[Board/Tactical Game]: Santiago, reviewed by ShannonA (4/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11385.phtml

Shannon Appelcline's Summary:

A well-designed logistical auction game with some interesting mechanics, as you try and irrigate the desert island of Santiago.

Go to the full review for more information.

[Calculon]

The game does look like fun, though if dryness and computation-heaviness is an issue, does the game's rules do a good job of establishing the setting and motivating play?

I know that "atmosphere" isn't the #1 criterion for board games, but it'd be neat to see something to help get players past the "number crunching" hump.

Also I'm just testing out the new Review Forum feature.

[ShannonA]

Originally Posted by squideye

The game does look like fun, though if dryness and computation-heaviness is an issue, does the game's rules do a good job of establishing the setting and motivating play?

I know that "atmosphere" isn't the #1 criterion for board games, but it'd be neat to see something to help get players past the "number crunching" hump.

The setting is fairly weak, even for a German game. You have the different types of crops, a gridded board, and that's it. I suppose the game does give a bit of a feel for agriculture, but that's it. I wouldn't know that Santiago was a desert island off the coast of Africa without the little intro in the rules.

Shannon