Author Topic: Seven Wonders  (Read 3786 times)

Offline RobbyPants

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Seven Wonders
« on: November 08, 2011, 11:06:22 AM »
Has anyone played Seven Wonders? I've only played it a half a dozen times or so, but I may get it soon. What'd you think?

It's the only card drafting game I've ever played, so it takes some getting used to. Also, I usually play two or three player games, so that one time I played six-player was a lot different.

I did really well about three games back to back which gave me a false sense of skill. I'm not sure how skill-based that game really is. It seems luck can out strip decision making by quite a bit.
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Offline Revenant

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Re: Seven Wonders
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2011, 06:16:11 PM »
When I played it the first time, it seemed like a very interesting skill-based game. You're constantly making decisions that influence you and your opponents' plans.  That first game ended with a 5-point difference between the first and the last player.

Then we played it some more. Same thing happened. Sometimes, if nobody intervenes, a runaway science player gets a big win. More often, everyone intervenes, and science loses. Overall, if nobody makes any big mistakes (leaving yourself unable to access a resource, letting a science player play all the science), all scores are within 10 points of each other, and a win is based on luck.

My gaming group's conclusion was that the game was, in a strange way, too balanced. Say it's round one, and you have the option of playing a blue card for points, a red card for military, or a resource card for more options next round... all will earn you roughly the same amount of points. We stopped playing pretty soon after that.

The first ten games were great fun however, and it's a game that's fun the first time you play it. So if you play games with new people every now and then, it might be worth it?

Offline RobbyPants

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Re: Seven Wonders
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2011, 08:31:20 AM »
Then we played it some more. Same thing happened. Sometimes, if nobody intervenes, a runaway science player gets a big win. More often, everyone intervenes, and science loses. Overall, if nobody makes any big mistakes (leaving yourself unable to access a resource, letting a science player play all the science), all scores are within 10 points of each other, and a win is based on luck.
You're right about science. That quadratic scoring gets crazy if they're left unchecked. I've never tried to go for science because it seems to be the first thing people dump to make their wonders (or get money if they're desperate).

Typically, I try to get a decent amount of resources (paying attention to what I need for my wonders), watch what my neighbors can provide (and possibly pick up one of those trade-for-half economy cards), and mostly focus on victory cards (particularly ones with prereqs like Alter -> Temple -> Pantheon). I don't go whole hog on military, but usually enough to beat at least one of the neighbors. Other than that, I try to sabotage everyone as best as I can with what I bury to build my wonders.

I don't know if I've just gotten lucky, but no one tries too hard to interfere with me picking up combos like Alter -> Temple -> Pantheon. I think sometimes it's luck for who starts with what on the first hand of each age. Often, I find myself with three or four cards I'd love to play, and I know I just have to pass my hand! Do I play that good card or bury another good card the guy next to me certainly wants?
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Offline darqueseid

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Re: Seven Wonders
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2011, 02:30:17 PM »
I've played 7 wonders quite a bit, the science victory is certainly one way to pull off a win,  but there are several others.  To name a few
- Balanced strategy, looking to gain a certain amount of victory points from each different style.
- Military victories (winning on all rounds nets 18vp) + something else, usually the science method (you don't go all out on science but get the bldgs that give you free military vps)
- Guilds (these can really turn the tide in a 7 player game, assuming you pick the right ones)
- Focus blue (with something else military/science or guilds)

All of the above can be viable strategies, depending on which city you are etc.  Certain cities/wonders compliment some strategies much better.  There is a certain amount of luck, which is why the science victory is strong.  Its not tough really to focus on one thing and science can outright win all on its own (but there are wonders that also help going science by giving you a symbol of your choice). 

The only strategy I've never seen work is the money/trading strategy... I just think your penalized too much because the buildings don't give you points generally and 1/3 vp for money is just too big of a hit.  Its funny, because new players always hoard money like its going out of style.  My goal is always to end the game with absolutely all my money spent..


Offline RobbyPants

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Re: Seven Wonders
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 08:38:03 AM »
- Focus blue (with something else military/science or guilds)
This is what I've done most often. It seems pretty strong so long as it's not against an unopposed science specialist.


The only strategy I've never seen work is the money/trading strategy... I just think your penalized too much because the buildings don't give you points generally and 1/3 vp for money is just too big of a hit.  Its funny, because new players always hoard money like its going out of style.  My goal is always to end the game with absolutely all my money spent..
I tried this once and it killed me. Well, kind of. I just didn't get much in the way of resources and hoped I could use the economic cards to help me trade on the cheap. Later in the game, I found myself spending way too many turns burning a card for $3, and that's when cards are netting you the most points!
« Last Edit: December 06, 2011, 08:41:19 AM by RobbyPants »
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Offline BG_Meg

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Re: Seven Wonders
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2011, 10:02:03 AM »
I'm in total lesbians with this game. I love the variety and that you can play over and over and have different experiences each time
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