Game: Guatemala Café

Thread: Re: Guatemala Cafe - Review

laticpot — 2008-11-08T17:18:33+00:00

Thanks for the Review / Overview, I have just bought this game as a bargin buy and now have more of an idea what is meant to be going on - Hope to get this to the table quite soon

Thread: Re: Blockade Question

rober — 2008-10-11T15:14:05+00:00

And if he wants to build a plantation after blocking, does this shed have to be in the same row als the builder, or can he take any one off the board?

And can he also bau workers and roads, or just sheds?

Thread: Re: The new smell of gaming ...

sarquin — 2008-04-23T15:59:02+00:00

It is a neat idea to package some beans in the box. I have yet to pick up a copy and I understand the U.S. version does not have the bag or beans. At least that was indicated here anyway.

I love the smell of fresh roasted coffee, which is why I do home roasting.

Thread: Re: Lameness

sarquin — 2008-04-23T14:49:29+00:00

I was thinking about picking up this game.

So has the missing parts been an isolated incident or just the way the U.S. version of the game has been produced?

Thanks,

Thread: Re: "Original Rule" Variant

TermiGator — 2008-01-09T18:29:07+00:00

As far as I understood in this Variant you DON'T put the matching colours on the board in the starting setup but INSTEAD draw them randomly from the bag.

The starting setup and THEN (after the first scoring) random draws would be also possible I think...

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Odoren — 2008-01-04T10:37:01+00:00

Guatemala Café

Thread: Re: "Original Rule" Variant

steveoliverc — 2007-12-21T12:42:36+00:00

Interesting! Thanks for posting this.

I'm not sure about the setup, are you placing coffee sacks on the matching colors on the production board? If so, why draw them randomly from the bag?

Thread: "Original Rule" Variant

TermiGator — 2007-12-21T08:45:02+00:00

The game has been reviewed on german games page www.hall9000.de

There is a rules variant mentioned which is introduced as the "original variant" which was discarded, because it would make the game to much luck-dependent:

(My translation, probably a bit rough. Please correct me if I'm wrong!):
Put all coffee sacks into the bag. Draw randomly coffee sacks and place them on the according places on the production board.
Whenever a player triggers a scoring put the sack on the scoring track as usual, then randomly draw a new coffee sack from the bag.
Blocking a scoring is no more possible
When the game ends all coffee colours wich were fewest scored get an aditional "simple" rating NOT regarding any ships.
Example: Brown, red and black got scored 4 times. White and beige got scored 2 times. All white and beige Plantations earn points.

If you have no bag in your Version of Guatemala Cafe you can easily put all the coffee sacks face down on the table.

I have not tried this variant yet, but I will some time.
If you tried it please give some feedback!

You can read the german original text on http://www.hall9000.de/frames/rezi.html?/rubriken/spiele/rez... at the end of the review next to "Regelvariante".

Thread: Re: Question regarding a 3-player game

TermiGator — 2007-12-21T08:22:49+00:00

I suppose there are more tiles pecause of print run issuses. I wouldn't ponder about this too much...

Thread: Re: Rule Clarifcation

TermiGator — 2007-12-21T08:21:34+00:00

jokerbird wrote:
1) If you place a worker on the board, and pay your centavos, and you place the shed's colored tile under the worker - ideally squatting on a spot for a future shed - what happens to this worker if for example, someone else takes the shed beside the worker and claims it for their color? The rules are not very clear on this - and indicates a worker cannot be placed on a shed square, but a tile underneath it for future? Anyone can help with this rule? Ie, if someone else takes the shed spot - what happens to the worker and tile? Does it stay on the board, does it get removed? - rules state a worker needs a shed to stay on the board. I dont understand this
This question also came up during our play. We ruled the "hard" way: Worker stays on field, tile as well. So unless you can connect the worker to another shed square (with more workers) your worker and your shed tile are lost for the game (but stay on field).
So it's a bigger risk placing a Worker without already having the shed
2) Ships - on two player games - There are spots for 6 ships on two docks, does this mean that only 3 ships in *total* can be present on any of the docks at one time, always leaving 3 empty spots? Or does it just mean one ship per spot?

Does the word Harbour mean - "Both docks including all 6 spots"? or does the Harbour mean "1 dock and 3 spots"? hence - effectively having 2 harbours.

