After writing, then reading my own basic and relatively in-experienced thoughts on 7WD, I had a chance to put some of my thought into practice, for what became a surprising and interesting night of play.
We (Meg and I) played 4 games on the trot.
The first was an experiment and one I felt was a little mean, because I intended to try some tactics that I had formulated while researching the game, and they were highly dependent on Meg’s known habits.
Knowing that any science cards Meg came across would likely be scrapped, I kept a look out for the two re-draw options available (Hades and The Mausoleum). Hades came up. I was then also on the hunt for Ishtar or the Law token. Ishtar also came up.
Game on.
I am known to fiddle around with science builds and even try some Progress tokens, so grabbing the first two green cards was no big surprise, but it cost me. By the end of the first age I had 1 resource build, but I had already decided to ignore my Wonders or pretty much any other game winning distraction. Long story short, I won the game with the first reveal of the Third Age (sweet revenge for the same happening militarily a few weeks ago).
It felt a little unfair at first, but then I considered it, I had no other chance of winning and the whole thing came down to having two of the four God/Wonder options I needed being available and then getting them. I would have changed tactics if the options were not there and I doubt it will be this easy again, but the Stars (Gods) aligned.
Games 2 and 3 were the two closest games we have had, with victory to Meg twice by 3 points in each.
In the second game I ignored greens totally, partly from fear of over playing them and partly due to limited options. My stash of Civil builds, monied up Gods and decent spread of resources was pipped at the post by a strong military effort and a similar spread. My only mini victory was some tricky play on my last turn, buying my last Wonder, repeating my turn and burning a 3 shield build that would have sunk me. I was confident going into the points tally but fell short 48-51.
Game 3 was higher scoring. I went strongly military, a by-product of buying the Strategy and Engineering Progress tokens, not able to pull out a win, mostly due to Aphrodite and Pyramids, I did put a lot of pressure on 57-60.
Game 4 is the interesting one. Another science victory, much like the first, but with a different dynamic. This time I actually got out all the symbols I needed with Ishtar and no other help.
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Science victories are hard to pull off and can lead to certain defeat if you chase useless tokens, have no help from Gods or Wonders or telegraph your intent (it only takes a couple of burned cards and game over), but with the Pantheon expansion, there are now a decent number of ways there.
Ishtar and the Law token duplicate the “wild card” dynamic. This is really powerful. It is not possible for your opponent to deny you of all the science cards, but highly probably they can strip you of the one or two you need to make a full set. The ability to fill the gap(s) with these two make it far more likely.
The Mausoleum and Hades allow for re-draws of discards, which are often (in our games) science cards and easily remembered. Re-draws can be brutal especially late in the game, making both science and military victories a real threat. Having two ways to get them almost guarantees one per game.
Nisaba allows you to “steal” the icon on your opponents science card (but not take it), which means there is no where for them to hide and of course she can also be used too break up a set in the making. Not at first a seen as a great option by me as Meg almost never takes green builds, Nisaba is the safety net the game needs when just discarding science cards becomes common. She will have her day.
There are also ways of getting Progress tokens and Gods other than the normal routes, using The Gate, Library, Theatre or Enki. With only three Gods per suit, it is easy enough to work out who is where, but Progress tokens have less than a fifty-fifty chance to get in play.
I feel I have woken the bear now with Meg. She will now be on the lookout for this tactic and will likely take more of an interest in the wonders of playing green. I am expecting some Progress tokens to come into play, especially the good early build options like Urbanism, Engineering, Architecture, Strategy or Masonry and some surprising re-draws and these will inevitably lead to a Science victory opportunity or two.
The thing that brings us back to this game is the depth. This is not just depth of options, but depth of perspective. I am sure we have not even started to tap the options available and I will bet that in the months or years to come our play styles will evolve regularly, but I also have no doubt that the game will retain its balance and enjoyability.