Board Game Strategy: Grand Evaluation Theory & Wingspan

[@strategyadvisor5604]

Well explained. This is exactly what I do for most euro games, probably along with many other theorycrafters. I've applied this method in 2 video guides, on Ark Nova and Lost Ruins of Arnak. Ark Nova was much harder haha.

[@phoenicksgaming]

There's a whooooole lot more going on in that game! I've used your evaluation guide for ark nova a lot in my tournament prep

[@strategyadvisor5604]

@@phoenicksgaming That's awesome! Glad it was helpful.

[@colingoldberg9688]

Big fan of these types of analytical videos. Would also like to hear more of a discussion about how the GET slots into gameplay. GET seems to be good at a few things: 1. Identifying bad (or resource negative) moves; 2. Identifying clearly dominant (or resource positive) moves and 3. providing you with a mathematical evaluation of similar moves. None of that necessarily wins you the game, especially if you're playing with folks who evaluate the same way. so what next? Would be interested for you deconstruct a Rosenberg game or two on this method. in Agricola, I think most would agree that Workers are the most critical in the game, how would a consideration like that be evaluated?

[@phoenicksgaming]

True, it doesn't win you the game but I'd argue the majority of euros give you ways of turning "stuff" into points, so my default mode is to maximize stuff and then figure out the points side later. I agree that a good video would be addressing exactly that idea though!

[@billtodd2194]

@@phoenicksgaming Get more stuff, worry about points later works for just about every euro. Worst case, somehow you don't get points, game 2 now you know to do almost the same thing, just start converting earlier.

[@boardgametotears]

I've been giving thought as to how time can be evaluated. It is easier in a game like Wingspan I think because everyone has the same amount of turns but in many games such as Gaia Project and Everdell, it is possible for some to get more turns. In the new game Mech A Dream, time is even a resource that can be acquired.

[@phoenicksgaming]

Everdell and Gaia don't use time in the way wingspan does - they use resources. It's a huge decision for a game to be constricted by either actions or by resources and essentially asks if resources are infinite or finite. I could make another video or three peeling that apart!

[@boardgametotears]

@phoenicks4952 Yes, It would be great to see more on how turns and timing factors into your Grand Evaluation Theory.

[@lordgrok]

Thanks Nick! I’ll likely be playing my 3rd ever game of Wingspan tonight and this will give me something more interesting to think about than “this bird is playable and fits an objective so meh let’s do it” and “why do people play this game”!

[@phoenicksgaming]

Have fun!

[@bicyclops420]

I like the series! A game like Dune: imperium might be a fun exercise in this kind of analysis- and i wonder if splendor might be the rare interesting version of a "single resource" game to look at. P.s. how do you feel about the wsbg power birds rule? I personally like it a lot!

[@phoenicksgaming]

I decided to give wingspan a shot this year so I clearly like the wsbg rule at least a little! I'll look into working this model through one of those two games - I'm only so so at both games but I think I can make an argument in both cases

[@bicyclops420]

@@phoenicksgaming excellent choice, welcome to the Fourth day Flock! If you end up wanting to talk about those games for your videos I would be happy to offer input. I approach these (& other wsbg games) competitively so maybe we speak the same language 🙂

[@phoenicksgaming]

@@bicyclops420 I bet we do! Please say hi at the event :)

[@spitfire4209]

What about egg capacity? You can have unlimited cards, unlimited food but eggs are limited to spots you can place them.

[@phoenicksgaming]

I didn't dive too deep into the overall valuation of the birds (cost/points/capacity/types) because I wanted to focus on the primary point of activating brown powers and evaluating those. You're fully correct that capacity matters, it's sort of like...phantom victory points