Roccos Big Mess Trailer

Macao

2009 to 2 to 4 players - Expert - S. Feld - Alea - 3:00

SwatSh : 8 / 10
Macao is otherwise Sherwood Forest ! A little this theme, but a mechanical super original and randomly monitored.

The discovery of super Macao dice mechanics is related to its wheel: at the beginning of a turn, you throw 6 dice. Each die is a different color and represents a cube action of this color. Each player takes the cubes of 2 shares of the 6 dice and places along its wheel. For example, if he chooses the red 5, it will take 5 red cubes put it in front of 5 of its wheel. If it takes 2 black, it will take 2 black cubes they place in front of two of its wheel.

Then, all players rotate one notch their wheel. A wheel has 7 sides (heptagon if I remember correctly ;-)): the 6 possible numbers of 6-sided dice (from 1 to 6 What!) And an arrow on the 7th next. It takes all the cubes actions are opposite to the arrow.

This system, though very little related to the theme is very subtle. Cubes actions we can perform certain actions! The more you have, the better. It is therefore advantageous to choose the larger dice. BUT:

- At the end of a round, everyone must discard the cubes that were in front of his arrow and he did not use.

- If there is no cube in front of his arrow, not only the player can not perform actions, but it also receives a penalty of 3 points in victory (it hurts!)

- Certain actions (most powerful) require the use of cube shares of different colors. So we sometimes choose interest dice of lesser value.

Otherwise, the game is heavily based on the maps. At every turn, in turn order ( influenced by our actions), we must take a card among those available. Is placed then these cards on its plate, which comprises 5 individual boxes. If the individual tray is filled, we must discard one card and receives a penalty of 3 points (it wrong again!). To remove the card tray and turn them (= the bonus card) must pay a combination of stock cubes!

The choice of cards that we will take will be based on different elements:

- the difficulty to activate the card (if you need 4 cubic shares of 4 different colors is really more complicated than a single cube)

- The bonus given by the card

- The opportunity we have to activate the card according cubes actions that will be available in future rounds along our heptagon.

- The choice of cards because if you're the last player we will have less choice than others.

The management of the cards is very important in the game and also quite complicated. In the final game, each player ends up with a dozen card enabled, it is not easy to manage.

The game is currently available in German and English will be released soon. No French version is announced to my knowledge. The cards include lots of text. But on the net, you will find translations and even pretty stickers to stick on the cards. Not being a very manual, I chose to write with a marker on the French translation of the cards themselves. Well, I can tell you that it does absolutely no bother. (It's just that it took me a few hours :-()

For the rest, spending our stock cubes, one can build neighborhoods in the city that we will yield victory points and resources that we will carry our boat to European ports to also earn victory points. It can also build the city wall to win seats in order to turn or spend money for receive victory points. Money is earned through cards or some neighborhoods of the city.

Finally, despite the theme can now Macao is a game very computational quite strategic, with difficult choices, long enough to (allow three hours mainly because the choice of cards is time-consuming : we must read them all and then still choose!) and mechanical very original .

Second evening

Macao is really damn good game. I still love it but as far as I maintain my objections: for me there is something wrong with these cards. For me there is too much chance to draw the card that suits us or not and can not choose the card with the bonus but it could make the cost we can and can not pay.

Moreover, the duration is too long for me and wait too long before playing.

shame because otherwise this game could be tops in my 2010 ...

Philrey 212 : 8.8 10

Well, Macao is a good surprise. I had read the rules for Essen 2009 and Macao seemed very interesting. It is clear that the party confirms my impression.

First, the wheel system that rotates each round is excellent. He can see the cubes that will be available in the coming rounds. a real surprise that this mechanism.

Then, the towers are linked together without any real downtime. Even if we should take the time to read the cards, their effects and cost.

The way to make prestige points is variable

1. simply by purchasing over time;

2. delivering goods in ports;

3. taking control of neighborhoods Macao ;

4. by activating certain cards.

Another positive rules. Everything is clear and the game runs perfectly. I do not think it had to dive to clarify one point or another.

For cons:

1. The game is pretty computational , especially in the second part;

2. Apart from the first card, for lack of experience, we choose more cards in office cubes available on our rosette for the benefit they provide. The main reason is the random aspect of the dice that determine the choice of a cube and the number available, and when they become available. It is therefore far from obvious to gather 3 or 4 cubes of different colors on the same location of the rosette.

3. The choice of cards is the highest phase "slow" because of the turn should be read and analyze its cubes.

All these points a little more negative n'enlèvent absolutely nothing that can bring fun fun Macao. Great game!

only hope that one day French version available.

Second Evening

as always excellent. This second part has highlighted the slow pace of the game, especially during the selection of cards. Nevertheless, we have seen worse.

Other small flat, I paddled a lot in the beginning: a few laps remaining players are to be avoided because you no longer have much choice in the selection of cards. And maps, we need to activate them without too much delay at the risk of picking up negative points, 3x what happened during this game.

But I still know!

Thierry : 9 / 10

we say more on the mechanics after two such notices! Nothing for me. So I will just express my appreciation. In fact, excellent, Macao me so much that Puerto Rico (I compare these two games because we find some similarities-game random, individual central plateaus, card activation, similar context ie purchase / sale of goods, shipping ,...). It's a game that requires constantly make choices that are not obvious or automatic. The involvement of players is very high and there is very little downtime (even the choice of cards did not seem long). Other strength, indecision! Impossible to predict the winner until the final statement, which is definitely a good point because the suspense is very present. Frankly, I do not see the time and ask for more! When you love games, that's exactly what type of party we want to live. Bravo and thank you for his great work SwatSh translation!