Ra - Board Game Review - Too Much Wood To Handle

[@JonathanAwesomeify]

Just picked this up, and I've found it makes a great family game. Takes just a few seconds to set up, easy to teach, quick to play, and people immediately get the central tension of "do I realllly want to spend my high tile on this" and "can I work the round so I'm the last player standing to get a huge swath of tiles."

[@clvrswine]

Had it since release and it's a 10/10 game. Time-tested.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Solid enough, I just can't see the 9's and 10's. That's the level of a game I would play again after I'd played it. This one I'm good after the one player and then would bring it out again another time, depending on how much fath with that bag I want to put up with.

[@DeepFriedDave]

@@TheBrokenMeeple I'd like to see what your 9 and 10 games are. You should make a video about what your 9 and 10 evergreen games are. Mine are Hansa Teutonica, Viticulture + expansions, Agricola, Alien Frontiers and Pandemic base + expansions, Battle Line, and maybe watergate.

[@windyhillbomber]

Everyone is equally affected by the random draw of tiles. This is mitigated by the auction mechanism as well as your individual right to trigger said auction. The randomness is simply not an issue.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Except that someone is going to benefit more from that randomness than others depending on what tiles are drawn.

[@windyhillbomber]

@@TheBrokenMeeple that’s the cool thing about Ra as anyone can ‘invoke Ra’ to prevent another player getting too much of an advantage from a random tile draw. Furthermore, allowing tiles to be drawn without stopping risks pulling a disaster tile thus adding a push your your luck element to the decision making. On this one I think we’ll just agree to disagree.

[@DumiduSurasinghe]

I don't generally like auction games but our group really loves RA. We play it at 5 and there's a lot of interaction and table talk than we normally see in the typical multiplayer solitaire euro games that we play. It's super fun and a keeper for us. I am now interested in trying High Society.

[@gregorys9629]

High Society is great fun - plays in less than 30 minutes, and I've had success with it with gamers and non-gamers alike. It's because of how much I enjoyed High Society that I pre-ordered Ra!

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

High Society is quick, simple and has that cool elimination mechanic at the very end.

[@garyspartan67]

The fact that they thought so highly of it as a game from 1999 that it deserved to be remade speaks to its longevity. It seems like a great gateway game for people that are more casual gamers but like a little bit of a challenge. Yes, it's an "auction" game, but also falls under "set collection", and "bluffing", with a touch of "take that". I think an 8 is warranted. I do like that the "god" tile mitigates the luck factor a bit. Timing and tempo are also factors. I think the simplicity could mask that there are more layers to the game, but they don't show up as much materially; it's more of a psychological challenge to balance the "push your luck" element with set collection.

[@Datasun7]

Imagine if you had the deluxe version! Nice review, i do like Ra - Only played it twice so far so not sure what the longevity will be, but fills a niche in my collection for an auction game!

[@SenseiJae]

That is the deluxe version (minus the disappointing metal vp tablets)

[@adilgeresu2296]

@@SenseiJaethe deluxe/pharaoh edition has metal VP counters and all the tiles in the bag are chunky pieces of wood (the ones in the retail edition are thick cardboard). Box is nearly twice as big as a result.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I feel like I have the deluxe version, minus the metal tokens.

[@adilgeresu2296]

@@TheBrokenMeeple unless you have a special custom edition the game only comes in two skus. That’s not to say the retail edition is not deluxe enough as it feels and looks very premium.

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Disagree on the 'meh' rating on this one (yes to me a 7 is fairly 'meh'). Ra to me is an amazing auction game, probably the best one ever designed. Amazing decision space, tons of replayability, beautiful and chunky components, a game that will never leave my collection. A true modern classic. Works fine at 3 but probably best at 4-5 I would agree. Also, what would you consider a better auction if you don't think this one is that good?

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Fair enough though "tons of replayability"?? - the tiles don't change and some you barely see anyway as they are low quantity, where do you get high replay value from?

