ironphoenix (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ironphoenix) wrote2011-07-04 12:43 pm
ironphoenix) wrote2011-07-04 12:43 pm
Entry tags:
And the new hot game is...
7 Wonders!
My copy has now been played over 10 times with various groups, and I think I can declare this the best game since Dominion, at least.
For a summary of what the game is about and how it works, I'll refer you to the above link to BGG; here's my review of what I like and don't like about the game, which is not on BGG.
Pros:
- Mix of strategy, tactics, and luck; more strategic players are likely to do well, but aren't assured of a win
- Wide group size range (3-7, with a 2-player variant)
- Short play time (~45 minutes, including setup and cleanup)
- Moderate player interaction, with no directly destructive interaction
- Very nice artwork
- Quite easy to learn
- Good replayability (setup factors and card shuffles make each game quite different)
- Basic version is good, advanced version adds factors once basic is mastered
- Rules are clear and coverage seems complete
- Box stores components well; 4 rubber bands are useful additions
- Excellent pacing, even with maximum players; downtime is not a problem
Cons (all minor, in my opinion):
- Setup and cleanup takes a little time because of card sorting
- Hard to see how there can be a lot of good expansions for this one
- A rules gotcha that catches most people at least once: players aren't allowed to build a duplicate of a building they already have
My copy has now been played over 10 times with various groups, and I think I can declare this the best game since Dominion, at least.
For a summary of what the game is about and how it works, I'll refer you to the above link to BGG; here's my review of what I like and don't like about the game, which is not on BGG.
Pros:
- Mix of strategy, tactics, and luck; more strategic players are likely to do well, but aren't assured of a win
- Wide group size range (3-7, with a 2-player variant)
- Short play time (~45 minutes, including setup and cleanup)
- Moderate player interaction, with no directly destructive interaction
- Very nice artwork
- Quite easy to learn
- Good replayability (setup factors and card shuffles make each game quite different)
- Basic version is good, advanced version adds factors once basic is mastered
- Rules are clear and coverage seems complete
- Box stores components well; 4 rubber bands are useful additions
- Excellent pacing, even with maximum players; downtime is not a problem
Cons (all minor, in my opinion):
- Setup and cleanup takes a little time because of card sorting
- Hard to see how there can be a lot of good expansions for this one
- A rules gotcha that catches most people at least once: players aren't allowed to build a duplicate of a building they already have
no subject
I think the two military one would be more valuable in a small game (3-4 players) than large, because your military will have an impact on a far larger percent of the players -- either by taking VP from them, or by triggering them to spend actions on military. But in a large game, that effect is much more difuse.
Yeah, the randomness does have its place. It isn't that I won't play it -- I do like it well enough to play it when it comes out, I just don't think I'm going to be the one suggesting we bring it out. And, yeah, lots of people do enjoy it, which is cool, too.