
![[Live สด] การออกรางวัลสลากกินแบ่งรัฐบาล งวดวันที่ 16 พฤศจิกายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wPd7VFfWHIA/mqdefault.jpg)
I've always felt like passing and taking the railroad track is an interesting choice - there are two buildings you can only build on turn 2 if you pass in turn 1 and take the trade chit (copper mine and steel mill). You're also guaranteed the opportunity to build them, since the fixed auction slot in turn 2 is an industrial building and you'll have at least $3 more than everyone else at the table if you need to force the issue, so it's very much by design - Homesteaders is full of stuff like that.
Plus passing doesn't mean you didn't get to play that round - ideally you still got to bid everyone up on the auctions! It's certainly no less interesting than getting stuck taking Mendes for 0 in Amun Re, and unlike Amun Re you can always spend money you don't have. ;)
... really, this is just agreeing with Tom's review in a roundabout way. If reading that made you roll your eyes, you might not like Homesteaders.
Homesteaders is still one of my favorite games, and the "I don't always get something!" thing rings a little hollow. I mean, when I play Power Grid, sometimes I have a round where I don't win an auction for a power plant, but I still make money for running the cities that I already have. When I've played Blood Rage, sometimes you have a round where you get beat out on every combat and you don't win a lot of regional fights, but you can still play cards and upgrade your society.
In Homesteaders, you bid people up on the things that they want, and if they outbid you, then you start running up the railroad track and get the side bonuses, which leaves you with more money and resources to purchase the bigger buildings on the next round. I don't see how that's so different from other games that Tom likes.
Interesting reflections on how games have evolved over time-and about how we can notice what game mechanics are really doing now.
I've had fun experiences with this game I and I doubt it has staled on me. Actually wants to make me play it again
In our games bids get up there (at one point or another nearly every player will have more than 5 loans outstanding) so the person passing is filled with schadenfreude since they'll be thinking about how awesome the next auction's gonna be for them while watching the other players almost regret winning due to the debt they're now in.
Probably you guys bid too high lol
I guess that's the reason it was out of print for years. TMG realizes that the game is a bit outdated but I get why they would want to make an anniversary edition just for the occasion...
"Homesteaders is a game in which you are going to eke out whatever you can." Sounds thematic to me.
I realy likes how the game looks!
This is why I got rid of my copy all those years ago....
How do Goa and Homesteaders compare?
Drastically different as the auctions are not the bread and butter of Goa.
Vasel's Law was defied with this one.
The game has limitations and the higher the player count the less fun players will have. The game I feel is best played at 2 players. 10 rounds is not enough for even 2 players, but enough to get a decent game in. This is a game that can be house ruled, but it’s understandable not everyone likes doing that as the game should’ve fixed said type of issues. The tiles all have good variety, but there’s not enough for the player counts. The components are lovely, especially the metal coins, really chunky and heavy (each coin). Most of the game weight comes from the heavy coins. Since the game has a 10 round limit, by the time the game is over, players are just building up the things they want. Some tiles are cheap while others are really high or require resources that are hard to get within the round limit. The buy and selling of resources and is cool, but the games round limitations is a Debby downer and affects all aspects of the game. The game has potential, but certain things hold it back. Over all I enjoy playing the game, but it’s house ruled.
I think 4 players is slightly better than 2 but 3 is annoying at how little you can build at times
"...Tasty Minstrel Games, who is well-known for their high-quality games, both in gameplay and component quality."
It's too bad they're also known for rather shady business practices. I think TMG is an entire publishing company that defies Vasel's Law.