Does this game drag?

[Enigma]

I have now played this game 3 times all with different groups. Each time we have used maps with 3 flags, 2 boards. I find the beginning game to be real fun but each game has ended up the same. There is always one person who through good positioning or superior skill runs away with the game and wins the game by a flag or 2. There is always at least one person who is just horribly screwed over and doesn't even reach the first flag. And than everyone else is stuck in a jumble in the middle.

At around 1 1/2 hours in every game, this game just seems to slow down and get repetitive. The winner is pretty much decided, I can never seem to be going anywhere and each turn feels like Groundhog Day. Has anyone noticed this or has overcome this?

I really like the beginning of the game but the ending always leaves me with a "blah" feeling. Can this situation be solved by just making smaller boards or using less flags? Or am I just not experienced enough at this game to play it right? Could please help me with this because I really want to like this game. Thanks.

[puggimer]

I would suggest trying with only one board. I find that the more robot interaction there is, then the more fun the game is. If the bots get spread out, then nobody is shooting, pushing, or getting in the way of anyone else - and as it becomes little more than a logic puzzle. Keeping the bots together ups the chaos and the fun.

[mk31bolo]

Another thing to get the robots interacting with each other is to place the flags so that the course criss crosses the paths necessary to reach each one. Even the "tail end charlie" can affect the outcome with that kind of setup.

[Enigma]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try them next time I play. Does the number of flags on a 1-board game make a major time difference? It kind of seems to me that the minimum number of flags to make it an interesting game is 3. Is that the case?

[puggimer]

It depends on how long you want the game to last. The more flags, the longer the game. Two or three for a quick game (about an hour) is usually good.

[hylentor]

I just played this week with four players on the Chop Shop Challenge layout and it was a good time for all, despite my having poor hands most of the game and only getting one flag. It has the elements you want - it has 4 flags, which will increase the game time, but it criss-crosses a lot, which makes for fun with trying to stop the leader :)

The longer races I feel are better left to when you all know what's going on - then you can find creative ways to interact with each other ;)

[gryphon202]

It is also worth mentioning that the number of potential setups for this game is virtually limitless - even with just four boards. If you find the games repetitive, moving a flag just a few squares away can change the game's dynamics rather radically, depending on how close certain board elements are.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not limited to the boards in the booklet. Experiment, and figure out what you like. Don't be afraid to be creative.