Thanks for this nice video and your comparison to different versions of this wonderful Board game, Avé Ceasar. This is one of my top 5 games. I did bought my copy brand new in 1989, and have played it a lot. But now it was some time ago I played it so I will take a look and get it to my gaming board again. Got inspired by your video. A few days ago I got the new 2023 version of Ave Caesar. Cant wait to get it to the table.
You've persuaded me to go out and find the Dice Tree edition, I sold my old Pro Ludo version years ago, as I do like a nice racing game. My favourite so far is a very small print run game called Zoom Zoom Kaboom which I bought from the designer, Andy Harwood, at the UK Games Expo a long time ago. A game where you race to the end of a track, turn around and charge back to the start. This is hilarious when the front runners are trying to weave their way back through the stragglers still heading to the turning point. There are more rules but it produces lots of table talk and fun interaction. I think you'd like it.
The blocking mechanism was kind of already in Formula 1 (1960s?) but there you got brake wear if you had to brake suddenly due to the blocking.. in any case, i think I'll buy this one too.
Love it as a family game. Easy for non-board game hobbyists to understand, but thematic and balanced enough to be far more enjoyable than standard Monopoly or LIFE.
It's not bad when playing with 5 or 6 players. I just like my tracks a bit shorter, and more brutal. If I had the Pro Ludo edition, I'd be tempted to mark my board with this designer's variant: boardgamegeek.com/thread/3069168/
OK the designer is such a tease! I'm assuming that Racing Fever never actually got published? Because I can't seem to find that game in the BGG database. But being a Formula 1 fan that game needs to be in my collection!
Right, it was the prototype that publishers originally passed on. I lament we do not live in an alternate timeline in which Racing Fever was published and had tonnes of real-world tracks published for it, like Formula Dé did in our timeline.
In the new version, have you thought about giving the back-row starting players one free space to use sometime during the game on their turn as compensation for starting in the 2nd rank? Any reason that would cause problems?
Yes, I did think of that. Well, my version was: after the front row takes their turns, just move everyone in the back row up one space to the front row before they take their turns. Same thing, except you have to use your one free space immediately. 😊 I think having one free space of movement banked to use anytime during the race would be super, super beneficial... Maybe too much so. Just my opinion.
Man, I wish I knew the answer, because I’m in the same boat. The tracks are certainly different, and I have some nostalgia for the old one. If someone had the old I wouldn’t necessarily suggest they get the new. But if they have both and are thinking of getting rid of one, I’d suggest getting rid of the Ravensburger one with the unwieldy box. It was nice having dedicated tracks for fewer players, but now you can just play every track with 2 or 3 racers each and optional bots.
No, sorry. I had it briefly, then when it became impossible to find I traded it away unplayed. I knew Days of Wonder would reprint. 😉 But one thing that bugs me a little bit about Heat (noting I haven't played it) is that there seems to be no blocking. The position of the other racers doesn't matter much except for I think slipstreaming. So it becomes just focusing on your own deck management, which I'm sure is fun, but removing what little interaction there is in a typical racing game isn't a direction I'm a fan of.
@@BoardGems traded it away unplayed? 😥 yeah, dont see any blocking there. thank you for the video. yours is always very thorough and well argued. much appreciated.
I'm a long-time player and original rules is still my go-to way to play. Just so easy to jump right in without having to prepare different decks. Since there aren't special tracks for fewer players in the new edition, I always use the two-chariots-per-player variant when playing with three. Gladiators (bots) work well, and I'll typically add 1-2 if I'm playing with four players. I enjoy the ramming variant, so simple and thematic, but it's meant more for multiple races and keeping scores between races, which I don't bother with. One-and-done races for me!
Thank you for a delightful and engrossing presentation of a marvelous game!
Thanks from Brazil! Truly, we have one of the most challenging tracks ever made. 🥰
Getting my Dicetree copy next week! Thanks for sharing this Q&A with us.
Where did you find a copy?
@thepardoner2059 I just a copy delivered from US amazon to the UK
Just got the Dice Tree edition… I’ve been waiting for years to get my hands on an affordable copy of this gem!
Thanks for this nice video and your comparison to different versions of this wonderful Board game, Avé Ceasar. This is one of my top 5 games. I did bought my copy brand new in 1989, and have played it a lot. But now it was some time ago I played it so I will take a look and get it to my gaming board again. Got inspired by your video. A few days ago I got the new 2023 version of Ave Caesar. Cant wait to get it to the table.
