The Purchase: I admit it: I bought this because it looked awesome. The shiny board, the loads of bits. I am a bit-whore (I have a Roads&Boats tattoo) and this game appealed to my baser instincts. Though from past experience, Days Of Wonder sometimes only provide me with 'day of wonder' or 'short afternoon of slight bemusement' (re: Cleopatra & The Society Of Pretty Bits But One Play Is More Than Enough Thank You Very Much) I wasn't expecting to like this game, but I had to at least try it (least of all, so I could blast the above Waits song over and over).

The Bits: Well, the bits sure didn't disappoint. Loads of pretty cardboard: assets (warriors, boats, scenery, lions, etc - a little saddened by the lack of Christians for the lions to munch on -- oh what a show that would have been!), arenas, loges, VIP sections, awards. Also, the Senators are lovely solid things that look cool and appropriately regal. A cloth bag comes with game, as well as one of the best designed box inserts I've ever seen. It even comes with a map of how to put things back into their right places.

The Play: The instructions are clearly written, and we were up and playing in no time at all. The goal of the game is to stage the single largest show at your venue. You have five years (turns) to build up the assets, programs and bonuses that will accomplish this. Along the way, you will probably put on a series of smaller shows to get you through.

There are a series of phases that each player will go through, starting with the start player:

phase 1 - Investments: it is here that you may either expand your arena (bigger programs require expanded arenas), buy a new program (a program is the show you wish to put on - it lists the needed assets as well as how much this show will net you based on how many of these assets that you have acquired), buy seasons tickets (+5 to all future shows) or buy a loge (allows you to roll 2 dice instead of one when moving the senators). Normally, you may only do one of the above (you might have awards/tokens that allow you to do an additional build). Each of these options cost money that hopefully you will managed to have acquired.


phase 2 - Auction Assets: In the center of the board, there are 5 sets of market stalls containing sets of 3 assets (the items needed to run a program). Players select sets to auction off, and each player is allowed only one successful bid.

phase 3 - Trade Assets: starting with the start player, players now have a chance to trade assets/money with each other to attempt to improve the quality of their upcoming shoe.

phase 4 - Put On Show: this phase starts with a die(dice with loge) roll to move senators. A senator in your arena bestows an income bonus for your show, and a senator that lands in marked 'home' squares grants you a metal. (These metals can perform 4 functions - increase show worth by 3, move a senator forward/backwards 1-3, gain 6 gold or (combined with another metal) grant a second investment in the investment phase -- these metals are very powerful and hording them until the end is a wise plan)

After the senator(s) have moved, select which program you will run and add up its income points (the excellent player aids have a handy list for tallying income). Take your show's income in money and move your marker up to the new level (if this show is higher than your last).

phase 5 - Awards: this last phase bestows a +3 token on the current highest show's arena. During this phase, each player must also discard an asset that was used in this years program. Then, as a bit of a play balance, the player in last place gets to steal one asset from the player in first place.

The Cool Stuff: This game has many neat elements. Moving the senator(s) became a mini game in itself, as players try to get metals and score the bonuses all while trying to get the high-point dudes passed their opponents.

The assets can award a Star Performer if a player has the most of certain types of assets. These Stars give a +5 bonus on any show that uses that type of performer. Shrewd players will trade with an eye on these prizes, either to gain them from themselves or to deprive them from whomever they feel is getting too many points.

Planning for the big show is a delicate task: if your opponents key in on it too early, they may try to butcher your chances. Your random starting assets sometimes dictate the paths you must take but a shrewd trader/bidder can open up the game for themselves.

And as mentioned above: the components are excellent. The player aids have all of the important information on them. The rule book is excellently written. This is the bar that other games should be striving for.

The Skinny: Despite low expectations (or maybe aided by them), I really like this game. I was surprised at how well it was received by our gaming group, and it has hit the table a number of times. It is easy enough to teach to newbies, but deep enough that we geezers get something out of it. Luck is definitely a factor, especially when the last player to bid fills the empty stalls with exactly what he needs, but the fun-factor outweighs that in most occassions.

But really, is it asking too much to throw some christians into the expansion???