Nusfjord | Rahdo's Final Thoughts

[@timdedrick489]

I like the C cards. They are often opportunities of equal value to what you've been aiming for so they bring doubt and uncertainty, tempting you to abandon your plans you've been striving so hard for. I wouldn't compare them to goals or objectives rather tempting opportunities that happen to show up at the last second. :)

[@Staphaureus2000]

I don't think C cards should be overestimated in terms of "goals". For me this is not an issue to be annoyed of this way. Strategies elaborated prior to popping up C cards are quite more decisive ...and more fun :-)

[@BorgTube47]

This one is really on my radar recently. I think your concern with the C-buildings can be easily house-ruled. Either showing them all that the start, or flipping one over at the end of each round, with a gradual reveal.

[@smoothcriminal28]

Hmmmm cool to see this is s more focused design that his more recent sandbox giants.

[@thewanderer9371]

I know you're probably already busy playing other new games, but I would try to give the C cards at the beginning. I really doubt it would upset any balance beyond what the randomness of the C card draw already does.

[@rahdo]

could be, but i've got plenty of other games to enjoy that don't require design experimentation to be ideal for my tastes :)

[@mattlowder]

Richard never wants to make even the simplest of changes. He's stubbornly allergic to anything he deems work he shouldn't have to do in the design space of a published game.

[@petergross7235]

I think that is what i would do is present the C cards early and race for the ones you want to mitigate the randomness. I kind of wish we knew what the designer thought process was for revealing the C cards at the end.

[@draheim90]

Seems like the C card distribution could maybe be “fixed” by drafting them (in round 5) just as Agricola cards are at the beginning? Gives you more agency but without the potential to overwhelm you at the beginning.

[@alexanderkhorunzhiy5167]

A new "Agricola" which plays a half of the time of the original Agricola. I will buy it! Thanks for the tips Richard 😉 and I will house rule it with getting C cards from the beginning of the game (just like in Agricola). Don't think it could ruin the balance since it it would be just an input to your game strategy.

[@delorean-88]

This house rule could actually make the draw (and the game) even less fair, since some of the C cards give you more points than others, but are riskier/harder to build towards. If someone has "better" C cards at the start, you give them more time to optimize their strategy and thus to lock in their possible advantage. Some drafting variant might work though.

[@alexanderkhorunzhiy5167]

Dmitri Dolgov totally agree 👍 However , it was the most beautiful part of Agricola for me that someone might have gotten a better combination of occupation and minor improvement cards in the beginning of the game, but the beauty is to try to create a whole your game strategy from the start and see if you will manage to execute on it in the end. Some kind of drafting might get it more balanced though, which is good)

[@frabac72]

Thanks for the review. Should we then, as a house rule, get those cards at the start, so that we know what to build towards?

[@windyhillbomber]

Isn’t it fair to say that in life and business, random events can throw our best laid plans. Perhaps the C cards are just that. Maybe after a few plays you will adopt contingencies that will give a greater chance of exploiting the new, albeit late opportunities these cards present. But as you said, a clever variant should solve any issues without affecting game balance.

[@rahdo]

sure, life can be unfair. doesn't mean i want my games to be unfair... :)

[@boardgametrucker7212]

Another review from you right that shows why your top of the Heap

[@laurierbrisson3516]

In Canada this game is called Newfies.

[@wishmeheaven]

Thank you for this one :) - Honest reviews are always appreciated!

[@gee3161]

Thanks Richard - really enjoyable run through!

[@berenicebenayoun6117]

Yay!!! Happy to support your work, I always enjoy watching your videos :)

[@rahdo]

i just hope i didn't mispronouce your name too badly! :)

[@delorean-88]

It is definitely a keeper for me. I am in the camp which likes that exact zest of randomness in this game. I suspect the "zest" might be the real reason why Uwe designed it like this. After all, alternatively having 2 extra cards in hand at the start of the game is unlikely to overcomplicate things when you start with 15 random buildings + 6 elders anyway. You spend first rounds building an economic engine, and you probably have a couple of elders/buildings/ships by the time you see your first C cards anyway, so you are likely well positioned for at least a couple of things which might come up. (You'd have even more options with higher player counts). And, there is still over half of the game left "to steer you ship" accordingly. Maybe you were just really unlucky in your playthrough. [Disclaimer: I've only watched the Final Thoughts, but I've already played the game 3 times with different player counts.]

