The problem with boats + Merchants

[Godsmurf]

The Lords card has been made optional because it greatly advantages the last player in turn order. However I think there's an even bigger balance problem in the game, and that is when Merchants card comes out while boats are on the board. Whichever player(s) get the boat (by being the first to draw desert or canyon, which is entirely down to luck) will win or fight for the win, while the player(s) who can't get boat don't have a chance. In a two player game where both players get a boat (because one draws desert first and the other draws canyon first) it's not a problem, but in every other possibility it determines the outcome. I don't think I've ever seen a player win a game with Merchants without a boat. The difference in skill would have to be enormous for that.

An option to avoid the Merchants / Boat combo would be great. I know it's unlikely to happen this long after the implementation, but I was wondering if other players agree.

[cigma]

I am sure that merchants + boat is a good combination, but I am not sure it is so strong that "player(s) who can't get boat don't have a chance".
- You have 2 other objectives to work on, and they might give you even more points.
- Other players will block those with the boats wherever they can.
- You can pick up bonus tiles which allow you to set more houses and therefore speed up the game (boats are slow).

[Godsmurf]

Boats help you reach other bonus tiles more easily. Seriously, I've never seen anyone win without a boat when Merchants + boat are out. I happen to just be starting such a game, and I luck out and get desert+canyon as my first two cards so I can surround the boat. The game is over now, before my opponent has even made his second move. He has zero chance of winning this, even though he has a higher rating than me. It's ridiculous.

[Godsmurf]

Today I'm in a 3p game with Merchants + Boats. My opponents each get one of the two boats in their first turn, so I have lost the game before my first move.

I'll shut up about it now, just wanted to report this. It's a much, much bigger imbalance than the Lords card was.

[cigma]

I guess you are referring to this game: https://boardgamearena.com/9/kingdombui ... =354297535 and I gree that your chances are pretty poor, in addition considering the possibilities for your first bonus tile and the other objectives. But also player count is important: in a 2 player game, each has good chances to pick up a boat. In a 4 player game, there are 2 players to fight the boat owners. So I still think it's not a general problem with merchants + boat, but depending on the circumstances.

Altogether, we have to accept that Kingdom Builder has some luck involved.