Thanks so much for this review! I've been really waiting for a video with a good opinion behind it to decide whether this is for me or not. I feel like I have a better understanding of Le Havre vs Ora et Labora now. Now my only real concern is length. Could you maybe share how long your first and second games were and how many you played it with?
@rockhpi (stinkin' character limit :) ) I'd agree more if I could pay money or give up a resource to prevent them from using my building (theme - why can't I use a building *I* built?)- then it'd be my own fault for not having enough to fend others off. But there's no defense. It makes you NOT want to build a building that does something cool because you'll never get to use it-others will toss you a paltry coin and benefit.
@AlexTheUruguayan Right but in a game like this, there is no defense so I'm always open to attack. My only "defense" is to place my pawn on my building before I actually need it. But if I need multiple buildings to do what I need to do and someone takes one before I'm able to place there, I didn't play poorly or leave myself open - I just got screwed. And our group were all pretty new - they were just looking after their own interests - my screwage was just because they needed what I had.
Having to figure out my best move among ~40 buildings spread out all over the table was frustrating. Might work better as a PC game where you could click a building to see what it does. I also HATE people shutting me out of my own buildings and only paying a paltry 1 or 2 gold. The price should be higher or I should retain the right to still use it myself - I found myself screwed out of my double turn more than once and unable to complete my building and nothing I could have done about it.
Nice review - just a quick note about the non-word "quadrology": the word you actually want to use is tetralogy - you just got affected by the marketers of the Alien Quadrology boxed set who thought most people were too stupid to understand what a "tetralogy" was when looking at a set of four dvds.
@rockhpi That hate you feel is the result of what people like Ryan (and myself) enjoy in these heavier games. The ability to make slick tactical choices and the ability for other players to ruin your plans when you leave yourself open to "attack".
@beeeatsme My pleasure. My first game lasted maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours with 3 people. My second game, with 4, lasted about 2 hours. In the first game, 2 of the 3 players were new and 1 had played once. In the second game, 2 of 4 were new, with the two experienced players having 1 game each.
I really, really like Agricola and Le Havre, but this game.. this doesn't look that interesting to me. I get strong Le Havre-vibes off this but somehow it's just not as cool. Maybe I just need to try this out myself?
@rockhpi So you want less interactivity in the game? I don't know. I think being able to prevent people from using your buildings is no good. I've not had any problem finding alternative options when a building I wanted to use was full. Also, if you time it right (build it right before you are first player), no one has the chance to use it before you. Timing is key.
@rpmetzler Thanks for the review. Would you say this has more or less player conflict than the Agricola and it's worker placement system? My girlfriend will only play Agricola with 2 players to lessen the direct conflict\competition as people work towards specific actions\goods\etc.
1 beer for 7 money, did he go with Yankee stadium as the model for economics in this game?
Thanks so much for this review! I've been really waiting for a video with a good opinion behind it to decide whether this is for me or not. I feel like I have a better understanding of Le Havre vs Ora et Labora now. Now my only real concern is length. Could you maybe share how long your first and second games were and how many you played it with?
@Arvias He just reeeeally needs a lapel mic or something
@rockhpi (stinkin' character limit :) ) I'd agree more if I could pay money or give up a resource to prevent them from using my building (theme - why can't I use a building *I* built?)- then it'd be my own fault for not having enough to fend others off. But there's no defense. It makes you NOT want to build a building that does something cool because you'll never get to use it-others will toss you a paltry coin and benefit.
@AlexTheUruguayan Right but in a game like this, there is no defense so I'm always open to attack. My only "defense" is to place my pawn on my building before I actually need it. But if I need multiple buildings to do what I need to do and someone takes one before I'm able to place there, I didn't play poorly or leave myself open - I just got screwed. And our group were all pretty new - they were just looking after their own interests - my screwage was just because they needed what I had.
Having to figure out my best move among ~40 buildings spread out all over the table was frustrating. Might work better as a PC game where you could click a building to see what it does. I also HATE people shutting me out of my own buildings and only paying a paltry 1 or 2 gold. The price should be higher or I should retain the right to still use it myself - I found myself screwed out of my double turn more than once and unable to complete my building and nothing I could have done about it.
Nice review - just a quick note about the non-word "quadrology": the word you actually want to use is tetralogy - you just got affected by the marketers of the Alien Quadrology boxed set who thought most people were too stupid to understand what a "tetralogy" was when looking at a set of four dvds.
@rockhpi That hate you feel is the result of what people like Ryan (and myself) enjoy in these heavier games. The ability to make slick tactical choices and the ability for other players to ruin your plans when you leave yourself open to "attack".
@beeeatsme My pleasure. My first game lasted maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours with 3 people. My second game, with 4, lasted about 2 hours. In the first game, 2 of the 3 players were new and 1 had played once. In the second game, 2 of 4 were new, with the two experienced players having 1 game each.
I really, really like Agricola and Le Havre, but this game.. this doesn't look that interesting to me. I get strong Le Havre-vibes off this but somehow it's just not as cool. Maybe I just need to try this out myself?
@rockhpi So you want less interactivity in the game? I don't know. I think being able to prevent people from using your buildings is no good. I've not had any problem finding alternative options when a building I wanted to use was full. Also, if you time it right (build it right before you are first player), no one has the chance to use it before you. Timing is key.
@rpmetzler Thanks for the review. Would you say this has more or less player conflict than the Agricola and it's worker placement system? My girlfriend will only play Agricola with 2 players to lessen the direct conflict\competition as people work towards specific actions\goods\etc.
@MJWaters84 I think he does well also, but I just always have to manage the audio because it sounds like he's yelling.
@rpmetzler Which is way shorter than my first Le Havre games :P
loved this game! played it the first time yesterday with two other people. Tons of fun!
Interesting game!