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Power Grid: The First Sparks

Posted by Burke Glover

18 Jan 2012

Burke Glover

(HBGlover)

United States
Unspecified
Delaware

Power Grid: The First Sparks

It seems like this Power Grid variant was intended to streamline the experience. That's a noble idea, but for me it didn't really work. I just never quite "got" Power Grid, and this doesn't change things up enough for me to feel much different about it. The arithmetic is simpler and quicker which is a plus. The auction house shuffle is still present and still a nuisance. Goofy special rules abound as well, such as "virtual food" provided in specific cases which only exists to provide a chance at a bonus. One of the highlights of the original design, the auction, is much diminished-- it's now a low fixed-price auction, determined in player order. First player picks an item, last player decides to buy it or not, repeat until everyone's got something.

In the end, I'm not sure who would actually like this design... Some of the nuance has been streamlined out, while a lot of fiddlyness was left in or added. Power Grid fans will find little here to recommend it over that game, and new players will still have to deal with most of the same issues and eccentricities of the original.

(1 play)

Power Grid: The First Sparks

2 Comments

Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:51 am

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Fraser

(Karlsen)

Australia
Melbourne

Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.

Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?

Personally I wouldn't call it a variant of Power Grid. I agree that it is based on building blocks provided by Power Grid and this is very useful when teaching players new to Power Grid: The First Sparks who are experienced with Power Grid, but for me there are enough changes to make it a separate game with a definite common ancestry as opposed to a variant.

I am fairly sure most of the people I have played it with like it. My wife actually prefers it Power Grid. I consider it to be a good game in its own right with some similarities to Power Grid but much much quicker. After about five games I still haven't got the hang of if somebody has reached eight or more cities that it is quite possible, or even highly likely, that the game will end the next turn. The pace accelerates during the game, where as this may happen in Power Grid, but usually the pace can ebb and flow either due to player action or inaction or due to power plants etc.

In Power Grid there can be a dance around the auctions, the resources and city placement. In Power Grid: The First Sparks so far it seems to be more about building a food engine that pays out big at the right time and to not nobble yourself with your technology and tool purchases or by over expanding.

Posted Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:57 am
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Burster of Bubbles, Destroyer of Dreams.

(Morganza)

United States
Sunnyvale
California

Just imagine the red offboard up here. I'll create it Real Soon Now...

Yes, I know a proper 18XX tile should have a tile number.

So what you're saying is "I didn't like Power Grid, and I don't like this either." Which is a useful opinion, certainly :-)

I still have hopes that the people I game with who like everything about Power Grid except the auctions will like this :-)

Posted Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:10 pm
- Choose your Dice
  - d4
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Power Grid: The First Sparks

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