Comments on: Merlin’s Company: The dangers of Travel! http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/ This blog is devoted to newsworthy announcements related to Days of Wonder’s games and the company itself. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:35:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: zargaist http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/#comment-3465 zargaist Wed, 14 May 2008 03:56:04 +0000 http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/en/#comment-3465 But the lost turn can bring some interesting moments in the game, you then have to convince other knights that you are loyal and worth of being saved, or convince the other traitor to free you. I don't know what everyone have against the new knights. For one, with 7 less dices and miniatures to produce, the expansion will cost a lot less to produce, thus increasing its chances of being a financial success (keep in mind that we are talking about an expansion for a 3 years old game). And if this expansion is financially successful, other expansions for older games, like Pirates' Cove or maybe a second expansion for SoC, will have an easier time to get a green light from DOW. Also, remember when Bedivere was released, suddently people began to play with 8 players instead of 7 like the game was originally intended. With 15 different miniatures, how many groups would be tempted to play with more than 8 players? I have no idea how knights selection will be, but it seems to be so that there will have two green, blue, purple, orange, yellow, black and white knights, and Arthur. With 8 players, Arthur will always be present in the game, and it gives to the other players a choice over which of the two knights they want to play, whether it is the most powerful of both knights, the knight which suit their playing style best, or maybe a knight that will allow them to make combo or synergy with other players' knights, which is a bit better than leaving knight selection entirely down to luck. But the lost turn can bring some interesting moments in the game, you then have to convince other knights that you are loyal and worth of being saved, or convince the other traitor to free you.

I don’t know what everyone have against the new knights. For one, with 7 less dices and miniatures to produce, the expansion will cost a lot less to produce, thus increasing its chances of being a financial success (keep in mind that we are talking about an expansion for a 3 years old game). And if this expansion is financially successful, other expansions for older games, like Pirates’ Cove or maybe a second expansion for SoC, will have an easier time to get a green light from DOW.

Also, remember when Bedivere was released, suddently people began to play with 8 players instead of 7 like the game was originally intended. With 15 different miniatures, how many groups would be tempted to play with more than 8 players?

I have no idea how knights selection will be, but it seems to be so that there will have two green, blue, purple, orange, yellow, black and white knights, and Arthur. With 8 players, Arthur will always be present in the game, and it gives to the other players a choice over which of the two knights they want to play, whether it is the most powerful of both knights, the knight which suit their playing style best, or maybe a knight that will allow them to make combo or synergy with other players’ knights, which is a bit better than leaving knight selection entirely down to luck.

]]> By: Condor http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/#comment-3464 Condor Tue, 13 May 2008 22:30:08 +0000 http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/en/#comment-3464 Gotta say I've been waiting for this expansion for a good while. The list of what's included seems a bit thin for the asking price in my opinion. I haven't played it yet, but the implementation of Merlin, The Witches Coven and the Travel deck best make-up for the value of the expansion. Providing new knight abilities on the same printed cards we already have is sort of weak. We'll use the better ones and hope they are not just for Arthur, Galahad and Tristan who are the best in the game at present. Providing Bedivere is worthless to the people that already have it, which is probably the majority of your players. Could you have used the funds to draw some new Knight art on the coat of arms for us? A second traitor in a game for 7 or 8 folks is interesting. However, we don't really get more than 5 or 6 in our group. How'd you come up with this feature as I wonder if it was really researched amongst your game play base. Leaving us all dedicated players hoping these Merlin and Witch cards are worth it. As Nathan mentioned above... if travel cards hose my turn that's a Negative Play Experience that the Traitors can exploit. Whoopie! Keeping me wondering... as I'll buy it and then know if it was worth it. Wa wa... The Condor Gotta say I’ve been waiting for this expansion for a good while. The list of what’s included seems a bit thin for the asking price in my opinion. I haven’t played it yet, but the implementation of Merlin, The Witches Coven and the Travel deck best make-up for the value of the expansion.

Providing new knight abilities on the same printed cards we already have is sort of weak. We’ll use the better ones and hope they are not just for Arthur, Galahad and Tristan who are the best in the game at present.

Providing Bedivere is worthless to the people that already have it, which is probably the majority of your players. Could you have used the funds to draw some new Knight art on the coat of arms for us?

A second traitor in a game for 7 or 8 folks is interesting. However, we don’t really get more than 5 or 6 in our group. How’d you come up with this feature as I wonder if it was really researched amongst your game play base.

Leaving us all dedicated players hoping these Merlin and Witch cards are worth it. As Nathan mentioned above… if travel cards hose my turn that’s a Negative Play Experience that the Traitors can exploit. Whoopie!

Keeping me wondering… as I’ll buy it and then know if it was worth it. Wa wa…

The Condor

]]> By: ColtsFan76 http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/#comment-3463 ColtsFan76 Mon, 12 May 2008 20:19:48 +0000 http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/en/#comment-3463 I am looking forward to the expansion as well. Having an 8th player is good for me along with the changed dynamics of the 2nd Traitor. I think as a whole, the expansion adds enough to warrant a purchase. The game could still use additional quests in the future but this is by no means a bust for me. I am looking forward to the expansion as well. Having an 8th player is good for me along with the changed dynamics of the 2nd Traitor. I think as a whole, the expansion adds enough to warrant a purchase. The game could still use additional quests in the future but this is by no means a bust for me.

]]> By: Mark http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/#comment-3462 Mark Mon, 12 May 2008 19:41:20 +0000 http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/en/#comment-3462 Not a pass for me...the travel cards are not the only changes to the game. With new knights (new abilities) plus new cards for the decks (black and white) greatly enhances the game. Merlin is now a figure on the board and the possibility of TWO traitors changes the mechanics of the game. The whole dynamic will be different. Methinks Nathan has not thought through the expansion as a whole...but to each his own. Thanks guys for the work you put into this expansion...I want my copy as soon as I can get it! Not a pass for me…the travel cards are not the only changes to the game. With new knights (new abilities) plus new cards for the decks (black and white) greatly enhances the game. Merlin is now a figure on the board and the possibility of TWO traitors changes the mechanics of the game. The whole dynamic will be different. Methinks Nathan has not thought through the expansion as a whole…but to each his own.
Thanks guys for the work you put into this expansion…I want my copy as soon as I can get it!

]]> By: Nathan http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/#comment-3461 Nathan Mon, 12 May 2008 18:07:30 +0000 http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/05/12/merlins-company-the-dangers-of-travel/en/#comment-3461 Looks like I am going to pass on this purchase....thanks for the preview though...i was hoping for more quests or a substantially new mechanic to refresh the game. Drawing a card to skip your turn, IMO = no fun... Looks like I am going to pass on this purchase….thanks for the preview though…i was hoping for more quests or a substantially new mechanic to refresh the game.

Drawing a card to skip your turn, IMO = no fun…

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