I bought Wingspan a few weeks ago and I've been playing it a lot. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite board games.
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I swear there's more to it than "lay eggs in the last round"
Having a strong egg laying strategy is good but if you are only laying eggs in the last round you're doing it wrong and won't win against players who know what they are doing.
Exactly my point. To be fair, laying a bazillion eggs can absolutely win games if you're presented with the opportunity... but it's far an end all be all strategy. I've won plenty of games with 0-3 eggs on the board.
No, wingspan is one of the most overrated games out there.
- It is so long for the amount of meaningful decisions you make
- There is such a low amount of interactivity it is practically solitaire where sometimes you just tweak your turn slightly
- So much of the game comes down to luck of what cards you draw, especially in your starting hand
- The theme is pasted on. Idgaf about theme personally, but really the mechanics could be for anything at all, they just pasted birds onto it. Why does having one kind of thing make another kind of bird worth more? If you're trying to run a conservatory why are you letting the birds kill each other?
There are thousands of better games, why waste time on wingspan?
That's kind of a hot take. Although I agree with some of the criticism surrounding interaction between players and there being a lot of luck involved. That's said, I think learning more strategies will give you more ability to do well with a wider variety of cards. That kinda means it isn't super beginner friendly I guess, but it also means a beginner can luck their way into an easy win.
Not sure there are thousands of better games though.
That’s said, I think learning more strategies will give you more ability to do well with a wider variety of cards
This is a meaningless statement used to defend any game with a lot of luck. Of course if you are more adaptable you can work better in more situations. However, players of equal still will still be at a disadvantage vs the other depending on which gets luckier.
but it also means a beginner can luck their way into an easy win.
I 100% consider this a bad thing. I never expect to win a game as a beginner vs competent players.
Not sure there are thousands of better games though.
For sure. Which mechanics of wingspan do you like, Id be happy to offer suggestions.
Not really game for a heated argument, but I'll reply...
This is a meaningless statement used to defend any game with a lot of luck. Of course if you are more adaptable you can work better in more situations. However, players of equal still will still be at a disadvantage vs the other depending on which gets luckier.
Disagree. If it's well balanced then good players can make equal best of whatever comes their way. I think the issue may be more a lack of balance than the existence of luck.
I 100% consider this a bad thing. I never expect to win a game as a beginner vs competent players.
Maybe but I actually think it can be a good thing in a world where casual players don't want to get entirely discouraged by having zero chance.
For sure. Which mechanics of wingspan do you like, Id be happy to offer suggestions.
Well I mean I like engine building, nice artwork, randomness, and birds. I also think there's some "chill" je ne sais quoi about wingspan that I can't define well... I don't really need any recs (don't have enough time to play gsmes as it is)... but I mean the other games I like a lot are Terraforming Mars, Catan, Pandemic...
Also I didn't really address, but I really disagree that the theme is "pasted on". Even though it's not super balanced perhaps, I think the bird powers and all that stuff are really well put together. And yeah if you're building a bird conservatory those predator birds gotta hunt. That's how they live and eat....
Disagree. If it’s well balanced then good players can make equal best of whatever comes their way. I think the issue may be more a lack of balance than the existence of luck.
Thats not how luck works. Sometimes even assuming perfect play, one player will have better options available due to luck
Maybe but I actually think it can be a good thing in a world where casual players don’t want to get entirely discouraged by having zero chance.
IMO thats on them. I mean, a beginner has 0 chance to beat an experienced player in chess, but that game has done pretty well...
Well I mean I like engine building, nice artwork, randomness, and birds. I also think there’s some “chill” je ne sais quoi about wingspan that I can’t define well… I don’t really need any recs (don’t have enough time to play gsmes as it is)… but I mean the other games I like a lot are Terraforming Mars, Catan, Pandemic…
All of those games are gateway games that are outclassed by better games.
Try Pax Pamir 2nd edition.
You still get the cards, get to build up an engine of actions with your tableau, has a good amount of randomness in the card market (but the randomness is public, not as specifically helping/hurting players but changing the course of the game as a whole), and is one of the most interactive games I've played. Definitely top tier and worth a play. Best at 4p.
You really think Terraforming Mars is a gateway? Know what... don't answer here. I'm gonna post a haphazard review of it sometime in the next week, so you can reply there. It'll be really fun.
I'll put Pax Pamir on the list.... but the list comes after the shelf.... and the shelf has a lot unopened boxes....