After careful consideration, I've come to the conclusion than Reiner Knizia is the reincarnation of J.S. Bach. Both men are known for their prolific output, and the works of both men are famous for their abstract, mathematical precision. Does anyone know how many children Mr. Knizia has?

I like your theory. It might help explain why I like his work so much. Except that in interviews, Mr.Knizia has stated that he is an established single person and that his games are like his children to him.

I wonder if he designs his games with a little "Toccata and Fugue" playing in the background?

I'm pretty sure I read an interview where he mentioned his wife, so at least at that time he wasn't quite single!

Although I have never seen an interview where he mentioned having children, so you are probably correct on that count.

There's a geeklist to this effect somewhere... I feel like there's a bit of Mozart in Knizia as well. It's a feel thing that I can't quite explain, but iot's mostly just that the ornateness of the Baroque period doesn't call up associations with Eurogames in my mind. Mozart is also known as being a prolific composer, and his works are often praised for their elegance, clarity, and blanced form. Sound like anyone you know? But I agree that the "coldness" of the Baroque is a lot like Knizia. Those pieces are combinatorial exercises as much as music. I think it's the fact that Bach manages to transcend that little box that keeps his music popular. That's more like Knizia the more I think about it. Sure, it's just a math puzzle, but it's so much fun...

Edit: If I see a game designed by a C.P.E. Knizia anywhere, I'll be really scared.

I'd have to agree on this one. A Bach composition, like a Knizia game, is easily recognizable as being a variation on a successful work.

The only difference is that most of Bach's compositions are lively.

That quote proves it right there; it's equally applicable to Knizia and Bach (well, more Baroque music in general... but certainly Bach is included in that).

NO! Absurd. Yes, both are mathematical... but it ends there. Knizia is pretty one dimensional... as are abstract games / themed Euros in general. These ain't no canons and fugues!

Well, Bach was pretty prolific in this area for sure. He fathered 20 children by his two wives.

I thought that was Arnold Schwarzenegger: I'll be bach!

If you subscribe to the Music=Math popular notion, then I suggest you take your favorite song, change the notes into numbers (there are 12 possible notes) and start chanting your favorite song, yelling out the numbers instead of humming the pitches. You will soon discover that music and math are not even clost to being equivalents.

Here I'll help you. First go listen to Beethoven's famous "Ode to Joy" chorus from the 9th Symphony. Now chant this:

5,5,6,8,8,6,5,3,1,1,3,5,5,3,3
5,5,6,8,8,6,5,3,1,1,3,5,3,1,1

Don't they both create the exact same impact?

Here it is in nonsense:

Blah, blah, foo, fee, fee, foo, blah, fum, fah, fah, fum, blah, blah, fum, fum.
Blah, blah, foo, fee, fee, foo, blah, fum, fah, fah, fum, blah, fum, fah, fah.

Check it:

http://www.af.lu.se/~fogwall/articl11.html

Check it:

https://home.mcgill.ca/files/improv/Soweto_Stomp_score.pdf

You have such a narrow definition of math.