Essen 2013: My Wish List (Part Two)

This is the second part of my Essen wish list - which should be obvious from the title. If you'd like to read the first part of my list, it's right here.

I write this list knowing full well that I will not likely own many of these games... and that, in some cases, I won't ever get to play them. It's a WISH LIST, for crying out loud, not a shopping list. (The chances of me playing/owning any of these games is noticeably higher than me actually getting to Essen, so there's that.)

All of the information is pre-Essen and subject to change. The majority comes courtesy of BGG News and the ever-diligent W. Eric Martin.

12 Realms

• designer: Ignazio Carrao
• publisher: MAGE Company
• players: 1-6
• length: 40 minutes

A cooperative miniatures game that sounds like it was thematically marinated in the graphic novel series "Fables" and the TV show "Once Upon a Time"... and there's already 3 expansion boxes ready to go? (Darn these game companies - they know my Kryptonite: expansions.)

Caverna: The Cave Farmers

• designer: Uwe Rosenberg
• publisher: Lookout Games
• players: 1-7
• length: 30 minutes per player

While I'm a little worried that this will replace my beloved Agricola - as in some way it's a redesign - I'm excited to see what kind of tweaks & twists Uwe is going to introduce to this incredibly robust game system... plus, it's got dwarves.

Coal Baron

• designer: Michael Kiesling & Wolfgang Kramer
• publisher: R&R Games
• players: 2-4
• length: 70 minutes

This was my favorite "heavy" game prototype from the Gathering of Friends this year - it's a worker placement game with a really solid thematic connection (mining) and a slightly friendlier way to deal with multiple players wanting to do the same thing. Best of all: it felt like there are multiple paths to victory. 

Geister, Geister, Schatzsuchmeister

• designer: Brian Yu
• publisher: Mattel
• players: 2-4
• length: 30 minutes

I had the opportunity to play the prototype of this game earlier this year at the Gathering of Friends... and it's been on my "want to buy" list ever since. This is a brilliantly designed family-friendly cooperative game that should have wide release here in the United States... but it doesn't. Those who are headed to Essen should pick up a copy!

Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy

• designer: Michiel Justin Elliott Hendriks
• publisher: Portal
• players: 1-4
• length: 60 minutes

I know very little about this game - but at first blush, it looks like someone has finally taken the IDEA behind one of the most unplayable & intriguing games I've ever owned (Avalon Hill's Down With the King) and turned it into a playable game. I'm willing to try it & find out.

Lewis & Clark

• designer: Cedrick Chauboussit
• publisher: Ludonaute
• players: 1-5
• length: 120 minutes

I like exploration games. I like resource management games. I like race games. I think this game may be the board game equivalent of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard for me.

I've read through the rules and think there are some really interesting things going on here... and I hope to get to play it in a few weeks.

The Capitals

• designer: Thiago Boaventura
• publisher: Mercury Games
• players: 2-5
• length: 90 minutes

More city-building! I've read through the rules on this one as well... and it reads very well. You're dealing with 7 different tracks of city health - juggling the need for further expansion with keeping your city functional. I like the art design as well as the game design - and hope to play it very soon.

Town Center

• designer: Albin Viard
• publisher: Ludibay
• players: 1-4
• length: 30 minutes

There are a lot of city-building games coming out this year -  but this is probably the coolest looking one. (You are building in 3-D!) If I order something sight unseen from the Essen haul, there's a pretty good chance it'll be this one.

If you haven't figured it out, I love me some city-building games. (OK, my love is not universal - I thought Urban Sprawl completely monkeyed up the balance between length & randomness, and City Tycoon was dry as a bone.)