I would like to make the suggestion that the game notifies me when someone purchases a route.
I would also like to suggest an optional game setting where you have to get the permission of the original route holder to purchase their route (but anyone could buy routes that were not initially selected).
Reasoning?
Short version - someone will buy my route, make movements that I wasn't expecting without communicating and then cause me to waste speed.
Long version - there seems to be a spectrum of playing styles from cooperative/friendly to almost competitive.
In the friendly/cooperative style people mainly stick to their initial route(s) with exceptions, trade things, etc. Communicate if needed usually focused on what your own plan is or asking where the other person is going to do. Occasional suggestions that are win/win.
On the other end of things, you have people who buy up multiple routes to make quick deliveries and cash. Communication is rare or unresponsive and it’s harder to make plans. As the game progresses, they bundle groups of passengers to the same location, picking up happy passengers and leaving behind orange and red ones, sometimes that need to go in the same direction just not to the same exact location. Then expecting other players to shuttle singles around so there's no complaint. It's like they are trying to turn a cooperative game into a competitive one by being the MVP with the most stuff/routes/speed/seats. When there is communication, it tends to be more demanding of others to benefit the conglomerate.
So, notifications about route purchases (more than just entered in the log) would at least help me anticipate other players moves. And that does seem to be consistent with how the original game would have been played in person.
As for the optional game setting that I suggested, it would be particularly helpful in games with easier settings, typically with newer/apprentice/average/good/strong players but also with large group games which can take awhile and I might want to know their approach before joining.
Personally, before I buy another route, I typically put it in the chat to let other players know and also to see if there is a better plan.
I would also like to suggest an optional game setting where you have to get the permission of the original route holder to purchase their route (but anyone could buy routes that were not initially selected).
Reasoning?
Short version - someone will buy my route, make movements that I wasn't expecting without communicating and then cause me to waste speed.
Long version - there seems to be a spectrum of playing styles from cooperative/friendly to almost competitive.
In the friendly/cooperative style people mainly stick to their initial route(s) with exceptions, trade things, etc. Communicate if needed usually focused on what your own plan is or asking where the other person is going to do. Occasional suggestions that are win/win.
On the other end of things, you have people who buy up multiple routes to make quick deliveries and cash. Communication is rare or unresponsive and it’s harder to make plans. As the game progresses, they bundle groups of passengers to the same location, picking up happy passengers and leaving behind orange and red ones, sometimes that need to go in the same direction just not to the same exact location. Then expecting other players to shuttle singles around so there's no complaint. It's like they are trying to turn a cooperative game into a competitive one by being the MVP with the most stuff/routes/speed/seats. When there is communication, it tends to be more demanding of others to benefit the conglomerate.
So, notifications about route purchases (more than just entered in the log) would at least help me anticipate other players moves. And that does seem to be consistent with how the original game would have been played in person.
As for the optional game setting that I suggested, it would be particularly helpful in games with easier settings, typically with newer/apprentice/average/good/strong players but also with large group games which can take awhile and I might want to know their approach before joining.
Personally, before I buy another route, I typically put it in the chat to let other players know and also to see if there is a better plan.
