My top 10 would have 5-6 Uwe games in it lol. I don’t entirely agree with Tom’s assessment that many of his games don’t feel fresh or creative in regard to the worker placement system. Agricola innovated worker placement a good deal with the resource accumulation spaces (love when that’s in games), revealing new spaces each round, the feeding vs. growing aspect, having personal cards that improve or otherwise interact with action spaces, etc. There’s still nothing else quite like it in my opinion. Hallertau’s worker placement was pretty interesting with the spots costing more workers the more they have been used by the players, meaning the return on value for spots constantly changed throughout the game. Fields of Arle has a unique system for a 2p worker placement game with two seasons and once each round one player can jump a season but it means going 2nd the following round. And having a worker placement spot for enhancing the power of some of the other spots if you invest in it. Haven’t gotten Black Forest to the table yet but the system in there looks interesting, with the tension of deciding between paying to travel vs. accepting a closer spot and also every action is essentially combining two worker spots so you’re having to puzzle out not which one spot to go to but which two adjacent spots are the best for your current needs. And of course AFFO’s grid-like system in which each column costs an additional worker that may also provide an additional benefit for spending said worker, getting workers back if you “fail” an action, Norwegians adding another column which relatively strong actions but your turn is done when you take em, etc. Maybe not revolutionary but still feels distinct and fresh imo. That said, definitely agree y’all picked some good ones. Surprised not to see even more Garphill!
Neat list gentlemen. Thanks! But Zee, c'mon, is Santiago actually worker placement? Really great game, but it's a rondel you move your car around (and around...). Not worker placement. But it's big brother Cuba, now that's worker placement. Also, a few honourable mentions for me would be Anachrony, A Feast for Odin, Anno 1800, Caylus 1303, Fields of Arle, and Raiders of Scythia.
I am baffled by zero mention of Darwin's Journey.
again .. another great intro tune.. fantastic
My top 5 were Meadow, Viticulture, Under Falling Skies, Fields of Arle and Agricola.
My top 10 would have 5-6 Uwe games in it lol. I don’t entirely agree with Tom’s assessment that many of his games don’t feel fresh or creative in regard to the worker placement system.
Agricola innovated worker placement a good deal with the resource accumulation spaces (love when that’s in games), revealing new spaces each round, the feeding vs. growing aspect, having personal cards that improve or otherwise interact with action spaces, etc. There’s still nothing else quite like it in my opinion.
Hallertau’s worker placement was pretty interesting with the spots costing more workers the more they have been used by the players, meaning the return on value for spots constantly changed throughout the game.
Fields of Arle has a unique system for a 2p worker placement game with two seasons and once each round one player can jump a season but it means going 2nd the following round. And having a worker placement spot for enhancing the power of some of the other spots if you invest in it.
Haven’t gotten Black Forest to the table yet but the system in there looks interesting, with the tension of deciding between paying to travel vs. accepting a closer spot and also every action is essentially combining two worker spots so you’re having to puzzle out not which one spot to go to but which two adjacent spots are the best for your current needs.
And of course AFFO’s grid-like system in which each column costs an additional worker that may also provide an additional benefit for spending said worker, getting workers back if you “fail” an action, Norwegians adding another column which relatively strong actions but your turn is done when you take em, etc. Maybe not revolutionary but still feels distinct and fresh imo.
That said, definitely agree y’all picked some good ones. Surprised not to see even more Garphill!
Neat list gentlemen. Thanks! But Zee, c'mon, is Santiago actually worker placement? Really great game, but it's a rondel you move your car around (and around...). Not worker placement. But it's big brother Cuba, now that's worker placement. Also, a few honourable mentions for me would be Anachrony, A Feast for Odin, Anno 1800, Caylus 1303, Fields of Arle, and Raiders of Scythia.
top ten hats Tom owns.. haha
how about top ten hats ( caps) Zee owns ?
does Zee own 10 caps ? :)
Manilla