The start of the game sets the tone for the rest. Where the resources are, especially the 1-cost ones, how they're grouped, etc. It's all too possible to simply be dealt terrible starting hands where you see less resources than anyone else. Further, in age 3, there can be a large imbalance in information for each player, given that the starting hands contain the random guild cards. It's entirely possible to not know what any of the guild cards are until your 3rd hand. Also, there are obviously other unlucky or lucky hand setups that can make or break your game regardless how well you play.
So, the fix:
1. At the start of each age, lay all the cards face up on the table.
2. Each player takes a turn picking a first card, starting from player A to player Z.
2. Player Z starts picking their second card, and each player continues to take their second card.
3. Player A starts picking their third card, etc, etc, which continues until all the hands are built.
4. The hands themselves are shuffled and dealt to each player.
What this accomplishes:
- everybody is involved in ensuring that hands are built balanced, since there's no guarantee which hand you get
- hands with 1-cost resources will likely have less no cost resources (since the player last to pick will likely not be able to pick any 1-cost resources but will have two picks in a row)
- card colors will be better distributed
- guild cards will be known at the start of age 3 and likely not be clustered
- some strategy will be involved in building the hands
Other than additional time and physical table space (which is irrelevant in online play) I can't see any downsides to this.
Would love to hear everyone else's thoughts.
So, the fix:
1. At the start of each age, lay all the cards face up on the table.
2. Each player takes a turn picking a first card, starting from player A to player Z.
2. Player Z starts picking their second card, and each player continues to take their second card.
3. Player A starts picking their third card, etc, etc, which continues until all the hands are built.
4. The hands themselves are shuffled and dealt to each player.
What this accomplishes:
- everybody is involved in ensuring that hands are built balanced, since there's no guarantee which hand you get
- hands with 1-cost resources will likely have less no cost resources (since the player last to pick will likely not be able to pick any 1-cost resources but will have two picks in a row)
- card colors will be better distributed
- guild cards will be known at the start of age 3 and likely not be clustered
- some strategy will be involved in building the hands
Other than additional time and physical table space (which is irrelevant in online play) I can't see any downsides to this.
Would love to hear everyone else's thoughts.