So you like to place workers
March 6, 2024 4:12 AM Subscribe
"Some of the most heated debates on online forums involve definitions. What is a Euro game? What is a medium-heavy game? What constitutes “too much luck.” The definition of worker placement is no exception."
Lots of great ideas in the article but I found the tone of the intro exhausting; it implied that the form and variations on games is a determined and static thing you must work within, which doesn’t match up with my experience.
posted by q*ben at 6:22 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
posted by q*ben at 6:22 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
Yeah, for instance, Apiary is a new-ish game that looks like a classic worker-placement at first glance, but in playing it you realize the spaces are not exclusive, sharing a space with another player can benefit you, and bumping another player (or getting bumped yourself) can be a benefit to whoever gets bumped. Takes a lot of assumptions about worker placement and goes, "...Nah."
posted by xedrik at 7:38 AM on March 6 [5 favorites]
posted by xedrik at 7:38 AM on March 6 [5 favorites]
Another vote here for Everdell - played the tabletop version with a bunch of a friends a few weeks ago and it's delightful.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:21 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
posted by Navelgazer at 8:21 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
Yeah... usually I try to post new or new-ish links. This one's ten years old, and I felt it both interesting and maybe a good spur for discussion. I love worker placement games! I also love that they're changing, and that what locating a worker means is evolving.
posted by cupcakeninja at 8:21 AM on March 6 [2 favorites]
posted by cupcakeninja at 8:21 AM on March 6 [2 favorites]
One of the coolest examples of worker placement to me is also one of the first: Bus!
In Bus, you have a pool of 20 workers. Each turn you have to put down at least two, but can put down as many as there are valid spaces. Once their actions are triggered, though, they're gone from the game forever. Thus, you only have 20 actions for the whole game. It adds something of a push-your-luck mechanism to a game with no luck: do you think using a couple extra workers now will be worth being out of the game later? Should you save up, but let other players spend to build routes that you won't be able to use later on?
For me, the best worker placement games have "teeth", competitiveness and interactivity. I went back to Agricola after not playing for a decade, and found it delightful how tight the action economy can be. I've found many newer WP games offer too many ways to worm yourself out of someone taking your spot and altering your strategy - maybe you can do the action but weaker, or pay extra to use it. A lot of WP games get called "multiplayer solitaire" and I think this is a big part in these accusations; other players become random events you can easily work around to maintain your vision on the game. Having actions get fully blocked means adapting, changing your plans based on what other players are doing. Intentionally blocking becomes a legitimate strategy as opposed to a rude gesture, and taking the first player token is paramount.
posted by Infinite Peaks at 8:51 AM on March 6 [3 favorites]
In Bus, you have a pool of 20 workers. Each turn you have to put down at least two, but can put down as many as there are valid spaces. Once their actions are triggered, though, they're gone from the game forever. Thus, you only have 20 actions for the whole game. It adds something of a push-your-luck mechanism to a game with no luck: do you think using a couple extra workers now will be worth being out of the game later? Should you save up, but let other players spend to build routes that you won't be able to use later on?
For me, the best worker placement games have "teeth", competitiveness and interactivity. I went back to Agricola after not playing for a decade, and found it delightful how tight the action economy can be. I've found many newer WP games offer too many ways to worm yourself out of someone taking your spot and altering your strategy - maybe you can do the action but weaker, or pay extra to use it. A lot of WP games get called "multiplayer solitaire" and I think this is a big part in these accusations; other players become random events you can easily work around to maintain your vision on the game. Having actions get fully blocked means adapting, changing your plans based on what other players are doing. Intentionally blocking becomes a legitimate strategy as opposed to a rude gesture, and taking the first player token is paramount.
posted by Infinite Peaks at 8:51 AM on March 6 [3 favorites]
I really like worker placement games that use dice workers. I like pretty much everything I've tried from that list. Drafting or managing dice values complements the worker placement decision well.
The White Castle is a recent favorite: small box, plays quick with meaty decisions, looks great on the table.
posted by donio at 9:06 AM on March 6
The White Castle is a recent favorite: small box, plays quick with meaty decisions, looks great on the table.
posted by donio at 9:06 AM on March 6
A game on their list that I really enjoyed is Village. Definitely play it with the Ports and Inn expansions, but it's very enjoyable even without.