The rules are confusing. I assume it is a maximum of 3 ships period. But who knows - othe rules are confusing too. If this is the case - why have 6 spots - as the most a ship would ever cost is 3 centavos. 2 spots at 2 centavos, and only one at 3. This would make it impossible for a 2 player game to ever pay 4 centavos for a ship. I dont get it
I'm pretty sure about this, because we got the explanation from Inka herself at Essen 07:
In the 2-playergame there is ONLY ONE harbour wich can contain up to 6 ships. Be aware though, because there are only 3 ships of each colour in the game, no more than 3 ships PER COLOUR are possible.

Hope I could help!
Termi

Thread: Re: Lameness

TermiGator — 2007-12-21T08:15:17+00:00

dcjackso wrote:
Also, instead of 4 "cards" I have 6 tiles, which I assume are in place of the cards.
I suppose the cards/tiles you are talking about are those used in the 3playergame to cover up some buildings sites.

In the german edition thoses are TILES. Never been any cards in this game. I'd suppose this is a bad translation in the rules.

The missing bag is a pity. If I remember right in the german version the coffee beans were in that bag. So maybe they removed both. Esspecially since you don't need the bag in the game (with original rules).

Thread: Re: Small thoughts after one play

Pascal67 — 2007-12-08T15:12:42+00:00

Watch out, cause some players buy quickly all the workers in one color and if they score then... So try to buy different colours and also workers ; build them on the cheapest places... others (when playing with 4) with systematically give you then a base points, before you can make your big move to win the game.

Pascal67

Thread: Re: Guatemala Cafe - Review

Pascal67 — 2007-12-08T14:55:57+00:00

I like more short, structured reviews. Those give me a quicker view on the game. And afterwards, if the summary gives me the mood for it, I'll look forward.

Thread: Rule Clarifcation

jokerbird — 2007-11-28T23:10:57+00:00

I have to admit the rulebook wording, the ambiguity and flow of the manual is absolutey terrible. After playing the game 3 times, I think we finally got it correct.

There are however a few rules that I need clarification on - all two player games.

1) If you place a worker on the board, and pay your centavos, and you place the shed's colored tile under the worker - ideally squatting on a spot for a future shed - what happens to this worker if for example, someone else takes the shed beside the worker and claims it for their color? The rules are not very clear on this - and indicates a worker cannot be placed on a shed square, but a tile underneath it for future? Anyone can help with this rule? Ie, if someone else takes the shed spot - what happens to the worker and tile? Does it stay on the board, does it get removed? - rules state a worker needs a shed to stay on the board. I dont understand this

2) Ships - on two player games - There are spots for 6 ships on two docks, does this mean that only 3 ships in *total* can be present on any of the docks at one time, always leaving 3 empty spots? Or does it just mean one ship per spot?

Does the word Harbour mean - "Both docks including all 6 spots"? or does the Harbour mean "1 dock and 3 spots"? hence - effectively having 2 harbours.

The rules are confusing. I assume it is a maximum of 3 ships period. But who knows - othe rules are confusing too. If this is the case - why have 6 spots - as the most a ship would ever cost is 3 centavos. 2 spots at 2 centavos, and only one at 3. This would make it impossible for a 2 player game to ever pay 4 centavos for a ship. I dont get it

thanks!

Thread: Lameness

dcjackso — 2007-11-22T00:22:39+00:00

After opening my new copy of the U.S. edition...I can understand not including coffee beans, but the rules refer to a bag that isn't present. Also, instead of 4 "cards" I have 6 tiles, which I assume are in place of the cards.

Judging from other posts here, I'm not the only whose box doesn't contain components referred to in the rules. Jay from RGG is aware of the problem, but his last post stated that the game designer/publisher/grand poobah wasn't returning his messages.

If I had payed $20 this game, I probably wouldn't care--obviously a sack from another game can stand in, or some other method of randomizing the draws can be used. That's not the point; I have markers and pawns from other games as well. Does that mean it's okay to ship a game without markers and pawns? Especially a game that costs as much as this one does?

Lame.

