Germany - the games
31 October 2008 17:13![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kmusserThe games I got to play:
2 de Mayo - a 2 player game about the Dos de Mayo uprising in Madrid in 1808 from a new Spanish publisher. It's a simple area control game that is interesting in the asymetrical goals - the French are vastly more powerful than the Spanish, but all the Spanish need to do to win is survive. Purchased.
Confucius - a crunchy political game that we only got to play a couple of turns of, I'm not sure how much of a flavor of the game I really got, but it seemed to have potential. Decided not to spend the big bucks for it though, hopefully the price will come down.
Flussfieber - racing game with a lumberjack them, I was unimpressed, I think Mississippi Queen or Snow Tails (see below) are better.
Keltis - the 2008 SdJ winner and will be released in the U.S. as the Lost Cities board game with different artwork, I decided to grab a copy with the Celtic artwork. Does have the feel of a multi-player Lost Cities. You advance down different colored tracks by playing cards of the appropriate color - the catch being cards need to be played in numerical sequence. Colors start out being worth negative points, but are worth more the further you advance. Some space on the track offering bonuses creating an incentive to choose some colors over others or to advance faster than your opponents. Overall fairly abstract, but fun, and the artwork is nice.
Princes of Machu Picchu - a fairly crunchy collect resources to build stuff sort of game. I like the Incan theme, but the end game is weird. The are two possible ways for the game to end and the victory conditions are completely different depending on which happens - you have a little bit of control of which happens and can try to prepare, but it's limited - I'm not sure I like that mechanic - would like to try it again, but decided not to buy.
Snow Tails - an excellent race game with a dogsled racing theme. You have 2 dogs and cards to determine how fast they are going, if they're going the same speed, if not you slide in the direction of the stronger dog - which you need to do in order to make corners - gives a nice sliding around on the ice feel and the race tracks offer all sorts of obstacles for you to crash into. The is the only game I played twice. Purchased and I will have it with me at Euroquest.
Steel Driver - a train game, probably the simplest I've played that has an investment mechanic, felt sort of like a simpler Union Pacific or more complex Santa Fe. Railroads are auctioned off each turn with the winner getting one stock and getting to do that railroads builds that turn. Railroads can get both short-term (in connecting big cities) and long-term (in connecting section of the country) benefits, but the long-term benefits mostly go to whoever the majority stockholder is. I quite liked it, but think Union Pacific is still better, didn't buy.
Witchcraft - a 2 player game that is much crunchier than it looks. Players each get a stack of pieces that have various abilities that they take turns placing on the board, jockeying for position, once all placed they take turns activiting one pieces, potentially capturing opposing pieces which then become theirs to place. Requires a lot of strategic thinking, not really sure it goes with the theme, but I liked it. Did not purchase as it was kind of overpriced and not sure my prospective 2 player opponents would like it. I might buy it later if the game gets a U.S. publisher.
Wolsung - a collect resources to build stuff game with a steampunk theme to it. The art was cool, but the actual game play not all that interesting, not bad mind you, but not worth the hefty price tag.
Games getting a lot of hype but that I didn't play:
Cavum - a crunchy looking game with a mining them that I wanted to try - the both was always mobbed though and I wasn't willing to pay the premium price without getting to try it - others will have it at Euroquest.
Dominion - the game getting THE hype at Essen, I've played it previously as GCOM has been heavily involved in playtesting it and I think I've reviewed it here previously. Sort of difficult to describe, it's a card game in which there are a number of cards available for you to purchase and add to your deck - it has the feel of a trading card game, except that your building your deck in the course of the game. Lots of fun, but it's being published in the U.S. so I didn't feel a need to buy it there.
Le Havre - the latest from the makers of Agricola, the demo tables were constantly mobbed and I wasn't willing to shell out for it without playing first, it'll also be at Euroquest.
Wasabi - this game about sushi was also getting quite a bit of play, I couldn't get into a demo but picked up a copy for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
byronczimmer and figure I'll get to play his at some point.
Other purchases:
Diamant - a great little press your luck game with a mining them that I've always liked, especially because it's quick and handles up to 8 players.
Emerald - a game I liked playing on BSW, but has never been published in the U.S., grab some treasure from the dragon before he eats you.
Poison - a card game I like but always though was kind of overpriced and here they put in a smaller box and reduce the price for me. Done.
St. Petersburg expansion - long awaited, haven't played it yet.
Wildlife Adventure - one of my Dad's favorites - since it was also one of my stepmom's favorites I left his copy with her. Each player has certain locations they're trying to get to - there are 3 expeditions that anyone can move - so you try to get them to go to your places - of course everyone else is trying to do the same.
Race for the Galaxy expansion - not bought at Essen, but it was waiting for me when I got home. Looks neat, have played the solitaire version serveral times, mostly losing. Recommended for anyone with the base game.