Amen, indeed! Wonderful interview, great overview of this gem. Thank you for sharing!
You've persuaded me to go out and find the Dice Tree edition, I sold my old Pro Ludo version years ago, as I do like a nice racing game. My favourite so far is a very small print run game called Zoom Zoom Kaboom which I bought from the designer, Andy Harwood, at the UK Games Expo a long time ago. A game where you race to the end of a track, turn around and charge back to the start. This is hilarious when the front runners are trying to weave their way back through the stragglers still heading to the turning point. There are more rules but it produces lots of table talk and fun interaction. I think you'd like it.
That looks fun! And also probably impossible for me to get here in Canada. 🙂
~ brilliant, Thank You my friend!
The blocking mechanism was kind of already in Formula 1 (1960s?) but there you got brake wear if you had to brake suddenly due to the blocking.. in any case, i think I'll buy this one too.
Love it as a family game. Easy for non-board game hobbyists to understand, but thematic and balanced enough to be far more enjoyable than standard Monopoly or LIFE.
Sweet !!
I feel targetted!😁 I have the Pro Ludo version and it's my favorite game of all time.
It's not bad when playing with 5 or 6 players. I just like my tracks a bit shorter, and more brutal. If I had the Pro Ludo edition, I'd be tempted to mark my board with this designer's variant: boardgamegeek.com/thread/3069168/
OK the designer is such a tease! I'm assuming that Racing Fever never actually got published? Because I can't seem to find that game in the BGG database. But being a Formula 1 fan that game needs to be in my collection!
Right, it was the prototype that publishers originally passed on. I lament we do not live in an alternate timeline in which Racing Fever was published and had tonnes of real-world tracks published for it, like Formula Dé did in our timeline.
In the new version, have you thought about giving the back-row starting players one free space to use sometime during the game on their turn as compensation for starting in the 2nd rank? Any reason that would cause problems?
Yes, I did think of that. Well, my version was: after the front row takes their turns, just move everyone in the back row up one space to the front row before they take their turns. Same thing, except you have to use your one free space immediately. 😊
I think having one free space of movement banked to use anytime during the race would be super, super beneficial... Maybe too much so. Just my opinion.
Let’s say I have both the original Ravensburger edition AND the Dice Tree edition. Is there any reason to keep both? Which should I keep?
Man, I wish I knew the answer, because I’m in the same boat. The tracks are certainly different, and I have some nostalgia for the old one. If someone had the old I wouldn’t necessarily suggest they get the new. But if they have both and are thinking of getting rid of one, I’d suggest getting rid of the Ravensburger one with the unwieldy box. It was nice having dedicated tracks for fewer players, but now you can just play every track with 2 or 3 racers each and optional bots.
how would you compare this to modern racing game like heat for example? i dont know if you have played that one.
No, sorry. I had it briefly, then when it became impossible to find I traded it away unplayed. I knew Days of Wonder would reprint. 😉 But one thing that bugs me a little bit about Heat (noting I haven't played it) is that there seems to be no blocking. The position of the other racers doesn't matter much except for I think slipstreaming. So it becomes just focusing on your own deck management, which I'm sure is fun, but removing what little interaction there is in a typical racing game isn't a direction I'm a fan of.
@@BoardGems traded it away unplayed? 😥 yeah, dont see any blocking there. thank you for the video. yours is always very thorough and well argued. much appreciated.
thank you for your video. If I pass, I doesn't have to discard some card ?
No, you don’t discard a card. But you can’t choose to pass, you have to play if you’re able.
what is your thougth about Charioteer (GMT Games) ???
I have it, having preordered it from GMT. But have not yet played it, sadly.
@@BoardGems when possible would love to have a review + comparaison with Ave Cesar for this one. Thank you for all these great gem videos ☺️
I agree, me too I would like to see your review video of Charioteer! 👍
Which variants do you always run? What’s your favourite way to play? :)
I'm a long-time player and original rules is still my go-to way to play. Just so easy to jump right in without having to prepare different decks. Since there aren't special tracks for fewer players in the new edition, I always use the two-chariots-per-player variant when playing with three. Gladiators (bots) work well, and I'll typically add 1-2 if I'm playing with four players. I enjoy the ramming variant, so simple and thematic, but it's meant more for multiple races and keeping scores between races, which I don't bother with. One-and-done races for me!