LogFAQs > #933335232

Naye745 posted...

ah man, i actually think ra is WAY more streamlined than modern art, specifically because it takes out the biggest problem i have with most auction games that offer too much freedom in what to bid - "what the heck constitutes a good bid?"

in most bidding games you have newbies who don't know what number to bid (or even experienced players who bid a bit arbitrarily). by limiting the numbers you have, and putting everything on the table (literally), it makes it WAY easier for everyone to understand exactly where they stand. i know who can outbid me with a given number, how many "good" and "bad" options i'm leaving behind, and how that all factors for everyone else.

and despite this, the decision making from these small options is tense and outstanding. you will often find yourself in a position agonizing over whether you should bid or pass, and end up ruing that choice by the next turn. it's awesome.

the set collection stuff is secondary here, but it works well and provides a satisfying feeling akin to the multiple avenues of scoring of 7 wonders - you can do a little of everything, or go big in a couple categories

ra is knizia's masterpiece. and that's saying something, from a designer who has several games that could fit that mold (and i'm sure plenty of people would argue with me for tigris & euphrates or several others of his)

it's in my personal top five! i'm interested to see where this list takes us, because i have a feeling we're gonna get heavier and heavier as we go along (in general), but for my money, i still rate mostly ~1 hour games that are just full of tasty decisions and replayability at the top of the heap

so, you're not wrong about all those points about ra. it certainly forces a lot of decisions on you quickly (you almost never draw two tiles on the same offer, for starters!) - and you can definitely feel bad very quickly

and as for your comment about the trend of this list as we go higher... i'd like to deny it, but you might be right in many respects! i think one thing that knizia enthusiasts love about his designs is that "gamer's game" sensation - a strong feeling of zero-sum/playing the players.

a lot of "more modern" eurogames and engine-builders (which, spoilers, are coming up) are a lot more forgiving and are interested in providing you with a positive experience even when other players are better than you are.

now this doesn't mean that you can't play poorly and start to hate yourself, but i think the skill threshold to enjoy yourself is generally lower among pretty much all the games higher on this list.
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yet all sailors of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable - they live in the varying outer weather, and they inhale its fickleness