My daughter was in Germany for three weeks and brought a copy home for me. I agree with both of your observations. Shanghaien is the best of the recently released dice games, and, like you, I stink at it.

This was my 2nd game of it. My first game I played several rules wrong, but we still had fun.
I like the tins, I've heard that they may make an english version of this, but without the tins...

After my first game, I added card sleeves for keeping the 3 cards out per round, that seemed to help keep things organized.

And I thought I was doing so well too I lose a lot! Problem was what I kept back was what everyone else kept back too so no points for me!

Yeah, I'd like to try a combo game too sometime.

count me in on this one - at least I didn't lose by HUGE amounts on this one.

Really enjoyed this. I can see why it's a go-to game in our group. Even though it's taken me this long to play.

Beatiful game. Even though I lost badly I look forward to playing again.

I'd like to give this a try someday, the components look fantastic!

This has popped up on Tanga for cheap so many times. I never knew it was any good. Looks like it was pretty fun.

There's lots of possabilities every turn, I think it takes experiance to see many of them

Keeping a travel buck always on hand looks to be a good idea.

Also, the taking arrows thing is a bit confusing at first, and we probably should have utilized this more often.

Was fun though

Mine too. How did we miss that last summer?

I really, really enjoyed this one. I'm a huge sucker for pretty pieces, so the ugly board turned me off from the start, but the gameplay was amazing and quickly won me over. I'd love to play this again, and 3 players seems it was the optimal #.

I've done it before too as I recall, or at least came close. In a 3 or 4 player game with Mark.

For some reason, Mark's military draw magnet doesn't seem to work as well unless its just him and me.

They key to this win was that I drew the 6 dev that gives points for military power. Unfortunately on the turn that I drew it (a 7 card explore draw where I could only keep 1 card) I had to throw out both a 6 and a 7 military rebel world. Ouch! The best military hand I've ever drawn and I had to throw most of it out.

Mark and I both tried to lay out 2 action cards once or twice as if we were playing a 2 player game.

I made two identical decks with mostly commons to teach newbies with. There's a lot of luck of the draw so newbies will have a chance. But it seems like the three times I've tried it I get a pretty good draw and crush. I should probably make a good deck and I'll take one of these so the newbie (or John) should crush but I have a chance.

Are these the same decks we played with? Because I remember that at least I DID beat you once!

These weren't the same decks, but thanks for reminding me that you beat me

I have to take it where I can get it. Notice I lost most of the other games!