Here's my bird sanctuary after game 2 last night. I took this game with my highest score in Wingspan yet (87 VPs). Woo Hoo! (Game 1 I was not so lucky).
In game 1, this little guy flew into my forest. Of my 32 games of Wingspan to date (at least since using the Wingspan Scorsheet app), I'm not sure I've had a Blue-Winged Warbler fly around before. 🙂
I actually came across another bird in game 2 that I may not have seen before, but wasn't quite as sure as I was with this little guy. I guess that's what happens when you have now over 200 bird cards. You won't always see some as often.
When I was done, I brought out Paladins of the West Kingdom again. This play was a much smoother solo play now that I'm a bit more familiar with the rules. That being said, I realized something I wasn't doing quite right when it comes to hiring townsfolk. It actually came about as I was trying to figure out how they impact the A.I.'s turns. The answer - they don't. The A.I. doesn't really hire recruits, they send them off on quests (discard) and reap those rewards when they do so. Well that makes it even easier.
Then I was looking up what I do with my hired townsfolk, as I was putting them at the bottom of my player board. However, that was wrong! They go beside the player board. Why? Because that's what it says in the rulebook (DUH!) 🙄 The spaces on the bottom of the player board are where converts go. That's when you convert an outsider to join your ranks. It all made sense now!
I played using the 'easy' A.I. difficulty and that was a much closer game (although low scoring). I only lost by 4 VPs. I'll still need to up my game, and learn how to gain more VPs if I want to take on the standard difficulty.
In my search to clarify a few of the rules/mechanics I mentioned, I came across a little forum post that said "quicker solo setup". Intrigued, I clicked on it. It was another ah-ha moment when the person suggested putting all player components into their own bags. Rather than all the garrisons in a bag, all the monks in a bag etc... Put everything each player needs in their own seperate bags! Genius!
It was one of those times where after you read the post you think "well ya, why wouldn't I?" ... yet I never thought of it before. 😂 That will save a nice amount of setup time for the next playthrough. 🙂
Yes, putting player stuff in their own bags is one of the first things I do with most games. So much faster to get going. Do you have an opinion yet on Paladins or Architects for solo (only)? Or should I wait until you've had a few more plays? Not that I'm in a hurry. 🙂