GamerChris: Recent Comments

Comment on Thanks for the Unspeakable Panic at the Cosmic Showdown!

Kenny — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:16:38 GMT

Michelle, you've been quietly assassinating us in quite a few games since you started coming to game night. Part of it might be because you don't loudly talk trash like most of us guys do while gaming, which makes it all the better when you lay the smack down.

Keep up the good work, is what I guess I'm saying!

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Chris Norwood — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:47:10 GMT

Oh yeah, of course you could. But like I said, it wasn't the only thing that was unbalanced. Let me give you an example of two different cases from the game:

1) There are two different types of Rent cards. One only works for two different property colors, but everyone else has to pay you. The other is usable for any property set, but only one person has to pay. To me, those cards are "balanced" because one gives a bigger payout, but has less chance of being valuable, while the other is usable by everyone, but for a lesser effect.

2) On the other hand, there are also two different kinds of "steal property" cards. One requires that you trade a property of your choice for any property from someone else, which I think is pretty reasonable. The other card, however, just lets you steal a property outright, with no recourse or appreciable cost. And then you have the Deal Breaker, of course, which is even worse because you get to steal a whole complete set from someone else. This, to me, is totally "unbalanced".

Maybe it's just my CCG background and the ideas of balance and fairness that come from it, but it always rubs me the wrong way when cards with identical costs (in this case, the use of one action) have widely different levels of effect. The "no trade" stealing card (whatever it's name is) is always superior to the "must trade" card. And at any time in the game after someone has completed a set, the Deal Breaker cards is absolutely superior to both of the others.

A fix, in my mind, would be for the "no trade" card to cost two actions, and the Deal Breaker to cost 3 actions, but that would get way too confusing for such a simple filler. As it is, like I said, I'll be willing to play it from time to time, and just write off the imbalance to its weight and length.

By the way, I have the same problem with the Bang! expansions, which are rife with cards that do the same thing, but with some being more powerful versions. But I'm sorry to go on such a big rant about such a little game. Heck, it's probably taken me longer to write this comment than it would to actually play the game!

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Mark Johnson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:55:55 GMT

Can you just pull the Deal Breaker cards out of the Monopoly Deal game and still play?

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Chris Norwood — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:05:01 GMT

Now, I like Notre Dame and Year of the Dragon (and I need to play them more), but Macao is a whole different thing. They're not similar games at all, so that's not a valid excuse. But I can also see that some people wouldn't like it, so just try to make it a priority to find a chance to try it out.

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Chris Norwood — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:40:51 GMT

Definitely make Macao a priority.

I haven't read a lot about Gonzaga, but Hypermind has a copy and I've been eyeing it for the last couple of weeks. Is it any good?

Comment on Thanks for the Unspeakable Panic at the Cosmic Showdown!

Chris Norwood — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:39:30 GMT

I see you've found us online here at GamerChris.com and on BGG. Welcome to the site!

Yeah, we probably do that a bit, but if you keep beating us, we'll learn to have the proper respect. Gwen says that my brother Tony and I do the same thing when we play games together, and she even wins more than me. So I think at least part of it is the whole "never hit a girl" thing cropping up in our gaming.

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Eric Martin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:33:06 GMT

Blue Moon CIty = modern classic. Fun, subtle, and always close.

Must play my copy of Macao. We've been trying out Gonzaga the past couple weeks and it is quite weird, little game.

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Chris Ingersoll — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:24:23 GMT

I'm pretty sure that 15 minutes for China isn't correct (although it is a quick play...), but without seeing my handwriting I can't interpret it for you.

Comment on Witch's Showdown Escalates over Monopoly in Blue Macao City

Jacob — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:01:17 GMT

I told myself not to get Macao, I convinced myself I wouldn't like it and I've done well at forgetting about the game completely . . . then I read this article and I'm starting to want it. Nope, gotta stick to my guns. I'm not going to like this game because I didn't like his other ones . . . I wish I could try it without buying it.

Comment on Thanks for the Unspeakable Panic at the Cosmic Showdown!

Michelle Benson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:55:41 GMT

" Kenny and Ben jumped out to an early lead with 3 foreign bases, but Adam came on strong as well, eventually being tied with Kenny at 4. But in a strange series of events and with a bit of nice hand-management (she had held on to the 40-strength attack card most of the game), Michelle took two bases on her last turn to win her very first play! "

You underestimate me being a girl and all. i sometimes take that to my advantage.