After starting Ian Toll's Six Frigates, an excellent history of the Barbary Pirates Crisis, I became curious about a gaming version of the history. Lo and behold, here comes Shores of Tripoli! Thank you for a wonderful (as usual) review of the game.
I third this. I read Six Frigates last year and it was easily the best book I've ever read on early US naval history. It's a riveting story about the awkward early years of the United States establishing itself on the world stage. The book is a perfect companion to this game because they both do such a good job of portraying the events.
In games that I played or observed, the United States had a win rate of 52%. In games that were blind play tests, the United States had a win rate of about 42% - but if I scrubbed the first two games from every play tester, the win rate was back at almost exactly 52%. I think it takes a game or two to grasp the overall strategy for the Americans. If someone plays only a handful of times, they might think that there is a side bias for Tripoli, but I think that evaporates over time. Ties are pretty rare - about 2%. Ties tend to happen when the US forces are spent and they don't think they can achieve either win condition, so they play defense and try to run out the clock before Tripoli gets twelve gold.
Alexander. Same. I've been trying to find little obscure games about subjects that maybe I know something about or don't. case in point compass games paper wars magazine: the fall of Siam. what do I know about Siam other than the King and I movie/musical. I read a little bit of the history n bought it. thoroughly enjoyed it, went down to the last turn. Thanks for the site to buy this game. Great video as always guys. Be safe.
Game is too simple or it needs more events so that every game is not the same. Also, would like to see a random gold collection on raids that takes into account the strength or weakness of the Americans - or possibly a track that measures diplomatic influence that impacts play.
3 года назад
Is it the sort of game where you have your boat by its target, but you need to be lucky to draw a card allowing it to actually attack ? I hate that mechanism (also found in Scythe in some other way).
Halls of montezuma... There was NEVER a montezuma (only in the marine song, and that was a mistaken name for when Marines fought in Mexico city. That place wasn't called Montezuma.... LOL
