iPad Reiner Knizia's Tigris & Euphrates

Hi Codito, and thank you for an exceptional game!

Well since it now in fact is a new year, do care to tell us about your plans?

//Pedroapan

 

Just purchased the game and I think I am really going to like it. I have two concerns though. The first one is that my tiles at the top sometimes seem to go invisible. They are there if I touch where they were just showing but its a little confusing nonetheless. The second issue I've already figured out. I wasn't paying enough attention to the tutorial.

 

I've installed the upade but can't see any way to chat?

 

Hello Codito,

There seems to be a glitch on the current version where Rematch doesn't work on local games - every time I try it, the stage re-loads but remains frozen, without either you being able to do anything nor the enemy AIs taking action. Are you aware of this issue?

 

Only 5 pages of discussions!?

I have broken my Reiner Knizia cherry through buying Tigris & Euphrates. My first European board game experience should come as no surprise: Settlers of Catan. Thanks to the iPad (and the enthusiasm of TouchArcade forum members), I have discovered the joys of board-gaming once more.

Whilst Tigris & Euphrates is not a simple game, it is deep and extremely elegant. In particular:

• 
  All leaders must be placed adjacent to a Temple tile
  You only score points for leaders on the board
  The highest lowest score across all 4 spheres wins

What I enjoy is the ebb and flow and fluidity of the game. Leaders are placed, revolts happen, leaders are removed, leaders are placed in different locations, et al. All the while, one must remember that it is the lowest score across all 4 spheres that determines one's overall score.

This rule adds to the ebb and flow of the game, especially when wars break out and victory points can be snatched.

I initially read the rules, played the excellent tutorial and then played a 4 player game (myself and 3 AIs on the lowest setting). Total and utter wipe! I kept getting confused with how a conflict is classified as a revolt and when it is classified as a war.

The 2nd game was better, but I was still confused and my overall play was patchy.

I re-read the rules and re-played the tutorial again, and won my 3rd game! The key to winning was switching my play after the 1st third of the game (after my Priest was continually trying - and failing - to re-gain his/her rightful position in my Kingdom through revolts), and realising that there is more than one way to skin a cat re: war! I eventually succeeded with my revolt much, much later in the game, and played a cautious consolidation game (particularly with my monument - in fact, the game was very light on monuments) towards the end, forcing the end by swapping my tiles.

I haven't even begun to scratch the surface in terms of developing a strategy. I'm still getting a feel for the rules (particularly needing to remind myself of the difference methods of how a revolt and war are resolved), and starting to become more fluid in my approach.

Also, I was/am captivated by Mesopotamia - and the clarion call of antiquity.

A thoroughly absorbing game, which is immensely polished on the iPad.

 

BGG Review

Read a review or two over at BGG that contained an excellent simile to describe the differences between an internal conflict and an external conflict: the former is the [political] struggle to retain control and influence; the latter destroying infrastructure and the capacity to wage war.

Internal conflict is a precursor to external conflict through winning control and influence to support (supporting tiles) an external conflict.

Viewed through the above prism, one's whole perception changes. Victory in an internal conflict provides 1 red VP. Whereas, victory in an external conflict provides 1 VP in the colour of the leader disposed (removed from the board) and 1 VP for each supporting tile removed of that colour.

Throw in using external conflicts to split Kingdoms, the resolution order of conflicts, as well as the use of catastrophes, and the depth and complexity begin to unravel before one's eyes - rather than tile and leader placement appearing to be a random agglomeratization.

I'm looking forward to my next game to see if I can incorporate this understanding into my play, as well as analysing the moves made by the AI and thinking ahead.

 

When we can expect support for iPhone 5?

 

Frankly, I still cannot get into winning the game. Any good read for newbies?

 

Still waiting for reply...

 

Have you tried the How to Play Podcast for Tigris & Euphrates by Ryan Sturm? It's a very good primer on the game and all of Sturm's podcasts are excellent. One added bonus for the T&E podcast is that there is also a video version.

http://howtoplaypodcast.com/episodes/episodes-1-10/episode-5-tigris-and-euphrates/

 

Thank you very much!!!

 

Hi.

Any plans on updating this beauty with the double-sided board and the advanced rules? My cardboard copy which I bought after trying the app doesn't get that much table time due to my group, so implementing these things would give me a chance to try them out.

Thanks.

Pedroapan

 

Yey!

Perhaps supporting iPhone 5 as well? Do you have an ETA on this update?

Thanks for your quick reply!
Pedroapan

 

This is really a bad news. I don't want to play games those do not support iPhone 5 wide screen.

 

Hi Codito,

How is the update progressing? Can you tell us something about the new board? Is it the other side of the double sided board on the physical game, or is it a "new" map?

How much is it going to cost?
//Pedroapan