Valerie Putman: My Essen Wish List

First, I should note that I’m still not sure whether I’m going to Essen or not.  I have a place to stay and it’s not too late to buy a plane ticket.  (I didn’t know I was going until 2-½ weeks before the show the first time I went in 2005.) But sadly, it’s not the best year for me to miss two days of school (as I apply for tenure).  Luckily, Dale owes me one or two games in his precious suitcase space if I can’t make it since I helped him out when he couldn’t make it last year—but if I could have only one game from Essen, what would it be?

Galaxy Trucker
From the designer of Through the Ages, Vlaada Chvátil, this might have to be my one request.  I didn’t buy TtA at the show last year and I was kicking myself until I was lucky enough to get one of the few copies available later.  I don’t want to make the same mistake again.  Of course, this new game sounds so completely different that it’s hard to know.

Brass
From Martin Wallace, the designer of my number one favorite game of all time, Age of Steam, we finally have what sounds like a new engine building game with no combat!  I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.

Municipium
Luckily I was able to preorder this new Reiner Knizia from the Valley Games website—but I still envy those who get to play a prototype at Essen.  Now if only 749 other people would preorder it as well so that Valley Games will make it.  It doesn’t hurt that my favorite game artist, Mike Doyle, provided the artwork.

Decisions, decisions….  And I’m sure I’ll have quite a few more picked out before the show gets here.


Tichu Puzzle: 9/16
Last week I gave you a sample Tichu hand and asked what you would pass (with a competent partner and an odd left/even right passing convention).  Here was your hand:

2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, Q, Q, K (note that you have 3, 5, 6, 7 in green)

I had a great response, with some interesting choices.

Everyone passed the K to their partner.

Only one person didn’t hold out for the green bomb; everyone else kept the 3, 5, 6, 7 in green.

There were two most common passes:  2R, 4(non-green)L, KP and 4R, 6(non-green)L, KP.  Of the two, I prefer the 2nd—and here’s why.  The first leaves you with as few as three plays before getting new cards: a 2-9 straight, a pair of Qs, and an extra 6.  You might get a chance to slough off the 6 and the Qs might even get you the lead you need to play the straight if you wait.  But the cards that get passed to you could give you trouble.  If you get a 2 you can pair up the 2 you have and leave the rest of the straight, but a 3 would be a pain.  If you do get passed the green 4, then you have a bomb with awkward singles on either end; unless your partner needs the bomb for a tichu you’d be better off not playing it.  With the 6 you already have one low single to get rid of and the pass is just likely to leave you with more.  The second option, on the other hand, also leaves you with as few as three plays (pair of 2s, 3 – 9 straight, pair of Q’s) but in far better shape with potential passes from your opponents.  A 2 will give you triples (or a full house with your queens) and a 3 will give you step pairs.  So you could actually end up with only two plays to get out.  True, you don’t have a way to get the lead, but you don’t really have a winning hand no matter what you pass.  If you get the green 4, you have just the 3 as a leftover single below your bomb. 

Many of you pointed out that, unlike, the Bridge puzzles, there is more variety in what “could” happen and so it is harder to point to a “right” answer—but that it was a fun exercise anyway!  I’ll try to include a Tichu puzzle in my column at least once a month.

Next week—the Columbus Area Boardgaming Society has its annual gaming weekend, the Buckeye Game Fest.  Or, if you are in the Atlanta area, it’s time for Ward’s Atlanta Game Fest.  Too bad I can’t be in two places at once.  Anyway, time for me to weed some games out of my overgrown collection for the Buckeye Game Fest auction!

I’d rather be gaming,
Valerie Putman

© 2007 Valerie Putman

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Comments:

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Don’t worry about Municipium, Valerie. Kevin said something about the game being expected about a month after the release of Container, so it’s one of those games they’re going forward with anyway. I can only applaud that decision :) Posted by Surya Van Lierde on Sep 23, 2007 at 11:06 AM | #

I played Galaxy Trucker Thursday night and it was fun.  It is not in the same league as Through the Ages, as it is more light-hearted and event-driven.  It contains elements of Factory Fun, with some goods and ship management aspects. Good ... but not great. Posted by Greg Schloesser on Sep 24, 2007 at 10:31 AM | #

Aw, gee, Factory Fun?  Really?  Plus goods and management?  Go ahead, Greg, twist my arm. Posted by Nathan Morse on Sep 24, 2007 at 02:12 PM | #

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