I'm an old hand at M.U.L.E. on my C64 and I even have the pseudo-sequel, Robot Rascals although I may missing some cards for that one. The good luck bad thing was automatic back then and usually the 1st place player got slapped, the last place got a bonus. Making players pick is odd to me but otherwise this looks like a good approximation of the classic game!
I got to play this at Essen, and very much agree with your review. I do think you could probably just remove the cards entirely and you'd be left with a really cool game.
+Nick Sibicky Yes, you can leave them out, no problem. But my friends actually liked the events, and I already have a bunch of "dry" economy games. So this one has a place in my library.
Just read over the rules PDF and I'm REALLY looking forward to this one...yes nostalgia but also it looks fun. Anyone who played long ago know exactly why you need the 5x pieces...hoarding smithore to starve mule production to up the price to ridiculous is a nice profit! (same goes for food and energy just slightly different). I think I'll try without the personal events first and see how we like it, they are totally optional in the rulebook.
The good and bad cards are in the computer game as well. Every time you're in first, you get hosed with fines or lose property, etc. When you're in last, you get a bonus.
From what I heard here, it actually appears to be more random and not as good as the computer game.In the original, you couldn't "play" random events on other players, so there was no take that element. Random events would just happen, with the chance of it being positive being inversely proportional to how well you were doing. And the Wumpus wasn't exactly random - catching it was based on a mini-reflex game, which you would have more time to win at if you had more food that round.Finally, player prices weren't set by a formula (though store prices were), but players would set them themselves in a bidding style system by moving their buy or sell price up or down in real time.Finally, there was no 'player board' - all the action took place on the main board. Although I haven't played it, I'm not sure how the separate player board improves the game.
+Tony Faber The food element in catching the Wampus is still there, because trying to catch the Wampus costs food. So, if you have more food, you can spend it to try draw more cards. In the board game, the players can also set the prices when trading with each other, the price formulas are only for trading with the store.
I'm thinking all you need is a dice roll for the random events to make it like the original game. 1-3 you don't apply the card, 4-6 you apply the card. Just like the computer, random events don't always happen. Problem solved. And oh yea, I will own this game!
9 months later I finally played the game. I bought it about a month ago on sale. Yeah! I played it with 3 other players who had never played the computer game. They did not mind the random lucky/unlucky cards. They also liked the game! I did tell them the random cards were optional, and they all agreed they want to keep them in. 2 of these players like Power Grid, not sure on the 3rd. And the 3rd is a serious Euro gamer, the other 2 guys like some Euros. I wish Tom would have realized those cards are optional and not had lowered his rating for the game. It deserves a better rating. But still happy he gave it a good rating. This is now my 13th favorite game, in my top 100.
I should state, Tom did mention the following optional rule: If your group prefers Players not doing the targeting, you may try the more luck-based Alternative Personal Event System described under Optional Rules instead. But listed in the same tip box, it also states: If your group prefers to skip Personal Events Phase altogether, you may also opt to do so. The game designer does mention this in the BGG post of this video.
I introduced this to my son, who is 13, on the NES. He loves it! I also originally played this on the Commodore 64, but moved onto the NES version. I gotta get this game!
If you have NOT played the computer game, then this is not for you. Simple as that, really. There was a LOT of randomness in the fun factor with the original game, even more so with the CLONES you can find online. I kinda like that. :D Good job Tom. I hope you can find the C-64 or computer version and play it. You won't regret it, I promise!
+Jurpox I would have thought so. I was waiting for Tom to say "...good thing you can play without them!" Kind of a shame to not omit the one thing dragging the game down for you.
I felt kinda the same way about the original computer game, a friend had the Atari 800 version-- I think I only tried to play it a couple of times, and it was pretty dull. Weak, and forgettable.
+Urhixidur TOTAL disagreement... the C64 had the superior SID chip for audio. Otherwise, the game was better on the Atari because of 4 joystick ports. heh. ;-)
+KabukiKid I may be misled by the mp3s of the music I've found lying around. The C64 (or so claimed) one was horrible. But otherwise, yeah, four joysticks made the game come alive!
