Genoa

[Brel]

Genoa

Following on the heels of its redesigned version of Chinatown, Canadian publisher Filosofia Games will release a new edition of another alea classic, Rüdiger Dorn’s Genoa, in early 2009. Filosofia will release the French and English versions of the game itself, while editions in German, Spanish, Dutch and Polish will be released by licensed co-publishers.

Genoa, which will retail for approximately $50, will be released in January/February 2009.

Source: boardgamenews.com

[joegravy]

a redesign of Chinatown? the main board looks a lot like that of Traders of Genoa. the buildings, the 8x8 dice grid...

[vladsee]

This is definitely the updated version of Trader's of Genoa.  The board, cards and counters are very familiar.  I guess what the statement means is that the said game company redesigned Chinatown first and then is coming up with the new "Genoa".

[maskmanjoe]

Puerto Rico -ish?

I've noticed alot of Alea games are more on the city/country theme.

[vladsee]

Its different from Puerto Rico. 

This is more of a negotiations game.  If memory serves, you roll the dice and move the merchant token around to pick up errands, goods and/or complete some transaction or errand in respective stores around the board.  The other players can negotiate with you where to move the merchant token and you receive something in return for allowing them to move there.  Most money wins I think.   

[viscoos]

According to the  Boardgamenews Twitter

Shipping: QWG Games announced that the Dutch edition of Genoa, Filosofia's new version, is shipping, so other languages should ship soon

YEHEY!
I want that copy since marami na sa atin may Traders of Genoa!

So enablers of the addic err este hobby kuha niyo ako niyan!

[Gaebril]

Oh man, I didn't know Traders of Genoa was up for a reprint! From several plays on maskmanjoe's copy, this is a really good game. The common accusation against trading games is that they are either too calculable or too random, but I think Genoa is able to strike a good balance between the two. My only complaint against it is that the restrictions on trading are a little too tight, but that's easily house rule'd.

Could anyone give a direct comparison with Chinatown? I've been eyeing both as prospective trading-with-money games, but I've only tried Genoa.

[ChineezPnoy]

Good for u bud.

I'm really not fond of negotiation-focused games.

The closest I get to that kind of game aspect was VINETA from my last gaming experience.

Any1 getting VINETA by d way?
Just PM me; don't wanna b perceived as seizing this thread.

Much obliged.

[viscoos]

Im getting Vineta

Good luck with finding Chinatown because it was never published in english, it was one of those Alea big boxes that was stuck with Alea (along with Adel Verpflichtet or Hoity toity (say that out loud))

Of course Zman will be taking over the English republishing and the bits look good.

Call me an idiot or what not but can you please expound on "My only complaint against it is that the restrictions on trading are a little too tight" ?

[Gaebril]

@CP: Well, there's always Settlers of Catan. 

@Viscoos:
Chinatown is already out and in stock, actually. Will just have to wait for an opportunity to get it shipped cheap.

In Genoa, you have some funny rules about "Negotiation on future movement is not binding" and "Negotiation on the next step is binding". Which is clunky, but I do see it as necessary, seeing how the cart-driving works.

On the other hand, there's potential room for straight up trades (ie, "Buy your silk for $10") that iirc according to the formal rules, aren't allowed unless they're part of some deal involving an action.

[maskmanjoe]

Call me an idiot or what not but can you please expound on "My only complaint against it is that the restrictions on trading are a little too tight" ?

Ok you're an idiot.







I just wanted to say that.

In case anyone reading this isnt aware, Viscoos is a big Genoa fan. So far, its Adrian's most effective bait to pull Viscoos into weekday gaming, and I have yet to see him decline.

In addition to what Gaebril said, i think we also commented that the rules werent clear about allowing trading of Orders, Messages and Privileges, which would have also added for some interesting deals.

[ChineezPnoy]

Almost forgot.
Gotta make an exception for that one (among others) 

In Settlers ur success is also affected where u build ur settlements.  There comes a point where its possible for u to be self-sufficient (e.g. w/ d use of ports &/or generating so much of a resource that trading them 4:1 to the bank still works).  Unlike games like Traders of Genoa where ur success is greatly affected on negotiations.

Maybe I just got traumatized the last time I played this game.  I was really tired & impatient waiting for the deals that doesn't affect me (which happened a lot w/ d random dice roll) to finish.

Probably played under different circumstances wud yield a different result.

@CP: Well, there's always Settlers of Catan. 

[viscoos]

@maskmanjoe

haha di naman ako ganun ka fanboy about this game, although I really love to see how people negotiate it kinda shows their personalities.  Masaya ito dalhin sa mga group blind date and see the personalities of people (assuming that they would all be willing to play this game)

@Gaebril

Yeah the binding and non binding deals is due to the merchant tower mechanism.  The non binding aspect can also lead to a lot of backstabbing and or politiking since a better offer can be given for the next step.

Trading for ducats is one of the things that someone should minimize doing because those ducats are your VPs + prestige cards so it makes perfect sense to just keep your money and barter for goods instead.

I hope im not sounding like an idiot

[Titus]

In addition to what Gaebril said, i think we also commented that the rules werent clear about allowing trading of Orders, Messages and Privileges, which would have also added for some interesting deals.

Actually, the rulebook says that you can trade cash and goods. Goods are defined as any resource that is not cash, i.e., Orders, Messages, Privileges, special action cards, cubes, and ownership markers. So yes you can trade these. Have you been playing it differently?

Because Orders and Messages are worth a fixed amount of ducats when you fulfill them, it's easy to estimate their monetary value which helps the negotiation.

As for the restrictive trading rules, I think it's just right. It's open enough to make it interesting but structured enough to move it along. My problem with some negotiation games is the wide open nature of the trading. Players take forever to agree on a deal in such games. In fact, we saw some of that in our first playing of Traders.

[Gaebril]

Hm, actually I think we haven't been trading Orders, Messages and Privileges. Just special actions and cubes.

I like the structure given by the cart/tower, actually. If only because it gives a starting point for discussion and it keeps the game moving when there are no ongoing negotiations.

But I really dislike just one specific rule: that you can only trade with a player when you are buying/selling an action. I would prefer as many options for trading as possible. (If this rule doesn't exist, I blame mmj)


@Viscoos: I'd almost always be willing to buy one good that I need for $10, if I had the opportunity.