Just bought "Revolution!" and it's good fun

[SolemnGolem]

I don't have much more to say, really.

First game was with a group of relative casual gamers with limited board game experience. Second game was with a group of fairly experienced board gamers, none of whom had played Revolution! before.

The pieces and bidding cards looked intimidating to the newbies, but they picked them up very quickly (since the average four-step turn is so simple). The experienced players went fairly quickly into all sorts of analytical modes. At one point they were even passing paper notes around to each other to try to influence each other's bids.

A fun game, and I'm keeping it with my Munchkin collection for parties. The only slight drawback is the logistical requirement of 3 or 4 players - possibly because the number of influence spaces is fixed to be optimal to that number. I wonder if you could mathematically extrapolate suitable influence spaces for 5 or more players according to group size.

I may get the expansion too.

[Andrew Hackard]

Rather than try to kludge the rules for 5 players, you really SHOULD get the expansion; IMO, it makes the game a lot more fun anyway.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by SolemnGolem

I may get the expansion too.

If you want to play with more people, it's well worth it. Although The Palace can be played with 4, I find it's significantly more fun with 5/6.

[csm]

I really want to get this game, but the most people I can usually get to game together is myself and my wife. I did see a thread on Board Game Geek for handling two payer games. Has anyone tried to play this game with two players, and if so, did it work? (ie: did you have fun)

Thanks!

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by csm

I really want to get this game, but the most people I can usually get to game together is myself and my wife. I did see a thread on Board Game Geek for handling two payer games. Has anyone tried to play this game with two players, and if so, did it work? (ie: did you have fun)

Thanks!

It's a bidding game, so with two players it would quickly favor the player who gets an early lead, and there will be much less competition in general. You could try to play with some kind of randomized dummy player, I suppose.

[SolemnGolem]

Originally Posted by Andrew Hackard

Rather than try to kludge the rules for 5 players, you really SHOULD get the expansion; IMO, it makes the game a lot more fun anyway.

Oh, I didn't know that!

In that case, I'm definitely looking into it now.

Once again, my dollars are going to SJGames.

And once again, they have richly earned it.

[EarthStone]

Originally Posted by csm

Has anyone tried to play this game with two players, and if so, did it work? (ie: did you have fun)

I've been forced to improvise when demoing to a single player and found that by simply picking a neutral color and placing 2 cubes onto each location before the game starts will make for a playable 2-player variation. It's not as good as having 3-4 players certainly and sir_pudding is correct that it becomes tough to catch up to someone who manages to take the lead, but it is possible and does make for a decent but not great game.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by EarthStone

I've been forced to improvise when demoing to a single player and found that by simply picking a neutral color and placing 2 cubes onto each location before the game starts will make for a playable 2-player variation. It's not as good as having 3-4 players certainly and sir_pudding is correct that it becomes tough to catch up to someone who manages to take the lead, but it is possible and does make for a decent but not great game.

Well you could do something with a dummy. There's what 12 personalities? You could roll say 1d6 to get the number of personalities the dummy bid. Then 1d12 to determine which ones. Then roll 1d3 or 1d2 (coin-flip) for the token used (obviously you don't have to roll for the Merc and Spy). Then roll 1d4 for the amount bid or something. The dummy places influence cubes but otherwise doesn't get tokens or score.

[PK]

I absolutely love Revolution, especially with the expansion and a full six players. What really surprised me was when I saw how they play Revolution here in Austin, though . . .

No, I don't plan to say any more than that. Sorry!

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by Rev. Pee Kitty

I absolutely love Revolution, especially with the expansion and a full six players. What really surprised me was when I saw how they play Revolution here in Austin, though . . .

Part of being told where the bodies are buried is that you don't discuss where the bodies are buried. I thought we made that EXPRESSLY clear.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Well you could do something with a dummy.

You could, sure, but the real answer is, "Revolution! isn't designed to be a two-player game. Find a third player."

Some games just don't lend themselves to head-to-head play, and Revolution! is one of them.