I was one of the last people to go up and grab a game during the Dice Tower Retreat's exchange, and this one was still on the table. So glad I grabbed a copy! I got to play it the next morning with some other Retreaters and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Not sure but seems like not using the Special Delivery action to take cards. This can be done instead of (or at same time as delivering to a destination. But discard a cargo or passenger to draw 2 cards. This helps cycle through deck or build hand up rather than just drawing one card a time.
That would ruin the game imo. Most of the game is making efficient use of your cards and it should be a conscious choice when you blow up your hand to 10 cards. It's also worth noting that the most expensive train cars are in the 7 - 9 card range so you would be making the hardest to build things trivially easy to get.
I haven't tried with a different hand limits, so I can't say whether it would actually make it better or worse. I do know that as I pondered why I didn't love the game, I realized all the parts that made it a lower score for me were based around the tightness of the 5 card hand.
It'd 100% ruin the game. If you could build whatever you wanted by stockpiling cards, it'd be way way too powerful. You need the limitation to interact with the game's mechanism to get the cards out you want.
I have played it a bunch and I don't think it would work. The tightness is part of the design. Something that Tom mentions in the overview that I don't think they mentioned in the review is that you can also load into your own cars. This can help you get contracts you want, but also has the bonus of keeping your opponent from getting the bonus. You can also deliver those goods or passengers just as a special delivery to draw two cards. In the right situation, you can get enough cards to build a level 3 car from scratch
Hello guys... I apologize, I never leave comments, especially negative ones (also long-time backer, huge fan of the channel, etc....) but please FIX THE RUSTLING ON THE MICROPHONES. It has ruined almost every video for the last couple weeks!
This is a game I have been looking forward to for years (or at least the expansion to the original). Unfortunately the art of this game is a big turn off for me. I guess I will keep playing my double deck of the original for now.
Agree with Tom 100%! I've had so much fun with this one! Solo mode is also fun, because then you do get to collect the bonuses when you load your own trains. Thanks for the review!
Picked this up recently while on vacation after not having followed it or even heard of it, almost on a whim. Through the first play in my hotel room it intrigued me and I could not put my finger on it. It is the only game this trip that got a SECOND turn while in the hotel and it immediately hit the table when I got home. I agree with Tom on the hand limit, the lower hand limit causes meaningful decision situations to arise quite regularly, and that is a very good thing in games! I've played thus far solo, and there are a few differences, namely you DO get the benefits when placing on your own train (there is no other!) but this has proven to be a very enjoyable, fairly substantial game in a small package! Timely video, great discussion and it was very helpful to see the different viewpoints!
I really like this version (I backed the Kickstarter) but agree that the info/icons of benefits for loading onto other players’ trains takes getting used to. Need to get more games played to see which strategies I like but so far different paths I tried seem equally valid/lucrative. I also agree with Tom & Chris that without the 5-card hand limit I would like this a lot less because the limit forces tougher decisions (in a good way). I find that getting cards I don’t want is actually helpful as currency to build ones I do.
I adore this game, but our group found that its best at 3. The 2 player game is too short and loading the other persons train car to try and gain benefits in return will lose you the game instantly. If player 1 is going for the delivering goods contracts, he will need to dump cards onto the others train to draw stuff he needs, but player 2 can simply piggyback ofd that and focus on the most valuable passengers and by the time player 1 is ready to finish his contracts, player 2 can end the game through passengers.
Great review. The reason not buying this game is the reactions of both Tom and Wendy. I love these kind of games, but in the same time there are so many gamers like Wendy not be able to enjoy the game mechanics so this game won’t get played.
Is that the biggest spread in rankings? MIght be interesting to rank the videos with the biggest spreads and see if anyone is willing to revise their rankings based on the others.
Thank you a lot to all three of you for your detailed thoughts and experiences with this game! Very helpful. I'd love to try it and maybe get it for my family.
After a few games, I can definitely see where Wendy is coming from. Getting randomly screwed by being able to do nothing but draws cards on your turns, while everyone else gets everything they want and has big turns feels really bad.
I'll say I almost never agree with Wendy and typically get where Tom is coming from, but in this instance I'd say that Wendy is even being overly generous. I very much disliked this game and only gave it a 4 (BGG rating - "Not so good - but could play again.") Having seen Tom (and Chris' score), I think this would be the most disappointing game ever if I based it on how our interests usually aligned. If you are in the same boat definitely try before you buy on this one.
I was one of the last people to go up and grab a game during the Dice Tower Retreat's exchange, and this one was still on the table. So glad I grabbed a copy! I got to play it the next morning with some other Retreaters and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Demoing this at the UKGE and think it'll be a blast 😊
San Juan has you discard down to 7 cards
Not sure but seems like not using the Special Delivery action to take cards. This can be done instead of (or at same time as delivering to a destination. But discard a cargo or passenger to draw 2 cards. This helps cycle through deck or build hand up rather than just drawing one card a time.
