Lost
\nValley<\/a> (first impressions)<\/h2>\nFirst we decided to test this brand new game from the Goslar\u2019s (Walter
\ngraciously decided to just watch to make this possible. Although he was a mean
\nice-block-roller in the end game!).<\/p>\n
Players are prospectors who explore the lost valley (of Klondike?). The game combines
\na realistic approach with abstract and logical rules: Each player has a backpack for
\n\u201craw materials\u201d (food, timber, tools) and 6 more spaces for wares (whiskey,
\ncart, boat, horse, rifle, axe, fishing rod, sieve, dynamite). The cart gives 4 more
\nspaces for raw materials. Like in the computer game \u201cDiablo\u201d some objects
\ntake more space, for example timber and the sieve, so each player has to decide what
\nobjects are most important to her\/him.<\/p>\n
All players start at the main trading post (others can appear through exploration).
\nThe exploration itself is handeld very nicely \u2013 players can decide where to put the
\ndiamond shaped land tiles and river tiles that they discover. As the diamond tiles
\ndon\u2019t always leave room for a complete tile there are also special
\n\u201ctriangle\u201d tiles to fill these enclosed spaces. These diamond tiles are
\nusually more interesting \u2013 in our first game we completely overlooked the methods
\nto specially create the \u201ctriangles\u201d which is something that should be
\nexplored more in future games.<\/p>\n
Tiles depict different landscapes \u2013 Gold can be found as \u201criver
\ngold\u201d or \u201cmountain gold\u201d and is placed face down in values of 1-2
\n(river) or 3-4 (mountain). \u201cRiver gold\u201d needs water, but can also be found on
\nland tiles \u2013 players have to build canals (by using timber) to get at the latter
\nvariety. They expend one \u201cfood\u201d when looking for it, and a
\n\u201csieve\u201d doubles the amount of gold counters gained. \u201cMountain\u201d
\ngold is only found on mountain tiles and needs a working mine which first has to be
\nbuilt. Also getting mountain gold costs one timber in addition to the food (and using
\ndynamite doubles the find).<\/p>\n
![\"Lost](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/lostvalley_b1.jpg\")
Getting gold nuggets is the object of the game \u2013 but
\nyou can also use gold to buy additional equipment at trading posts.<\/p>\n
Food is in issue \u2013 you need it for getting gold nuggets. You can hunt (by
\nrolling a die against the animal \u2013 plus 3 if you buy a gun), as certain tiles have
\n(hidden, various food values) animals on them. Fishing at the river is also possible
\n\u2013 the fish trap and fishing rod come in handy here.<\/p>\n
Timber is necessary for mountain gold and canals \u2013 you can get it in wood
\nspaces, easier if you use a sawmill (which has to be built first) and\/or an axe.<\/p>\n
Players move along the tile edges \u2013 very slowly if by foot, and quicker if using
\nthe boat or the horse. It is not possible to block movement of other players, but
\nnon-river locations can only be occupied by ONE prospector, so you can protect certain
\nspaces by simply standing there. This is sometimes necessary as EVERYTHING you build can
\nbe used by everybody \u2013 if you build a mine other players can use it as well!<\/p>\n
This very often results in races to gather the most gold from a specific location
\nbefore others do (all gold locations can be depleted after the initially placed counters
\nare gone). Therefore the game is mostly about the most efficient use of a limited number
\nof actions (each turn every player has only ONE action). To get an edge in this you can
\nalso use \u201cwhiskey\u201d (a very nice idea), which gives you an additional move OR
\nan additional action.<\/p>\n
The game ends in two ways: 1) When the river has been fully explored the
\n\u201csource\u201d is placed together with an ice block. Now every player rolls the die
\nafter his\/her turn \u2013 on a 5 or 6 the ice block moves towards the original trading
\npost, when it reaches it, the game ends. 2) When any player reaches the original trading
\npost with 10 gold counters.<\/p>\n
In any case all formerly secret gold counters are revealed and counted, who now has
\nthe most \u201cnuggets\u201d printed on these counters wins. In our game we had a
\nprobably unusual end: 3 players ended up with 19 nuggets in the lead! As there seems to
\nbe no tiebreaker mechanic this probably means all three have won!<\/p>\n
The game has beautiful components (although good storage probably needs a couple of
\nextra ziplock bags). Game aids as well as rule book come in several languages (German,
\nEnglish, French). The rule book itself is a very good example of how to do it right: only
\n4 (small) pages with clear and precise rules, all well illustrated directly next to the
\nrule to avoid any misunderstandings. Very well done! This is one of these rule books that
\nyou can practically sight read to your fellow players without having to read it yourself
\nbefore \u2013 it will take 15 minutes maximum to get into the game.<\/p>\n
The game mixes elements of action management (Puerto Rico, Goa), discovery
\n(Carcassonne, Die Entdecker) and even adventure\/simulation games like \u201cValley of
\nthe Mammoths\u201d. Turns go quick as player actions are limited \u2013 there is
\ninteraction (without obvious \u201ckingmaking\u201d) and some (but not too much) luck
\n(hunting, nugget count). The theme should appeal to adults and kids as well, the only
\ndanger being a disappointment for the latter when they discover that behind the theme
\nlies a pretty unforgiving mechanic that needs perfect resource management to win.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The game\u2019s \u201cstrategy tips\u201d say that one should not hover far from the
\nother players, which seems to be true, as basically the game makes the players into
\nhyenas who lurk around until some poor soul builds the next mine or canal. One has to
\ncount the available gold counters and make sure that his action management results in
\ngetting more of the share than the others \u2013 only then should you build before the
\nothers do. As this is something that you have in your own hands the game is both
\nchallenging and rewarding, but also very often frustrating. But \u201cwanting to do more
\nthan you actually can do\u201d seems to be the sign of a good game, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n
Recommended!<\/p>\n
<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n
![\"Lost](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/lostvalley_t.jpg\")
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n![\"Zug](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/zugumzug_t.jpg\")
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