I played a six-handed game of Viticulture this week, and that was very fun. With only three spaces per action, six players puts you on the horns of a dilemma almost every turn. Although, at a half-hour per player maybe it runs a little long.
As for more recent games, I enjoyed Everdell enough to spring for the Giant Box version. In between crowd funding and arrival the people I bought it to play with moved away, so it's still in its shipping carton. I have the digital version on my wishlist, but I don't want to pay full price. I'm waiting for a much bigger discount than the last time it went on sale.
Another new game I played and enjoyed recently is Terracotta Army. Usually, worker placement doesn't shine at two players, but the rotating placement area livened it up.
I could go on and on, but I'll limit myself to one more. Barrage is a very interesting game. It is the kind of game where, because you're building something, maybe you don't mind losing as long as you don't get thwarted. But because both the worker placements and building spots are limited, it's also easy to wind up thwarted and have to improvise.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:09 AM on March 6
I played a six-handed game of Viticulture this week, and that was very fun. With only three spaces per action, six players puts you on the horns of a dilemma almost every turn. Although, at a half-hour per player maybe it runs a little long.
As for more recent games, I enjoyed Everdell enough to spring for the Giant Box version. In between crowd funding and arrival the people I bought it to play with moved away, so it's still in its shipping carton. I have the digital version on my wishlist, but I don't want to pay full price. I'm waiting for a much bigger discount than the last time it went on sale.
Another new game I played and enjoyed recently is Terracotta Army. Usually, worker placement doesn't shine at two players, but the rotating placement area livened it up.
I could go on and on, but I'll limit myself to one more. Barrage is a very interesting game. It is the kind of game where, because you're building something, maybe you don't mind losing as long as you don't get thwarted. But because both the worker placements and building spots are limited, it's also easy to wind up thwarted and have to improvise.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:09 AM on March 6
I've always been a bigger fan of Area Control versus Worker Placement, but I have and enjoy a bunch of the older ones. Try Dominant Species if you want WP with teeth.
posted by Windopaene at 9:10 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
posted by Windopaene at 9:10 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
If the box art shows a sour-looking wool merchant of 17th-century Antwerp, then it’s a Eurogame.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:37 AM on March 6 [8 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:37 AM on March 6 [8 favorites]
Hey now, lets not leave out the Mediterranean traders...
posted by Windopaene at 9:42 AM on March 6
posted by Windopaene at 9:42 AM on March 6
There will be no dice required for this phase.
posted by Carillon at 10:09 AM on March 6 [11 favorites]
posted by Carillon at 10:09 AM on March 6 [11 favorites]
It is sad how many bits I recognize from the Jamestown review...
And more sad that I can't remember where the pumpkins come from
posted by Windopaene at 10:18 AM on March 6 [2 favorites]
And more sad that I can't remember where the pumpkins come from
posted by Windopaene at 10:18 AM on March 6 [2 favorites]
Lots of things that aren't on that "dice workers" link donio that I would totally put there. Kingsburg is the first I remember. Was Yspahan on there? that's an early one that fits.
and ob1, I have been out of a group lately, and have played only one of those. Viticulture, with some expansions/KS Promos?/or whatever. Was fine. Village, Everdell and Barrage are all on my, sure, I'd try that level.
posted by Windopaene at 10:36 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
and ob1, I have been out of a group lately, and have played only one of those. Viticulture, with some expansions/KS Promos?/or whatever. Was fine. Village, Everdell and Barrage are all on my, sure, I'd try that level.
posted by Windopaene at 10:36 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
And ricochet biscuit, one of the best was of The King...
posted by Windopaene at 10:38 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
posted by Windopaene at 10:38 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]
The pumpkins are from Caverna!
posted by kaibutsu at 11:02 AM on March 6 [5 favorites]
posted by kaibutsu at 11:02 AM on March 6 [5 favorites]
Ah! Only played that once! Knew I had owned it and counted it. (Thifted and then sold).
