Hey all-
So, based on some of the advice from a few weeks ago I reworked Leaving Earth a bit and have given it a few test runs. Mostly play is smooth and enjoyable. However, it is perhaps a bit too low stress. Here's why...
The game is based on bidding (blind) for actions. The highest bidder gets the most powerful version of the action. In a five player game, everyone gets to perform an action except the last place bidder (in most categories). However, with the goal of "increasing the amount of control players feel over their situation" I instituted a rule whereby with a minimum bid of $4 you get a minimal version of the action (about equivalent to the 4th place bidder) even if you were last place! And the result was...
(A) Players DID feel more control. If they really wanted to do something, they bid at least 4. If not, they sat out the action (which is a reasonable option).
(B) Bids were DRIVEN TO THE MIDDLE. Most bids were in the $4-$6 range. Occasionally if someone really wanted to be first they would bid 8 or 9, but not much. I felt this was a bit of loss in the tension of the game. In the old version (without a guarantee that 4 would get you anything) there was much more tension over what was "enough" to bid. This tension also encouraged people to strategically sit out actions on occasion (you get a minor bonus for a zero bid). And, bids at the high end could get kinda wild for a really desirable action at the right time and situation. So, the new version encouraged a kind of mediocrity.
So, finally, here are a few ideas I have to preserve result A somewhat, but reduce B a bit. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK...
(IDEA #1) Someone last night suggested this: Instead of a "minimum of $4" gets you an action, make it "if you're within $2 of the 4th place person" (in a 5pl game). This sounds good in theory, encouraging people to think again about what is "enough," however, I worry that it will drive bids even lower--that lots of people will just bid $1 or $2 because they figure if at least one other person makes a low bid, then they will be within $2 of the 4th place person. So, eventually, winning bids will be like $5 and everyone else will hover around $2. Unfun! Please tell me if you think I'm wrong, but after sleeping on it, I'm pretty sure it won't work.
(IDEA #2) COMMAND TOKENS: At the beginning of the game everyone gets 2 or 3 or 4 "command tokens." These tokens may be used if you made a losing bid that was at least $3 or $4 (or some level--or maybe not--maybe they just let you act w/o paying! you are a fleet commander after all...). If you use a command token, then rather than a losing bid, you do get to take the action. This way, it will retain the sense that "when it's really important, I can make sure I get something," but won't always drive bids to the middle so much.
At this point I'm pretty sure I will institute IDEA #2, but please tell me if you have other ideas you think might work. Thanks!
