As threatened, awful themes. These games have themes slapped on because German games have themes dammit! The themes have absolutely nothing to do with game play and can be easily replaced with another flavor, like Industrial Revolution instead of Ancient Egypt. In descending order (worst themed games last), Carcassone, Through the Desert, Ra, Justinian, and Artus.
Carcassone - A tile laying game that has 3 scoring features and 4 ways to score with those features. The Medieval theme works a little bit, Knights score when you enclose cities and Monks are affiliated with Abbeys, but Robbers were named for convenience and how Farmers score only makes sense thematically if you squint. 2.5 Witch Burnings out of 5.
Through the Desert - another tile laying game, strings of 'camels' wind through the board competing to close off areas and reach certain VP spots. Again, this kind of works if you imagine long caravans traveling, but I can easily picture a nautical themed trade route replacement. 2 Spice Traders out of 5.
Ra - The theme really doesn't work at all in this auction game. Get the most of this thing and you get points (Pharoahs), get this other thing but it requires an activation purchase as well (Niles and Floods) and collect either different items or sets of this thing for massive points at the end of the game (Monuments). The fairest thing I can say about Ra is the theme doesn't get in the way of good game play. 1 cheesy Mummy movie out of 5.
Justinian - I've only played this game once, a demo at Gencon with Tim. If in the middle of the game you realize the mechanisms used really fit a different theme better, that theme was slapped on for convenience. Actual theme, move up chosen counselors' ranks with bribes and favors in a Byzantine court. My proposed theme, make this the American Top 40! The hits get bigger the smaller the numbers get! 0 Long Distance Dedications out of 5.
Artus - I am the only NF member that has played this game (and I liked it...), another demo at Gencon. It's a King Arthur theme that not only is painted on, actually doesn't fit the canon. The Crown changes hands several times during the game, which is almost, but not quite, opposite of the Arthurian legend. 0 Monty Python Holy Grails out of 5.
I didn't notice how horrible the Carcassonne theme was...i was distracted by building the city i think, in that sense the theme fits as well as all the pieces fit together. the scoring is a bit silly now that you call attention to it :)
ReplyDeletethe through the desert theme doesn't fit a nautical setting either, because you're making blobs, not trade routes. the mechanics might fit a game about different germs growing and spreading on your tongue.
Fair enough on TtD, I just know that the camel caravan theme was only there so you can have something to call the tiles and VP goals.
ReplyDeleteJustinian had FANTASTIC art design, based on Byzantine iconography and portraiture. Darren's redesign idea is totally spot on; it should have been American Top 40. And will be once Darren publishes it (!!!). ;)
ReplyDeletehow I picture an AT40 game is the players are the CEOs of record companies trying to generate record sales. I would incorporate caricature art and parody song titles along the lines of Steve Jackson's Munchkin series. Maybe someday I will take a swing at it :)
ReplyDelete