[@within_grace]

Replayability is not the same as variability. It's highly repayable because you're playing against your opponents not some system of multi-player solitaire mechanisms. You touched on it in your video... You can see what everyone has to bid with and you can try to force them to outbid you. You're constantly evaluating the worth of the tiles and the sun disk relative to each player. It's a wonderful game.

[@tombeullens4914]

@@within_grace Agree with your arguments 🙂

[@Jootie_de_Kop]

Thank God, this classic didn´t get a second edition. Perfect as it is: 10/10.

[@Tolinar]

Technically, this is the third edition of Ra. Fortunately, it's just been paint jobs.

[@nirszi]

Glad you called out the passing the bag annoyance. We just ended up one person drawing and calling out the name of who they drew for.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

So how did you keep track of turn order?

[@matts3155]

@@TheBrokenMeeple you can just pass giant Ra around

[@feliperodrigues8273]

Played this game a lot of times with just 2 and I love it even at that player count. It's obviously better with more, but very good at 2.

[@elqord.1118]

It’s a completely different game at 3 and again at 4. I’d never consider playing this at 2 because auctions don’t work at 2. I would rather play a game that actually works at or is intended for 2 players.

[@feliperodrigues8273]

@@elqord.1118 Some auctions do work at 2, you just need to try it and play against a competitive person. Ra and Medici work pretty well at two. When I want to play Ra/Medici I just play them regardless of player count since they work well at any count. We play 2 players a lot but we don't enjoy 2 player exclusive games.

[@mikolajwitkowski8093]

Depends, after all Knozia made Blue Moon, am auction game that is only for two.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I'm impressed that many have verified this games quality at two players.

[@miistercrayon]

I think you undersell the 2p mode. Even if it’s the weakest of the player counts I think it might be one of the best auction games for 2 players. That there is fun there in this genre at that player count is genius imo. I think also a couple of other points: I think you need to get into the game in terms of fun. On the rules and just mechanics I think it misses something. But if you start treating the Ra as occasionally a villain (when it shows up for you) or a friend (when it shows up as the worst time for your friend) it becomes much funnier.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Certainly hearing a lot about this 2 player mode - cool if it works, I just prefer auctions to have plenty of participants. A game shouldn't rely on the group acting silly for it to be great. Granted in Kanban EV, we treat Sandra with disdain, but the game could be fun without that.

[@justanerd1138]

I actually prefer the look and feel of the old version. Hoping to pick up one of those from folks who got the new version.

[@oneysnyder2116]

I’ve only played it at 2. I like it. I think it was okay with my wife and I so far. I do think it’ll be better with repeated play and added strategy. I prefer Furnace at 2 for bidding.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Interesting, not a game I would expect to work at 2.

[@edwardbrost331]

2 player versuon works great, more strategic with the calling of ra. Great game, easy 9 out of 10.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Interesting, not a game I would expect to work at 2.

[@helvard]

Ra has become a big game - I think I’ll stick to my old Razzia ☺️

[@brucebush5744]

Nice to meet a fellow Knizia auction heretic. Ra is good, and I’m happy to play it - but High Society is his best in the genre (with the added advantages of being smaller, cheaper and better looking).

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Smaller, cheaper, quicker and with that cool elimination mechanic.

[@DeepFriedDave]

yes, and its the only Knizia game i like to play. Im not a fan of him as a designer. His games often feel chaotic, random, and difficult to come up with a strategy. High Society gets a pass in part because its portable and so quick to play making it quirky and fun without a big commitment. I've taken it to the beach and to the bar with great effect.

[@mkietzmann]

Great review again. Thanks. I didn't get to play the original, either, and was curious about this new edition. That's a hard pass for me, though. Oh, well.

[@michieltummers1303]

Ra is absolutely at its best at 3 imo. a 9/10 for me :)

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

It's solid enough, I just don't get the 9's + -

[@nickharrison6274]

Ra is great fun, 9/10 for me. Upgraded our fantasy flight version to this one which is much better. Everything fits in the box, just give it a shake man 🙂 We just play at two, but it is better at higher player counts. Biblios is overrated and left the collection a long time ago. Go Ra, how many other board games will sill be around in 20 years?

