This game certainly LOOKS cool, and I'm a fan of some of TH's games, but there just isn't much buzz for this around here. I'm really curious - would like to here from those that have played.
I finally got to play this a couple of times, and it's pretty bad. It certainly looks nice, but turns out the rules translation is very poor and there are two rules we got wrong. One is that you can move guards to any palace, not just an adjacent one (this is flat out wrong in the rules which explicitly state "next" but clarified in a thread here on the Geek). And the other is that you can place a thief when one of your own guards is at the palace, and EITHER a neutral or opponent's guard is also there (the rules seem to say there must always be a neutral guard -- again, a very poor translation).
So I'll give this game another try with the rules clarifications but I'm not too hopeful. It's too long for what it is, or else there isn't enough going on for the amount of time it takes (45 minutes to an hour).
I only got this game based on the SdJ recommendation and I certainly regret it. Any number of other games should have been nominated in its place.
Just a guess, but I'd agree that Zooloretto is the front-runner. It seems to nail the SdJ demographic: it has simple rules, plays in under an hour, and has a well-implemented and family-friendly theme. It most seems like the sort of game that would bring a non-gamer into gaming.
While the other selections seem like very good picks, Arkadia and Yspahan each seem to have one rule too many to be perfect SdJ winners. Jenseits is a tiny bit long. And Thief seems a bit abstract. So while all are plausible winners, I think Zooloretto gets the best odds.
While I think Yspahan has an good chance, the lower price point of Zooloretto and broad family appeal of the theme certainly make this a contender. From what I have read, it is a very good game as well. I hope to be able to try it soon.
After I decided that I should upgrade my playing experience to more than just Talisman, I had a look through games which I thought looked fun to play.
I picked up a copy of Citadels in a trade as it looked quite interesting and then looked at getting a copy of Zooloretto. It reminded me of Theme Park for the PC which I loved and fits the bill of being a game with simple mechanics. I can't wait to get hold of it to be honest.
for this one. A lot of people like Yspahan, but I don't know...even though Yspahan is a good game, it may be too abstract to win SdJ. This one is very thematic and has a god amount of luck in it (from what I read). I have it on pre-order and I am looking forward to play it soon.
This qualifies for 2007? Hasn't it been out for a while? This could present an unexpected problem for Yspahan. Run, little camels, run!
Yes, it is out since 2004. Reprinted games however can also qualify for the nomination. No matter how old they are. So if Acquire is reprinted and it didn't receive a previous nomination for this award. It can get one. And actually if it doesn't get selected for the 2007 award. It can get selected for the 2008 award.
Plus, only now will it become widely available in a large print run. That has to count for something too with the SdJ, I assume.
I'm concerned about the luck element in this game. When I read the rules a couple years ago it sounded like there was a high luck factor. Anyone know if the new version is less luck-heavy?
I have only played this new version, but I have been told that the luck factor has been slightly toned down and certain aspects of the game have been simplified (Exhibitions).
The game is fairly simple, but extremely thematic with very nice components. Maybe a little long, but you really do not notice while you are playing. Although the random luck-driven drawing of the tiles can be a little frustrating at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this game. I even had fun losing!!
While Yspahan is an excellent game, my personal favourite for the SdJ this year HAS to be this one!!!
My wife says she likes it cos it has a fixed predefined length and camels. There you go.
aladdinsdad, I gave you a thumbs up - but that was for your wife. For three reasons: a) playing board games (you and I have something in common!); b) being clear about what she likes; c) liking Yspahan; I've played it and it is certainly a winner in the Spiel des Myself category.
Spiel des Myself is a list of my all-time favourites; currently including Blue Moon City, Alhambra, Citadels, and San Juan.
I don't think so. It LOOKS like a childrens game but the action point system pushes it out of that category I think. IF it was a dungeon with cool, adult graphics and you were scrambling around to beat others to certain artifacts or magical items I think you'd feel differently.
"Burg Appenzell, with its cute mice looking for cute pieces of cheese and its 3D cardboard castle clearly looks like a children game. It also relies in part on visual memory, something at which children are often better than adults. The problem is that it also uses an action points system which, even with only four actions per turn, doesn’t feel natural for younger gamers."
Am I a man or am I a muppet? If I'm a muppet then I'm a very manly muppet!
OK, first... children are part of families, too. Right?!
Now to the meat of the discussion... Burg Appenzell (The Castle of Appenzell) is an SdJ recommendation that works GREAT for adults. It's like some oddball cross between Torres (AP + multiple figures moving about doing things) and A-Mazing Labyrinth (what with the moving lower level of the board).