I see where Wendy is coming from. Wonder if you house ruled it to a hand limit of 10.
That would ruin the game imo. Most of the game is making efficient use of your cards and it should be a conscious choice when you blow up your hand to 10 cards. It's also worth noting that the most expensive train cars are in the 7 - 9 card range so you would be making the hardest to build things trivially easy to get.
You need to get bonus cards from load other people trains. to build big trains/carriages. Without the limit it would be to easy.
I haven't tried with a different hand limits, so I can't say whether it would actually make it better or worse. I do know that as I pondered why I didn't love the game, I realized all the parts that made it a lower score for me were based around the tightness of the 5 card hand.
It'd 100% ruin the game. If you could build whatever you wanted by stockpiling cards, it'd be way way too powerful. You need the limitation to interact with the game's mechanism to get the cards out you want.
I have played it a bunch and I don't think it would work. The tightness is part of the design. Something that Tom mentions in the overview that I don't think they mentioned in the review is that you can also load into your own cars. This can help you get contracts you want, but also has the bonus of keeping your opponent from getting the bonus. You can also deliver those goods or passengers just as a special delivery to draw two cards. In the right situation, you can get enough cards to build a level 3 car from scratch
Hello guys... I apologize, I never leave comments, especially negative ones (also long-time backer, huge fan of the channel, etc....) but please FIX THE RUSTLING ON THE MICROPHONES. It has ruined almost every video for the last couple weeks!
This is a game I have been looking forward to for years (or at least the expansion to the original). Unfortunately the art of this game is a big turn off for me. I guess I will keep playing my double deck of the original for now.
Agree with Tom 100%! I've had so much fun with this one! Solo mode is also fun, because then you do get to collect the bonuses when you load your own trains. Thanks for the review!
Picked this up recently while on vacation after not having followed it or even heard of it, almost on a whim. Through the first play in my hotel room it intrigued me and I could not put my finger on it. It is the only game this trip that got a SECOND turn while in the hotel and it immediately hit the table when I got home. I agree with Tom on the hand limit, the lower hand limit causes meaningful decision situations to arise quite regularly, and that is a very good thing in games! I've played thus far solo, and there are a few differences, namely you DO get the benefits when placing on your own train (there is no other!) but this has proven to be a very enjoyable, fairly substantial game in a small package! Timely video, great discussion and it was very helpful to see the different viewpoints!
I really like this version (I backed the Kickstarter) but agree that the info/icons of benefits for loading onto other players’ trains takes getting used to. Need to get more games played to see which strategies I like but so far different paths I tried seem equally valid/lucrative. I also agree with Tom & Chris that without the 5-card hand limit I would like this a lot less because the limit forces tougher decisions (in a good way). I find that getting cards I don’t want is actually helpful as currency to build ones I do.
Removing the 5 card hand limit would ruin this game. It would be way too easy to build everything.
Using other people's cards is a great mechanism also in Space Station Phoenix. (Keyflower too?) This game looks very well designed.
I adore this game, but our group found that its best at 3. The 2 player game is too short and loading the other persons train car to try and gain benefits in return will lose you the game instantly. If player 1 is going for the delivering goods contracts, he will need to dump cards onto the others train to draw stuff he needs, but player 2 can simply piggyback ofd that and focus on the most valuable passengers and by the time player 1 is ready to finish his contracts, player 2 can end the game through passengers.
Great review. The reason not buying this game is the reactions of both Tom and Wendy. I love these kind of games, but in the same time there are so many gamers like Wendy not be able to enjoy the game mechanics so this game won’t get played.
Is that the biggest spread in rankings? MIght be interesting to rank the videos with the biggest spreads and see if anyone is willing to revise their rankings based on the others.
Would be nice.
I think the biggest spread might be in the Challengers review, where Tom gave it a 8 and Roy a 2.
Whoa!@@edwood86
Thank you a lot to all three of you for your detailed thoughts and experiences with this game! Very helpful.
I'd love to try it and maybe get it for my family.
I really enjoy this game. Solo mode is really good.
Really enjoy the diversity of interests. The fact that a variety of perspectives are presented really is helpful.
Sid Meier’s vibes🙂
After a few games, I can definitely see where Wendy is coming from. Getting randomly screwed by being able to do nothing but draws cards on your turns, while everyone else gets everything they want and has big turns feels really bad.
Wendy is so so so wrong.
Yes, thank you Tom for seeing the light with me! Gave this a Seal of Distinction also!!
I'll say I almost never agree with Wendy and typically get where Tom is coming from, but in this instance I'd say that Wendy is even being overly generous. I very much disliked this game and only gave it a 4 (BGG rating - "Not so good - but could play again.")
Having seen Tom (and Chris' score), I think this would be the most disappointing game ever if I based it on how our interests usually aligned.
If you are in the same boat definitely try before you buy on this one.