Last month, my freshman blog detailed some of my thoughts on selecting a new game. In particular, a somewhat heavier game - one that has some deeper elements of strategy, but also be accessible and appealing to a variety of different levels. My goal was to narrow it down to four entries (not including a blind hope that El Grande will undergo a surprise reprinting), and choose one game out of those to buy. The first of the four qualifying slots was to be Imperial 2030. Without rehashing the reasoning behind this choice, I'll just say that it's a rather unique game that pushes all of the right buttons for me. 1 down, 3 to go.
Agricola vs. Le Havre
I mentioned that my second slot was going to be a battle between these two Uwe Rosenberg games. Let me tell you, that is a VERY tough choice. The games bear enough resemblance to show a common designer, but are radically different in so many other ways. My research indicated that more than mechanics, theme, and components, the big difference between the two games was the level of urgency that each game presents.
Agricola looks like a masterful exercise in strategic planning that keeps you walking the tightrope between 'just getting by' and possible ruin. I love it when a game can do that successfully. The fact that everyone pretty much has the same overall goal, but may have to take completely different paths to get there is pretty awesome in and of itself. I must admit, the thought of micro-managing a farm was less than inspirational to me at first, but as I've researched the game I've really warmed to it quite nicely.
Le Havre, which I actually have played, is pretty much the antithesis of what Agricola is. Rather than being a farmer, you're managing a harbor. The turn seems simple enough: You add to the supply of resources each turn, then you either take one kind of resource or move your worker. You can choose to buy buildings or boats, or build them by using resources. Don't forget to feed your workers and pay back any loans, lest you get a slap on the wrist! The array of choices gets larger as the game progresses.
Deciding which or these two were 'better' was like asking which of my two kitties are cuter...they're are so many differences it's hard to tell. Alas, I was just about to flip a coin to decide which of the two (games, not kitties) would go on my 'final four' list. Then I looked at the other three games and...
Cuba
Long before the aforementioned coin flip, I had Cuba down on my list as one of the final four. I played it once, loved it, and boldly declared that this would be in my collection instead of Puerto Rico! (At that time, I had never even played Puerto Rico!) But special internet deals have a way of changing people's minds (especially mine), and PR somehow found its way into my collection, but Cuba didn't.
Revisiting the game again, there are obvious similarities between it and Puerto Rico such as role selection, utilizing buildings, and shipping goods. Of course, these are all handled quite differently by each game. And Cuba adds a unique twist of placing your worker to activate only a portion of your buildings at any one time, as well as a chance to bid (bribe?) on legislation currently in Parliament. All in all, I think it's a bit more complex than Puerto Rico.
Age of Industry
I could try to describe Martin Wallace's Brass using mere words, but I don't think I could adequately describe it in a paragraph or two. I can honestly say that from my research that this is one of the most elegantly strategic games I've seen...period. Though hearing the theme of this game could be sleep inducing (...industrial revolution...economic engine...canal phase...zzzzzzzz), the game itself looks absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, my amazement with this game would, I fear, be short lived. This game goes beyond my definition of 'Heavy'.
Not to worry...Age of Industry is a re-theming of Brass that's a bit lighter and more accessible. Still deep and strategic, AoI pares Brass down to a 2-hour game by scrapping the canal era and going with rails alone. Rather than being set in England, a two-sided map is included of German and New England (with other maps available). Some of the other parameters have changed, too, but it's still recognizably a Martin Wallace game. And it looks like a great one.
Now, where was that coin...
As I prepared to flip, I realized something about my list that made me rethink things just a bit. If I flip heads, then Agricola gets the nod into the final four - plain and simple. If it's tails, then the spot goes to Le Havre. That's fine by me, but then I have two games that are somewhat centered around shipping. To me, that's kind of pointless, because if I went that route, there's no way that Cuba would beat out Le Havre, no matter how good it seemed...
Are you seeing what I'm seeing?
If Le Havre would be a shoo-in to beat Cuba, why would Cuba be on this list? Didn't I originally rate Cuba a 9 and Le Havre a 7?
Yes, but that was before Puerto Rico came into my collection. In my 'first impressions' review of Le Havre, I even wrote: "I don’t think this game has much to recommend it instead of (or in addition to) those games." (Speaking of Cuba and St. Petersburg at the time). The crux of the matter is this: Cuba has a certain similarity to Puerto Rico. Le Havre does not. I think Le Havre would add more to my collection than Cuba would.