TY
posted by Windopaene at 11:06 AM on March 6
TY
posted by Windopaene at 11:06 AM on March 6
Caylus is still excellent. I played the current version for the first time not too long ago it still felt very fresh and different from other worker placement games. Which is funny considering that it was among the first. Don't skip it just because it's old.
posted by donio at 11:33 AM on March 6 [3 favorites]
posted by donio at 11:33 AM on March 6 [3 favorites]
No one has mentioned Wingspan, which is my favorite game right now. Everdell is up there too. But maybe Wingspan is more of a deck builder than worker placement? Regardless, it’s great!
posted by simra at 12:21 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
posted by simra at 12:21 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
So many great games listed above, I've also enjoyed Root, Wingspan more recently and still play some of the classics such as Waterdeep and Agricola I'm sure I'll remember more on the drive home.
I may be a bit loosey-goosey on strictness of worker placement as well.
I'll just put a guy on the Mea Culpa area over there.
posted by Sphinx at 12:30 PM on March 6 [3 favorites]
I may be a bit loosey-goosey on strictness of worker placement as well.
I'll just put a guy on the Mea Culpa area over there.
posted by Sphinx at 12:30 PM on March 6 [3 favorites]
Wingspan is solid. Nice mid-weight "Engine Builder". Only played a couple of times, and with a very blinged out version, came across well. Nearly thrifted it a while back but they wanted a lot for it and the expansion, like, $24.99 or something. Don't have space nor can make any money at that price...
And now it comes in a Dragon form... if that's more your thing.
posted by Windopaene at 12:31 PM on March 6 [1 favorite]
And now it comes in a Dragon form... if that's more your thing.
posted by Windopaene at 12:31 PM on March 6 [1 favorite]
Carillon, I'm always the one posting the relevant ProZD sketch and I didn't want to be annoying, so I'm glad you tackled it. :)
posted by praemunire at 12:55 PM on March 6 [3 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 12:55 PM on March 6 [3 favorites]
Top of my mind when I think of worker placement games is Province, which to me remains a fascinating experiment in pushing that style of game to its bare minimum.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 1:06 PM on March 6
posted by vibratory manner of working at 1:06 PM on March 6
I try to think about what the next board game design mechanic will be. Seems like at this point it has all sort of been done. And yes mechanics evolve (MtG->Dominion->ALL THE DECKBUILDERS!!!-> A Few Acres of Snow (broken), -> El Dorado-> Hands in the Sea).
But how many combinations of mechanics are still out there that are clever enough that haven't already been combined? With all the "game designers" out there, seems like a tough gig to get into.
I don't do KS, (until they show up at the Goodwill), so I am totally out of date on all the recent fluff. But it certainly feels like the "board game explosion" might be hitting peak boardgame.
Stop making board game posts! I just start to ramble on and on and on...
posted by Windopaene at 1:19 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
But how many combinations of mechanics are still out there that are clever enough that haven't already been combined? With all the "game designers" out there, seems like a tough gig to get into.
I don't do KS, (until they show up at the Goodwill), so I am totally out of date on all the recent fluff. But it certainly feels like the "board game explosion" might be hitting peak boardgame.
Stop making board game posts! I just start to ramble on and on and on...
posted by Windopaene at 1:19 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
I want a worker placement game where, as the game goes on, the workers gradually organize against you and seize the means of play....
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:42 PM on March 6 [4 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:42 PM on March 6 [4 favorites]
Haha ProZD is always worth the post!
I will say I was disappointed with Apiary, it was beautiful, but I didn't live the mechanics. It felt built around the idea that blocking and recalling decisions in worker.placement games shouldn't feel bad. But this leads to a muddy space where your choices aren't really restricted. I wish the board was maybe half size and focused, so it felt like each choice mattered more.
posted by Carillon at 2:54 PM on March 6
I will say I was disappointed with Apiary, it was beautiful, but I didn't live the mechanics. It felt built around the idea that blocking and recalling decisions in worker.placement games shouldn't feel bad. But this leads to a muddy space where your choices aren't really restricted. I wish the board was maybe half size and focused, so it felt like each choice mattered more.
posted by Carillon at 2:54 PM on March 6
I was pleased when a couple of weeks ago the Firefly 10th anniversary edition arrived on my doorstep: 23 lbs. of gaming goodness. First play is tomorrow!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:09 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:09 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
It's important to note that the best feature of a worker placement game in which you have limited workers to place is being able to place a worker to gain another worker.