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DavidNorman99 — 2007-11-21T01:53:13+00:00

Back of Box

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henk.rolleman — 2007-10-20T16:45:04+00:00

Played in Essen Spiel '07

Thread: Re: Clarification on scoring procedure

BDKWombat — 2007-09-10T18:31:34+00:00

I played this game for the second time Friday night and we ran into a HUGE kingmaker problem. Player 3 could not win, and her move decided who did no matter what. We all liked playing the game, but it really petered out at the end...

Thread: Re: Cards in game

jearles — 2007-09-08T18:04:19+00:00

Hi John,

Yes, that is what those tiles are for. I too was initially confused when I did my inventory but eventually figured out that the greenish tiles are indeed used to cover the unused left path spaces in the 3-player game. I also have 6 greenish tiles... I treat the extras as spares.

You are also not the only one confused about the "extras": http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/165689

- John

Thread: Cards in game

everlong205 — 2007-09-08T17:51:34+00:00

The game mentions that there are 4 small cards in the game that cover some spots on the board for the three player game.
Are these cards or tiles? My game didn't come with any cards. It did come with 6 (not 4) greenish tiles that look like the the terrain on the board. They're not listed in the components listing. Are these the cards the rules are referring to and if not, what are these tiles used for?

Thanks again.

Thread: Re: Just got the Rio Grande Version

everlong205 — 2007-08-26T07:51:31+00:00

Hey,
Just picked up a copy of the game and I too didn't have the coffee. The rules also state that there are 4 small cards in the box to cover the game board in some way. Was this fixed in the rio grande edition but included in the rules or is the box in question missing cards? Does anyone have a copy of the game that did include the cards?

Thanks again.

Thread: Re: Guatemala Cafe - Review

masaakunokouchi — 2007-08-17T07:42:16+00:00

btw it's 8 bucks I do believe, not 6.

Thread: Re: Clarification on scoring procedure

badfish20 — 2007-08-10T16:03:32+00:00

Right, basically if there is a coffee sack on the row you move the buyer to, you can score that coffee even if it gets you no victory points. Basically if you need money, you would do this. The coffee sack still has to be scored and replaced on the board.

Thread: Re: Guatemala Cafe - Review

gschloesser — 2007-08-09T12:12:27+00:00

Wes Hope wrote:
Good review, thankyou! I appreciate your excellent breakdown of the gameplay etc, tho' I think what most convinced me to try & track it down was the coffee beans!
Cheers.

Thanks for the kind words! While they smell great, I haven't been brave enough to actually brew the beans, especially considering they come with a warning that they are NOT for consumption!

Thread: Re: Guatemala Cafe - Review

Wes Hope — 2007-08-09T09:36:03+00:00

Good review, thankyou! I appreciate your excellent breakdown of the gameplay etc, tho' I think what most convinced me to try & track it down was the coffee beans!
Cheers.

Thread: Re: Clarification on scoring procedure

olavf — 2007-08-09T07:48:31+00:00

It tries to tell you that you can take a sack (from a row or colom you are in) in a color where you even don't have a plantation in. So you don't score, probably others will do, but you get the money.

Thread: Clarification on scoring procedure

i7dealer — 2007-08-09T06:42:05+00:00

I am trying to determine what the meaning of this paragraph is in the scoring section:

"You may also take a coffee sack of a color in which you own no plantations. (This may occur if, for instance, you badly need money..."

Is this trying to tell me I can take any sack that's available on the board (even if I'm not in the row or column for it) if I don't have any plantations in that color? Or is it trying to say that I don't need to earn points to be the scorer of that coffee sack?

And has anyone had any problems with the game being decided by a king making kind of move? Our last game of this had so many people set up to score big points that in the last round any one of three of the four players could have won it.

Thread: Guatemala Cafe - Review

gschloesser — 2007-08-08T20:56:03+00:00

Designed by: Inka and Markus Brand
Published by: Eggertspiele
2 – 4 Players, 45 minutes – 1 hour
Review by: Greg J. Schloesser

Even though I am not a coffee-drinker, I certainly appreciate the wonderful aroma of freshly-brewed coffee as it wafts through the air in our home each morning. I also enjoy walking down the coffee aisle at our local grocery store, delighting my olfactory glands with the rich odors of the various beans. I was quite surprised when I opened the box of Gautemala Café, one of the latest board games from Eggertspiele, and was confronted with the same pleasant aroma. I’ve always enjoyed the “new board game” smell, but it never did smell anything like coffee!

