I found that the more I play this game the text on the new locations is not a burden. Like all worker placement games you start to develop strategies and taking into consideration which two locations will be leaving can be very important. Also, it’s one of the best solo games around.
I haven't played it solo, and I do assume it would get easier the more you play, but it's rare for me to play games with the hope that enough time and plays will make it better. Especially since I rotate what I play a lot
The excess of texts also bothered me. So I started playing with 5 fixed locations since the beginning and never stoped. And also 4 assistents to everyone. It’s much tighter and fun 🎉
I think your looking at the game to critically in terms of its worker placement being loose. This is a "step up game" in my opinion meaning its a game you use to teach new players into the genre how to play more complex games. This game teaches the basics of worker placement, point salad, and proper long planning. It also introduces asymmetry as well as other basic mechanics that are needed for more advanced games. In addition each card having a different rule introduces tons of little mechanics, nothing complex and all surface level. It's great for learning how to READ game rules and UNDERSTAND the differences of them in a board game. This is a game that teaches the foundations of mechanics not the nuances of them. This game (and it's expansion) are in my collection because it is a 1000000% must play with newcomers to the genre because it TEACHES so much basics in one game. Exact same reason I have Wandering Towers, Harry Potter deck builder, and Azul in my collection. They are (fun) teaching games.