Seriously, gaining that additional worker is better than any drug.
posted by vverse23 at 6:54 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
Seriously, gaining that additional worker is better than any drug.
posted by vverse23 at 6:54 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
I played Kutná Hora a couple times during the holiday week and it was really great. The combination of action selection, tile placement, and worker placement pushed all my buttons.
Although now I see BGG doesn't describe it as a worker placement game? I guess you have to tilt your head and squint a little bit to think of the mining as worker placement?
Coincidentally, Heavy Cardboard posted a play-through of it last night.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:23 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
Although now I see BGG doesn't describe it as a worker placement game? I guess you have to tilt your head and squint a little bit to think of the mining as worker placement?
Coincidentally, Heavy Cardboard posted a play-through of it last night.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:23 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
I picked up A Feast For Odin about a month ago, and Caverns a month before that, but still haven't gotten to play them (in order) much/more than once though. I love Agricola and Caylus though. Our gaming group dissolved into online-only play, which works for D&D but not as well for board games.
posted by JHarris at 9:47 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 9:47 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]
Not worker placement, but my GMT printing of Vijayanagara just showed up and I'm excited to play in person. I wish it was easier to find groups that wanted to play these heavier games.
posted by Carillon at 10:10 AM on March 7
posted by Carillon at 10:10 AM on March 7
I wish I lived near you Carillon! I'd play that. (Kind of hate the COIN system, but whatever).
posted by Windopaene at 10:24 AM on March 7
posted by Windopaene at 10:24 AM on March 7
Shut Up & Sit Down recently did a review of Agricola! I don't think it was the first worker placement game, but it was One of Those Games That Everyone Played, at the time, and hugely influential on the genre. The video has some interesting discussion about how different Agricola feels from modern worker placement games.
Sadly I have only had the opportunity to play it online, and never gotten to pick up the delightful animeeples in person, but one day ...
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 1:58 PM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Sadly I have only had the opportunity to play it online, and never gotten to pick up the delightful animeeples in person, but one day ...
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 1:58 PM on March 7 [2 favorites]
Ah, the 'Gric...
About the only game I have "crowdfunded" (way before KS and their ilk showed up). Got a few GMT P500 games in there as well that are sort of crowdfunded. Now there is a revised edition so my copies are out of date...
It certainly was not the first. Maybe the best for it's time. Bus, up thread, even the sort of WP and Area Control games. But Agricola did it pretty well.
posted by Windopaene at 3:09 PM on March 7
About the only game I have "crowdfunded" (way before KS and their ilk showed up). Got a few GMT P500 games in there as well that are sort of crowdfunded. Now there is a revised edition so my copies are out of date...
It certainly was not the first. Maybe the best for it's time. Bus, up thread, even the sort of WP and Area Control games. But Agricola did it pretty well.
posted by Windopaene at 3:09 PM on March 7
Splotter does such good work, they're up there for me with like Wehrlegig and GMT in terms of actual game quality.
posted by Carillon at 6:35 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]
posted by Carillon at 6:35 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]
Shut Up & Sit Down recently did a review of Agricola ! I don't think it was the first worker placement game, but it was One of Those Games That Everyone Played, at the time, and hugely influential on the genre.
I think it's generally understood that Caylus is the first worker placement game in the sense that we understand it? I love Caylus, how it delays the results of most placements to the end of the round, because, surprise! they may not even happen, due to players bribing the Provost to move up and down the road, and space activations happening in sequence and ending when the Provost token is reached.
posted by JHarris at 1:00 AM on March 8 [3 favorites]
I think it's generally understood that Caylus is the first worker placement game in the sense that we understand it? I love Caylus, how it delays the results of most placements to the end of the round, because, surprise! they may not even happen, due to players bribing the Provost to move up and down the road, and space activations happening in sequence and ending when the Provost token is reached.
posted by JHarris at 1:00 AM on March 8 [3 favorites]
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I also love Everdell - also the digital version - it wasn't on their list. Adorable little forest critters fulfilling various goals!
It's just a great mechanic, and a good example of how boardgames have evolved since I first started playing them.
Interesting ideas at the end for variants on worker placement.
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 6:17 AM on March 6 [7 favorites]