The reason for this smell is that the game – at least the German version – contains a bag of actual coffee beans. While they have absolutely no use in the game itself, they are in keeping with the theme of harvesting and shipping coffee beans. Set in the Central American country of Gautemala, the game challenges players to establish plantations, recruit workers, build road networks, and transport their coffee beans to the docks for sale. While this sounds quite involved, it is actually a fairly simple game, and everything is conducted in a very abstract manner.

Two large, double-sided boards are placed side-by-side. The sides used are determined by the number of players, as well as whether a random or a pre-determined set-up is desired. The “production” board depicts a swath of Central America, and an assortment of 81 workers, plantations, ships and sacks of coffee (scoring tokens) in five colors are placed on it. A path rings the board, upon which the “buyer” will move. The “plantation” board, which depicts a section of the Guatemalan countryside, will serve as the landscape upon which plantations will be erected, roads constructed, and workers and ships employed. It also has a scoring track ringing the edge. Players each receive a paltry sum of 15 centavos, 6 – 8 randomly distributed coffee sacks, and ownership tiles of their color, each depicting a symbol matching one of the five component colors.

On his turn, a player will first move the buyer clockwise 1 – 3 spaces, then purchase from 1 – 3 items from the row or column adjacent to where the buyer comes to rest. A player may opt to move the buyer one more space, but at a cost of two centavos. The idea is to maneuver the buyer to a row or column that contains items you wish to acquire.

When a player takes items from the production board, he MUST place them onto the plantation board and pay the associated cost. The cost depends upon what section of the plantation board they are placed. The plantation board is divided into three sections, and the cost is higher the closer the pieces are placed to the docks. Plantations will cost from 2 – 6 centavos, while workers will be half that cost. Boats can be placed into one of the four docks, at a cost of 2 – 4 centavos. Boats will increase the value of one’s harvest IF the corresponding plantation is connected to the dock by roadways.

There are designated plots on the plantation board that can only be occupied by plantations. A player marks ownership of a plantation by using the corresponding “ownership” tile. Each player may only establish one plantation of each color, but often a player will ignore one or more colors, concentrating his efforts on the other colors. Workers are placed adjacent to plantations of the same color and/or workers of the same color. The more workers a player have connected to his plantation, the greater the yield. This yield can be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled if he is able to connect the plantation to a dock via roads, and the dock contains 1 – 3 ships of the matching color. This is a major goal of the game, but opponents will conspire to prevent you from obtaining numerous workers and ships of one color.

Whenever items are removed from the production board, they are replaced by neutral road tokens. Roads must be placed on the designated paths on the plantation board, but there is no cost for their placement. The supply of roads is limited, and there are not enough to connect all plantations to the docks. There is a bit of a race in obtaining roads and making connections to the docks.

Instead of taking and placing items, a player may instead opt to take a coffee sack, which triggers a scoring and earn the player 6 centavos. The colors of the sacks match the colors of the plantations, and the scoring will only affect the plantation of the matching color. Each player will score points for the number of workers attached to their plantation of the matching color, and this amount can be increased via dock connections as described above. If a score is increased due to the presence of a ship, one ship of that color is removed from that dock. This does prevent a player from enjoying the same lucrative scoring bonanza repeatedly throughout the game. Each opponent has the opportunity to block the scoring by playing a coffee sack of the same color. This doesn’t prevent the active player from earning his income, but it does block all points from being scored.

Once a coffee sack is taken and scoring conducted, the sack is placed on the first empty space at the end of the scoring track. This is a “timer” mechanism, as the game ends when a player’s score marker meets the row of coffee sacks on the track. The player then replaces the coffee sack taken from the production board with one of his choice from his supply. In this manner, a player can increase his opportunities to score colors of his choice by placing new sacks of the desired color to the board. Of course, this assumes the player actually possesses the sacks of the color he desires. When a player is out of coffee sacks, he draws one randomly from the general supply to replace it on the board. There are only five sacks in the generally supply, and they can deplete rapidly.

The game can also end suddenly, as coffee sacks accumulate quickly on the score track. One large score for a player can quickly jump his token perilously close to the expanding coffee sacks, threatening the end of the game. When the game ends, the player whose token has met or surpassed the row of coffee sacks on the track is victorious.

