SpielByWeb

cpsof95 · Joined: 31 Mar 06 Posts: 177 Location: Finland

We need a thread to discuss which maps are good and which are not, so here we have one.

Let's start with map 211. Below are the 6 latest games finished on that map, played as Variant 1. Try opening those games in new windows/tabs. Then check which player controls the 4 markets in the large pampas area on the left-side of the map. Then check which player won the game.

http://www.spielbyweb.com/game.php?games_id=52943
http://www.spielbyweb.com/game.php?games_id=54455
http://www.spielbyweb.com/game.php?games_id=53002
http://www.spielbyweb.com/game.php?games_id=53006
http://www.spielbyweb.com/game.php?games_id=52991
http://www.spielbyweb.com/game.php?games_id=52982

I skipped one game where nobody controlled the market area, but other than that, those are the latest Variant 1 games played on that map.

t_o_m9 · Joined: 14 Apr 06 Posts: 318 Location: Lakeville, MN

54455 would have had a different ending if I had blocked almond on the bottom. I missed him playing his land there.

I would say that controlling the money is more important than the markets and the one that controls all four with the same land heard usually wins the money battle, and thus the water and hacienda.

If you are deal 3 or 4 of the same animal to start, plus pampas you have a huge advantage vs those that are dealt one of each animal.

Wildfire2099 · Joined: 20 Aug 07 Posts: 122

I think that all those games were very similar, in that they were all fast (lots of land untapped) I think it would be different if the game went on longer.

That being said, it's not easy to do that yourself in a 4-player game, so I think I'd agree with you that that 4 market group is very important.

Kanga · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

That 4 market group is important but it's not an outright match winner. However all players should be thinking about getting in there if they can.

particularly in variant one that reduces, rather than increases, it's power. In the first of those games I was essentially unopposed moving into the centre which meant I could spend the extra 2 animals to make money. I would expect that in other games, the player who managed to get into the middle first would be doing that at the expense of earning money.

Also there are several other less useful but still important locations, in particular the top and bottom left corners. If one player is focused on the centre the other players should be getting those corners, and so on.