Between this and Essen's Pecunia Non Olet, there's a distinctly scatological bent to gaming the last few months...

But you're right, this might be a hoot to pull out once in a while. I never thought I could see myself betting on the colour of donkey poop, but it just goes to show that the imagination of German game designers is limitless, accusations of pasted-on theme notwithstanding.

pk

Not to mention the money pooping donkey in the St. Petersburg expansion.

This is an auction game, not a trading game. I'm definitely interested though.

The word trade was a relative term meaning "trade in for". Which is what you do. You trade in pearls for heads.

Do you bid on pearl lots that are up for auction then?

Pfft! Trading pearls for shrunken heads. How lame, why I--

waitaminit

FAKE pearls. Trading FAKE pearls for shrunken heads... Now THAT'S something. I'm gonna get this one no matter what.

I mean--defrauding and taking advantage of a primitive culture's lack of guile to obtain their murder trophies, WOW.

It seems to have actions based on cards, with the most powerful cards giving you one (or more?) "crocodile tokens" (representing you devoting to Sobek, the Crocodile God, granting supernatural powers). For example: a card gives you a LapisLazuli (presumibly a resource of some sort to be spent during the game), while another card gives you two but also a "crocodile token".
The player with more "crocodile tokens" when game ends is eliminated.

Suggested age is 8+ and DoW aims mainly to families, so probably this will be a light game... but I hope it is interesting enough for "gamers" as well.

Granted to have excellent (three-dimensional!) bits.

I am really looking forward to this game. Like the above comment, it seems like it will be a lite family game but the 3D bits are just calling my name!

Days of Wonder make beautiful games. I'll be getting this when it comes out in the US.

I'm not interested in the 2-player card game but I'm interested in this!

This sounds much more like something I'd be interested in.

Sadly, a game about renovating overpriced California real estate is a bit too much like real life for me.

I heard that was OK. But I love Industria and really like Coloretto, Paris Paris, Don, Hansa, Dschunke and Web of Power.

Just to clarify, I heard Architekton was OK. California looks right up my alley with the player boards and theme.

So is this one by Michael Schacht, himself?

Yes. This is a Michael Schacht game.

I'm looking at it as well.

I've greater expectations for this one than about "Um Ru(h)m und Ehre".

Celtica should be their "light" game and Bison the one for "gamers"... let's hope!
("they" = Kramer & Kiesling)

I don't think you can go wrong with a K&K game. Kramer's name alone puts it on my list.

While Kramer is my favourite designer, and his name alone put a game on my watch list, the game itself CAN leave the list (recently happened with "Celtica" and some months ago with "That's life!", both K&K games).
But this one seems quite promising...