The game has quite a few elements to consider and balance. Choosing which plantations to concentrate on is important, and a wise player will attempt to accumulate as many workers of those colors as possible. It is wise consul to not allow an opponent to gather too many workers of one color, as the potential scoring benefits are enormous, especially if that player is able to connect those plantations to docks containing ships of the same color. As such, there is a bit of a race to acquire certain workers and docks, and this can be quite competitive if multiple players are concentrating on the same colors.

The plantation board also presents some interesting placement dilemmas. Space is limited, and it is often possible to block the growth of opponents’ plantations by careful placement of your own workers and plantations. I’ve seen some plantations be constructed, but rendered useless by having the surrounding fields quickly occupied by opponents’ workers. The limited supply of roadway tokens also can cause a potentially profitable plantation to be significantly reduced due to lack of a dock connection. In spite of its pleasant theme and abstract representation, there is ample room for aggressive actions.

The theme is certainly one that could have been used to develop a deep production, shipping and market game, filled with intricacies and nuances. However, the design team Inka and Markus Brand has opted for a much more abstract representation. The game is easy to learn and play, yet does present players with some interesting choices and strategies. A large part of a player’s strategy may well be determined by the color of the coffee sacks he draws during the game’s preparation, so players will be forced to adapt to this situation. The game plays well and is an entertaining affair.

That being said, the game really isn’t terribly deep, nor does it seem to vary much from game-to-game. There isn’t a lot to explore in these Central American lands. Guatemala Café isn’t likely a game you will pull out week-after-week, wanting to explore further facets that you have not yet discovered. Rather, it is a pleasant game that you will likely play a few times a year with different groups. Viewed in that light, it is perfectly acceptable and a fine first effort from the designers.

Thread: Re: Good with 2 players?

-=Dani=- — 2007-08-08T15:43:24+00:00

Thanks for comments. The game is now on my "to buy" list.

Thread: Re: Blockade

adrianpeh — 2007-08-07T03:52:19+00:00

Thanks!

We'll try it out this way first and see how it works

Thread: Re: Blockade

jearles — 2007-08-06T16:29:19+00:00

adrianpeh wrote:
In the rule book, it says that the blocking player "replaces the coffee sack on that space with a sack of the same color" What does the "that" refer to? the plantation board space as u stated or the scoring space?

I agree the rule is rather ambiguous. My interpretation came from the fact that the "Blockade" section is broken into three points:

1) Is the point you mention, where the blocking player must replace the coffee sack on "that" space...

2) Is the rule I quoted... The coffee sack from a scoring that has been blocked is still put on the final unoccupied space of the victory track.

3) Clarification that you can't block your own scoring

I took the ordering as being an indication that "that space" was where the coffee sack was (i.e. on the plantation board). I took the second point as stating what should be done with this (the replaced) sack. Also as the scoring was blocked it didn't make 100% sense to ask the blocked player to still replace the sack on the plantation board.

I will admit this could be the wrong interpretation and that the "replacement" happens on the victory point track, and the blocked player still has to replace the sack on the plantation board.

Clarification / other opinions would be appreciated. Either way, I don't think that two spaces are consumed on the victory point track when a blockade occurs.

Thread: Re: Blockade

adrianpeh — 2007-08-06T15:41:01+00:00

jearles wrote:
adrianpeh wrote:
when a blocking player replaces the same colored sack of the active player, what happens to the active player's sack? Is it

A) placed back on the playing board

or

B) discarded or placed in the bag

or

C) placed on the scoring track at a score track 1 point lower than the one placed by the blocking player

Thanks

The coffee sack from a scoring that has been blocked is still put on the final unoccupied space of the victory track.

PS. I believe the blocking player has to replace the coffee sack on the plantation board. Therefore only one space is filled at the end of the victory track.

In the rule book, it says that the blocking player "replaces the coffee sack on that space with a sack of the same color" What does the "that" refer to? the plantation board space as u stated or the scoring space?

Thread: Re: Blockade

jearles — 2007-08-06T14:53:45+00:00

adrianpeh wrote:
when a blocking player replaces the same colored sack of the active player, what happens to the active player's sack? Is it

A) placed back on the playing board

or

B) discarded or placed in the bag

or

C) placed on the scoring track at a score track 1 point lower than the one placed by the blocking player

Thanks

The coffee sack from a scoring that has been blocked is still put on the final unoccupied space of the victory track.

