Board Game Arena

It seems like most games are Basic. Do people not like bidding? I like the extra strategy involved, especially if the volcano tile is an option.

Bidding takes the randomness of the draw out of it, but adds game length, especially turn-based. Just think of how many more rounds of game are being added. Instead of four player turns per round, it's 15-20 or so.

Also, people often just go with the defaults on BGA.

I've played some 400 games of Tikal. I much prefer the auction variant over the random draw. I've played a number of games in the past with the random draw and always seemed to draw open tiles or a few treasure tiles. The temple tiles always eluded me. And I've seen it happen to many others. With the auction variant everyone gets the opportunity to bid for the tile they want. And if the bid gets higher than one wants to pay one bows out. I'll admit the auction does lengthen the game when turn based. It used to drive me crazy. But not anymore. I've learned to be patient with others turns. Just part of playing online.

Boanerges55 wrote: ↑15 April 2025, 03:26 I've played some 400 games of Tikal. I much prefer the auction variant over the random draw.

Here at BGA or IRL? The auctions are fine, just very slow online turn-based.

I've played a number of games in the past with the random draw and always seemed to draw open tiles or a few treasure tiles. The temple tiles always eluded me.

Sorry, but I doubt that. With that many plays your luck has almost certainly been average. Anything else is confirmation bias.

Strode wrote: ↑24 January 2025, 21:43 Bidding takes the randomness of the draw out of it, but adds game length, especially turn-based. Just think of how many more rounds of game are being added. Instead of four player turns per round, it's 15-20 or so.

Also, people often just go with the defaults on BGA.

Sounds like another case where turnbased auctions could benefit from smart bids (tulip and roses) or fast automatic auction (terra mystica). The fast auction from TM especially fits since there are as many lots as players