Listening to all these explanations, I see how deep and layered the game is in its strategy. Which is not revealed yet because not too many played it yet. I believe this game did not get the hype it deserves and that's a great thing! It will explode once it's launched! Good job Eric! Well done with the questions Pair of dice!
Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you found the questions helpful and intriguing, and I hope that you get to play this game soon, and that it lives up to your expectations! When you do play it, be sure to let me know how it goes! :)
I think the Korean Laundry issue, is just people being "offended", that's not an argument. It's based on historical aspects of Godfather. Yes, that means history is stereotypical. *Would be interested if those 2 players were of Korean origin?* If Korean players are fine with it, then don't try to pretend to be offended as a non-Korean
Extortion is without doubt the most powerful card in the game. And Muscle In. Extortion and Muscle In are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game. And Police Chief III. Extortion, Muscle In and Police Chief III are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game. And Car Bomb. Extortion, Muscle In, Police Chief III and Car Bomb are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game. And Hollywood Producer. Extortion, Muscle In, Police Chief III, Car Bomb and Hollywood Producer are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game. And...
Being targeted by one Extortion can in fact make you a prime target for the second. The first one clears out those three ones you were holding as a shield, meaning the second one gets the high level cards. Also it's worth remembering that an Extortion takes cards from someone's suitcase and puts them in your hand. You still have to get them into your case. This tends to be easy in the last couple of rounds but not so much early on.
This game is awesome. A new favorite in my family. I want to know if there will be any expansion(s) to it! And BTW my wife is Italian and said she is offended by the whole thing... LOL.
I'm glad you appreciated it. Because, yep, those Extortion cards have been mentioned after every single game I've played so far. It was certainly an item I thought people would be interested in having addressed directly. Hope it helped! :)
I absolutely love this interview. I have never seen a designer break down a game of his so deeply as Eric does here. This is an absolutely fantastic and entertaining talk.
I have a few of my own questions. 1. When you use a neutral figure to wipe out an entire turf, are your own figures included? If so, does that mean you should only wipe out turfs where your figures aren’t present? 2. In the turf war phase, what if there are more neutral characters on a turf than players? For example, what would happen if there are two neutral figures and just one player figure on a turf? Does the player gain control, or is it left unmarked? 3. What exactly do you do with your hand of cards at the end of Act IV? I understand that you have to get your hand down to 2 cards, and I’ve heard if those last 2 cards are money, you can stash them away to add to your points, essentially leaving you with no more cards in the end. I guess my real question is: what if you don’t have money in your hand? Is the entire hand essentially useless as far as points go? Do you just put the unwanted illegal goods, jobs and allies back in their discard piles, pointlessly keep 2 jobs or allies (because you don’t have money), and that’s it? I’m a little confused on how that works and it’s purpose.
Fans: Don Corleone, we are asking for an expansion for this awesome game, but they will not give it to us. (The Don petting his cat.) DON: Now you come and see me, because they will not give you an expansion. If you would have came to me in friendship, then you all would have been my friend, and you would have had three expansions by now. Fans: Be our friend....Godfather. (Kisses the ring) DON: I will make them an offer they can't refuse. Looking forward to an expansion. :) Great job on the game!!!
I was targeted by Extortion twice in the same 4-player game and still won handily because I wasn't going for the big money strategy. Had they instead went for the blood money missions I couldn't have performed some insane combos that mostly won me the game. Observing what the other players are doing is key in this game more than your average worker placement games.
Love listening to Eric Lang discuss game theory and find him a highly engaging, intelligent individual. I would hate it if the growing SJW movement artificially limited his creative energy for fear of unintentionally offending someone. Just keep making good games, Mr. Lang. Be free, and thank you for all the wonderful games you've created for us.
Huge fan of Eric Lang's. Played this game at Dice Tower Con, and recently picked it up. Fantastic Game. I did get burned by Extortion the first game - but learned quickly to make sure to stock some low value bills in my suitcase before going for the big bucks. Also once you play the game a couple times you learn how many of a certain card is in the jobs deck, and to watch for them, and remember how many have been played. I'm all for not offending people, but I think critiquing "Korean Laundry" is a bit nitpicky.
Eric Lang REALLY impressed me. I would really like to try this game (it looks intriguing). I will anticipate what else he comes up with. Kudos to Chaz for the interview. This was well done.
I think the only concern I have about "Korean" Laundry is that temporally, the Godfather setting (1945-55) predates the vast majority of Korean immigration, which only really got started after the Immigration Act of 1965 (and after The Korean War of course). Prior to this, and during the time that The Godfather is set, Chinese Americans would be the more notable Asian ethnic group to have a reputation for running laundry businesses.
That is actually a very insightful historical footnote. Thank you for sharing that, I found it quite interesting. I feel like my brain has grown three sizes this day. :)
Just wanted to say that I really enjoy, and own Blood Rage, and hope to get to play both Rising Sun and The Godfather soon. Keep up the good work Eric and congrats on joining C'MON. They made a wise choice.
The problem with designing cards which act as a counter to another player's plan is that it's entirely possible for that player to end up with that card. Thus reinforcing their game.
I’m really sensitive to racist and colonization themed games and keeping folks in check when necessary but I don’t feel the Korean laundry was offended. I wonder if people are asking the same questions to white designers? Games like Santa Maria, Mombasa, Puerto Rico are problematic and should be criticized.
If you are offended by a Korean Laundry, then don't eat at an Italian pizzeria.
Jbua lol
Eric Lang is a national treasure.
Eric Lang is a brain. I love listening to this dude talking about game theory.
Listening to all these explanations, I see how deep and layered the game is in its strategy. Which is not revealed yet because not too many played it yet. I believe this game did not get the hype it deserves and that's a great thing! It will explode once it's launched! Good job Eric! Well done with the questions Pair of dice!
Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you found the questions helpful and intriguing, and I hope that you get to play this game soon, and that it lives up to your expectations! When you do play it, be sure to let me know how it goes! :)
I think the Korean Laundry issue, is just people being "offended", that's not an argument. It's based on historical aspects of Godfather. Yes, that means history is stereotypical.
*Would be interested if those 2 players were of Korean origin?* If Korean players are fine with it, then don't try to pretend to be offended as a non-Korean
I’m surprised any players would be offended over it. Imagine what they’d think if they knew Sonny says the N word. Lmao
Extortion is without doubt the most powerful card in the game.
And Muscle In. Extortion and Muscle In are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game.
And Police Chief III. Extortion, Muscle In and Police Chief III are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game.
And Car Bomb. Extortion, Muscle In, Police Chief III and Car Bomb are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game.
And Hollywood Producer. Extortion, Muscle In, Police Chief III, Car Bomb and Hollywood Producer are without doubt the most powerful cards in the game.
And...
Perfect balance
Being targeted by one Extortion can in fact make you a prime target for the second. The first one clears out those three ones you were holding as a shield, meaning the second one gets the high level cards.
Also it's worth remembering that an Extortion takes cards from someone's suitcase and puts them in your hand. You still have to get them into your case. This tends to be easy in the last couple of rounds but not so much early on.
This game is awesome. A new favorite in my family. I want to know if there will be any expansion(s) to it! And BTW my wife is Italian and said she is offended by the whole thing... LOL.
Tell her; being offended _isn't_ an argument ^^
I really appreciated this Q&A - those extortion cards were something I had a serious concern about when I heard about them.
I'm glad you appreciated it. Because, yep, those Extortion cards have been mentioned after every single game I've played so far. It was certainly an item I thought people would be interested in having addressed directly. Hope it helped! :)
I absolutely love this interview. I have never seen a designer break down a game of his so deeply as Eric does here. This is an absolutely fantastic and entertaining talk.
I have a few of my own questions.
1. When you use a neutral figure to wipe out an entire turf, are your own figures included? If so, does that mean you should only wipe out turfs where your figures aren’t present?
2. In the turf war phase, what if there are more neutral characters on a turf than players? For example, what would happen if there are two neutral figures and just one player figure on a turf? Does the player gain control, or is it left unmarked?
3. What exactly do you do with your hand of cards at the end of Act IV? I understand that you have to get your hand down to 2 cards, and I’ve heard if those last 2 cards are money, you can stash them away to add to your points, essentially leaving you with no more cards in the end. I guess my real question is: what if you don’t have money in your hand? Is the entire hand essentially useless as far as points go? Do you just put the unwanted illegal goods, jobs and allies back in their discard piles, pointlessly keep 2 jobs or allies (because you don’t have money), and that’s it? I’m a little confused on how that works and it’s purpose.
Fans: Don Corleone, we are asking for an expansion for this awesome game, but they will not give it to us.
(The Don petting his cat.)
DON: Now you come and see me, because they will not give you an expansion. If you would have came to me in friendship, then you all would have been my friend, and you would have had three expansions by now.
Fans: Be our friend....Godfather.
(Kisses the ring)
DON: I will make them an offer they can't refuse.
Looking forward to an expansion. :) Great job on the game!!!
I was targeted by Extortion twice in the same 4-player game and still won handily because I wasn't going for the big money strategy. Had they instead went for the blood money missions I couldn't have performed some insane combos that mostly won me the game. Observing what the other players are doing is key in this game more than your average worker placement games.
Love listening to Eric Lang discuss game theory and find him a highly engaging, intelligent individual. I would hate it if the growing SJW movement artificially limited his creative energy for fear of unintentionally offending someone. Just keep making good games, Mr. Lang. Be free, and thank you for all the wonderful games you've created for us.
Huge fan of Eric Lang's. Played this game at Dice Tower Con, and recently picked it up. Fantastic Game. I did get burned by Extortion the first game - but learned quickly to make sure to stock some low value bills in my suitcase before going for the big bucks. Also once you play the game a couple times you learn how many of a certain card is in the jobs deck, and to watch for them, and remember how many have been played.
I'm all for not offending people, but I think critiquing "Korean Laundry" is a bit nitpicky.
It really is.
Eric Lang REALLY impressed me. I would really like to try this game (it looks intriguing). I will anticipate what else he comes up with. Kudos to Chaz for the interview. This was well done.
I think the only concern I have about "Korean" Laundry is that temporally, the Godfather setting (1945-55) predates the vast majority of Korean immigration, which only really got started after the Immigration Act of 1965 (and after The Korean War of course). Prior to this, and during the time that The Godfather is set, Chinese Americans would be the more notable Asian ethnic group to have a reputation for running laundry businesses.
That is actually a very insightful historical footnote. Thank you for sharing that, I found it quite interesting. I feel like my brain has grown three sizes this day. :)
Just wanted to say that I really enjoy, and own Blood Rage, and hope to get to play both Rising Sun and The Godfather soon. Keep up the good work Eric and congrats on joining C'MON. They made a wise choice.
Maybe better to have put an actual name to the "Korean laundry" but I don't think its a big problem rather minor detail.
This game is wondefull, force interaction and conflict. I hope see more expansions or delux cards for this game.
The problem with designing cards which act as a counter to another player's plan is that it's entirely possible for that player to end up with that card. Thus reinforcing their game.
I’m really sensitive to racist and colonization themed games and keeping folks in check when necessary but I don’t feel the Korean laundry was offended. I wonder if people are asking the same questions to white designers? Games like Santa Maria, Mombasa, Puerto Rico are problematic and should be criticized.