PS. I believe the blocking player has to replace the coffee sack on the plantation board. Therefore only one space is filled at the end of the victory track.

Thread: Blockade

adrianpeh — 2007-08-06T14:00:35+00:00

when a blocking player replaces the same colored sack of the active player, what happens to the active player's sack? Is it

A) placed back on the playing board

or

B) discarded or placed in the bag

or

C) placed on the scoring track at a score track 1 point lower than the one placed by the blocking player

Thanks

Thread: Placing coffee on scoring track

badfish20 — 2007-08-05T12:56:07+00:00

My one complaint with this game, is that it ends too quickly IMO. My wife and I have decided that when you score coffee, but noone recieves VP's (just getting money), then that coffee sack is placed in the bag, not on the scoring track. It extends the game a little and we both like the little extra time.

Thread: Re: Scoring procedure

Pallet Ranger — 2007-07-30T14:55:36+00:00

Sounds ok to me - except for point 4. I don't have the rules with me to check right now, but I'm pretty sure the boat is only removed if it's used - and not having any workers there means you don't produce coffee, and therefore cannot use the boat. However, as soon as a single worker is used to produce coffee, the boat is removed (after doubling the score) as per normal.

Two further points...

1) An opponent may block the scoring by replacing the coffee sack taken from the production board with an identically coloured one from their hand.

2) Whoever triggers the scoring immediately collects $8. This money is collected regardless of whether scoring is blocked as above.

Thread: Re: Scoring procedure

Pallet Ranger — 2007-07-30T14:45:33+00:00

Thread: Re: 2 player question

steveoliverc — 2007-07-28T16:59:33+00:00

In the 2-player game, you can place the roads anywhere. Are you using the 2-player side of the board?

We play it that a road has to touch one of the sides of a plantation for it to be connected (not just to a corner of the plantation).

I think the game plays well with 2 players.

Thread: Re: 2 player question

justnord — 2007-07-28T14:25:15+00:00

Sorry to jump on this question by asking one of my own, but I'd be interested in how GC plays with 2 players. How does this game scale?

Thread: 2 player question

qzhdad — 2007-07-28T14:00:14+00:00

Are all plantations are considered connected by path at the beginning?

Does any road on an edge of plantation count as being connected to the entrance or are the entrances still fixed on the sides shown?

Thanks for any answers (more thanks for correct ones )

Thread: Scoring procedure

qzhdad — 2007-07-28T13:55:42+00:00

When scoring, this is what we've come up with, any confirmation would be appreciated.

1. Move buyer to a row or column with a coffee sack.
2. Move that coffee sack to scoring track.
3. Score everyone that has that color shack with workers.
4. Remove one boat of that color from each dock that is connected by road to a appropriately colored shack (even if no workers at the shack).
5. Replace sack with one of any color from hand on that spot. If hand is empty, draw randomly from the "bag."

Thread: Re: Good with 2 players?

MacGee — 2007-07-26T20:06:06+00:00

Broke this game out after Origins and played head to head. After deciphering the rules (which are by any account terribly written) we played a few games and found it to be really entertaining. Much, much faster than we initially expected, but quite fun. The set up time was really the only drawback. Easily makes it into our "good as a 2 player pile", and makes a very good evening ender for up to 4.

Thread: Re: Good with 2 players?

olavf — 2007-07-25T09:13:41+00:00

I can't compare because I only played with 2. With two we really like the game and we don't feel we miss anything. Good game!

Thread: Good with 2 players?

-=Dani=- — 2007-07-24T00:33:36+00:00

Can anybody tell how this game plays with two? The game looks pretty interesting, but since I can only play with one other person (very rarely with two) my decision of buying any game lies if it can be played well as a two player game. I appreciate any comments.

Thread: Re: To play with or without the blockade

badfish20 — 2007-07-22T15:03:02+00:00

I have to disagree (kinda). Without the blockade, the game can end very quickly, just as you are starting to expand it seems.
We allow 2 or 3 bloackades per person, and you must have the same color coffee sack in your hand to replace it with.
Works well with 2 and 3 players IMO.

