Die Macher

anandyctedstar8.8

Second game in and this is probably the best example of what modern tastes can't tolerate - great example of the nascent German mechanisms, still untouched by elegance, seasoned with relentless interference and interaction. The game does need a good understanding to be able to play the delicate balance of kicking down the right player or game aspect: the game itself doesn't do it at all ! It's all great but really needs for the player to step up their bash the leader management. The typical German today has a catch-up mechanism, a way to end the game without being eliminated and no way to interfere with other players choices, except than to make "better" ones. This is all the opposite. You can kill a player, but is it the right one to kill ? Or should you join him in a Koalition ? What if that opinion poll is extremely bad for you and you completely lose that region ? Should I really pay that amount of money ? Or should I have had invested more in the Media ? That's very swingy, yep. Not everybody cup of tea for sure, and the final experience is probably akin to John Company (Old) Just played one game, 4 newbies. Took 4h plus a 30 minutes explanation. Next game would probably end in 3.5h. Excellent classic - needs repeated plays. Opinion polls are swingy, and that's why you need money to control them !

CDChris Davidsonstar10.0

Shockingly fun and enjoyable for such a dull-sounding theme. After a single play (and with several rules misplayed), I can tell this is my #1 game. I feel its depth and complexity, the rich and daunting engineering marvel... I could continue in hyperbole, but these words will not aid you. Pro: A true gamer's game, requiring thought and forethought. While it is LONG, the time flies by and never drags. Shorter version available. Con: Opinion polls are very powerful, perhaps too much so; perhaps there is a variant to mitigate this? May be longer than you like, so plan ahead for this one. Don't make it the last game of the night. Complex play mechanics require at least one throw-away game unless playing with veterans. If you are all new to the game, re-read the rules carefully before AND AFTER playing. There's a lot going on. Bottom line: Long, yes. Complex, yes. Is it worth the trouble? Definitely YES. With the right group, Die Macher is a game that will become the centerpiece of your game nights. (This information based on the Valley Games version)

EvEvanstar2.5

The core idea here is you place cubes into regions and then those cubes become worth points based on how many of the issue cards in that region align to the issue cards in front of you. For having the most points in a region, you also get the special reward of trying to groom the endgame scoring requirements to match what issues you want them to be. The game has some decent amount of flip luck, and planning too much to set up future turns has a way of backfiring pretty easily as players slip the issues cards, and your multipliers out from under you. Ultimately I found this game a little too complicated, chaotic and long. :nostar: Art and components :nostar: Innovative mechanics :star: Handles 5 or more players :nostar: Good with different player counts :star: Low time between turns :nostar: Comfortable complexity :star: Re-playability :star::nostar::nostar: Enjoyment