Notes from Twenty-fifth Playtest

Dan (blue) wins with his Atlatl & Spear

Played out on the patio with Eddy and Dan, Robert (who used to play war games) watched and was intrigued.

Today's Rules

• Buy equipment as you leave the villiage, not after selling. This includes first turn.
• Equipment costs adjusted
• Arrow increased to 2
• Atlatl reduced to 3
• Club decreased to 1

Observations

The "just go clubbing" strategy looks like it might be viable. Atlatl & Spear is definitely effective, especially if you have a Gatherer point surplus. As usual, a lot of it comes down to how you play the market.

Buying equipment at the start of your next turn speeds things up. This game could potentially be played really fast, because you don't have to ask "are you done?". There are decisive actions that make it clear a person's turn is done (2nd explore, claiming a space, dying). Now the question is, how do we make it easier to remember to claim your space?

Giving up and area majority and going poaching (especially with an Atlatl against big animals revealed by other player's gatherers) can definitely work.

To Try Next

• Area majority bonus for 2nd (and maybe 3rd) place. Maybe 3 points (1 point for 3rd?). That way when one player gets ahead the others don't just give up and become full time poachers.