Comments on: History of the World House Rules - Help the Little Guy Variant http://games-blog.pairodicegames.com/game-articles/history-of-the-world-house-rules Game Reviews, House Rules, Strategy, Game Design and more! Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:20:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Matt http://games-blog.pairodicegames.com/game-articles/history-of-the-world-house-rules#comment-1390 Matt Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:41:48 +0000 http://games-blog.pairodicegames.com/game-articles/history-of-the-world-house-rules#comment-1390 The only part I liked about the pick two empires variation was it made for more interesting decisions, although most people made the same choices (pick the best one of the two and keep for themselves). However while it seemed to keep the person in last from getting boned as much, it did leave the person in first unscathed most of the time by the end of the process. Meaning that they were able to pick two and keep one as no one had given them something. Again we've only done it once so it's a limited observation. The additional points for 2nd was nice because lately I've been pretty consistant saying close to the top most rounds. However it seems like being in 2nd in a round would be worse then any other position. If you are in first at least you would get some bonus points with the markers, but in second you wouldn't get that and you'd get handed a crappy empire (if first was passed one already) and of course being in last gets you first pick (more or less). There have been games where I sat in second more rounds then not and I felt like that I was getting nothing for it. The game we played with the additional markers I ended up with 6 markers total (3 big, and 3 small) meaning I only missed one round. It gave me a boost for playing a good consistant game, and ultimately became the reason why I won in the end. Basically it made being in second in a round worth something. You get some bonus points for playing a decent round and it offsets the possible crap that's coming your way with the next round of Empire selection. I think the everyone pick two empires rule needs a tweak. For instance in a 4-5 player game have only the last place person pick two and the rest the standard one. In a 6 player have last, and second to last pick two and the rest pick one. I think with that you allow the person in last to have more opportunties to catch up (the reason why that system is in the game in the first place), while not giving the people up top that same advantage (which giving everyone the pick two method seems to do). The only part I liked about the pick two empires variation was it made for more interesting decisions, although most people made the same choices (pick the best one of the two and keep for themselves). However while it seemed to keep the person in last from getting boned as much, it did leave the person in first unscathed most of the time by the end of the process. Meaning that they were able to pick two and keep one as no one had given them something. Again we’ve only done it once so it’s a limited observation.

The additional points for 2nd was nice because lately I’ve been pretty consistant saying close to the top most rounds. However it seems like being in 2nd in a round would be worse then any other position. If you are in first at least you would get some bonus points with the markers, but in second you wouldn’t get that and you’d get handed a crappy empire (if first was passed one already) and of course being in last gets you first pick (more or less). There have been games where I sat in second more rounds then not and I felt like that I was getting nothing for it.

The game we played with the additional markers I ended up with 6 markers total (3 big, and 3 small) meaning I only missed one round. It gave me a boost for playing a good consistant game, and ultimately became the reason why I won in the end. Basically it made being in second in a round worth something. You get some bonus points for playing a decent round and it offsets the possible crap that’s coming your way with the next round of Empire selection.

I think the everyone pick two empires rule needs a tweak. For instance in a 4-5 player game have only the last place person pick two and the rest the standard one. In a 6 player have last, and second to last pick two and the rest pick one. I think with that you allow the person in last to have more opportunties to catch up (the reason why that system is in the game in the first place), while not giving the people up top that same advantage (which giving everyone the pick two method seems to do).

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