Nice review Jon, I your play throughs always helped me learn games I want to play without the rulebook (Mombasa, Endeavor, Altiplano, Rajas, Teotihuacan, etc) Just played this with my family last night and I agree with you on the game length. We decided to keep this game for now and researched about what the expansion adds. What interest me was that the author created a short variant of this game which doesn’t really need an expansion. It (1) makes you start at 5 on the road, (2) have one additional food and (3) always remove the bottom extension (regardless if someone buys an extension or not). Would like to hear your thoughts about playing it with the expansion as well. Looking forward for more of your videos Jon, and more power to you as well 🙂
Just saw the "short variant" rules in the Traveler expansion rule book. You can even apply it without the expansion itself. Appreciate your response Jon :)
My only play was with 5 players. It was fine, did run a little long, but never felt like I was bored. Top three scorers were all within 8 pts. of each other (I finished 3rd). Thought I had done worse than I had, but pleasantly surprised myself. Definitely want this one.
Hi, not sure you remember but I mentioned sometime ago I got in touch with the designer/editor about the game length situation and they provided an official shorter variant: boardgamegeek.com/thread/1890130/shorter-introductory-variant-proposed-games-editor/page/2
I honestly had forgotten about your comment, I apologize! My friends really dig the game (and obviously I like it too, it just didn't blow me away) so it will get played more and I'll see about trying that out :)
I did also like the game a lot but the length was really a problem in the beginning so the variant may help in those cases... With time we got better and my wife and I can now get a 2 player game done in about 75min (without using the variant)
My understanding is you are only restricted from having more than one of a specific ability (so you can't double up on the "wild" spot or a conversion), but you can have as many as you want from each location.
Jon, very nice review. Based on the negative related to game length, do you think if players started farther down the road (getting more resources each turn) that could mitigate that issue?
Probably, it turns out the designer has an official "jumpstart" variant were players start at 5 with a few more resources and a couple less extensions in order to speed the game up abit.
April 15th www.universaldist.com/p-251607-altiplano-6.aspx ETA: looks like maybe the distributor jumped the gun there, but it should be late April/early May per a Renegade employee on BGG.
Strategically how bad is it that the food never leaves your bag? How often did you find you pulled that when you wanted to pull newer resources? I think I want this: I'm asking more for how I might play it.
It's not the worst thing because you can always leave them on movement spaces on your board that you don't need just yet. That keeps them out as long as you aren't fully flooded.
Nice review Jon, I your play throughs always helped me learn games I want to play without the rulebook (Mombasa, Endeavor, Altiplano, Rajas, Teotihuacan, etc)
Just played this with my family last night and I agree with you on the game length. We decided to keep this game for now and researched about what the expansion adds. What interest me was that the author created a short variant of this game which doesn’t really need an expansion. It (1) makes you start at 5 on the road, (2) have one additional food and (3) always remove the bottom extension (regardless if someone buys an extension or not).
Would like to hear your thoughts about playing it with the expansion as well.
Looking forward for more of your videos Jon, and more power to you as well 🙂
Unfortunately I haven't tried the game with the expansion or the short variant, though both do seem interesting to me.
Just saw the "short variant" rules in the Traveler expansion rule book. You can even apply it without the expansion itself. Appreciate your response Jon :)
Just cracked this open, really looking forward to trying it. Miss your reviews John.
Best explanation ever. I read the rulebook and I still learned new things
Excellent review as ever Jon
My only play was with 5 players. It was fine, did run a little long, but never felt like I was bored. Top three scorers were all within 8 pts. of each other (I finished 3rd). Thought I had done worse than I had, but pleasantly surprised myself. Definitely want this one.
Hi, not sure you remember but I mentioned sometime ago I got in touch with the designer/editor about the game length situation and they provided an official shorter variant: boardgamegeek.com/thread/1890130/shorter-introductory-variant-proposed-games-editor/page/2
I honestly had forgotten about your comment, I apologize! My friends really dig the game (and obviously I like it too, it just didn't blow me away) so it will get played more and I'll see about trying that out :)
I did also like the game a lot but the length was really a problem in the beginning so the variant may help in those cases... With time we got better and my wife and I can now get a 2 player game done in about 75min (without using the variant)
I've pre-ordered, but am not sure when it will be available in the US.
16:30 aren't you allowed to have only one extension of given type? like only one harbor, only one forest and so on?
My understanding is you are only restricted from having more than one of a specific ability (so you can't double up on the "wild" spot or a conversion), but you can have as many as you want from each location.
checked bgg forum - you're right :-)
Jon, very nice review. Based on the negative related to game length, do you think if players started farther down the road (getting more resources each turn) that could mitigate that issue?
Probably, it turns out the designer has an official "jumpstart" variant were players start at 5 with a few more resources and a couple less extensions in order to speed the game up abit.
Still waiting for a US release date!
April 15th
www.universaldist.com/p-251607-altiplano-6.aspx
ETA: looks like maybe the distributor jumped the gun there, but it should be late April/early May per a Renegade employee on BGG.
Strategically how bad is it that the food never leaves your bag? How often did you find you pulled that when you wanted to pull newer resources? I think I want this: I'm asking more for how I might play it.
It's not the worst thing because you can always leave them on movement spaces on your board that you don't need just yet. That keeps them out as long as you aren't fully flooded.
Good idea, thanks. Much better than copper in your deck in Dominion
4 yrs later…do you still feel the same about the game?
I believe this game left our collection shortly after this review, so I haven't played it in order to change my opinion in the time since.