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Quite a few I reckon given how many there are.

[@shawns3911]

I couldn’t believe the size of the box given the production…I also found the set collection lack luster

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

It seems I have most deluxe components but the retail box

[@SlothNast]

Yeah, this game is amazing.

[@shockwavemasta]

I agree overall with your review - Modern Art is way more highly rated for me. I wonder if it is group dependent though because I've heard some groups always have 1 person continuously drawing tiles from the bag. That's only happened once or twice in all the games I've played. Also, I think it's best at 3 players. I don't believe 1 Ra tile makes a huge difference when the trade-off is way more control on auctions and number of tiles drawn before it returns back to your turn.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

It works fine at 3 for sure. The red Ra tiles do seem to dictate how good the game can be I guess. If you have one player draw the tiles you have to constantly track who's turn it is

[@nipzie]

The factory messed up a few orders and had way too many of some tiles in my copy and not enough or any or others. They sent me replacements rapidly, but I keep those others as spares in a plastic bag in the box. I've had no issue fitting mine in the box with an extra baggie of tiles, so I don't know how you have to jenga those pieces in to get your box closed. Maybe check your tile contents too?

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Interesting, I might give a check and be sure 👍

[@JohnClem56]

I could be wrong but I think it depends on if you have the retail version or the deluxe version (pharaoh edition). I thought I'd read somewhere that the retail edition box is slightly smaller then the pharaoh edition box and that some people commented that it was tough to get it all in retail box without carefully positioning everything to prevent lid lift. I have the pharaoh edition and don't have any problems fitting it in the box.

[@JosephFlemming]

The best version had all wood tiles as well I think. And glorious metal coins which I want to bad lol. Oh well my Windrider copy is still very useable.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I haven't got metal point tokens but I'm not a big metal fan unless it's actual coins.

[@feliperodrigues8273]

@@TheBrokenMeeple The bigger wooden auction tiles is more important than metal coins in the Pharaoh Edition.

[@shaunmaher278]

You’re too kind on box size, it’s a shambles.

[@DeepFriedDave]

I don't like most Knizia games with the exception of High Society because its a quick, fun game you can take and play anywhere. But his other stuff feels really random. If play and watch games like Modern Art being played often times the winner feels like he or she wont by accident and they can't tell you how or why they won. And some of his other games like Yellow and Yangtze just feel chaotic

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I don't find Y+Y chaotic but Modern Art in not a fan.

[@DeepFriedDave]

​@@TheBrokenMeeple I hate that lowest score is your score mechanism that the Doctor loves so much. Germans love sado-masachism.

[@unlimitedrabbit]

They sent you the premium wooden tiles in the retail edition box.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

It was just bought from a retailer.

[@lib3r7y]

Luke has used images that he hasn't taken that have the wooden tokens in them. He's got the retail edition with the cardboard tiles. So do I actually and I picked it up for £35 and thought I'd gotten the premium edition for a moment. The production quality is ludicrous. I love high society but Ra just has so much more, even at 3 player I think it's a better game with more interesting choices, both high society and Ra have pretty unique takes on auctions and while I'm glad I own both Ra gets a 9/10 for me and high society is just a solid 7/10 filler game.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

@@lib3r7y actually I got the premium tiles in my retailer box. I don't know why, maybe a manufacturers error but I wasn't going to complain.

[@Dragonnox]

"too much wood to handle" haha if only

[@OlegKlishinArt]

Jesus, why does it need to be either Regular Undeluxified Deluxe or Deluxified Super Deluxe these days? I'd gladly buy a regular old cardboard game in a small box... I haven't played Ra, but I think I should like it. A question rises: who would even want to play a 1999 game today, if not for deluxified deluxe components? Sad times. So far my 2 top favourite auctions are Modern Art and For Sale. High Society is good too, and maybe Ra could join these one day.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Old games can still hold their own and it doesn't hurt to make them look better, but yeah they don't need to be obscene production like this.

[@OlegKlishinArt]

@@TheBrokenMeeple exactly my thoughts.

[@peterevensen]

I do not like Power Grid either!