This week’s Explorable Favorites (Mar 23)

Switzerland would be a good addition since we usually only have 3 players, and San Juan I have seen played and it can be fun, but it’s one of those games that you have to watch everyone else as much as your own stuff, little more strategic than I like now.

Harry,

Inmarg has summed up much of what I would say, the only other suggestion I would have is Asia. Asia is a double sided board. One side plays more traditionally the other side allows for team play. The team aspect is a great alternative to standard play. Netherlands is fantastic, it incorporates toll bridges but the scoring can be wonky. Avoid Marklin and Africa.

@ HarryCallahan

It depends a lot of the number of players and type of players.

Europe + 1912: Probably more balanced than original TtR (including 1912). Tunnels, ferries and stations (makes it hard to block).

Switzerland is only for 2-3 and a great version with lots of tunnels.

Nordic is also 2-3 only. More cruel as there are a couple of bottlenecks that can totally destroy you.

I’ve yet to try Netherlands but it is pretty good from what I’ve heard and hoarding cards is not the way to go as you have to pay to build routes and to other players if someone has built between those cities before.

I would say they are varied enough to get more versions but it would depend on how hardcore your fellow gamers are.

Hardcore: Nordic, Netherlands
Friendly: Switzerland, Europe

@ProvincialGuardian

Brilliant story. Just brilliant 😀

Tom, since you enjoy Ticket to Ride, you may find the Switzerland map to be great for 2 player games. The pace of the game is much faster than other maps in the series. You are also less likely to get blocked by the other player(s)and your ability to collect completed route cards is unparalleled to other maps in the series.

Thanks Hai. I’m both honoured and surprised at having these games chosen. I love San Juan, I started playing this on my iPod. The game was the catalyst for change in other card tableu styled games (actully I think it was the forerunner?). The cards that represented buildings and therefore player capabilities were also cleverly used as currency. It changed the concept of hand management for me.

Since Ticket to Ride was essentially my introduction to gaming, I have always had a soft spot for the series. Now, because so many others have been introduced to the series, its not difficult to find other players when brought out in social settings for non gamers. Switzerland just happens to be my favourite because it plays well with 2 players and introduces a new style of route cards that is unique to the Switerland board, namely: Country – Country and City to Country.

As an aside, this game is particularly endeering to me because at the time I was trying locate a copy of this game it was out of print. This was to be a gift for my wife and I sought to get her a gift that wasn’t available to anyone else, it became a challenge. Long story short, I searched for 3 months to locate a copy including calling all 4 of Days of Wonder distribution sites in North America and had them do a physical search of the warehouse for any errant games. When this didn’t succeed, I then contacted their distribution warhouses in Europe. I eventually located a copy in South Africa and after negotiating with the shop owner over the most expensive telephone call I have ever made, I purchased a copy and had it shipped to Canada at the cost of 257.00 South African Rand ($37.00 CDN at that time).

The irony of this situation was that Days of Wonder re-released Switzerland on a dual sided board with India a couple of years later. While the game may be commonly available now, at least my copy has an interesting story.