Nasella
United States
Talent
Oregon
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I would probably like any well conceived game, and would be willing to learn all types of games, so for me I think I would like this game.
I play with my girlfriend and random other people (who like ticket to ride + carc and pandemic). How hard is this game to learn and is it fun to play for somewhat new gamers?
Thanks,
Scott
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Jon W
United States
Aurora
Colorado
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Based on your examples, I would not recommend this one. Not that it couldn't work, but it's long, a bit complicated (lots of moving parts), and fairly strategic (I would expect that if you're the "gamer" of the bunch, you'll always crush people at this).
If you like the look/feel of Feld's games, I'd take a look at Notre Dame, which is a step up from your examples but not such a big step.
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Jack
United States
Cumberland
Rhode Island
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Macao is not difficult to learn - there are some great aids on here to help you learn. It's a fun game that has a lot of different ways to score points. You could do worse than to give it a try.
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Derek Thompson
United States
Beech Grove
Indiana
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If you decide you want it, geekmail me if you want to buy my copy
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David Jones
United States
Oregon
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Its really hard to say since you don't have any games rated. Based on what you've purchased in your profile, I would say that Macao is probably a big step up from what you are used to. It has a completely unique mechanic that takes a bit to get used to, depending on your group it can be a bit cutthroat, and it has a puzzle aspect that requires quite a bit of thought. Macao is a great game that you should eventually try, but you probably need to build up to it.
If you could exlain what about Macao attracts you, we could probably make better suggestions. In the mean time, I don't see a worker placement game on your list, so maybe Stone Age would be a good next step. Navegador is simple to learn and the strategy builds up as you play more. You seem to have a few set collection games, so 7 Wonders might appeal to you.
Games that I personally don't like but are still good to check out would be Powergrid and Dominion. Personally I think Powergrid is a bit bland, but it is good intro to economic style games. The base game for Dominion is simple enough to introduce you to deck builders if you think you might like that kind of thing.
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Brad N
United States
Madison
Wisconsin
There are 7 games I want to play by June 30th, 2012
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clodius wrote: I would probably like any well conceived game, and would be willing to learn all types of games, so for me I think I would like this game.
I play with my girlfriend and random other people (who like ticket to ride + carc and pandemic). How hard is this game to learn and is it fun to play for somewhat new gamers?
Thanks,
Scott
When I first visited this site, I was often tripped up by people telling me that a game was easy to learn and then I did not find it that way. First, many of these games, like Macao, are easier to learn when you've already learned and played a bunch of medium weight Euro games. And, many of these games are easier to learn when an experienced player/teacher is teaching the game. Often, it isn't so easy when you are learning from the rulebook and haven't played these games before.
If you and the people playing have really only ever played ticket to ride, carc and pandemic then Macao is going to be a huge step up. I'd recommend taking a smaller step (e.g. Notre Dame, Vegas Showdown) before getting into Macao.
I like Macao a lot and it's a game where the theme doesn't really tie that well into the game (e.g. nine European cities floating in the ocean off the coast of Macao). But, I find the mechanics and interaction between actions throughout the game quite interesting and fun.
Good luck!
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Nasella
United States
Talent
Oregon
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thanks for all the replies--very helpful
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Jack
United States
Cumberland
Rhode Island
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bnordeng wrote: (e.g. nine European cities floating in the ocean off the coast of Macao).
Obviously, it's not meant to be taken so literally. Contrary to what a lot of folks on here say, there is a good theme to it, if you look deeper. The city quarters are your sphere of control. The people and building cards that go on your tableau are people/businesses that want to be associated with you. When you don't incorporate them into your network (tableau), they speak badly of you and your organization - hence the -3 penalty.
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Loren Cadelinia
United States
Las Vegas
Nevada
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I think Macao might be a bit of big step up as some others have mentioned. It definitely rewards long term planning/strategy, and can possibly be painful for non-gamers since this game has some negative points (penalties) for failing to do some things. I also think it has a potential for some major down time in between turns in a four player game (esp. for non-gamers).
What attracted you to Macao in the first place? As some others have mentioned, perhaps a light or medium weight worker placement game might work (Stone Age or Egizia). Something with dice perhaps and resource management. Off the top of my head, Kingsburg and Alien Frontiers are dice-worker placement games with resource management. If you liked pandemic, might I recommend Yggdrasil for slightly deeper strategy, resource management and great theme.
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J. S.
United States
Manhattan Beach
California
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Glen more could be kind of interesting for you as an evolution in complexity from carcassonne. Maori too could be relevant.
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Nasella
United States
Talent
Oregon
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I was attracted to the well executed design and hierarchy of decisions.
I have definitely been considering Glen more.
It probably is a good idea to take more gradual steps. When researching games, I really look for replay-ability and can see where some games will not hold interest for that long and other games(macao) have a decision making framework that has the potential to be consistently interesting.
Obviously, my owned games list makes it look as though I like somewhat simplistic games. Also, true that I don't have a worker placement game. I might be somewhat anit- worker placement in its simplistic form, but in a good design a la Macao, it offers interesting decisions.