[@rahdo]

yup, he talked a bit about that 'zest' in the rulebook for feast for odin, which is why i think he's entering a new phase in his design career :) i played the game 3 times, and each time, either jen or i got demonstrably poorer draws than the other (happened in this runthrough as well). didn't completely derail the game, but we definitely didn't care for it

[@delorean-88]

I wonder if different decks provide different degrees of randomness. I myself so far played with Herring (100s) deck only and it was a smooth sailing every time (can't stop making puns, sorry). I watched the Extended Playthrough and, not to carp :), it looked like you had quite a few attractive options after the first flop kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKW5eKpordZnpbM . Longhouse seemed great as 4VP (not counting covering space) for only 3 wood, if you choose not to acquire anymore shares. Renting Service would actually combo nicely with your Harbor Master, since the ships which are upgraded go back to the supply (and, if Jen builds the Stilt House, she would build less ships too). Docking Harbor seemed excellent (3+VP plus covering space for 3fish+3wood is a great deal). Boarding House could've been a reasonable target as well. Maybe these were not big sexy score cards/targets, but they would add up in the end and they were cheap :) On the other hand, it could be argued that Jen's flop was not that great: her Nursery was an anti-combo with her Depot (since you cannot have more than 12 wood in personal supply), Harbor Gate was nice at 3VP for 3 wood, but required fishing track commitment, which might impede investing in elders required for Chancellery. Chancellery brings lots of points, but it is expensive and risky (Jen would need to be able to hire 3 elders out of the remaining 4 hiring actions). I am not sure what happened in the other 2 games, but I wouldn't say that in this particular game your draw was significantly worse. Hers might've been only slightly better, not at least because it gave her an easier-to-follow strategy plan :)

[@rahdo]

an "easier to follow" strategy plan in a game where you're constantly facing harsh limits on what you can achieve due to limited worker options can be a game changer :)

[@SherryBlackford]

Thanks very much Richard. The problem you highlighted is my #1 most hated game mechanic, so I greatly appreciate that you pointed it out. Have a wonderful holiday!

[@rahdo]

there are other games that do this??!? :)

[@SherryBlackford]

rahdo Well, just Agricola but it scarred me.

[@BrandonMeesak]

Do you think if you drafted the C cards it would make it better?

[@rahdo]

would be interesting, definitely

[@jyoung10]

I was thinking of the same thing while watching this. The random C card draw adds some zest, but by drafting (perhaps like 7 Wonders?) it provides you a little control over the randomness.

[@BrunoVanVaerenbergh]

you could do a draft with the C cards.

[@MortenBlaabjerg]

That could work nicely. Personally didn't find the C cards to be a problem. You still have to think about turn order, how to best use your very limited actions those last few turns, etc. So one or more of those C cards might be useful, but you still have to find a way to acquire them, spend ressources and actions doing that, which means there are other things you can't. I think Rahdo overstates that element quite dramatically!

[@ShelleyDanielle]

So will this be added to the collection with a variant/house rule for C buildings or traded away in favour of just playing Agricola?

[@rahdo]

it's already gone. no reason to spend time experimenting with variants when i've got other games that i already unabashedly love as is :) still a shame though, as this is really good. maybe his best since agricola, but for the one thing that really bugs us :)

[@ShelleyDanielle]

That's too bad, you seemed really excited about this one at the start of your final thoughts. I thought for sure it was a keeper until it got to the point about the C cards.

[@davidharding1070]

Great analysis thank you. Loved the run thru but this made me pause... and I love that about your videos :)

[@ConeDefense]

Any complaints around the art/components of the game? Seems like 80% of the game is text with a tiny image (or symbols)? Even the buildings are non-descript. Especially with a game at this MSRP. As always love the run throughs and thoughts!

[@rahdo]

none from me

[@brianjoshuamanuel6259]

Just have to say you look amazing in this video compared to your old videos. You look a lot sharper. Almost younger. Did you get new lights? Keep it up, man!

[@clumsydad7158]

Some cosmetic surgery over the years... he's had some of his expansions tucked.

[@danillofrederice2300]

Brian Joshua Manuel that's what living in Malta makes to a person. Gets younger and younger.

[@rahdo]

nope, still the same sunlight (my only source of light in videos) and same camera :)

[@kennycorbett]

Surprised you are passing on this.

[@JoeyjojoShabadoo7]

Maybe make a house rule where you get the C cards a third of the way through the game, or even at the beginning...?

[@rahdo]

sure potentially, but see faq.rahdo.com #24 :)

[@eirikfarmen1062]

Maybe you could get one C card at the begining of each turn, up til turn 4? I dont own the game so this is out of the blue. I will get the game though, being Norwegian, and my entire mothers side of the Family is fishermen :)

[@jyoung10]

I like your idea. You could even start with 1or 2 more than #of players and draft like 7 Wonders. Kind of a drip feed, which allows you to look at the existing buildings and slowly craft your engine throughout the course of the game.

[@clumsydad7158]

to fish or not to fish?? that is the question !! ... i'll choose not to fish

[@matthewmccloud5257]

I don't mean this to sound pithy, but if you don't like the "c" cards rules, why not just house rule that you get them at the beginning of the game? I know a lot of people do. It's such a terrific game beside the controversial "c" cards (which I personally enjoy RAW), so why deprive yourself of it?

[@rahdo]

i actually answer that at faq.rahdo.com #24 :)

[@matthewmccloud5257]

@@rahdo Sorry! I'm pretty new to your videos. I understand where you're coming from. I also think it's such an easy fix for those who don't like the rule Uwe put in the game. That said, I've only played it solo so far (thanks Covid! :) ), so I might feel differently about it with other players. Thanks for the video and response!