Interesting at first glance, but is fast on one side!

Last weekend we met up with friends for a cozy evening games.
As we like to try something new, we have "The Pillars of the Earth" gained. We played the game with 5/6 players Erweitung to fifth.

At first glance, of course, falls on the large and well designed game plan. Also high are the playing cards and figures, here they gave a lot of effort. Unfortunately, the game manual is far too long and does not make it to be limited to the essentials.

We decided (as one of our friends, the game already knew), accompanied with instructions, just loszuspielen plan. Here, the gameplay is a lot better than clear when reading the instructions, because each round is similar to what widerum is also one of the biggest weaknesses of the game.

At first impression the game made a complicated and strategic impression this should, however, soon turn out to be wrong. At the main office, the place of the towers, the game is drawn by chance. Basically has one whose towers are all in the front third of the draw, the best starting point: He can claw 2 victory points, or get a free metal or the position of the next starting player can back up what he sending you the next card option ( in the most 1 card is extremely strong) provides enormous benefits, while the 5th player can pick up the remains tolerable and must see that he still gets something. Influence on the draw can make matters worse not take.

So it can easily happen that a player who has the drawing of lots was unlucky, despite good strategy simply can not reasonably come to the train. Unfortunately, there is no way with the other Mitpspielern interact to act, or to harm them. Games like Catan or Dominion also allow the luckless but strategically charmed, with tactical means to block players the leader and the chance to win so again compensate (eg Knight cards, monopoly, road / curse, militia, thief).
If you have 2 of 6 rounds Pech (comes with 5 players quite often before) you have no chance of winning. In all our games usually 2-3 players were behind a management duo, from the in Round 6, who won the luckiest.

Pillars of the Earth thus degenerates into a permanent inaktionslosen game against the chance ... the interactive, social component is missing and thus the game ends up quickly in the closet. Also the title of a strategy game, it contributes to injustice: the supposed "strategy" is limited to the sale of the best maps still lying on the board. The unchanging gameplay of rounds also runs very in length ... one should mind. Schedule 2 hours!

Conclusion: On the 1st look nice and interesting in the long run, unfortunately monotonous and boring! In a game with so many awards we could have expected more. This weekend we therefore prefer to play again Dominion! :-)