But when it comes down to it, if all of my mates are overwhelmed, then I just wasted money(which I dont have) on a game that looked good. I would like to be conservative in my game choice, that is why I have purchased simple games, because they will be played by my friends which equals money well spent.
Thanks everyone,
scott
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Jack
United States
Cumberland
Rhode Island
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Glen More is a fun game. Best with 4 or 5, but certainly playable with 3.
Feld is really a wonderful designer and you can't go wrong with anything by him. Luna's theme is a little weak for me, tho.
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Brian Spieles
United States
West Carrollton
Ohio
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I have had great success with Notre Dame as an introduction into the heavier Euros (meaning past the "gateway" games). My wife and in-laws enjoy playing it quite a bit and I'm hoping to segue their enjoyment of Notre Dame into Macao. I would agree with most of the replies here that Macao might be jumping in on the deep end for you group of gamers. Just keep in mind, it's much more difficult to get a group to play a game repeatedly if their initial experience is negative/overwhelming.
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Carl Garber
Canada
Vauxhall
Alberta
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I think whether Macao is good or bad for you and your group is Ailey dependent on you. If you are good at reading and understanding rules and are a structured thinker and explainer this game might work for you. I have taught this game to highschool kids who had only played gateway games or no games, and they all picked it up by the end of the first game and liked. Granted, all of them were decently strategic minded people who liked the mental challenge. If your groups are like this and you think you will be able to teach it well, than I would recommend Macao. Replayability is awesome, and the decisions are both meaningful as well as interesting (and fun!).
Hope this helps!
Happy Gaming!
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Freelance Police
United States
Palo Alto
California
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Meh, the mechanics of Macao aren't hard to learn at all. Get cubes, spend cubes. The trick, of course, is to select and spend your cubes more efficiently than any other player, which describes, what 99% of Eurogames? Now, if the other people are saying "OH GOD MEEPLES HARD" or "WHERE DO I PLACE TRAINS LOLOLOL" then, yeah, Macao isn't for them. It's a step up from the games you mentioned but not *that* far up.
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chris lake
United States
Valley Mills
Texas
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I think I am in a similar boat to the OP. I really liked the look and feel of this game from researching rules and videos and really wanted to add it to my collection.
I eventually set up a Trade for it which was great.
Now to the point I try to teach this game to my Wife, and even though weve played some of the harder games like Loyang, Agricola etc with great fun, she had trouble getting her head around this one. Admittedly we've only had the one learning game, and I'm trying to get I back to the table.
I think the hardest part of this game for new players is that you arnt doing things on your turn to gain stuff on your turn per se, its more doing stuff on your turn so you can do stuff in 2-6 turns in the future. Some people have trouble with the lack of immediacy and instant gratification they are used to.
Just my 2 cents
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Julio Escandon
Mexico
Hidalgo
Texas
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provence wrote: Glen more could be kind of interesting for you as an evolution in complexity from carcassonne. Maori too could be relevant.
I found myself Glen More very dry and not as fun as Carcassonne, it's even more complicated so I wouldn't recommend that in my personal experience.
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Steve
United States
California
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Sam and Max wrote: Meh, the mechanics of Macao aren't hard to learn at all. Get cubes, spend cubes. The trick, of course, is to select and spend your cubes more efficiently than any other player, which describes, what 99% of Eurogames? Now, if the other people are saying "OH GOD MEEPLES HARD" or "WHERE DO I PLACE TRAINS LOLOLOL" then, yeah, Macao isn't for them. It's a step up from the games you mentioned but not *that* far up.
I see that in your comment on Macao you wrote:
"Rules can be tricky, so try a few solo games."
From what I've read and seen that was my impression too. I want to try Macao, but I don't think I'll introduce it to my more casual gaming friends.
Moving up the Eurocomplexity ladder from Carcassonne, TtR etc. I've had the best luck with Stone Age and San Juan.
I've since moved further up that ladder with other games (including way up with some wargames although I guess that's a different ladder) but I still enjoy those two.
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Kathy Sheets
United States
Port Saint Lucie
Florida
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It's so hard to know for sure what will work for you. We (I'm the gamer, my husband and son have been drawn in) found Macao extremely easy to learn and the gameplay made sense for us. We love the rondel and how it works to provide payment for cards or other actions in the future. However, we have been totally unable to figure out how to play Court of the Medici which everyone insists is ridiculously easy. So go figure...
I think it might be worth a shot because it's a great game. Just be sure you have a handle on it before getting anyone else involved.
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peter mumford
United States
Somerville
Massachusetts
ceci n'est pas une pipe
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Nasella, what did you decide on? I love Macao and think that learning the game is well worth it. Classy Alea production certainly helps make the game go smoothly.
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Daniel Kearns
United States
Bloomington
Indiana
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I've played lots of different games over a long period of time.
Macao didn't make any sense at all reading the rules and the first time playing really really injured my brain.
Now it's one of my favorite titles but I wouldn't accuse it of being easy to learn.
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Jack
United States
Cumberland
Rhode Island
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If you have someone to teach it, it really becomes pretty easy. Trying to learn it on your own can be a bit confusing at first. You may want to download the help sheet in the file section just to give you an overview of the actions.
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Posted Fri Dec 2, 2011 4:55 pm
