I do think it helps for awareness. There's quite some designers on that list whose games I admire, but I wasn't aware of them because they're hardly talked about.

Another aspect that I can't prove but think is there: designers who know how to write good rulebooks, also know how to make their games easy to understand.

That makes sense, I would probably do the same. Thank you for your answer!

Just got the expansion today, excited to try it!

Out of shameless curiosity: When the base game came out, I put up a small 'Leaders' fan expansion on BGG. It has some broad similarities to Allies. Was that any inspiration, or did I by accident roughly predict what the expansion would look like :)?

Thanks! Is there any way I can play a game that is not about a pipe here in Europe? I would love to try it

I mean, fortnite was already morally on the wrong end for exploiting the underdeveloped minds of kids and teenagers to make a profit selling cosmetic ingame items, but fuck them twice now

Don't observe the game, observe the players:
- What are their expressions?
- What gets them excited?
- What do they have trouble understanding?
- What choices do they make?
- What do they keep forgetting to do?

Observing the players tells you everything you need to know about the state of the game.

In Splendor the resources have identical rarity and are acquired in an identical way, but their values are not identical.

This was an excellent choice. I've definitely had years were it was a lot harder to navigate the halls than this year.

- signing so many copies of L'Oaf (I think y'all are nuts for wanting my autograph, but I loved it anyway!)
- meeting all the lovely people who came to say they loved L'Oaf and/or Bable!

If you want I can bring you in touch with the designer and/or publisher to solve this conundrum

(It hurts a bit to admit as I know them both personally, but yes, I agree that the rules are hard to parse in their current form)

We went to Wulfhorn Games where @bartgamedesign.bsky.social demo'ed his game L'oaf. Who knew playing a bunch of lazy bakers who do just enough work to get not get in trouble is such a good time!

We also talked briefly with @zhoekstra.bsky.social about his game Canal Houses (Foreshadowed!)

That's crazy! I got a call from the publisher this afternoon, asking if I could pass by the distributor to pick up more copies on my way to Essen. I'm sorry you couldn't get one today, but I'm happy to hear that it's selling so well!

You and me both! Good luck setting up, can't wait to join you guys

Had je maar rijke ouders uit moeten kiezen

Excellent choice! Our culinary strategy is to take all the good stuff from everywhere else so we don't have to eat our own food 😅