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Max Jamelli
United States
Chambersburg
Pennsylvania
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I thought it would be a good exercise to write down my thoughts about my top 20 games at the moment. I'm hoping to write about each game for the next few weeks. My top 20 isn't necessarily based on my ratings, just a series of how much I'd rather play a game (although thinking about it, my ratings probably should be like that too).
My #20 game is Egizia.
I first saw Egizia as a new game on Yucata. I tried to look through the online rules, but reading rules is not a strong suit of mine. I went as far as setting up a 2P game with my account and my wife's account - but didn't get through the first round before quitting.
My next chance to learn the game came a few weeks later at the World Boardgame Championships (WBC). I saw Egizia at Cafe Jay where games are demoed. The first time I tried to get a game started, there was no interest. I sat and tried to read the rules again, this time trying to use some of the components to help simulate a round - but again I found little luck. Eventually, I did find a group of people who were interested in learning with me. The guy running Cafe Jay also learned the game along with us (which I thought was kinda odd since he was supposed to teach other gamers throughout the week.)
My first game was a 4P game with all new players. We got through the game and my first opinion was - "Wow, the sphinx cards are awfully powerful". I initially thought building in each section would be a big boost due to the bonus scoring, but being able to build in every round and balance that out with getting good cards makes for some tough choices.
This is the first game at WBC. I'm the awesome bald dude.
I enjoyed it enough that I taught my father using a BPA library copy. We played through a 2P game and I found the game to be very different. I've read comparisons between Egizia and Stone Age and it's funny to me that after playing both games with 2, 3, and 4 players - I find that I like Stone Age more with 2 and less with 4 and I like Egizia more with 4 and less with 2. The main reason for that is the ability to block your opponents. In Stone Age, you only need 1 cavemeeple to block your opponent from doing something (other than going to the woods for food). In Egizia, there is nothing stopping either player from building in any of the main areas (Sphinx, Graves/Obelisk, or Pyramid/Columns) where bonus points can be scored. At least in a 3P game, someone is going to get shut out. Playing the 2P game of Egizia with my dad slightly turned me off, but I decided to buy a copy at the convention. I'm glad I did, even though the majority of my plays have been online since. I've continued to try to play 2P games just for the sake of trying, but 3 or 4 still seem to be the best options for me.
I have not yet been able to get Jen (Mrs. SigTauLefty) to try it. I think it's a game she will really enjoy once she gets to play it. It's certainly not an overly complex game in terms of what you can do - but the choices you have to make can be very complex.
There are many discussions over a few of the cards - the 1 point for every 10 point sphinx card is widely considered overly powerful. The card that I think it overly powerful is the draw 2 extra sphinx cards - especially if it comes out in the first round. The player drawing that card essentially earns a bonus 10 points. For every sphinx card you put back into the deck, you score a point. If you draw 2 extra cards and put them back every round, that's 10 VP. In a 4P game where scores can be tight, that's a ton of points.
Final Thoughts:
This game comes in at #20 for me, and looking over my top 20 list it may be on the bottom rung, but it would take a special game to overtake it. Not saying that game isn't out there (I have played some new games that, given some more table time, would be easy fits for a top 20) but for now Egizia is in.
The components in this game are great. The level of replayability is high. My assumption that Jen would enjoy this game stands as well. Having an online module at Yucata doesn't hurt the cause either.
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