Thread: Re: Just got the Rio Grande Version

Hawk — 2007-07-20T04:25:54+00:00

Just wanted to chime in here; I too have not had a bag in my copy (RGG version)

Too bad you removed the coffee beans, as they would have made the game smell great!

I'll be picking some up locally and toss them in there (in a small bag), for the smell, and as a conversation piece!

Image

gollum — 2007-07-18T21:17:53+00:00

sunset coffee III: close up of tiles to cover building sites in 3 player games

Image

gollum — 2007-07-18T20:44:58+00:00

close up of ownership tiles

Image

gollum — 2007-07-18T20:41:29+00:00

detail of the plantation board: close up of ships in the harbor

Thread: Re: rules online + release date announced

badfish20 — 2007-07-18T08:49:23+00:00

My pre order was just shipped yesterday.

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gollum — 2007-07-17T06:13:16+00:00

sunset coffee I: close up of coffee sacks

Image

gollum — 2007-07-17T06:11:21+00:00

sunset coffee II: close up of the buyer

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gollum — 2007-07-17T06:09:14+00:00

detail of the production board: sunset at the coast of El Salvador with workers, storage shed and roads

Thread: Small thoughts after one play

ontangent — 2007-07-15T23:36:45+00:00

I have only played one 4player game but I got certain mileage of these:

Count 3xNumber of players on the track to see where the move marker might be when it comes back to you. You can then see if you want to play short or long in the hope of getting whats in those rows. People tended to move close to their max moves as they could not see much difference in them early on. And later on you needed to think if it was going to end in a row that was good for someone else.

Another thought in the mid late game, is on roads. It is worth taking roads rather than some people as the can be used to
a) help you get to a boat (and make sure you can)
b) use up roads that other people wanted in areas of no help (as there are not enough roads)

people are better than boats
getting people around your house is most important as that scores you points. the boats and roads are distractions that "can score you more" it you have people early you will score when other people score.

get your houses out
having at least 2 or 3 houses out is usually the most important thing as then you will be scoring most times and won't get stuck at the end for running out of options.

get a colour buddy
if someone else is going to get a reasonable score in a colour it is worth you scoring with them and also they are more likely to have roads and boats helping that score.

if you can score do
saving a score because someone else will I think is often not worth doing as there are not many scoring events.

you are going to run out of money so you have to score
look for scores you can make, esp early as you will need the money form starting the scoring.

look for buildings you have a few sacks in.
you will do best when you can start the scoring of your colours but if you have all the colours you will not get the sacks on the map to start the scoring.

Set up your own scoring OR money is not the only reason to score
think that early you are getting 8 gold AND setting up the option for your scores later, not just loosing the chance to build.

So start building a few houses with one person and then load the board up early with your score sacks so that later on you will have the money from the first scores but then the scores for the later scores in your colours.

Thread: Re: Just got the Rio Grande Version

jglasson — 2007-07-13T06:12:42+00:00

Thanks Jay! As always, you provide top notch service!

Jeff

Thread: Re: To play with or without the blockade

steveoliverc — 2007-07-12T23:54:38+00:00

I agree with Jay, at least in the 2-player game (which is all I've tried so far). If you keep an eye out on what the other person is doing, the game is very tense and close.

The way we ended up trying this was that we forgot about the rule until almost the very end when my daughter said, Hey didn't you say something about blocking?? So we kept playing without it and it worked great. I lost, of course.

Thread: Re: Just got the Rio Grande Version

riogames — 2007-07-12T22:35:21+00:00

I was expecting the cloth bag, but not the beans and have asked Peter
about this, but have had no response yet. I certainly hope he did not leave
them out (and leave them in the rules). As soon as I know more, I will post
it here.

Jay

Thread: Re: To play with or without the blockade

riogames — 2007-07-12T22:26:55+00:00

Without, definitely. Just remind them that allowing a player
to get lots of one color will make for a short and lop-sided
game. Without the blockade the game works very well.

Jay

Thread: To play with or without the blockade

chicagometh — 2007-07-12T21:55:49+00:00

I haven't played this game yet, but I was wondering if, when teaching it to gamers, I should teach with or without the blockade rules. What does everyone think of the rule? and does your preference depend on the number of players or on the skill level of the players?

Image

GeoMan — 2007-06-03T21:48:21+00:00

3 player game