2 de Mayo - a 2 player game about the Dos de Mayo uprising in Madrid in 1808 from a new Spanish publisher. It's a simple area control game that is interesting in the asymetrical goals - the French are vastly more powerful than the Spanish, but all the Spanish need to do to win is survive. Purchased.
Confucius - a crunchy political game that we only got to play a couple of turns of, I'm not sure how much of a flavor of the game I really got, but it seemed to have potential. Decided not to spend the big bucks for it though, hopefully the price will come down.
Flussfieber - racing game with a lumberjack them, I was unimpressed, I think Mississippi Queen or Snow Tails (see below) are better.
Keltis - the 2008 SdJ winner and will be released in the U.S. as the Lost Cities board game with different artwork, I decided to grab a copy with the Celtic artwork. Does have the feel of a multi-player Lost Cities. You advance down different colored tracks by playing cards of the appropriate color - the catch being cards need to be played in numerical sequence. Colors start out being worth negative points, but are worth more the further you advance. Some space on the track offering bonuses creating an incentive to choose some colors over others or to advance faster than your opponents. Overall fairly abstract, but fun, and the artwork is nice.
Princes of Machu Picchu - a fairly crunchy collect resources to build stuff sort of game. I like the Incan theme, but the end game is weird. The are two possible ways for the game to end and the victory conditions are completely different depending on which happens - you have a little bit of control of which happens and can try to prepare, but it's limited - I'm not sure I like that mechanic - would like to try it again, but decided not to buy.
Snow Tails - an excellent race game with a dogsled racing theme. You have 2 dogs and cards to determine how fast they are going, if they're going the same speed, if not you slide in the direction of the stronger dog - which you need to do in order to make corners - gives a nice sliding around on the ice feel and the race tracks offer all sorts of obstacles for you to crash into. The is the only game I played twice. Purchased and I will have it with me at Euroquest.
Steel Driver - a train game, probably the simplest I've played that has an investment mechanic, felt sort of like a simpler Union Pacific or more complex Santa Fe. Railroads are auctioned off each turn with the winner getting one stock and getting to do that railroads builds that turn. Railroads can get both short-term (in connecting big cities) and long-term (in connecting section of the country) benefits, but the long-term benefits mostly go to whoever the majority stockholder is. I quite liked it, but think Union Pacific is still better, didn't buy.
Witchcraft - a 2 player game that is much crunchier than it looks. Players each get a stack of pieces that have various abilities that they take turns placing on the board, jockeying for position, once all placed they take turns activiting one pieces, potentially capturing opposing pieces which then become theirs to place. Requires a lot of strategic thinking, not really sure it goes with the theme, but I liked it. Did not purchase as it was kind of overpriced and not sure my prospective 2 player opponents would like it. I might buy it later if the game gets a U.S. publisher.
Wolsung - a collect resources to build stuff game with a steampunk theme to it. The art was cool, but the actual game play not all that interesting, not bad mind you, but not worth the hefty price tag.
Games getting a lot of hype but that I didn't play:
Cavum - a crunchy looking game with a mining them that I wanted to try - the both was always mobbed though and I wasn't willing to pay the premium price without getting to try it - others will have it at Euroquest.
Dominion - the game getting THE hype at Essen, I've played it previously as GCOM has been heavily involved in playtesting it and I think I've reviewed it here previously. Sort of difficult to describe, it's a card game in which there are a number of cards available for you to purchase and add to your deck - it has the feel of a trading card game, except that your building your deck in the course of the game. Lots of fun, but it's being published in the U.S. so I didn't feel a need to buy it there.
Le Havre - the latest from the makers of Agricola, the demo tables were constantly mobbed and I wasn't willing to shell out for it without playing first, it'll also be at Euroquest.
Wasabi - this game about sushi was also getting quite a bit of play, I couldn't get into a demo but picked up a copy for
byronczimmer and figure I'll get to play his at some point. Other purchases:
Diamant - a great little press your luck game with a mining them that I've always liked, especially because it's quick and handles up to 8 players.
Emerald - a game I liked playing on BSW, but has never been published in the U.S., grab some treasure from the dragon before he eats you.
Poison - a card game I like but always though was kind of overpriced and here they put in a smaller box and reduce the price for me. Done.
St. Petersburg expansion - long awaited, haven't played it yet.
Wildlife Adventure - one of my Dad's favorites - since it was also one of my stepmom's favorites I left his copy with her. Each player has certain locations they're trying to get to - there are 3 expeditions that anyone can move - so you try to get them to go to your places - of course everyone else is trying to do the same.
Race for the Galaxy expansion - not bought at Essen, but it was waiting for me when I got home. Looks neat, have played the solitaire version serveral times, mostly losing. Recommended for anyone with the base game.