My six year old son is having a blast with this - but the fact that a six year old enjoys a game does not automatically relegate to "kiddie" status. Sheesh.
Personally, I think this would have been a great nominee.
Am I a man or am I a muppet? If I'm a muppet then I'm a very manly muppet!
Jonathan Degann wrote:
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Domestic release by RGG.
Great news!
It has language neutral components AND English rules in the box. They have not, sadly, translated the brochure for Appenzell cheese.
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This looks like it could be a real hoot -
It is.
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...if it is not too brain-burny
It isn't. There's some memory involved, but not so much as to hose over your average adult. I haven't got to play w/four players yet, but I think there's going to be some real sneakiness in blocking people. I'm guessing that the sweet spot for the game will be 3 players.
For the second time in five years, the G-Men are Super Bowl champs! Woo hoo!!!!!
Excellent choice. A nice little game with some beautiful reproductions that deserves to be better known than it is (which is exactly the role that the Recommendations should serve).
Has any of you guys played this game with 6 players? I only played it with this high number of players and it definitely sucked.. A typical game where the design was more important than the game in my opinion... I am "glad" that this isn't on the list of the nominated games Ciao, Simon
I've played it with 5 players and we had a great time. In fact the game plays well with only 2 or 3 players too. I would much rather have seen this get nominated over Arkadia (also a "hybrid" game where you are building and doing something else, in the case of Arkadia, it's stock investment and in Die Saulen it's building and choosing action cards).
Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him. 2 Sam 14:14
My favorite so far, although it's "harder" than the others. The game plays very quickly for a pretty deep strategy game.
Wikinger is actually my 2nd best game of 2007 so far. It's definitely heavier than Jenseits von Theben but a very good game in it's class. Easy to learn but hard to master. If you enjoy the heavier games on the list I can really only advise you to check this game out. Again: for me it's one of the best of 2007! Ciao, Simon
I'm somewhat surprised that this didn't get an actual nomination; maybe it was considered too heavy? Perhaps they knew it would get another award (literature) and thus felt safe in keeping it off the main list?
I have only played two of the nominated games (Yspahan and Arkadia), but I think this one is way better then both of them. Yspahan I don't like, even though I kept playing it, hoping to like it, and Arkadia was just so-so in my book. I have not tried the other three, so right now, I just hope Yspahan does not win.
Time to face the facts, fanboys. Caylus Lite is too random too be taken seriously and too dry to be any fun, while being to unoriginal to warrant any special recognition.
This one got ++++ from the Jury as entry threshold and Yspahan +++, but in my point of view there is a huge difference between them (in comparision of ++ for games like Zooloretto or Jenseits von Theben)
this will clear things up a bit. The entry threshold is similar to BGG's "Game Weight". They use it as a gauge to rank how easy it is to learn and play the game. If you want to compare it to the game weight system over here, it would be something like
+ is a "1" ++ would be a "2" +++ a "3" ++++ a "4"
Of course everything is subjective, and Yspahan should really be a ++
I have not played a lot of the current games, but from what I have, this would be my top pick. Ysaphan would be my #2. Need to try Notre Dame and Arkadia.
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I'm glad Imperial is getting some SDJ recognition even though it is far too heavy for the award. This game is truly amazing! I think it might be my favorite heavy game of the past 5 years. I'll find out for certain as soon as I get the time to play it more! :-)
Really good picks this year, I definitely like the nomination list although "Der Dieb von Bagdad" was a bit disappointing (but I only played it once).
The recommendations are top notch. Except from Danger 13, Enkounter and Kunstmarkt I've heard (and mostly played) about all the games recommended and I really have to say that these are great picks!
At the moment I would love to see Jenseits von Theben win but either way - a well deserved winner this year (except if it's going to be "Der Dieb von Bagdad" )
Really? I found Portobello Market to be dull and boring with no real decision making. When we finished playing it, the general consensus was "That's it?" And I'm known for liking quick and light games and it was way too light.
Really? I found Portobello Market to be dull and boring with no real decision making. When we finished playing it, the general consensus was "That's it?" And I'm known for liking quick and light games and it was way too light.
for this one. A lot of people like Yspahan, but I don't know...even though Yspahan is a good game, it may be too abstract to win SdJ. This one is very thematic and has a god amount of luck in it (from what I read). I have it on pre-order and I am looking forward to play it soon.
(smiley is towards Jury, not you Simon)
