Agricola: hated the first half, loved the second....

FINALLY got a chance to play a game of Agricola last night (which I choose to pronounce like Pensacola, btw). The first rules explanation was absolutely overwhelming, I must say. It was complex to the point of ridiculousness and were about ready to give up before we even started playing. And I've read the rules before! And we were playing the Family version!!! In fact, the rules explanation and game setup took about as long as the actual game (see picture above for all the friggin' pieces....). Suffice to say, my first impressions were not good.

That confused fog followed us through about the first half of the game and then, like magic, things just started to click. The wheels started turning and all of sudden I was having quite a good time making some very painful decisions. By the end, I was enthralled, trying to make room for some cattle by building fences and trying to gather enough stone to upgrade my house for some big points. Neither happened but I happily placed second by 1 point thanks to my, er, overly "active" parents making lots of babies (see my completed happy farm below).


I like this game. A lot. I'd love to play it again, and then again, and then maybe the expert version with the cards. Will I buy it? Probably not. I really don't think my group will have the patience to learn it. I'd love it if we could get into it but I just don't see it happening. This made the rules of Age of Steam seem like kid's play and my group would barely sit through that. I think I need to find more patient friends....