To recap, the four finalists are:
- Le Havre
- Age of Industry
- Agricola
- Imperial 2030
One will be my next game purchase, one or two of the others might end up on my Christmas List. At this point of the game, it doesn't even matter which one of the four I pick. Finding an unexpected bargain or discount on one or another might be the final straw, or getting the chance to play one between now and then...who knows? One thing is for sure...they're all fine games that would fit perfectly into my collection.
Agricola vs. Le Havre
I mentioned that my second slot was going to be a battle between these two Uwe Rosenberg games. Let me tell you, that is a VERY tough choice. The games bear enough resemblance to show a common designer, but are radically different in so many other ways. My research indicated that more than mechanics, theme, and components, the big difference between the two games was the level of urgency that each game presents.
Agricola looks like a masterful exercise in strategic planning that keeps you walking the tightrope between 'just getting by' and possible ruin. I love it when a game can do that successfully. The fact that everyone pretty much has the same overall goal, but may have to take completely different paths to get there is pretty awesome in and of itself. I must admit, the thought of micro-managing a farm was less than inspirational to me at first, but as I've researched the game I've really warmed to it quite nicely.
Le Havre, which I actually have played, is pretty much the antithesis of what Agricola is. Rather than being a farmer, you're managing a harbor. The turn seems simple enough: You add to the supply of resources each turn, then you either take one kind of resource or move your worker. You can choose to buy buildings or boats, or build them by using resources. Don't forget to feed your workers and pay back any loans, lest you get a slap on the wrist! The array of choices gets larger as the game progresses.
Deciding which or these two were 'better' was like asking which of my two kitties are cuter...they're are so many differences it's hard to tell. Alas, I was just about to flip a coin to decide which of the two (games, not kitties) would go on my 'final four' list. Then I looked at the other three games and...
Cuba
Long before the aforementioned coin flip, I had Cuba down on my list as one of the final four. I played it once, loved it, and boldly declared that this would be in my collection instead of Puerto Rico! (At that time, I had never even played Puerto Rico!) But special internet deals have a way of changing people's minds (especially mine), and PR somehow found its way into my collection, but Cuba didn't.
Revisiting the game again, there are obvious similarities between it and Puerto Rico such as role selection, utilizing buildings, and shipping goods. Of course, these are all handled quite differently by each game. And Cuba adds a unique twist of placing your worker to activate only a portion of your buildings at any one time, as well as a chance to bid (bribe?) on legislation currently in Parliament. All in all, I think it's a bit more complex than Puerto Rico.
Age of Industry
I could try to describe Martin Wallace's Brass using mere words, but I don't think I could adequately describe it in a paragraph or two. I can honestly say that from my research that this is one of the most elegantly strategic games I've seen...period. Though hearing the theme of this game could be sleep inducing (...industrial revolution...economic engine...canal phase...zzzzzzzz), the game itself looks absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, my amazement with this game would, I fear, be short lived. This game goes beyond my definition of 'Heavy'.
Not to worry...Age of Industry is a re-theming of Brass that's a bit lighter and more accessible. Still deep and strategic, AoI pares Brass down to a 2-hour game by scrapping the canal era and going with rails alone. Rather than being set in England, a two-sided map is included of German and New England (with other maps available). Some of the other parameters have changed, too, but it's still recognizably a Martin Wallace game. And it looks like a great one.
Now, where was that coin...
As I prepared to flip, I realized something about my list that made me rethink things just a bit. If I flip heads, then Agricola gets the nod into the final four - plain and simple. If it's tails, then the spot goes to Le Havre. That's fine by me, but then I have two games that are somewhat centered around shipping. To me, that's kind of pointless, because if I went that route, there's no way that Cuba would beat out Le Havre, no matter how good it seemed...
Are you seeing what I'm seeing?
If Le Havre would be a shoo-in to beat Cuba, why would Cuba be on this list? Didn't I originally rate Cuba a 9 and Le Havre a 7?
Yes, but that was before Puerto Rico came into my collection. In my 'first impressions' review of Le Havre, I even wrote: "I don’t think this game has much to recommend it instead of (or in addition to) those games." (Speaking of Cuba and St. Petersburg at the time). The crux of the matter is this: Cuba has a certain similarity to Puerto Rico. Le Havre does not. I think Le Havre would add more to my collection than Cuba would.
To recap, the four finalists are:
- Le Havre
- Age of Industry
- Agricola
- Imperial 2030
One will be my next game purchase, one or two of the others might end up on my Christmas List. At this point of the game, it doesn't even matter which one of the four I pick. Finding an unexpected bargain or discount on one or another might be the final straw, or getting the chance to play one between now and then...who knows? One thing is for sure...they're all fine games that would fit perfectly into my collection.